Wednesday, October 2, 2013 | The Independent Collegian | 7

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IN BRIEF

UT’s annual crime report released

The University of Toledo Police Department recently released the annual crime report required by the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and the Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1998.This report, which was released Oct. 1, is a summation of the crime statistics for the past three years.

The following statistics are for UT’s main campus. Murder/non-negligent manslaughter 2010: 0 2011: 0 2012: 1 Sex offenses (forcible) 2010: 3 2011: 2 2012: 1 Robbery 2010: 0 2011: 1 2012: 6 Aggravated assault 2010: 0 2011: 4 2012: 3 Burglary 2010: 69 2011: 105 2012: 53 Motor vehicle theft 2010: 0 2011: 0 2012: 3 Arson 2010: 1 2011: 4 2012: 0 Alcohol law violations 2010: 24 arrests, 248 judicial referrals 2011: 12 arrests, 238 judicial referrals 2012: 11 arrests, 180 judicial referrals Drug law violations 2010: 3 arrests, 49 judicial referrals 2011: 5 arrests, 168 judicial referrals 2012: 3 arrests, 114 judicial referrals Weapon law violations 2010: 0 arrests, 6 judicial referrals 2011: 1 arrest, 6 judicial referrals 2012: 1 arrest, 2 judicial referrals For the complete report, visit www.utoledo.edu/depts/police/Crime_ Statistics.html.

STUDENT AFFAIRS

Former director files allegations against UT’s faculty union

ADMINISTRATION

University names new VP of finance and administration

By Samantha RhodesNews Editor

The former executive director of the University of Toledo’s faculty union filed a lengthy lawsuit on Sept. 24, aiming 18 charges against the group that include sexual harassment, identity theft and Internet hacking. But mem-bers are disputing her allega-tions, with one of the accused calling them “false and mali-cious garbage.”

Mary Jane Erard, former executive director of UT’s American Association of University Professors (UT-AAUP), was fired last April after working there for nearly 20 years.

UT-AAUP had previ-ously filed a lawsuit in the Lucas County Common Pleas Court accusing Erard of making unau-thorized credit card charges, col-lecting unauthorized compensa-tion and making unauthorized electronic transfers of union funds to an E-Trade account, which totaled over $50,000.

Erard denies those claims and, in her counterclaim, alleges Donald Wedding, UT-AAUP Grievance Chair, and Michael Kistner, a member of the UT-AAUP executive board, sexually harassed her and created an “intimidating, sexually hostile and offensive work environment.”

According to the lawsuit, Erard says Wedding “forcibly grabbed her, and forcibly held her, and forcibly kissed her on the mouth” as well as calling her “baby” and making sexual com-ments related to her appearance.

The suit also says Kistner knew Erard was an animal lover with three dogs and he “subjected her to stories of how he tortured small animals and how lucky it was for him that his dog has fur so no one could see the bruising.”

Alan Kirshner, Erard’s attor-ney, said the sexual harassment has been difficult for Erard.

“When you’ve been treated

the way she has,” Kirshner said, “you can either lie down or you can fight back.”

In response to Erard’s claims, Wedding said it’s all “false and malicious garbage.”

“Her allegation is com-pletely untrue,” Wedding said. “I have never grabbed her or kissed her anywhere, including her lips.”

Wedding also spoke in defense of Kistner and said Erard’s allegations against Kistner were “false and outrageous.”

Linda Rouillard, vice presi-dent of UT-AAUP, said Erard’s accusations of Wedding and Kistner “are completely unfounded and false.”

“Both of these two people are moral and ethical people who would never engage in this behavior,” Rouillard said.

Kistner was contacted by the IC and declined to comment.

According to the counter-claim, Erard repeatedly com-plained about Wedding and Kistner’s behavior to the board members and officers, but they did nothing about it.

Wedding rejected this and said “members of the board will testify that she never complained about me or Kistner” and “spoke well of me and Kistner.”

The suit states that Wedding and Kimberly Nigem, treasurer of the UT-AAUP, hacked her personal email, internet pages, and online accounts, such as her Facebook and E-Trade accounts, even changing the passwords and taking control of some of the accounts.

Kirshner said he and Erard are waiting to get original records from Internet servers

and providers. “We’ve talked to E-trade,”

Kirshner said. “E-trade has told us that there have been numer-ous break-ins and that data was changed, but they require subpoenas. Now that we’ve got the counterclaim filed, we can start getting those out.”

According to her counterclaim, Erard alleges that members of the board conspired to end her employment and that she was wrongfully dis-charged for false accusations re-garding financial transactions that had previously been authorized and noted in the annual audits.

Kirshner said he has a positive outlook on both Erard’s counterclaim and the original claim filed against her.

Erard was not faced with any criminal charges and after a hearing from the Ohio Un-employment Compensation Review Commission, whose mission is to provide par-ties an opportunity for a fair hearing before an independent tribunal, it was determined in August that Erard was “discharged without just cause in connection with work,” the suit states.

“We’ve already had this hear-ing with the unemployment commission in front of the hearing officer who said that Jane was credible and they had nothing,” Krishner said. “They had no reason to fire her.”

Erard is asking the court to dismiss the faculty union’s lawsuit against her and is seeking in excess of $25,000 on each of 17 claims, $11,908 for unpaid compensation, and attorney fees.

Judge Ruth Ann Franks has been assigned the case.

By Samuel DerkinStaff Reporter

University of Toledo saw an administrative reconstruction Sept. 15 as David Morlock stepped into his new role as executive vice president of finance and adminis-tration.

Morlock’s new posi-tion will encompass the responsibilities of now-retired David Dabney, former chief financial officer and vice president of finance, and former Vice President of Administration Chuck Lehnert, who is now working with corporate relations.

Morlock said he will be overseeing departments of finance, information technology, auxiliary services, facilities and human resources.

Morlock has over 20 years of experience with the University of Michi-gan as the CFO of the health system, in which he oversaw the medi-cal school and hospital. Before coming to Toledo and after his employ-ment with the University of Michigan, Morlock worked as a consultant for the publically traded company Accretive Health.

“What I hope to bring is multi-year financial framework and thought-process to help us al-locate our considerable resources in the most effective way to position the University of Toledo for the future of higher education,” said Mor-lock.

During his first two weeks, Morlock said he has been meeting with various UT constituents, such as administrators, faculty senate mem-bers, and board mem-bers. Morlock said that through these meetings,

he has been receiving various viewpoints on the industry of higher education.

“I’m trying to take all of their feedback to help inform our strategy and our thinking in our resource allocation and planning frameworks,” said Morlock.

Lehnert, a UT employee for over 30 years, said he’ll assist Morlock with facilities, human resourc-es and construction as the new vice president eases into his role.

“As I transition out, I’ll be helping him for whatever period of time he thinks is appropri-ate,” said Lehnert, who is working currently with businesses such as Horizon Health and Ernest Healthcare. “This [University of Toledo] is a very complex organi-zation that needs some transitioning.”

Morlock said he’s “re-ally impressed by the esprit de corps” of his new team.

“Everybody I have talked to, in their heart, you can tell, has the best interest of the University of Toledo in mind and that’s a great situation to see.”

Commuter lounge renovations expected to be completed

LAWSUIT

By Lindsay MahaneyStaff Reporter

Complete renovation: That’s what is happening in the student commuter lounge at the University of Toledo.

With funding from the offices of student involvement, the provost and the president, UT is expanding and overhauling.

The lounge, located in the Stu-dent Union Room 2500, has been under renovations since August. Sammy Spann, assistant provost for the Center for International Studies and Programs, said he expects the project to be finished in two to three weeks.

The new space will include new seating, both couches and tables with chairs, and lockers. Addition-ally, the space was made larger by joining the former commuter lounge and surrounding offices.

Spann said the idea to renovate the commuter lounge came to him when students would come to his office and ask to leave their stuff there because there was no-where else to put it or just study because the surrounding areas were too loud.

“My intent is not to build what I want or what the administration wants, but to make something stu-dents want,” he said.

Student Government public relations chair Nick McCullough said he thinks the new lounge is a benefit for commuter students and is a step in the right direction for

the university to be more inclusive of commuters.

“I think it’s a great way for them to have their own space and leave their stuff in a secure place without worrying about it being taken,” he said.

Spann agreed that the university is working towards making the commuter population feel more included on campus, a demographic that Spann estimates to be about 17,000 of the roughly 20,000 stu-dents enrolled at UT.

“Let’s take the time to think about

those people who actually bring in 80 percent of our revenue and actu-ally give them something,” he said.

Victoria LaRoy, a third-year education major and commuter stu-dent, said this space is much needed for commuter students on campus because they don’t have enough places to go.

“Commuters definitely need more places [on campus],” she said. “I’d use a new one as long as it’s conve-nient and comfy.”

Stephen Olson, a second-year supply chain management major

and commuter student, said he thinks the university does not need to change the commuter student lounge, much less have one at all.

“I will likely visit the new one, but I doubt I will make a practice of using it,” he said. “I don’t think remodeling it was necessary; stu-dents don’t really need a commuter lounge, obviously, since they are surviving without while it’s under construction.”

Megan Meier, a second-year the-ater major and commuter student, said she doesn’t even know where

the commuter lounge is located and has no interest in using it even if it’s renovated.

“I think it was a waste of money because the commuters who spend time on campus are here so they can spend time with their friends and there are plenty of places on campus where everyone can sit and enjoy themselves,” she said.

Spann said one of his goals is to provide an environment for commuters to connect with their friends and create memories. He said he believes having a good environment for such activities to take place is necessary for the col-lege experience.

McCullough said while he is not a commuter student, he thinks this new space is an asset for all students.

“I just think that it’s going to look great when it’s finished and I can’t wait to see the finished prod-uct,” he said.

Spann said he encourages all students to come to him with their concerns or ideas as his department begins to look for more projects like this on campus. He said students need to come forward because he is unable to “exceed expectations” without their help and ideas.

“I define magic as when real-ity exceeds expectations,” he said. “And to me, when you ask me to do something, I should be trying to create magic for you, because I should be trying to exceed your expectations.”

DAVID MORLOCK Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration

“Her allegation is completely un-true. I have never grabbed her or kissed her any-where, including her lips.”

DON WEDDING Grievance Chair, UT-AAUP

NICOLE BADIK / ICThe student commuter lounge, located in Student Union room 2500, is currently undergoing a full-scale renovation and should be finished in two to three weeks, according to administrator Sammy Spann.