Former USG Senate president suspended by university

By TRACY WILSON
Collegian Staff Writer

A year after the first investigations into his computer tampering case, former Undergraduate Student Government Senate President Jason Covener has been suspended from Penn State.

Covener was suspended until Fall Semester following a hearing conducted by the Office of Judicial Affairs on March 3, he said.

Following his November arrest on charges of wiretapping and unlawful use of a computer in the USG office, Covener resigned his position in USG.

The university has yet to give a written explanation for the suspension, but the reason most likely pertains to the arrest, he said.

The lock on the door of Covener's former on-campus residence was changed yesterday, according to a notice posted by the Office of Physical Plant.

Joe Puzycki, director of the Office of Judicial Affairs, said he could not comment about the case for student confidentiality reasons.

Although Covener can enroll at Penn State for Fall Semester, he said he will probably get a job or attend another school. He also said he plans to decline the option to appeal the suspension.

"You don't stick around where you're not wanted," he said. "It's clear that the administration and (Penn State) Police Services don't want me there."

Covener said he would have graduated from Penn State after this summer or Fall Semester.

His trial is tentatively slated for next month, depending on when Centre County Judge Thomas K. Kistler rules on motions filed by his attorney, Karen Muir.

Motions have been filed for a more detailed bill of particulars about the charges, the repression of certain testimony and evidence, the inclusion of all USG office computers as evidence and the dismissal of three wiretap charges.

A sixth motion was recently filed after the March 1 search of his room by Penn State police, Covener said. His computer and other personal possessions were confiscated, he said.

"(The new motion) reflects we believe the search in his room was inappropriate," Muir said.

USG President Caroline Casagrande said she anticipated a more severe penalty for Covener than suspension. Casagrande also testified for the prosecution in Covener's preliminary hearing last November.

"I guess the university took the course of action they felt was appropriate. To be honest, I'm surprised he only got suspended," Casagrande said. "I hope he could put his student government talents to use at another school."