The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "University of Minnesota" ...
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"Making a Killing"
A 26-year-old bipolar student enrolled in a drug trial at the University of Minnesota. However, Carl Elliott reveals that the professors who were ran the study knew that the student was probably "not competent to give his consent" because he suffered from "severe psychotic delusions." He was given a powerful antipsychotic and eventually stabbed himself to death. Elliott is "a professor of medical ethics at the University of Minnesota," and believes that the professors who were running the drug study would profit from it and that the student who committed suicide was "coerced" into participating.
Tags: bipolar; drug trial; antipsychotic; Seroquel; University of Minnesota; AstraZeneca
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State Employees Salaries (Balancing Act)
This series analyzes the salaries of Minnesota's state employees and found that in the year before the governor instituted a state hiring freeze, about a third of the state work force earned more than $50 million in overtime pay. A handful of employees earned more in overtime pay than in regular wages. The analysis supported claims by employee unions that understaffing was driving up overtime costs. The series also revealed that faculty at state colleges and universities are earning significant bonuses for teaching online courses beyond their full-time course load. Two St. Cloud State University professors rank among the highest-paid state employees in Minnesota.
Tags: salary records; state government; state officials; hiring freeze; understaffing; wages; overtime costs; employee compensation
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Minnesota Stem Cell Investigation
The New Scientist looked at data from the University of Minnesota's study on using adult stem cells that have the same effect as embryonic stem cells. Research data was compared and it seemed that the University withdrew the data because the results were hard to repeat. The research from the successful experiment was reprinted again and claimed to be for new cells, but the process hadn't been conducted with successful results.
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If These Walls Could Talk
Rental property in two neighborhoods heavily populated by University of Minnesota students were found to have faulty plumbing repairs, a lack of or broken smoke detectors, handrails missing in the interior, and illegal wiring. Reports were kept over three time periods since 2001 to check the safety of the properties because of a house fire that killed University of Minnesota students.
Tags: rental; safety; living conditions; student housing; IRE Student Entry
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Penalty Shots
The authors investigated the relationship between the owner of a bar near the University of Minnesota campus, and the school's Men's Hockey Team, many of whom were underage. The hockey players were allowed to drink, regardless of age and were given preferential treatment/discounts. This situation broke city and state laws as well as defied the National Collegiate Athletic Associations' code of conduct.
Tags: alcohol; underage drinking; University of Minnesota; code of conduct; by-laws; Hockey; Men's Hockey Team; National Collegiate Athletic Association
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University of Minnesota Basketball Scandal
A Pioneer Press investigative team used personal sources and a computer analysis of NCAA data to uncover vast evidence of academic fraud on the University of Minnesota men's basketball team. The newspaper found the team's members managed repeatedly to violate rules of academic honesty and still maintain the worst graduation rate in its league.
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Investigating the U
The Star-Tribune reports "athletic officials at the University of Minnesota intervened for star athletes, helping them avoid prosecution after they were accused of crimes, including sexual and domestic assault..."
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No title (id: 10037)
Star Tribune (Minneapolis) runs an award-winning series about the corruption of the University of Minnesota's medical school; includes lawbreaking in a drug program, gross misuse of medical-practice funds, get-rich research schemes, self-serving conflicts of interests, kickbacks and mismanagement, May - December 1993.
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No title (id: 9078)
Star Tribune (Minneapolis) investigates the business involvements of the University of Minnesota medical school, a leading institution in medicine, and finds a pattern of conflict of interests, research misconduct and other abuses; top officials allowed a surgeon to become a multimillionaire from the sale of an unproven drug; the school violated federal regulations by selling the drug; the university tried to discredit a whistleblower and cover up allegations of falsified research, May 31 - Dec. 31, 1992.
Tags: None
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No title (id: 8627)
Star Tribune (Minneapolis) reports on a professor at the University of Minnesota and a new drug, Procuren, that he has developed; he has become very wealthy in the process; there have been $37 million in sales of the drug, mostly to Medicare patients, even though it has yet to be shown effective, and according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is being falsely promoted in violation of federal law, May 31, 1992.
Tags: None