OU Regents meet regarding `ongoing personnel issues'
The University of Oklahoma Board of Regents declined to answer questions Wednesday after a 2
1/2 hour closed meeting to discuss information from an investigation into sensitive personnel issues.
“Today's meeting covered i nformation t hat i s confidential and related to ongoing personnel issues, and I can't comment on any of these unresolved personnel issues,” Chairman Leslie Rainbolt-Forbes said after the meeting on OU's Oklahoma City campus.
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“Our goal is to ensure the inv es ti gati on' sin te gr it ya nd any comment would be highly inappropriate ,” said Rain bolt-Forbes, who read from a prepared statement that ended with ,“No regent will make a comment nor a statement nor will anyone answer questions.”
She declined to say when the investigation began on advice from Drew Neville, attorney for the regents.
“But what I can do and what I specifically want to do is affirm this board's complete support of Jim Gallogly as president of the university ,” Rainbolt-Forbes said .“Also let me make it clear that he ( Gallogy) did not initiate nor is he involved in this investigation, which is being conducted by an independent third party.”
The agenda for Wednesday's meeting did not indicate who or what the investigation is about.
Anil Gollahalli, general counsel for the university, said disclosing more information regarding the matter would “seriously impair the ability” to conduct the investigation. The state attorney general has ruled that an executive session is appropriate when the matter is not yet the subject of a lawsuit, but a claim is potential or anticipated, he said.
Officials have said OU retained the Jones Day l aw firm to investigate allegations of serious misconduct. Sources told The Oklahoman that Jones Day is investigating claims of sexual harassment against former OU President David Boren. Through his attorney, Boren has denied any misconduct.
The regents hired Gal log ly in March to succeed Bore non July 1 . Since he was hired, Gal log ly has reported finding millions of dollars in overspending. He has slashed budgets and staffing. Gallogly said it would take his team a year to rebuild the budget.
Boren praised Gallogly as “a tremendous leader” when regents announced they were hiring him. The two men described themselves as longtime friends. But when Gallogly began reporting OU had serious financial problems, the relationship soured.
“The investigation will be unbiased, thorough and won't be rushed,” Rainbolt-Forbes said.