In October, Jean Celestin (senior-political science) was convicted of sexual assault. Almost two months later, he remains at Penn State, walking on campus, taking classes and preparing to graduate.

As a convicted criminal, Celestin should not be allowed to remain on university property and should not be given the privilege of a Penn State degree.

Last week, the national non-profit group Security on Campus Inc. urged Penn State not to allow the former wrestler to graduate on Dec. 15. On Friday, members of Black Caucus, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity supported Celestin's right to receive a Penn State diploma. Some said he was a good friend and a good person. Others said he was innocent. At least one speaker blamed his conviction on a racially skewed judicial system.

But none of these points change the fact that Celestin was convicted of sexual assault. No matter how nice of a person he is or how his friends describe his character, the fact remains that he is a convicted sex offender who could pose a threat to the well being of others on campus.

Security has been a high profile and contentious issue at Penn State, especially during the past two years. In September 2000, Hung Truong entered 12 female dorm rooms, assaulting six women. Truong was banned from campus immediately following his arraignment. A similar series of assaults occurred in Mifflin Hall earlier this year.

Last spring, several threats sent to black student leaders raised concern about campus security even more. The person or persons responsible for those threats have yet to be found. But if those responsible turn out to be Penn State students, we hope the university will not wait until after they graduate to ban them from campus.

If friends, teachers and classmates of those responsible for the threats come forward to back their moral character, does that mean that the university should allow them to remain among the student body even after they have been convicted of the crime?

We don't want anyone who enters dorm rooms and assaults residents on campus. We don't want anyone who sends death threats on campus. And we don't want anyone convicted of sexually assaulting another Penn State student on campus -- whether that person is Celestin or anyone else.

Although Celestin has been convicted in the court of law, he has yet to face Penn State sanctions, which is why he is able to remain on campus. The university's Judicial Affairs process does not coincide with criminal proceedings. Often, as demonstrated in many of the cases of students arrested in connection with downtown riots during the past three years, the Judicial Affairs hearing precedes the court ruling. On the request of the victim, Celestin's Judicial Affairs hearing was postponed until after the criminal proceedings were complete. Though Celestin is appealing the decision, he has been convicted and the victim has told Penn State she wants the university's case to move forward. Judicial Affairs now needs to take quick and decisive action.

This is not just about Celestin. This is about every convicted criminal -- especially sex offenders. For the safety of our fellow students and community, we do not want them on our campus. And for the sake of the name and reputation of the university we proudly attend, we do not want their crimes tarnishing the value of our Penn State degrees.