Investigation of leaked documents underway
University begins notifying students whose information was included in packets sent to local media
The University of Kansas has formed a committee to investigate the documents containing private information that were leaked to The University Daily Kansan, The Kansas City Star and The Lawrence Journal-World on Sept. 19.
Thursday, October 4th, 2007
The committee investigating private documents sent to local newspapers on Sept. 19 has contacted some of the students whose information was leaked, and has met with at least one faculty member regarding the disposal of private information.
Lynn Bretz, director of communications, said the investigation was under way, and the University’s highest priority was completing it.
“This is very tedious work, and they want to do it right,” Bretz said. “I think that everyone will benefit from what we have learned from this.”
Gloria Prothe, an administrative professional in the department of mathematics, has met with the committee about the procedures she uses for disposing of documents. Prothe was implicated for not disposing of materials correctly in a letter that accompanied the leaked documents.
“I have a lot of respect for the people on that committee, and I think they are all bright and fair people,” Prothe said.
Bretz said the committee had been sending letters to some students and calling others, depending on the type of information that was released about them.
Matt Erickson, a Kansan campus editor, received two letters from Provost Richard Lariviere. The letters, which were the same, informed him of what had happened and the measures the University was taking to prevent documents from being leaked again.
In the letter, Lariviere said that the University took the matter very seriously and that additional steps would be taken should the investigation identify other issues.
Lariviere also said in the letter that the chances of any identity theft were minimal.
He directed those who wanted to take further precautions to the Web site, www.ku.edu/identity.
Conor Sixta, Overland Park junior, had a graded math test in the documents mailed to The Kansan. Sixta was unaware that his information was leaked until he was contacted by The Kansan. Sixta said he was concerned that he hadn’t been notified by the University.
“It shouldn’t be my job to go to the University to find this out when this is the University’s error,” Sixta said.
The leaked documents were originally sent to The Kansan, The Kansas City Star and The Lawrence Journal-World. The Kansan received two packets, each with a cover letter explaining that the material was recovered from recycling bins in the math department and dumpsters behind Snow Hall. The packets included graded tests, seating charts, faxes, transcripts and job applications. The Kansan has now destroyed all of the documents it received.
— Edited by Elizabeth Cattell
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