Students charged with credit card theft

By Michael Grace
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

The Northfield Police Department questioned an undisclosed number of Norwich students about charges of theft and use of stolen credit cards. But because of the ongoing investigation, police refused to disclose any other details about their identity or whether official charges will be made.

But the story broke when Norwich security was notified that some students had their credit cards stolen.

"Security received a call from the Northfield Police Department regarding issues concerning some of the students," said Bizhan Yahyazadeh, Director of Facilities Operations. "Security as well as the commandant's office assisted the Northfield Police Department in the investigation, and I cannot say anymore about the matter (because it) is still under investigation at this time."

Norwich President Richard Schneider said the situation is "unfortunate, but from our understanding we know that we had some credit cards and cash stolen on campus. We understand that the police have charged some of our students with theft and use of stolen credit cards."

According to Schneider, the university cannot divulge any particulars about the incident because of the Family Rights and Privacy Act. He said that he was also reluctant to give specifics while an ongoing investigation was underway by the Northfield Police Department and the commandant's office.

"Everybody gets a fair shot, and you're innocent until your proven guilty," Schneider said. "It sounds like the police have a very strong case, which will be turned over to the district attorney for the arraignment in court.

"Our feeling is that you just don't walk away; you should stand tall and go through the process," Schneider said. "One of the students we know, however, is coming back to go through the process, but the others we are not sure about."

"The University will hold a hearing and prosecute; and if they are here, they are here, but if they are they're not," Schneider said. "But we are going to go through what we have as evidence and make a ruling on a punishment."

"We have a good process in place; we have a fair system. Students get a chance to speak their mind," Schneider said. "We have the right to do anything administratively on our own, independent from the police, which the commandant is doing now to enforce the honor code."

The commandant refused to make a statement, indicating that every measure was being taken not to jeopardize the investigation or to wrongfully accuse any individual.

According to the Norwich Rules and Regulations and the Honor Code, the maximum punishment if found guilty by a board of his or her peers can result in separation from the university.

"It's a tough punishment," Schneider said. "But I think (it is) appropriate for people who steal or lie or cheat, so it's pretty straightforward and hard sometimes to live by for some."

Schneider is the university's appeals officer and if the commandant issues the punishment of separation or dismissal from the institution, the students have the right to appeal the charge to the president.

Schneider explained that he will then make certain that the school treats the students fairly and that the students have appropriate honor boards. He also stressed that the punishment is consistent with the kind of punishment issued in the past.

"It really is disappointing; we would want all of our students and all of us to live our honor code," Schneider said. "It is not just a student code for my corps and not just for my civilian students. Rather, it's a code for everybody at Norwich: that we do not lie, cheat, steal, or attempt to deceive.

"It is especially hurtful when your personal property is taken, especially by a person or persons that you think that either you're friends with or you're classmates," Schneider said.

"None of this would have happened if doors were locked," said Norwich Chief of Security Larry Mayo. "Everybody that got ripped off left their room unlocked and left."

Mayo said that students "must keep your doors locked, even if it's just going to the bathroom or going to get a drink; you have to keep your doors locked, especially the corps side, with weapons in their rooms."

"There are a lot of people here, and you don't know all of them," Mayo said. "Even with the honor code, all of these people are not your friends; you don't know these people; you don't where they're from or what their background is."

Mayo cautioned students to realize that not everyone they associate with are friends "because you don't know them that good. This is a good example to keep those doors locked."

Norwich University Director of Public Relations Tom Greene emphasized that "theft is an issue on all college campuses. Norwich is no different, but we hope that we have less of a problem than most other institutions because of our honor code."

"I think although we have a safe campus in terms of crimes statistics you could probably put us up with any other campus in the country," Greene said. "We have an honor code, but you still have to take precautions to make sure these things don't happen."

Schneider reminded the corps at their safety meeting in Shapiro Field House to lock up their valuables before they leave for the Thanksgiving break.

"We hope that all of our students, employees, faculty and staff here at Norwich live by the honor code," Schneider stressed, adding that it is "prudent to protect (those personal items) that are important to you."

Schneider said that not everyone who comes to the university does so with the commitment to honest behavior.

"Even after four years, some of them still may not get (the message)," Schneider said. "So a little prevention is always worth a lot."

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