Murder of Laura Dickinson

Laura Dickinson was a student at Eastern Michigan University who was murdered by a fellow student on December 13, 2006. The failure of university officials to notify students about the murder prompted an investigation,[1][2] and EMU was eventually found to be in violation of the Clery Act.

Sexual assault and murder

Dickinson was killed in her residence hall room on December 13, 2006. DNA from semen found on her legs was matched to Orange Taylor III, also a student, who was convicted of the murder.[1][3] According to police reports, the death was investigated as a homicide; however, this was denied by university officials and only officially announced on the day of Taylor's arrest, February 23, 2007. The arrest took place on the first day that students could not withdraw from classes and housing for a full refund.[4]

Aftermath

Violation of the Clery Act

A subsequent investigation by Detroit law firm Butzel Long found that EMU had violated the Clery Act by not notifying students of the attack and named Jim Vick, Vice President of Student Affairs, as the main source of the cover-up.[5]

On July 3, 2007, the Department of Education report relating to the university's Clery Act violations was released to the public. It states, in part: "Several findings of noncompliance were discovered during the review which the Department [of Education] considers to be serious violations of the Clery Act." The full report was not released, though EMU released the executive summary of its response to the DOE report on July 27, 2007.[6][7] In June 2008, the university announced that it had agreed to pay a fine of $357,000 for the violations of the Clery Act.[8] The fine at the time was the largest on record for a university.[9]

Settlement

On December 13, 2007, EMU settled with the family and estate of Laura Dickinson for $2.5 million. The settlement does not include any admission of liability by EMU.[10]

Firing of university's president

The nationally reported scandal resulted in the firing of President John A. Fallon by the Board of Regents.[11] 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. Additional campus safety measures have been made in hall security since the murder.

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.[12] 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.[13]

Conviction

On April 7, 2008, a jury convicted Orange Taylor III of first-degree murder, assault with intent to commit sexual penetration, home invasion, and theft charges.[14] He was sentenced to life imprisonment on May 7, 2008.[1][15]

See also

References
  1. "Judges sentences Orange Taylor to life for Laura Dickinson's murder". Michigan Live. May 7, 2008. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
  2. "Jurors say evidence against Orange Taylor III proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt". Michigan Live. April 8, 2008. Archived from the original on December 22, 2011. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
  3. "Taylor found guilty in EMU death". The Michigan Daily. April 7, 2008. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  4. ABC News. Good Morning America. Mystery at Eastern Michigan University Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "A killing kept in the shadows". Los Angeles Times. 19 June 2007. Archived from the original on 21 August 2007. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  6. United States Department of Education. DOE Draft Report.
  7. Chronicle of Higher Education, July 5, 2007 Archived February 16, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  8. Larcom, Geoff (2008-06-06). "Eastern Michigan University to pay $357,500 in federal fines over Laura Dickinson case". The Ann Arbor New. Archived from the original on 2008-09-05. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
  9. "Education Dept. Imposes Largest Fine Yet for Campus Crime-Reporting Violation". The Chronicle of Higher Education. 11 January 2008. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  10. ""Mich. College to Pay $2.5M in Dorm Death"". Archived from the original on 2007-12-16. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  11. "University president fired after alleged rape cover-up" - CNN.com, July 16, 2007 Archived August 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  12. "Recalling John Fallon's tenure". MLive.com. 16 July 2007. Archived from the original on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  13. ""EMU president, two others fired over cover up accusations"". Detroit Free Press. 2007-09-29. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  14. "Man convicted in Mich student's slaying"
  15. "Orange Taylor Sentenced to Life" Archived 2009-01-16 at the Wayback Machine
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