Former OU President David Boren and former vice president of University Development Tripp Hall declined to answer questions or offer further comment when asked by an OU Daily reporter on Thursday evening.
Two OU graduates recently went public with allegations of unwanted sexual touching by Boren and Hall, according to a March 26 report by NonDoc. In February, the Oklahoman reported that Boren was being investigated by the Jones Day law firm for sexual harassment against male aides.
The two were at Charleston’s restaurant near Main Street on March 28, accompanied by Molly Shi Boren. As the group was leaving, an OU Daily reporter walked up to them, identified herself as a reporter and asked if Boren or Hall would answer questions. They both said no.
“We’re just having dinner,” Hall said.
While Boren has denied the allegations through an attorney, and Hall denied them in NonDoc’s story, this is the first direct denial to comment from Boren and Hall to The OU Daily.
Earlier Thursday, The Daily learned that the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation will be the lead agency investigating the allegations after the OU Police Department requested its involvement “in order to ensure an impartial and unbiased investigation on its campus,” according to university spokesperson Lauren Brookey.
The university released a statement March 26 saying it cannot comment on the investigation while it is underway, but did say the university hired Jones Day to look into allegations of sexual misconduct received in November 2018.
