NEW YORK
The New York Times
By WENDY RUDERMAN
Published: May 3, 2013
The longtime president of St. John’s University, the Rev. Donald J. Harrington, announced his retirement on Friday, ending a tenure that included successes like soaring student enrollment and campus expansion, but also financial scandal: he acknowledged going on trips with a former dean who committed suicide while on trial for corruption.
His retirement comes amid a pending inquiry requested a few months ago by the board of trustees into possible financial improprieties involving officials at the university, in Queens.
In announcing his retirement, effective July 31, Father Harrington, 67, alluded to the successful and difficult chapters during his 24 years as president.
“St. John’s has been transformed and stands today a truly world-class global university,” he wrote Friday to the trustees, but, “the difficulties for everyone during the past year have convinced me, after much prayer and reflection, that the time to leave the presidency has now come.”
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