Dive Brief:
- A preliminary auditor's report [pdf] alleges family and friends of Alabama State University trustees benefited financially.
- The report identified contracts and payments to people who provided limited or no services to the school and payments that constituted a conflict of interest, to the tune of about $2.5 million total.
- Alabama's governor is asking that the school stop its search for a new president in light of the allegations.
Dive Insight:
There's some interesting background here: According to a letter from the governor [pdf], the investigation began after the university's former president found a box of documents left at his doorstep. The documents raised questions that eventually led to the hiring of forensic accountants.