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The Champion, Thursday, December 10 -16,2015 EDITORIAL Page4fl
Is sovereign immunity protecting too much?
Who should be held responsible
when things go bad at a major insti
tution? Should some individuals have
immunity when they knowingly and
purposely break the law?
Sovereign immunity is a legal
privilege that prevents state, federal
and tribal governments from being
sued without their consent. In Geor
gia, some say it is often too broadly
interpreted, allowing individuals and
agencies to bear no responsibility in
situations of wrongdoing.
Many are wondering if sovereign
immunity may mean that no one is
held accountable in a case involving
Georgia Perimeter College (GPC).
Back in 2012, news of Georgia
Perimeter Colleges unexpected
$25 million budget shortfall led to
speculation that top leaders at the
college ignored warning signs about
the institutions true financial fitness.
Nearly 300 GPC jobs were eliminated
which, no doubt, had a snowball ef
fect on students and their academic
futures. It didn’t take long for then-
president Anthony Tricoli to be ter
minated from his position.
Suspicions of malfeasance and
mismanagement against Tricoli, once
a highly respected administrator,
ended bis career—not just at GPC.
He hasn’t been able to secure another
college administration job since.
Now Georgia Watchdogs, a
nonpartisan consortium of govern
ment watchdog organizations and
individuals, has released a newsletter
suggesting Tricoli was provided with
false and misleading budget reports
and was not responsible for the
school’s deficit.
Those who created false docu
ments—basically an alternate set of
books and reports that concealed the
college’s true financial picture—have
not been prosecuted and may never
be thanks to the protection of sover
eign immunity.
Tricoli has a pending lawsuit
against the school, alleging a conspir
acy to oust him and ruin his reputa
tion. He continues to fight to clear
his name.
GPC has not commented about
Georgia Watchdogs’ claims.
It’s disturbing that Georgia would
continue to apply sovereign immuni
ty in a case where so much has been
lost and so many—especially our
young people—have been affected.
We’re pleased that GPC, which
is being merged with Georgia State
University, has moved on to brighter
days for the institution and the many
young people it serves. However
we’re disturbed that those involved in
bringing about some of GPC’s dark
est days may never be held account
able.
SON-** ASK
mom,
s TW *
PAI>.... YOU'RE. AN ACCOUNTANT
CAN YOU EXPLAIN Poor ACCOUNTING
PRACTICES, INCOMPLETE INFORMATION
No-No*. Nor a replacement for duck
.-Mrs TABULAT/NG mjmfriSVns LAMELY///
CHAMPION
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