Oracle The
MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2013
HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY
VOLUME 15, ISSUE 25
Campus reacts to internet stalking arrest Stephanie Hartman News Editor
Henderson staff and students are in disbelief after a student was arrested by the Pike County Sheriff’s Office last week. Shaun Mauldin, a 31-year old pre-baccalaureate mass media major, was arrested on Saturday, March 30, under charges of Internet stalking of a child after he agreed to meet up with a 14-year-old girl in Murfreesboro. It all began on March 26, when Mauldin messaged the young girl on a social media site asking for her age and location. Unbeknownst to Mauldin, the 14-year-old girl was actually Detective Jason McDonald, who was acting undercover at the time. Over the course of the next four days, Mauldin turned innocent conversation into inappropriate gestures towards the detective, whom he believed to be the 14-year-old child. Mauldin agreed to meet up with the child in Murfreesboro with a pack of condoms and a blanket. He had planned to take the child to his deer camp in Dierks. Instead, he was apprehended by police at the Murfreesboro City Park and booked into the Pike County Detention Center under a $100,000 bond. For most students on campus, it came as a complete shock. Mauldin had already graduated with one bachelors degree from Henderson and was in the process of getting a second. Mauldin was a recognized face around campus, especially in the mass media department. He was a contributor to both the Oracle newspaper and the
campus radio station, 99.9 The Pulse. He was also an RA in Newberry hall. “He was a diehard Reddie,” said Dan Mabery, the assistant vice president of student affairs. “He was employed with us for a very short period of time, but during that time frame, he did his job well.” Although he kept a dedicated and school spirited demeanor with most, some students on campus had a very different experience with Mauldin. One such student was Courtney Kemp, a senior communication major. Kemp met Mauldin in a mass media class. They agreed to become business connections due to their involvement with the same career field. Over time, Mauldin began attempting to take their business relationship to an inappropriately personal level. “He said that he thought we would be a good match,” Kemp said. “It kind of creeped me out because I am only 21. I told him that I didn’t want to talk to him and that I didn’t think it was appropriate. I had a boyfriend at the time.” It didn’t end there for Kemp. She also felt uncomfortable in classes that she shared with him. According to Kemp, she would catch Mauldin staring at her in the classes that they shared. “He would sit straight across from me and he would stare at me, which I thought was really creepy,” Kemp said. Unfortunately, Kemp wasn’t the only one affected by Mauldin in this manner. Emily Bell, sophomore family and consumer sciences major, had a similar encounter with him throughout the duration of last semester.
Bell first began interacting with Mauldin when he expressed an interest in the way that the marketing and sales worked for the school radio station, where Bell works. “I just wanted to talk about work because I thought that’s what we were there for,” Bell said. “Maybe the first conversation was about work, but after that, he began to tell me how good I looked, which was inappropriate.” Over time, Bell began receiving very persistent text messages and Facebook messages from Mauldin discussing his desire for a committed relationship, at one point even saying that although he was 31, he wouldn’t mind being with a 19-year-old girl. At that point, Bell’s boyfriend proceeded to politely message Mauldin letting him know that Bell was not single. Mauldin responded by continuing to message her, asking her to introduce him to other 19-year-old women. After Bell refused to do that, Mauldin then returned his focus to her. “I would be in the Caddo and I wouldn’t know where he was at, and he would text me out of the blue saying how gorgeous I looked,” Bell said. “I started getting really scared when I’d be alone places and he would text me saying that he could see me.” Another story dates back to when Mauldin was at Henderson pursuing his first degree. KelleyJean Sweet, senior English major, also had a very uncomfortable experience with Mauldin during her freshman year at Henderson. Sweet originally met him while she was working in the library.
The Henderson School of Business leads to many opportunities beyond the classroom, making it no surprise that a nation-wide search for the new business dean was conducted. The newly appointed Brenda Ponsford was brought to Henderson, among four others out of the nation to be interviewed, and was chosen for the title. “I know she will provide some very strong leadership for the business school,” Louis Dawkins, interim business dean, said. Ponsford will be replacing Dawkins, who played a vital role in Henderson’s school of Photo by Ryan Klare business achievement of AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) this year. This is the highest achievement for business schools worldwide. Henderson GIVE ‘EM SOMETHIN’ TO TACO ‘BOUT is among the six percent of schools in the United States to Jairus Sanders enjoys a taco at the “Tacos for Texts” event last be awarded this. Thursday. Students in Henderson’s League of Latinos have hosted this event for two years. Students prepare authentic taAACSB was established in cos complete with pico de gallo and salsa. The assembly line 1916 and accredits business started with a cash station that handed out children’s book school programs for achievethemed tickets. These were used to redeem the tacos at the ment of the highest standard end of the line. Jacob Flores entertained the crowd on a stage in management education while dressed in his father’s authentic mariachi attire. All prothrough a commitment to qualceeds go to buy new children’s books for local latino children. ity and continuous improve-
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Shaun Mauldin was arrested after setting up a rendezvous with what he thought was a 14-year-old girl. “I noticed him around several times, but I never noticed that he was watching me until he pointed it out,” Sweet said. “He sent me a message on Facebook telling me that he had seen me shelving books in the library and he thought I looked cute.” Mauldin then began to point out to Sweet specific things that she had done when she was unaware she was being watched. That was when she realized that he had been watching her over the course of several days. “I told him not to message me anymore and that I thought that maybe if he had spoken to me during the first time that it had happened, I might have been more willing to talk to him,” Sweet said. “ But because of the way he came off, I really would be more comfortable if he just left me alone.” Immediately after, Sweet blocked him on Facebook so he could no longer message her
through social media. Mauldin responded by looking up Sweet on the Henderson student directory to find her email, and he contacted her that way. At one point, Mauldin even went into her work and asked Sweet’s boss for a copy of her work schedule. Throughout the years, Mauldin has proven that these behaviors are a pattern, but unfortunately, no official reports were filed with the campus police. “Anyone that has complaints are more than welcome to come forward to the campus police and file a report at any time,” said Johnny Campbell, chief of campus police. Mauldin is currently being charged with Internet stalking of a child. If convicted, Mauldin could face jail time and would be required to register as a sex offender. The investigation is still ongoing.
ment. As part of its ongoing evaluation process, an AACSB peer review team visited the Henderson School of Business in October 2012. The team recommended reaffirmation of accreditation, and the AACSB Board of Directors ratified this. Dawkins has no doubts about Ponsford being successful. “She will fill my shoes, and more,” Dawkins said. Ponsford feels privileged to become a part of this successful program. She is currently the MBA director and chair of Clarion University of Pennsylvania’s marketing department. She has been at Clarion since 2002 and chair of the department since 2005. In 1982, Ponsford earned her Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Business in 1984. She earned her Ph.D. in Business Administration in 1993, all from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Ponsford also received a doctorate with honors from Concord University School of Law. To add to her prestige, now with a master’s degree, Ponsford then went on to teach at Radford University in the marketing department. From there she worked at Virginia
Polytechnic again as marketing instructor and a graduate assistant. She also taught marketing at Seton Hall University before joining the University of San Diego in 1990 as an assistant professor of marketing. During a summer term of 1996, Ponsford served as a visiting professor at the Institute of Business and Economics, The Academy of National Economy, in Moscow, Russia. She has a successful fund-raising record and has experience with AACSB and Middle States accreditation, which will be beneficial here at Henderson. To add to this extensive list, she was an associate professor of marketing at Sonoma State from 1994 to 2000. Ponsford then served as an adjunct faculty in business at Edinboro University, and Morgan State University. She was a scholarin-residence at Thiel College from 2000 to 2002. Along with participating in conferences and seminars, serving as a session panelist, session chair and track chair, Ponsford has published many journal articles and has served as an editor of journals. Ponsford will claim the title before the fall. Her position will be effective July 1.
New dean in the school of business Sarah Williams Staff Writer
Taco sale provides local students new books
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Photo courtesy of Pike County Sheriff