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Week of Thursday, August 28, 2003Audit to include By DAVE
MELCHIOR The Michigan Auditor General’s office is expected to initiate an audit of Eastern Michigan University with special attention on the construction and financing of University House. The $3.5-million University House has been a source of controversy since its inception, said State Rep. Ruth Ann Jamnick, D-Ypsilanti Township, who asked that the audit be performed. She said Tuesday it was her "understanding that the audit will go forward." Jamnick met earlier in the day with three officials from the Auditor General’s office. The state regularly audits EMU, but Jamnick said the university is to be moved up in the cycle, and auditors will be examining the financing of University House. University House is a 10,000-square-foot building that incorporates an approximately 3,500-square-foot president’s residence and about 7,500 square feet of space for public events such as fundraisers. At the time the Board of Regents announced plans to construct University House, they said no public funds would be used to pay for it. Ward Mullens, manager of news services for the university, said EMU officials were aware such an audit was under discussion, but he said he had not been informed that the review would go forward. "If they decide to do so, then that’s their prerogative," he said. "We will be as accommodating as we can to facilitate the report." Jamnick said while the decision to ask for the audit of a university was difficult she believes it is necessary. "My reason for doing it was out of fairness to both the university and the community," Jamnick said. "I don’t believe there is anything the university can say that would make people feel better about the stories" about University House. University House has been the subject of numerous rumors and accusations that have percolated through the community since construction began. "We needed a separate entity to look at the issue - where and how the money is used," said Jamnick. "The issue has been so divisive in the community. I didn’t see any other way to solve it." Mullens agreed, saying the audit would provide "an opportunity for the community to see that a lot of what is being said is not true. This will help put a lot of that false information to rest." Jamnick said she met with officials from the Auditor General’s office to provide them with background. She also said she is asking members of the community who would like to provide information to the auditors to contact her office. She said she needs that information within two weeks and she said she would protect the identities of anyone who did not want their names passed on to the auditors. Jamnick said she originally had sought an amendment to a state appropriation requiring the audit, but after leaders of legislative finance committees agreed to request an audit in writing, she agreed that would suffice. When the audit might begin or how long it might take was not available Tuesday. |
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