OU officials are denying allegations that the university was planning to give a plot of land to the State Medical Examiner’s office.

The statements regarding the potential selling or exchange of a plot of land that would allow the medical examiner’s office to expand and stay in its current location come from a News 9 report that aired Tuesday in which Rep. Al McAffrey, D-Oklahoma City, said an exchange of land was in the works.

OU President David Boren said by e-mail he is not trying to influence the decision of the Oklahoma Legislature that would potentially move the State Medical Examiner’s office away from the OU Health Sciences campus and onto the University of Central Oklahoma’s campus in Edmond.

“I am puzzled because our position has been consistent that we support any decision by the legislature in regard to the M.E.’s office,” Boren stated. “The university is not advocating one location over another. I have never taken the initiative to involve myself in this issue. If any action is required on the part of the university to implement a legislative decision, of course, we would cooperate and take that action, but we are not seeking to influence the legislature’s decision.”

UCO Executive Vice President Steve Kreidler said he had not heard about any deals between OU and the medical examiner’s office, but understood the medical examiner’s office needed to either be relocated or renovated.

“Perhaps [in the Associated Press] story this morning, they didn’t check with President Boren whether or not he said that,” Kreidler said. “The important issue for all of us is the State Medical Examiner desperately needs a new facility, and it needs to be in a place that helps them best do the job. If there is a better location, we understand it needs to be in the best location for the Medical Examiner.”

When McAffrey was asked to clarify his remarks Wednesday on News 9’s afternoon program, McAffrey said OU Vice President Danny Hilliard, a former state Legislator and current vice president of government relations, said an exchange was being proposed.

When The Daily contacted Hilliard, OU vice President of Public Affairs Catherine Bishop issued a statement on behalf of Hilliard stating it is impossible for OU to donate land to the medical examiner’s office because OU does not own the land next the medical examiner’s office.

“No offer to donate land has ever been made,” Bishop said by e-mail. “The university does not own the land adjacent to the Medical Examiner’s office.”

The Daily’s phone calls to McAffrey for clarification of his remarks and his side of the story were not returned.