UNIVERSITY OF AKRON SUED OVER STUDENT'S SUICIDE

Akron - The family of a graduate student who committed suicide last
year filed a $25,000 wrongful death lawsuit Thursday against the
University of Akron.

The family also plans to file a federal civil rights violation lawsuit
against the university on Friday, said lawyer Edward Gilbert, who
represents the family.

The wrongful death lawsuit filed in the Court of Claims in Columbus
contends that there is a direct correlation between Charles Plinton's
death and the university's action against him.

Plinton was arrested and charged with selling marijuana to an
undercover drug informant living on campus. A jury acquitted him in
2004, but the university suspended him for a semester. He committed
suicide in December 2005.

The lawsuit comes a day after the university released 40
recommendations by a committee charged with reviewing student
discipline and law enforcement policies on campus.

"The idea of the committee grew out of the concerns we heard from
students, faculty and members of the community," university spokesman
Paul Herold said.

Among the recommendations are the appointment of an independent
hearing officer and the creation of two categories for violations:
academic misconduct/minor misconduct and felony/misdemeanor misconduct.

The committee also recommended that the use of informants on campus
"be undertaken with extreme caution and only in rare
circumstances."

"We intend to move forward with all of the recommendations, but it
will take some time," Herold said.