Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 17, 1994 TAG: 9407070085
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ALLISON BLAKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Stone said Thursday that he obtained the records from "an administrator inside the university" who was concerned about their implications. The administrator, whom Stone did not identify, "wanted to have some ideas about the appropriate people to be informed."
The documents were turned over to the board of visitors last Wednesday by faculty who alleged possible misuse of university funds by Dedmon. Dedmon announced his retirement the next day.
The stack of more than 500 records shows a wide variety of expenditures from the university's discretionary fund, including: televisions, videocassette recorders and compact-disc players for the home of the president of the state-owned university; Federal Express charges for packages reportedly sent to family members; phone calls that may have been personal; and Dedmon's membership fees to university-related organizations.
"I have no ax to grind," Stone said. "It's either proper, or it's improper. The documents probably speak for themselves."
Guidelines for use of the fund set up in 1973 by the board of visitors, apparently on Dedmon's recommendation, outline a wide range of loosely defined expenses that can be charged to the fund. Among them are "membership in organizations, attendance at conventions and travel, including the travel and related expenses of the president's wife where appropriate, improvements to the home provided for the president, such as providing furniture in the guest apartments and public entertaining areas ... general furnishings and accessories for the office and home provided for the president."
Both Stone and Al Pearson, the faculty leader who obtained the documents from Stone, said this week that they were unaware of the guidelines. So did Ginger Mumpower, a board member.
Dedmon repaid the state about $2,862 last year after an audit revealed personal use of the fund for Federal Express mailings and phone calls going back to 1989. State internal auditor John Huston has said that the state concluded there was no wrongdoing intended. Huston said an employee in the president's office was authorized to separate personal and business expenses, and pay for personal expenses with Dedmon's own credit card and signed checks.
The documents cover the years 1986 to 1990.
Stone gave the documents to Pearson after Pearson led a faculty battle with the board of visitors last fall over their improper awarding of tenure - typically a grueling, six-year process leading to academic freedom and job security - to Charlie Wood, Dedmon's longtime aide. Faculty nearly passed a vote of no confidence in the board for failing to follow the university's standard procedure.
"On first blush, [the documents] looked serious," Pearson said. "I'm not an accountant; I'm not a lawyer. What did it mean?"
An audit is under way within the university to determine whether or not the fund was misused. A report is to be issued, although university officials say they're not sure when the audit will be complete.
by CNB