TRU gift policy seems pretty clear

Speaking of Prada bags, TRU does have a policy on accepting gifts. It’s not air tight, but any TRU administrator reading it should have been known to turn in a free Prada bag. This is what it says:

“Acceptance of gifts, entertainment, travel, and services for personal use from people or companies who do business with TRU could impede the objectivity of faculty and staff members and create a conflicting obligation to that person or company contrary to the obligation of faculty and staff members to TRU.

“For this reason, it is incumbent on the individual faculty or staff member to initiate a discussion with the administrative head of the unit if feasible whenever the individual is about to be offered gifts, entertainment, travel or services of significant value so that the issues surrounding obligtation may be completely disclosed and approval obtained before a personal benefit is received. It is recognized that there will be circumstances in which individuals will have to decide at a moment’s notice whether or not to accept a gift. In these cases, individuals are to consult with the administrative head at the earliest possible opportunity. Administrative heads of units, in considering requests, will take into consideration the source, value, purpose and frequency of offering in assessing the case. Any potential detriment to TRU should be grounds for denial of the request to receive a gift. Tokens of appreciation of insignicant value may be accepted at the discretion of the individual.”

Of course, since then-TRU president Kathleen Scherf — the number one “administrative head” — took possession of a gift Prada bag herself, it complicates things a little. Still no word on what, if anything, TRU is going to do about the Prada bag incident.