The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Students react to charges
Students point to administration, safety concerns
By Dan DuChene, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: March 8, 2007
As the community digests the recent developments in the death of Eastern Michigan University student Laura Dickinson, many students on campus are left sorting out their feelings.
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"It kind of makes you raise your eyebrows," said Starlin Etherly, an Eastern Michigan freshman studying theater arts. "It's like a little inside job."
Some university students feel misled by the university's administration. After nearly two months of no information, many had thought there was no foul play in the 22-year-old junior's death.
"They should have said they were still figuring it out," said Eastern freshman Tiffany Wilson. "I feel I was lied to."
However, some students said if the university had said too much, it could have impeded the investigation.
"I understand why they withheld information," said Liz Klosterman, a freshman studying biology.
Klosterman said she felt information wasn't shared about the investigation to spare the family from any press harassment and to not tip off the suspect of the findings.
"At least hats off (to police) that they could find him," said Michael Gessner, a junior studying political science.
Gessner said he was more surprised that the incident happened in the first place.
"I think it's horrible that it happened," he said. "It was shocking that it could happen so close.
"You think with an assault, and a murder, someone would hear (what was going on)," Gessner said.
Other students aren't as understanding about the flow of information.
"I think it's unfair they withheld information from us because it was a murder," said Kelly Stonebraker, a freshman studying theater arts. "If they wanted to keep us safe, they'd let us know."
Etherly said he felt the administration should issue a formal apology for their handling of the case.
"It's wrong," he said.
John Fallon, Eastern Michigan's president, announced Monday that Jim Vick, vice president of student affairs, had been suspended without pay for the length of an internal investigation.
"I think it's right," said Brittany Wilson, a University student studying social work.
Wilson said she thought both Fallon and Vick should be fired.
Etherly said, "He should not only be fired, he should be charged or something."
Other students defended Vick.
"He's a patsy," said Jennifer Stajdl, an University graduate student.
"I'm against it," she said. "Jim Vick was one of the few in the administration who was actually for the students.
"They needed someone to blame, someone to come down on."
Student Latasha Hailey said people are ignoring the bigger concern at hand.
"I don't really care how they handled it," she said. "I think they worked well in their parameters.
"Maybe they need to do a better job protecting these students in these dorms. That's the bigger issue in my opinion."
Klosterman and her friend Lindsay Grace, a freshmen studying elementary education, both live in Ann Arbor, but hope to live in the dormitories next year.
"It's kind of scary living on campus," Grace said.
The girls said they were having trouble discussing the issues with their parents and keeping the opportunity to live on campus next year open.
They said their parents are becoming increasingly worried about campus safety.
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