Two Former GSO Executives Accused in Corruption Probe

By Shawn Pottorf
Contributing Writer

At a Stony Brook Graduate Student Organization (GSO) meeting in the Wang Center today, Graduate School dean Dr. Lawrence Martin reported the results of an audit of GSO finances conducted by Stony Brook University’s Department of Internal Audits .

As a result of the investigation, two former executives who were graduate students at Stony Brook University, Rong Su (GSO treasurer 2003-2005) and Venkat Reddy Pasham (GSO secretary 2003-2004), were charged with misappropriating GSO funds during 2003 to 2005.  Warrants for Ms. Su and Mr. Pasham were issued and Ms. Su has been taken into custody.  

There were also other Stony Brook students being charged with student misconduct, “for coming into payments not entitled to,” according to Dr. Martin, relating to these misappropriated GSO funds.  These students have been sent to the university's Student Judiciary to resolve these charges.  Because these people are students and have not been criminally charged, their names may not be released.  According to Dr. Martin, for Ms. Su and Mr. Pasham, these criminal charges could lead to imprisonment or possibly deportation since both are foreign students.

It is in the power of the Graduate School dean, Stony Brook University (SBU), New York State, or even the GSO itself to request an audit of GSO finances, according to current GSO treasurer, Anirban Dutta.  Audits on the GSO have been requested in the past, generally by the Graduate School dean.  

This was the first time criminal charges have come from an audit during Dr. Martin’s 13 year tenure as graduate school dean of SBU.  About 30 illegal or questionable transactions were performed during 2003 and 2005 while Ms. Su was the GSO treasurer, according to the report.  The transactions ranged from tens of dollars to $1000 totalling about $5000.  

The kinds of transactions in question varied from RAP reimbursements to reimbursements for questionable meals or items.  The transactions normally must be signed by two GSO executives, but in these instances there appeared to be only one signature or the signatures were illegible. Dr. Martin also said, in response to a question, that "it is unlikely" there would be restitution of the funds.

Dr. Martin continued by saying how this problem appears to have arisen from there not having been established any good check or balance on the GSO executives, while at the same time admitting that constraints would make allocations of GSO funds bureaucratically painful.  Dr. Martin has asked Doug Panico, the head of the Internal Audits Department to give him suggestions on how to protect the GSO from being in these situations of an executive or executives misappropriating GSO funds.  

The GSO senate briefly discussed the report by Dr. Martin and it was asked whether the GSO should release a statement on this matter or whether the public release of this information should be postponed until more final conclusions are made.  There was no resolution or motion passed on this line of discussion.

View the minutes from the February GSO meeting.