Kansas Athletics Asks University to Conduct Independent Review of WEF, Ticket Office

March 24, 2010

At the request of University of Kansas Athletics Director Lew Perkins, the university will conduct an independent review of Kansas Athletics’ ticket office and its fundraising arm, the Williams Educational Fund.

“Concerns have been raised about these areas,” Perkins said. “Due to the nature of these concerns, and to protect KU’s reputation, we think a review is very appropriate. Kansas Athletics pledges total cooperation with this review.”

“We have asked outside entities to conduct a thorough and exhaustive review,” KU Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little said. “I anticipate that this will include a comprehensive audit of both offices. I am confident that, if and when appropriate, Lew Perkins will take swift action on the basis of the outcome of those reviews.”

Perkins had confirmed earlier this month that he had placed Rodney Jones, assistant athletics director for the Williams Fund, on administrative leave. Wednesday he announced that he had appointed Jennifer Berquist, associate director of the Williams Fund, as its interim director.

Berquist, who started at the Williams Fund in February 2002, is a native of Marion, Kan. She earned a B.S. in Journalism and an M.S. in Education from KU. She served as an intern in the Big Eight Conference, and spent four years as a compliance auditor at KU. She is a 2001 graduate of Leadership Lawrence.

“Jennifer has outstanding and varied experience in college athletics,” Perkins said, “and is a person of unquestioned integrity.”