Modesto Maidique abuses University System

In August 2002, Modesto Maidique was invited to attend George Mason University's annual planning conference in Fairfax, Va.

George Mason officials offered to pay for his trip and suggested that Maidique fly to Dulles International Airport outside Washington. However, Maidique's secretary, Anet Saumell, explained that Dr. Maidique prefers to fly American Airlines and there are not too many choices going to Dulles airport.'' Melton wrote back: "Realizing that Dr. Maidique likes American . . . here is a nonstop roundtrip from Miami to Dulles for $266. Would he consider it?''

In the end, Maidique's secretary booked a first-class ticket that cost $2,060. George Mason paid $1,544, based on a sample coach fare provided by Maidique's secretary. The FIU Foundation picked up the rest, $516. In retrospect, Maidique said Wednesday, "it would have been wise for me to take an economy flight.''

Other trips were covered by state tax dollars and money from FIU's charitable foundation:
• A four-day trip to Paris in March 2003 cost $6,700, paid for mostly by tax dollars. The trip -- which included meetings with French business-school leaders -- coincided with one organized by Maidique's then-wife, Leah, for FIU graduate business students.

Graduate students spent $55 to $164 a night on hotels. Maidique spent $516 a night.

The students spent $472 for the off-season airfare. Maidique spent $4,587 on his plane ticket.

Maidique said the purpose of his trip was different and the travel arrangements were made separately, "at a place I prefer to stay.''

• During a February 2003 trip to the inauguration of John Lombardi as head of the University of Massachusetts, Maidique took two limo rides for a total of $534, charged to the foundation.

• For a March 2003 trip, he spent $3,494 for a plane ticket to San Francisco. The federal government reimbursed the school $830, what it considered reasonable. The FIU Foundation and the state picked up the rest of the tab, which included a one-way first-class ticket.

• In February 2003, Maidique spent $462 to hire a limo for seven hours during the Miami International Film Festival, of which FIU was the sponsor. The FIU Foundation paid the bill. ''It was part of the whole patina and the whole style of the film festival'' to travel in a Lincoln Town Car with dignitaries, he said.

• In April 2004, Maidique spent $216 for a limo to attend a Fort Lauderdale dinner meeting with former U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum, a member of the Board of Governors, which oversees the state university system.

Maidique has the use of a Buick plus a $5,000 annual stipend that he uses to lease a Lexus, although he says the stipend covers less than half of the lease payments.

Maidique said he uses limos because it allows him to work as he rides -- and besides, taxi drivers make him "spend most of your time worrying about your life rather than the work you have to do.'' (excerpt of Niel Beirman's article which appeared in The Miami Herald)

Modesto Maidique shows himself to be white trash by his actions.