On February 22, 2006 Governor Blagojevich announced the reappointment of serial polluter Jay D. Bergman, owner and CEO of Petco Petroleum to ISU's Board of Trustees. As promised, the Governor made his decision following a resolution to the 16-count water pollution complaint, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed to the Illinois Pollution Control Board (IPCB). On February 2, the ILCB found Petco Petroleum liable and fined the company $135,000. Jay D. Bergman was not found legally liable, even though court documents showed he was intimately aware of the workings of his company and even told the employers not to report spills to the proper authorities.

Governor Blagojevich chose to reappoint Jay Bergman despite objections by the ISU community and Illinois citizens. Jay Bergman's appointment clashes with the ISU Mission Statement which states a commitment, "to serving the citizens of Illinois and beyond," as well as the University's Core Value of environmental sustainability. Jay Bergman has unabashedly attacked students for launching the petition drive to the Governor, when he told the Pantagraph, "From what I understand they [SEAC] are so far to the left they make Jane Fonda look like Ronald Reagan. Their concern is to promote a radical leftist agenda, I just happen to be their target this year." [More]