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THE VOLUME 90 | ISSUE VII
October 24 2016
ANCHOR
© The Anchor 2016
RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE, MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016
Administration Crowds turn tight lipped on embezzlement scandal out for grad school fair TAYLOR DAME
News Editor
A
dministrators have declined to give further detail about the ongoing investigation into the head of the Theatre Department Dr. James Taylor for allegedly embezzling over $60,000 from the school.
In a short media statement provided to The Anchor by the Associate Director of Communications in the Office of the President, it was said that the ongoing investigation and the college’s human resources policies prevent them from disclosing additional details. The official statement included the admission that, “there were recent irregularities not compliant
with standard RIC fiscal practices and procedures that, in more than one instance, involved a specific faculty member.” According to a state police press release, the college filed a complaint with the Financial Crimes Unit regarding suspicious checks.
The state police investigated and said that Dr. Taylor made multiple requests for checks from the accounting department at the college. They went on to state, “review of Dr. Taylor’s bank records showed that 38 checks had been deposited into his personal bank account and that the money had been used for his own personal gain.” Dr. Taylor had requested that the checks be made payable to various businesses; none of them were made out
directly to him.
Dr. Taylor has been on leave since the beginning of the semester, reportedly due to the death of a family member over the summer. The college says that it is cooperating fully with the state police and, “out of an abundance of caution, the faculty member has been suspended with pay.”
Dr. Taylor was arraigned in Sixth Division District Court and was released on $10,000 personal recognizance. He is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 12, 2017 for a pre-arraignment conference. He is being charged with obtaining money under false pretenses over $1,500. The charges carries a punishment of up to a 10 year prison sentence and a fine up to $5,000.
Political speechwriters speak up
ANGELINA DENOMME
T
Opinions Editor
he annual Graduate School Fair, hosted by The Career Development Center, went off without a hitch last Wednesday, Oct. 19. As students trickled into the Student Union Ballroom, they signed in, picked up informational materials and proceeded through the maze of booths manned by welcoming college recruiters. A total of 51 schools from all over New England attended the fair, in addition to Rhode Island College’s own School of Management, School of Nursing and School of Social Work. Throughout the two hour event, almost 200 students attended and engaged with recruiters at the fair.
after graduation. The majority of students left with handfuls of pamphlets and what appeared to be a better idea of what they were looking for in a graduate school program. For the students who didn’t leave with a plan for their post graduation future they still received armfuls of goodies from recruiters, ranging from the traditional stationary set to external cellphone battery packs. Recruiters were both knowledgeable and more than willing to speak to each student who approached them about their institutions’ program offerings, as well as how such programs would best fit each student’s plan of study. As the fair began to wind down, students continued to sign in through the last few minutes when recruiters began to close up their booths. As the recruiters were leaving, some
Attendees were not simply seniors looking to apply DERRIK TROMBLEY LOUISA D’OVIDIO to a graduate program but Editor-in-Chief Anchor Staff also freshman, sophomores and juniors who were The art of speechwriting Senior Advisor in the Office NBC10 reporter Katie Davis. seeking information about was illuminated last Monday of Communications for Good speech writing was the possibilities that exist in a panel presented by NASA and who previously described by all as knowing CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 The American Democracy had written speeches for how their principal thinks, Project called Political Martin O’Malley the former knowing the message and the Speechwriting. The Maryland Governor and audience, and understanding panelists, who called words 2016 Democratic candidate the speech in the long view their “brick and mortar,” all for President; Parag Mehta, of history. have storied careers in public the Chief of Staff to the Peri described her job in the and political speechwriting. US Surgeon General who West Wing as unpredictable The four panelists included previously had worked and speechwriters as Michael E. Smith, a former on Howard Dean’s 2004 “defenders of the English Campaign; speechwriter for the President Presidential Sarada Peri, Special Assistant language as it is spoken.” of RIC and the former “Our job requires Special Assistant to the to the President and Senior building, Governor of Rhode Island, Presidential Speechwriter to relationship the President of the United diplomacy, a strong stomach, for whom he wrote numerous States, Barack Obama. This kindness and graciousness, important addresses and speeches; Steve Rabin, panel was overseen and CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 Phil Ashkar and Ed Lyons - photo by Matt Toyota who currently serves as a moderated by award-winning
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