Oregon State University
News and Communication Services

12-6-97
By Mark Floyd, 541-737-4611
SOURCE: Bob Bruce, 541-737-4875

CORVALLIS - Oregon State University has declined to help a tabloid television program uncover dirt in three Portland hotels.

Spokesman Bob Bruce said the hotels and a producer for "Hard Copy," a syndicated news show, were informed of OSU's decision Thursday.

According to Bruce, the producer had enlisted a class of OSU microbiology students to accompany him into hotel rooms near Portland International Airport earlier this week to conduct bacterial tests. The producer registered as a guest at the Sheraton, Ramada and Howard Johnson's hotels, then invited the students into his room to gather scientific samples. None of the hotels authorized the testing or were informed of the activity. A camera crew recorded the activity and some students were interviewed.

The producer took the students to dinner and expected to tape laboratory work on campus Thursday.

When OSU officials learned of the activity, the University's participation was terminated.

"There are both ethical standards and research protocols which we adhere to in any research done by Oregon State," Bruce said. "We failed to follow our own procedures. When we learned about this situation we informed everyone that the university's involvement was finished."

Bruce said students plan to return a $1 fee paid to each under a model release. He said the samples were destroyed and no test results were shared.