ISU rehires fired grounds worker
NORMAL, Ill. - A former Illinois State University worker who was fired after an incident involving ex-ISU President Timothy Flanagan has been rehired at the campus.
ISU Chief of Staff Jay Groves tells The Pantagraph that former grounds superintendent Patrick Murphy has been hired as a horticulturist and curator of Fell Arboretum. Flanagan pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge in connection with the incident involving Murphy.
Groves says new ISU President Larry Dietz thought Murphy "deserved another opportunity at the university." Groves says the horticulturist and curator position was open due to a retirement.
Flanagan resigned last month, days before the charge was filed. He took the top post at the university in August.