Sudden death shocks Western PDF Print E-mail
by Andrea Davis-Gonzalez and Anna Atkinson   
Friday, October 16, 2009
Page 2 of 2

Western anthropology professor Michael A. Grimes, 43, will most notably be remembered for his humor and dedication to anthropology. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Catherine Riordan issued a statement on Thursday announcing Grimes had died of natural causes.


Although sources have speculated a brain aneurysm as a potential cause of death, The Western Front has not yet found confirmation because an autopsy report is not currently available.


At approximately 10 a.m. on Wednesday, University Police responded to a phone call regarding a man who had collapsed in the Environmental Studies building, according to the University Police activity log.


Grimes, who taught at Western for five years and published some of his work in journals, was recognized for his research on nutrition and metabolism, reproductive physiology and postpartum-breast-feeding behavior.


Western junior Sarah Magnuson said Grimes was the type of professor who was ready to make his students laugh.


“He was one of my favorite anthropology teachers, so [his passing] was really hard,” she said.


Magnuson said Grimes’ humor made her anthropology class more interesting, especially during his lectures.


“I feel like he just related to students really well,” Magnuson said.


Western graduate student Jesse Hutchinson said he responded to the scene once he noticed something was wrong. Hutchinson was working in his office and went to hand some paperwork to a colleague.


He noticed Grimes sitting on the hallway floor with his back against the wall outside room 56, where Hutchinson said he was going to meet his colleague. Hutchinson said Grimes had a plastic coffee mug next to him with a folder of papers inside in his hand.


“It didn’t seem he was having any trouble,” Hutchinson said.


After passing Grimes, Hutchinson said he went inside the graduate office and began to talk to his colleague. A few minutes later, Hutchinson said he heard a loud yell from the hallway followed by a clatter of what he assumed to be Grimes’ coffee mug.


Hutchinson said he and his colleague went to see what had happened and saw Grimes lying unconscious on his left side on the floor, slightly bleeding from a wound on his head.


“I don’t know if he was sitting down because he was waiting or feeling bad,” Hutchinson said. “But whatever it was that caused him to lose consciousness, it was sudden.”


A student who was walking by saw Grimes and checked his pulse and head wound, Hutchinson said. He said he had begun to call the police when he noticed an officer had already arrived.


Hutchinson said the student who responded to the scene told him to get tissues to help clean up Grimes’ wound and the surrounding area. Once Hutchinson went to the restroom and returned to the scene with paper towels, he said Grimes had regained consciousness.        


“When I returned, they turned him over on his back so he could breathe,” Hutchinson said. “He was looking around. He seemed really dazed and very pale.”


Although seemingly unaware of what happened, Grimes was able to tell paramedics his name and that he was an anthropology professor, Hutchinson said. He said he went to class after paramedics placed Grimes on a stretcher.


Hutchinson said he could not believe the news when he found out the next day that Grimes had passed away.


“It took me a minute to even believe it,” Hutchinson said. “I wish I would’ve asked him a question to see if he was all right. I might have been able to catch him if he was starting to fall over. I feel like there was something I could’ve done ahead of time.”


Brent Carbajal, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, said he extends condolences on behalf of the college to Grimes’ family and those who worked with and knew Grimes.


“He will be very missed by colleagues, students and others in the Western community,” Carbajal said. “He touched many lives in many positive ways.”


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  Comments (17)
Posted by 2007grad, on Oct. 19, 2009 03:28PM

As a former Western Front writer in 2007, I feel the need to speak out. Although I agree with some of the comments above about how this article is in poor judgement and taste, the writers are not 100% to blame. There are multiple editors who approve the articles (even after multiple revisions). Not to mention there is a faculty adivsor that approves all articles before publication. Please note that the writers of this article were following assignment, and the editors and faculty advisor are also to blame for the content (as they are the ones who approve the final piece).
Posted by ander278, on Oct. 19, 2009 04:46PM

In response to 2007 grad, I do not believe the Western Front adviser looks at the articles before they are published. In most cases, at least as of when I was a student (2006), he or she does not see them until after the newspaper is printed or the story goes online.
Posted by LNease, on Oct. 19, 2009 05:02PM

This article was written and published in poor taste and shows inexcusable lack of judgment on the part of the Western Front. Dr. Michael Grimes was so much more than a funny anthropologist who published “some research in journals.” He was an irreplaceable member of our community whose many roles included devoted father and husband; trusted friend; respected colleague and anthropologist; and inspiring professor, advisor and mentor. Dr. Grimes’ life should be celebrated, not glossed over in a few vague sentences while every excruciatingly gruesome detail of his death is relived on the front page. The article was beyond disrespectful to his memory, family and friends. We expect a sincere apology and an immediate retraction. Shame on all of you.
Posted by katharinehe, on Oct. 19, 2009 05:19PM

While I respect the positions of those who have brought up concerns that these responses are too harsh, I would like to remind these critics that (as someone else has pointed out) there is another story about someone who passed which is in stark contrast to this one. I would also like to refer you to the Bellingham Herald's short piece on Dr. Grimes' passing as an example of an appropriate and sensitive way of reporting this story. 
 
Anthropologists, and indeed students of Dr. Grimes represented here, are taught to always consider the impacts of their work on the many communities that hold them accountable. The Western Front has a responsibility to the WWU community in much the same way, and I feel that they have demonstrated a gross lack of judgment and compassion by publishing this article. 
 
As an anthropologist who was trained in the WWU department, I would never make a decision to publish a scholarly article or pursue a research avenue that I knew would alienate the very community I am studying. I think that the bad decisions made by all those at the Western Front with regard to this article are being made clear by the number of people who are responding to this article's content and poor timing. I think the whole purpose of this comment section is to set standards about what is acceptable to our community. Based on this response, it is clear to me that going into the details about someone's death and so soon after they passed is not acceptable to this community.
Posted by stoosepp, on Oct. 21, 2009 03:03PM

I had heard about this article from a friend and honestly was not prepared for its ability to miss the mark completely on what could have been a great opportunity to honor a member of our community. 
 
I realize The Western Front is a place for up and coming journalists to gain experience writing to a wider audience, and for that reason, most of the factual errors I\'ve seen in this publication over years can be excused, but this article doesn\'t just reduce The Western Front\'s journalistic credibility to that of a tabloid, it hurts those who knew Dr. Grimes personally. 
 
I hope the authors learn a lesson, but I don\'t blame them for its insensitivity, to that look to their academic supervisors, their editor at the Western Front and to anyone who allowed this article to be published in the first place. 
 
I realize the American media has slanted towards a sensationalist / tabloid view of the world in recent years and it makes me sad that the Journalism Department seemingly embraces this. Students can either be the next generation of Fox News anchors, or they can be the next Edward R. Murrow. 
 
I hope the outcry against this article is not ignored, as I have yet to see a retraction or apology issued thus far. I would also hope that it sends a strong message to the faculty and administrators of the Journalism department, that something needs to change with both its curriculum and its editing practices for the Western Front as a whole.
Posted by trmtrmtrm, on Oct. 21, 2009 03:14PM

Need you be reminded? 
 
Journalists should: 
 
— Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects. 
— Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief. 
— Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance. 
— Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity.
Posted by WWU_2005, on Oct. 21, 2009 06:11PM

Instead of commenting on the article, I'd like to comment on my favorite professor, Dr. Michael Grimes. He was the type of professor who was so dedicated to the students, that it made me study harder so as to not let him down. Dr. Grimes was the funniest professor, and one of the only professors I ever had who would show up during labs to make sure the T.A.s and the students were doing well scholastically. Dr. Grimes loved his family, and life in general. I feel so lucky to have been a student of his. Western Washington University's Anthropology department was great, in part, because of him.

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