UWO Chancellor May Testify about Foundation Claims

UW-Oshkosh Chancellor Andrew Leavitt will
likely testify about claims that he told donors not to give to the university’s
private foundation. Attorneys for the UW-Oshkosh Foundations, which is
currently under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and the UW-System agreed to a
one-hour deposition of Leavitt after foundation officials say he or a staff
member told multiple donors who had pledge money to the foundation to send
their donations elsewhere. 

The foundation asked to subpoena Leavitt and another
staff member to testify about what they may have told donors about where to
send donations initially intended to go toward two high-profile building
projects. Those questions could include whether anyone authorized university
leaders to tell donors that the foundation is dissolving – which the
foundation’s attorneys say is not true. 

A UW-System attorney says the claims
have no factual support, and are simply allegations – and adds that the
foundation should not have a monopoly on donations, even if a potential donor
decides to later send the money somewhere else.