July 22, 2005

Convicted Killer Sues U. of Alaska for Denying Him Admission

By PETER MONAGHAN

Micheal Purcell, who was jailed 21 years ago for killing a convenience-store clerk in a botched robbery, is suing the University of Alaska at Anchorage because it has denied him admission to its social-work program. Mr. Purcell, who was released from prison last September and will be on parole until 2014, charges that the university has breached the state Constitution's guarantee of the rehabilitation of criminals.

The case has set social workers here debating whether a convicted