Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.
The Daily Gazette
Swarthmore College
Thursday, October 7, 1999
Volume 4, Number 19
NEWS IN BRIEF
1) CJC rules on student assault case
2) Student Council election results
3) World news roundup
4) Campus events
SPORTS IN BRIEF
1) Men’s soccer defeats Neumann
2) Volleyball results from Tuesday
3) World sports roundup
4) Today’s and tomorrow’s contests
WEATHER FORECAST
Today: Sunny. Highs around 60.
Ok, no more jokes about squirrels.
Tonight: Clear and chilly. Lows around 40.
Let’s see…what to make fun of…aha – Sharples!
Tomorrow: Sunny, milder. Highs in the mid 60s.
Was that chicken they gave us yesterday? Or was it…oh wait, sorry.
NEWS REPORT
1) CJC rules on student assault case
On Saturday, October 2, the College Judiciary Committee met to rule on the
case involving assault charges placed on Javier Hidalgo ’02, stemming from
an incident which occurred early on the morning of Friday, Sept. 24. The
Committee was convened by Dean Bob Gross and was comprised of Assistant
Professor of Psychology Frank Durgin, Assistant Professor of Biology Sara
Hiebert, Director of Facilities Management Stuart Hain, Associate Dean Joy
Charlton, and Jason Caldwell ’01. Charlton was included in place of the
Committee’s second student, who was unavailable for that date. Associate
Dean Tedd Goundie was the Observer to the Hearing.
There were two charges brought against the Hidalgo:
1) Violence and Assault – specifically, he struck his roommate
in the head with a five-pound weight.
2) Intimidation – this charge was brought on by allegaions of threats
of future violence.
Due to the violent nature of the incident, Hidalgo was not permitted on
campus from the time of the incident until the time of the hearing.
The Committee ruled that Hidalgo was Guilty of the first count of Violence
and Assault, but Not Guilty of the second count of Intimidation. In an open
letter to the College Community, Goundie explains, “The Committee
recognized that statements were likely made by the accused student in the
heat of the moment that could be interpreted as threatening. However, based
on the testimony presented at the hearing, particularly including that of
the victim, the Committee concluded that the statement was not credible and
that the target of the statement does not fear and need not fear for his
physical safety.”
Sentencing went as follows: Hidalgo was suspended effective immediately
until the start of the fall semester, 2001. He may not set foot on campus
or on College property until that time, including summers and vacations. If
he violates this order, and appears on campus during the time of his
suspension, it will be grounds for permanent expulsion from Swarthmore.
Finally, the Committee made the sanction notational, meaning that it will
be recorded on Hidalgo’s permanent record card. It will not appear on his
transcript; however, if a College official is asked if Hidalgo was involved
in any incidents of misconduct here at Swarthmore, details of the incident
will be revealed.
Dean Gross explained that the sensitive nature of this case was taken very
seriously by the committee, and the idea of permanent expulsion was
something that was considered, but ultimately not decided upon. He further
explained the factors that went into the decision: “First, there was our
moral intuition as to the nature of the act. Second, we considered the
effect of the incident on the victim. Third, the effect on the perpetrator
was taken into account. And finally, we considered the effect of this
incident on the College Community. All these factors were heavily weighed
before the Committee made any decision.”
Hidalgo, who was arrested by the Swarthmore Police on charges of simple
assault, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct,
still awaits criminal prosecution. The date of the trial has not yet been
determined.
*****
2) Student Council election results
The following results are official. There were 597 ballots and 595 names
checked off for a 2 vote margin of error. Individual tally sums do not
equal 597 due to blank and illegible ballots.
COLLEGE PLANNING COMMITTEE
Brandon Silverman ’02 120
Dennis Cheng ’01 110
Matthew Davis ’01 88
Abstain 58
Julie George ’02 53
Arati Davis ’00 49
Sophia Acord ’03 34
Elizabeth Hang Le ’03 33
Payal Shah ’03 26
Robert Melick ’03 15
Joon Choi ’02 3
CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
Michael Spiegel ’03 291
Abstain 269
SECRETARY
Jordan Brackett ’01 291
Abstain 139
Lucy Lang ’03 78
Aduke Thelwell ’03 77
*****
3) World news roundup
The House passed a bill Wednesday that will create tax breaks which will
enable millions of people to buy health insurance. …In an unprecedented
legal move, a Wisconsin prosecutor has filed suit against an unnamed
rapist/kidnapper known only by his DNA code. …Republicans on Capitol Hill
are starting to feel distanced from George W. Bush, whose credentials seem
to be taking a shape all their own. …Harvard announced that it has
exceeded its goal of raising $1 million a day for the last seven years,
accumulating $2.3 billion.
*****
4) Campus events
Rotaract Club Meeting
Parrish Parlours, 11:30 a.m.
Banner Steering Committee Meeting
Kohlberg 201, 1:00 p.m.
Swarthbucklers Fencing Practice
Upper Tarble, 7:30 p.m.
WRC Movie Nite: “Thelma and Louise”
WRC, 8:00 p.m.
Russian Movie Series
Kohlberg 116, 9:00 p.m.
Latin Dancing
Upper Tarble, 9:30 p.m.
WRC Movie Nite: “Elizabeth”
WRC, 10:00 p.m.
*****
SPORTS UPDATE
1) Men’s soccer defeats Neumann
The men’s soccer team hosted Neumann college Wednesday, and came away with
a 1-0 victory. Dan Lieberman ’00 scored the lone goal with 10:03 remaining,
while Chris Milla ’03 recorded his third shutout of the season. The Garnet
outshot Neumann 23-2 en route to their victory, raising their recorf to 3-9
(0-3).
*****
2) Volleyball results from Tuesday
In Tuesday night’s action, the volleyball team fell 3-1 to Wilmington. The
team’s record now stands at 2-12 (1-5).
*****
3) World sports roundup
Both National League Division Series got evened up Wednesday. In Atlanta,
Kevin Millwood pitched the first one-hitter in the postseason since 1967,
as the Braves beat the Astros 5-1. …The Diamondbacks evened things up
with the Mets, as Todd Stottlemyre pitched them to a 7-1 victory. …Red
Sox stater and likely Cy Young winner Pedro Martinez had to leave Game 1 of
the AL Division Series after four innings with muscle tightness in his
back. The Indians took advantage and beat Boston 3-2 in the bottom of the
ninth on a bases-loaded single by Travis Fryman.
*****
4) Today’s and tomorrow’s contests
TODAY
Women’s soccer at Western Maryland, 4:00 p.m.
TOMORROW
There are no contests scheduled for Friday.
*****
Quote of the day: “It is a general popular error to suppose the loudest
complainers for the public to be the most anxious for its welfare.”
–Edmund Burke
*****
Interested in reporting or writing for the Gazette?
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Editorial Board
Jeff Heckelman
Melanie Hirsch
Claire Phillips-Thoryn
Staff Writers
Ilya Leskov
Alma Ortiz
Jeremy Schifeling
Kai Xu
Online Editor
Lorrin Nelson
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This concludes today’s report.