tl19731130-000 "towerlight Volume XXVII No. 14 November 30, 1973 Towson State College Towson, Md. 21204 Robert Leatherwood, Senate meeting last year. former photo by Buddy Rehrey SGA Senator, at a Campus attempts to conserve energy by Sue DeBolt As the energy crisis appears to be getting worse around the country, and citizens are asked to conserve more energy, Vice President of Business & Finance, Wayne Schelle, reports the Towson campus provided an excellent response in complying with requests so far. To comply with Phase I of the state plan, Towson effected a number of energy conservation Policies November 12. Those � regulations included such policies as temperature maintenance of 68 degrees except in the evening when it will be 65 degrees. All resident building will have the temperatures maintained at 70 degrees from 12 noon to 12 midnight with temperatures decreasing to 67 degrees after that, and all lighting in corridors will be analyzed and reduced if necessary. Personal electric heaters will not be permitted on the Towson campus, plus no windows may remain open during Phase I. The College will investigate the possibility of some offices and personnel operating on a four-day work week, and the Personnel Office will incorporate into its training program various methods of conserving energy. Director of the Physical Plant. Leon Herring, will serve as the overall campus coordinator of energy conservation. Although he didn't know how bad the energy shortage could become. Schelle said he was pleased with campus results so far. Mentioning that the Federal and State governments had gotten a late start. Schelle said that the allocation models must now be straightened out. Embezzlement and larceny charges: Leatherwood to face trial by Mike Dilworth Towson State evening student, Robert L. Leatherwood, indicted last April for embezzlement and larceny of Student Government Association funds, will face trial in Baltimore County District Court within the next month, according to Assistant State's Attorney, Joseph LaVerghetta. A candidate for the SGA presidency last year, and Junior class president of 1973. Leatherwood was arrested December 4, 1972 as a result of preliminary findings of a legislative audit into SGA records, and released on $3,000 bond. Up to ;15,000? The findings allegedly indicted that up to $15,000 in undeposited gate receipts and advanced ticket sales for various concerts held in 1971 and 1972 are missing from SGA funds. The Baltimore County Grand Jury indicted Leatherwood April 16, on five counts of larceny, embezzlement, and larceny after trust. Leatherwood was released on his own recognizance. Reviewing all fiscal policies, management control. and procedures of SGA, the official state audit. conducted by Robert A. Philips and William Lambros, legislative auditors, cannot be released until after the trial. Some SGA organization records are also being held by the auditing team as,evidence. Concert dealings Placing special emphasis on all concert dealings, the audit began September 22. 1972 at the request of SGA President, Jesse Harris. The Maryland State Police, aided by Campus Security, conducted an investigation at the Funds requested for two dances by Sue DeBolt Dance funds preoccupied the November 27 Senate meeting as Sophomore class president Clarke Porter introduced a measure concerning the February Sweetheart Dance, and Senior class president Chris Connolly asked for funds for a Christmas dance. Both measures must now go to the Appropriations Committee, and will be brought for a vote before Senate next week. Senators questioned Porter concerning cutting the funds for security plus featuring only one band. Connolly asked for funds for a Christmas Dance December 12. the night before reading day. Junior class president Konrad Herling presented a student petition concerning a missing rug in Stephens 108, and Senate voted to send it to the Welfare Committee. That committee will meet in an open forum Wednesday. December 5 at 3 p.m. Only ten Senators attended the meeting as the parhmentarian conducted the meeting. request of the auditors to determine whether criminal actions were responsible for the apparent loss of funds. The investigation into alleged missing funds was initiated by Towerlight News Editor, Jud Almond, and Editor, Mike Dilworth, who reported September 22. 1972, that gate receipts from concerts were missing. November 27. 1972. a preliminary audit report was presented to Corporal Samuel Combs of the Maryland State Police; Gene Dawson, TSC Security Director; SGA President Harris: Wayne Schelle. Vice-president of Business and Finance, and Richard Gillespie, Vice-president of Student Services. Warrant issued Representatives of the Attorney General's Office and the State's Attorney's Office reviewed the findings of the auditors November 29 with College officials. and decided that the report merited the issuance of a warrant for Leatherwood's arrest and the continuation of the investigation. Leatherwood turned himself in to the State Police on the advice of his attorney, Robert Dechico. Recommendations to Board Then on December 21. President James L. Fisher presented a recommendation to the Board of Trustees of the State Colleges of Maryland regarding the supervision and responsibility of SGA funds. as there was no Board policy or state regulation regarding the administration of SGA funds. In that presentation. President Fisher urged the adoption of five recommendations, suggested by the auditors, that either were implemented or are in the process of being initiated. . Fisher recommended that the SGA Financial and Budget operation be incorporated with the accounting procedures of the College. Fisher said. ""By doing this. we will be able to maintain a regular analysis and review of the SGA records."" Donald McCullogh, Director of Finance. reports that this is being done now. State employees Another suggestion by Fisher that has been implemented is that support positions of the SGA, such as bookkeeper, secretary, etc., having to deal with the financial procedures of SGA, be employed within the state classified system and funded from SGA funds. ""By doing this,"" Fisher said. we feel this position would carry with it the responsibility of maintaining the accounting principles and procedures required by the College and would provide needed continuity when SGA administrations change.'� It was recommended that the SGA be included as part of the regular audit conducted by the state auditors at the time of the College audit and on a yearly basis. This is being done. internal auditor Fisher recommended the creation of an internal auditor, as is the case at Morgan State College. This proposal was not officially accepted by the Board, but Towson has acquired the services of Robert Wolf. Assistant to Vice-president Schelle. who acts as a liason between the SGA financial officers and the College. Policy change In response to Fisher's recommendations. which were approved by SGA President Jesse Harris. the Board implemeilted an official policy change in July 1973. The change called on each college to supervise and maintain account receipts for all SGA organizational funds. In addition. the Board dispersed to the president of each college the determination of costs of maintaining such accounts. If the costs reach a significant figure. the Board grants the president power to charge the SGA accounts for services rendered. Former President Harris also developed changes in financial policies. and appointed a task force to investigate all fiscal matters. New financial policy Rick Danoff. present SGA Executive. who was Treasurer at the time of the missing funds controversy, developed a new financial policy and procedures statement for all SGA funds. Passed by the SGA Senate October 2. 1973. the newpolicy, in effect, tightens all concert dealings, methods for depositing large sums of money, receipting procedures. budgeting procedures. and her fiscal matters. The official state audit, will be released after the Leatherwood trial. "
