Grad fellows punished for searching rooms

Two Hill House graduate fellows have been disciplined by a senior staff disciplinary review board after they accused two students of smoking marijuana in their dorm rooms in February, Hill House Assistant Dean Steve Feld said yesterday. "There obviously was behavior inconsistent with what we expect from our graduate fellows," Feld said. "We reached some determinations and acted accordingly." Although Feld would not comment on the details of the disciplinary action, he acknowledged that the GFs did receive a punishment. College freshman Sarah Davies, who was one of the students questioned about using marijuana, said Feld told her that Lance Dunlop, one of the GFs, was moved from Hill House to the Graduate Towers. Davies added that she was not sure if Dunlop -- a first-year Psychology graduate student -- moved out of Hill House or was told to leave by the disciplinary board. She said that she is waiting for a letter from Hill House explaining the actions of the disciplinary board. "There's obviously some circumstances or decisions we don't know about," Davies said. And Davies said that Prasad Veluchamy, the other GF and a third-year Wharton and Engineering graduate student, would not be invited back to Hill House next year. Feld said that he hoped the incident would be a helpful learning experience. In the future, he added GFs will practice role playing so they understand what actions to take if a similar situation occurs. Although Davies said she was a little surprised the board's decision was so strict, she believes they took the correct actions. "It does make you wonder about the people they give positions of power to," Davies said. "[Veluchamy] has a big problem with responsibility and power. Someone who abuses their power doesn't deserve to continue carrying a position like that." Veluchamy declined comment and Dunlop could not be reached for comment last night. A third GF, Tammy Leftcourt, was exonerated by the disciplinary board, according to Feld.