The following statement was issued today by CSU Stanislaus President Hamid Shirvani regarding false allegations by state Senator Leland Yee:
“It is unfortunate that Senator Leland Yee is conveniently using a legal response from the University for further political gain. The fact is that the contract with the Washington Speakers Bureau to retain Gov. Palin is between the Bureau and the University Foundation. That is why in the response to the public records act request, our campus compliance officer stated ‘The University has no documents that are responsive to your request.’
“The Foundation, as established by the California Legislature decades ago, is not required to comply with the state’s Public Records Act. However the Foundation did respond to the Senator’s request for information and explained that, due to a confidentiality clause in the Speakers Bureau contract, it was unable to provide a copy of the agreement, including any financial terms or other arrangements.
“Vice President for University Advancement Susana Gajic-Bruyea also serves as executive director of the Foundation and, in that role, was responsible for reviewing draft and final versions of the Foundation’s contract with the Washington Speakers Bureau. Drafts that were discarded were noticed missing from her office and the matter has been referred to the Stanislaus County District Attorney, City of Turlock Police and University Campus Police as well. We are not able to comment on an active police investigation.
“All funds for the event have been privately raised by the Foundation and in no way have any public funds been used to support the event.”
“It is unfortunate that Senator Leland Yee is conveniently using a legal response from the University for further political gain. The fact is that the contract with the Washington Speakers Bureau to retain Gov. Palin is between the Bureau and the University Foundation. That is why in the response to the public records act request, our campus compliance officer stated ‘The University has no documents that are responsive to your request.’
“The Foundation, as established by the California Legislature decades ago, is not required to comply with the state’s Public Records Act. However the Foundation did respond to the Senator’s request for information and explained that, due to a confidentiality clause in the Speakers Bureau contract, it was unable to provide a copy of the agreement, including any financial terms or other arrangements.
“Vice President for University Advancement Susana Gajic-Bruyea also serves as executive director of the Foundation and, in that role, was responsible for reviewing draft and final versions of the Foundation’s contract with the Washington Speakers Bureau. Drafts that were discarded were noticed missing from her office and the matter has been referred to the Stanislaus County District Attorney, City of Turlock Police and University Campus Police as well. We are not able to comment on an active police investigation.
“All funds for the event have been privately raised by the Foundation and in no way have any public funds been used to support the event.”