UC Irvine Follows Policy of Reprisal

I am enraged over the University of California’s decision to demote Internal Audit Director Andrew Yeilding (“UCI Demotes Chief Auditor in Plan to Strengthen Office,” Feb. 29). This act of reprisal is consistent with the retaliatory nature of the university’s present regime. Any honest, upstanding employee that refuses to compromise his personal integrity to protect the actions of inept superiors is certain to face demotion, termination and the university’s continued attempts at discrediting his or her character.

Having personally been in the eye of this frightful storm, I am aghast that Chancellor Laurel Wilkening would deceive the public [with the accusation] that information was not passed on to top officials until two years later. I know this to be a blatant lie. Information and records maintained by my predecessor clearly document that top officials were indeed notified in 1992 and even convened to address the allegations.

Why did Yeilding get demoted? Because he didn’t lie to protect the incompetence and unscrupulous actions of those above him. Why? Because he pursued the truth and supported his staff in their efforts to gather evidence. Why? Because he didn’t play the game of perpetuating a cover-up.

A handful of people sought the truth and worked diligently to expose the truth. Andrew Yeilding was one of those people. I’m sad that his sound integrity and exceptional professional proficiencies weren’t rewarded rather than punished. His work was crucial in bringing an end to the terrible, ugly happenings within the Department of Reproductive Health at the University of California.

DEBRA KRAHEL

Rancho Santa Fe

The writer was a whistle-blower in the UC Irvine fertility scandal.

I am writing in response to the poor comparison of Dr. Ricardo H. Asch to O.J. Simpson in the March 6 column by Dana Parsons. Not only is the white Ford Bronco missing, but so are the police cars. It has been almost six months since the FBI raided the Asch home and shut down his practice by taking all of his records. This story has been in the press for almost a year and still no charges have been filed against Asch.

There are no drops of blood, no cap and no DNA. At the center of the evidence are Debbie and John Challender, who come with a lawyer and media consultant and a signed consent form showing donation. They claim they signed a blank form witnessed by a UCI employee.

Asch’s employment contract states all “non-physician services” will be provided by UCI. So are the whistle-blowers really the victims or the ones in charge?

I hope in the future that reporters will investigate, instead of printing the rhymes provided by UCI.

JAMES J. JONES

Costa Mesa