A black pilar that says "How many will be enough" stands in the middle of the University of Arizona Mall one week after the killing of Professor Thomas Meixner on campus. A few days prior university officials held a candlelight vigil where the pilar stands.
Newly released public records show that the University of Arizona and Arizona Board of Regents reached a $2.5 million settlement agreement with the family of UA professor Thomas Meixner, who was killed on-campus in Oct. 2022.
Meixner, along with a student and other faculty, were subject to nearly a year’s worth of alleged harassment and threats by former graduate student Murad Dervish. Reports of these threats were sent to university departments like the Office of General Counsel and the UA Police Department.
In March last year, Meixner’s family filed a $9 million notice of claim against the Arizona Board of Regents, claiming “the university’s utter failure to do even the bare minimum, to ensure safety on its campus, resulted” in the Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences department head’s death.
The settlement also states the Meixner family may not bring forward any future claims against the university related to the shooting.
The university will also establish and fund an endowed professorship named after Meixner in the Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences. Other non-monetary commitments include resources for continuing mental health treatment to HAS faculty, staff and students directly affected by the shooting and a tuition/fee waiver for certain HAS students directly impacted.
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