FORENSIC SCIENCE YSU fails to show records on professor

By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State University officials have yet to respond to a request for records that would detail the process used in the hiring of a forensic science professor.
The Vindicator asked YSU nearly a week ago to provide documents that appeared to have been created to determine the best of the 16 applicants for the $48,000-a-year full-time job.
Joseph Serowik eventually was hired, though his previous work as an examiner in the Cleveland Police Department lab is being scrutinized after his role in a man's wrongful imprisonment.
Responding to questions raised about the hiring, YSU President David Sweet has ordered a review of the process. The examination is to be completed by Sept. 10.
As of Monday, the university had yet to provide any of the hiring documents requested by the newspaper or an explanation of why they weren't being turned over.
Atty. Holly Jacobs, YSU legal counsel, has said, without elaborating, that the documents request was being reviewed.
A YSU spokesman had no new information to add Monday .
Public Records Act
The Vindicator sought the papers through Ohio's Public Records Act, a law that requires governmental entities to provide documents when they are sought by the public or press.
The newspaper asked for three types of documents.
One was an evaluation sheet developed by Dr. Tammy King of YSU's criminal justice department for use by the screening committee for the job.
The form was to aid members in rating candidates' credentials, experience and skills.
Also requested was a "questions for candidates" form that contained 20 questions for the job candidates, including queries about teaching experience, student interaction, crime scene-processing skills and ability to serve as an expert witness.
Another question was asked: "If YSU hired you in our forensic scientist position, would there be anything that could discredit our selection and potentially damage our academic credibility?"
A third document sought was a "classroom presentation evaluation form" that included nine standards, with each to be rated from "very poor" to "excellent."
Among the standards were organization, interaction with students and general knowledge of topics.
Questions were known
Serowik was chosen for the YSU post from among four finalists, though faculty and staff members involved in the selection process knew of the questions raised about him in Cleveland.
Sweet and Provost Tony Atwater, who approved Serowik's hiring recommendation, have said they were unaware of the controversy until after Serowik was hired to a one-year teaching contract.
As a crime lab examiner, Serowik testified regarding his analysis of evidence in the 1988 Cleveland rape trial of Michael Green, who eventually was convicted of the crime and spent 13 years in prison.
Green was freed after DNA evidence proved he was innocent. He then sued the city in federal court over his imprisonment.
As part of the lawsuit, experts examined Serowik's testimony and said his analysis of evidence that helped convict Green was flawed.
Lawsuit settled
Cleveland settled the lawsuit this spring for $1.6 million and a condition that it audit Serowik's forensic work in dozens of other cases. The audit continues.
Serowik was fired this summer from his crime lab job, The Plain Dealer of Cleveland has reported.
Serowik has told The Vindicator that he believes his work performance in Cleveland will be validated by the audit.