University To Review Response To Murder-Suicide And Study Related Academic Issues

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. --- University of Arkansas Chancellor John A. White has formed a Response Review Committee to examine the events surrounding the August 28 murder-suicide in Kimpel Hall and make recommendations to improve campus safety. He also has asked for a parallel review, through existing channels, of graduate education policies and procedures that may be related to the incident.

At about noon on Aug. 28, former graduate student James E. Kelly entered the office of Dr. John R. Locke, associate professor of English and head of the comparative literature program, shot and killed his former adviser and mentor, and then killed himself. The murder-suicide followed Kelly’s dismissal from the comparative literature program a week earlier for unsatisfactory academic progress. Kelly had been a doctoral student at the U of A since 1990, originally in English, and subsequently in comparative literature.

White’s call for the two reviews follows on the heels of his state-of-the-University address on Wednesday, Sept. 6. "We must do all we can to ensure that an event of this sort never occurs again on this campus," he said. "I pledge to you that we will study and analyze this matter and make changes in policy and practice to minimize the likelihood of a recurrence."

Dr. Donald O. Pederson, vice chancellor for finance and administration, will chair the Response Review Committee.

White’s charge to the committee is to review the processes used during the tragedy on Aug. 28 and make recommendations to him by Oct. 15 on improvements or new processes that would help the campus deal with emergencies of various kinds. Subcommittees will carry out a similar task for specific units.

"While UAPD did an outstanding job and our communications with the external community was very good, we already know that we need to review the internal communications, particularly with students, faculty and staff closest to the location of an emergency and spreading outward on campus," Pederson said. "We also will develop recommendations related to campus safety including training as well as other related issues that the campus community suggests."

Pederson is in the process of recruiting members to the Response Committee, particularly faculty, staff and students who work and take classes in Kimpel Hall. Pederson hopes to complete his recruitment by week’s end, but those who have accepted invitations to serve thus far are:

• Charles Adams, associate dean, Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences
• Lindsay J. Bourns, Associated Student Government
• Merlin Augustine, assistant vice chancellor, Finance and Administration
• Robert B. Cochran, professor of English
• James F. Conneely, assistant vice chancellor, Student Affairs
• Roy Cordell, assistant director, University Relations
• Ron Edwards, associate director of operations, Physical Plant
• Collis Geren, associate vice chancellor of research and dean, the Graduate School
• Rajendra Gupta, professor of physics
• Richard Hudson, vice chancellor, Government and Community Relations
• Miriam K. Lonon, manager, Environmental Health and Safety
• Phyllis Miller, associate professor of journalism
• Mary Alice Serafini, assistant vice chancellor, Student Affairs
• Larry Slamons, chief, University of Arkansas Police Department
• Bob Smith, provost and vice chancellor, Academic Affairs
• Robert E. Stassen, associate professor of marketing and transportation
• Roger Williams, associate vice chancellor, University Relations
• Rebecca Wood, manager of media relations, University Relations

Two subcommittees also have been appointed, Pederson said.

The Incident Command Center and On Scene Incident Command Sub-Committee will review the operations of the emergency response units of police, fire, and medical departments to a campus crisis. Campus procedures outside of UAPD will be coordinated with this plan for UAPD.

Campus members of the Incident Command Center Sub-Committee are Chief Slamons, Captain Brad Bruns and Captain Ed Smith, all of UAPD.

The Student Affairs Response Review Sub-Committee will examine issues related to students in a campus emergency. Members of this sub-committee are Assistant Vice Chancellors for Student Affairs James F. Conneely and Mary Alice Serafini, as well as Jonathan Perry, director of Counseling and Psychological Services, and Lindsay J. Bourns of the Associated Student Government.

Meanwhile, Dr. Bob Smith, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, will be working with Dr. Collis Geren, associate vice chancellor for research and dean of the Graduate School, and the Graduate Council to assess a number of relevant issues.

The Graduate Council consists of elected and appointed representatives of the graduate faculty who make recommendations to the dean of the Graduate School about policy and practice in regard to graduate education.

"I’m going to be meeting with the Graduate Council as soon as possible," Smith said, "and will ask them to look at all relevant University procedures in assessing three major areas of concern:"

• Periodic reviews of graduate students and their progress toward degrees;
• Decision-making practices as they relate to financial aid for graduate students; and
• An analysis of the final police report on the incident to determine if there are any other academic matters that deserve attention.

Besides Collis Geren, members of the Graduate Council for 2000-01 are:

• Patricia R. Koski, chair of the Graduate Council and associate dean of the Graduate School
• Charles Adams, associate dean, J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences and associate professor of English
• J. Sherwood Charlton, associate professor of electrical engineering
• Gail Cramer, professor of agricultural economics and agribusiness
• William P. Curington, associate dean, Sam M. Walton College of Business Administration and professor of economics
• Bruce Dixon, professor of agricultural economics and agribusiness
• M. Reed Greenwood, associate dean, College of Education and Health Professions and professor of rehabilitation education and research
• Rajendra Gupta, professor of physics
• Douglas James, professor of biological sciences
• Ben Ponder, president, Graduate Student Association
• Randall G. Luttrell, associate dean, Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences and professor of entomology
• Margaret Reid, associate professor of political science
• Charles E. Riggs, professor of health science, kinesiology, recreation and dance
• Robert Stassen, associate professor of marketing and transportation
• James D. Swartz, associate professor of educational leadership, counseling and foundations
• Robert C. Welch, associate dean, College of Engineering, and professor of civil engineering
• Deana P. Williams, graduate school representative, Graduate Student Organization
• Juana A. Young, acting dean and director of libraries.