Two ASU students who found $504 near the Memorial Union earlier this semester are upset that they won't get to keep the money after turning it in.
Pre-med freshman Adrienne Dorman and biochemistry freshman Tyler Jorgenson said they found the cash on the ground between the MU and the W.P. Carey School of Business buildings on Feb. 16. Dorman said she alone took the money to the information desk in the MU, which also functions as a lost-and-found.
According to MU and ASU Department of Public Safety policy, they will not be allowed to keep the money if it is not claimed.
But a DPS officer that day told Jorgenson that if he had turned the money into the police station instead of the MU, he would have gotten it back after 90 days, said John Sutton, spokesman for ASU police.
The officer was wrong, Sutton said.
Sutton directed two DPS officials to contact Jorgenson and explain the correct policy. They also apologized for giving wrong information, Sutton said.
The ASU DPS policy reads "unclaimed money will be deposited into the Police Services Operations Fund."
The $504 remained in the possession of MU representatives with the intent of being deposited after 120 days into a fund for student activities said Sally Ramage, vice president of Student Affairs.
Jorgenson said he went to an MU staff meeting the evening after the money was found to voice his opinion. According to e-mails obtained by The State Press, Jorgenson caused a scene at the meeting. MU officials later asked ASU police to take the money for safekeeping.
The money was transferred to DPS on Feb. 23. In late May, it will be put into the Police Services Operations Fund.
Jorgenson said he has discussed the policy with Jennifer Stults, who is Ramage's assistant, and would voice his concern in a meeting this Friday with Kay Gojkovich, assistant chief of ASU DPS.
"This policy does not promote honesty," Jorgenson said. "It just tells people that they should keep the money, rather than turn it over.
"We were honest, and we expect some respect for being that honest."
Reach the reporter at timothy.taylor@asu.edu.
