Started By
Message
re: Auburn Getting a New President?
Posted on 3/20/17 at 3:57 pm to PJinAtl
Posted on 3/20/17 at 3:57 pm to PJinAtl
quote:
Leath has continued to make headlines within the past six months over an incident involving a hard-landing of a university aircraft he was piloting in Bloomington, Ill., last year, resulting in more than $14,000 in damage.
Since then, Leath has been under scrutiny for several questionable uses of university aircraft.
In a statement released Wednesday, officials with the DCI said they began their investigation in December. The state agency handled the investigation at the request of the Iowa State Department of Public Safety, which deferred to the DCI to avoid any conflict of interest, the statement read.
The statement indicated that investigators with the DCI "interviewed many different people and analyzed several pieces of information and records" before issuing its findings to Reynolds' office.
According to an audit conducted late last year, four of Leath's flights were used for a mix of personal and university business pursuits between 2015 and 2016.
On one of those flights, Leath was scheduled to travel to North Carolina last August to meet with a potential donor to the Iowa State Research Park. Auditors found the donor canceled the meeting with Leath, but Leath remained in the state for a few days.
For those four flights, Leath reimbursed the university at $125 per flight hour. However, the audit estimated the cost of those flights to be around $265 per hour. The audit recommends the Regents bill Leath accordingly.
The audit also states the landing Leath's pilots took in Elmira, N.Y., after leaving an NCAA tournament game in New York City in March 2014 was not necessary except for picking up and dropping off passengers, which included Leath's brother and sister-in-law.
Auditors also noted Leath used university resources to fly to Rochester, Minn., three times between May 2013 and August 2016 for medical appointments at the Mayo Clinic. Todd Stewart, chief audit executive for the Iowa Board of Regents, said the board could fix the issue by adding a clause for free annual physicals in Leath's contract.
Auditors also found Leath rented or chartered private flights several times between 2012 and 2015, costing the university more than $12,000.
In a special meeting in December, Leath told the Regents he was remorseful for using university planes more than absolutely necessary, but maintained he had not done anything wrong.
"I did not violate any policy or break any laws," he said. "But that's not enough. I want to conduct myself beyond reproach, and I'm sorry that I did not use better judgment."
Posted on 3/20/17 at 4:21 pm to NYCAuburn
I don't know if it's a bad hire or not, but I do know that Auburn is an institution that doesn't have to take anyone with a negative reputation.
Posted on 3/20/17 at 4:41 pm to PJinAtl
quote:
Once he got his license, he hired his flight instructor as an administrator at the school in a $250,000/year job (I think Information Technology manager).
He hired him as the interim CIO at over $250,000 a year and then made him permanent CIO, both times without doing a search. The president has that power, but that typically does not happen.
Posted on 3/20/17 at 4:48 pm to PJinAtl
quote:
he hired his flight instructor as an administrator at the school in a $250,000/year job
The guy was the associate dean of ISU's College of Engineering (accounting professor though ). It was a little more than "Leath's flight instructor" getting a hookup
What was shady is that the guy was the second republican political official placed in a large role at ISU under Leath where they waived standard hiring protocol.
Posted on 3/20/17 at 4:54 pm to GenesChin
quote:
What was shady is that the guy was the second republican political official placed in a large role at ISU under Leath where they waived standard hiring protocol.
Well, god forbid Republicans get hired in higher education these days.
Way too many of'em already.
Can't have our safe spaces threatened!
quote:
waived standard hiring protocol
Was that illegal?
Posted on 3/20/17 at 5:01 pm to beatbammer
quote:
Well, god forbid Republicans get hired in higher education these days.
Doesn't really matter what party, just that they were two party officials from the same party.
State Politicians obviously have power/influence over state universities, it is shady to then see party officials appointed into roles outside typical hiring processes
quote:
Was that illegal?
Don't think so, but highly irregular and clearly frowned upon by the tone of multiple news outlets
This post was edited on 3/20/17 at 5:03 pm
Posted on 3/20/17 at 8:59 pm to StringedInstruments
Seems like a lot of people are pissed that this dude got the job. Also seems like a lot of folks in Iowa are happy to see the back of Leath.
Did Jay Jacobs hire this guy?
Did Jay Jacobs hire this guy?
Posted on 3/20/17 at 9:46 pm to Pavoloco83
quote:Got a more detailed analysis from my best AU buddy up in Cedar Falls, who is tight with a lot of ISU folks:
Seems like a lot of people are pissed that this dude got the job. Also seems like a lot of folks in Iowa are happy to see the back of Leath.
quote:
Leath is leaving ISU under a huge cloud of controversy. Have you read about the damage he inflicted on ISU aircraft while flying to his farm in North Carolina? Tens of thousands in damage caused by hard landings! He only ponied-up and reimbursed the U when the story became front page news in the Des Moines Register.
Academically, however, he has been outstanding. ISU's enrollment has grown by 10,000, private donations increased, grants awarded to the school have gone sky high, student recruitment has been radically innovative -- all the metrics are headed up.
On the other hand, he is very arrogant and authoritarian.
He will fight like hell for Auburn at the state legislature and piss off many on Goat Hill. :)
Posted on 3/21/17 at 9:22 pm to FearlessFreep
quote:
quote:
Seems like a lot of people are pissed that this dude got the job. Also seems like a lot of folks in Iowa are happy to see the back of Leath.
Got a more detailed analysis from my best AU buddy up in Cedar Falls, who is tight with a lot of ISU folks:
quote:
Leath is leaving ISU under a huge cloud of controversy. Have you read about the damage he inflicted on ISU aircraft while flying to his farm in North Carolina? Tens of thousands in damage caused by hard landings! He only ponied-up and reimbursed the U when the story became front page news in the Des Moines Register.
Academically, however, he has been outstanding. ISU's enrollment has grown by 10,000, private donations increased, grants awarded to the school have gone sky high, student recruitment has been radically innovative -- all the metrics are headed up.
On the other hand, he is very arrogant and authoritarian.
He will fight like hell for Auburn at the state legislature and piss off many on Goat Hill. :)
That Aircraft is worth only $400k new, unless he collapsed the gear, caused sudden stoppage to the prop and damaged a wing, I doubt he did tens of thousands in damage caused by a hard landing. The $12K sounds about right.
The flight lessons cost about a total of $6K at best, which includes the cost of the aircraft.
Posted on 3/29/17 at 3:29 pm to Irons Puppet
OANOW not letting up:
Our View: Auburn University's board of trustees owes AU family a full explanation
Our View: Auburn University's board of trustees owes AU family a full explanation
quote:
Leath was linked to trips and business deals that called into question his use of influence his role as a university president, such as hobnobbing with celebrities and political connections beyond normal duties. But more troublesome are reports such as a possible real estate deal with a regent who served as his boss, and Leath’s hiring of his flight instructor to a high-paying university position. What convinced the Auburn board that a past pattern of such questionable decision-making at Iowa State is good for Auburn University now? Auburn University is among the state’s most revered institutions. The Auburn family is known for its close-knit bond and unifying goals. The Auburn academic potential for influence, impact and accomplishment is without limit. Is Steven Leath worthy of the honor to lead Auburn University?
Posted on 3/29/17 at 5:09 pm to Rhino5
I totally trust that newspapers play it straight.
Posted on 3/30/17 at 1:31 pm to beatbammer
Now some info I have recently read about Leath I find MUCH more disturbing than plane damage or travel abuse.
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=bubu+palo+iowa+state+leath&*
If you read the details of this case, its apparent that Leath not only didn't cover himself in glory, he was more of a huge gutless weasel.
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=bubu+palo+iowa+state+leath&*
quote:
Lawsuit: ISU Turned Athlete into 'Pariah in His Community'
quote:
Its final: Bubu Palo didn't rape Hunter Elizabeth Breshears
quote:
Court dismisses Iowa State appeal in Bubu Palo case
If you read the details of this case, its apparent that Leath not only didn't cover himself in glory, he was more of a huge gutless weasel.
Latest Auburn News
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News