Sorority theft costs alumna $81,000 job

hoosier · #1 07-17-2005, 02:39 PM

State division director resigns over 1996 sorority theft
By JOSH FLORY of the Tribune’s staff
Published Thursday, July 7, 2005

JEFFERSON CITY - The director of the state’s Division of Business Development and Trade offered her resignation yesterday after acknowledging that she pled guilty to a theft charge in 1996 for stealing money from her college sorority.

"This was a youthful indiscretion, and I have paid for this mistake nearly 10 years ago."
- Randa Hayes, in resignation letter to DED Director Greg Steinhof

Randa Hayes, 33, of St. Peters had been working as director of the business development division, which is part of the Department of Economic Development, or DED. Her salary was $81,000.

Hayes came under scrutiny this week when the state Democratic Party, acting on an anonymous tip, revealed that in 1996 she was charged with theft and forgery in Cook County, Ill. Known at the time by her maiden name, Randa Ismail, she pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and was ordered to pay $36,649 in restitution.

DED Director Greg Steinhoff announced the resignation yesterday, saying in a prepared statement that Hayes "failed to disclose that she had been arrested for theft."

In a resignation letter to Steinhoff, Hayes said that at the time she was treasurer of a college sorority and used sorority funds to cover personal expenses. Hayes said she paid the money back and was placed on probation for a year. "Since then I’ve worked very hard, no matter what my position, to do the right thing," she said. "This was a youthful indiscretion, and I have paid for this mistake nearly 10 years ago."

roqueemae · #2 07-17-2005, 06:50 PM

I see treasurers stealing from chapters all of the time. 4/17 chapters have had this problem in the 2 years I worked in Greek Affairs. I guess that is why so many organizations have 2 signatures on checks. But that leads to the problems of getting the two together-especially at a busy time like recruitment and homecoming.

mmcat · #3 07-17-2005, 10:59 PM

you forget some things just don't go away.

PsychTau2 · #4 07-18-2005, 09:05 AM

I'm not downplaying the fact that she stole from her sorority...that's wrong on so many levels. However, if she had been honest about it on her application (or whenever the question came up) she probably wouldn't be forced to resign. I'm sure there are some employers out there who wouldn't have hired her if they knew, but there are some who would have hired her.

Moral of the story: Don't lie OR steal.

PS: It's interesting that not too many chapter members realize they can look at the treasurer's books anytime they want to. Not only would that help keep the treasurer honest, it would help members understand where their dues go and why it's important to pay them.

PsychTau

IvySpice · #5 07-18-2005, 12:29 PM

This problem is definitely not limited to sororities/fraternities...a few years ago, a couple of students stole over $100,000 from an undergraduate theater company at Harvard. (As it happens, one of the members had been president of a sorority chapter there, but if she stole from them too, it wasn't made public.)

How can people think that $100,000 won't be missed??

lifesaver · #6 07-18-2005, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PsychTau2
I'm not downplaying the fact that she stole from her sorority...that's wrong on so many levels. However, if she had been honest about it on her application (or whenever the question came up) she probably wouldn't be forced to resign. I'm sure there are some employers out there who wouldn't have hired her if they knew, but there are some who would have hired her.

Moral of the story: Don't lie OR steal.

PsychTau

She probably wouldnt have gotten the job if she had plead guilty to a crime of moral turpitude - which a theft certainly is. A lot of employers are big on that.

WenD08 · #7 07-19-2005, 04:21 PM

lots of different sororities/orgs. have been hit like this, it makes me wonder about the checks and balances within the chapter/club.
also, out of curiousity, i wonder what sorority she is/was in. not that it's relevant but still wondering...

DC_Zeta1920 · #8 07-22-2005, 01:45 PM

This is very unfortunate yet not uncommon. I have heard about stuff like this happening in the past.

Out of curiosity, I too want to know which sorority she was/is in.

33girl · #9 07-22-2005, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DC_Zeta1920
This is very unfortunate yet not uncommon. I have heard about stuff like this happening in the past.

Out of curiosity, I too want to know which sorority she was/is in.

She went to Northwestern, so it would be one of the groups that is/was there.

FeeFee · #10 07-22-2005, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WenD08
lots of different sororities/orgs. have been hit like this, it makes me wonder about the checks and balances within the chapter/club.

Soror, I wondered about that too.

Tom Earp · #11 07-22-2005, 04:48 PM

News In Kc and St. L papers.

Fry Her Butt.

She Screws Her Sisters and Then Her State Members.!!!!

No Sympathy here!

ADPiAkron · #12 07-22-2005, 04:54 PM

I know of an Advisor of Greek Affairs who stole money from the Panhel and IFC checking account-- he was obviously fired! I have also been told in the past that they suspected my ex-boyfriend stole money from his fraternity when he was treasurer-- but they could never prove it because the dumb arses paid in cash!!!

Tom Earp · #13 07-22-2005, 05:50 PM

Is that good or bad?

If He did, what kind of Brother did that make Him. Why are You with Him?

When You or anyone else Steals From Your Own, just what do they desearve?

I am a Staunch Puritan, Christian Beleiver in "Dont Screw Me, I Wont Screw YOU"

Get It?

lifesaver · #14 07-22-2005, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by roqueemae
I see treasurers stealing from chapters all of the time. 4/17 chapters have had this problem in the 2 years I worked in Greek Affairs. I guess that is why so many organizations have 2 signatures on checks. But that leads to the problems of getting the two together-especially at a busy time like recruitment and homecoming.

Thats why you have to put a lot of safeguards in place. The two signature thing is a pain, but you make sure a culture exists in the chapter where members know they HAVE to plan ahead. Not only are two signatures required, but check requests have to be submitted to the treasurer a week in advance.

Also, the chapter I advise is a cash-fee chapter. Check or Money Order only. When I was an undergrad someone walked off with $500 in cash that had been collected in dues. That taught me a lesson to never accept cash. Its just trouble. So now, no cash at the chapter level.

ADPiAkron · #15 07-22-2005, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tom Earp
Is that good or bad?

If He did, what kind of Brother did that make Him. Why are You with Him?

When You or anyone else Steals From Your Own, just what do they desearve?

I am a Staunch Puritan, Christian Beleiver in "Dont Screw Me, I Wont Screw YOU"

Get It?

THAT IS HORRIBLE!! Way worse than just bad!! He is my EX-boyfriend and was at the time he did this! We were together for 2 1/2 years-- and this happened about a year after we broke up!! I guess I kept him on the straight and narrow!!