Topeka ? Kansas Attorney General Steve Six said Thursday he hopes that controversy swirling around the Kansas University athletic department will result in more transparency in its operations.

“The challenge is you can’t operate like a private business when you have the University of Kansas name, the University of Kansas brand, and student-athletes as the people that are the main product you are producing. It has to be transparent,” Six said.

KU has launched a review of an allegation surrounding KU Athletic Director Lew Perkins’ relationship with a company that provided him exercise equipment. A former athletic department employee claims Perkins got the equipment in exchange for providing premium men’s basketball tickets. Perkins has denied the allegation.

The probe into the transaction comes days after the university disclosed the results of an investigation into an alleged ticket-scalping scam that may have cost KU between $1 million and $3 million. Five athletic department employees and a part-time consultant were involved, the investigation said.

Six, a former judge and graduate of the KU law school, said his office was not involved in any of the investigations and that he had confidence that the incidents will be thoroughly reviewed by KU officials and the Kansas Board of Regents.

“If you are going to use the Kansas name, use some Kansas resources, the taxpayers are entitled to know how that is being run and what is going on,” Six said.

Six’s comments were made to reporters after a campaign event. Six, a Democrat, was appointed attorney general in January 2008, and he is now seeking a full four-year term.