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News

TSU's top official removed

Slade dismissed from post after allegations of mishandling funds 

Cougar News Service

Texas Southern University President Priscilla Slade was dismissed Wednesday during a public hearing by the university's board of regents, the Houston Chronicle reported.

The board voted 8-0 to make June 17 Slade's official last day during a scheduled eight-hour meeting.

Slade, who has a doctorate in accounting, was formally removed from her top post after allegations surfaced that she squandered about $650,000 in school funds to buy furniture for her Memorial Park area home and retrofitting it with a security system.

Slade contended the spending was done in part to attract and entertain philanthropists and donors for the university. The school underwent several renovations to its campus under Slade's leadership.

The former president requested Monday's appeal hearing, which is guaranteed in her contract, after the university's governing body decided to dismiss her in April.

Slade appealed in order to defend her name and save her job, but she was not present at the meeting.

Slade denies any wrongdoing, and she has moved forward with a lawsuit against the university for breach of contract.

"Dr. Slade was terminated after very flawed proceedings at the last board of regents' meeting on April 17, 2006. There is no need for her to appear today and participate in a charade,'' Slade's attorney, Ron Franklin, said in a written statement. "Instead, she is anxious to proceed with her lawsuit." 

"There, an impartial jury will hear all the facts for the first time which is a constitutional and contractual due process right the board of regents has denied her, no matter the attempt to justify their conduct today."

The troubles keep mounting for the former president. She is also facing federal charges from Harris County prosecutors who raided her home in May and confiscated some of her belongings. Charges from a county grand jury may be filed.

The decision to dismiss Slade came after different internal audits by the university and investigations by private organization found evidence that Slade violated the university's policies concerning spending and account procedures while she worked at the university.

The dismissal marks the end of Slade's more than 10-year affiliation with TSU. She joined the university as dean of the accounting department in 1991 and has served as president since 1999.

Slade earned more than $340,000 last year as president.

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