Home > News
Former ASUO justice must pay back stipend
Jerome Roberts transferred from the University, but kept working for the ASUO Constitution Court
by Jobetta Hedelman | Freelance Editor
A former ASUO Constitution Court justice worked for an entire term and received $375 in stipend pay - funded through the incidental fee - and attended a fee-funded trip to Washington, D.C., before ASUO controllers realized he was not a current student.
Jerome Roberts left the University to attend Lane Community College after fall term, but continued to serve on the court during winter term, earning $125 per month in stipend pay, which he must now pay back. Only students who attend the University and pay the incidental fee are eligible to serve in the ASUO, Roberts said.
ASUO President Jared Axelrod said the money will go back to an incidental fee fund and will most likely roll over into next year's surplus. Roberts said he is still in the process of working with ASUO Finance Coordinator Madeline Wigen to finalize his repayment plan. Wigen said the staff discovered Roberts was no longer a student while doing routine checks of student status over spring break.
After the discovery was made, Wigen and Axelrod met with Roberts, who agreed to repay the stipend money he had earned.
"That's something the exec felt was needed," Axelrod said. "Jerome was really receptive to that. He admitted he had messed up." Roberts submitted his resignation April 10.
Roberts said he also spoke with Axelrod about the trip to Washington, D.C., with the United States Student Association. The trip was also funded in part with the incidental fee.
Roberts said that in the meeting, Axelrod said he was comfortable with the contributions Roberts had made to the USSA and with Roberts having gone on the trip, even though he was not a University student. Roberts said he left the University because he changed his major and went to LCC to re-do some of his undergraduate work. He was able to continue working at the Student Recreation Center and did not consider the fact that he would have to be a University student to continue working in the ASUO.
"It didn't occur to me to think, 'hey you're not paying the I-fee any more, so you're not eligible,'" he said. "The last thing on my mind was con court when I switched schools."
Jerome Roberts left the University to attend Lane Community College after fall term, but continued to serve on the court during winter term, earning $125 per month in stipend pay, which he must now pay back. Only students who attend the University and pay the incidental fee are eligible to serve in the ASUO, Roberts said.
ASUO President Jared Axelrod said the money will go back to an incidental fee fund and will most likely roll over into next year's surplus. Roberts said he is still in the process of working with ASUO Finance Coordinator Madeline Wigen to finalize his repayment plan. Wigen said the staff discovered Roberts was no longer a student while doing routine checks of student status over spring break.
After the discovery was made, Wigen and Axelrod met with Roberts, who agreed to repay the stipend money he had earned.
"That's something the exec felt was needed," Axelrod said. "Jerome was really receptive to that. He admitted he had messed up." Roberts submitted his resignation April 10.
Roberts said he also spoke with Axelrod about the trip to Washington, D.C., with the United States Student Association. The trip was also funded in part with the incidental fee.
Roberts said that in the meeting, Axelrod said he was comfortable with the contributions Roberts had made to the USSA and with Roberts having gone on the trip, even though he was not a University student. Roberts said he left the University because he changed his major and went to LCC to re-do some of his undergraduate work. He was able to continue working at the Student Recreation Center and did not consider the fact that he would have to be a University student to continue working in the ASUO.
"It didn't occur to me to think, 'hey you're not paying the I-fee any more, so you're not eligible,'" he said. "The last thing on my mind was con court when I switched schools."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Rick Reilly
posted 5/24/07 @ 2:57 AM PST
I honestly dont think this was front page material. Most of the story consisted of personal information in a matter that was simply between Mr. Roberts and the school. (Continued…)
Post a Comment