An Ohio University administrator resigned yesterday after an investigation into complaints of improper conduct with students resulted in the finding that he had misrepresented the admissions process during their campus visits.
OU officials asked former associate director of Admissions Richard Becknell, of 6045 Oakwood Drive, Athens, to “sever his relationship” with OU after complaints from two prospective students alleged Becknell had made questionable physical contact and offers of admission into OU’s College of Business led to a university investigation finding that Becknell had “misrepresented the admissions process,” said Gary North, vice president for administration and finance, yesterday.
The request stemmed from complaints filed against Becknell in October 1998 and May 2003 regarding offers Becknell had made to prospective students visiting OU, North said. Becknell allegedly implied in both cases that success in physical contests, such as basketball or wrestling, with him would facilitate admission into OU’s College of Business. Becknell was placed on paid administrative leave June 12 and tendered his resignation from the university July 9.
“Admissions officials are not allowed to offer help or admit students without prior notification from the admission office or the advisory board of the college,” North said. “No admissions officer is authorized to create admissions processes.”
North, OU president Robert Glidden and Provost Stephen Kopp propose general admissions policies for OU, but individual colleges can set their own standards, North said.
But Becknell said remarks regarding admission to the business school were in jest and that he often joked with students, although misrepresentations and misunderstandings are his responsibility.
“I regret any circumstances that were in any way proving misleading or unintentional to anyone – student, faculty or alumni,” he said. “I’m accountable.”
But other allegations also played a role in the Becknell decision. North said the similarity between the two complaints from prospective students against Becknell regarding his conduct weighed on the administration’s recommendation. University officials would not release the prospective students’ names at request of the complaintants.
In a letter dated October 13, 1998, to OU Vice President of Student Affairs Michael Sostarich, Douglas Fagan, principal of Rocky River High School in Rocky River, Ohio, forwarded a complaint from a Rocky River student who visited OU and had a meeting with Becknell.
In the letter, Fagan said the student met with Becknell, the student’s mother and some friends during a visit to OU. After speaking with the group for about two hours, the student inquired about admission to the business school for students who were “on the bubble” in regards to academic credentials. Becknell allegedly told the student that he sometimes made decisions regarding “bubble students.” and that “some of the assessment occurs at the Ping Center.” In his 1993 position description questionnaire, making admissions decisions about “bubble students” is not listed as one of Becknell’s duties. Becknell then, according to the letter, invited the student to Ping, where he gave the student clothing in which to work out.
Once in a room allegedly used by the men’s club soccer team, which Becknell is the advisor of, Becknell and the student stretched and Becknell invited the student to “wrestle,” Fagan said in the letter. Becknell and the student engaged in some form of “wrestling activity” and then went to a basketball court where Becknell reportedly implied that if the student were to beat Becknell at a game, he would be admitted to the business school. The pair then went to a weight room and an exercise room, according to the letter. There, the two did “military sit-ups” and some stretches. The student then complained in the letter that Becknell was “physically close” and this caused the student discomfort.
Becknell said the offers only were a joke and that he presented them in a joking manner. Also, the student had inquired about training for the soccer team Becknell coached.
“I think it’s regrettable unintentional remarks that I may have perceived as humorous certainly not substantial,” he said.
After the two met up with the student’s mother, Becknell asked if the student was nervous about getting into the business school. Upon receiving a “yes” answer, Becknell told the student the school “was going to accept (the student) if he applied and if he kept up his end of the bargain,” according to the letter. The student later said he felt “violated and that he did not want to attend Ohio University.”
The student later received a note from Becknell saying he had been accepted to the business school, even though he had not “formally applied for admission.”
After the complaint was registered with Sostarich, Admissions Director Kip Howard and North approached Becknell about the complaint. North, on advice from Howard, gave Becknell a verbal warning and asked that the disputed behavior stop.
In an interview, Becknell said it was in his job description to counsel prospective students with requirements for admissions and that all he did was give advice.
But this wasn’t the only time a complaint was lodged. A similar complaint about activities showed up in a June 30, 2003 letter after another prospective student’s visit.
In the letter to OU director of Institutional Equity Bill Smith, a prospective student alleged Becknell offered to help him into the business school and made him feel uncomfortable during a visit.
The student described his visit to OU where Becknell spoke with him, his mother and another prospective student about coming to OU. After inquiring about the student’s grades and extracurricular activities, Becknell offered information about a club run by the business college, called the Leadership Assessment Program, that might be able to aid in his admission to the school, according to the letter. The student wrote he met Becknell at Ping Center and after entering the locker room, Becknell gave the student workout clothes, including “athletic underwear” (described in the letter as thong underwear).
The two reportedly moved to a third room, where Becknell suggested sit-ups and asked the student questions regarding punishments on sports teams. According to the student’s letter, Becknell tried to show the student how players on the club soccer team he coached were punished by putting the student in a full-nelson headlock. The student then pulled away. Becknell asked the student to show him how he would tackle Becknell. The student did, after which Becknell allegedly proposed a wrestling match. The student wrote in the complaint: “He asked if I was a wrestler. I said I wrestled freshman year. He said, ‘If you pin me, you are accepted.’”
Becknell then asked to lift weights with the student, but the student declined. Later, the student’s mother called director of admissions Kip Howard and found there was no official OU club called the Leadership Assessment Program.
Becknell said he regretted leading students to believe in a fake club.
“I erred in misleading students that it was a structured program,” Becknell said. “It was a euphemism — it’s not part of OU’ s student assessment.” The program only was to help students adjust to college life, he said.
He said he would not address other accusations of physical conduct.
North said the two complaints did not jibe with other accounts of Becknell’s performance.
“These kinds of reports are inconsistent with his personnel reports,” North said. “Immediate action was taken on this complaint because it paralleled the other, but fundamentally, it was because of his misrepresentation of the admissions process.”
North said there is no reason to speculate on similarities between the two complaints. An investigation is taking place, but there is no reason to assume these are more than isolated incidents, he said.
Becknell said he realizes humor in the workplace may have consequences, and that he regrets misleading anyone.
“Sometimes it’s inflection, sometimes it’s not,” Becknell added. “I do joke — I am a humorous person, but in no way am I using that as an alibi.”
But Becknell said he does regret that his statements and actions may have been misunderstood, but has no ill feelings toward the university.
“I think it is appropriate the university investigates the complaints and takes appropriate actions,” he said. “I am in full agreement.”
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