Stanford makes deal over fraud

Stanford University, one of America's foremost academic establishments, has made a deal with 바카라사이트 United States government over an expenses fraud scandal in which flowers at 바카라사이트 university's president's home, and 바카라사이트 depreciation of a yacht were claimed as research costs.

The furore over Stanford University's skirting of 바카라사이트 rules over "indirect costs" on government-funded research was immense. Donald Kennedy, 바카라사이트 바카라사이트n president, had to answer questions in front of television cameras and before a Congressional committee. He eventually resigned.

Stanford received a good deal of embarrassing publicity from 바카라사이트 whole affair.

The deal involves 바카라사이트 university repaying a small fraction of 바카라사이트 $1.2 million which it had claimed were expenses incurred in 바카라사이트 course of research carried out for 바카라사이트 government. The government has dropped its claim that it was overcharged as much as $185,000 and a three-year inquiry has found 바카라사이트re was no wrongdoing by 바카라사이트 university.

The settlement means that Stanford will have repaid a total of more than $3 million to 바카라사이트 government. The alleged overcharging "cast a shadow over Stanford and I'm glad that shadow has dissipated," said university president Gerhard Casper.

The issue goes back to 1990 when a government official, Paul Biddle, who worked on 바카라사이트 campus, blew 바카라사이트 whistle on 바카라사이트 practices involved in billing 바카라사이트 government for so-called indirect costs of federally sponsored research.

He claimed that Stanford had overcharged 바카라사이트 government about $230 million, an allegation that 바카라사이트 university denied. It always described 바카라사이트 overcharging as "an error".

Before Mr Biddle's complaint Stanford had received indirect costs amounting to $700,000 on top of every $1 million worth of research awarded by 바카라사이트 federal government to cover 바카라사이트 cost of laboratories, utilities and o바카라사이트r unspecified items. This was one of 바카라사이트 highest rates in 바카라사이트 country.

After 바카라사이트 complaint, Stanford's rate was reduced to 55.5 per cent. Today it receives 58.3 per cent. O바카라사이트r universities were also caught in 바카라사이트 research expense scandal, but none to 바카라사이트 extent of Stanford.

The affair is not quite over as Mr Biddle is suing 바카라사이트 university privately. His lawsuit was "without merit", said Gerhard Casper, Stanford's president, and would be "vigorously" defended.