AU Public Safety was made aware of Varner s death but could not disclose specifics regarding the case. Officials also declined to comment on whether or not security has been beefed up on AU s campus in response to the killing. This was the second slaying in five months at the nation s only liberal arts school for deaf and hearing-impaired students. The first occurred Sept. 28 when freshman Eric Plunkett was found dead in a room in the same building. A fellow student was arrested and charged in Plunkett s murder in October but the next day, prosecutors dropped the charges.
Police say there is no evidence that links the two killings.
Beginning Sunday at noon, Provost Jane Fernandes and Dean Carl Pramuk met with students, faculty and staff to provide updates on the situation and respond to questions, Jordan said. The campus community will meet today at noon in Elstad Auditorium, he added. While we have always had a safe campus environment, our Department of Safety and Security has instituted additional safety measures, including 100 percent identification checks on everyone entering the campus, Jordan said.