Provost Morris’ Home Window Broken by Bullet

By Ryan Simonovich

A window at Fort Lewis College Provost Barbara Morris’ house in Durango was broken on Feb. 13 by a gunshot during an incident that may be motivated by tense budgetary discussions at the college.

The window was broken by a shot from either a small gun or air pellet gun, Morris said in an email The Independent sent seeking comment.

The incident was isolated with no other reports of similar activity in the area, the email said. Morris’ house is blocked by a large tree, so she said she believes the act was intentional.  

Morris said she noticed the broken window after she finished working in her garage Tuesday night. She said she did not notice the broken window earlier that day.

The window is double paned, and only the outside pane is damaged, according to a police report filed with the Durango Police Department.  

Morris does not suspect anybody in particular, according to the police report.

Morris said in the email that her front and back windows were also broken in December 2013 when Fort Lewis College first announced the four- to three-credit-hour change.

She suspected disgruntled former employees for the broken windows in 2013, according to the police report.  

The incident was brought up at the FLC Faculty Senate meeting on Feb. 15 when discussing a resolution regarding intimidation and inappropriate actions between faculty.

“It’s really, really disturbing,” Ryan Smith, assistant professor of physics and engineerings said. “I have to admit I’m feeling very shaken right now. I’m feeling very threatened and shaken and just really disappointed in what’s happening around us.”

The FLC Faculty Senate unanimously approved the resolution.

“The Senate Executive Committee condemns any action that seeks to intimidate other colleagues on the Fort Lewis College campus,” the resolution said.    

A similar resolution was passed by the Faculty Senate in 2013, David Blake, Faculty Senate president, said.