The former president of Eastern Michigan University, John A. Fallon III, has spoken publicly for the first time since his firing this month. He appeared on CNN’s Larry King Live last night, along with his wife and his lawyer.

They hinted that Mr. Fallon would sue Eastern Michigan. The university’s Board of Regents fired him after the apparent cover-up of a student’s murder in December. On TV last night, the former president repeated what he has said all along about Laura Dickinson: that he didn’t know her death was a homicide until another student was arrested for rape and murder in the case.

Mr. Fallon said he felt “betrayed” by the former vice president for student affairs, James F. Vick, whom the university has also dismissed. Exhaustive reports on the case, by an outside law firm and by the U.S. Education Department, have concluded that Mr. Vick knew Ms. Dickinson had been murdered, but did not disclose that information — even to Mr. Fallon or to Ms. Dickinson’s parents — for fear of compromising the criminal investigation.

When Mr. King asked Mr. Fallon if he could have done more, presumably meaning asked more questions, the former president said sure, but explained that times were already tough at Eastern Michigan.

Mr. Fallon said he hoped to restore what he sees as his unfairly tarnished reputation and move on to another job. “I’m not a liar. My 34-year career in higher education was based on a foundation of integrity and ethics and honesty,” he said. “I want to clear my name, and I want to go to work.” —Sara Lipka