Math Professor Indicted for Alleged War Crimes, Murder
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U.S. Postage Paid at Williamsburg, Va. REVIEWS: Jodie Foster soars despite rocky Flightplan, page 11 VARIETY: SPORTS: Nappy Roots to spit mad Racket explores the athletic side rhymes tomorrow, page 7 of Homecoming, page 15 OCTOBER 21, 2005 VOL.95, NO.33 THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND MARY SINCE 1911 http://flathat.wm.edu Math professor indicted for alleged war crimes, murder BY MICHAEL J. SCHOBEL from journalists monitoring U.S. The strike quickly became an charging that Pedraz has no jurisdic- FLAT HAT NEWS EDITOR radio transmissions, an unidentifi ed international incident. When ques- tion, the Oct. 20 online edition of the tank offi cer witnessed an individual tioned about the events surrounding San Jose Mercury reported. A Spanish judge issued an inter- using binoculars from the Hotel Pal- the strike, Brigadier General Vincent DeCamp is currently teaching a national arrest warrant Wednesday estine. At some point over the next Brooks of U.S. Central Command graduate-level course in advanced for three U.S. soldiers, including 10 minutes, Captain Philip Wolford, in Doha, Qatar, said that coalition regression techniques. Dean of Fac- Lieutenant Colonel Philip deCamp, the highest ranking offi cer on the forces in the vicinity of the hotel ulty Carl Strikwerda said that there an adjunct professor of mathematics scene and one of deCampʼs subordi- had been fi red upon from the build- was no reason the charges should at the College. The soldiers are be- nates, issued a command to fi re. ing and were simply returning fi re. affect deCampʼs employment at the ing charged with “murder” and “a The Hotel Palestine housed ap- Several journalists who were present College. crime against the international com- proximately 100 international jour- during the strike deny this charge, “Itʼs a very unusual situation,” munity” relating to their roles in the nalists at the time of the assault. Ac- the CPJ reported. Strikwerda said. “[But] itʼs a legal death of a Spanish cameraman dur- cording to the CPJ article, Pentagon Judge Santiago Pedrazʼs warrant issue between the United States ing a 2003 assault on a hotel housing offi cials were aware that journalists accuses the United States of failing government and the government of journalists, the Oct. 19 online edition were staying at the hotel and intend- to provide judicial cooperation. Ac- Spain … and at this point it really of CNN reported. ed to avoid it. The CPJ article alleges cording to the Oct. 20 online edition doesnʼt affect anything to do with According to a May 27, 2003 that this order was not well commu- of The Washington Times, Pedraz his teaching.” report by the Committee to Protect nicated to all forces on the ground. sent requests to the United States Last year deCamp was also in Journalists, José Couso, a camera- The tank fi red a high explosive government in April 2004 and June charge of the ROTC program at the man for Spainʼs Telecinco television round into the 15th-fl oor balcony 2005 to have the soldiers involved College and Christopher Newport network, and Reuters cameraman of the hotel, according to Associ- in the strike provide statements or be University as the battalion com- Taras Protsyuk of Ukraine were ated Press reporter Chris Tomlinson. interviewed by a Spanish delegation. mander. Current cadets commented killed the morning of April 8, 2003. This type of round is not intended Neither request was answered. on deCamp, but declined to be iden- An M1A1 Abrams tank fi red a shell to destroy buildings and caused far The charges are unlikely to have tifi ed for fear of disciplinary action into the hotel where they were stay- less damage than an armor-piercing any real consequences because the by the U.S. Army. ing during intense street fi ghting in round. U.S. government does not extradite “Heʼs real energetic … every- Baghdad. DeCamp was command- DeCamp, Wolfordʼs command- its soldiers, CNN reported. one jokes about that,” a cadet said. ing the 4th Battalion, 64th Armor ing offi cer, reacted to the strike “The chances of their being ex- “He cares about his troops; heʼs a Regiment, which was leading the immediately. tradited are zero,” government pro- leader.” charge into the city center. His forces “Who just shot the Palestinian fessor Katherine Rahman said. “I Another student characterized were searching for an Iraqi “spotter” [sic] Hotel?” deCamp asked over think this is more about politics than deCamp as one of the smartest in- who was observing the battle and di- his radio, Tomlinson reported. it is about law.” dividuals he had ever met. recting the Iraqi forces via radio. Ac- “Did you just fucking shoot the A prosecutor at Spainʼs national As press time, deCamp was un- COURTESY PHOTO ✦ THE COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS cording to accounts cited in the CPJ Palestinian Hotel?” court has challenged the warrant, available for comment. Professor Phillip deCamp led the Collegeʼs ROTC program last year. O’Connor CUE THE LIGHTS Virginia21 to replace hosts debate Gubernatorial candidates Kissinger as debate higher education Chancellor issues at taped forum BY MEERA FICKLING BY ERICA PARKER THE FLAT HAT THE FLAT HAT Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day OʼConnor, who an- Virginia21, an information and advocacy group for nounced her retirement from the nationʼs highest court in 18 to 24 year olds, sponsored a virtual debate Monday July, was announced as the Collegeʼs 23rd chancellor in an at the College between three candidates running for e-mail from College President Gene Nichol Oct. 4, effec- governor of Virginia. The gubernatorial election, one of tive immediately. OʼConnor replaced former Chancellor only two in the nation this year, takes place Nov. 8. The Henry Kissinger. primary goal of the virtual debate was to highlight the “Justice OʼConnor will add much to William and Maryʼs candidateʼs higher education policies. The debate was tradition of exceptional Chancellors,” Nichol wrote in the originally held at Virginia Commonwealth University e-mail. “It is remarkably heartening that Justice OʼConnor in Richmond and the video was rebroadcast in Andrews — one of the most infl uential jurists in American history, Hall. and one of my personal heroes — looks forward to joining During the forum, the three candidates, Democrat us in the cause of the College.” Lieutenant Governor Tim Kaine, Republican former According to Assistant to the President Michael J. Fox, Attorney General Jerry Kilgore and Virginia State Sen- the chancellor is “one of the most prominent and public ator Russ Potts, a Republican running as an indepen- faces of the college.” dent, introduced their plans for higher education and Chancellors build an audience for Charter Day and com- answered policy questions from panelists. The ques- mencement by serving in the ceremonies. tions addressed everything from tuition increases to af- According to Vice President for Public Affairs Bill fi rmative action policy. Walker, the chancellor meets with students and faculty In their opening statements, the candidates outlined relatively rarely, but the chancellorʼs visits can be “a life- their general vision for the future of Virginiaʼs colleges changing event” for students. and universities. Former chancellors Kissinger and former British Prime “The progress of government and all else depends Minister Margaret Thatcher were heavily involved in pri- upon the broadest possible diffusion of knowledge vate fundraising. Thatcher also addressed the Virginia among the general population,” Kaine said quoting General Assembly on behalf of the College, and Kissinger from Jeffersonʼs book, “Notes on the State of Virgin- worked to create international opportunities for students. ia.” Before the Revolutionary War, chancellors served as li- Kaine added that the availability of higher educa- aisons between the College and the British crown, advocat- tion has a great impact on the local economyʼs vitality, ing on behalf of the university. The chancellor was higher citing the economic resurgence VCU has brought to in status than the president and was consulted on all ma- Richmond. He stressed the importance of the govern- jor policy issues, while the president managed day-to-day ment meeting its current fi nancial obligations to higher affairs. Since the main function of the chancellor was the education as determined by the General Assemblyʼs link to the British king, the revolution raised questions as to ALEX HAGLUND ✦ THE FLAT HAT funding formula. Kilgoreʼs opening statement began with a personal See CHANCELLOR ✦ page 3 Construction workers have been busy all week installing the new lights at Zable Stadium. Made possi- ble by a $650,000 anonymous donation, the construction should be completed next week. The athletic touch when he told the audience that he was the fi rst department plans to inaugurate the lights at the Nov. 5 game against James Madison University. See VIRGINIA21 ✦ page 3 SA repeals water gun ban after student poll BY HEATHER KEELON of students, 67 percent, said yes. Howev- the bill an opinion contributed to the something I could do when I was fi ve THE FLAT HAT er, it was not clear that the senate would billʼs passage. An opinion, unlike an act, years old, but canʼt now,” freshman Sen. pass a repeal. A similar piece of legisla- does not require action on the part of the Matt Beato said. I just think thatʼs ridicu- The Student Assembly Senate meet- tion was brought before the senate body legislative branch. It does, however, state lous.” He added that it was question- ing was sprinkled with laughter Tuesday during the last school year and was voted that those attempting to remove the ban able whether campus authorities would night as sophomore Sens. Joe Luppino- down. According to Luppino-Esposito, on aquatic weapons have the support of “allow something resembling a gun on Esposito and Shariff Tanious proposi- the argument was that aquatic weapons their elected offi cials.