Ex-student sues Aurora U.
A former Aurora University student is suing for breach of contract and defamation, saying she was unfairly barred from campus last spring and missed graduation because of a false report of a death threat to an assistant professor.
In her lawsuit, Aurora resident Andrea Kleppe denies she ever made any threats against assistant history professor Jessica Thurlow and seeks damages of more than $50,000, of which $30,000 was spent by Kleppe to enroll in another college to obtain her history degree.
A message left with the university's communications office was not immediately returned Tuesday.
According to the suit, Kleppe argues that she was enrolled in a work study program at the university and was on track for her bachelor's degree in history, but received a D on a course in fall 2009 that she needed to graduate.
An academic adviser thought her work was worthy of a C and Kleppe was scheduled to retake the course, the suit states.
In April 2010, Kleppe was enrolled in a class about British history and assigned to watch the TV series, “The Tudors.” Kleppe watched it and later complained to Thurlow that she believed the show lacked any academic value, according to the lawsuit.
On April 23, Kleppe was called into a meeting with the university president and told she was no longer allowed on the campus or allowed to complete her course work, the suit states.
Kleppe argues in her lawsuit that Thurlow abused her position of power in falsely reporting the death threat — which led to a subsequent search of her home by Aurora police that was an invasion of privacy — and that she never received a hearing before being thrown off campus.
Kleppe was not allowed to attend graduation in May 2010 and instead received her diploma in the mail. Instead of a diploma for a bachelor of arts degree in history, Kleppe received one for “general studies,” a program not offered by the university, the suit states.
“The inability to attend the graduation plaintiff worked so hard for, the visit by Aurora police officers, and the receipt of a diploma that was not in her field of concentration, caused the plaintiff emotional distress so severe that no person could be reasonably expected to endure it,” the suit states.
Peter Storm, who is Kleppe's attorney, could not be reached for comment.
Both sides are due in court on July 14.