'U' postpones Granger's admission

The University last week postponed the admission of Daniel Granger, one of the Grosse Pointe North High School graduates facing statutory rape charges in a highly publicized investigation.

Granger, last year's high school senior class president, and three of his former classmates have been charged with statutory rape for having sex with three 14-year-old girls.

In an August 1 letter to Granger, Provost Nancy Cantor said Granger's admission to the University would be suspended until winter term, pending a full investigation of the matter. The letter came the day after Granger and his attorney met with Vice

Granger

President for Student Affairs Maureen Hartford and Associate Provost Lester Monts.

Monts will lead the University's inquiry, which will involve looking at Granger's high school records and meeting with high school representatives.

Cantor and other University representatives refused to comment on the specifics of the deferral, and would not disclose under which provision Granger was suspended.

University spokesperson Julie Peterson said the University can suspend a student three ways - using the Code of Student Conduct, emergency suspension or the admissions process.

But Cantor's letter suggested the decision fell under the auspices of admissions.

The University has "decided to defer your matriculation to the University of Michigan until Winter Term, 1999, pending a full admissions review...," the letter stated.

Peterson said the admissions process does not officially end until students begin attending classes.

The Code is the University's internal discipline system. It outlines behaviors the University finds to be illegal or unacceptable, and can be used to impose sanctions as severe as expulsion.

Administrators initiate Code proceeding for off-campus behavior only when the behavior poses an obvious and serious threat or harm to any member of the University community, according to the Code.

Administrators use emergency suspension when the severity of a student's action warrants immediate action.

Wayne State University Law Professor Robert Sedler said that although the decision may not seem fair, it is constitutional.

"He hasn't started to take courses (and) he has no base" at the University, Sedler said. Universities have a lot of discretion as to who to admit and I think if it's challenged in Court ... the University's position will be upheld," Sedler said.

Nametags adorned the doors of Granger's would-be hallmates on the fourth floor of Couzens Residence Hall this past weekend, but the door to the room Granger was assigned was bare.

LSA first-year student Opara Ugbuattu, who lives across the hall from what would have been Granger's room, said she would have felt safe with Granger living in her hall."I don't think he'd be a threat ... I'd feel bad for him because everyone would be whispering" about the incident, said Ugbuattu. "I'd feel OK with him being here," she said.

But LSA first-year student Anna Gerard said, "I don't think I'd feel comfortable with him living here."

The scandal began when a picture of Granger with his genitals exposed appeared in the student yearbook. Through an internal high school investigation, allegations surfaced that Granger had sex with as many as six underage girls, three of which have come forward.

Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Douglas Baker said the alleged incidents between Granger and the three high school freshmen were consensual.

But sex with girls under Michigan's age of consent of 16 years is considered third degree criminal sexual conduct and is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Defense attorney William Bufalino would not confirm or deny that sex occurred, but said he does not want the case to go to trial.

"I talked with the prosecutor about a plea bargain as late as this morning," Bufalino said last Friday. One possible plea would be to fourth degree criminal sexual conduct, where any jail sentence may be suspended.

"If so permitted (Granger) will attend the University next semester," Bufalino said.

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