Most people connected to Ball State have felt the effect of the Michael McKinney and Karl Harford deaths and the "Police Yourself" ad campaign during the past year, but no one knows more so than Dean of Students Randy Hyman.
In recent months, Hyman fulfilled the unenviable duty of being the first person from the university to contact families of students who died. He also was the one to respond to concerns from students at two open forums who say the university is "attacking its students" with the ad campaign. But friends and family say the patience he has brought to Ball State since 1990 has helped him see the university through a tough time.
Hyman sometimes appeared stressed while he taught his graduate course on administration, though he never openly complained about the rigors of his job. He even had to take phone calls from grieving family members during class.
"He's a very compassionate person, and he takes his job very personally," Cassie Greer, a graduate student, said. "Those are the types of things you could see in his face during those hard days.
"It didn't ever affect his teaching, but you could tell he was worn out with everything that had happened during the student tragedies."
A father of three, Hyman stood by the city of Muncie's police crackdown on underage drinking and the basis behind the university's ad campaign, saying he would expect his children to realize the consequences of their actions had one of them been cited at the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity party April 4.
"I would have reminded whichever child would have been busted that they are well aware, as any of our students at the university, of state law and local rules and ordinances and the code of student rights and responsibilities," he said. "I'd certainly support them but remind them that the consequences of the choices they make are the same as for anybody else."
Hyman felt many students had negative reactions to the campaign initially because of confusion about the timing of the city's initiative to launch the crackdown, in response to pleas from neighborhood leaders to curb vandalism, trash and noise pollution and Ball State's initiative to launch the ad campaign.
"There isn't a strong tie between the crackdown and the 'Police Yourself' campaign other than timing," he said. "The 'Police Yourself' campaign was something the university had looked at doing, not totally in response to the tragedies that have occurred this year but looking at what could be the underlying common denominators that surround all these tragedies. Our efforts are complementing the work of the city."
Despite the nagging problems Hyman has encountered and the intense media scrutiny the student tragedies received, Muncie Mayor Dan Canan said he has never observed any resemblance of weariness or frustration in his professional dealings with Hyman.
"I think he's very patient, very calm," Canan said. "In the years I've dealt with Randy Hyman, I've never seen him lose his composure."
There might be no simple way to address the concerns of students during such spontaneous gatherings, but Hyman said public forums serve an important role because they allow him the chance to speak with students and explain to them face-to-face why the university has taken the actions it has.
"It's important to show up and to be visible," he said. "I see the forums as opportunities to help clarify, dispel myths and rumors, and provide accurate information."
Amidst the trials and tribulations he has experienced this year, those close to Hyman say he has maintained an uncanny sense of grace and has been able to keep his composure through all the awkward moments.
"He's better at it than I am," Doug McConkey, vice president of Student Affairs, said. "He has been a really steady person through all of this. I give him credit for that because there's been a lot going on."
"He's done very well dealing with it," Robi Hyman, Randy Hyman's wife of 25 years. 'He's tired and worn out, but at the same time, he just takes it all in stride and does it."
While it has been a challenge to address all the questions and issues that have arisen from the tragedies, Hyman said he has received more support from students and alumni than negative feedback, which reassures him that what he is doing is worthwhile.
"Whether it's letters I've received or feedback at forums," Hyman said, "you would be absolutely amazed at the number of e-mails and commentaries I've received from students and faculty expressing appreciation, not so much to me, but telling me how much they appreciate all that we've done this year to respond to the variety of tragedies.
"That's the sort of thing that motivates me and reinforces my own dedication to the work I do."
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