Hanson Backtracks on Vice President's Departure

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - Interim North Dakota State University

President Richard Hanson says he should have been upfront about the

departure of the school's vice president of finance and

administration.

Hanson said in a news conference Wednesday that he didn't ask

John Adams to resign from his post. But the interim president on

Thursday acknowledged that he wanted Adams to quit.

Hanson says he was trying to shield Adams from embarrassment and

do him a favor at the news conference.

NDSU has been criticized over the way it spends money. Several

of its projects are being audited by the state. Hanson says he

doesn't want to blame anyone and that he gave Adams the choice to

leave on his own to help move the controversy "to the back

burner."

Adams has said he was asked to resign. He did not return a phone

message to The Associated Press on Thursday seeking further

comment.

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