Though hiring those connected through blood is usually unacceptable at the state level, the hiring of friends and networking associates can be a gray area.

Many administrators and trustees said friend or networking relationships among employees are run of the mill.

“It does happen,” Cunningham said, referring to people finding jobs through connections with friends or associates. “That’s just the nature of employment. It’s not inappropriate until there’s undue influence, which we watch.”

“Realistically speaking, relationships and networking matter,” said Manny Sanchez, a member of the Board of Trustees. “It’s naïve to believe that they’re totally ignored.”

Of two equally qualified people, Sanchez said he does not “see anything improper in hiring friends.”

“That’s just what happens in the real world,” he said.

Seaver said he has referred friends to certain open positions.

In some cases, he said, “People I know very well or people who I consider friends have not gotten the job.”

The hiring process is an extensive one, Seaver said.

“You hire using a committee. I couldn’t just go and hire my friend,” Seaver said. “People you work with would see right through it and call you on it. There are just too many steps you have to go through to railroad someone through.”

Cunningham called other relationships in the workplace, like friendship and networking relationships, “interesting.”

“There’s not explicit policies in place that address acquaintances, friendships, colleagues,” Cunningham said. “When we do monitor that, such relationships cannot interfere with equal opportunity searches. It’s OK to encourage a friend to apply, but that’s it.”

Friends and acquaintances should not be given special treatment, but also should not be disadvantaged because they have a connection, Cunningham said.

“People who are otherwise well-qualified for positions, it’s not necessarily fair for them to be unduly disadvantaged,” Cunningham said. “It’s a bit of a double-edged sword.”

In higher education, administrators and faculty often encounter the same people through professional associations and organizations, Hemphill said.

“You develop networks. When you’re conducting searches, you might encourage those people to apply,” Hemphill said. “Just because you’ve met someone or know them, they shouldn’t be penalized.”

Tom Krepel, hired without a search, makes $146,064 as the president’s assistant. Krepel was a colleague of Peters at the University of Nebraska for 14 months in the 1980s before becoming the president’s assistant.

“For a few years, we’d bump into each other at meetings,” Peters said.

Peters’ first assistant to the president was former student trustee Nolan Davis. Davis made $55,000 when he started in 2001. He left the position mid-year in 2004.

In 2005, dealing with fundraising and legislation matters, Peters decided he wanted a senior person with experience.

At that point, Peters was “looking for something specific.” He called Krepel, who had recently left Chadron State College, and had him visit NIU. Peters hired Krepel without a search.

“It was a discretionary hire,” Peters said. “It’s a very sensitive, confidential position. He knew me, and he knew my philosophy. We came into an agreement. I wanted a two-year commitment from him.”

Ultimately, Peters said choosing the person for the position is “at the discretion of the president, for the president,” despite the job being funded by taxpayer dollars.

After assisting the president for a few years, Krepel “put himself on the market,” Peters said, referring to Krepel’s name being “on everybody’s list for different positions.”

Now that Krepel has been announced as the next president at Fairmont State University in West Virginia, the position of assistant to the president will likely not be filled because of the university hiring freeze, Peters said.

“I probably won’t hire someone new. My inclination is not to fill it and just reallocate the duties,” Peters said.

Krepel could not be reached for comment.

James Brunson, formerly the assistant director of residential life, was hired by Hemphill as the assistant vice president for diversity and equity. Brunson is the first person to hold the position.

Brunson and Hemphill are both members of fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha Inc. They also lived in the same neighborhood for two years, Hemphill said.

Hemphill said he met Brunson at an event on campus and had an opportunity to interact with him.

“He had been here for 25 years and had talent that was not tapped for many, many years,” Hemphill said. “A multi-talented guy is what I found when I arrived here.”

Brunson was a candidate for the position of associate vice-president for student affairs and did not get the job.

After a national search with 74 applicants for the diversity and equity position, Brunson was selected.

“He got a job that he earned,” Hemphill stressed.

Bruson and Hemphill will occasionally socialize or have lunch together, Bruson said, but otherwise, they have a professional relationship.

Brunson feels his getting the job “wasn’t linked exactly to the fact that we’re in the same fraternity,” he said. “I had to go through a search with everybody else. If someone was looking at my skills and experience over the years, I think I’ve prepared myself for the position that I’m currently in.”

Continue reading this story by clicking on part five.