Page 44 - Convergent Journalism an Introduction Writing and Producing Across Media

University Communications Executive Director Heather Shupp says the university is
maintaining a wait and see attitude.
"What the University's obligation to do is assess whether there is a threat, take the
appropriate actions and then we need to let the justice system run its course," she said.
"Everyone has rights so that those rights can be protected."
As part of its recent "Police Yourself" campaign, the university has made it clear that it will
hold students responsible for their actions on and off campus, as noted in a March letter to
parents from Acting President Beverley Pitts.
Pitts wrote, "We also announced that students arrested or cited by Muncie police would be
referred to the Dean of Students Office to follow the same disciplinary process as students
arrested or cited by our own police. By taking this step, we made our message to students
very clear: we expect appropriate and lawful behavior both on and off campus, and
violations of those expectations will have a direct impact on your standing with the
university."
It is not clear from university statements if BSU holds its employees to similar standards.
Some students, such as senior Sarah Kriech, think employees should be held to the same
standards as students.
"I mean if we're policing ourselves, they should definitely have to," she said.
Even if Donovan is convicted, there is no guarantee the university will take action.
"There is no policy that says you may not work at the university if you are convicted of a
crime," Shupp said.
Donovan has been employed at Ball State since March 29th of this year and has no prior
disciplinary problems.
Moore told NewsLink Indiana that she is now concerned for her safety on campus because
Donovan is still working at the school.
"There was no connection to her status as a student or his status as an employee [during the
altercation]," Heather Shupp of University Communications said. "Ball State has not gotten
any information referring to him as a threat."
Moore, however, told NewsLink that she informed the Office of the President at BSU about
the encounter with Donovan and that they had her talk to a university lawyer. The school
suggested she look into obtaining a restraining order against Donovan. Officials told her
BSU would take action only with a formal complaint from Moore herself.
However, Moore was not able to get a restraining order against Donovan because of
changes in state law that have restricted the use of the orders to very specific groups of
people, like former husbands and wives.
"They said that this [the trial process] could take up to a year, and who's to say that this won't
happen again within the next year to someone else," Moore asked.
Donovan did not wish to comment for this story and his lawyer could not be reached for
comment despite numerous attempts over two days by NewsLink Indiana to reach him.
Prosecutor Eric Hoffman expects a hearing to come in the next week to determine a trial date.

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Updated: October 21, 2004, 4:35 pm

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Figure 2.3 Cont’d.