Friday, May 2, 2025
Oklahoma State faculty fear punishment over interviews KENNEDY THOMASON
Payton Little
Paper Trail
Former OSU President Dr. Kayse Shrum surprisingly resigned Feb. 3.
Inside Kayse Shrum’s surprising resignation as OSU’s president
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BY ASHTON SLAUGHTER
I
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ormer OklaNutrition Research Institute homa State (HPNRI). President Dr. This started a 21-month Kayse Shrum’s saga that included unanresignation in swered emails, rescheduled February seemed sudden, meetings and Shrum’s Feb. 3 but records obtained by The resignation. O’Colly indicate her suggesOSURF was renamed the tion on university funding Innovation Foundation on was the first step in a long Sept. 18, 2023, and it was process with an abrupt end- cut by OSU on March 10, ing. as it was at the heart of $41 On May 30, 2023, in an million in misappropriated Oklahoma State leadership funds, as determined by an budget meeting for the 2023- audit of state funding. Of 24 fiscal year, Shrum suggest- that total, $11.5 million came ed that $5 million from the in “improper” transfers to OSU Medical Authority and the IF; $55.5 million in total Trust (OSUMA) would be deposits weren’t fully reput toward the OSU Research ported. Foundation (OSURF) and Former IF President and Oklahoma Aerospace InstiCEO Elizabeth Pollard tute for Research and Educa- resigned the same day as tion (OAIRE). Shrum, and Pollard later Shrum noted there was $10 told The O’Colly she “felt million in the OSUMA base; President Shrum’s vision half in Poly-Tech and the supported (the Innovation other in OAIRE. Shrum sug- Foundation’s) agenda” and gested transferring $5 million that she had “full respect” for from OSUMA to OSURF and Shrum’s leadership. OAIRE, and taking $500,000 Former OSU Senior Vice from OAIRE and giving it to President and Chief of Staff the Human Performance and Jerome Loughridge re-
signed Jan. 25, but a university official said his resignation was planned weeks prior to Shrum’s. Aside from Shrum, those present in the May 2023 meeting were: OSU Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance Joe Weaver, OSU Provost and Senior Vice President Jeanette Mendez, OSU Senior Vice President of System Affairs Kyle Wray, Loughridge, OSU Center for Health Services President Johnny Stephens (via phone) and OSU Director of Presidential Affairs Richelle Wingo (who took minutes). Here’s how records lay out how this May 2023 meeting led to a surprising resignation of the university’s 19th president, who was popular among many students and was prominently featured in publicity efforts, and what happened in the 615-day period.
See SHRUM on page 8A
tion for speaking with the press unless they violate federal or state privacy STAFF REPORTER laws, OSU President Jim @_KENNEDYPAGE Hess said recently. “I think freedom of expression is one of the founAn Oklahoma State dations of our country,” faculty member asked that Hess said in an interview. their quotes questioning a “And so, I would never proposed university policy allow somebody to be not be used in an O’Colly retaliated against for talkarticle because they feared ing to anybody as long as it administrators would pun- wasn’t a protected issue.” ish their department. Media law attorney Mike “What I didn’t want to Hiestand said the public happen was to have the suffers when journalists department bear the brunt are kept from talking with of a decision I made,” experts at universities. the faculty member said “If you are muzzling the recently. experts in your state on This faculty member a particular topic, you’re isn’t alone. Two other OSU providing your readers employees have expressed and providing the citizens concerns that speaking with second-rate news,” with The O’Colly about Hiestand said. “So we all university operations suffer.” would lead to retaliation by Many universities naOSU administrators. None tionwide made efforts to had faced retaliation as of silence faculty and staff publication. during the COVID-19 These concerns stem pandemic, which began in in part from OSU emails 2020, in response to media asking faculty and staff to coverage, said Hiestand, refer all media questions senior legal counsel for the to Brand Management and D.C.-based Student Press from deans concerned with Law Center. their college’s image. But faculty and staff won’t face retaliaSee FACULTY on page 5A
Payton Little
Some Oklahoma State faculty have been given warnings for speaking with reporters. OSU’s new president said faculty won’t face retaliation.
OSU welcomes Hess amid its ‘financial headwinds’ KENNEDY THOMASON
Bryson Thadhani OSU President Jim Hess inherited $41 million in mismanaged funds.
a manner that respects our mission and our dignity of the people who work here.” Hess was named interim president in STAFF REPORTER February following the resignation of former @_KENNEDYPAGE president Dr. Kayse Shrum. He had the interim tag removed and was appointed as OSU’s president last Friday. Oklahoma State’s 20th president acknowlHess inherited $41 million in mismanedged the university’s potential financial aged funds with the Innovation Foundation. issues as faculty and students welcomed him About a month into his tenure as interim to the role Tuesday. head of the university, he shut down the “We will be facing some financial headfoundation. winds, and I want to be forthright with you Hess clarified Tuesday that the “financial about that,” Jim Hess said. “As you all know, headwinds” OSU could face would stem with great opportunities come great chalfrom national economic downturns and lenges. And we will have the opportunity reduced state funding. to face a few headwinds along the way, and we’ll do so together, collaboratively. And in See HESS on page 6A