The president of Franklin College was fired this weekend after being arrested Jan. 6 in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin for a sex crime involving a minor.
Former President Thomas Minar was taken into custody Jan. 6 in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, for allegedly using a computer to facilitate a sex crime, child enticement and exposing a child to harmful materials/narrations, according to a press release from Franklin College and an email from Door County District Attorney Colleen Nordin.
He was released from custody on bond. His release is based on the condition that he doesn't use social media and doesn't having unsupervised, direct contact with minors.
Minar announced in June 2019 he would step down as president effective June 30, 2020.
This is the first incident the college’s Board of Trustees Executive Committee has been made aware of regarding Minar, according to the press release. Board members said they felt it was essential to sever his relationship with the college.
“The safety of our campus community – especially our students – is always our first priority,” Board of Trustees Chair Jim Due said in a statement sent to the Indiana Daily Student. “We are deeply shocked and gravely concerned by the reported behavior of Minar that led to his arrest in Wisconsin, and we will continue to cooperate fully with authorities.”
The college launched a separate investigation into Minar’s conduct while he served as president, according to the press release. The college is also providing additional resources for students to confidentially report incidents of inappropriate behavior.
The Franklin College Board of Trustees appointed Kerry Prather acting president of the college, according to a press release from the college. Prather has previously been the athletics director and head men's basketball coach. He has served Franklin College for 37 years.
The search for the next president of the college is ongoing.
This story was updated at 12:20 p.m. Jan. 15 to include information about Franklin College's new acting president.
