LSU auditors are investigating if former chancellor Sean O’Keefe exaggerated funds raised for the University, according to The Associated Press.
The AP reported results of the audit may be released later this week.
The Daily Reveille obtained documents from the LSU System, outlining 16 issues raised during the evaluations of O’Keefe started under former System president William Jenkins and continued under current president John Lombardi.
The issues raised are worded as questions, and “no adverse inference is suggested by the fact alone that the issues are raised,” according to Ray Lamonica, System general counsel.
The main focus of the issues raised concern if enough progress was made in the Flagship Agenda, if coworkers were treated in “anunprofessional manner,” if O’Keefe spent to much time away from from campus tending to other commitments, if funds raised were accurately reported and if some of O’Keefe’s expenditures are considered”inappropriately lavish.”
Documents show during the 2007 Allstate Sugar Bowl, LSU spent $60,000 at O’Keefe’sdirection to house 42 spectators O’Keefe invited to watch the game because of fundraising purposes. The suite cost $52,125, and 45 tickets at face value cost an additional $7,875.
Documents also show O’Keefe spent nearly $800 during a meal at Commander’s Palace in New Orleans during a dinner with O’Keefe’s wife, and LSU donor and friend Bill Slaughter and his wife Cristal to discuss the Forever LSU campaign and the business school building.
On a second occasion, O’Keefe spent $857 at Commander’s Palace during a meal with O’Keefe’s wife, state superintendent of education Paul Pastorek and his wife Kathy to discuss kindergarten through 12th gradecollaborations with the University and other areas of praetorshipswith higher education.
The questions considered during O’Keefe’s evaluations include
– Was significant progress of the Flagship Agenda made in academic research, increasing the quality and quantity of students, generating income from intellectual property, gaining federal funds for projects and research?
– Did the treatment of high level administrators in “an unprofessionalmanner” result in their departures?
– Was an inordinate amount of time spent away from campus tending to personally compensated engagements such a corporate boards?
– Were transactional and personnel matters repeatedly presented to the System and Board for approval when not fully developed or appropriately justified?
– Were agreements made without authority concerning significant naming of entities and donations?
– Was there a failure to follow instructions during negations of majorcontracts?
– Was the supervision and participating in student and organization discipline matters handled appropriately?
– Was a $60,000 expenditure of University funds for a 2007 Sugar Bowl suite and tickers for O’Keefe and his invited guest inappropriate?
– Were expenses for means and drinks inappropriate lavish?
– Were reimbursements for golf and meals appropriately justified?
– Was there an attempt to interfere with internal audits?
– Did O’Keefe cooperate with the foundation to fully and accurately report public reporting of funds raised for Forever LSU campaign?
O’Keefe resigned as chancellor Feb. 1. William Jenkins, former chancellor and System president and current president emeritus, assumed O’Keefe’s administrative duties as acting chancellor.