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Blog: Noose student suspended until Aug. 1
University unable to comment on Internet posting
By: Alex Piazza
Issue date: 3/26/08 Section: News
An Internet blog has reported that Central Michigan University officials suspended a male student until Aug. 1 for hanging four nooses inside a classroom last November.
The blog, titled "Republican Ranting," claims a source familiar with the case anonymously leaked the information last week.
"The student will take incompletes on his course work and finish them after Aug. 1," the blog reported Saturday. "He'll then be allowed to graduate."
To access the blog, visit http://inkslwc.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/leaked-info-noose-student-at-central-michigan-suspended/.
Panelists at a student disciplinary hearing originally wanted to expel the student, according to the blog. However, the senior appealed the decision and his punishment was reduced, it said.
On Monday, Central Michigan Life asked CMU officials to comment on the reported leak.
"It would be a problem for that person to be leaking information to the media," said Tony Voisin, director of Student Life.
University officials will not comment on the issue because of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Under FERPA, university officials cannot release student records, which include disciplinary matters.
In the event that CMU violates FERPA and either releases the name of the student who hung the nooses or their punishment, it could lose federal funding.
Information about the case - including the student's name - might only be released if Isabella County Prosecutor Larry Burdick decides there is enough evidence to press charges.
Certain potential evidence was seized last November and is being examined forensically, Burdick said. The case is being held up because he has not yet received results from that evidence.
"I realize it is a source of frustration," Burdick said on Monday. "It is for me, too."
On Nov. 12, a CMU staff member reported to CMU Police that a student found four hangman nooses dangling from the ceiling inside Industrial Engineering and Technology Building's Room 228.
The blog, titled "Republican Ranting," claims a source familiar with the case anonymously leaked the information last week.
"The student will take incompletes on his course work and finish them after Aug. 1," the blog reported Saturday. "He'll then be allowed to graduate."
To access the blog, visit http://inkslwc.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/leaked-info-noose-student-at-central-michigan-suspended/.
Panelists at a student disciplinary hearing originally wanted to expel the student, according to the blog. However, the senior appealed the decision and his punishment was reduced, it said.
On Monday, Central Michigan Life asked CMU officials to comment on the reported leak.
"It would be a problem for that person to be leaking information to the media," said Tony Voisin, director of Student Life.
University officials will not comment on the issue because of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Under FERPA, university officials cannot release student records, which include disciplinary matters.
In the event that CMU violates FERPA and either releases the name of the student who hung the nooses or their punishment, it could lose federal funding.
Information about the case - including the student's name - might only be released if Isabella County Prosecutor Larry Burdick decides there is enough evidence to press charges.
Certain potential evidence was seized last November and is being examined forensically, Burdick said. The case is being held up because he has not yet received results from that evidence.
"I realize it is a source of frustration," Burdick said on Monday. "It is for me, too."
On Nov. 12, a CMU staff member reported to CMU Police that a student found four hangman nooses dangling from the ceiling inside Industrial Engineering and Technology Building's Room 228.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 14
Pat Lichtman
posted 3/26/08 @ 1:49 PM EST
I thought you might be interested in these news items from the Connecticut Post. There are several articles dealing with this issue.
The legislature's action (an AP story):
http://www. (Continued…)
Nick Smith
posted 3/27/08 @ 1:01 AM EST
Nice links.
Kind of interesting how in virtually all the other colleges and schools and public places that had "noose incidents" in the past year it was a big thing and there was an outcry and condemnation about it in general. (Continued…)
BP
posted 3/27/08 @ 11:35 PM EST
The story was first leaked in a Republican blog (check for Lennox connections, everyone; I state such because he is connected to virtually every extremist right-wing blog you can search for on Google). (Continued…)
michmediaperson
posted 3/28/08 @ 12:30 PM EST
To Nick Smith:
70 to 30 shows the CMU community is smarter than the small band of CMU administrators, liberal faculty and CM LIFE employees who try to shove diversity and multiculturalism down our throats. (Continued…)
You can't be serious
posted 3/28/08 @ 9:07 PM EST
Really, MichMediaperson? I'm a student and I don't understand you, other than being some sort of guy (let's just drop the "person" ok?) who is so insecure that he feels that any attempt to diversify CMU is a "liberal" plot. (Continued…)
michmediaperson
posted 3/31/08 @ 12:37 PM EST
I'm all for diversity as long as everyone plays on an equal playing field. Affirmative action slants the playing field in favor of unqualified people. (Continued…)
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