Friday, September 21, 2007
The University of Kansas began an investigation into an unauthorized release of private information Thursday. It would not discuss the details of the investigation, but said it would notify those individuals whose names were in the materials early next week.
The University Daily Kansan received two manila envelopes containing the confidential information of students, faculty and University employees on Tuesday. An anonymous source in a cover letter attached with the materials said the information was recovered from the department of mathematics. The Kansan returned the original contents to the University on Wednesday. The University said it needed to have the personal information before it could begin the investigation.
University relations director Todd Cohen said the University held meetings Thursday about what action to take in the investigations. Cohen said the University was going through the information and that it would take some time to determine who was involved. He said students and faculty members involved in the incident wouldn’t be notified until early next week after all the information had been viewed.
An employee in the department of mathematics, Gloria Prothe, was implicated in the cover letter for not disposing of the confidential information properly. Prothe said she couldn’t react to the situation because she hadn’t seen the cover letter or the personal information. She said she had been contacted by the University and would cooperate with the investigation. She said the University asked about the department’s procedure when disposing of personal information.
“I told them that we do have a policy to shred confidential information,” Prothe said.
Some of the materials included in the envelopes sent to The Kansan included Social Security numbers, credit card information, student grades and tests, graduate teaching assistant rosters and KUID numbers.
The Kansan contacted students involved with the incident on Thursday.
Joanna Roche, Overland Park graduate student, hadn’t heard about the information leak. An online paper grader application containing Roche’s address, e-mail address, phone number, KUID and class grades was included in the materials sent to The Kansan. Roche said it was something that needed to be taken care of.
“Somebody messed up,” Roche said. “When they tell me they’re going to shred it, I believe that they’re going to.”
Grant Buffington, St. Louis junior, also had personal information in the materials. He said he didn’t feel very comfortable that his information was available. He said in the future he would like to know more about who handles it and where it went.
Other students weren’t as concerned with the private information leak.
Milad Jowkar, Mashhad, Iran, sophomore, said it didn’t bother him that information like his KUID, phone number, e-mail address and grades were available, but if it were his Social Security or credit card number he would be concerned.
“If it included my account number, it would cause a problem,” Jowkar said. “When it involves money that’s different.”
Check kansan.com to follow updates regarding the investigation.
— Edited by Ashlee Kieler
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