The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
EMU reels after murder charges
Vick excused from post
By Kathleen Conat, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: March 8, 2007
Longtime Eastern Michigan University administrator Jim Vick has been placed on administrative leave while an investigation is conducted into the handling of information related to the death of a student.
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Vick is the university's vice president of student affairs. Karen L. Simpkins, interim associate vice president for human resources since 2006, was appointed Tuesday as acting vice president for student affairs. Simpkins, who has been at the University since 1976.
In a press release issued by the university, Eastern Michigan University President John Fallon said an outside legal counsel, not affiliated with the university, would be hired to "examine the investigation" related to the death of student Laura Dickinson in December. He did not name any outside counsel or give a timetable for the process, but said it would begin as soon as possible.
Fallon ordered the preservation of "any and all communications, documents and information related to the death and the investigation." He also said he would be conducting a review of "any and all releases of information in this matter."
"This is a serious situation and I believe these actions are the appropriate response until the external investigation can be completed," Fallon said in the release.
Fallon's actions came as the non-profit organization, Security on Campus, Inc, announced an investigation of the University for possible violations of the federal Jeanne Clery Act.
On Tuesday, S. Daniel Carter, senior vice president of Security on Campus, e-mailed Fallon that he was asking the U. S. Department of Education to open a review of the University's handling of information in this event.
"What happened here should never be allowed to happen again and we anticipate that EMU will take steps to ensure that it never does," Carter wrote in the e-mail.
Eastern faces fines of up to $27,500 for each violation of the Clery Act.
The Clery Act, originally known as the "Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990" requires colleges and universities to disclose information about crime in and around their campuses.
Because it is tied to federal financial aid programs, it applies to most higher education institutions, both public and private. It is enforced by the U. S. Department of Education.
In addition, the law requires schools to provide "timely warnings." This requirement is triggered when a crime may "pose an ongoing threat to students and employees," according to the Security on Campus Web site.
"It is becoming increasingly clear (Dickinson's death) was believed to be a homicide from the beginning," Carter said in a telephone interview.
"Eastern's handling of this situation is inexplicable."
Despite Fallon saying, a few days after Dickinson's body was discovered, that he "would not condone anything but the full and complete disclosure of information," he turned the release of information over to Vick, who oversees the public relations department, as well as the university's department of public safety. Fallon has stated that he relied on Vick for updates on the investigation.
According to a December statement made by Dr. Bader Cassin, Washtenaw County's medical examiner, Dickinson's body showed "some suggestion" of violence, even though his autopsy would not determine an actual cause of death. Yet, the university continued to say there was "no suggestion of foul play."
At the same time, the death immediately had been deemed suspicious by the university's own public safety officials and Public Safety Director Cindy Hall had called in detectives from the Livingston And Washtenaw Narcotics Enforcement Team Major Crimes Unit and the Michigan State Police.
Details released at the time of the arrest of suspect Orange Amir Taylor III, revealed Dickinson's body was found on the floor, unclothed from the waist down. Her keys and underwear were missing from the room.
The university has since faced criticism from both within and outside its confines. Faculty and students have expressed concern on related blogs and e-mails.
Attorneys prepare case
Orange Amir Taylor III, 20, of Southfield was scheduled for a preliminary hearing Tuesday, according to Washtenaw County Deputy Chief Prosecutor Steven Hiller.
The Eastern Michigan University student has been charged with open murder, first degree criminal sexual conduct, assault with intent to commit sexual penetration, first degree home invasion and larceny in a building.
Hiller expected the hearing to be adjourned to allow the defense attorney Taylor has obtained more time to prepare. Hiller did not know the name of Taylor's attorney and said he was not from Washtenaw County.
Taylor is faces charges in the slaying of Laura Dickinson, 22, a fellow student, whose body was found in her Hill Hall dormitory room on Dec. 16. She was last seen on Dec. 12.
He was arrested Feb. 23 at his Southfield home after laboratory results were reported by the Michigan State Police crime lab in Northville.
Those results were enough for the prosecutor's office to issue an arrest warrant.
Officials said DNA evidence taken from the crime scene matched Taylor's. He was also seen on security video going into Hill Hall within the time frame established for the homicide.
Taylor had lived on campus until November, but was no longer residing at the university at the time of the homicide. Reasons why he no longer resided in the dormitories had not been confirmed at press time.
The investigation into Dickinson's death was led by Eastern Michigan's Department of Public Safety and included investigators from the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department, the LAWNET's Major Case Unit and the Michigan State Police.
Taylor is currently being held without bond in the Washtenaw County Jail.
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