An Iowa community college president resigned less than a week after a photo was published appearing to show him pouring beer into a young woman’s mouth.
The school’s board of trustees on Thursday unanimously approved Robert Paxton’s resignation. It also approved a severance package that officials said was valued at about $400,000.
Mark Crimmins, the president of the board, said although the incident happened in Paxton’s private life, “it reflected poorly on the college.”
“Based on our discussions, it was determined that it probably would be in Dr. Paxton’s best interest and the college’s best interest that he resign as president,” Crimmins said.
The photo, which was published Saturday in The Des Moines Register, shows Paxton with a group of young people on a boat. He is holding a small keg above a young woman’s head. The Register said the photo was taken over the Fourth of July weekend at Lake Okoboji and sent to the paper unsolicited.
A message left at Paxton’s office wasn’t immediately returned Thursday. He previously defended the photograph, saying the keg shown was broken and wasn’t dispensing beer.
Discussion Starters
1.) Was Robert Paxton simply fostering positive student relations by joining those over whom he had collegiate authority?
2.) Should those who make irresponsible decisions be granted severance pay when they resign from their positions?
3.) How do you balance being approachable with being an authority figure in the lives of those to whom you minister?
