OSU tip line uncovers campus rule breakers

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio State University has called its anonymous tip line a success, saying it has uncovered rule breakers in all corners of the university, from an employee who kept sexually explicit material on a university computer to employees suspected of stealing thousands of dollars.

Since the tip line was started in March 2006, the university has investigated 19 tips that resulted in legal or administrative action against employees, said Bill Shkurti, senior vice president for business and finance. An additional 107 tips turned out to be unsubstantiated or were not in serious violation of school policy, he said.

One anonymous tip led to the investigation of former OSU Treasurer Jim Nichols, who overstated the performance of the university’s investment returns in financial reports and failed to follow school policy to quickly sell donated stock. The investigation found no evidence of fraud or misappropriation of funds.

Nichols retired while on paid leave after the university’s probe and the Ohio Ethics Commission has opened an investigation into other irregularities.

Other calls led to the firing of a volunteer coach accused of giving alcohol to members of the women’s rugby club and the prosecution of five parking-lot attendants accused of stealing parking receipts that might total thousands of dollars, said university Assistant Police Chief Rick Amweg.

Professors’ concerns that people would make false complaints have not surfaced, said Allan Silverman, immediate past chairman of the OSU Faculty Council.

The program costs $38,000 annually. OSU has contracted with EthicsPoint until February 2009 to collect telephone and e-mail tips and forward them to university officials for investigation.