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Dan Rather made a name for CBS... Which under his watch now stands for Can't Be Substantiated. Unfortunately, this is not quite the end to Dan. However, he has what in the sports vernacular is called a career ending injury.

By the way, how in the world is someone who can't tell time without a teleprompter going to be an investigative reporter? Will Mary Mapes be joining him? Enjoy the bench Danny!

Regardless of the student pressing charges, everyone reading this should contact the college and let the faculty and administration know how they feel about the campaign for Spero to get her job back.

I vote NO.

Fort Lewis College Faculty want Maria Spero back!!!
The Durango Herald Online ^ | 11-6-04 | Mary Ann Lopez


Posted on 11/12/2004 9:49:33 PM PST by Trainer_D


November 6, 2004

FLC faculty ask Bartel to reconsider By Mary Ann Lopez Herald Staff Writer

The Fort Lewis College Faculty Senate passed a resolution this week seeking the reinstatement of part-time employee Maria Spero, who resigned after an off-campus incident involving a student.

Bartel

Tina Evans, Faculty Senate president, would not comment on the resolution adopted Wednesday except to say: "We are not as a faculty completely at odds with (xollege president) Dr. Bartel. We are in dialogue with him on this issue and just offering discussion.

"The faculty resolution in no way condones physical violence to anybody," Evans said.

According to college officials, Spero offered to resign after Mark O'Donnell, senior finance major, alleged that Spero kicked him in the calf during an off-campus incident that took place on Oct. 21 at Gazpacho New Mexican Restaurant. College President Brad Bartel accepted Spero's resignation Monday.

Bartel asked for an investigation into the incident on Oct. 28, and Spero and O'Donnell were individually interviewed.

When asked directly if college officials asked Spero to resign, David Eppich, assistant to the president for external affairs, said that the college stands by its previous statement: Spero offered her resignation at the time of the investigation, and Bartel later accepted it on Nov. 1.

Spero signed a letter of apology, admitting that she had kicked O'Donnell. The incident allegedly began when O'Donnell was dining with friends and modeled a new Fort Lewis College Republicans sweatshirt with the phrase, "Join us now … or work for us later." O'Donnell said some people at a nearby table, which included Spero, asked to see the sweatshirt.

Spero began working part time at the college in May 1993, working in the extended studies and modern languages departments, Eppich said.

A message left at Spero's home was not returned Friday. Previous messages left at Spero's home and office also have not been returned.

Bartel attended the Faculty Senate meeting for about an hour, before he left to attend another meeting, Eppich said. The resolution was approved after Bartel left the meeting, Eppich said. College officials had not received a copy of the faculty's resolution Friday morning, he said.

"If and when the resolution comes to the president, he will take it under advisement," Eppich said.

Reach Staff WriterMary Ann Lopez here .