Group criticizes ruling on wrestlers 
             BU action isn't enough, it says 

                     By JENNIFER IVAN 
                        Staff Writer 
              A civil rights advocacy and litigation
              group representing the four Asian
              students assaulted Feb. 27 on the
              Binghamton University campus Tuesday
              criticized the university's ruling on three
              of its students.

              On Monday, the university expelled
              Nicholas Richetti, 19, of Waverly. Chad
              Scott, 18, of Walton, was suspended for
              two years and will not be eligible for
              reinstatement until fall 2002; and
              Christopher M. Taylor, 20, of Seaford,
              was cleared.

              Sin Yen Ling, a legal fellow with the
              Asian American Legal Defense and
              Education Fund in New York City, said
              the university ruling is not enough to do
              justice for the victims.

              Richetti, Scott and Taylor, all white,
              were members of the university's
              wrestling team. All three face a separate
              criminal investigation by the Broome
              County District Attorney's office, which
              charged them with second-degree gang
              assault, a felony. They are scheduled to
              appear at a grand jury hearing May 9 and
              May 10.

              The university rulings were made by a
              three-member disciplinary board of
              school administrators.

              "It is inconceivable that the (university)
              administration would expel only one
              student, given the overwhelming
              evidence of the involvement of all three
              wrestlers in this vicious attack," Ling
              said.

              The university decision also ordered
              Richetti and Scott to pay for medical
              claims not covered by victim John E.
              Lee's insurance.

              "We're not taking a position (on what
              should be done); we're just saying it's
              inadequate," Ling said.

              Ling said the university held three
              separate hearings on the three wrestlers
              and that Lee, Rexford Hong and two
              unidentified victims of the assault had to
              testify.

              "School hearings do not follow certain
              regulations that the court proceeding
              would," Ling said. "There is no limit on
              witness badgering."

              John Hachtel, associate vice president of
              university relations, said the university is
              allowed to release only the student's
              name, charge, and results of the hearing.
              "We cannot talk about what went on;
              we're constrained by federal law," he
              said.

              Hachtel was not present at the hearings,
              but said he was confident the results
              were justified.

              "People who sat in those sessions had to
              work with the evidence," he said. "This
              was not a criminal hearing. All three
              students are still facing criminal
              proceedings."

              Ling said her office has been in touch
              with federal investigators and will be in
              touch with the Department of Civil
              Rights in Washington.
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