Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1952 [PAGE 631]

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[May 18

4. That bets were received and phoned to bookmakers at various times during May's working hours, but that the time consumed by such activities was only a few minutes in each instance. 5. That in making application for employment with the University of Illinois on January 6, 1947, in answer to the question "Have you ever been arrested, indicted, or convicted for any violation of law other than a minor violation ?", May replied "No," whereas he had in fact been arrested in the city of Chicago, by the Chicago police, on a charge of gambling, on May 25, 1931, and again in the city of Chicago, by the Chicago police, on a charge of bookmaking, on February 8, 1933. That in each case of arrest, May was discharged without indictment or conviction. From the above findings of fact, the Committee makes the following conclusions: 1. That Patrick J. May on various occasions while in the employ of the University of Illinois did receive and accept bets from persons on the premises of the University of Illinois. 2. That May accepted bets and phoned them to bookmakers during scheduled working hours, which constituted the taking care of outside interests during scheduled working hours. The Committee further concludes, however, that the time consumed in such activities was not so great as to seriously affect adversely the quality of May's work in the performance of his regular duties. 3. That the wording of the question relative to previous arrests, put to May at the time of his application for employment, was open to interpretation by the applicant as to what constituted "minor offenses," and that May's reply to such question did not constitute a falsification of employment record under the circumstances of his case. From the above conclusions, the Committee makes the following ultimate conclusions: 1. That the receiving and acceptance of bets by May from persons on the premises of the University of Illinois is just cause for discharge from the civil service of the University of Illinois. 2. That the taking care of outside interests during scheduled working hours by May did not so seriously affect adversely the performance of his regular duties as to constitute just cause for discharge. 3. That the answer given by May to the specific question asked relative to his employment application is not just cause for discharge. 4. That the fourth charge of "Conduct prejudicial to the interests of the University" states a conclusion which depends for its validity upon specific acts set forth in the first three charges, or upon other acts not specified in the charges, and in view of the findings of fact and conclusions based on the first three charges individually, the Committee deems it unnecessary to make any finding of fact or conclusion in relation to the fourth charge. Conclusion of law: The Committee concludes that the receiving and acceptance of bets by Patrick J. May from persons on the premises of the University of Illinois constitutes just cause for discharge from the classified civil service of the State in relation to the University of Illinois. Recommendation: The Committee therefore recommends that the employee, Patrick J. May, be discharged, and that this decision of the Board be certified to the appointing officer

and be enforced by him.

ROBERT p HACKETT

HAROLD W. BAILEY WARREN O. BROWN J. FRED KNIGHT CHARLES H. BOWMAN

On motion of Mr. Johnston, the recommendation of the Committee was approved, and Patrick J. May was discharged from the classified civil service of the state in relation to the University of Illinois, by the