Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 12, 1995 TAG: 9504120073
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
The board of visitors was scheduled to meet Tuesday afternoon to hear allegations lodged by Carole Spencer, assistant to the vice president for academic affairs. But the meeting was canceled when only three of the 11 board members showed up by the 5 p.m. start time.
Rector Bernard Wampler referred the matter to the nine-member Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee, chaired by Alastair Harris, chairman of the psychology department. Wampler directed the committee to return a recommendation to the board by its May 5 meeting.
The allegations were not specified Tuesday afternoon, and Spencer declined to comment as she left the board room after Wampler's decision. But according to a letter to Wampler from her attorney, Spencer alleges that Owens "verbally, mentally and physically abused her" while he was her immediate supervisor in 1993 and 1994.
Owens was appointed acting president last June when Donald Dedmon stepped down. Douglas Covington, president of Cheyney State University in Pennsylvania, becomes Radford's president in June.
Owens declined to comment Tuesday evening, saying he was not aware of the extent of the allegations. He said he has hired an attorney.
Wampler appeared perturbed that only two other board members, Ginger Mumpower and Nancy Wilson, attended the special meeting he had called by letter of March 30.
"Nobody on the board notified me that they would not be here," Wampler said.
"That's their choice. I don't criticize them ... They know it's a pressing issue," he said.
Debbie Brown, a university spokeswoman, said the other members had notified the board's clerk they would be unable to attend.
by CNB