October 30, 2004
FLC student kicked over **** shirt
By Mary Ann Lopez
Herald Staff WriterFort Lewis College student Mark O'Donnell experienced an unwanted lesson in hardball politics when he was kicked for wearing a cheeky FLC College Republicans sweatshirt.
The **** shirt, emblazoned across the back with: "Join us now … or work for us later," drew the ire of a woman who saw O' Donnell clad in it at Gazpacho New Mexican Restaurant.
O'Donnell later learned that the kicker was María Spero, a part-time instructor at the college, who issued an apology to O'Donnell on Friday.
O'Donnell has filed a police report with the Durango Police Department and plans to press charges, he said. He also plans to file a formal complaint with the college, he said. Calls left for Spero at her home and office were not returned Friday.
As the presidential election approaches, tempers are flaring not only in Durango, but nationwide as harassment, assaults and other mischief involving political signs are reported.
Until now, local offenses have been minor - mostly involving people stealing signs, said Durango Police Capt. Dale Smith. The incident involving O'Donnell and Spero is the most significant offense so far, he said.
Smith said if O'Donnell pursues charges against Spero, it is a misdemeanor offense that would be heard in Municipal Court, and punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and/or 90 days in jail.
On Oct. 21, O'Donnell met friends at Gazpacho to celebrate a friend's 21st birthday. O'Donnell, a member of the FLC College Republicans, was wearing the sweatshirt with the club's logo on the front and the phrase on the back.
While talking with friends, a girl at his table asked to see the sweatshirt, O'Donnell said. After showing his table the back of the shirt and the phrase, people at a neighboring table asked to see it. O'Donnell said he knew someone sitting at the other table. While modeling for the other table, he said, a woman, later identified as Spero, approached from behind and kicked him in the calf.
O'Donnell did not know Spero, and the kick caught him by surprise. Not one to mind a good political argument, O'Donnell nevertheless said, "To physically take that out on someone because you disagree with them, that is completely wrong."
After the blow, O'Donnell said, "She said she should have kicked me harder and higher."
In the police report, O'Donnell stated the kick to his right calf caused him pain and some embarrassment.
"If it had been a guy I would have started a fight," O'Donnell said. Instead, he said he went and sat down and tried to ignore the other table.
On Monday, he learned the identity of the kicker. He met with officials at the college on Thursday, and he said he plans to file a formal complaint with the college.
"I just think that students are held accountable for how they act and what they do in town. They can have actions brought against them. It is imperative that professors should be held accountable for their actions in town and on campus," O'Donnell said.
Officials at the college have formally apologized for the incident, O'Donnell said.
David Eppich, assistant to the president, said a formal written complaint has not been filed, but officials conducted an investigation. After talking with O'Donnell and Spero, officials verified that the incident occurred.
College officials emphasize that the incident did not occur on campus. After talking with Spero, a visiting instructor of modern languages who is not a full-time faculty member, Eppich said officials determined that neither party realized the other's affiliation with the college at the time.
"She has said it was inappropriate, and she wants to apologize," Eppich said. "The instructor indicated that she was very apologetic and did issue an apology to the student."
In a written letter to O'Donnell dated Oct. 29, Spero said, "I acted entirely inappropriately by kicking you, giving vent to a thoughtless knee-**** political reaction that should have never have happened. I also apologize for my untoward comments. Before the incident, I did not know you and that you are a Fort Lewis student. I am entirely sorry, I am ashamed of my behavior, and I hope you will accept my apology."
Aaryn Richardson, outgoing president of the FLC College Republicans, said he finds it hard to believe that the instructor did not know O'Donnell was a student, particularly because the club's name is on the front of the shirt.
On campus, he said, tensions surrounding the election are high this year.
"This is representative of where I think in the minds of some people, how frustrated they may feel and where their common sense has gone, right out the window," Richardson said.
The incident was the first **** encounter between the College Republicans and an instructor, he said.
"College students can do stupid things when they get riled up," Richardson said. "You expect professors to be held to a higher standard."
Fort Lewis College student Mark O'Donnell holds his FLC College Republicans sweatshirt on Friday. While eating at a downtown restaurant last week, O'Donnell showed the sweatshirt to friends. A woman at a neighboring table didn't find any humor in the shirt. She admitted kicking him in the calf.
( http://www.durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/04/news041030_1.htm )
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:lol:
Fort Lewis College student Mark O'Donnell holds his FLC College Republicans sweatshirt on Friday. While eating at a downtown restaurant last week, O'Donnell showed the sweatshirt to friends. A woman at a neighboring table didn't find any humor in the shirt. She admitted kicking him in the calf.
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