By Kimberly Chin

Dean Salvatore Sodano of the Zarb School of Business was relieved to hear of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) judge’s dismissal of his case regarding trading violations during Sodano’s time in the American Stock Exchange. However, top SEC enforcers subsequently filed an appeal calling for a review of the judge’s decision.

Sodano, the former chairman and chief executive of the AMEX, is confident that the SEC enforcers will stand by the judge’s decision. “The case has lacked jurisdiction because the SEC has waited so long,” Sodano said. He believes the judge has given the case a “fair and thorough review.”

Students in the business school seem unconcerned with the implications of their dean’s indiscretion. “I think that this is a blemish on the University, but he’s done a lot of good things for the school, so I don’t think this is that big of a deal,” said Jimmy Gilligan, a junior marketing major.

“I am happy about the judge’s decision. It has been approximately 5 years since the issue was raised,” Sodano said. He served as the CEO of AMEX from 1999 to 2005. After his tenure he was charged with failing to regulate securities violations during that time. “The issue was reported to the SEC by myself almost immediately and it was worked on long before the SEC had brought up the charges,” Sodano said.

As of now, Sodano’s case is dismissed. “I am thankful for the judge’s decision and I hope the matter is finally resolved.”

One student was unaware of the charges until they were dismissed, having read the report in The Chronicle. “I wasn’t too concerned,” said Alex Erlich, a junior legal studies and accounting double major. “[The University is] such a step down from the stock exchange that it is inconsequential.”