Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 14, 1993 TAG: 9310140149
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Administrators assured the students the program was not in jeopardy following the indictment of its director this month on embezzlement charges.
The black studies program is offered as a minor concentration as part of the liberal arts and sciences program. Robert Paterson, arts and sciences dean, assured the students that the program remained a high priority at Tech.
"You have my complete support for the program," he said.
Tom Goodale, vice president for student affairs, told the group that since the program was first discussed in 1989, it has flourished and grown.
H.D. Flowers II, 48, was hired in 1991 as the program's first director.
Two weeks ago, he was indicted by a Montgomery County grand jury on charges of cashing two payroll checks this summer that were payable to a graduate student who began attending Tech this fall. The checks were for slightly more than $4,000 each.
The graduate student told authorities he was not in Blacksburg this summer and didn't teach the courses or receive payment.
Joyce Williams-Green, assistant provost, will act as interim director of the program until the charges against Flowers are resolved.
"We want to continue the good things that Dr. Flowers started," said Williams-Green.
In response to students' questions about the handling of Flowers' case, university spokesman Larry Hincker said the university police had to act responsibly and investigate once an allegation of wrongdoing was reported.
When asked how it would be possible for someone to obtain and cash checks as Flowers is accused of doing, Hincker said, "It can happen," adding that management controls are being reviewed.
Students wanted to know if Tech officials had asked Flowers, who also is a theater arts professor at Tech, for his side of the allegations. Williams-Green said that he had been heard, but wouldn't reveal details of the discussion because of the pending criminal charges.
Flowers was removed as the program head two weeks ago following his indictment. Paterson told the students this was normal procedure.
by CNB