Student Suspended for Off-Campus Traffic Violation

DPS May Have Violated Law by Pulling Him Over

BY JOHN P. SCHMIDT AND RYAN J. REILLY

Traffic violations rarely affect more than insurance premiums and license points, but one sophomore just lost a semester’s tuition and enrollment at the University for driving the wrong way on John McCormack Road.

Sophomore Justin DiFranco, a 19-year-old marketing major from New Jersey, made an illegal turn onto Michigan Avenue when the gate to campus near the Metro was closed. Lt. Marvin Dicks witnessed the vehicle operated by DiFranco moving erratically at a high rate of speed on Aug. 26 at 1:50 a.m., according to a Department of Public Safety report obtained by the Tower. Thirty-one minutes later, Dicks said he observed the same vehicle enter Spellman parking lot and pulled over the silver Jeep Grand Cherokee.

DPS contacted the Metropolitan Police Department, who searched the vehicle and issued a sobriety test, DiFranco said. The test indicated DiFranco had nothing to drink, and MPD left the scene without filing a report. DPS issued an incident report and referred the incident to the Office of Judicial Affairs, who prosecuted DiFranco for violating a section of the student code of conduct which says the University can pursue disciplinary action against a student for violating a District or federal law off-campus. Read more

Catholic University Clarifies Speaker Policy

Political candidates can speak on campus with University approval from Rev. David M. O’Connell, according to the University’s newly expanded political activity guidelines for student organizations.

“No candidates running for election are to be invited for anything without express permission of the President,” the policy states. “No politicians who have public positions that run counter to the teachings of the Catholic Church are to be invited for anything without express permission from the President.”

The upcoming election has been influential in the University’s decision to finally state an otherwise unwritten rule about political candidates. “Things have ramped up between 2000-2008,” said Craig Parker, the University’s general counsel, about the political policies. Read more