Hefner defends record, regrets harm to school he leads
However, he said in his first public response to last week’s state audits, “I deeply regret if anything I have done has cast this office or Tennessee State University in unflattering light.”
Hefner also promised to follow auditors’ recommendations to improve management of the school’s private foundation.
“On this, I pledge and stake my presidency,” Hefner said, vowing to move toward a separate accounting for the foundation’s funds and to encourage its board to review the scholarship criteria and award processes.
Auditors had said Hefner “exceeded his authority” to fix foundation accounts that were running negative balances.
The foundation ran up a $2.6 million deficit in scholarship accounts by handing out scholarships without making sure there was enough to cover the awards, despite years of warnings. Also, about one-third of honors scholarship recipients from July 1, 2000, through Dec. 31, 2003, weren’t really eligible.
Local prosecutors are reviewing findings in the other audit, which was prompted in 2001 by allegations from fired athletics director James Smith of kickbacks, thefts and improper gifts.
Auditors found no evidence of kickbacks or thefts but said ARAMARK Corp., which holds the contract to provide food service at the university, improperly paid for Hefner to attend the 2001 Super Bowl in Tampa, Fla.
The auditors said Hefner tried to cover up the free tickets by saying he had paid ARAMARK $200 for them. Auditors say that story changed a few times after Hefner was confronted.
“I look forward to the time when I can discuss the particulars of this audit in greater detail, for there is much to say,” Hefner said. “For now, let me just say I deeply regret if anything I have done has cast this office or Tennessee State University in unflattering light.”
He noted that Tennessee State has seen enrollment increase from 7,000 to 9,000 students during his tenure and that research funding has risen from $7 million a year to $41 million — trailing only Vanderbilt University and UT-Knoxville among Tennessee colleges.
“This record should make one thing clear: I have strived at every opportunity to make Tennessee State a world-class institution,” Hefner writes. “TSU is at the heart of all I do. Indeed, TSU is my heart.”
Nashville attorney George Barrett, who called for Hefner’s resignation Friday, was critical of Hefner’s letter.
“Here’s a man who now admits that he gave false statements to state officials who were investigating the quote-unquote gifts from vendors of a value of over $10,000 to he and his chief financial officer, and he never even mentions that (in his letter). What kind of conduct is that?”
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Information from: The Tennessean, http://www.tennessean.com