In wake of findings by SouthernUniversity internal auditors revealing academic records and grade changes inthe Registrar’s Office, Chancellor Edward R. Jackson said in a press conferenceWednesday that the university has taken the required steps in bringing closure.
Those steps include a new interimRegistrar, Brenda Williams and the reassignment of former Registrar MarvinAllen. Jackson has also assigned an internal auditor from the Chancellor’sOffice to monitor the department, along with new internal controls to preventunauthorized entries from reoccurring.
However, the preventive measuresthat Jackson has taken may have been too little and too late. Many on campusfeel that the academic integrity of Southern has been compromised and otherslook for what Southern should do to remove itself from such a dark cloud.
“For the present, I do think that theUniversity’s integrity has been tainted,” said Marilyn Rutland, assistantprofessor of mass communications. “But if the university and the administrationgoes after these people, prosecute them and not sweep this under the rug, thenit will be a positive step forward for the university. If they don’t then itwill be a big problem.”
Over 500 students could be calledbefore a faculty panel that will determine if unauthorized or undocumentedentries have been made to change either their grades or academic records. Legalrepercussions could result, in addition to the possibility of students’ degreesbeing revoked.
“Undoubtedly, this is a tough hourand an hour of introspection for our institution,” said Sudhir K. Trivedi,president of the SU Faculty Senate.
The faculty senate will meet todayat 2 p.m. in the Blue and Gold Room at the Smith-Brown Memorial Union todiscuss the findings and the Chancellor’s leadership during the investigation.
“With respect to calls forchancellor’s resignation, it is theprerogative of the (SU System) President andthe (SU System) Board (of Supervisors) to deal with the issue of the
campus leadership,” he said. “As thefaculty, all we must do and we shall do at this juncture is to help theAdministration and the Board in restoring the academic integrity in thisinstitution.”
Jessica Putman, a freshman businessmanagement major from Austin, Texas, said that the scandal has not altered herthoughts of Southern. She said that she feels that image of university has notbeen tainted and high school seniors should still choose Southern.
“One bad apple shouldn’t ruin thebushel,” she said.
Eugere Robinson, a recruiter forSouthern said that the scandal makes the university look bad, but thatrecruitment or enrollment should not affected.
In the Registrars’ Office, it’sbusiness as usual for Helen Rutledge, a verification officer-except for therecent increase in the volume of her calls.
“The office has been receivingnumerous calls for verification of degrees since the announcement,” Rutledgesaid. “But as far as this office is concerned, we have a great staff and theacademic integrity of the faculty and staff is intact.”
Rutledge said the university and thepublic should never lose faith in the Registrars’ Office.
“We will continue to do ourday-to-day operations that assist our students and staff,” she said. “We willget over this and we will get over this together.”
