EthicsPoint provides software which enables people to report concerns regarding Texas Tech University and other employers. This document details TTU's ongoing animal cruelty toward its longtime feral cat program. Not only did Tech make promises it did not keep, representatives lied and acted in an abusive manner to animals and the cats' longtime caregivers.

1. Report Submission Date
8/27/2013
Reported Company/Branch Information
Name Texas Tech University
Location
Texas Tech University - Lubbock
150 Administration Bldg.
Box 42005
City/State/Zip Lubbock, TX, 79409
Violation Information
Issue Type
Inappropriate Supervisor Directive
Relationship to Institution
Other/Anonymous
What is the general nature of this matter?
Assistant Vice President Hugh Cronin of Facilities Management is purposefully barricading
Texas Tech's Feral Cats under buildings without food or water, which is defined as animal
cruelty under Texas law. Multiple times Cronin has said “all cats have been removed” and
multiple times cats have been seen barricaded under buildings with no food or water.
How did you become aware of this possible violation?
Other
If other, how?
TTU employees and area animal service organizations
Where did this incident or possible violation occur?
Drane Hall over the last week, other buildings prior to this
Please provide the specific or approximate time this incident occurred.
Thursday evening August 22 “all cats removed”
Friday morning August 23 two cats sighted behind metal grate with no food or water
Friday evening Cronin orders sheet metal installed so cats cannot be seen
Monday August 26 - two more cats sighted after someone removed sheet metal.
Tuesday August 27 - one more cat sighted
How long do you think this problem has been going on?
1 to 3 months
What leads you to believe the problem has been ongoing?

2. A June 3rd Tech announcement said the University would partner with local animal service
organizations on cat removal. This turned out to be a complete untruth. Hugh Cronin did not
ask for and turned down numerous offers of aid on the safe and ethical removal of Tech's
community cats.
Please identify the person(s) you feel are engaged in this behavior.
Hugh Cronin - Asst. VP
Chris Cook - Comm/Mktg
For the persons named above please indicate whether or not they are affiliated with Texas
Tech.
Yes, they are affiliated with TTU
Have you or someone else previously reported this problem to your supervisor or
management? If so, by whom, to whom, when, and how?
I wrote President Nellis on this very issue and received no reply
Do you suspect or know that a supervisor or management is involved?
Yes
If yes, then who?
Chris Cook who lied about animal rights groups helping TTU.
What leads you to believe that a supervisor or management is involved?
Chris Cook wrote that PETA was involved in helping TTU address the issue. PETA officials,
when contacted regarding Tech's animal cruelty, said they had never been contacted by
TTU. Cook's blatant misrepresentation is an ethics violation.
Please identify any persons who have attempted to conceal this problem and the steps they
took to conceal it.
President Nellis ignored it
Chancellor Hance ignored it
Details
There are many e-mails and pictures. The e-mails can be gotten internally via an IT search of
Cronin's and Cook's communications. Pictures exist on the website for the Humane Society
of West Texas and the State of the Division blog.
Follow-Up Notes
Sep 02, 2013, 12:38 PM
A petition for TTU to install one way excluder devices instead of sheet metal barricades was
submitted to President Nellis. This petition had over 330 signatures and was sent due to the
urgent need to allow cats out of crawl spaces to obtain food and water.
The Humane Society of West Texas has a second petition with roughly 1,000 signatures asking
TTU to reconsider its heavy handed, uncooperative stategies in regard to feral cat removal.
As of Labor Day 2013 cats have been barricaded under Drane Hall with no food or water for two
weeks. TTU administration has shown no concern over the welfare of these animals and

3. ramped up its intimidation of people on TTU's campus who are concerned about Tech's animal
cruelty.
In one incident the TTU police were called and animal cruelty reported. Assistant Vice President
Hugh Cronin was verbally abusive to the person making the report.
Follow-Up Questions/Comments
There are no questions asked or comments from the organization.
Chat Transcripts
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