University of Michigan action raises questions

The University of Michigan last week postponed admitting Daniel Granger, who is accused of committing statutory rape. Granger, 18, and three of his friends allegedly had sex with three 14-year-old girls in December and January. Michigan's minimum age for consent is 16.

Although Granger had already been admitted in Ann Arbor, Mich., he received a letter Sept. 1 deferring his enrollment.

The letter from the University of Michigan stated that Granger "may have engaged in activities which call into serious question whether or not [his] matriculation ... poses a threat to the safety and welfare of other students."

Because the University of Arizona is a government institution, it operates under similar rules that allow officials to deny admission to applicants who pose an imminent danger to the university community.

"The university could deny admission to someone under appropriate circumstances," said UA attorney Thomas Thompson. "We don't normally discipline people for things that happen off campus, but if the person presents a danger, we probably wouldn't admit them."

But the UA is limited to where it can obtain in-formation on prospective students, Thompson said.

"We don't do a significant background check except for academic records," he said. "The media, the community or the students would have to bring it to our attention."

Thompson said the UA has no structured guidelines for determining what is considered a "clear and present danger." If a case was brought to the attention of university officials, they have to look at the nature and facts of the crime, he said.

The UA's Code of Conduct prohibits off-campus "phy-sical assault or violence which may present a clear and present danger to the safety of the university or members of the university community."

Lori Goldman, UA's associate director of admiss-ions, said it is "probably not impossible" for someone who committed rape or murder to be accepted to the UA.

"If you meet the qualifications as an in-state applicant and follow all the rules, you will be admitted," Goldman said.

Agreeing with Goldman, Thompson said it could be problematic to bar ex-criminals from the UA.

"It would be difficult if someone had served their time to deny admission solely on that," Thompson said.

Neither Goldman or Thompson knew of a time when the UA rescinded a student's admission for criminal charges.

Granger's attorney, William Bufalino II, said Friday that "Michigan is forgetting about the presumption of innocence," but that Granger will not fight the decision. He will go on trial Oct. 14 to fight charges of third-degree criminal sexual misconduct.

The letter to Granger also stated the University of Michigan may allow him to begin class winter term, pending admissions review.

The UM's provost office and the UM news and information department refused comment.

Anthony C. Braza can be reached via e-mail at Anthony.C.Braza@wildcat.arizona.edu.