The Oldest College Newspaper in Pennsylvania

The Lafayette

The Oldest College Newspaper in Pennsylvania

The Lafayette

The Oldest College Newspaper in Pennsylvania

The Lafayette

Student faces disorderly conduct charges for alleged flag theft

Football player Connor Goss ‘18 may face disciplinary action after allegedly attempting to steal a flag from the quad last Saturday, according to reports from the Express Times.

The flags that Goss allegedly tried to take down were part of an environmental display for Lafayette’s Sustainable Solutions Earth Week Celebration.

This is not the first time that a student or group of students has attempted to steal flags from the quad. According to Lafayette College Public Safety statistics published in the crime log, last spring over a dozen international student flags were stolen from the quad. No students were convicted for the thefts.

Goss was witnessed and cited by a public safety officer after trying to take down the flag, and now may be facing disciplinary action from both the school and the state. It is unclear whether alcohol was involved in the situation.

“If students are found responsible for violations of [Lafayette’s Code of Conduct], disciplinary action is taken,” Director of the Department of Athletics Bruce McCutcheon wrote in an email.

According to Lafayette’s 2014-2015 Student Handbook, “Behaviors that lead to alleged violations of the Code may also lead to alleged violations of federal, state, or local laws and ordinances.”

This is the case for Goss, who also faces charges of disorderly conduct from the state.

Goss was summoned for creating a hazardous condition to other pedestrians, and charged, according to a later court record, with criminal mischief, said the Express Times.

Goss’s options include pleading guilty, as well as paying a fine and court costs or challenging the charge in a district court. Goss can also apply for Northampton County’s Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition for first-time offenders, said a court employee to the Express Times.

This program, if successfully completed, would lead to the charge being removed from Goss’ record.

Head football coach Frank Tavani declined to comment beyond McCutcheon’s email response. Goss did not respond to an email seeking comment.

 

 

 

 

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