YPSILANTI, Mich. — Eastern Michigan University (EMU) signed an agreement last month with the U.S. Department of Education to improve university policies concerning sexual assault. The agreement comes four years after campus officials covered up the rape and murder of a student in an EMU residence hall.
In 2006, 22-year-old Laura Dickinson was killed in her dorm room. EMU officials issued a statement claiming that no foul play was involved in the midst of a police homicide investigation. University President John Fallon was fired and the U.S Department of Education was fined $350,000 following the statement’s release, The Detroit News reports.
According the new agreement, EMU must designate an employee to oversee its compliance with federal mandates that require universities to respond to claims of sexual assault. EMU must also establish a grievance procedure and have an on call contact person to assist sexual assault victims, among other requirements.
