Boren cuts ties with the University of Oklahoma
NORMAN — Former President David Boren on Wednesday cut his remaining ties with the University of Oklahoma in the wake of a sexual misconduct investigation.
He agreed in a two-page resignation letter to give up his president emeritus title, stop teaching political science at the university and let go of his four free tickets to home football games.
He will no longer be entitled to an administrative assistant, a teaching assistant, a campus office or even a parking space. He also is no longer authorized to speak on behalf of the university in any capacity.
"It's as complete a separation as you can get," OU Regent Gary Pierson said. "We cannot erase history so he will always be a former president of the university. But he won't have any right, title or interest in the university going forward."
Boren, 78, continues to deny wrongdoing. The resignation is effective immediately.
"President Boren felt that it's best for the university right now to step away," his attorney, Clark Brewster, said.
Boren volunteered to leave to do anything he can to stop the controversy and finger-pointing and to make sure the university proceeds in a positive way, the attorney said.
"This has been an incredibly stressful and agonizing time for President Boren," Brewster said.
The resignation brings to a close the university's personnel matter against him that arose because of the sexual misconduct accusations. A law firm hired by the university investigated for months, identifying six men who gave accounts of encounters with Boren. Only one, former teaching assistant Jess Eddy, has come forward publicly.
The chairman of the OU regents accepted the resignation Wednesday.
"David Boren no longer has any relationship going forward with the University as a result of his resignation," the chairman, Leslie Rainbolt-Forbes, said in a prepared statement.
"We have worked very hard to bring to a close the Title IX issue between David Boren and the University of Oklahoma while respecting those individuals involved who desire to maintain their privacy."
The resignation also clears the way for frustrated regents and the new interim president, Joe Harroz, to focus on other pressing academic, financial and diversity concerns at the university, officials said.
"It allows us to move ahead to the future and other issues that require our time and thought and work," the chairman told The Oklahoman. "I am glad that it's concluded so that the future can be the focus."
Pierson said: "We have more than enough work for the body that we are and it's high time that we get on with it."
Boren still faces a separate criminal investigation into the allegations. Agents at the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation began looking into the accusations in March after Eddy spoke to police. The state's multicounty grand jury may hear testimony about Boren in July.
The former governor and U.S. senator retired as president in 2018 after nearly 24 years in charge at OU. He was beloved by students who often referred to him by the nickname "DBo."
Boren is credited with bringing the university to new heights academically and with having a key role in restoring the football program to national prominence.
His attorneys have called the OU investigation a witch hunt. They accused his successor, Jim Gallogly, of instigating it. Gallogly retired as president in May.
Boren's decision was being characterized as equivalent to a company employee quitting rather than face the possibility of being fired.
"If there's a problem, the most you can do with an employee ... is separate them from employment," explained Pierson, a businessman. "You don't have any authority to do anything beyond that. You can't jail them. You can't ban them from the state."
Regents at this point do not intend to take down a statue of him or remove his name from anything at OU. That could change if he is indicted and convicted of a crime.
"Those options are still open under certain circumstances," said Drew Neville, the regents' attorney.
Regents have not discussed whether to compensate any of the witnesses against Boren. No one has asked the university directly for compensation, Neville said.
Boren last taught political science courses at OU in the fall. He took a sabbatical in the spring semester, citing health reasons. His last administrative assistant left Feb. 13 for a new job.
The sexual misconduct accusations — first reported by The Oklahoman on Feb. 13 — generated strong responses by his many supporters and his outspoken critics.
Boren agreed to step away from the university after his attorney had a number of discussions with the regents' attorney.
His retirement pay was not affected.
Regents had been prepared to make a final decision themselves on Boren's future at the university if the Title IX process had moved forward. Pierson acknowledged that would have been a challenge because regents would not have heard from Boren or witnesses directly. He said regents would have been in a tough spot assessing the credibility of the conflicting accounts under those circumstances.
"You have to make sure that you don't jump to a conclusion that could later be proven erroneous because you have to be fair to both sides," Pierson said.
He pointed out regents are volunteers who "are part time, unpaid and not a judicial body."
Eddy said Boren's departure is "an important step toward healing at the university." He called on regents to take steps to prevent any abuse from happening in the future.
OU hired the Jones Day law firm last November after learning Eddy had made accusations about Boren. Eddy in his first Jones Day interview Feb. 13 denied Boren made any sexual advances toward him. He said in his second Jones Day interview March 26 that Boren kissed him on the cheek and neck and grabbed his buttocks during prolonged hugs.
Eddy called Boren in March and asked for compensation. Boren declined.
Boren and his wife, Molly, have been married more than 40 years.
The lead investigator for Jones Day told Eddy in the first interview that the purpose of the investigation was not to determine whether the former president is gay, according to a transcript. "That's not our point," investigator Rick Deane said. "It relates ... to the use and perhaps abuse of authority in a situation where he may have acted inappropriately toward subordinates. And maybe even students."
