Protest worry cancels farewell

News Staff Reporter

Concerns over a possible faculty protest have led officials to cancel a farewell reception planned for tonight for Samuel Kirkpatrick, the outgoing president of Eastern Michigan University.

The reception for Kirkpatrick and his wife at the Eagle Crest Golf Club was canceled to avoid any potential disruption, Kathleen Tinney, associate vice president for university relations, said this morning. The Eastern Michigan University Foundation had planned the reception.

"The foundation became aware yesterday that faculty planned to have an alternative event outside the clubhouse that would disrupt the reception," Tinney said. "The foundation wanted to make sure the Kirkpatricks conclude their tenure at the university in a more positive environment rather than in disruption outside the reception."

The cancellation was announced in a brief e-mail message sent late Wednesday to the university community by Tinney. The e-mail didn't explain why the event was being canceled but apologized "for any inconvenience."

The university has been under fire for spending $6 million on University House, built to serve as the president's residence and a place to host fund-raisers.

Kirkpatrick announced June 15 that he would resign effective July 31. EMU has agreed to a departure package that will pay him more than $514,000.

Last week, EMU's faculty union asked Gov. Jennifer Granholm to void the severance package and instead fire Kirkpatrick for just cause.

The faculty uproar was prompted by a state audit, which found that EMU spent $5.3 million to build University House and another $700,000 on related costs, far above the $3.5 million budget approved by the regents.

© 2004 Ann Arbor News. Used with permission