Student Council Vice President for Administration Will Sowers informed the University Police Department yesterday afternoon that an undisclosed amount of cash awaiting deposit had been removed from his desk in the Council offices.
Although neither the University Police Department nor Council members would disclose the amount taken in the alleged theft due to the ongoing investigation, Council Chief Financial Officer Peter Ackerson said "the loss will have no material impact on the financial strength or operating ability of Student Council."
Ackerson made a statement to Council last night regarding the incident.
The statement said Sowers noticed the funds were missing before fall break and attempted to locate the money himself before informing any of the other executive officers. After he informed Ackerson of the loss, they conducted another unsuccessful search.
Ackerson said Sowers told the rest of the executive officers Sunday that the funds had not been found.
Consequently, Council President Daisy Lundy informed Student Activities Business Manager William Hancher, Associate Dean of Students Bill Ashby and Dean of Students Penny Rue about the issue and sought their guidance. Based in part on their recommendations, the executive officers determined Monday that the issue should be reported to the police.
Until yesterday afternoon, Sowers said Council executive officers had planned to announce the theft at the Council meeting last night.
"We had full intentions to disclose the loss as of Sunday night, but following discussion with the police, we felt it may have been better for the loss to remain confidential," he said.
However, after information of the theft was obtained by The Cavalier Daily, the executive officers affirmed their decision to make a statement at the Council meeting to dispel any "vague rumors" possibly circulating, Ackerson said.
Sowers expressed concern that someone leaked the information despite the executive officers' decision not to comment.
College Rep. Ruthie Yow, on the other hand, was concerned about the delay in disclosing the incident to Council.
"I was a little disillusioned that Will didn't feel comfortable talking to us about this sooner," Yow said.
The statement said executive officers approached the situation in the "spirit" of the University's community of trust. They said they hoped the issue would be resolved without contacting authorities but "with some sadness" they referred it to the University Police Department for investigation.
Lundy said she was disappointed by the theft.
"This is a tremendous breach of our community of trust, and it is very disheartening that different measures could have been taken on Council's end," Lundy said.
She added Council plans to conduct an audit of its office security measures as well as the handling of accounts received.
Ashby also assured Council at last night's meeting that Newcomb management plans to install card-swipe entry locks to all student areas by the end of the semester.
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