Controversy greets new FAU president

As Frank Brogan takes the reins of Florida Atlantic University, police investigate a car given to the outgoing president.

©Associated Press
March 4, 2003

BOCA RATON -- Frank Brogan took charge of Florida Atlantic University on Monday, beginning his presidency just as police investigators started looking into whether the FAU foundation gave the former president a Chevrolet Corvette as a parting gift.

Brogan said the controversy "makes it a little more difficult for any incoming president."

"These things are going to happen," Brogan said after introducing an 18-member team to help with his transition. "If you're going to be a leader of an institution, you're going to have to deal with the good times and the bad times."

The Florida Board of Governors ratified Brogan as president during a conference call, with one of the 17 members voting against the move. Richard Briggs, the faculty representative, questioned Brogan's lack of a doctorate.

Brogan said he will take advantage of his political knowledge over the next two months, spending much of his time in Tallahassee for the 60-day legislative session. He will move to Boca Raton and into a new, $2-million on-campus residence in May.

Brogan also said he planned to deal quickly with any concerns relating to the investigation over how tuition dollars, tax money or donations are handled.

The university has locked employees out of the foundation, its money-raising operation, while officials review allegations the foundation gave former president Anthony Catanese $42,000 to buy a new Corvette. Some employees were placed on indefinite leave.

Motor vehicle records show Catanese bought a Corvette in Coconut Creek on July 24, 2002 -- three weeks after he left as president of FAU after 12 years.

Herb Gimelstob, the foundation's vice chairman, said authorities are looking into how Catanese, now the president of Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, acquired the sporty car.

"There was never a gift ever, ever authorized by the executive board of the foundation, or ever voted on for authorization," Gimelstob said.

Catanese's attorney, Philip Nohrr, declined to say whether the former president received a gift.

He said only that "whatever the foundation did or did not do, it was authorized." As president, Brogan will receive the use of a car maintained by the foundation. He also will be paid a salary of about $290,000.

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