What's going on...
Two Beard Electrical contractors working to install a new pump, filtration and heating system for the Physical Education Building pool were taken to Presbyterian Hospital after suffering an electrical shock at about 1 p.m. this afternoon.

What you should know...
The incident happened while the workers were connecting wires on a de-energized circuit board and a wrench made contact with a board that was still powered. One of the injured contractors is being treated at Presbyterian. The other has been transported to Parkland Hospital.

The accident tripped the fuses to shut down the building’s electrical system. The building will remain without power until the fuses can be replaced, the system tested and the building declared safe.

Classes scheduled to be held today in the PEB are cancelled through 6 p.m. However, night classes in the PEB should be able to be held as scheduled. Students and faculty should check UNT’s web site for updates by 5 p.m.

In addition to restoring power to the building, the university’s facilities crews are cleaning up a flood in the building’s basement that occurred when the pumps for the pool went down. That work is expected to be completed this evening.

What's going on...
The UNT Police Department has issued the following crime bulletin in regards to a robbery that took place in a parking lot on campus at about 1 a.m. today (Aug. 31).

What you should know...
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS POLICE DEPARTMENT
Crime Bulletin

BULLETIN: 0807-1

OFFENSE: Robbery

LOCATION(S): 900 W. Eagle (UNT Lot 41)

DATE: Friday, August 31, 2007            TIME: 1:00 AM

SUSPECT INFORMATION: Black Male, light skin, 5-08, mid-twenties, muscular build, bald head, and no facial hair. Last seen without a shirt carrying a white tank top and wearing beige cargo shorts.

DETAILS OF EVENT: On 08/31/2007 at approximately 1:00 AM the suspect approached several victims in UNT parking Lot #41, located in the 900 block of W. Eagle. The suspect stated that he had a "piece" and demanded the victims' property. The victims' complied and the suspect then fled on foot east bound towards Bernard Street. A weapon was not displayed during the incident.

Students, Faculty and Staff are encouraged to immediately report suspicious or dangerous activity to the police by dialing 911.

If you have any information regarding this offense, please contact Detective West Gilbreath at the University of North Texas Police Department (940) 565-3006 or UNT Crime Stoppers (940) 369-TIPS (8477).


Date Posted: 08/31/2007

According to current police reports, last weekend tires were punctured on about 13 vehicles parked along Maple Street near the residence halls. Last night (Feb. 20), tires were punctured on another 15 vehicles — including three university service vehicles.

What you should know…
Police began investigating after the initial reports were made Feb. 15. In addition, patrols in the area have been increased and informational fliers about the incidents are being posted in all residence halls and across campus.
 
Anyone with information is urged to call 940-369-TIPS (8477) or the UNT Police Department at (940) 565-3000.

Commenting on today’s news reports that Gov. Rick Perry has a plan to redirect the higher education “special items” funding, President Gretchen M. Bataille says, “I am proud of the history of excellence at the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science at UNT.

“Although Gov. Perry has proposed changing university ‘special item’ funding, we do not believe funding for TAMS will be reduced. UNT will continue to make the case for support and expansion of this outstanding program.

“TAMS was established officially in the Texas Education Code and has been funded by the Texas Legislature for almost 20 years. Many Texas universities have well-established and respected programs supported by these special appropriations, and we believe any new funding structure will preserve those proven programs that are effective and support Texas’ higher education goals.

“TAMS provides a unique, academically challenging experience to some of Texas’ most talented students. It has produced a large number of new, bright young scientists, engineers and mathematicians for our state and nation.

“UNT is committed to providing excellent academic opportunities for all of its more than 33,000 students and TAMS is a shining example of the quality of a UNT education and the research experiences our university's students receive,” she says.

Created by the Texas Legislature in 1987, TAMS is a two-year early admissions program at UNT that allows talented students to complete their freshman and sophomore years of college while earning their high school diplomas. students enroll in the academy following their sophomore year in high school, live in a UNT residence hall and attend UNT classes with college students. After two years, they enroll at UNT or another university to finish their bachelor’s degrees.

The federal government on Jan. 5 declined to prosecute and closed its investigation of an Intergovernmental Personnel Act agreement among the Department of Defense, UNT and retired Brig. Gen. Klaus Schafer, who formerly served as the deputy assistant to the secretary of defense for chemical and biological defense.

“The outcome of the federal government’s investigation -- that UNT engaged in no wrongdoing -- is consistent with the findings of our comprehensive investigation,” says Deborah Leliaert, UNT System associate vice chancellor for communications and marketing and UNT vice president for university relations, communications and marketing.

The IPA agreement, which was at the center of the investigation, had UNT pay Schafer $310,000 in salary while he worked for the defense department. The IPA allows employees of a state or local government or university to be appointed to a fixed-term federal position, or vice versa, when the appointment serves a sound public interest.

UNT’s internal investigation found, and the federal government’s investigation confirmed, that the IPA agreement with UNT was executed at Schafer’s request and backdated by Schafer so there would be no apparent break in sponsorship from a non-federal agency, allowing him to continue to work at the defense department without interruption. Schafer’s previous IPA agreement through Johns Hopkins University had expired.

“Now that the investigation is complete, we look forward to working collaboratively with the Department of Defense in seeking reimbursement of funds paid to Dr. Schafer while he worked at DoD,” Leliaert says.

“I am relieved that this report will now bring to an end a long and difficult process for UNT and the UNT System,” says Chancellor Lee F. Jackson. “I am proud that our own staff discovered problems with Dr. Schafer’s contract and acted immediately to investigate the matter, that we self disclosed the problem to the government and that we collaborated with the government throughout this whole investigation. Had we not pursued this matter with vigor it would have sent the wrong message about the high value we place on ethics and integrity in UNT System institutions. Strict ethical standards are necessary so that we earn and maintain the faith and trust of our students, friends, faculty and staff.”

A review of the executed IPA agreement by the UNT System’s Office of General Counsel in January 2005 resulted in the UNT System’s immediate retention of outside counsel with extensive experience dealing with agencies of the federal government, specifically the defense department, to lead the investigation.

After conducting a preliminary internal investigation, the UNT System voluntarily disclosed to the defense department that in November 2004 it had executed an IPA agreement with Schafer and the Pentagon that was backdated to July 1, 2004, and then executed by a WHS official. The UNT System’s disclosure led to the lengthy and collaborative investigation which found that Schafer and Pentagon administrators guided UNT in the completion of the IPA, including the terms of the agreement.

The UNT System has spent $1.4 million on legal fees for the lengthy and complex investigation. The expenses are being paid from the university’s reserve fund. Typically, the university maintains about $30 million in reserves, which is accumulated from unexpended funds collected from departmental budgets at the end of each fiscal year.

“The UNT System’s decision to hire independent, respected outside counsel ensured the integrity and thoroughness of the investigation, and made possible early in the investigation the system’s collaboration with the defense department,” Leliaert says.

President Gretchen M. Bataille says this investigation, and the professional manner in which UNT conducted itself throughout, serves as an excellent example of why voluntary disclosure and internal investigations are an important part of an institution’s compliance program.

“UNT cannot change what already has happened, but we can take steps to ensure that the university’s compliance standards, and the consequences of violating them, are well understood. And, we will continue to increase safeguards that protect the university’s institutional assets,” says President Gretchen M. Bataille.

“It is my expectation that all university employees comport themselves in an ethical fashion and comply with our policies and procedures,” Bataille says.

The conclusion of the federal investigation also closes the UNT Police investigation into the matter.

“From our perspective this was largely a federal issue. We have reviewed the report and are satisfied that the matter has been investigated. We do not believe further action is warranted,” says Chief Richard Deter.

Denton Police are looking for a suspect believed to be connected to three reported sexual assaults near the UNT campus.

All victims have described the assailant as a white male in his 20s to early 30s, about 5-feet10-inches tall, weighing approximately 150 pounds with dark hair and possibly a thin mustache.


What you should know …

• The first attack occurred around 2 a.m. Aug. 6. The female was walking home from a local club near Welch and Oak when a man reportedly pushed her down and attempted to sexually assault her. She was able to fight the attacker off and he fled.
• The second attack happened at 1:45 a.m. Oct 29 in the 1000 block of West Hickory. The female victim — who left the same club as the August victim — was attacked when she was temporarily separated from a male companion. Her companion returned and fought with the attacker and managed to drive him away. The attacker reportedly matched the description in the previous assault report.
• The third attack occurred at 8 p.m. Oct. 29. A woman walking home from the Denton Square was approached by a man on a bicycle. He grabbed her and began assaulting her but she fought back and he fled. Her description of the attacker matched the description the previous victims supplied.

Police are asking that any information about this incident, or any suspicious behavior on campus, be reported immediately to Detective David Stewart with Denton Police Department at (940) 349-7979.

Anyone with information about this incident, who wishes to remain anonymous, should call Crime Stoppers at (940) 369-8477.

Students and community members should increase their awareness of personal safety.

Safety precaution tips include:

• When walking during the hours of darkness, remain aware of your surroundings:
• Use the buddy system;
• Keep to well-lit areas and designated sidewalks;
• Take advantage of UNT Shuttle services when they are available; and
• Don't open your doors to unknown persons.

 
A police escort service is available for people on campus during the hours of darkness when the bus system is not operating. To arrange an escort, call (940) 565-4838.

University community members should also be aware of the 51 emergency call boxes throughout campus, which automatically connect to the police department.

Other campus resources for information and counseling include:

• UNT Police: (940) 565-3000
• Dean of Students: (940) 565-2648
• Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities: (940) 565-2039
• Housing: (940) 565-4844 or (940) 565-2610
• Counseling and Testing Center: (940) 565-2741
• Friends of the Family crisis line: 1-800-572-4031

A contractor working for Austin Commercial on the construction of Honors Hall was transported to Presbyterian Hospital in Denton, where he is now in stable condition, after suffering an electric shock at about 11:30 this morning. The incident happened when the contractor cut through a 4-inch PVC-pipe electrical conduit that carried 13,000 volts of power for the buildings on the south side of campus. About a dozen buildings will be without power through the end of the day.

What you should know…
The accident originally caused a power outage for almost all of the buildings on the south side of campus because university electricians are currently working to replace the backup conduit to the line that was cut, according to Glen Haubold, associate director of facilities maintenance.

Power was restored to most of the buildings after about an hour, but the following buildings will be without power until about 7 p.m.

• Athletics building one
• Athletics building two
• Bain Hall
• The Coliseum
• Fouts Field
• The Gateway Center
• The Men's Gym
• Mozart Hall
• The Murchison Performing Arts Center
• The Murchison Performing Arts Center Annex
• Music Practice
• The University Services Building 

“We normally have two lines serving each side of campus, but we are currently working to replace the redundancy line for the south side as part of our routine maintenance to the university’s electrical system,” Haubold says. “In order to restore power to the buildings that we couldn’t switch to another backup, we’ve called in extra crews to work overtime, and I anticipate that we’ll finish the replacement this evening instead of later this week.”

The work to repair the line that was cut will take longer, and is estimated to cost about $60,000, which most likely will be covered by Austin Commercial, according to Charlie Jackson, executive director of facilities.

Paul Jones, retired professor of chemistry on modified service since Sept. 2006, was placed on administrative leave with pay Oct. 4 after university officials received complaints from students alleging questionable behavior by Jones in class. The university is investigating the allegations.

What you should know…

Some students in Jones’ organic chemistry class raised issues with a video clip that was allegedly shown during class time Oct. 3. Additionally, students allege that Jones promoted the sale of raffle tickets that would benefit his church during class time.

Because the university’s investigation into the allegations is ongoing, further details about the allegations are not available.

Jones, who has taught at UNT for 38 years, retired in May 2006 and began serving on modified service this fall. This semester, he was teaching three classes, all of which are currently being taught by other instructors.

The Faculty Senate chair is investigating what happens next after learning that the Faculty Senate parliamentarian on Sunday revoked two actions taken by the senate during its Nov. 9 meeting.

Keith Turner, parliamentarian and associate professor of applied gerontology, revoked the actions after determining that the secret ballot votes used to decide the items were in conflict with the group’s bylaws.

The ruling potentially affects a referendum election that would allow all of the university’s voting faculty members (about 725 currently) to cast an opinion of “confidence” or “no confidence” about Provost Howard Johnson, as well as the placement of two senators (John Booth, Regents professor of political science, and Earl Zimmerman, professor of biological sciences) on the Senate Charter and Bylaws Committee. Both items were decided with secret ballots during the senate’s Nov. 9 meeting.

Frances van Tassell, the Faculty Senate chair, is investigating what it means when the parliamentarian officially revokes senate actions and what the appropriate outcome should be. Once a thorough investigation is concluded, van Tassell says she will clarify the senate’s next actions in a statement to faculty.

Turner based his ruling on the Faculty Senate bylaws governing senate voting, which state:
“a. All matters brought before the Faculty Senate that require a vote, with the
exception of the elections of officers, shall be decided by open vote, i.e.,
voice vote, show of hands or roll call, as determined by the presiding officer.
b. A roll call vote may be ordered upon the vote of at least one-fifth of the
senators present.”