Judicial
matters focus on crime
By Joyce Kelly
On-line Forty-Niner
A
recent hate crime committed at Parkside
Commons has forced university officials
to take proper disciplinary action against
the perpetrator.
So far, undeclared freshman Robbie Cardenas
has been the only individual cited.
Cal State Long Beach must follow the guidelines
under the California Code of Regulations,
Title 5, Sections 41301 and 41302, when
determining disciplinary actions for its
students on the campus. Judiciary procedures,
disciplinary actions and defining a “hate
crime” are complex and complicated issues.
The duties of CSULB President Robert Maxson
are to adhere to the rules and policies.
Yet, he can delegate some or all of his
duties to a campus official.
Steve Katz, director of Judicial Affairs
and a licensed attorney, handles the student
disciplinary matters.
Katz said the procedures include investigations
through office conferences and examination
of the writings and if the situation is
not resolved, then a formal hearing occurs.
That would include two sides with a hearing
officer and witnesses.
“Most of the cases are resolved without
a formal hearing,” Katz said.
In the case of Robbie Cardenas and the hate
crime involving a swastika and racial slur,
members of the administration are being
cautious. They are investigating those
involved.
But a letter to Maxson dated Nov. 5 and
signed by concerned resident assistants,
staff and residents called for a stern message
and the revocation of Cardenas’ privileges.
Other members of the administration that
received copies of the letter were Katz,
Stan Olin, interim director of Housing and
Residential Life, and Doug Robinson, vice
president of Student Services.
The letter reads, “On Friday Nov. 1, 2002,
a hate crime was perpetrated in K building
of Parkside Commons. Robbie Cardenas was
witnessed, and confessed to writing ‘I HATE
——S,’ as well as swastikas on various dry
erase boards throughout K building; later
these same images were inscribed on a wall
in K building. This offense is an absolute
travesty. Concerned students feel that this
offense should be punished to the highest
extent to serve as a stern message that
hate will not be tolerated in the Residence
Halls, nor on the campus of California State
University, Long Beach. Furthermore, Robert
Cardenas did not manifest the characteristics
of being a President’s Scholar, and as a
result we feel that his President’s Scholar
privileges be revoked.”
Armando Contreras, executive assistant to
Maxson, said the privileges had not been
revoked as of Monday.
“There is a formal process that goes through
Judicial Affairs,” he said. “There are no
charges or allegations, no determining of
responsibility. There is [a] legal determination
the police would [make].”
But, Jack Pearson, chief of the University
Police at CSULB, said that the police department
must follow standard operations procedures
when students are involved with any violation
of university rules.
“The officer didn’t feel there was sufficient
evidence on the site to arrest him for vandalism,”
Pearson said. “The case is under investigation.”
Cardenas is innocent until proven guilty.
Administrators are trying to give him due
process under the law.
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