Delay in Brasno case slows campus disciplinary action

With the delay in criminal proceedings against Jason Brasno '98, the University is finding it more difficult to get information for its own disciplinary process, said Marianne Waterbury, assistant dean of student life .

"With graduation looming, it is a bit of a problem," Waterbury said. To this point, Public Safety has been responsible for getting information from University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia police, though that task has been made problematic by the delay until a preliminary hearing is held on April 14.

In the meantime, the University must conduct its own proceedings independent of the criminal justice process. Responsibility for overseeing that task has been turned over from Waterbury to Kathleen Deignan, associate dean of student life. Waterbury said that step is taken "when things are considered to be fairly serious." Yesterday, Deignan declined to comment on the matter.

Brasno has been charged by the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office with two felonies and three misdemeanors for allegedly throwing a firecracker in a packed Palestra during a basketball game against the University of Pennsylvania March 3.