After Ohio University decided not to renew former Global Leadership Director Greg Emery's contract, several alumni have rescinded their bequests, totaling at least $1.25 million.
Ohio University lost at least $1.25 million in potential donations because of its decision not to renew former Global Leadership Center Director Greg Emery’s contract last month.
Two bequest intentions, gifts from private donors, were rescinded because of Emery’s non-renewal status, OU spokeswoman Katie Quaranta said in an email.
“As a clarifying point, a bequest intention is a revocable ‘promise’ to include the University in the person’s estate. No money was returned to a donor,” she said.
The university investigated Emery following complaints about his conduct and his handling of cash payments on a May 2014 student exchange trip to Vietnam, according to a previous Post report.
While the investigation found that Emery didn’t “strictly” follow university policy on cash advances, the money he collected from students appeared to be used as intended, according to investigation documents. And the investigation into his conduct on trips was called off due to a lack of cooperation by alleged witnesses.
Brian Fruchey, a 2003 alumnus of OU and the GLC program, expressed his shock about how the university treated Emery in a recent letter to The Post.
Fruchey called the non-renewal of Emery’s employment a “shameless and venal tactic to achieve personal gain.”
According to Fruchey’s letter, he has already given more than $20,000 to the university.
