Conflict of interest?
Students and faculty are concerned that Chicoine's ties to Monsanto could "taint" SDSU research.
Amy Poppinga
Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: News
Some students and faculty have raised concerns over President David Chicoine's recent appointment to the Monsanto Board of Directors, but the president defends his decision, saying his new position will not affect SDSU.
Chicoine was appointed to the 11-person board as an independent member on April 15. Through that position, SDSU's president will help hire, fire and evaluate Monsanto's management. As an independent board member, he said he will provide objective input.
Still, some students and faculty are concerned his position might create a conflict of interest. Monsanto recently donated $1 million for a plant breeding fellowship at SDSU, and according to a Securities and Exchange Commission report, the seed company has given SDSU $222,000 in research grants thus far in the fiscal year 2009. Between a retainer and benefits package, Chicoine will personally receive about $400,000 for his work with the board this year.
Despite the university's ties to Monsanto, Chicoine said he was chosen for his background as an agricultural economist, not for his position with the university.
"They didn't choose me because I'm the president of SDSU. I think it was due to my professional background and my experience as an administrator."
Shawn Mohr, a Students' Association senator for the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, recently helped sponsor a resolution opposing Chicoine's decision to join the Monsanto board.
"He is the face of the university," said Mohr, a junior agronomy major. "What he chooses to do, even in his personal life, may affect the way SDSU is viewed by the general public."
Mohr said SDSU could lose credibility as an independent research institution through Chicoine's affiliation with the seed company.
"We won't become Monsanto-tainted, but our research, to other agricultural companies, producers and counterpart universities, might be seen as Monsanto-tainted," he said.
Dani Herring, SA senator for the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, co-sponsored the resolution opposing Chicoine's decision. Herring said Chicoine's new job might cause companies to less aggressively pursue SDSU applicants.
Chicoine was appointed to the 11-person board as an independent member on April 15. Through that position, SDSU's president will help hire, fire and evaluate Monsanto's management. As an independent board member, he said he will provide objective input.
Still, some students and faculty are concerned his position might create a conflict of interest. Monsanto recently donated $1 million for a plant breeding fellowship at SDSU, and according to a Securities and Exchange Commission report, the seed company has given SDSU $222,000 in research grants thus far in the fiscal year 2009. Between a retainer and benefits package, Chicoine will personally receive about $400,000 for his work with the board this year.
Despite the university's ties to Monsanto, Chicoine said he was chosen for his background as an agricultural economist, not for his position with the university.
"They didn't choose me because I'm the president of SDSU. I think it was due to my professional background and my experience as an administrator."
Shawn Mohr, a Students' Association senator for the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, recently helped sponsor a resolution opposing Chicoine's decision to join the Monsanto board.
"He is the face of the university," said Mohr, a junior agronomy major. "What he chooses to do, even in his personal life, may affect the way SDSU is viewed by the general public."
Mohr said SDSU could lose credibility as an independent research institution through Chicoine's affiliation with the seed company.
"We won't become Monsanto-tainted, but our research, to other agricultural companies, producers and counterpart universities, might be seen as Monsanto-tainted," he said.
Dani Herring, SA senator for the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, co-sponsored the resolution opposing Chicoine's decision. Herring said Chicoine's new job might cause companies to less aggressively pursue SDSU applicants.
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Senator Frank Kloucek
posted 6/22/09 @ 12:49 AM CST
SDSU Collegian Editorial Department
One of the major reasons for paying a university president in South Dakota a $320,000 salary is because it takes a lot of money to hire a great talent with the right skills, credentials and experience to serve as president. (Continued…)
Senator Frank Kloucek
posted 6/22/09 @ 1:06 AM CST
State of Wahington Bans such activity by state law! Graphic Version
RCW 42.52.120
Compensation for outside activities.
(1) No state officer or state employee may receive any thing of economic value under any contract or grant outside of his or her official duties. (Continued…)
Not a Senator Frank Kloucek supporter
posted 6/22/09 @ 8:26 AM CST
In 2008, The Chronicle of Higher Education looked at the top 40 research universities in the U.S. (mostly public, some private) and found that 19 of the Presidents of those institutions served on corporate boards. (Continued…)
schnapsenbalzer
posted 7/15/09 @ 9:49 AM CST
Monsanto is already gifting stock to Chicoine. Check out:
http://talk.newagtalk.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=109288&mid=774673#M774673
Also, while Monsanto sends spies out on seed saving farmers, see what Monsanto does to people who try to take pictures of its headquarters from a public sidewalk next to a public street. (Continued…)
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