The surveillance video of Csont’e York’s sucker punch of a 23 year
old man outside of Scorekeeper’s bar is posted on YouTube
old man outside of Scorekeeper’s bar is posted on YouTube
According to the news story posted by The Ann Arbor News, “It knocked out a tooth and broke his jaw in three places, requiring it to be wired shut and necessitating the temporary use of a breathing tube, according to the police report”
These are very serious injuries. In particular, the description of what was apparently the use of an endotracheal tube to protect his airway and make sure that he could breathe is very serious. One must be deeply unconscious in order for the paramedics to have intubated the man.
Just how serious these injuries are is demonstrated by the recent death of a referee in Livonia after being punched [1]. In that case the assailant was charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, a felony.
In the case of Csont’e York, the maximum offense that prosecutors have charged is aggravated assault, a misdemeanor. In view of the serious injuries suffered by the victim, I question whether or not this really should be charged as a misdemeanor. Did the Livonia soccer player have any more intent to commit great bodily harm than did Csont’e York? Csont’e York’s victim was just luckier than the soccer referee.
Aside from the prosecutors, the University has an obligation under the Student Code of Rights and Responsibilities to protect other students from an assaultive student. The investigation of such student conduct violations is supposed to be independent of any concurrent legal proceedings. What would be the University’s responsibility if Csont’e York assaults another student while the court proceedings are pending, particularly if they have not undertaken an investigation and corrective actions?
Many people have been given trespass warnings and barred from the University for much lessor offenses. A nursing student was expelled solely because some of her teachers alleged that other students were afraid of her (even though the teachers had created the fear by their own remarks to the students). A teenager was banned from UM property for kicking a soccer ball around the golf course. A longtime football season ticket holder was given a trespass warning because he passed out a flyer describing a religious experience before a game. Yet no trespass warning has been issued to Mr. York.
The University must give Csont’e York due process under the Student Code of Rights and Responsibilities but it is uncertain if any such disciplinary proceedings have even been initiated. In my opinion, after viewing this video, the University should take steps to protect fellow students.
[1] http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/01/justice/michigan-soccer-death/
These are very serious injuries. In particular, the description of what was apparently the use of an endotracheal tube to protect his airway and make sure that he could breathe is very serious. One must be deeply unconscious in order for the paramedics to have intubated the man.
Just how serious these injuries are is demonstrated by the recent death of a referee in Livonia after being punched [1]. In that case the assailant was charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, a felony.
In the case of Csont’e York, the maximum offense that prosecutors have charged is aggravated assault, a misdemeanor. In view of the serious injuries suffered by the victim, I question whether or not this really should be charged as a misdemeanor. Did the Livonia soccer player have any more intent to commit great bodily harm than did Csont’e York? Csont’e York’s victim was just luckier than the soccer referee.
Aside from the prosecutors, the University has an obligation under the Student Code of Rights and Responsibilities to protect other students from an assaultive student. The investigation of such student conduct violations is supposed to be independent of any concurrent legal proceedings. What would be the University’s responsibility if Csont’e York assaults another student while the court proceedings are pending, particularly if they have not undertaken an investigation and corrective actions?
Many people have been given trespass warnings and barred from the University for much lessor offenses. A nursing student was expelled solely because some of her teachers alleged that other students were afraid of her (even though the teachers had created the fear by their own remarks to the students). A teenager was banned from UM property for kicking a soccer ball around the golf course. A longtime football season ticket holder was given a trespass warning because he passed out a flyer describing a religious experience before a game. Yet no trespass warning has been issued to Mr. York.
The University must give Csont’e York due process under the Student Code of Rights and Responsibilities but it is uncertain if any such disciplinary proceedings have even been initiated. In my opinion, after viewing this video, the University should take steps to protect fellow students.
[1] http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/01/justice/michigan-soccer-death/