A committee of the Board of Higher Education has voted for an outside investigation into whether NDSU President Dean Bresciani’s involvement with new media guidelines issued by the NDSU Athletic Department violated board policy.
The guidelines became the subject of much criticism from media, after they restricted access to Bison football players and Bison tailgating parties to most media. The winners of the bid to carry the games – including KVLY-TV and Radio F-M Media – would have most open access.
Questions have arisen about Bresciani’s involvement. He had said he was “profoundly disappointed” when he learned about the guidelines. Then e-mails and text messages showed he had some knowledge about them. And in a subsequent e-mail to NDSU employees, he said he was disappointed by “the process.”
"It's become a nationwide story, plain and simple," said Board member Greg Steeman, who made the motion during the Board's Audit Committee meeting. He said the investigation needs to be truly independent.
"I don't want to worry where this person (the investigator) graduated from, where this person has relatives, who they might cheer for on some Saturday in September," Steeman said. "We're obligated to be as completely independent and objective as possible."
"We wan to insure board policy has been followed," said Board Chairman and committee chair Kathleen Neset. "Dr. Bresciani has expressed personally to me, and in a public statement, that he welcomes an objective investigation into this matter."
Chancellor Mark Hagerott will select the investigator.
