March 10, 2016
Dear USC Community,
Thank you for sharing your concerns about the incident which occurred in Cardinal Gardens on March 6. As you may know, a student reported this incident to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and USC’s Department of Public Safety, and posted details of his experience on his Facebook account.
Because this incident was a potential hate crime, the investigation was under the jurisdiction of the LAPD and the University cooperated with their process. Facts revealed during the investigation led the LAPD to conclude that this case should not be treated as a hate crime, and would be better handled through the University’s process. Therefore, the case is now being processed through the University’s Office of Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards (SJACS), which is authorized to adjudicate student conduct violations and issue appropriate disciplinary sanctions.
As with all SJACS cases, the students involved have rights of confidentiality that prevent disciplinary actions from being published publicly. Furthermore, all students have the right to privacy in matters related to their academic standing at the university, as disciplinary records, including enrollment status, are protected by federal law. As such, the University is unable to provide further details of this case to the community. Thank you for understanding our obligation to comply with federal law and protect student privacy.
Sincerely,
Ainsley Carry, Ed.D, MBA
Vice President for Student Affairs