College President Fired After Cover-Up

2 Other Eastern Michigan Officials Forced Out After Accusations Of Covering Up Student's Rape-Killing

(CBS/AP)  Three Eastern Michigan University administrators, including the president, have been forced out, months after top school officials were accused of covering up the rape and slaying of a student by publicly ruling out foul play.

President John Fallon was fired, and Vice President of Student Affairs Jim Vick and Public Safety Director Cindy Hall lost their jobs at the 23,500-student university, the chairman of the school's governing board said Monday.

Board of Regents Chairman Thomas Sidlik also said the board would put a letter of discipline in the file of university attorney Kenneth McKanders.

The body of the slain student, Laura Dickinson, 22, was discovered Dec. 15 in her dorm room. At the time, university officials told her parents and the media that she died of asphyxiation but that there was no sign of foul play, despite evidence to the contrary.

It was not until another Eastern student, Orange Taylor III, was arrested in late February and charged with murder that her family and students learned she had been raped and killed. Taylor has pleaded not guilty to murder and criminal sexual conduct charges in Dickinson's death, and is scheduled for trial Oct. 15.

An independent law firm investigation and U.S. Department of Education report both found that the 23,500-student public university violated the federal Clery Act, which requires colleges and universities to disclose campus security information.

Many in the university's administration were accused of covering up the truth and endangering students to protect the school's image, which has been marred in recent years by tensions with faculty, students and the community.

Fallon's secretary did not know how Fallon could be reached for further comment. Fallon told the Ann Arbor News that a termination letter indicated his office had been secured and arrangements would be made for him to retrieve his personal items. He told the newspaper he was upset with how the board handled his firing.

"As a citizen, I am disappointed in this hastily called meeting, without any opportunity to be present or to respond," Fallon told the paper. "I have a story to tell and intend to tell it."

Messages left by the AP at a telephone listing for the official president's residence at Eastern Michigan and by e-mail were not immediately returned. Board members said Fallon has 60 days to leave the property.

Fallon, 60, told the Ann Arbor News Sunday that he would comment at length in the days ahead on his termination and his tenure at EMU.

The board appointed Provost Donald Loppnow as executive vice president. In that dual role, Loppnow will serve as the school's chief executive until an interim president is selected.

[consciousnes]

The only way the president, vice-president and safety director could be exonorated is if the coverup was an intragal part of the investigation to catch the person who comitted the crime.
Other then that, they SHOULD be fired.

[antoniof123]

Consiousnes my thoughs exactly.

[randalds]

Let's see, he attempted and failed at a blatant cover-up just to try to cover his as*s and that ont the unveristy administration.

Hmmm...sounds like Bush's next nominee for Attorney General, Secretary of Defense, Supreme Court or even the Vice-Presidency if the phony God finally gets around to striking Cheney down dead.

[seaslew]

PPL only think of themselfs these days,

[honest_news]

This story tidily sums up the insulated and isolated sphere that colleges and universities have always cultivated -- exempt from the demands and accountabilities of the real world just outside their pretentious ivy gates.

As Virginia Tech sadly demonstrated this past spring, higher education doesn't provide protection from the harsh realities of life. It's past time for university presidents and provosts to shed their caps and gowns, set aside their brie and bordeaux, and accept responsibility for their students and themselves.

[russ1985]

He tried to spin a rape/murder on his campus. And now he has a story to tell us? What the hell can you tell us? That you didn't lie to the girl's parents? What a worthless pile of ***?Do us all a favor and just go away.

[retmilspouse]

Maybe the story he has to tell is that he was not involved with the cover up. Maybe his job was threatned and when the you know what hit the fan he got fired anyway. Just a comment.

[retmilspouse]

OMG some of you people are just like a broken record. Over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over OMG!

[retmilspouse]

SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS

[rharrin1]

And bush and cheney are still in office?????????

[zootallures2]

Nice picture. Maybe he should rip off the steering wheel and wear a blind fold too.

[working_onit]

Thank God this murderer was caught....I can't wait to find out exactly how. His DNA undoubtedly played a big part in his demise, I suspect. Other than notifying 911, THEN the parents - the entire campus should have been alerted to a "possible murder" on campus - even though it may have spooked the suspect into oblivion. Even so, COMMON SENSE says the benefits of making a campuswide notification FAR OUTWEIGH the disadvantages - and MAY have even resulted in apprehending the killer even sooner! Will we ever know the sequence of the decisionmaking events? I wish comfort and justice for Laura's parents.

[brianbwb-2009]

I want to hear his story, how he justifies failure to follow SOP in the event of a murder on campus should be interesting.

[coffeehead-2009]

Cover-up.....
The new american democracy.
Lie - Lie- Lie
deny deny deny
then claim innocence by memo, media or manipulation.

It seems that "leadership" - whether it be in our political,educational or business dealings; rule by the book of deceipt.

How can we believe a word out of their mouths these days. The sad part is that we are forced to accept it - they lie and if they don't get away with it they spin. Tillman,Enron,WMD's and now dead youth. It's a greedy place to live these days with our fine "examples" of our childrens futures covering their azzes - without a care in the world. If they get caught they just refuse to answer, make up fake "memos" or drag it out so long *obviously hoping that mommies and daddies will just forget their loss*.

Raped and her parents were CONNED?

[mediabrat60]

Why do people get so hyped up about this ***. It happens all the time. Always has. Always will. At every level.

[perimogi]

I am astounded at the stupidity and vileness of the administration of that university. A girl had been attacked, violated and murdered and they told the family it was not foul play. I can not imagine what could possibly have gone through their minds, unless perhaps it was air. I sincerely hope none of them find their way back into any educational institution anywhere.

[retmilspouse]

Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes they sure are. And I don't care if the Republican party nominates a goat, I will vote for him over any Democrat ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now go a head and call me all the derogatory names that you have in your petty arsenal. I've heard them all and don't really care anymore. I am so tried of reading your (people who connect every bad thing that happens to conservatives) worn out stuff.

[jshmks]

Guy is trying to deep with the rear-view mirror like Socrates. Not gonna work this time buddy! Sorrryyyyy

[mountainzen]

Now he is wishing that was a *magic* rear-view mirror that goes back in time...