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
"Other seed companies might not look as hard at SDSU graduates. They might see the Monsanto and the David Chicoine name, and they'll wonder how they're supposed to compete with that," she said.
Chicoine does not see his new position as problematic. When the company selected him, it found that he had no direct or indirect material relationship with the company, Chicoine said. If he did have a conflict of interest, he would not be able to give the company objective feedback.
"As an independent board member, if I'm not independent, I have no value to the board."
In terms of research, Chicoine said SDSU will not be given the inside track for Monsanto grants. Instead, the company will continue to look for the best researchers for their projects because it only makes sense for companies to choose the best candidate.
"The reputation of the faculty member doing research establishes the funding for the project," Chicoine said. "That is not going to change with my position as an independent member of the Board of Directors of Monsanto."
Currently, less than 10 percent of SDSU's grants come from private companies, Chicoine said. SDSU is projected to receive $44.8 million in grants and contract research awards in fiscal year 2009. Chicoine said most of that money comes from the government.
According to the SEC report, in fiscal year 2008, Monsanto paid SDSU $48,000 for "services;" SDSU paid the company $203,000 for "licenses, services and goods;" and Monsanto gave the university $145,000 in research grants.
The SEC report also said, "In the ordinary course of its business, the Company has engaged in certain transactions with SDSU that were, or may be, related personal transactions with respect to Dr. Chicoine."
Apart from conflict-of-interest concerns, some students are unhappy that Chicoine is aligning himself with a company that uses genetically modified organisms.
"I'm disappointed as a student, a Sierra Club member and a person living in Brookings," said Holly Tilton, president of the Sierra Club.
Chicoine does not see his new position as problematic. When the company selected him, it found that he had no direct or indirect material relationship with the company, Chicoine said. If he did have a conflict of interest, he would not be able to give the company objective feedback.
"As an independent board member, if I'm not independent, I have no value to the board."
In terms of research, Chicoine said SDSU will not be given the inside track for Monsanto grants. Instead, the company will continue to look for the best researchers for their projects because it only makes sense for companies to choose the best candidate.
"The reputation of the faculty member doing research establishes the funding for the project," Chicoine said. "That is not going to change with my position as an independent member of the Board of Directors of Monsanto."
Currently, less than 10 percent of SDSU's grants come from private companies, Chicoine said. SDSU is projected to receive $44.8 million in grants and contract research awards in fiscal year 2009. Chicoine said most of that money comes from the government.
According to the SEC report, in fiscal year 2008, Monsanto paid SDSU $48,000 for "services;" SDSU paid the company $203,000 for "licenses, services and goods;" and Monsanto gave the university $145,000 in research grants.
The SEC report also said, "In the ordinary course of its business, the Company has engaged in certain transactions with SDSU that were, or may be, related personal transactions with respect to Dr. Chicoine."
Apart from conflict-of-interest concerns, some students are unhappy that Chicoine is aligning himself with a company that uses genetically modified organisms.
"I'm disappointed as a student, a Sierra Club member and a person living in Brookings," said Holly Tilton, president of the Sierra Club.
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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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