San Jose State clams up on no-bid Cisco contract

The San Jose Mercury News reports:

Unanswered questions are mounting in San Jose State's handling of a $28 million, no-bid technology deal as campus leaders stonewall inquiries.

After publishing an investigative report on the Next Generation Technology Project, this newspaper sought additional information: How much over budget is the campus's unfinished wireless network expansion -- already $2 million over -- expected to go? How much of the classroom-technology equipment purchased up to two years ago still awaits installation? How does the administration plan to encourage and train faculty to use the costly new technology in their classes?

Four weeks later, the only response to those inquiries was indirect and incomplete -- a list of questions and answers published on the campus website last week. It skirts many of the questions while defending the administration's decision to pursue the no-bid wireless upgrade with Cisco Systems, a major donor and employer with close ties to the campus president.

Rent-seeking gone wild. We'll bet Cisco Systems like higher tuition!