Bass, Berry & Sims attorney Audrey Anderson shared her insights for an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education examining how a university president’s past handling of misconduct allegations while president at a previous school could impact any current and future employment. At issue is how current Oregon State University President F. King Alexander handled sexual misconduct allegations about a football coach while president of Louisiana State University (LSU). The Oregon State University board is discussing whether they were properly informed about Alexander’s decision-making concerning the LSU coach during the interview process when hiring Alexander and whether disciplinary action should be taken now.
Boards are taking these issues more seriously after the vast problems uncovered in the sexual-abuse scandals at Michigan State and Penn State Universities, said Audrey. “What institutions should be taking from this is that the same rules should apply to everyone,” Audrey said. “Athletics is not an island. Tone at the top really matters.”
The full article, “At Oregon State, Trustees Reconsider the President’s Past,” was published March 16 by The Chronicle of Higher Education and is available online.