I think the header says most of what I’ve heard: not one but two different sources have emailed me today to tell me that they had heard that John Fallon is going to be a guest tonight on CNN’s Larry King Live. Quite frankly, I find this hard to believe, there’s nothing on the CNN web site to suggest this is true, I have to think that, for the national media, this story is over, and I just never watch Larry King. But if anyone does watch King and if Fallon does show up, let the rest of us know how that goes.
Update:
YIKES! I stumbled across Larry King tonight, and boom, there he was! Read the comments below for reactions.
CNN website indicates Roe Messener (Tammy Faye’s husband) is the guest tonight and Dick Cheney tomorrow night. If anyone hears differently, please post.
According to the Ann Arbor News it’s true:
http://blog.mlive.com/annarbornews/2007/07/fallon_to_appear_on_larry_king.html
http://blog.mlive.com/annarbornews/2007/07/fallon_to_appear_on_larry_king.html
Fallon to appear on Larry King tonight
Posted by Staff Reporter Geoff Larcom July 30, 2007 17:08PM
Categories: Breaking News
John Fallon, the ousted president of Eastern Michigan University, will appear on Larry King Live on CNN tonight, his attorney confirmed to The Ann Arbor News this afternoon.
The EMU Board of Regents unanimously voted to fire Fallon July 15, in response to two reports detailing EMU’s botched handling of information in the wake of a student’s death on campus. After student Laura Dickinson’s body was found Dec. 15 in her dorm room, EMU issued a misleading statement that foul play was not suspected and did not alter that statement until a fellow student was arrested in her rape and murder 10 weeks later.
Fallon has said repeatedly that he did not know Dickinson was slain until the day of the arrest. An independent law firm’s report said Fallon lacked information because he relied solely on Vice President of Student Affairs Jim Vick for updates on the investigation. Vick and Public Safety Director Cindy Hall were forced to resign in the past month for their roles in the case.
The EMU faculty council repeatedly called for Fallon to be fired in the weeks before the regents made their decision.
Larry King Live airs at 9 p.m.
Whoa! He’s on there right now! Freaky!
Haha..I said the same thing!
Is it just me or does he keep calling him John Dickinson?
Ya know, I have a large degree of sympathy for Fallon, BUT…
He sounds less like a president (W not included) and more like a prizefighter that didn’t wear a helmet. I think the case presented is pretty weak, but McKanders will roll over and play dead at any threat of a lawsuit.
Fallon is indeed on Larry King – right around half way through in case you can catch a rerun. Here’s my notes as it happens:
*Larry King mispronounced Ypsilanti, lol
*Fallon says Vick told him Laura was half-naked, yet there was no sign of foul play? Claiming that Vick was purposefully keeping everything under wraps – sounds like he’s blaming it entirely on Vick.
*Fallon doesn’t seem to like the term “separated” for Vick’s departure.
*Claiming there’s an inverse relationship between the BL report and the personnel decisions made by the BoR. He’s the fall guy.
*Fallon’s wife, Sidney, is here as well. So far she’s just playing the supportive wife role, talking briefly about her husband’s integrity, etc.
*Ooh, his attorney is here as well. No legal action yet, but a suit based on fraud is being considered. She’s drawing a comparison between Vick’s behavior and the cabinets of large company CEO’s…I think I might have missed something here.
*Fallon came to the university when it was having “significant problems” and he was “determined to tackle them.”
*Sidney Fallon views this interview as part of the moving on process, bringing out the “other side” of the story.
*Neither Vick nor Hall returned calls inviting them to appear on the show tonight.
*Apparently the terms of Fallon’s severance isn’t final yet? He says “nothing is official” when King asks if he’s getting a year’s severance pay.
*Ooh, University House issues. Apparently living in that house was part of his contract.
*King asks the attorney if there’s any way parents can know the safety records of campuses. There’s a semi-complex list of steps to get the information from the FBI. I wonder if they’re going to mention that EMU has apparently been covering up crime stats? … Apparently not.
*”What do you want, John?” To clear his name, to regain his career. His “friends and colleagues from around the nation,” though they don’t know the details, don’t believe this can be true.
And that appears to be it. If you ask me, this interview didn’t really do enough to clear Fallon’s name. Larry King tends to ask soft questions, so he didn’t ask Fallon anything that he probably hasn’t been asked before, this is just the first time he’s had such a large audience for his non-answers.
Thanks for the notes, Angela– it doesn’t seem like I missed much.
My wife and I watched this, pretty much with jaws-dropped. So bizarre. I have always wanted to give Fallon the benefit of the doubt, but I have a hard time seeing how the “moral” thing to do is to go on Larry King to– what? tell people you want to clear your name/are innocent of not knowing what was going on?!
And just to make this all the more strange, Fallon’s interview was followed by (and I swear to God I am not making this up) talk about a notorious and twisted pedophile named Jack McClellan. Weird weird weird.
is there a video archive of LKLive?
noneyet,
They sometimes post the videos on CNN’s site. Otherwise they’ll post a transcript.. maybe someone will post it on youtube. If someone sees it, be sure to let us know.. I don’t have cable and want to watch it.
Funny enough, my mom called me and was like “did you know your former president is on larry king?!”. Of course, I told her I’m on top of things and knew already
Mike – my friends and I have set up an unofficial phone tree to alert each other when EMU is on the news now, lol. Last Friday a friend called me to tell me that we were mentioned on Anderson Cooper, and I called around tonight to let people know about this interview. It’ll be interesting to hear some of their reactions over the next few days.
And sitedad, know what’s weirding me out? All the talk about “Vick” all over every news outlet. The first time I saw the name on a headline I did a double take before seeing that it was an athlete, not our deposed VP.
The most honest/accurate thing I heard Fallon say during the interview: that he’s sure his career is over.
Hi Angela, Steve, & Aginghippie,
Can you tell those of us without cable any more? Your notes are so helpful, Angela, but I still have little sense of what was said. Probably because Fallon is so prone to the empty nothing of discourse. Did Fallon convey any facts or make any definitive claims, if only from his own perspective? Or was it all gobblygook? How did Larry King react? Why did King seem to find any interest in this man in the first place? Were there any people who called in to ask questions?
I’m glad to see all the discussion about this already.
I watched the interview with my grandmother – she’s still completely flabbergasted about the entire situation, lol.
To me, it seemed like he still wasn’t answering the questions given to him; Fallon just equivoquated, or went in a different direction entirely.
Here is the AA News version.
Are there any lawyers out there? How in the world could Fallon sue for fraud? Even if he was as clueless as he prides himself in being about the murder, it was the EMU community that was most betrayed rather than Fallon personally.
The transcript is now on the website.
Fallon said exactly what I believed had happened. I still stand behind him as a good president and someone who didn’t deserve to lose his job just to appease the national press and irrational faculty union. We may have gotten the press off our backs for a while and the union may think that they have finally “won”, but EMU will suffer greatly for that decision in the long run.
I absolutely agree with Eagle Talon. I have felt for sometime that there was much more to this story, primarily the role played by the Board of Regents or certain individual members. The Board has deflected any serious analysis of their role thus far. Consider Regent Stapleton’s remarks about deceit. I doubt strongly he was excluding all of his fellow Regents. Was, for example, Jim Vick acting on his own or was he given direction by someone other than John Fallon? Someone even “higher” in the pecking order?
The housecleaning hasn’t been completed. It must be if EMU is to regain its credibility.
Over and over I have said, it is the EMU core that is the problem, not President Fallon. The EMU “core” is the state of Michigan appointed Regents and the state of Michigan government itself.
The EMU community is stuck with regents who are in their position because they were owed favors by the governor, made substantial financial contributions, or based on political party (Republican/Democrat). I am not saying all regent are bad. I am saying there are regents who have separate political or career agendas and do not have the best interest of EMU at heart.
EMU is a great learning institution with incredible (pre-Eagle) tradition. THe institution should not be a platform for personal career agendas, politics, or personal conflicts.
That being said, I watched Larry King this evening. John Fallon is telling the truth. There were “politics” and bad decisions made and the result was to make Fallon the “fall guy.”
Remember, the Regents chose Fallon. The regents chose Kirkpatrick who overspent on the presidential house. Before that, the Regents chose Shelton who destroyed all traditions by eliminating the Huron – bowing to political correctness gone overboard and replacing the Huron with the ubiquitous Eagle. Since, EMU has been unable to grasp an identity as it has changed the Eagle logo almost yearly.
It is politics and personal agendas in the EMU core causing the destruction not John Fallon
To anyone reading my message, please write your state senator and Governor Granholm and ask for a change to the Regent selection process for EMU. Demand the government give focus to EMU as it is a Michigan treasure and demand the state support the school financially.
I am glad John Fallon had the opportunity to clear the air and reiterate the fact that he was unaware of the murder and cover-up. However, I am sad that we had a good president who was willing to reach out to Huron alumni, and genuinely wanted to bring EMU back to greatness, but was fired by Regents because they needed a “fall guy.”
I hope the Regents get it this time. Take off their “UM” ball caps, and focus on the greatness of EMU.
There are politics involved, for sure. But here’s the thing: to say that Fallon is completely innocent here and merely a fall guy, you have to do two things that I think are a bit of a stretch. First, you have to believe Fallon when he says he did not know there was a murder investigation going on, despite numerous conversations with Vick and (I assume) others. For me, this is a bit of a stretch, but okay, I’m willing to go with that.
Second, you have to accept the fact that Fallon never did anything to follow up on this story from Vick. For example, he apparently never picked up the phone and called the Michigan State Police investigators or asked to see the police report or anything else. This, IMO, is an enormous problem. Hindsight is always 20-20, but I think it’s fair to say that if you are the president of a university and a student turns up dead, you as president need to get yourself into the loop of what’s going on.
And I’ve got to say I don’t know how Fallon appearing on Larry King is helping his cause, either in terms of getting another job or winning a lawsuit. To me, it makes him look bitter and it isn’t exactly strong leadership to point the finger at others.
Fallon basically called himself the “fall guy” and blamed Jim Vick for the whole cover-up in one breath. Not impressed.
The only part of the entire interview that I was mildly impressed by was the way Fallon talked about Mr. Dickinson, though if he had said anything negative about him, he’d be not only a fool, but also wrong.
What I don’t know about hiring college presidents would fill an entire collection of encyclopedias. But if I was in charge of the search for a president of my university and I saw that interview last night, I would definitely cross “John Fallon” off my list. He still just keeps passing the buck on everything in this situation– not the kind of person I want at my university.
Catie:
You really summed up a lot of my impressions of Fallon and the interview last night.
I still maintain that even if he was as ignorant as he said he was, especially after Taylor’s arrest, then Fallon did not step up and fulfill his duties as a good leader and President.
I’m not happy how things have turned out, but that’s the nature of the situation.
Now, to Michael, I think you and others bring up an interesting point about the BoR. I’m not sure how I feel about them in regards to the cover-up and whatnot. I think it would be interesting to see how much they really have to do with it. However, I almost get a “conspiracy theory” feeling from the whole comment(s) about them.
I agree with all that has been said regarding the former president’s lack of leadership, diversion of blame, and inability to take responsibility. For him this is a personal drama of a fallen ego rather than a real world violent crime committed against an EMU student.
I do agree with Fallon that there is an “inverse relationship between the contents of [the BL] report and the severity of the actions, the personnel actions that were taken as a result of this.” Vick and Hall got off much too easily compared to Fallon, while he is also the one who had the most power to take charge of the situation and is thus, I suppose, most responsible for all of the problems in the end. The blame that he casts on Vick for shredding the incident report is quite overstated; any real president would have sought such documents on his own initiative rather than passively waiting for them to come to him, especially since Fallon was the one to overlook the accurate press release initially written and commission the “no foul play statement” in violation of federal law instead.
I am curious what people think Fallon means when he states “And I believe that this was, in fact, a cover-up — these are terms that are not comfortable for me. There was in fact a cover-up and there was a need for a fall guy. These are Elmore Leonard terms, there’s aren’t John Fallon terms, and that’s the way it cut.” Elmore Leonard, the “Dickens of Detroit,” was a crime writer who did not mince his words about murder, and Leonard is an apt choice for contrast with Fallon, who spoke profusely, if politely, in empty nothings all the time.
However, that same propensity for ignoring ugly realities and issuing false platitudes may well have been what led to the violations of the Clery Act in the first place; that is, it may well be the real ‘cover up’ itself, one that Fallon both conjures and disavows at the same time with the allusion to the crime writer.
Michael’s remarks are excellent. The Governor’s office did not take the most recent set of Regent appointments seriously. That is not to say that all the appointees were weak. However failing to look for knowledgeable, experienced candidates only exacerbated the ongoing problems. I am not being partisan in my observations. I base by comments on many years of government service.
The ultimate tragedy is of course Laura’s death. The aftermath was badly bungled by individuals who had DIRECT responsibility for campus security and student affairs. Why wasn’t the University’s counsel informed earlier? In any large organization public or private, civilian or military, there is an obligation to inform leadership. This did not happen.
A serious, thoughtful analysis of the tragedy and cover up requires a close look at the past 10 to 15 years at EMU, a commitment to move beyond personalities and personal attacks, an understanding of “small p” politics, an examination of the role of the press and media, and the manipulation of public opinion. Not easy stuff but surely more meaningful than shooting from the lip.
I think the fact that the BoR may have aided in covering this up, or played a part in it is something to consider.
Something else that I’ve always thought, but am not sure about… I wonder if it was the Ypsilanti police’s “duty” to try to get the “no foul play” statement reversed. Seeing as how they were (I believe) the ones to arrest Taylor, they clearly knew they were looking for a suspect in the crime. So they knew the “no foul play” statement was incorrect. I wonder if they did anything to help correct it. I’m not saying, by any means, that this is their job to do that. Their job is to protect and serve… I just wonder if on some level, helping to reverse that statement is part of protecting and serving.
I agree with Abby’s latest comment. I think she summed the situation well.
However, I would like to point out that all three were “fired.” and all three will get the same severance package. I don’t see where Fallon is any worse off. In fact, I understand he was offered the opportunity to resign or be “separated” with the same package, and he refused. His severance is part of his contract. On the other hand, Vick and Hall can only get their severance if they are “at willed,” “fired,” “separated,” or “involuntarily retired.” One does not get a severance package when one retires.
As to Michael’s comments about BofR, this is a constitutional issue. I am certain some of our Board members would rather be on Michigan’s Board. However, that too, is a political process. You have to be nominated by the political convention to be placed on the ballot. Obviously, our members didn’t get the support they needed.
The Governor appoints, but to paint all of EMU’s woes on her appointments is not fair. Remember until recently all Board members were Engler’s appointments. Perhaps our system needs to be changed, but that will require a constitutional amendment. It is not as simple as some suggest.
Jessica: What makes you think the BoR may have aided in covering this up?
And, as far as the arrest, the warrant was issued to the EMU police for his arrest. The crimes occurred in EMU’s jurisdiction. I don’t see how it would be the City of Ypsi’s police duty to be involved with “fixing” the statement..
We have a lawyer on staff. He said that Fallon’s claim of fraud is very weak. When you sign a contract that says you are an at will employee you’re basically done when they let you go. In regard to police jurisdict our attorney said that Eastern would have to give up jurisdiction. It was their jurisdiction. Also EMU is basically state property, not YpsilantI. The same example is when you are arrested for a crime on County property in A2 – State law is applied – not City of A2 laws – for example the Marajuana law. Get caught on County property and you go to jail. Fallon was just pathetic blaming everyone else.
What happened to John Fallon is, in my opinion, grounds for a lawsuit. I am not an attorney but I know a lot about employment law and am a trained mediator. As a mediator I would prefer this be settled without litigation. However, if information was deliberately with held from both the President and the University counsel that is unethical and no doubt illegal. There is also the possibility that there was collusion by other individuals who knew about the cover up and either assisted or advised those directly responsible.
The cover up demands a serious investigation for the sake of the University and Laura’s memory.
Everything is grounds for a lawsuit these days. Even the fact that a high percentage of the population is on Prozac is grounds for a lawsuit. So let’s sue everybody. What the hell – I don’t like the way you look at me is grounds for a law suit. It appears that Laura’s memory has nothing to do with any of this. It’s money!! And cover your ass! Not my fault! Just like Orange Taylor pleading not guilty. What if they find him not guilty. Then what? It’s a possibility.
EMU 3, there was an exhaustive report/investigation on the cover up already. Two, actually: one produced by Butzel-Long, and one by the US Department of Education.
I’ve already said it in this discussion and I’ve said it many times before: I’m willing to believe that Fallon didn’t know everything initially because Vick et al didn’t tell him, but Fallon also did not pay attention, and he reacted slowly and poorly as events unfolded.
In other words, Fallon’s defense is ignorance and not doing enough. I’m no lawyer, but that sounds like a mighty weak claim.
I can tell, all posters to this board our genuine concerned and supportive members of the EMU community. This is truly appreciated.
I point out to those who continue to blame Fallon. Remember, the Regents (Appointed by Engler or Granholm, Republican or Dem) chose the last three Presidents. Under these presidents, there have been multiple public embarrassments.
Do we see a pattern here? Firing a president is a band-aid on the leaking pipe.
Yes, it is in the state Constitution for the governor to appoint Regents. Well then, change the Constitution! UM, MSU and Wayne State vote in their regents. How did they do it? Write to your state senator and governor and demand changes.
I agree with sitedad. Fallon’s defense is ridiculous. I know he’s supposedly doing this to “clear his name” but what he’s really doing is making himself look pathetic and self-absorbed. The crime here was not him or even Hall or Vick losing their jobs; the crime was that a women was murdered. Fallon seems to have forgotten that in his quest to restore his reputation.
You can also just write a ballot proposal and get 300,000 signatures and hope for a good election. That’s about the only way it will probably happen.
In case anyone is interested, Jim Vick is visiting his daughter in Japan. That is likely why Lary King’s calls were not returned – whatever. You people (like your boy Fallon) are so out for Vick’s blood – let me ask you this: if so many of you don’t actually KNOW Jim (and where the hell have you been that you don’t know him?), how can you be so certain that he would be so stupid and callous as to try and “cover up” a murder? Don’t you recognize your own free-floating-cynicism? Don’t you realize how disconnected you are from this institution and it’s people? I hope each of you will stop to think long and HARD about what YOUR contribution will be to the healing of this University. Don’t be mislead by the narrow-mindedness of those who never venture outside of their classrooms or offices, yet paint grand pictures of corruption and, whatever… The fact is that IF you – especialy anyone who works here – don’t know the players in this “story” well enough to make a call, then shame on you. EMU is small enough that if you really give a s**t, you know flolks; you know what’s REALLY going on. Kirk, you know better (but i still love you, my little Mac-weenie) but I know you like to vent. Higbee, so do you – or at least you ought to. Abby,where the hell did you even come from? I’ve never seen you anywhere but on this site, but you umake your self out to be quite the expert. Get in touch with your HUMANITY people!
BTW: contrary to last night’s comments, I don’t think Fallon as the balls to sue Vick. His wife and her partners are some of the the toughest lawyers around. And – believe it or not – the most upright and ethical. I speak as a former client who wanted to play dirty, but won anyway
—Shelley
Your right – Faupel has no chance! She has goofed up quite a few cases in Washtenaw County.
Shelley:
I’m sure that Jim did nothing intentional to hurt anyone, but people who are totally cold to the University and don’t know anything about it, or the people who work at EMU, view Jim Vick as cold and aloof on television when he was interviewed. I like him, but he sure needs someone to tell him how to show more remorse and not to seem so interested in himself. A student was murdered and now it’s only about law suits, firings, trips, destroyed careers, money, greed. etc. It’s also time to move on from this subject. Let Fallon and company make fools of themselves in circuit court.
An interesting tid bit – Cindy Hall is being considered as a consultant in Bellville for law enforcement/police.
I’ve met Vick, I think he’s a good guy and that he did a lot of great things for the university. However, just because you have a history of being a good guy and doing good things doesn’t mean you don’t make mistakes, make wrong decisions, or do something you think is in the best interest when it’s not. It’s a fallacy to draw that type of conclusion. After all, we are human beings. We make mistakes and do these things. When we make those mistakes, we must pay the consequences and accept what is given as our punishment.. ruining a friendship, losing your job, getting a ticket, etc.
No offense, but you are pouncing on people for saying they feel Vick was covering this up.. yet in your attacks you are doing the exact same thing..
Yes, Shelly, clearly I adore John Fallon. I usually use words like “ridiculous” “pathetic” and “self-absorbed” to describe people I like. You’re a very thorough generalizer.
JF: “You’re just going to ask a few softball questions, right, Larry?”
LK: “Oh, yah. No details, Mr. Fallon.”
JF: “Doctor, please, Larry. And my wife, it’s Mrs. Doctor, as well, OK?”
LK: “Sure, sure. Doctor, doctor, got it.”
Three, two, one …
LK: ” Yip-sa-lanty, Michigan. WWe all heard and reead about the tragic murder of …”
blah, blahh, bblahhh
During the break:
JFF: “See, Larry, I think the sstaf back there were hopingg t catch this guy, OJ. But …”
LK: “O.J.?”
JF:: “Yes, O.J. … did I say, O.J.? I meant Orrangee, ah, O.T., yes. I think the staff was hoping to nail him, but the iinvestigation dragged on too long, making look like a cover up.”
LK: “And you were on vacation?”
JF: “”I am a President! I’m not an investigator. Why should I interrupt a wonderful vacation to come back and get all mucked up in a nasty dirty mess, when there are people to handle nasty dirty messes back at the school?”
LK: “Good thinking. Why get YOUR hands dirty?”
JF:: “Who was there to console? Hardly any students on campus too be alarmed about. Our neighbors weren’t worried. Just another nasty statistic to be logged in Cindy’s little books somewhere.”
LK: “Right.”
Three, two one.
Blah, blahh, blahhh.
Five days ago, Shelley Wilson made a comment here that mentioned me by name, implying that one of my problems is that i rarely venture out of my classroom or office, and that I don’t know EMU well.
I can tell that Ms. Wilson knows Jim Vick perosnally and respects him greatly. I know him personally, but I know he failed the tests of leadership: truth telling. So did Fallon. Both deserved to be fired. I have been criticized for lots of things, but never before, Ms. Wilson, for allegedly keeping too close to my classroom and office. I could be faulted for making all of EMU too much of my business — I think i know this campus and its people as well as anyone here does.
John Fallon harmed his already terrible reputation by appearing on King’s show. Jim Vick harmed himself a few weeks ago with the interview that he gave a local TV station. Neither of these interviews show any regard for the best interests of EMU.
If you love an institution, it is your duty to work to improve it. Pretending that serious problems don’t exist is not loving behavior. It is the habit of the enabler of bad and destructive practices. It is contrary to the values of an academic institution, where learning and truth must be our goals.