Mark Thompson

Mark Thompson
Sex	M

Mark Thompson was a graying sixtyish man, the President and Chancellor of Southern Michigan University. It was his vision that made SMU uniquely different from all other colleges. He summarised the difference saying: “There are plenty of liberal arts colleges that can prepare students for careers in fast food joints. We prepare serious students for quality careers.” He also believed that “athletics are nothing more than a pimple on the ass of education” so there were neither intra-mural nor inter-collegiate sports teams.

He was a radical student in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and hadn't lost that attitude.^SLH3 He was rabidly anti-gun,^Afterword and because of his experience with police when he'd been a student he was unhappy with armed officers on campus.^SLH6

He offered Susan McMahon an initial twelve month contract to develop four roles at SMU: International Student Coordinator, International Studies Coordinator, Student Relations Coordinator and University Ombudsman.^SLH3 He described her role as his personal utility infielder.^SLH9

In the chaos when Kyle Reed shot up Activities Day, he had Susan fill in for the PR Director and named her Acting Dean of Students when he sacked Charles DeRidder the same day.^SLH33 A few weeks later he asked her to take the Dean of Students job. He also suggested that in ten years she would be ready to be named as his successor in a position like ‘Vice-President for Institutional Affairs’.^SLH39

In the aftermath of the shooting he admitted a need for security on campus and included Cody Archer with Chief Charles Bascomb in the group to develop a plan.^SLH39