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USF Official Rescinds Resignation Over Bike

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By LINDSAY PETERSON

lpeterson@tampatrib.com

Published: February 21, 2009

TAMPA - The University of South Florida associate vice president caught on a security tape taking a student's bicycle has rescinded his resignation from USF, saying, "I plan to defend my innocence and make every effort to preserve my professional life and my integrity."

The official, Abdul Rao, signed a settlement with the university Tuesday, releasing USF from his annual contract in exchange for $50,000. The university agreed not to pursue any disciplinary action that could result from an internal investigation.

But on Friday, Rao, who made $384,000 a year managing research grants, said he had changed his mind. "I am convinced that the conditions under which the resignations were obtained were extremely unfavorable, not giving me ample time to think through this very important decision," he wrote in a letter.

"I was given no option to consult a lawyer or a member of my family and was informed that I either resign or else."

He wrote that to follow through with the resignation would leave his professional life "totally destroyed" and he would rather see the university complete its investigation. "I am certain that it would not amount to a call for resignation," he wrote.

The settlement agreement gives Rao seven days to withdraw his signature. USF spokesman Michael Hoad said that as far as the university is concerned, Rao is no longer on the faculty.

"He is not an employee of the university and will not be an employee of the university. ... All this letter does is take this down a legal path," Hoad said.

The security tape at the center of this episode shows a woman at 2 p.m. Feb. 9 riding up to a loading dock at the Johnnie B. Byrd Sr. Alzheimer's Center and Research Institute and parking her bike against a railing. Several other bikes are parked in the area.

About 8:50 p.m., a minivan pulls up and Rao and a man get out. They look at bikes near the railing, pick one and leave with it in the van.

The owner of the $100 red mountain bike, doctoral student Timothy Boyd, said he lent it to the woman seen on the video, Christine Dillingham. She reported it stolen when she returned the morning of Feb. 10 to find it missing. She said it was locked. Rao later said it was unlocked.

After the video was posted on YouTube two days later, Rao wrote a letter admitting to taking the bike, describing it as an innocent, though serious, lapse of judgment. He said he was trying to help a handyman who was doing work for him at his home and needed transportation.

Rao said he offered to buy the man a bike but he declined, saying he only needed it for a day or two and would return it after that. The bike was returned on Feb. 11.

USF police have passed information about the theft, classified as a misdemeanor, to the state's attorney's office. No charges have been filed.

Hoad said he credited Rao for admitting to the theft. "Be that as it may, we are not accepting his withdrawal of the resignation."

Reporter Lindsay Peterson can be reached at (813) 259-7834.

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