Family of professor killed on campus working with University of Arizona to settle claim
The University of Arizona and the family of a professor killed on campus last year are working to settle the family's multimillion-dollar claim against the university, the two parties announced Thursday.
Thomas Meixner, the head of UA's Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences Department, was shot Oct. 5, 2022, in UA's Harshbarger Building.
In March, Meixner's family filed a $9 million claim against the Arizona Board of Regents, the governing body for Arizona's public universities, alleging a lack of action by UA before Meixner's death.
"The University and the Meixner family look forward to improving the safety and security of all those touched by this killing, as well as doing everything possible," to ensure that "such a tragedy does not strike anyone in the University of Arizona family again," the joint statement said.
The former graduate student who faces a first-degree murder charge in connection with Meixner's death had a well-documented history of violence and intimidation that the university ignored, according to the Meixner family's claim and reports produced after Meixner's death. The former student reportedly had previously threatened several faculty members, including Meixner.
"Dr. Meixner's death was a direct consequence of the danger created by the University of Arizona's failure to appropriately respond to ... repeated harassment, intimidation, and violent threats," the claim stated.
After the shooting: Report slams UA handling of threats before professor's death
A report published by the university's Faculty Senate backed up these claims through interviews with witnesses, students, faculty and university staff. The Faculty Senate found the university failed to implement an effective risk management system to keep people on campus safe.
Another report, compiled by a consultant hired by the university, offered 33 recommendations for improving security.
Since Meixner's death, UA has been working to implement recommendations from the consultant, including more locks on doors, safety posters in classrooms, and creating a more centralized emergency response system and efficient alert system.
In 2002, a former UA student shot three faculty members from the College of Nursing and himself.
Reach the reporter at sarah.lapidus@gannett.com.
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