Mark Tatge, the investigative reporting journalism professor who prompted action by university administrators after he used a current student's public arrest record as an example in his class, won't be disciplined.
Vice President for Academic Affairs David Harvey dismissed his informal query late last week after "collecting information" for about two weeks. Harvey declined to comment for this story, expressing that "personnel matters considered confidential" in an email he sent while off campus this week for a conference.
The Pulliam Distinguished Visiting Professor of Journalism was also brief on the matter.
"Thankfully common sense prevailed," Tatge said. "I consider the matter now closed."
The controversy started two weeks ago in an Investigative Reporting Techniques class, which teaches journalism students how to access public information, when Tatge passed out a 17-page packet detailing the student's Jan. 27 arrest. Within the day, the student's parents contacted Cindy Babington, vice president for student life. One of her sorority sisters contacted Babington not long after.
Harvey then began his query of students in the class. Babington called the students to invite them to a meeting with Harvey on Saturday morning. President Brian Casey changed his flight schedule to meet with the student's family on Sunday.
Other administrators have been careful in addressing the subject since its close.
Babington, who removed herself from the investigation early on to work closely with the student's family, said she didn't have anything to add to the conversation.
"The conversation felt difficult," Casey said. "But the fact that an institution like DePauw had a difficult discussion is not in and of itself a reason to be concerned."
During last week's faculty meeting, Andrew Hayes, a theater and communications professor, asked Casey if there would be any public forums among the students or faculty.
He has since had a brief meeting with Casey about the possibility of a forum, which has not been announced. Casey noted that he has had conversations about this issue with over three dozen faculty members and many students over the past weeks.
Casey wouldn't comment directly on the investigation's dismissal, but he thought the conversation was "absolutely" productive.
"What you hope is that there was a meaningful resolution," Casey said. "And I think we had that."