News-Record.com

I'd like to know why we regularly read about embezzlement cases at NC A&T (every 5 to 10 years) and not at other schools in the area. No embezzlement from Bennett, UNC-G, Guilford or Greensboro (that I can recall). Why one school and not others? It's not a black-thing because I can't recall any embezzlement issues from Bennett College.

Why does North Carolina's education system not provide better oversight at A&T?

News media typically wants everything RIGHT NOW so they can sell their media, regardless of the accuracy of the story.
Investigations take time. Not every single fact can be known five minutes after a major crime, disaster, etc.
Public agencies have been burned over and over again by the media twisting and misquoting facts given early on in a news conference or off-the-cuff comments by an official.
I think public agencies must balance timeliness and accuracy when releasing information lest they be crucified by the public when something is misrepresented by a frenzied media.
I implore public agencies to release no information before it's time; a time that can only be determined by those conducting the investigation, not by those wishing to make their living selling a story about the investigation. Don't let the media pressure you into making hasty statements before you know all of the facts (a statement you're sure to regret later) only because a reporter is hounding you so he can sell a newspaper.

Jaycee,

"I implore public agencies to release no information before it's time"

I understand your point, but for some public agencies, the right time is like never.....

off point, i know. But why are the N&R listings (dates) of Public Records so inconsistent?

Just wondering, I'm not sure what you mean.

jaycee, we've been here before. I will say simply that:
1. A&T knew enough to take action.
2. Police knew enough to arrest someone.
3. Stormy is right. A&T is one such institution that never seems to find the time to tell the PUBLIC what is going on.
4. When is the right time? You never seem to say.

Embezzlement is different from many other crimes. Not only does it reflect poorly on the criminal who embezzles the money; it reflects poorly on the people who oversee the money. A&T trustees must feel humiliated that they, once again, are dealing with issues of embezzlement and an apparent lack of fiscal checks and balances.

A&T students deserve better...what a shame.

The "right time" is when the facts are known; releasing in formation does not jeopardize an ongoing investigation; releasing the facts does not violate personnel or public record laws,.
Just because the police "know something" doesn't obligate them to rush to the podium and spill all the beans.

So, in most cases, you would report little or nothing until the case is heard in court?

What about when charges are dropped or the suspect pleads to a lesser charge?

The issue is whether police or the institution in question -- in this case A&T -- ever are open about what they know and willingly release information to the public -- their bosses.

Quit putting words in my mouth. You know exactly what I mean.
When a reporter shoves a mic in front of a cop's face 5 minutes after a crime and wants to know what color the suspect's shoelaces were and what he had for breakfast then it borders on the ridiculous.
Newspapers are no better. In their race to publish fast and first they will take any off-the-cuff comment or sometimes just make up something to publish so they'll be on the story. (Don't call BS, I can name reporters who've done that with me and told me they would do it to meet a deadline.)
If there is a long and involved financial investigation what makes the media think someone will have "all" the answers the first day it's made public? And why would a public official make a statement if he doesn't have the facts to present? Reporters are well-known for parsing answers and making them seem something they aren't, as you should be aware after the Lorraine Ahearn debacle with Chief Wray's statements.
If a public official holds a press conference and tells you what little is known at the time, reporters berate him for not telling them "everything" when the fact is he doesn't know everything because the investigation is still ongoing.
Any public official in this day and time that tells the N&R something without knowing absolutely, positively that it's a fact is putting his head in a noose. My advice to public officials is to hold off rushing info out to the public unless and until you know it's factual. More cases and lives have been destroyed by poor reporting than by an official waiting until he's sure of his facts before he tells the media.

jaycee, I was referring to A&T. What do we do about that? They aren't police. We want to know about how the alleged embezzlement occurred and how the school has changed it processes so it doesn't happen again.

The point is, who gets to decide when something is "absolutely, positively a fact?" In criminal investigations, that is the court. So the question remains, do you have to wait for the trials? And you know good and well that public officials -- police and non-police -- often know a lot of facts that they don't tell the public for a variety of reasons.

And for the record once again, I don't know where you get your information about Lorraine's interviews with Chief Wray, but she did nothing improper or unethical. It would be nice for you to follow your own guidelines stated above.

If you will recall, Mable Scott wasn't exactly forthcoming with information when she worked for Guilford County Schools. Seems that reluctance continues as head of the university's public relations department.