Laura Dickinson incident
Encyclopedia
On December 15, 2006, Eastern Michigan University
student Laura Dickinson was raped and murdered in her dorm room. This incident became a major issue when EMU issued a statement the next day that foul play had not occurred. However, this statement was directly contrary to the evidence at hand, and a Clery Act
violation. On February 23, 2007, a suspect was arrested and charged with her rape and murder. This led to an uproar by EMU students and media about EMU's compliance with the Clery Act because of this delay in reporting and the arrest.
found that EMU had violated the Clery Act
by not notifying students and named Vice President of Student Affairs, Jim Vick, as the main source of the cover-up. The report led the investigation of many high-level administrators.
by the Board of Regents. He was notified of the unanimous vote of the Board to fire him by a letter sent to his home on July 15, 2007. Although no formal reason for the termination was given, his dismissal was considered by many to be a direct result of his role in the cover-up of the on-campus homicide. Eastern Michigan's Faculty Association President supported the Board's decision. In addition, since then campus safety measures have been made in hall security.
At a special meeting called by the Board of Regents on Monday, July 16, 2007, the separation of President John Fallon was officially announced along with the separation of Jim Vick, Vice President for Student Affairs and Cindy Hall, Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police. A letter of discipline was placed in University Counsel Kenneth McKanders' file. It was also announced that Donald Loppnow, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, would be appointed Executive Vice President and in this role serve as Acting President until an Interim President is selected.
violations was released to the public. It states, "Several findings of noncompliance were discovered during the review which the Department [of Education] considers to be serious violations of the Clery Act." The result of this report has yet to be seen. EMU released the executive summary of its response to the DOE report on July 27, 2007. In June 2008, the university announced that it had agreed to pay a fine of $350,000 for the violations of the Clery Act. The fine at the time was the largest on record for a university.
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
student Laura Dickinson was raped and murdered in her dorm room. This incident became a major issue when EMU issued a statement the next day that foul play had not occurred. However, this statement was directly contrary to the evidence at hand, and a Clery Act
Clery Act
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act or Clery Act is a federal statute codified at , with implementing regulations in the U.S...
violation. On February 23, 2007, a suspect was arrested and charged with her rape and murder. This led to an uproar by EMU students and media about EMU's compliance with the Clery Act because of this delay in reporting and the arrest.
Murder/Rape
According to police reports, the investigation was regarded as a homicide; however, this was denied and only officially announced on the day of Taylor's arrest. His arrest happened to be the first day students could not withdraw from classes and housing for a full refund. A subsequent investigation by Detroit law firm Butzel LongButzel Long
Founded in 1854, Butzel Long is one of the oldest law firms in Michigan. Based in Detroit, Michigan, the firm has 170 attorneys throughout the State, in New York City, and Washington, D.C.. It has alliance offices in Mexico and China...
found that EMU had violated the Clery Act
Clery Act
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act or Clery Act is a federal statute codified at , with implementing regulations in the U.S...
by not notifying students and named Vice President of Student Affairs, Jim Vick, as the main source of the cover-up. The report led the investigation of many high-level administrators.
Effect of murder
The nationally reported scandal resulted in the firing of President John A. FallonJohn A. Fallon
John A. Fallon III is the former president of Eastern Michigan University. Dr. Fallon began his tenure at EMU on July 18, 2005 after serving as president of SUNY Potsdam and William Penn College. He had been appointed by the EMU Board of Regents in March 2005. Fallon was fired by Eastern Michigan...
by the Board of Regents. He was notified of the unanimous vote of the Board to fire him by a letter sent to his home on July 15, 2007. Although no formal reason for the termination was given, his dismissal was considered by many to be a direct result of his role in the cover-up of the on-campus homicide. Eastern Michigan's Faculty Association President supported the Board's decision. In addition, since then campus safety measures have been made in hall security.
At a special meeting called by the Board of Regents on Monday, July 16, 2007, the separation of President John Fallon was officially announced along with the separation of Jim Vick, Vice President for Student Affairs and Cindy Hall, Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police. A letter of discipline was placed in University Counsel Kenneth McKanders' file. It was also announced that Donald Loppnow, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, would be appointed Executive Vice President and in this role serve as Acting President until an Interim President is selected.
Clery Act Violations
On July 3, 2007 the Department of Education report relating to the Clery ActClery Act
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act or Clery Act is a federal statute codified at , with implementing regulations in the U.S...
violations was released to the public. It states, "Several findings of noncompliance were discovered during the review which the Department [of Education] considers to be serious violations of the Clery Act." The result of this report has yet to be seen. EMU released the executive summary of its response to the DOE report on July 27, 2007. In June 2008, the university announced that it had agreed to pay a fine of $350,000 for the violations of the Clery Act. The fine at the time was the largest on record for a university.