Iowa Central president to step down after photo

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By The Associated Press | Thursday, August 28, 2008 3:20 PM CDT | () comments

FORT DODGE, Iowa — Iowa Central Community College may lose its president after a photo of him pouring beer into a young woman's mouth surfaced and raised questions about his conduct.

   Robert Paxton was expected to submit his resignation at a meeting Thursday afternoon of the school's board of trustees.

   Mark Crimmins, the president of the board, told The Messenger in Fort Dodge that he met with Paxton earlier this week and both agreed that he should leave his post at the college.

   Crimmins said Paxton always said he would resign if his presence adversely affected the college and ``he is keeping true to his word.''

   The photo, which was published in The Des Moines Register last Saturday, 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 to the paper unsolicited.

   Crimmins said the board will likely vote at Thursday's meeting on Paxton's resignation and approve a severance package for him.

   A message left at Paxton's office and another message left with the college's public relations office were not immediately returned.

   Another board member, Thomas Chelesvig, said he didn't want to say how other board members were feeling, but his personal opinion is that it would be hard for Paxton to earn back the public's respect if he stayed at the college.

   ``It's not something that's very responsible and it wouldn't be accepted by the average public in that respect,'' he said. ``Even though it was a private outing, he still has and holds a high position that doesn't look good in the public eye.''

   Chelesvig said a severance package would be appropriate in the situation, and he added that he would vote to accept Paxton's resignation.

   ``I think it will be best for the college and for him and everybody involved,'' he said.

   Paxton also was involved in an earlier controversy.

   In 2002, three Iowa Central Community College officials that Paxton oversaw pleaded guilty to record tampering as part of a plea agreement. The school's vice president, athletic direction and football coach received deferred judgments after agreeing to publicly apologize for their actions, perform community service, forfeit two weeks of pay and accept court and school probation.

   In exchange for dropping felony and misdemeanor charges, Paxton signed a statement accepting responsibility for the other employees' actions. He also agreed to policy changes aimed at preventing further problems.