3 undergraduates charged for felony assault against another student
Duke University Police Department officers served warrants to three undergraduate students in connection with an assault in the Blue Zone during the tailgate festivities prior to the Nov. 20 football game against the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Officers charged junior and Christopher Mandracchia and senior George Furtado with Felony Assault Inflicting Serious Injury. Furtado and Mandracchia appeared in court yesterday for first appearances after being given a $3,000 secure bond.
Mandracchia and Furtado could not be reached for comment.
The DUPD also sought junior Benjamin Hughes, but were unable to locate him to serve a warrant. The junior turned himself in, and could not be reached for comment regarding court dates or bonds.
The three warrants were in response to the Blue Zone assault, during which senior Chris Anthony’s face was bloodied and his tooth was knocked.out. Anthony declined to comment.
“During the interviews, [the alleged perpetrators] were identified by the victims,” said Maj. Phyllis Cooper off the DUPD.
West Campus benches held by U.S. customs inspectors for Spanish mold
Although students are unenthusiastic about the installation of several Spanish benches on the Main Quad, a far more basic hindrance has kept the benches off of West Campus.
Four benches ordered from Spain were held in Customs in October and developed mold in the process. “Mold was an outcome of them being held in customs, not the reason they were held,” said Joe Gonzalez, associate dean of student life. Students have expressed their questions and concerns about the changes to the Main Quad throughout the semester, and the lack of transparency and communication between students and administrators continues to be a source of tension.
“It seems like the whole thing has been kind of secretive,” said sophomore Will Moss.
Many students are still sour over the purchase of alternative benches. “I think all benches should be able to be burned, so I don’t really approve of the concept of permanent benches,” said Moss, “Fewer benches means smaller bonfires, which sucks.”
Even freshmen have expressed disappointment and skepticism about the changes. “It sounds kind of sketchy. I don’t think that fancy Spanish benches will be anywhere near as cool or as used a the big wooden ones that students paint,” Marilyn Tycer said.
“I was on Campus Council last year and heard nothing of the idea to purchase alternative benches. While I do think they will make a nice addition, their purpose should be just that—an addition—not a replacement for the benches that have traditionally been on the main quad,” said Katherine Cox, Campus Council communications coordinator.
The University again failed to communicate with students regarding the most recent bench delay.
“I don’t see why more information hasn’t been provided to the student body as to the status of the benches,” said Cox, “a simple e-mail or even an update on Devilpass would have been nice.”
“I’m not sure there are well-developed mechanisms for sharing this kind of information,” Gonzalez said. “I guess in retrospect, it would have been helpful if we would have gone to Campus Council and given them an update.”
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