WSU Professor Cleared of Wrongdoing in Ethics Investigation
Posted on Apr 22, 2016 1:03pm PDT
WSU Professor Barry Moore, who was investigated for possible ethics violations,
was cleared of wrongdoing by the state Executive Ethics Board (EEB). Dr.
Moore was represented by attorney Sean M. Phelan.
Dr. Moore taught the scuba program at WSU for thirty years before the program
was discontinued at the end of December 2015. Dr. Moore’s business,
Clearwater Scuba, began providing scuba equipment sales and rentals to
WSU students in 1987 when the equipment was badly deteriorated and WSU
was unable to find any vendors willing to provide the necessary equipment.
The Physical Education Department faculty unanimously approved a proposal
from Dr. Moore for Clearwater to provide scuba equipment rentals in order
to maintain the scuba program.
This initial proposal was also approved by WSU administration and the WSU
Attorney General. Throughout its existence, Clearwater’s relationship
with the nationally recognized WSU scuba program underwent repeated reviews
by WSU administrators and Attorneys General who recommended only minor
modifications to the terms of the relationships such as changes to student
handouts. Dr. Moore complied with each and every recommendation from WSU
and all parties believed that they were in compliance with ethics laws.
The EEB concluded “that from the beginning of Dr. Moore’s involvement
with the WSU Scuba Program and the creation of his outside personal business,
Clearwater Company, Dr. Moore has sought and received guidance from WSU
management and WSU Attorneys General. Additionally, after every review
of the scuba program by WSU management and AG’s, Dr. Moore received
new guidelines on his participation as the lead instructor and private
outside provider for the equipment. Consistent with the ethics training
he received at WSU, Dr. Moore actively sought out, willingly accepted,
and followed the guidance provided by WSU management and AG’s. The
violations cited herein thus were unintentional on the part of Dr. Moore”.
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click the article here.