ASHLAND — In light of new information in the Brandon Campo case, Ashland University’s board of trustees has hired a law firm to conduct an independent review of the university’s hiring practices and substance abuse policies.
The investigation was announced by board of trustees president Kevin Doss in a letter sent to all AU faculty, staff and students on Wednesday.
“On behalf of Ashland University’s Board of Trustees, I write to express our dismay and disappointment upon learning of Brandon Campo’s recent guilty plea and additional concerns that came to light during his sentencing hearing,” Doss wrote.
“As an employee of this university until June 2018 and as the son of our president, Brandon’s case left us with many unanswered questions that demand our timely and thorough inquiry.”
Last week, Ashland Municipal Court Judge John Good sentenced Campo to 180 days in jail on charges of schedule four drug possession and endangering children. Campo pleaded guilty to both charges in December.
During the sentencing hearing, Good said Campo purchased illegal drugs from a university student. The judge also detailed Campo’s extensive criminal record and questioned the university’s judgement in hiring Campo.
Brandon Campo is the son of university president Carlos Campo and was employed as an administrator at AU until his arrest last June.
“We are determined to gather all of the facts surrounding this situation and to carefully examine their implications for Ashland University,” Doss wrote in the letter to the university community. “To this end, we have engaged the law firm of Barnes & Thornburg to conduct an independent review and to report back to the Trustees within 30 days.”
Doss said Barnes & Thornburg’s work will include, but not be limited to, the examination of the University’s hiring practices and its substance abuse policies.
“While Ashland University has made great strides in academic excellence and creating a healthy culture for faculty, students and staff, the trustees intend to take appropriate steps, based on the facts, to redouble our efforts where there is a need to do so,” Doss wrote.
“President Campo has assured us that he supports these independent fact-finding efforts and is cooperating fully with the inquiry. As is the Ashland University way, our thoughts and prayers are with the Campo family in this time of personal challenge.”
