Audit: Memories differ on whether Iowa State president followed protocol

AMES - An auditor on Wednesday reported to the Board of Regents that memories differ on whether Iowa State University President Steve Leath followed appropriate protocols in transporting and storing his weapons on campus - which for years has prohibited firearms, explosives, and other weapons.

ISU administrators requested the internal audit of Leath's transport and storage of weapons at the Knoll - the university president's residence - following reports Leath took weapons on ISU-owned planes during fundraising trips involving hunting expeditions.

The university's policy bans weapons from campus unless authorized through an application process that requires final approval from the public safety director and senior vice president for university services. Explicitly, according to results of the audit, the policy prohibits 'unauthorized transportation, use, or storage” of weapons except in 'extenuating circumstances” involving a written request approved by the Office of Risk Management or the Department of Public Safety.

'The main question in this audit is whether the president was granted a written waiver in accordance with this policy,” Board of Regents Chief Audit Executive Todd Stewart told the regents Wednesday. 'Not surprisingly, memories differed to some degree - some believing a written waiver had been granted, and others didn't recall specifically.”

What is clear, Stewart said, 'and it's very important,” is that retired public safety director Jerry Stewart confirmed he was asked to tour the Knoll and was advised by former Vice President Warren Madden at the time Leath was moving to campus about the potential for weapons to be stored there.

Former public safety director Stewart reported he was satisfied the weapons would be stored in a safe manner and precautions were taken, according to the audit, and he communicated that to Madden, who 'at a minimal gave his oral approval to the president.”

'If written approval was granted, one was not located or provided to our office,” Audit Executive Stewart said.

Leath has come under criticism in recent months for his use of ISU-owned planes, one of which he flew almost exclusively and used on several occasions for trips involving personal business. In the aftermath, Leath has reimbursed the university for the trips in question and vowed not to fly university aircraft again.

Iowa State also is selling the Cirrus SR-22 he piloted for purposes of fundraising and required training for his license. Leath was asked about his use of the planes and transportation of weapons by Rep. Cindy Winckler, D-Davenport, during an education appropriations subcommittee meeting Wednesday morning.

'Were there guns transported on those trips?” she asked.

'On certain donor trips that involved hunting trips, yes,” Leath said.

When asked how Leath received a waiver, he noted the internal audit and said regents knew when they brought him to Iowa State that he had guns and bows. He noted discussions with vice presidents and general counsel and the head of the Department of Public Safety.

'We did everything according to policy,” he said. 'The only glitch in the whole thing is with the retiring of all the police chief, the general counsel, and Warren Madden, they can't put their hands on this right now.”

Leath was referring to the written document excepting him from the weapons prohibition.

'But it's pretty clear that everything was done in order,” he said. 'So I think we're good on all that.”

Additionally, according to the audit, the ISU Office of Internal Audit on Jan. 11 received a new written waiver from Senior Vice President of University Services Kate Gregory for continued weapons storage at the Knoll and for transportation of weapons in ISU-owned aircraft.

But, going forward, auditors advised waivers to the weapons policy for any university president be reviewed and approved by Board of Regents Executive Director Robert Donley. ISU administrators said they agreed with that recommendation and also will be updating the institution's policy to ensure it's clear on coverage of both storage and transportation of weapons.