Faculty to U-M: Make crime reporting policies clear after child porn, Penn State cases
In a resounding voice, faculty members Monday asked the University of Michigan to establish clear crime reporting guidelines to prevent another incident like the six-month reporting lapse of child pornography that has come to light in recent weeks.
Stephen Jenson
Pediatric and internal medicine resident Stephen Jenson, 36, was eventually charged with four counts of possessing child pornography in December, seven months after the porn was initially discovered.
Kate Barald, head of the faculty senate, told faculty members that of particular interest in the report is the fact that hospital security, North Campus Research Center security and University Housing security do not report to DPS. Barald spoke of the need "to have all of those inter-connected," as is suggested in the report.
Barald said she was surprised to hear that 911 calls made at the hospital are dispatched to hospital security and not a law enforcement agency, as AnnArbor.com reported last week.
The resolution encourages "reporting criminal activity in the most expeditious and effective manner."
Barald called the university-generated report candid and said that the faculty senate does not expect to call for an external report of the six-month lapse. Faculty members debated whether to call for an external review at a meeting last week.
The faculty senate also passed a resolution opposing the negative discourse about graduate student research assistant unionization many university employees say has been pervasive on the Ann Arbor campus.
According to medical school professor Kim Kearfott, the resolution is intended to dissuade "widespread accusations of intimidation" and encourage the friendly exchange of ideas.
The resolution comes a month after a former U-M GSRA held a news conference and claimed she was dismissed for supporting unionization efforts among research assistants.
Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.
Comments
Terry Calhoun
Wed, Feb 15, 2012 : 12:40 a.m.
With regard to the U-M GSRA situation, I would like to recount some personal history. I was a graduate student in the first years of the GEO. I recall attending meetings where graduate students were demanding job tenure as students for life. When I pointed out that GSA opportunities for the next cohort would be removed, I was booed out of the room. Later that week, a picket line of GRE members threw bricks through the windshield of my car in the Angell Hall loading dock. I recall a conversation with a custodian who was weeping in the hallway of Angell Hall, because he had been out putting rock salt in the steps to dissolve the ice, and GRE members were following him, sweeping the ice off of the steps, in order to keep them slippery and discourage students from attending class. He had been putting out trash can fires all week, he told me.
The Black Stallion3
Tue, Feb 14, 2012 : 2:14 p.m.
Way to go Mary Sue...........Just sweep it under the rug and go back to business as usual..........Mary Sue should be fired.
annarbor28
Tue, Feb 14, 2012 : 2 p.m.
So now will the articles about this just fade away, and everyone just go about their normal business? No one held accountable for covering up child porn? We can do much much better for these poor kids who are exploited. Seriously, is there a next step for this investigation, or has it been now officially swept under the UM magic carpet, while these children continue to get exploited? Imagine another approach, where UM was very proactive, tried to track down the source of this porn, tried to protect and assist these children and served as a great international example. Imagine if they took a strong stand, and fired those who covered up, stating that nothing short of strong action against crime and exploitation was enough. Imamgine if UM actually did what some of us hoped they stood for in the world! Nah, guess all of that is only a dream of greatness.
Ron Granger
Tue, Feb 14, 2012 : 1:39 p.m.
Who knew what, when? We'll never know what other incidents may have been covered up unless there is an outside investigation of this incident, and also other probable incidents. There is never just one roach.
Arborcomment
Tue, Feb 14, 2012 : 12:47 p.m.
To the Ivory Tower quick! Pull up the drawbridge! Good, we're safe now. No need for an external review, decided after the press were led to believe the item would not be discussed? Classic. Get security "interconnected"? They were supposed to be that way all along, but when you place differing elements In different fiefdoms, with different reporting chains and responsibilities - what do you think happens?
Silly Sally
Tue, Feb 14, 2012 : 11:58 a.m.
As she very likely chanted in her youth about someone (a president?) near her present age Hey HEY ho HO Mary Sue Coleman has got to go!
RJA
Tue, Feb 14, 2012 : 5:08 a.m.
Yep, common sense is needed!!
Victor22
Tue, Feb 14, 2012 : 4:20 a.m.
I'm hoping that the writing here is simply being uncharitable to Professor Kearfott's motion. Does she really simply want to dissuade the discussion of intimidation and not the actual intimidation? It's pretty difficult to drop this topic when the University has fired our third ranking officer for organizing. And, having been held in multiple captive audience anti-union meetings by my adviser, I don't really get why I should be silent about it. Let's deal with the source, illegal behavior by faculty rather than blaming the victims of intimidation and retaliation.
UtrespassM
Tue, Feb 14, 2012 : 3:43 a.m.
Most of the heads of the administrators in the health system are faculties. Do you expect these faculties will want their buddies from the same old boys club be fired? All jokes!
trespass
Tue, Feb 14, 2012 : 2:51 a.m.
"Barald called the university-generated report candid and said that the faculty senate does not expect to call for an external report of the six-month lapse." The report refuses to name names and never asked the question who knew what when. To call that candid is laughable. As SACUA President, Kate Barald recieves half her salary from the Provost's office. Perhaps that clouds her vision a bit. She also suckered the televison stations last week by telling them that they would not have any substantive discussion of the case at the SACUA meeting, which caused them to leave early. After they left they had their discussion. We need more truth telling and less kowtowing to the administration.
lynel
Tue, Feb 14, 2012 : 2:33 a.m.
How many PHDs does it take to.....
annarbor28
Tue, Feb 14, 2012 : 12:03 a.m.
Am amazed they did not address any reprecussions to employees who did not report child porn to the Ann Arbor or state police, the FBI, and CPS. Who protects these children? By now, this child was probably further exploited, and all that they will do is say "well, try to better next time, guys and gals." This is child porn, very very serious. I thought UM says it cares about children? Or is it just those with reimbursable health insuarance? They just opened a huge new Children's Hospital! One would think that there would be firings, stronger statements, regret on a human level. No, just another day in la-la land.
justcurious
Mon, Feb 13, 2012 : 11:18 p.m.
"Barald said she was surprised to hear that 911 calls made at the hospital are dispatched to hospital security and not a law enforcement agency, as AnnArbor.com reported last week. The resolution encourages "reporting criminal activity in the most expeditious and effective manner."" At least they caught this very dangerous practice and policy. As I said in a previous comment, I felt very uncomfortable with this procedure and had decided that I would use my cell to report an emergency directly to 911 police and fire. I'm sure that could have brought down a lot of misery on my head, but so be it.
Michigan Reader
Mon, Feb 13, 2012 : 11:18 p.m.
Isn't common sense (in the absence of clear crime reporting guidelines) enough to prompt a report of a crime?
Ron Granger
Tue, Feb 14, 2012 : 1:37 p.m.
Did you not even read the article? 911 does not go to the police, it goes to hospital security.