Singularity University disavows super PACs
Update, 10:12 p.m., May 20, 2014: Singularity University released a statement to the Center for Public Integrity this evening indicating that Randi Willis, the school's managing director for program operations, has filed termination paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to shut down four super PACs she registered and indicated were tied to the university.
The school's statement says the super PACs were "filed personally by Randi Willis as a private individual" and "neither her filings, nor her subsequent actions in speaking with the press, can rightly be categorized as being on behalf of Singularity University. Although Ms. Willis chose to use language commonly associated with Singularity University in the names of the committees, none of the four PACs was filed on behalf of, or with any affiliation to, Singularity University."
Singularity University's statement continues: "Singularity University does not sanction the use by employees — in their personal endeavors outside of work — of branding terms that are substantially similar to, or the same as, branding used and/or trademarked by Singularity University in its business. Ms. Willis’ use, in this case, of such terms in the committee names was inappropriate."
Singularity University states that it "first became aware of the filings on Thursday, May 15, 2014, when Ms. Willis informed Singularity University’s Management Team of an article published by the Center for Public Integrity about her filings."
Willis, who serves as the four super PACs' treasurer, filed termination papers for the super PACs on May 16, according to the university. No such termination filings appeared in the FEC's document database as of late Tuesday, although it often takes several days for the agency to receive, process and certify such filings.
The university, which is funded in part by prominent corporations such as Google and Cisco, would not confirm whether Willis has been disciplined or fired.
"Singularity University does not comment publicly on human resource matters," Susan Moran, the school's managing director for marketing, wrote in an email. Willis' staff page remained live on the school website as of late Tuesday.
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Copyright 2014 The Center for Public Integrity. This story was published by The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organization in Washington, D.C.
