The University Hearing Board dismissed charges against a student who allegedly threatened a participant during a Penn State Pro-Choice-sponsored "die-in" April 10.

Deborah Shapiro (junior-psychology), who filed the charges against William Ames with the University's Office of Conduct Standards, said yesterday she thought the board doubted she correctly identified Ames at the hearing last Thursday.

Donald Suit, director of the Office of Conduct Standards and the Center for Conflict Management, refused to confirm the decision.

Shapiro alleged that Ames, executive editor of The Lionhearted, told her during the "die-in" that he weighed 250 pounds and that he could easily break her arm if he stepped on it and it would be her fault.

The Lionhearted is a conservative student newspaper which has criticized the Women's Studies Program and gay rights, among other things.

As participants in the "die-in," Shapiro and about 20 other pro-choice advocates were lying in front of Williard Building.

Ames said he was happy with the outcome and that Shapiro had a weak case.

"I'm surprised it even went to a hearing," Ames said.

Ames said his brother, Joseph Ames, appeared at the hearing and confessed to saying what Shapiro alleged he had said himself.

William Ames said he thinks Shapiro pulled his name out of an article that ran in The Daily Collegian following the April demonstration and if not, the accusation was, at least, politically motivated.

"I think it was a cheap attempt to get at The Lionhearted through me," William Ames said.

Joseph Ames, editor in chief of The Lionhearted, said about a dozen counter charges had been filed against various individuals and campus groups, including Shapiro, Erin O'Leary, Kristen Eisenbraun, Womyn's Concerns and Penn State Pro-Choice.

Charges include blocking entrances to University facilities, Joseph Ames added.

Shapiro said she heard about the charges but had not been offically notified.