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Former Army psychologist Larry James speaks to MU audience about potential hire

Kellie Kotraba/ColumbiaFAVS
/
KBIA

Larry James, the former Army psychologist being considered for a leadership role in the College of Education at MU, spoke to an audience of about 60 people today. 

Community members have expressed concern about the possible hire of James -- he was in a leadership position as an Army psychologist during times of intense abuse at Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib. About 40 people gathered on Friday to protest his potential hire . 

James currently works at Wright State University in Ohio and is one of two finalists for the MU College of Education role of division executive director. The other candidate visited Columbia last week. When he spoke today, James focused on higher education trends and his own experiences -- topics he was assigned, which were the same as what the other candidate discussed. 

During a Q-and-A session, audience members from the MU College of Education focused their questions on his experience with higher education finance, along with an idea of his to launch a national gun violence prevention center. 

The community focused on his Army experience and his connection with incidents of prisoner abuse at Guantanamo Bay. Numerous complaints filed against James in past years were investigated and thrown out; he has not been found guilty of any crimes in that regard. 

Check back with us tomorrow for more on this story. 

This story was produced in partnership with Columbia Faith and Values. 

Kellie Moore left KBIA in the spring of 2014.
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