USC creates office to handle investigations, complaints

Following a tumultuous year marked by scandal, the University of Southern California is creating an office dedicated to managing complaints and investigations throughout the institution. The division, called the Office of Professionalism and Ethics, is headed by Michael Blanton, former vice president of athletic compliance.

“I always love a good challenge,” Blanton said.

The office will manage a centralized database that will register and address complaints from all community members, including students, faculty and staff, and both the University Park and Health Sciences campuses. In the past, information has been localized in different departments, sometimes putting investigators at a disadvantage, Blanton said. This system aims to facilitate information sharing, he said.

“In some sense, it’s a global tracking system ... the goal being that, frankly, nothing can slip through the cracks, or that’s the high hope,” he said.

Last year, Carmen Puliafito, the dean of USC’s medical school, was fired following accusations of drug use detailed in a Los Angeles Times investigation.

In April, another Los Angeles Times investigation revealed extensive allegations of sexual abuse against USC gynecologist George Tyndall, who had quietly resigned in 2016. USC President C.L. Max Nikias stepped down in May amid calls for his resignation.

In his new role, Blanton hopes to standardize investigation procedures when possible while also making the reporting process easier.

“The university has done a good job of identifying some inefficiencies over the last couple months, highlighted by the events of the past 18 months,” he said. “This office is a direct result of doing what’s possible to fix them.”

The office will directly oversee four existing subdivisions: the Title IX Office, the Office of Equity and Diversity, the Office of Conduct, Accountability and Professionalism; and the Office of Athletic Compliance. Ongoing investigations will remain in their current departments and offices but will be overseen and monitored by the Office of Professionalism and Ethics.

Prior to joining USC’s athletic compliance office in January 2017, Blanton was a partner at Hill, Farrer & Burrill LLP.

Mark Hathaway of Werksman Jackson Hathaway & Quinn LLP, who is currently representing students in cases against USC, said a uniform system of justice with the same protections for all faculty and students, regardless of the type of accusation, could provide clarity and efficiency.

“I don’t think any university was started with the idea that discipline of its faculty and discipline of its students was a significant part of its mission,” Hathaway said. “It’s an unfortunate and necessary component of university life, and it’s fairly clear that few colleges and universities are getting it right.”