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Ty Garfield Editor-in-Chief On Sept. 30, James N. Jory, Professor of Business Administration and Associate Dean for Business Administration Division at SCC resigned his position. Jory's resignation ended a career at SCC beginning on January 2, 1990. Dr. Holly Moore, President of SCC said Jory resigned "for personal reasons." Jory's resignation follows a report issued by the State Auditors Office alleging the use of state resources for personal gain. These actions violate RCW 42.52.160(1) under state ethics laws.
The SAO received an assertion of improper governmental action submitted under the Whistleblower Act. The Act offers protection to individuals from retaliation, when disclosing information warranting an investigation. SAO documents state: "At the onset of this investigation, we determined that certain information created and stored on the employee's computer might contain student records protected under the Family Educational Rights And Privacy Act. Therefore, Shoreline Community College reviewed the employee's e-mail and other documents created by the employee that could have contained protected student information." What the investigation found was a document related to Jory's work as an attorney outside of the College as well as 13 e-mails related to that same enterprise. During the Auditors Office review of Internet use on Jory's computer, 71,715 graphic images of adult-oriented content were found. SAO documents say SCC informed the investigation that in December 2001, a person reported that Jory was viewing an adult-oriented video on a computer in his office. Jory's supervisor questioned him and issued a verbal warning about using state resources in this manner. Jory acknowledged the warning and agreed to cease the inappropriate use of the state computer.
During his tenure at SCC, Jory advised SCC's Arab League Summit team, winning national recognition on several occasions. Jory also served as President of the Teachers Federation. Interestingly, Jory participated in developing the College's Acceptable Use Policy 4126; SCC's internal policy addressing the private use of the schools resources. The policy states: "(section) 12. The following types of activities including but not limited to the activities below are examples of behaviors using information technology resources (ITRs) that are unethical and unacceptable, and in some case may violate state or federal law... Using the College systems for non-college work, including but not limited to commercial or profit-making purposes, without written authorization from the College administration. - Surfing the Internet for personal use." SAO documents say, "the College has developed a Plan for Resolution" - The professor in question resigned from his tenured faculty position at Shoreline Community College effective Sept. 30. The College will continue to provide annual ethics training for its employees in accordance with applicable state law and College Policy (No. 4125): Standards of Ethical Conduct." The SAO referred the case to the Washington State executive ethics board for review. Brian Malarky, Executive Director of the ethics board says the case is subject to review and ruling in early November. The executive ethics board cannot dispense disciplinary measures but is able to issue fines. In 1999 a state employee was fined $3000 after his resignation. In the interim, Jory's classes have been cancelled. Jory was slated to teach 'Introductory Law' and 'E-Business. No replacement has been named to fill Jory's position as Associate Dean of Business Administration at time of printing. A Shoreline Community College student was quoted, "I had (Jory) for Business Communications and Business Law. He was the toughest professor I'd had. Am I shocked? Yes. Am I disappointed? I'm not sure how to feel." © 2002 Shoreline Community College™ |
