As the new school year is set to begin, Rider University continues to be held under a microscope amidst recent indictments of three students and two administrators
By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
The last of the five Rider University administrators and students who have been charged with aggravated hazing were arraigned last week before state Superior Court Judge Andrew Smithson in Trenton.
Ada Badgley, of Lawrence, the school’s director of Greek life, and student Dominic Olsen Jr., of Kenilworth, pledge master for Phi Kappa Tau’s 2007 spring pledge class, offered not guilty pleas on Aug. 16 through their attorneys in a court proceeding that lasted about three minutes.
Ms. Badgley, dressed in a black suit, listened quietly while her attorney, Mariana Rossman of the Philadelphia law firm Dilworth Paxson, entered a plea of not guilty.
Dressed in a medium gray suit, dark shirt and dark necktie, Mr. Olsen also listened as his attorney, Michael Murphy of Trenton, offered a plea of not guilty on his behalf. Mr. Murphy is a former Morris County prosecutor.
Dean of Students Anthony Campbell, 51, of Lawrence, was arraigned Aug. 9, and Phi Kappa Tau fraternity President Michael J. Torney, 21, of Randolph, was arraigned Aug. 10. Rider student Adriano DiDonato, 22, of Princeton Township, who was the fraternity’s residence director and housemaster, was arraigned Aug. 8.
All five were indicted on charges of aggravated hazing by a Mercer County grand jury Aug. 3 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. The Rider chapter of the fraternity has since been disbanded.
In an informal press conference outside the Mercer County Courthouse, Mr. Murphy said he plans to examine the Lawrence Township Police Department reports and other documents that formed the basis of the grand jury’s decision to indict his client.
"We are troubled (by the indictment)," Mr. Murphy said outside the courthouse. "It is a life-altering experience. (My client) was not present when the consumption of alcohol took place."
Mr. Murphy described Mr. Olsen, who will be a senior at Rider, as "a really, really decent" young man who loves Rider University. He said he told Mr. Olsen to be a good student and focus on his schoolwork. He added that he advised the 21-year-old to get on with his life and let the attorneys handle the legal matters.
Ms. Rossman, who represents Ms. Badgley, said she was anxious to look at the evidence presented to the grand jury. Before hurrying off with Ms. Badgley, she said she expects her client to be exonerated.
Meanwhile, Dean Campbell and Ms. Badgley each have been granted a 30-day paid administrative leave of absence from the university, according to an Aug. 13 letter from Rider University President Mordechai Rozanski.
The two administrators asked for the leave so they may prepare for their defense against the charges leveled against them, Dr. Rozanski wrote. Their leaves of absence took effect Aug. 13.
"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 Iacovelli, the assistant dean for campus life, according to Dr. Rozanski. She will supervise the Greek life area in place of Ms. Badgley.
Meanwhile, Casey DeBlasio, spokeswoman for the Mercer County prosecutor’s office, said a status conference before an as-yet-undetermined Superior Court judge has been scheduled for Sept. 10 for the five administrators and students. It is possible that plea negotiations could be discussed at that time, she said.

