Official statement regarding Raymond Taylor arrest
KENNESAW, Ga. (Dec. 8, 2010) — Raymond Devaughn Taylor, a part-time instructor at
Kennesaw…
Georgia
(Dec 8, 2010) — KENNESAW, Ga. (Dec. 8, 2010) — Raymond Devaughn Taylor, a part-time instructor at Kennesaw State University, was
arrested on Monday, Dec. 6, for allegedly removing all of his clothing while standing
in front of students in the accounting class he taught.
Taylor, 57, of Kennesaw, has been charged with public indecency. Kennesaw State officials
have terminated Taylor’s affiliation with the university, effective immediately. He
will not return to his part-time teaching post, nor have access to the campus.
The alleged classroom incident with Taylor occurred on Tuesday, Nov. 30, between 4:35
and 4:45 p.m., in the final accounting class that he taught for the fall semester.
The incident was reported on Friday, Dec. 3 to Kennesaw State academic officials,
who immediately requested an investigation by the Kennesaw State University police
department.
Taylor was questioned and subsequently arrested by KSU police officers on the afternoon
of Monday, Dec. 6. He was transported to the Cobb County Adult Detention Center (CCADC),
where he was booked and held on the charge of public indecency. On Tuesday, Dec. 7,
Taylor was released from the CCADC on a $5,000 bond.
Kennesaw State University Interim Provost W. Ken Harmon is encouraging any students
who would like to report or talk about the incident to take advantage of university
resources that are available to them.
“Kennesaw State fosters an environment where students are encouraged to report inappropriate
and unethical behavior,” Harmon stated. “Counselors in the Office of Counseling and
Psychological Services are available to students who would like to address this matter. Also,
if there are other aspects of this case which students would like to report, they
should feel free to contact the university’s Department of Public Safety.”
Arlethia Perry-Johnson, KSU’s vice president for external affairs, said student safety
is the university’s highest priority. "Our academic and public safety officials took
this incident very seriously, and everyone involved took swift action to address it,”
Perry-Johnson stated. “Our utmost concern is for the safety and welfare of our students,
and we encourage them to report any incident that makes them feel uncomfortable in
the classroom."
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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers more than 150 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the second-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 126 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.