“While I understand that some faculty and staff were disappointed with my decision to terminate the employment of Vice President (Phillip) Jones and Vice President (Marcus) Mills, both individuals were at-will employees, and it is my responsibility, and mine alone, to determine whether they should continue in their positions,” Mason said in a statement.

Mason fired Marcus Mills, former vice president of legal affairs and general counsel, and Phillip Jones, former vice president of student services, last month for their role in the handling of a sexual assault case.

UI Political Science Professor Michael Lewis-Beck began circulating the petition a few days after Mills was fired following the release of the Stolar report, an independent investigation which implicated Mills for his role in the handling an on-campus sexual assault case involving two former UI football players in Oct. 2007.

Lewis-Black told the Press-Citizen after the meeting that the opposition plans to form a “reconsideration committee” that will meet regularly and continue to push the issue.

Mills will joined by Catherine Ringen, a professor and Linguistics Department chairwoman, and Tom Southard, a professor and head of the Orthodontics Department, as they make the case for Mills.

“We hope we have a free and frank discussion of the issue,” Lewis-Beck, who spearheaded the petition, told the Press-Citizen. “We want to make her more aware of how important this decision is and how important it is for it to be reconsidered and ultimately he be reinstated.”

Lewis-Beck began circulating the petition among UI faculty last month a few days after Mills’ termination Sept. 23 following the release of the Stolar report, an independent investigation which implicated Mills for his role in the handling an on-campus sexual assault case involving two former UI football players in Oct. 2007.

University of Northern Iowa Professor Annette Lynch, who is leading the effort, said funding for the review could cost $51,700, the Iowa City Press-Citizen reported. The regents’ office will pick up half the tab, while the other half will be funded by a portion of a $1 million Flagship grant awarded in 2007 to the University of Northern Iowa from the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women.

“I commend the universities for their efforts in quickly initiating this review process, particularly in securing grant funding from the Department of Justice for this initiative,” Regents President David Miles said in a statement. “The involvement of the Department of Justice and its consultants will provide important national expertise on sexual assault policies to ensure a comprehensive review of the policies at the Regent universities. I further appreciate the universities’ commitment to completing this review in a timely manner.”

This review responds to the regents’ resolution adopted Sept. 25, 2008, which directs all of the board’s institutions to develop common policies and procedures dealing with sexual assault consistent with standards and best practices available in the higher education community. The policies will address the specific recommendations developed by The Stolar Partnership based on its investigation of the UI’s handling of an alleged sexual assault. The new policies and procedures will be presented to the board at its meeting on Dec. 11.

The regents hired a St. Louis law firm, the Stolar Partnership, in July to conduct an independent review of the UI’s independent investigation of the university’s handling of an alleged sexual assault of a female student-athlete at the Hillcrest Residence Hall on Oct. 14, 2007. The accused, two former members of the UI football team, Abe Satterfield, 20, and Cedric Everson, 19, are still awaiting trial.

The Stolar review was prompted by the mother of one of the accused, who had sent a letter accusing athletic officials of trying to keep the investigation in-house. Released in September, the report revealed that the UI failed to turn over the mother’s letters during a previous investigation and found “numerous and substantial flaws in not only the response of the University of Iowa to the alleged sexual assault at issue, but also in its policies, procedures and practices regarding the same.”

The Stolar report, which will end up costing the state $247,588, led to UI President Sally Mason’s immediate firing of two top officials, former UI vice president for student services Phillip Jones and Marcus Mills, UI vice president of legal affairs and general counsel, for their role in the alleged sexual assault investigation.

The university will split the cost of the investigation between the athletic department and the treasurer’s temporary investments, a fund of about $7 million a year used for capital improvement needs and small real estate purchases, UI spokesman Steve Parrott told the Register.

The Iowa Board of Regents hired the Stolar group, a St. Louis law firm, in July to conduct an independent investigation of the university’s handling of an alleged sexual assault of a female student-athlete Oct. 14, 2007. The review was prompted by the mother of one of the accused, who had sent a letter accusing athletic officials of trying to keep the investigation in-house. The report revealed that the UI failed to turn over the mother’s letters during a previous investigation.

The accused, Abe Satterfield, 20, and Cedric Everson, 19, are still awaiting trial.

Based on the findings in the report issued Sept. 19, UI President Sally Mason fired Phillip Jones, then vice president for student services and dean of students, and Marcus Mills, then vice president for legal affairs and general counsel.

Claiming they never had a chance to dispute the Stolar report’s findings and defend themselves, Jones and Mills plan on challenging their terminations.

“It is very low,” Michael Lewis-Beck, a political science professor and former department chairman, told The Press-Citizen. “She is going to have a hard time governing. Many faculty members have told me they are not going to work with her, not going to serve on her committees. Leaders can only lead if they have followers.”

“As we all know, this has not been a perfect year. The university failed in its handling of this sexual assault and, for that, President Mason bears responsibility,” Regent President David Miles said at a special meeting called by the Iowa state Board of Regents in West Des Moines Thursday. “We urge the public to take from this number a message of accountability for results,” Miles said. “This is not meant to convey dissatisfaction or a limited future for this president,” the Iowa City Press-Citizen reported.

The regents scheduled the meeting to act on the Stolar group’s report about the UI’s handling of a sexual assault case, to conclude Mason’s first-year performance review and to move forward on new policies.

The Regents had hired the St. Louis law firm, the Stolar Partnership, to conduct an independent review of the UI’s response to the alleged sexual assault that took place on campus at the Hillcrest Residence Hall on Oct. 14, 2007. The review found “numerous and substantial flaws in not only the response of the University of Iowa to the alleged sexual assault at issue, but also in its policies, procedures and practices regarding the same.”

Mason’s review had been previously postponed by the regents, thus providing more time for the Stolar group to complete its investigation and present its findings to the board.

Although the regents were satisfied with Mason’s response to her role in the handling of the investigation of the sexual assault, they denied her a raise for this school year, leaving her base pay at $450,000. However, Mason’s salary could see a $50,000 to $80,000 boost this year from performance-based incentives — although the details outlining performance benchmarks have yet to be ironed out.

The meeting provided Mason with an opportunity to publicly respond to the Stolar report, which was released six days ago. “Failing a student who asks for our help is unacceptable. Failing to be transparent and accountable to the Board of Regents, and, ultimately, the people of Iowa, is unacceptable,” Mason said. “Our students and their parents expect more of us. The university community as a whole expects more of us. The citizens of Iowa expect more of us. I expect more of us.

“I offer my apologies to the young woman involved in this case, to her parents, to our community, to our board, and to the citizens of Iowa.”

Although the trial for Cedric Everson and Abeberell Satterfield, the two UI football players charged with second-degree sexual abuse, has yet to begin, Thursday’s meeting indicated the regents and the UI are looking to the future. Mason not only responded to the Stolar report’s findings, but provided specifics on how to address the current system’s failings regarding sexual assault and harassment as well.

Miles echoed Mason’s call for significant change, the Press-Citizen reported. “It is apparent that our current policies are fatally flawed. That we can and will address,” Miles said. “The more significant failings, it seems to me … (are) the failure to place the needs of this student paramount, before rote adherence to policies, before disputes over turf, before the understandable fears of repeating the mistakes of the past, before petty irritations with the alleged victim herself.

“Our policies must change, but even more so, we must provide leadership from the top down, and from the bottom up, so that when a student needs our help, we will be there — consistently, reliably and actively to support him or her.”

Moreover, Mason initiated the healing process at home by releasing the following public statement to the UI Community Thursday:

This has been a difficult week for us all. I made some agonizing decisions in the past few days, and I know those decisions have affected people’s lives. I made those decisions, however, because I lost trust in the judgment of senior staff on whom I depend as I lead this University. At the Board of Regents meeting this morning, I apologized for our failures of process and compassion to the young woman involved in the alleged sexual assault case, to her parents, to our community, to our Board, and to the citizens of Iowa. I also assured our Board that we were moving forward swiftly and decisively in doing what we need to do to restore the faith of the people of Iowa in our institution, to create a culture of respect on our campus, and to make changes that will ensure we handle sexual assault situations with the utmost clarity, integrity, and compassion. I reiterate that apology and those assurances to you, our University community, now.

At the same time, I want you to know that I have the fullest confidence in and utmost admiration for this University community. We have thousands of talented faculty, staff, and students on this campus, and I fully support you in your pursuits and the integrity that you show every day. The University of Iowa is strong because of strong people who achieve excellence with pride and honor. We do have much work to do in restoring the public’s trust in this institution, but the foundation of that trust is your exemplary work. I have the highest faith in this University, its people, and our ability to move forward.

And that is exactly what we must all do now—look forward to what we can and will accomplish. My immediate tasks are in rebuilding. As I focus on rebuilding our policies and procedures on sexual assault that must be models of responsibility, clarity, and integrity, I also join you in continuing to rebuild our campus in the wake of the flood. In both cases, we will come out stronger than we ever have been. I also continue to work on rebuilding our University leadership team. In all of our executive searches—new ones and those that are continuing—we will recruit leaders who know and understand the best practices in their areas of expertise, and who will bring new energy and vision to our University.

We also look forward to many exciting innovations ahead of us in teaching and learning, research and creative endeavor, and service. We have a new strategic planning process and a new capital campaign on the horizon to advance our continuous renewal. We must also continue to dream, to envision our future boldly, to be the best University we can be. This incredible institution has led the world in astonishing ways, and we will not lose sight of our ever-expanding possibilities. Our state and nation place an enormous amount of trust in our educational and research leadership and service. Fulfilling that trust with excellence and integrity is my strongest commitment, and I know it is yours, too.

Sally Mason

President

“Dr. Jones has never been given the opportunity to fully and fairly discuss his position as it relates to the finding in the Stolar report,” the letter from David Dutton and Cheryl Weber at the Dutton, Braun, Staack & Hellman PLC firm states.

Based on recent findings from an independent report chronicling UI’s response to an alleged sexual assault on campus involving two Hawkeye football players, Mason announced the termination of Jones’ and Marcus Mills, UI vice president of legal affairs and general counsel, employment Tuesday.

The Regents hired a St. Louis law firm, the Stolar Partnership, to conduct an independent review of the UI’s response to the alleged sexual assault that took place on campus at the Hillcrest Residence Hall on Oct. 14, 2007. The review found “numerous and substantial flaws in not only the response of the University of Iowa to the alleged sexual assault at issue, but also in its policies, procedures and practices regarding the same.”

Moreover the letter sent by Jones’ attorneys implicates the UI Athletic Department for its handling of the alleged sexual assault:

There is no true understanding form the Stolar Group whether in this case The University of Iowa’s policies allow an informal investigation of a sexual assault. In this case, the Athletic Department proceeded with an informal investigation. This procedure was questioned by Chuck Green, the Public safety Director… In any event, no disciplinary action can be taken based on an informal complaint.

The reason for the Athletic Department’s desire to hide this assault from Dean Jones is based on prior experience. In every instance in the past where an athlete has been accused of sexual assault or sexual harassment and the matter has been handled by Dean Jones, prompt sanctions had been levied by the Dean with student athletes being disciplined. The Athletic Deparstment did not want that result in this case.

Mills, however, claims Mason was aware of how the investigation was being handled, the Press-Citizen reports.

When asked Tuesday if Mason knew what was happening in the investigation, Mills told the Press-Citizen: “Yes, absolutely.”

Feeling the heat from the Regents who put a hold on her performance report, Mason announced the termination of employment of Jones and Mills. Recent findings from an independent report chronicling UI’s response to an alleged sexual assault on campus involving two Hawkeye football players focused the brunt of criticism on Jones and Mills.

The Regents hired a St. Louis law firm, the Stolar Partnership, to conduct an independent review of the UI’s response to the alleged sexual assault that took place on campus at the Hillcrest Residence Hall on Oct. 14, 2007. The review found “numerous and substantial flaws in not only the response of the University of Iowa to the alleged sexual assault at issue, but also in its policies, procedures and practices regarding the same.”

Mason had requested resignations from Jones and Mills earlier this week, but when her requests were declined, she terminated their employment.

Moreover, Mason announced two interim appointments. Carroll J. Reasoner, a shareholder and senior vice president with the Cedar Rapids law firm of Shuttleworth & Ingersoll, will serve as interim vice president of legal affairs and general counsel. Tom Rocklin, UI vice provost, will serve as interim vice president for student services.

“Carroll Reasoner and Tom Rocklin are exemplary leaders, and I am certain that they will help restore confidence in the university,” Mason said in a statement. “I am grateful that they have agreed to serve the university at this critical time.”

Despite the recent firings, Mason is still scheduled to appear Thursday before the Board of Regents to provide specific responses to the recommendations in the Stolar report.

Arthur H. Miller

The final chapter for Arthur H. Miller, the University of Iowa political science professor accused of bribing students for sexual favors in exchange for grades, closed Tuesday with a positive identification of his body.

Using dental records, the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that the body found in Hickory Hill Park on Sunday in Iowa City was indeed that of Miller.

Miller, 66, had been reported missing last Wednesday by his wife and was eventually found in the park by Daniel Hoover, 51, of Marion, who works for the Linn County Underwater Search and Recovery unit, the Press-Citizen reported. Although the search for Miller had been suspended by the Iowa City Police Department Thursday evening, Hoover wanted to give it a shot.

“It was something because of past associations that I thought I could do,” Hoover told the Press-Citizen. “I didn’t think it would bother me if I did find a body, so I thought I would give it a try.”

Miller, who was put on administrative leave by the UI in May as the school and police officials investigated allegations of sexual misconduct, was arrested Aug. 8 and charged with four counts of soliciting a bribe, a class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. He was accused of allegedly offering four of his students better grades if they bared their breasts or let him fondle them.

News of his arrest reportedly led to Miller’s downward spiral, which culminated with his suicide in the park.

With Miller’s death, the criminal case is closed, Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness told the Press-Citizen.

Upon confirmation of Miller’s death, UI President Sally Mason issued a statement Wednesday. “We extend our sympathies to the family, friends, and colleagues of Arthur Miller,” Mason said. “The loss of Professor Miller’s life is very sad news. No one would have wished for such a tragic end to this difficult situation.”