4/28/98
ATHENS, Ohio -- Twenty of the 29 Ohio University students initially arrested in connection with an early morning disturbance on Court Street April 5 have been disciplined by University Judiciaries, Director of University Judiciaries Richard Carpinelli said Tuesday.
"Twenty students declined hearings and opted to resolve their cases during an initial interview with me," Carpinelli said. Seven of these students have been suspended for one to four terms from the university. Thirteen have received sanctions of suspension for one term, which have been set aside on the condition that they complete community service, alcohol education, and serve disciplinary probation for one calendar year, according to Carpinelli.
"Students are aware that failure to comply with these conditions will result minimally in their having to serve a one quarter suspension from the university," Carpinelli said. Individual disciplinary sanctions in these cases were imposed "after consideration of the gravity of students' misconduct during the disturbance and their prior disciplinary records," Carpinelli said.
Of the remaining nine cases, two were found not to have been part of the uptown disturbance and one was dismissed due to insufficient evidence, according to Carpinelli. Six of the initial 29 students charged denied the university disciplinary charge of civil disturbance' and are scheduled to appear before a university hearing board within the next two weeks. "Students found responsible for civil disturbance' by a university hearing board face sanctions up to and including expulsion from the university," Carpinelli said.
"The university judicial system has made it a priority to address these cases quickly and in a firm yet fair manner," said Joel Rudy, vice president for student affairs and dean of students. "We are continuing to work as a community to deter occurrences similar to the one on April 5 through a variety of means, including continued discussions with students, community, and university officials," Rudy said. "Acts of civil disturbance are inconsistent with what we value as an educational institution," said Rudy.
Ohio University Judiciaries received three additional reports of students charged in connection with the April 5 disturbance since receiving the initial 29. "It is our intention to address these students through the university judicial system as well," Carpinelli said.
In another development, four of five persons arrested early Saturday morning (4/25/98) following a fight outside a Union Street bar have been identified as students and will face disciplinary charges through University Judiciaries, Carpinelli said.