URI seeks review of sport institute relationship
PROVIDENCE, R.I.—The University of Rhode Island has announced it will seek an independent review of its relationship with the Institute for International Sport.
URI President David Dooley said Friday the school hopes a third-party review will remove "any doubt" about its ties to the institute.
A state audit says the institute can't account for how it spent most of a $575,000 state grant for building at URI. The state's auditor obtained documentation for only $163,000 in expenses. The empty URI building has no electricity or plumbing.
The audit also says the institute owed URI $380,846 for payroll and other services as of January. The institute was allowed to use the state's payroll system for its director, a practice the audit calls "questionable."
An institute official has said the money was spent properly.
The organization is also acknowledging a signature on its 2009 annual report purported to be that of philanthropist and ex-
Institute spokeswoman Beth Bailey says it doesn't look like Hassenfeld's signature and he was never the institute's chairman.
The Hartford Courant (http://cour.at/wLGTnq ) reported Thursday Hassenfeld said he didn't sign the document listing him as the nonprofit's "chair." An assistant to Hassenfeld said Friday he was traveling and not available.
The annual report was filed with Rhode Island's Secretary of State. Spokesman Chris Barnett says Hassenfeld hasn't submitted a written complaint.
Bailey says institute founder and chairman Daniel Doyle Jr. had nothing to do with the annual report.
The institute plans to leave Rhode Island.
