Posted on 12/07/2007 2:55:58 PM PST by RedsHunter
A former Central Michigan University official, who reported directly to the president, explains why he was recently fired.
Richard E. Morrison, the veteran associate vice president for public relations and marketing, said CMU President Michael Rao terminated his employment for a number of reasons including Morrison's personal judgment as well as the way he handled the findings of the nooses on campus. [Emphasis Added]
Morrison said Rao had concerns about the information flow regarding the nooses.
"I wasn't asking the right questions," Morrison said of a call that he received about the nooses.
"I was in the information flow," Morrison said. "I should have been asking questions and then shared that information with Mike."
He was reluctant to say anything else regarding the noose incident because of legalities.
That was not the only reason for his termination, he said.
Without giving specific details, Morrison said that on Nov. 20 he walked into his office to the sound of employees "grumbling" about reorganization within the department.
"They were grumbling about filling new positions," he said.
At that point Morrison decided to hold a staff meeting to discuss the issue. During this meeting Morrison said he acted inappropriately towards a staff member.
"I chewed someone out in public," he said of what happened in the meeting.
"I used inappropriate language."
Morrison said he realizes that he should not have acted in this manner.
"I shouldn't have done that," he said.
Although he did mention that it is in his nature to be "loud and direct."
"It's not atypical of me."
The next day Morrison said he left campus to go home and get ready for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Then he got a call from human resources.
He would not give the name of the caller. A couple of staff members that were at the meeting where the confrontation took place, went to human resources to discuss Morrison's behavior towards his employees.
Morrison was told not to come into the office that week and that an investigation was being done.
"That was the beginning of the end," Morrison said.
"I went for a whole week without knowing what was going on," he said.
That following Monday he received a call from a university official who had questions about his judgment. Morrison would not identify the caller or from what department the call came from.
"I had a very high-profile position," he said. "President Rao has a right to have total confidence and feel comfortable with his chief public relations officer."
He also mentioned that he was an at-will employee, meaning that he can be fired at anytime for no reason.
"If he doesn't will it, I understand that," Morrison said of President Rao.
Morrison said that he will miss the students that worked in his office as well as his employees.
I have been here for six years," he said.
"Those are among the best in my life."
Protesters demand charges against student
Updated: 12/7/2007 2:39:19 PM
About 30 protesters marched from Central Michigan University to the Isabella County Building Friday, where they were joined by two busloads of people from Detroit, demanding that charges be filed against a CMU student who hung four nooses in a classroom.
Speakers at the rally said the nooses, tied in hoses used to carry gas in scientific labs, were clearly a sign of ethnic intimindation.
Isabella County Prosecuting Attorney Larry Burdick has asked for further investigation into the incident .
Coming to cable TV soon: The Noose Channel. Coverage and in depth analysis 24/7 of noose sightings, and noose documentaries.......
Better be careful one of those nooses doesn’t bite your sister!
So do I understand this correctly: burning the American Flag, and submerging a crucifix in urine are protected speech; hanging a noose somewhere is not?
In the present pc environment, I think that pretty well sums it up.
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