WMU fires president over enrollment.(Western Michigan University)

Byline: Peggy Walsh-Sarnecki

Aug. 16--With just weeks before the start of the fall term, the Western Michigan University Board of Trustees fired President Judith Bailey on Tuesday, citing poor performance, especially in handling rising costs and falling enrollment at the Kalamazoo campus.

"We've been preaching enrollment, enrollment, enrollment throughout this time frame," said board Chairman James Holden of Bloomfield Hills.

Enrollment is down to about 25,000 students this fall, from 30,000 in 2003 when Bailey arrived. And last month, board members were given predictions that enrollment is likely to fall again next year.

"We're losing …