<p>She has denied, through her lawyer, being the one who gave the guy her key. Maybe she gave it to her friend who then gave it to the guy so technically she can say she didn’t do it She could also deny knowing how it would be used - I don’t think anyone would believe that though. I think she must have been, in some way, involved in getting these guys in.</p>
<p>I don’t believe that Harvard acted out of racism. They have apparently gone through text messages in addition to the card key records. I hope Campbell does sue so the evidence becomes public - but I doubt she will. I do not beleive this was an innocent lending of a card. Campbell was taking a final that day – how many kids have visitors during finals? Were they staying over night? A lot of questions. How many other kids are involved in stolen and forged check incidents?</p>
<p>Ellen, its a few hour train or car trip from NY – Campbell’s home – she knew about this in time to cancel their trip. </p>
<p>Schools have a responsilbilty to protect the kids in dorms from people with guns.</p>
<p>I agree that there must be more to this than a loaned key card and we don’t have any reason to assume that racism has anything to do with it. I don’t think she’s doing herself any favors by making those claims.</p>
<p>The school seems to be upset that there doesn’t seem to be a way to punish this kid. They could have suspended her and thrown graduation into question. But H has decided to award her her diploma.</p>
<p>If H is going to give her a diploma, they should let her walk. Heck, people who aren’t getting a diploma walk.</p>
<p>Where did you see that she’s getting a diploma? Nothing I’ve read states that. The language of the articles is vague, but it suggests that she’s been suspended pending the outcome of the criminal investigation. </p>
<p>There is now an article at boston.com which states that the other young woman who is allegedly involved, Brittany J. Smith, has also been barred from campus and graduation. She and her attorney have not spoken to the press. </p>
<p>It is also reported that the gun used to commit the murder was found in the room of a friend of Smith’s which Smith sometimes used to store her things.</p>
<p>I don’t claim to have any inside knowledge, but it seems perfectly reasonable to me to delay granting a degree until such time as an investigation as to whether any criminal statutes or Harvard regulations were violated can be completed.</p>
<p>NY Times article suggests that she is not receiving a diploma. It also states that H gave Ms. Campbell an explanation of the reasons for its decision in writing and she has refused to share the letter with the press. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/04/nyregion/04campbell.html?_r=1&hp[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/04/nyregion/04campbell.html?_r=1&hp</a></p>
<p>From the NY Times article: “During her spring break in March, Chanequa Campbell, a Harvard senior, traveled to Milan for at least the fourth time in two years…” Huh? I haven’t been to Europe in 20 years, too busy paying for my kids’ education.</p>
<p>I hope someone writes a book on this (NOT any criminal). There are many issues here. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>The excessive trips to Italy (by a soc major, not a language major) gives the impression that the rich and poor live it up, and the middle class are slinging plates. This seems excessive to me. </p></li>
<li><p>The prior theft and forgery of a check?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>And of course – who did what. </p>
<p>I’ld suggest to one of the detectives this would make a great book.</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>This is probably the biggest question of the whole episode–was she a drug dealer or the “go-to” person for students who wanted drugs? It would go a long way to explaining why Harvard would not grant her a degree.</p>
<p>From the Times article - “Conversations that occurred between at least those four people — that led Jordan Copney to believe that he could rip off Justin Cosby for money and drugs,” said the Middlesex County district attorney, Gerard T. Leone Jr. “The common denominator between those four people is drugs.” He also said that the Harvard students had allowed the three men access to the campus.</p>
<p>Its not crystal clear to me, but I think the four people includes Campbell. Whether she was dealing drugs or not, if she helped set up a robbery, that is a big issue to me.</p>
<p>Who is this fourth person they are talking about? You have the 2 Harvard girls, the shooter and someone who hasn’t been identified by name yet. </p>
<p>There is a world of difference between being part of a robbery conspiracy and saying something to Jordan Copney might have “led Jordan Copney to believe that he could rip off Justin Cosby for money and drugs.”</p>
<p>The 4th person is the late victim.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>There may not be. If you add providing the card key and the time that Cosby might be found at the dorm, there you have it.</p>
<p>Hanna, so are the 4 people the two Harvard girls, the victim and the shooter? I thought the victim was accompanied by two others – BUT, imho, if anyone communicated to Copney that heah, come on up, you can rip off (which we all know that euphanism is rob, not cheat, and force is intended) – I see not just a problem, but a criminal act. </p>
<p>Part of why I am so upset about this is a co-workers son, a freshman at another school, had roommates dealing hard drugs, he complained, and the school refused to do anything. </p>
<p>I agree in giving everyone a fair chance, but the schools turning a blind eye to serious safety issues is wrong.</p>
<p>Yes, that is my understanding. The police were not talking about the two people accompanying the shooter.</p>
<p>It has been reported that a key card was used to access a Harvard building just AFTER the shooting. They were let in another building (?to hide) prior to the shooter and those accompanying him leaving the area. It is supposedly THIS use of the key card that caused the suspension of first one girl and now both. Neither senior girl is walking at graduation.</p>
<p>It’s also been reported that a gun was found in Lowell House and tests are being done to see if it’s the gun that killed Cosby. Smith lived in Lowell House. It’s also being reported that the cops went into Smith’s room between 2 and 3 am after the shooting. I assume there was a search warrant, which means that the cops had reason to believe there was something of interest there. </p>
<p>The cops have also mentioned a “witness”. If it’s not Ms. Smith herself, that means somebody saw something. Here’s what the Crimson says:</p>
<p>"After the incident, Copney and the two individuals accompanying him allegedly fled the scene and headed toward Lowell—where Smith lives—and met an unidentified witness, said Assistant District Attorney Daniel Bennett at Copney’s arraignment last month. Copney then told the witness, “there was a fight, and then a shooting,” Bennett said. </p>
<p>According to a Lowell resident who requested anonymity because they did not want their name associated with the incident, Harvard police officers stood outside Smith’s room the evening of the shooting and entered her room between 2 and 3 a.m. the next morning. "</p>
<p>Probable translation of the second paragraph: The cops guarded the room to make sure nobody went in before they got a warrant and could go in to search themselves. </p>
<p>I don’t know if Ms. Campbell was involved. Neither does anyone else. That’s kind of the point. It’s going to take time to sort all this out. </p>
<p>I think H is being perfectly reasonable in barring both women from the campus and holding off their diplomas until things become clearer as to whether they were involved and if so to what extent.</p>
<p>It is conceivable that the search occurred after the police obtained a resident’s consent to search the suite rather than a search warrant.</p>
<p>jonri, where did you find the new Crimson content?</p>
<p>[The</a> Harvard Crimson :: News :: Senior Will Not Receive Diploma](<a href=“http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=528478]The”>http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=528478)</p>
<p>I pity the poor House masters of Lowell. This isn’t quite the thing you expect when you sign up for duty!</p>