During Sunday’s Student Association senate meeting, 7th Ward Alderman Mark Powell made public allegations that he received threatening telephone calls from The Northern Star’s Managing Editor Mike Lacy and that an investigation into the incident is being conducted by the DeKalb Police Department.

Subsequently, a letter was sent by Powell to Star Adviser Jerry Thompson on Dec. 3, requesting the suspension of Lacy from his duties until the issue is resolved. This letter, however, is belated.

The observant reader of The Northern Star will have noticed that Lacy’s name was removed from the editorial board masthead immediately following the Thanksgiving break.

It was the decision of the editorial board to suspend Lacy from editorial decisions and duties after receiving information of the allegations on Nov. 23. Lacy still will serve as managing editor with no decision authority until the end of the semester.

Such a decision was made because of the gravity of the allegations involving a public trust. No further action can or should be taken unless formal charges are filed against Lacy and due process has been served.