Eastern Michigan president fired, two others forced out in cover-up probe

The Detroit Free Press reports:

School officials on Monday fired Eastern Michigan University President Jim Fallon, and accepted the separations of the college's Department of Public Safety Chief Cindy Hall, and James Vick, vice president of student affairs, months after top school officials were accused of covering up the rape and slaying of a student by publicly ruling out foul play, school officials said.

Eastern Michigan University's Board of Regents confirmed Fallon's Sunday evening firing today before announcing they also were accepting the separations of Hall and Vick.


EMU Board of Regents Chairman Thomas Sidlik also said Monday that the board would put a letter of discipline in the file of university legal counsel Kenneth McKanders.

In addition, 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.

The Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents voted unanimously, by telephone, to fire President John Fallon. His termination -- two years into a 5-year contract -- comes on the heels of a report that blasted EMU officials for their handling of a student's death in December.

The key findings in an 18-page U.S. Department of Education report said the school failed to report in a timely manner such crimes as rape, alcohol, drug and weapons violations.

Great moments in public education.