FARGO - North Dakota State University President Dean Bresciani won't be commenting on the controversy over his recent business-class flight to India.
"It wouldn't be appropriate for President Bresciani to comment," university spokeswoman Sadie Rudolph wrote Wednesday in an email.
The Forum had requested an interview with Bresciani, now that he is back in the states.
On Tuesday, Chancellor Mark Hagerott told The Forum it's an "embarrassment" that Bresciani flew business class to India, charging the university about $8,300 for his ticket. Hagerott is now changing the system's travel policy to require that presidents travel in coach. He will also require that they seek his approval before overseas trips.
"President Bresciani fully respects the authority and directives of the chancellor," Rudolph wrote in her email.
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She did not answer whether Bresciani will reimburse the university for the cost difference between his ticket and a ticket in coach - a decision that Hagerott said he will leave up to the president. In the future, presidents will have to pay for that upgrade out of pocket.
Hagerott is changing the policy in part because all of the other presidents say they've always flown coach on business trips, system spokeswoman Billie Jo Lorius said Tuesday.
