Investigators clear UNC of wrongdoing

GREELEY - University of Northern Colorado faculty did address complaints lodged against a former UNC theater teacher who is now charged with sexual misconduct, according to Mountain States Employers Council.
- UNC releases details of Fulkerson investigation
- Complete review of the School of Theatre Arts and Dance Environment

UNC hired Mountain States as independent investigators following Fulkerson's arrest.

The 63-year-old is accused of secretly videotaping young men using his home toilet.

The investigators were asked to look into accusations that the university failed on several occasions to address student complaints about Fulkerson and his alleged inappropriate behavior.

Some of those complaints date back to the early '90s.

"It appears earlier complaints about Professor Fulkerson were investigated and addressed by the School of Theatre Arts and Dance leadership (TAD) and that several of the TAD deans were not hesitant to take action," read the investigators' report, which was released Monday.

Investigators based their findings partly on interviews with faculty members and former students.

Neither the investigators nor the university revealed what specific action was taken saying it was a personnel matter.

The report claims the perception that no action was taken came from the administrators failure to let those who complained know there was any resolution.

UNC President Kay Norton appeared pleased with the report's findings.

"It's always possible that in hindsight an action that was taken wasn't perhaps the ideal, however, there's no indication that at the time the action was taken that it was inappropriate or inadequate," Norton said.

But former UNC student Lance Ohnstad, who claims he filed a complaint in the early '90s, calls the report a lie.

"It's very convenient for them, but that was the route that they were going to go from the beginning," Ohnstad said.

The report also criticized the theater department as a whole saying there is a general misunderstanding of several significant policies.

It also chastised faculty members for their tendency to get too close to students outside the classroom.

Norton has yet to decide whether the university will issue an apology to students who complained for the school's failure to follow up with them.

As for Fulkerson, he resigned his post in September and is charged with 15 counts of sexual misconduct.

Monday, Fulkerson appeared in court for a scheduled appearance.

At the hearing, Fulkerson's lawyer, Alexander Garlin, said plea deal negotiations were ongoing.

The preliminary hearing was scheduled for January 4 at 3 pm.