Auchtoon!

Originally published in the Grand Rapids Business Journal, July 23, 2007

Being a protective father of two daughters, the story of Laura Dickinson and her death at death earlier this year at Eastern Michigan University definitely hit a chord. Actually, not so much because of the actual crime — I don’t want to minimize the awfulness in any way, but the 24/7 global news feeds me these types of stories every day, every minute if I’d let it. No, the thing that struck me about this was the cover up by EMU administrators and their subsequent bodacious settlement with the university.

Weasels! Sniveling weasels who not only get off scot-free with, at best, gross incompetence, at worst, criminal negligence — but also with a lovely parting gift!!! I more or less have to accept the fact that bad things can happen to my kids. Such is life. But what I cannot accept is a severe lack of justice when those bad things are brought to light.

It should be simple. When you are the person in charge, you are the person in charge. That means you are responsible for your actions and the actions of your subordinates. If they fail, you fail. If you fail, you fail. No generic “mistakes were made.” No “I’ve decided it’s time for everybody to move on.” No big cash prizes. Apparently this isn’t being taught at EMU….