This letter responds to the report that appeared in the Sept. 17 issue of The Pitt News… This letter responds to the report that appeared in the Sept. 17 issue of The Pitt News concerning the University of Pittsburgh’s new AlertLine service.

AlertLine was established voluntarily by Pitt to encourage employees to report perceived inappropriate activities in the workplace. Financial improprieties, human resource matters, research conduct concerns, and/or other legal/regulatory issues may be reported. These reports can and have been filed anonymously.

The AlertLine answers 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can be reached from all telephones, including coin-operated ones, in North America.

The Pitt News reported that a University employee, Maurice Freeman, claimed that he was terminated because he called the AlertLine; that claim is erroneous and unfounded. Employees who use the AlertLine will not be penalized for doing so.

AlertLine can be reached by dialing (866) 858-4456.

Yours truly,

Ronald W. Frisch

Associate Vice Chancellor

Human Resources