Rider dean, student plead not guilty

Three students, two administrators charged with aggravated hazing in March drinking death

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
   Rider University’s dean of students and the student president of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity pleaded not guilty after they were arraigned on charges of aggravated hazing before state Superior Court Judge Andrew Smithson in Trenton last week.
   Rider University Dean of Students Anthony Campbell, 51, of Lawrence, entered a plea of not guilty through his attorney, Rocco Cipparone Jr., at his arraignment Aug. 9, said Casey DeBlasio, a spokeswoman for the Mercer County prosecutor’s office.
   Rider University student Michael J. Tourney, 21, of Randolph, who was president of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity before the Rider chapter was dissolved, was arraigned Aug. 10 before Judge Smithson. Attorney Michael Rogers entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of his client, Ms. DeBlasio said.
   Dean Campbell and Mr. Tourney are among five Rider University administrators and students who have been charged with aggravated hazing by a Mercer County grand jury in connection with the alcohol poisoning death of Rider freshman Gary DeVercelly Jr. at a Phi Kappa Tau fraternity party on the Rider campus in March.
   Meanwhile, Dean Campbell and Ada Badgley, 31, of Lawrence, the director of Greek life who also was indicted by the grand jury and who is scheduled to be arraigned this week, have been granted a paid 30-day administrative leave of absence from the university, according to a letter from Rider University President Mordechai Rozanski.
   The two administrators asked for the leave so they may prepare for their defense to the charges leveled against them, Dr. Rozanski said in his Aug. 13 letter. Their leaves of absence took effect Monday.
   ”At the end of that time, we hope to have more information and then we will evaluate the situation and determine the next steps,” Dr. Rozanski wrote.
   In the interim, Dean Campbell’s duties will be handled by Jan Friedman-Krupnick, the assistant vice president for student affairs, Dr. Rozanski wrote. She has worked closely with Dean Campbell for the past eight years, he added.
   Ms. Badgley’s duties will be picked up by Cassie Iacovellil, the assistant dean for Campus Life, Dr. Rozanski wrote. She will supervise the Greek life area in place of Ms. Badgley, he wrote.
   Last week, in an impromptu press conference outside the courtroom after Dean Campbell’s arraignment, Mr. Cipparone said there would be “absolutely no plea deal.”
   ”He is not guilty of anything,” Mr. Cipparone said of his client. “He was unaware of (the March 28 party) ever occurring.”
   Mr. Rogers, who represents Mr. Tourney, expressed surprise that his client was indicted. He said he was not privy to the grand jury proceeding and he was not aware of any evidence that would have resulted in his client being charged.
   ”We were rather surprised that (Mr. Tourney) would be charged because he didn’t do anything wrong, let alone illegal. He had no knowledge that the young man (Mr. DeVercelly) was consuming alcohol,” Mr. Rogers said in a telephone interview Monday afternoon.
   Mr. Rogers, who said his client is transferring to Franklin and Marshall College, in Lancaster, Pa., said he had “never seen anything like it” where someone could be charged with a criminal offense, based on one’s title or position and not on one’s behavior.
   Rider University student Adriano DiDonato, 22, of Princeton, was also arraigned last week and pleaded not guilty. Mr. DiDonato was the residence director and house master for the fraternity before it was dissolved by school officials.
   Meanwhile, Ms. Badgley and Rider student Dominic Olsen, 21, of Kenilworth, are expected to be arraigned this morning, Ms. DeBlasio said. Mr. Olsen was the pledge master of the spring 2007 Phi Kappa Tau pledge class.
   Ms. DeBlasio said a status conference before an as-yet-undetermined Superior Court judge has been scheduled for Sept. 10 for Dean Campbell, Mr. DiDonato and Mr. Tourney. It is possible that plea negotiations could be discussed at that time, she said.