American University’s governing board and Sen. Charles E. Grassley, an Iowa Republican and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, have exchanged more words over the board’s response to the spending scandal spawned by Benjamin Ladner, who was ousted as president last fall (The Chronicle, October 25, 2005).

Mr. Grassley, in a message released today to the news media, said that although American’s Board of Trustees had “taken some steps in the right direction,” he feared that “some board members are still wearing rose-colored glasses.” In particular, Mr. Grassley said he was concerned about the board’s view of whistle-blowers and its votes last year on Mr. Ladner’s compensation package.

He said he was looking forward to reading an anticipated letter from the university’s student leaders about the board’s recent reforms.

The university today released an eight-page letter sent on May 31 by two board leaders to Mr. Grassley. In the letter, the board members describe the various reforms, which seek to improve the board’s transparency, accountability, and oversight of American’s president. The board has received widespread praise from higher-education observers for the reforms (The Chronicle, May 22).

The letter also seeks to further explain the board’s votes during last year’s fracas, and states that “whistle-blower protection is a core AU value.”