News
Hocking College Bans Faculty Member
By: Steve Robb - Athens Messenger staff reporter
Posted on:
A 53-year-old faculty member has been banned from the Hocking College campus after allegations surfaced that he might pose a threat to three other faculty members.
On Thursday afternoon, spokeswoman Laura Alloway sent an e-mail to students, faculty and staff alleging that a college employee, currently not teaching, had made "targeted threats against three other Hocking College employees." Although the e-mail did not name the person alleged to have made the threats, it stated that steps were being taken to ban the man from campus and that fliers were being posted around campus. The e-mail and the fliers state that anyone seeing the person on campus should call the Hocking College Police Department.
The fliers include the person's name, picture, his description, the license plate numbers for and pictures of vehicles he uses. The Messenger is not naming the person because Alloway indicated that criminal charges would not be filed, and because The Messenger was unable to reach the man by phone.
County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn said there currently is no evidence of direct threats, thus no basis for charges. He said another party alerted the three faculty members that they may be at risk of physical harm from the individual.
Blackburn said his office's victims' advocate will be assisting the three faculty members if they want to get protection orders against the individual.
Hocking College police made contact with the man and served him notice that he is banned from campus, according to Alloway.
She said his employment status is being reviewed.