Central State University
TUESDAY April 9, 1991
,,,,si•?r,MMyrp, •
The Student Voice Since 1903
6 million lawsuit filed By Penny Owen
Student Writer
Central State University faces a $6 million dollar lawsuit filed by a former physical plant director, who was terminated after allegedly using CSU employees for asbestos removal by his privately-owned company on CSU time. Nimrod T. Chapel was dismissed March 31, 1989 on charges of insubordination. CSU President Bill Lillard said in a letter suspending Chapel with pay that Chapel ignored requests by CSU officials for him to stop using campus employees in his privately-owned business, 4-C Systems. 4-C Systems was contracted by CSU during the 1980s to remove asbestos from campus buildings. Other CSU allegations include Chapel's refusal to supply information requested by CSU Vice President Joyce Mounce con-
Chapel alleges violated rights
cerning misuse of CSU materials and falsification of time records. Chapel is also accused of authorizing personal and sick leave for CSU employees on dates when they worked for 4-C Systems. "He was using CSU employees, but on time other than CSU's," said Chapel's attorney Michael Gassaway. "There was no double-dipping." The accusations stemmed from a state audit questioning 6,730 overtime hours turned in by nine physical plant employees during the 1986-87 fiscal year. This audit sparked a 20-month Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation search concerning alleged inappropriate spending and conflicts of interest between CSU and 4-C
Systems. The investigative findings were turned over last fall to the District Attorney's office for review. In his petition, filed March 29 in Oklahoma County District Court, Gassaway claims insubordination is not a cause for dismissal as stated in the university personnel policies, which Chapel is subject to under his employment contract. Gassaway also said that the disciplinary hearing prior to termination was held by the same CSU officials conducting the investigation, denying Chapel the right to an impartial hearing and due process of law. Upon termination, Chapel requested an appeal before a faculty committee, but was turned down. He was allowed to appear before the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges, but could not confront his accusers, cross-examine them or present evidence, Gassaway said. V See LAWSUIT, page 4.
Dispute erupts after recruiter meets student By Missy Smith
Student Writer
A confrontation broke out between Student Association Vice President David Slane and Southwestern field recruiter Hayden Flowers at an intern recruiting meeting Thursday in University Center, Room 422. Slane had warned students about what he called a "shady" company, before Southwestern representatives arrived. The company was to be on campus to interview students for summer jobs that they said included internships. But by the time they arrived, people were already suspicious of the company. Flowers said the company has been recruiting at CSU for 50 years and students that work in the program are very professional. Slane said if that was so, then they should know proper posting procedure. Flowers said this is his first year recruiting at CSU and was not familiar with posting procedure and said he spoke with Ryan about the mistakes and promised full restitution. Flowers said some "ambitious students (who posted fliers) got carried away and made some stupid mistakes."
A sign left by Student Association Vice President David Slane warns students about a group recruiting interns
from campus. (Photo by Andrew Woon)
Slane said the main reasons Southwestern was thrown off the campus included taking a bunch of their fliers and stapling them into the walls in the library, nailing them on trees and on campaign signs.
gard for state property and all campus facilities that this group be banned indefinitely from meeting and recruiting on this campus," the letter stated. Slane added, "We just want to make sure that they're banned from campus and CSU students don't get caught up in that stuff." The Southwestern C_ ompany is a com-
He also told of a University of Oklahoma student who did a summer internship for the company "was left in the hills of Tennessee to sell the books and was there a day or two without food." The Vista received a copy of a letter sent to Dr. Dudley Ryan, vice-president of student affairs from the Student Association. "It is our belief that with the recent incidents involving the Southwestern Group on campus and the complete and total disre-
1,,,,A4r#7.;40 OW, , 7
\A \
as4,43,1
•
BUSINESS Editorial 2 Op-ed 3 Sports 9,10 Around Campus.11 Comics 11 Word Games 11 Classifieds 12
Escalating oil prices and instability in the Middle East could prompt new energy research. One resource many are considering is abundant in Oklahoma: natural gas.
6
pany out of Nashville, Tenn., that sells reference material and targets junior high, high school and college students. Ryan said he has spoken to four students
in the past 10 years who have been employed by Southwestern. "They were completely dissatisfied with the treatment they received as well as the
conditions they were put in," Ryan said.
tAthi km* kItt\\A ;
SPORTS
n 7
Head baseball Coach
Bobby Hunt's replacement has been found, according to a report by a local newspaper. Hunt retires in May after 29 years.