YPSILANTI, Mich. – Eastern Michigan University (EMU) announced June 6, according to published reports, that they will pay a record fine of $350,000 to the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) for violations of the federal Jeanne Clery Act campus crime reporting law. The fine is for failing to warn the campus community about the murder of student Laura Dickinson in her on-campus residence hall in December of 2006 and numerous other violations that subsequently came to light.
“This is the largest fine ever imposed for a Jeanne Clery Act violation,” said Jonathan Kassa, executive director of Security On Campus, Inc. the non-profit organization responsible for securing passage of the Act. “This action sends an important signal that colleges will be held accountable and that compliance with the Jeanne Clery Act can not be ignored. By taking this step the U.S. Department of Education is helping to protect the safety of millions of college students across the country.”
How this case was handled also led to the departure of three top campus officials, including President John Fallon who was fired. EMU reached a $2.5 million dollar settlement with Dickinson’s family. Orange Taylor III, a fellow student unknown to Dickinson, has been convicted of murder in the case and sentenced to life in prison.
EMU has made significant strides to improve safety on campus since the murder. In the settlement agreement ED notes that EMU “now has procedures in place and a published policy that should substantially improve EMU’s ability to make timely warning determinations and issue campus-wide advisories, as needed.”
For more information:
- Eastern Michigan University to pay $350,000 in federal fines over Laura Dickinson case
- Eastern Mich. U agrees to largest-ever fine for violations of crime reporting law
- EMU to pay fine for mishandling murder
- Eastern Mich. agrees to pay $350K in fines in killing case
Related Articles:
- Eastern Michigan U. to Pay $2.5 Million in Dorm Room Death, Faces Largest Ever Clery Fine
- EMU Issues Response after Federal Investigation
- Board Fires 3 EMU Officials after Homicide Cover-up
- Eastern Michigan U. Fires President After Homicide Scandal
- EMU May Be Fined but Won’t Lose Financial Aid
- Security Concerns Prompt Eastern Michigan U. to Re-key Faculty Offices
- Eastern Michigan U. President Resists Pressure to Resign
- Investigation of Eastern Michigan U. Student Death Under Fire
- Violations of Cleary Act Alleged Against Eastern Michigan U.
SOC June 6, 2008 press release
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