Ohio University aviation student John Fry deserves his suspension for making threats and bringing a handgun and a knife on university property.
Particularly in the light of the Virginia Tech shooting, it was right to remove Fry from campus rather than allowing him to endanger students. For that, OU should be applauded, but all the unanswered questions should lessen the volume of the applause. Why did it take so long for something to happen if Fry's actions were that serious? Why wasn't Dennis Irwin, dean of the College of Engineering, given an adequate heads up before the university sent out a press release? And why did OU President Roderick McDavis call a press conference to announce Fry's suspension instead of allowing it to go through the normal University Judiciaries process?
Such questions give rise to speculation about the university's motives. It's entirely possible that McDavis was unaware of the drama surrounding Fry, and when informed, jumped into action. It's also entirely possible that the university was jolted into action when officials learned that the media was about to break the story ' and the subsequent press conference was merely a public relations move to avoid looking reactive and almost lackadaisical. Irwin, in an e-mail to Kathy Krendl, executive vice president and provost, accused the university of a blatant attempt to appear 'heroic' at the expense of several people.
OU students likely will never know what really went on behind the scenes before Fry's climactic suspension. And maybe the ends do justify the means. Maybe it doesn't matter if the university waited to act, because everyone seems to agree that someone with Fry's behavioral problems shouldn't be parading around campus.
But when a university claims to have integrity and to act responsibly, it needs to worry about the means. It owes that much to its students and faculty. Editorials represent the majority opinion of the Post executive editors.
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Decision to suspend John Fry justified; motivation for handling situation unclear
