The Voice

Issue date: 4/23/07 Section: Inside WCC

Media Credit: Chan Park An EMU student walks out of Hill Hall, the dorm where Laura Dickinson lived.

Just after midnight on December 13, EMU student Laura Dickinson got on her computer to check her e-mail. She logged off at 12:21 a.m. It may have been one of the last things she ever did.
Dickinson’s body was found in her dorm room two days later, reported The Ann Arbor News. Washtenaw County Medical Examiner, Dr. Badder Cassin, placed the time of death between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. Now an EMU student stands charged with her rape and murder.
Some EMU students are reacting strongly to the violent incident.
Ben Loe, a freshman who lives in a dorm, has concerns for female students.
“I have a girlfriend who also lives on campus, and it made me more worried for her safety than mine,” said Loe.
“You can tell the security is trying to make a difference, but there are still a lot of places on campus that are not lit,” said sophomore Whitney Thompson. “[I] never want to take that chance when walking to my car.”
Dickinson’s parents assumed her death was the result of a heart condition. The fact that foul play was suspected and a murder investigation was underway was not revealed until Feb. 23 when EMU student Orange Amir Taylor III was arrested.
A crime lab expert testified at the preliminary hearing that Taylor’s semen was found on the victim’s leg, reported The Ann Arbor News. Dickinson was found on her Hill Hall dormitory room floor, with a pillow over her face.
Taylor is currently being held without bail and EMU is facing criticism for not disclosing more information about the case earlier. A public watchdog organization is pursuing legal action against EMU for possible violations of the Clery Act, which federally mandates that colleges inform students about crimes on campus.
Students at EMU have shown concern about how the university released important information around the murders.
“I feel that we should have been notified early on about the details,” said Amanda Miller, a fifth year senior.
“Personally, I think that the university should have divulged more information for people’s safety,” added Bethany Peddie, a junior at EMU and a production assistant at the library.
Taylor’s pre-trial date is set for May 9 at the Washtenaw County Circuit Court, where he will face charges including homicide, sexual assault, and larceny.

ENG 216 News Writing and Reporting students Brian Coburn, Aubrey Fenton, Kelsey Lamkin, Samantha Marson, Kelly Mason, Taryn Meyer, Kawther Mohammed, Helen Nevius, Chan Park, and Ta-Kara Roquemore contributed to this article.

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