Administrative Section Committee on Student Conduct and Appeals December 15, 1953 123 Bascom Hall Present: Gaumnitz, Little, Thomas, Zillman The committee met to consider the case of Donald J. Costello, Com 3. It had been reported to the committee that Costello had made suggestions of a homosexual nature to one of the residents of the men's dormitories by the name of Rudolph Richter. After the receipt of this intelligence Richter had reported to the Dean of Men that his original statement was in error and that no such advances were made, or that he had misinterpreted them. The committee heard Costello and other witnesses, including Richter, Cliff Maier, the house fellow in Richter's dormitory, Nels Hansen, a resident of the Halls, and Walter Giger, a friend of Costello's, presently also resident in the men's dormitories. At the hearing, Richter appeared before the committee and reverted to his original story, telling the committee further that Costello had attempted to bribe him to report a story favorable to Costello, The committee agreed to postpone its decision for further study. On the 19th of December, Cliff Maier reported back to the committee that in accordance with a plan initiated by Costello's friends in the dormitory he had hidden himself under the bed to overhear a meeting between Costello and Richter in a room in the dormitories. At that meeting Maier reported that Richter received from Costello $20 in furtherance of the agreement between the two concerning Richter's testimony before the committee. During the course of the conversation between the two men, thus overheard by Maier, it was Maier's conclusion that there had actually been no homosexual proposals on the part of Costello to Richter and that Costello was more sinned against than sinning in the whole affair. Maier followed Richter from the above conference, asked him for a return of the $20, and after some difficulty recovered back from Richter the very money which he, Maier, had seen passed to Richter by Costello, The committee conferred on several occasions after the receipt of this intelligence and arrived at the following determination with respect to Costello: 1. That he be denied the privilege of registration in the University for the spring semester of the 1953-54 academic year. 2. That he be denied the privilege of re-registration in succeed- ing terms of the University prior to consultation and clearance with the administrative section of the committee. This latter determination was derived at on January 4, 1954. The committee also considered a report received from Director Hamann of the Campus Police shortly before this episode. Costello had called at his office to give intelligence of a "homosexual ring" purported to be in operation in downtown Madison. He wanted advice and assistance concerning how best to protect himself from their advances. It was agreed further that Costello's parents should be notified and that the committee should proceed to a hearing of the Richter case. It was further agreed that Costello should report weekly to the Dean of Men for the remainder of this semester and that he would be warned to shun the area of the Residence Halls for the remainder of his stay on campus. 1-5-54 Theodore W. Zillman ---