EKU News
Online mishap exposes information
Over 5,000 employee Social Security numbers released
The Social Security numbers of more than 5,000 Eastern Kentucky University employees accidentally were posted on an online directory Sept. 29, 2008.
EKU president Doug Whitlock issued a statement Wednesday addressing the matter and recommended that all employees during the 2007-08 academic year (with a last date of hire being Oct. 15, 2008) alert creditors.
The file containing the information was removed from the Internet on Friday, Sept. 18, Whitlock said.
“To date, we have no knowledge that the personal identity information contained in the file has been misused or exploited,” he said.
The time gap between the recognition of the problem and a public announcement was necessary to keep the exposure of the confidential at a minimum, Whitlock said.
“This made the file inaccessible,” he said. “However, pointers to this file still existed in the Google search engine and specific searches could return small snippets of the file. Notification was made immediately after verifying Google had removed all pointers to this file.”
The file was discovered by the school’s information technology staff as a result of a Google search, Whitlock said
“Upon discovery, ECERT (Eastern Kentucky University Computing Emergency Response Team) immediately removed the file from the University Web space, and contacted Google to request the link be removed from their search engine. The file was not found using other Web search engines.”
A University Web page, www.ecert.eku, was created to provide additional information about this matter, and will be updated frequently to report information.
A special phone line, 622-7777, is now open for those who would like to call with their concerns or for more information, Whitlock said.
“Clearly, this incident violated our information security policies and guidelines, and it demonstrates that we must have heightened vigilance in this area,” Whitlock said. “EKU is undertaking an institution-wide data inventory initiative and conducting a full review to further improve our policies and practices regarding the security of our confidential data.”
To protect themselves against identity theft, a free initial fraud alert (and extended fraud alerts after 90 days) can be placed with credit bureaus, a free temporary or permanent security freeze can be requested and a credit report may be run to ensure accounts have not been fraudulently activated. The university suggested calling one of the following major credit bureaus:
• Equifax, www.equifax.com; 1-800-525-6285
• Experian, www.experian.com/ fraud; 1-888-397-3742
• Trans Union, www.tuc.com; 1-800-680-7289
The following resources can be contacted for additional information about identity theft:
• Federal Trade Commission: www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/
• Social Security Administration: www.ssa.gov; Fraud Line, 1-800-269-0271
• Identity Theft Victim Checklist: www.101-identitytheft.com/checklist.htm
“Even though we believe that this incident puts our employees at low risk of identity theft and there is no evidence, at this point, to indicate the subject file has been accessed, we nonetheless believed it was our obligation to notify faculty, staff and students of this incident,” Whitlock said. “If there is evidence of identity theft, the University will provide additional support to any affected persons.
“The University is committed to maintaining the privacy of its employees, taking many precautions for the security of personal information and continually modifying its systems and practices to enhance the security of sensitive information,” he said.
Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 624-6608.
- EKU News
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EKU group presents ‘Eastern Stars, a Night on Broadway’
Eastern Kentucky University’s student chapter of the American Choral Directors Association will present “Eastern Stars, a Night on Broadway,” on March 23, at 8 p.m. in O’Donnell Hall, the Student Services Building auditorium.
The program includes songs from Broadway shows such as “Phantom of the Opera,” “Hairspray” and “Wicked.”
The event is free and open to the public. -
Program offers professionals a chance to teach
After four successful years, Eastern Kentucky University’s “Try Teaching” program is again accepting applications from mid- and second-career professionals who are intrigued about their potential in front of a classroom.
The nationally innovative program is geared to those who have doubts about leaving their current job behind to return to college for a second degree. It allows participants to gauge their comfort level as a classroom teacher before making a life-changing career move. -
Students focused on energy
Students at Eastern Kentucky University, many of whom are planning careers as teachers or have already begun their teaching careers, are spending this semester learning about environmental issues.
Those taking Ecology for Teachers, an undergraduate class taught by Billy Bennett, and Environmental Science Issues, a graduate course taught by Melinda Wilder, have utilized a grant that allows students to actively pursue ways to teach their classmates and current and future students. -
Bridal showcase set for March 21
Eastern Kentucky University Catering, along with Conferencing and Events, will host the Bridal and Events Showcase on Sunday, March 21, from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Keen Johnson Building on EKU’s campus.
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Foster Music Camp at EKU to celebrate its 75th season
The nation’s second oldest music camp will celebrate its 75th season this summer at Eastern Kentucky University.
Founded in the midst of the Great Depression, the Stephen Collins Foster Music Camps — with numerous camp options throughout June for middle school and high school students — continue to draw young musicians from throughout the nation and even internationally. -
EKU student president making plans to go back where she came from
Immediately following the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, a few of her fellow middle school students told Afsi Siahloohi she should “go back where you came from.”
That would not have been hard to do.
Like most of her classmates, she was born and raised in eastern Kentucky. On a farm at Spout Springs, to be exact.
Her father, Karim, is a native of Iran, and her mother, Kimberly, was born and reared in the Kentucky hill country.
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EKU arts center subject of presentation
The Center for the Performing Arts, now under construction at Eastern Kentucky University, will be the subject of a presentation at the fifth annual Best Practices in Building University/City Relations Conference, hosted by the International Town & Gown Association and Iowa State University.
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EKU arts center names executive director
The Center for the Performing Arts at Eastern Kentucky University formally introduced Katherine Eckstrand as its executive director Wednesday during a press conference on campus.
Since 2005, Eckstrand has been the director of community development for the Ohio Arts Council in Columbus.
She previously served as executive director of the Clark State Community College Performing Arts Center in Springfield, Ohio, from 1994 to 2005.
In all, Eckstrand has 23 years experience in arts administration and promotion.
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EKU sustainability project already showing savings
Going green has gotten Eastern Kentucky University a lot of attention, even making them a model for a similar University of Louisville project and a part of Gov. Steve Beshear’s comprehensive energy-savings plan.
Representatives from Siemens Industry Inc. were on EKU’s campus Monday to give an update on the state’s largest-ever performance contract, according to Dan Crowley, Appalachian zone manager for Siemens.
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EKU seeks to have tenure case moved
Attorneys for Eastern Kentucky University have filed to have a tenure discrimination suit against the school moved to a federal courtroom.
A notice of removal was filed in U.S. District Court in Lexington on Tuesday seeking to have marketing professor F. Mark Case’s suit against the university transferred out of Madison Circuit Court, where Case filed the suit Oct. 13.
The notice claims that because Case’s suit raises issues of whether the university violated his due process rights under the U.S. Constitution, the federal court should have jurisdiction.
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EKU group presents ‘Eastern Stars, a Night on Broadway’
