Kansas Athletics' Director of Ticket Operations Resigns
Nov. 18, 2010
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Kassie Liebsch, director of ticket operations at Kansas Athletics, has resigned effective immediately. She had served in that capacity since January 2010. She began her employment in the ticket office as a KU student in August 2002.
Liebsch, three former employees and a former consultant were indicted Thursday for their roles in a case of alleged ticket misappropriation. Last spring the University commissioned an independent investigation of the issue. The resulting report did not implicate Liebsch.
“With a federal investigation ongoing, we have known that indictments, unfortunately, were a possibility,” KU Interim Athletics Director Sean Lester said. “We strongly support the U.S. Attorney’s search for the truth in this matter.
“Over the past six months we have implemented measures to strengthen our ticket protocols and make the entire process more transparent,” Lester continued. “I think our donors appreciate the enhancements we have made in transparency, accountability and the fact that so many of their seating locations have improved. We are unwavering in our continued commitment to our student-athletes, donors and fans.”
We are unable to comment further on this issue because of the ongoing federal prosecution.
Following is a statement released by the KU Office of University Relations.
KU supports the U.S. Attorney’s investigation and the prosecution of those involved in this crime. We have cooperated fully with investigators and made our report public. Our report made it clear that since the U.S. Attorney’s Office has subpoena power it was possible that federal investigators would be able to uncover information that the university could not. That is the case with the individual who resigned from Kansas Athletics this morning before we were aware she was the subject of an indictment.
Since we first became aware of the diversion of tickets, Kansas Athletics and the University of Kansas have taken a number of actions to enhance internal controls and accountability. A forensic auditor was hired, new controls and restrictions placed on access to the ticketing system, and new transparency regarding seating was provided, among other actions.
Since this is an ongoing federal prosecution under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the university is not in a position to comment on the particulars of the case.
