Friday, October 24, 2008

Flurry of Felner Coverage at C-J

This from Nancy Rodriguez at C-J:

Ex-U of L dean Felner arraigned on fraud, tax charges
Ex-U of L education dean pleads not guilty
His hands firmly clasped in front of him, former University of Louisville Education Dean Robert Felner offered only a quiet "Yes, sir" and "Yes, madam" during his arraignment yesterday on fraud and tax evasion charges.
His attorney, Scott C. Cox, entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of Felner. A federal grand jury in Louisville indicted him Wednesday on 10 counts of mail fraud, money-laundering conspiracy and income-tax evasion...
...[Thomas] Schroeder is expected to turn himself in to federal authorities in Louisville and be arraigned this morning, according to a spokeswoman with the U.S. attorney's office. His Louisville attorney, David S. Mejia, attended Felner's arraignment yesterday, and said he expected his client to arrive in Louisville overnight...
Amount of money shocks officials

University of Rhode Island officials said yesterday they were not surprised that
former University of Louisville education dean Robert Felner, who once headed their education school, was indicted on charges of misappropriating federal grant and other money.

But they were shocked to learn how much money Felner is accused of taking from an education center he created and directed at the university until 2006 -- $1.7 million. "We had not understood it to be that large," said Robert Weygand, the school's vice president for administration...
Students, faculty express concerns

He was a brash university dean who brought in millions in grants, racked up faculty grievances and eventually generated headlines in a criminal investigation.
[Wednesday's] indictment of former University of Louisville Education Dean Robert Felner provoked campus reaction ranging from head-shaking dismay to worries about the university's standing.

"It's a disgrace," said senior Mike Giurgevich, 22, who stood outside the College of Education and Human Development that Felner once headed. "I want to be a teacher, and you can't be misusing education funds."

Education professor William Bush said he was shocked by the scope of the charges that extended to Felner's time at the University of Rhode Island...

No comments: