In a hearing before state legislators last month, Terrence Cheng, chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system, apologized again and again. He apologized for inappropriate spending and misuse of a state credit card during his three-year tenure. He apologized for indiscretions that included acceptance of a hefty moving allowance without having moved.
He apologized for expensive meals and pricey bottles of wine, flowers and room service, clothing, chauffeured trips and tickets to a gala and sporting events.
But the people Cheng should have apologized to are the students who attend one of CSCU’s four universities and 12 community college campuses. Students who have faced soaring tuition costs while cafeterias, libraries and career readiness offices have been closed. Students who have had to contend with reduced library hours and cuts in tutoring and disability services.
At the hearing, Cheng was contrite. “It looks bad,” said the apparently tone-deaf chancellor, who acknowledged that he had made “mistakes.” Perhaps Cheng, whose annual salary and benefits exceed $450,000, thought he would never get caught.
But thanks to enterprising journalists, who last fall uncovered Cheng’s egregious misconduct, the public knows about his profligate spending.
The information-gathering was made possible by the state’s 50-year-old Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which ensures that the public and news media have access to state and local government records and operations.
But for at least the third consecutive year, the legislature is poised to exempt from public disclosure all records arising out of teaching and research (with the exception of budgets) at public colleges and universities. Spearheaded by the faculty union at the University of Connecticut, the FOIA exemption bill has been endorsed by a legislative committee and will likely be sent to the Senate and House. If it is approved by both chambers, the measure would then go to Gov. Ned Lamont, who mystifyingly called Cheng’s misspending “not a big deal” and “a lot of small ball.”
CSCU students, legislators and state taxpayers would almost certainly disagree.
Said Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding and House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora: “We now have a more detailed look at the spending abuses and procedural failures within the CSCU system which have been a black eye for the state of Connecticut. What it reveals is a lack of respect for students, parents, staff, and taxpayers alike. It reveals arrogance.”
Arrogance is trying to shield public higher education from public scrutiny. Arrogance is trying to protect some UConn researchers from alleged harassment even as taxpayers have poured billions of dollars into rebuilding campuses and handsome salaries. Arrogance is trying to dilute the FOIA even though none of the researchers or faculty who have claimed harassment have used two provisions in the FOIA that potentially would have stopped it.
Unfortunately, with the proliferation of social media and in the current political climate, everyone is vulnerable to harassment and intimidation these days. Why should faculty be a protected class?
Cheng’s misdeeds are but one example of the type of information that wouldn’t have come to light if this horrendous bill is approved.
Just last week, it was reported that Sherry Lynn Zane, a UConn faculty member, was charged with first-degree larceny after she allegedly used more than $58,000 in university and grant money for personal travel and related expenses. Among the 19 trips she charged to the state were those to Ireland and Disney World. In her paperwork, Zane explained that the high-cost trips were designed to perform “specific research” that she could only accomplish in those locations.
UConn President Radenka Maric noted that “it is critical that we always hold ourselves and our workforce to the highest standards of accountability.”
Isn’t accountability what the FOIA is about? How do you have accountability without transparency?
Then there was a story last October about another UConn faculty member, Steven Harper, who resigned amid an investigation into sexual misconduct involving a 22-year-old female student. The findings came to light after a newspaper reporter obtained university documents. Thankfully, the records were subject to public view because a UConn spokeswoman declined comment.
After an audit following the disclosure of Chancellor Cheng’s misdeeds, state Comptroller Sean Scanlon reported, “This audit was conducted in an effort to bring greater accountability and transparency to spending within the CSCU system – both of which the students and taxpayers of our state deserve.”
There are those words again: accountability and transparency. If Senate Bill 1226 were to pass, when it comes to public higher education, those words would become meaningless.
Michele Jacklin is Co-President of the Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information.