Murder of Laura Dickinson

Laura Dickinson, a student at Eastern Michigan University (EMU), was killed in her residence hall room in Hill Hall on December 13, 2006. DNA evidence from semen found on her legs was matched to Orange Taylor III, another EMU student, who was later convicted of her murder.

According to police reports, Dickinson's death was investigated as a homicide from early on. However, university officials denied this characterization publicly, and the case was only officially announced as a homicide on the day of Taylor's arrest, February 23, 2007 — more than two months after her death. That arrest date coincided with the first day students could no longer withdraw from classes and housing for a full refund, a detail noted in coverage of the case.

The delay in disclosure led to a formal investigation by the Detroit law firm Butzel Long, which found that EMU had violated the federal Clery Act by failing to notify students of the attack. The investigation identified Jim Vick, EMU's Vice President of Student Affairs, as the main source of what was characterized as a cover-up. On July 3, 2007, the U.S. Department of Education released a report finding "serious violations of the Clery Act" by the university. EMU released an executive summary of its response to that report on July 27, 2007. In June 2008, the university agreed to pay a $357,000 fine for the violations — at the time, the largest such fine on record for a university.

On December 13, 2007, EMU reached a $2.5 million settlement with Dickinson's family and estate, without admitting liability.

The scandal led to significant personnel changes at EMU. President John A. Fallon was fired by the Board of Regents, notified by letter on July 15, 2007. At a special Board of Regents meeting on July 16, 2007, the university also announced the separation of Vice President for Student Affairs Jim Vick and Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police Cindy Hall. University Counsel Kenneth McKanders received a letter of discipline in his personnel file. Provost Donald Loppnow was appointed Executive Vice President and Acting President in the interim.

On April 7, 2008, a jury convicted Orange Taylor III of first-degree murder, assault with intent to commit sexual penetration, home invasion, and theft charges related to Dickinson's death. He was sentenced to life imprisonment on May 7, 2008. The case also prompted additional campus safety measures in residence hall security at EMU.