Police misconduct suit tossed by local judge
A lawsuit against the University brought by a man claiming to be a Penn student was thrown out by a Philadelphia court on Monday.
Eber Devine, the plaintiff, was seeking $100,000 in damages from the school based on charges that Penn Police officers falsely arrested and assaulted him in March 2000.
The suit was filed in the spring of 2002, but the hearing was delayed a number of times.
"The judge basically ruled that the Penn Police officers who had stopped him verified that there was an outstanding warrant on a parole violation for a previous crime that he had committed," Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush said.
She added that the judge ruled that there was no misconduct by Penn Police officers in making the arrest.
Although Devine claims to be a student on leave, Rush said that he was at no point a student at the University.
The school's online directory lists him as a "guest."
Devine was present inside College Hall yesterday in support of the group of students protesting Penn Police treatment of minorities.
-- Jason Schwartz
Walking escort options expanded for term end
The Division of Public Safety, in conjunction with the Undergraduate Assembly, has reinstituted the Public Safety "Walk-Back" program for reading days and finals week.
Between Dec. 11 and Dec. 22 an Allied Security officer will be posted outside of Van Pelt Library from 12 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. Approximately every 30 minutes the officer will check in on Van Pelt's Goldstein Undergraduate Study Center and Rosengarten Reserve Room to inquire if anybody there would like a walking escort to their residence.
This service is being provided by the Division of Public Safety in addition to its normal walking escort program. To request a walking escort, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, call 215-898-WALK.
-- J. S.
Democrat concedes in Attorney General race
Democratic candidate Jim Eisenhower conceded yesterday to Republican Tom Corbett, continuing the longstanding GOP tradition in the office. No Democrat has ever been elected to the position.
"It is clear there are not enough outstanding votes for me to overtake Tom Corbett's lead in the unofficial results," Eisenhower said in a statement yesterday. "I recognize and accept this result."
"I am deeply grateful to those who supported my candidacy, and pledge that I will continue to work to make Pennsylvania a better place to live and work."
In the unofficial election returns according to the state board of elections, Corbett received 2,696,134 votes to Eisenhower's 2,578,453.
The Attorney General is the state's top prosecutor.
-- Garrett Young
