University of California, Berkeley Chancellor Nicholas Dirks is under university investigation for the alleged misuse of public funds for travel and the personal use of a campus athletic trainer without payment, the Los Angeles Times has learned.
A whistleblower complaint alleged that Dirks had failed to pay for use of the campus Recreational Sports Facility and its professional services, and that he used public funds to pay for travel with a recreational sports employee on non-university business, according to an April 11 letter to Dirks from Rachael Nava, the University of California's chief operating officer.
The allegations, if proven, would constitute "improper governmental activities," Nava said in the letter, which was obtained by The Times.
Dirks said through a spokesman that he would withhold comment until the investigation was concluded.
But Mike Weinberger, who served as director of the recreational facility until his retirement in February, said he approved the free personal training and did not believe it was a violation of university policy. He noted that free tickets to football games and other sports events are routinely given to supporters.
He said the trainer, Devin Wicks, told him that Dirks approached him about fitness training shortly after becoming chancellor in 2013. Weinberger said he suggested offering free sessions for Dirks to boost the standing of the recreational sports department _ which often operates in the shadows of the athletic department, with its big-time sports teams.
Weinberger said he did not know how many hours of free training Wicks provided. Wicks has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
"To have a chancellor in the building seeing how many students we serve _ I was thrilled," Weinberger said. "It was a strategic political decision by me to enhance our standing on campus. If there was a policy issue I don't think any of us were aware of it."
The allegations of improper travel involved a trip to India in January by Wicks and Dirks' wife, Janaki Bakhle, an associate history professor at Berkeley. Dirks did not travel with Wicks and never has, a university source said.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because commenting on an ongoing investigation is not allowed, said the trip was paid for by the Berkeley Alumni Association, not public university dollars. Weinberger said he approved Wicks' request to use his personal vacation days for the trip.
Reports of the investigation have been buzzing on the campus for weeks, adding to concern about Dirks' leadership.
The beleaguered chancellor has also been accused of mishandling sexual abuse complaints that led to the resignation of his handpicked provost and losing the confidence of many faculty members over his approach to budget and academic matters.
Faculty members were close to calling for a vote of no confidence earlier this year and may revive the effort in the fall, one senior faculty member said.
Dirks has also been criticized for spending $700,000 at a time of a campus budget crisis to erect a 7-foot-tall security fence around his residence to keep out student protesters. A university spokesman said the fence was recommended by Berkeley campus police and would save $360,000 annually in security costs.
Dirks, however, said the campus has made "great strides" in reducing a structural budget deficit and boosting fundraising in the last two years.
"I will continue to meet with faculty, staff and students in order to hear and understand their concerns; to explain how these concerns are being addressed; and to build consensus and support for promoting Berkeley's long-term aspirations," he said in a statement.
