'Talk to me,' EMU's Willis says

News Staff Reporter

So many rumors of wrongdoing continue to circulate on the campus of Eastern Michigan University that Craig Willis, the new interim president, on Tuesday said he would appeal to university employees to come forward if they have information.

Willis, speaking at his first regents meeting since being appointed to replace Samuel Kirkpatrick, offered anonymity to anyone who knows of something that needs to be investigated. Willis took over as president in August.

Kirkpatrick left in the wake of months of campus and community complaints about a new president's residence and meeting center, called University House, that opened last summer. An Ann Arbor News investigation documented, and a state audit confirmed, that the facility cost more than $5 million, well above the $3.5 million cost the university maintained before, during and after construction. Although Kirkpatrick and university officials said that his departure was not tied to the University House controversy, many critics said Kirkpatrick and the regents misled the public about the cost of the project.

Willis said Tuesday he continues to hear complaints that there is more to the University House story and that other problems with university business have not been reported publicly. He said he will send out an e-mail to all EMU employees asking them to come forward if they have evidence of wrongdoing.

"There will be no reprisals," he said. "Too many people are saying there is stuff out there. If there is, we need to know. But I'm asking for evidence. I want to stay away from gossip."

Willis' comments came as the university announced that the search for a new president will be directed by two university regents and a committee of faculty, staff and, possibly, community members.

Regents Jan Brandon and Steven Gordon will head the presidential search and will be in charge of hiring a search firm, said Philip Incarnati, chairman of the Board of Regents.

Incarnati, who was in charge of the search when Kirkpatrick was hired more than four years ago, has been the target of criticism since Kirkpatrick left in July. The faculty union has asked Gov. Jennifer Granholm to replace Incarnati. The governor's office is reviewing the University House issue along with Kirkpatrick's resignation agreement, worth more than $500,000.

Incarnati said the board wanted a "more grass-roots" search this time around, and that he did not have the time to head the search. "Anyway, we have two very capable people who have the time to commit, who volunteered to do this," Incarnati said.

A search firm will be hired in the next several weeks, Brandon said. Once that's done, Brandon and Gordon will select members for the search committee, which will include representatives from across campus such as faculty, students and staff, and possibly the community, Brandon said. The size of the committee will be limited to about 10 people, she said. "The goal is to represent all constituencies but still have a size that can function."

Brandon said she wanted the university community informed about the search. A Web site - www.emich.edu/presidentialsearch - has been established, she said.

The committee will eventually recommend three or four candidates to the regents, who ultimately make the decision. Brandon said she hopes to have a new president on board by September 2005.

Anger over University House and Kirkpatrick's resignation package continued Tuesday. Daniel Hunter, an Ypsilanti attorney and EMU alumnus, Tuesday called on the regents to resign.

"If you insist on remaining in office, you will only bring more harm to the university," Hunter said. "To become embroiled in a dispute with the governor for the sole purpose of satisfying your egos is irresponsible."

Student Aaron Deakins said students are still angry over money spent on the president's house and the costs of Kirkpatrick's resignation, and also said that regents need to resign "to eradicate the stain they have left on this university." Deakins held a rally before the regents meeting to encourage students to get involved in university issues, but got only a small group.

Robert Murkowski, vice president of Student Government at EMU, told regents it's time to mend fences and move on. "With a new face to the university in President Willis, it is a new day. It is now time to move forward," Murkowski said.

EMU's original $3.5 million cost didn't include the cost of the land, landscaping, a commercial kitchen and other work. The state audit said the house and grounds cost $5.3 million, plus another $700,000 for related costs such as an internal audit. Although EMU officials had said they didn't use any state or tuition dollars, the state audit showed that state and tuition money was used.

Janet Miller can be reached at jmiller@annarbornews.com or

(734) 994-6827.

© 2004 Ann Arbor News. Used with permission