Faculty group denies misuse of COD resources

Lawyers for the College of DuPage's board of trustees are looking into allegations that college resources were abused by the faculty association's political action committee during the recent election.

Former Trustee Kory Atkinson - who didn't seek re-election in April - lodged the complaint at Thursday's board meeting. He accused COD professor and president of the faculty association's PAC Glenn Hansen of using college resources to forward the group's political agenda. Atkinson claims it is against the law for the faculty association to operate its political arm out of its campus offices.

Hansen argued the faculty association's Friends for Education PAC only used the faculty association's office as an address because "I felt it was important that we always be accessible to" the election commission and county clerk "and not hidden behind a mailbox number."

The board's attorney, Joe Perkoski, said he would begin what he deemed a "factual inquiry" and report back to the board and COD President Robert Breuder by the board's June 22 meeting whether he believes a full investigation is necessary.

Atkinson said he was pleased with the response to his concerns.

However, Atkinson also asked board Chairwoman Kathy Wessel as well as Trustees Kim Savage, Nancy Svoboda and Sandy Kim to recuse themselves from any involvement with the board's decisions on the investigation. He argues that because they received campaign donations and endorsements from Friends for Education they will be biased.

The four trustees have said in the past they have no plans to recuse themselves because of the support they receive from the faculty.

Atkinson said he will submit his findings to DuPage County State's Attorney Joseph Birkett's office if the four trustees block an official investigation. Atkinson's chief complaint is that the faculty association's offices were used by Friends for Education to conduct endorsement interviews of trustee candidates.

Hansen said Friends for Education was initiated two years ago because of a "tsunami of actions" by the board when Atkinson was a member that hurt the college's image.

"If you worked here, wouldn't you try to change things?" he asked during Thursday's public comment session. "The faculty association rents an office from the college; it's part of our contract. Friends for Education only uses that office to meet between elections. Once we have endorsed candidates, we meet off campus so as not to appear to violate ethics policies."