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 --- Administrative Section Committee on Student Conduct and Appeals 8:30 a.m., Friday, January 8, 1954 123 Bascom Hall Present: Marshall, Thomas, Zillman The committee met to consider the case of Rudolph E. Richter, ChE 1. He had become acquainted with one of our students, Donald J. Costello, through Costello's visits to Noyes House in the dormitories for the purpose of seeing friends of his, resident there. Richter reported to his housefellow that Costello had made improper advances to him of a homosexual nature and he repeated this story to the Dean of Men in the presence of members of the Residence Halls staff. The very next day Richter called on the Dean of Men and repudiated his previous statement. He claimed that he now considered his report to be in error, after mature deliberation on the matter. Several days later, however, at the hearing for Costello, Richter reverted to his first story and reported that Costello had offered him money to change the story as originally given. He confessed that he had accepted $5 from Costello as a "loan". Prior to action by the committee in the Costello case, Richter had been apprehended by the house fellow after receiving $20 from Costello during a conver- sation which was overheard by the house fellow unknown to Richter. The house- fellow reported that everything he heard in that conference confirmed him in the opinion that Costello was more sinned against than sinning and that in all probability no improper advances had been made. The committee had the advantage of an evaluation of Richter by Dr. Bleckwenn. Dr. Bleckwenn stated "the most that I can say about Richter is that he is a rather emotionally immature youngster who, in the spirit of curiosity and adventure, was trying to gain some information concerning homosexual individuals and recognized too late that he had become involved in a situation which subsequently proved embarrassing to him", It also learned that Mr. Burns, of our Division of Residence Halls, was most anxious to inform Richter's parents that he was no longer resident in the men's dormitory. Richter had moved from the dormitories, on the advice of the Dean of Men, where it was reported several students knowing the story were antagonistic to him. In view of all the circumstances, the inadequacy of proof concerning what did actually transpire between Costello and Richter, and in view of the action taken in the Costello case, the committee, after considerable deliberation, voted: 1. 2. 3. That Mr. Burns send a letter to Richter's parents simply informing them of his move based on the advice given him. This letter was read to Richter and he was given an opportunity to explain the situation to his parents before their receipt of the letter. To withhold any further action pending more complete study and the report concerning Richter's academic performance in the current semester. To inform Richter that no action would be taken at this time and to wish him well in his academic program. There being nothing further to come before the committee, it adjourned, after several recesses, on January 26th. Thy Theodore W. Zillman ---