His emotion at hearing the verdict may have been genuine. I feel sorry that any human being did something bad enough to another human being that leads to jail time. But my belief that he is guilty wasn’t not changed by seeing his emotional response.
Was there a chance he could still matriculate at Harvard if he was acquitted on all counts?
I have no idea but my pure speculation, based on no information, is that there would be a chance of that. My guess is that they told him, “We’ll talk if and when you are acquitted.” But I don’t know that.
Given the fact he broke a lot of school rules and, as a result, had his award revoked as well as his privileges to step foot on campus, its highly likely that Harvard wouldn’t want him anymore even if he had been acquitted of all charges. Why would Harvard want that kind of negative publicity? Just having participated in - sounds more like spearheaded - the contest shows a lack of character and judgement.
I didn’t think his emotion when the verdict was announced was an act. I thought it was genuine.
I don’t think his victim’s emotion was an act either. I think she’s been in an awful lot of hurt for 15 months…and will still be in an awful lot of hurt for a long time to come.
Again, pure speculation but… the Common App asks if you’ve been convicted of a misdemeanor, not if you’ve been charged with one. The Common App for transfers also asks the same. I think Labrie–and pehaps mom who is a high school administrator and teacher–thought that if he were acquitted, he could spend a couple of years at a CC or local college, excel–he is after all very book smart–and then enroll in a top tier college. Hiis high school record would be less important.
We–or at least I–don’t know what sort of investigation St. Paul’s conducted. Maybe he as disciplined for having an unauthorized key and/or going into restricted spaces. If that’s what was on the disciplinary report, I suspect that game plan would have worked.
But again, pure speculation on my part.
Here’s the statement Harvard released last Summer when the charges were first brought:
“While we do not comment publicly on the admissions status of individual applicants, Harvard College reserves the right to withdraw an offer of admission under certain conditions, which are clearly expressed to students upon their acceptance. An offer of admission may be rescinded if a student engages in behavior that brings into question his or her honesty, maturity, or moral character.”
“Given the fact he broke a lot of school rules and, as a result, had his award revoked as well as his privileges to step foot on campus, its highly likely that Harvard wouldn’t want him anymore even if he had been acquitted of all charges.”
Right. Getting in serious trouble with your high school is more than enough to get rescinded. Harvard doesn’t have to prove anything beyond a reasonable doubt.
@Jonri, does the CA ask about felonies? Or is it assumed that if you have one, you’re not going to be applying?
The statement St. Paul’s issued on the day of the verdict says that “Owen Labrie was banned from the School and his Rector’s Award was rescinded” when the school was informed of the police investigation in June 2014, so I guess it’s clear that something pretty significant was on the disciplinary report. Presumably the “go-to-a-community-college-then-transfer-to-a-top-college-if-acquitted” game plan wouldn’t have worked even if he had been acquitted.
Here is the link to the statement:
https://www.sps.edu/podium/push/default.aspx?s=36&i=105118&u=0
They sure do. Specifically:
“Presumably the “go-to-a-community-college-then-transfer-to-a-top-college-if-acquitted” game plan wouldn’t have worked even if he had been acquitted.”
Oh, it might have worked. Might still work if he doesn’t have to do the sex offender registry. Colleges can be pretty forgiving if you pay your debt, come clean, and put together two great years in community college. Lots of kids get expelled from high school or college for various infractions, get it together, and get a second chance. It’s not likely to be Harvard, though lightning did strike when they accepted me, so who knows?
People who are convicted felons do sometimes get into top colleges.Brown admitted someone who spent something like 7 years in prison for a drug felony. Kid grew up in a project, joined a gang, became a drug dealer. Went to prison, earned a GED.
He applied to Brown–he grew up in Rhode Island–and was rejected. Went to a public U for a year and excelled. Reapplied to Brown.
Lots and lots of people wrote recs saying he was amazingly smart and his mistakes were the kind you’d expect a dirt poor kid from the projects who couldn’t get any decent job because of his status to make. Did extremely well academically in college. Applied to and was accepted to Yale Law.
http://www.today.com/id/26661590/ns/today-today_news/t/prison-ivy-league-law-school/#.VeZtSvlViko (Watch the video!)
And since you might want to ask, today he is a member of the bar and practices with a very prestigious law firm.
http://www.bsfllp.com/lawyers/data/1838/:pf_printable/style=print
Colleges do believe that people can turn their lives around…because some people do.
@jonri, that’s a really inspirational story. Thanks for sharing that.
People do turn their lives around. Here is another example - a former bank robber attended UW Law on a full ride:
http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/former-bank-robber-in-2nd-year-at-uw-law-school/
Interesting that in both of these stories, the ex-felons became lawyers. Maybe their experiences with the wrong side of the law sparked their interests.
St. Paul’s does not have a PG year. One of the few New England boarding schools that don’t.
I took Labri’s reaction to the verdict as genuine…so much so that I was haunted by it for days afterward.
I think he thought he was innocent. That partly explains his reaction at the verdict.
Another major part is the deal he left on the table.
Do we know 100% for certain that there was a deal left on the table? Or are we only conjecturing?
@VeryHappy - It’s been published in a few news sources but no original source given. I’ve heard both 1 month and 1 year in prison as part of the plea deal. Not sure who is “leaking” the proposed plea deal - the prosecution? the defense? One of the first 3 attorneys?
In post #874 there is a link to a video clip and Carney confirms the plea deal which would not have included registering as a sex offender.