[Pat Valdata]

Sam, I was taking minutes on August 25 at the Poetry Center's 3rd quarter Advisory Board meeting (for the rest of you, I was there as a temporary employee from mid-February through August 29). The board's financial committee requested an audit for two reasons: (1) it is good financial practice for every organization to be audited on a regular basis and (2) audits are required on most grant applications. The Center had never been audited, so it was long overdue. The advisory board approved the audit, quite enthusiastically, I might add.

As soon as the meeting concluded, the dean left the room like she was shot out of a cannon, without a word to any of us. Three weeks later, Kim was removed, ostensibly because she didn't "work closely enough" with the WCU Foundation, which is ridiculous.

I think it is extremely strange that she was removed for that reason right after requesting the audit, which would have involved both the Center and the Foundation, since the Foundation holds all of the Center's funds that are received through donations (except for the Poet's Prize, which has its own account). I question both the timing and the reason for her removal, hence my request to open the books. Others agree with me, which has resulted in the groundswell of requests for financial transparency. Kim and her advisory board were all in favor of it--it seems that the university and its foundation are the ones who are uncomfortable with the concept.