Mitch Daniels addresses office-renovation controversy

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Governor Mitch Daniels is asking that all renovations to his future office as Purdue president be stopped.            

Since former President France Cordova left in July, Purdue employees and outside contractors have been working on $380,000 worth of renovations to Hovde Hall of Administration. 

It includes new carpet, lighting and wallpaper for the area that includes the president's office, support staff area and conference room.              

Purdue officials said Daniels was not aware of the renovations and they were not done at his request.

"It is important to me that friends of Purdue, and citizens know, that I would never spend money unnecessarily on anything involving me. I didn't know about it and if I was asked about it, I would ask that they not do it, or totally minimize it," Daniels said.              

Daniels has requested that Purdue not do any additional work. 

Purdue officials told NewsChannel 18 they will honor that request, though they are not sure what exactly that will mean.

The death of a Purdue student Monday morning after a fall from an apartment near I-U-P-U-I is something Daniels has been carrying as well.

Governor Daniels said the older brother of 18-year-old Xavier Somerville was a good friend of one of his daughters.  

Witnesses said Somerville died trying to jump from a fifth floor balcony to a fourth floor balcony when police knocked on the apartment's front door because of a noise complaint. 

Multiple people were cited for underage drinking.

Daniels called Somersville's death tragic and said he hopes it serves as a warning to other students.

"Even though it didn't happen on this campus, it happened to this campus because he was going to be a great student at Purdue," Daniels said.  "I just hope every other student will stop and think before doing anything risky or reckless. One of those events is too many."