UW: No New Illegal Payments Found Between Schools, Foundations

U-W officials say no new illegal payments have turned up between the 26 public campuses and their private foundations. The university took a fresh look at two-thousand payments between campuses and foundations since 2010, after the U-W sued two former Oshkosh campus officials in January for illegally guaranteeing public funds to back up five privately financed building projects. The review turned up some questionable transactions — including 183-thousand dollars from U-W La Crosse to its foundation after a fundraising effort for a stadium Hall of Honor fell short. The reviewers said the payment was not the best practice, but it was okay because there’s a risk involving fundraisers. U-W President Ray Cross said the review displayed the integrity of private foundations.