Report: University event postponed because of expected release of ‘damning’ info about UCF
A day set aside to showcase state universities at the Florida Capitol has been postponed after House Speaker Jose Oliva said he was concerned about the timing of the event, which was scheduled a week after the university system is expected to release “damning information” about the University of Central Florida’s misuse of $38 million in state dollars to build Trevor Colbourn Hall, Politico reported.
Oliva’s office confirmed to Politico that the event, originally planned for Feb. 6, was rescheduled but said the speaker’s concern was that it would coincide with the transition of Republican Gov.elect Ron DeSantis and legislative committee meetings planned for the same week.
But an unnamed source told Politico that Oliva said on a call with the university system that he was concerned about hosting an event to celebrate state universities so close to the planned Jan. 30-31 Board of Governors meetings that likely will include the release of an investigation focused on Trevor Colbourn Hall.
A spokeswoman for the Board of Governors, which oversees the state university system, didn’t respond to questions from the Orlando Sentinel about the event.
In September, outgoing Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran called for closer scrutiny of University of Central Florida spending after President Dale Whittaker admitted to the state’s Board of Governors that UCF had used leftover money intended for operating expenses on the new Trevor Colbourn Hall.