Opinion ID: 2005114
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Syracuse University Incident

Text: In May 2002, while a first-year law student at Syracuse University, Antonini was arrested and charged with aggravated harassment and harassment. These charges, which Antonini testified were ultimately dropped, stemmed from an altercation between Antonini and two fellow law school classmates, Sarah W. and Richard S. Antonini testified at the hearing that he had attempted to end a romantic relationship with Sarah. He stated that after he had been drinking, he called Sarah, who agreed to meet him. At that time, Richard got on the telephone and began calling Antonini names, including a son of a bitch. Antonini testified that he then went to Sarah's residence and that pursuant to his request, his roommate delivered a note to Sarah. In his bar application, Antonini stated that when Richard called him a son of a bitch, he demanded an apology, which Richard declined to give. He stated that he then drafted a note to Richard demanding [Richard] apologize for his accusations and that [Antonini] no longer intended to carry on a relationship with [Sarah]. In contrast, in a written statement to the Syracuse University's department of public safety, Antonini stated that he wrote Richard a note about [Richard's] backing up his allegations of [Antonini's] mother being a Bitch. The note states verbatim, including grammatical errors, Son of A Bitch Whatch your Ass BitMy MA! Fuck You FagI'll Fuck You up. Upon the Commission's receipt of the letter from Syracuse University, Antonini issued a written declaration, further explaining the letter. Antonini explained that the note directed at Richard was in response to language used by Richard when telling Antonini what Richard would do to Antonini and that it returned his specific language to him. As previously noted, Antonini faced criminal charges of aggravated harassment and harassment as a result of this incident. Antonini testified that these charges were ultimately dismissed. Antonini was also subject to a civil protection order which limited his contact with Sarah. Additionally, he faced disciplinary actions by Syracuse University on the ground that he violated the university's code of student conduct. The record reflects that Antonini was placed on what the university referred to as an interim suspension. Antonini requested an appeal of his interim suspension, and following the hearing, the university appeals board issued an opinion in which the board affirmed Antonini's interim suspension.