Incident Report: Encounter between Student Government Officials and Corinna Caracci
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| Watch the video of the last half of the encounter, as Justin walks out of his office with his camera around his neck. Notice Corinna's reaction at :23 to Justin's statement that he had overheard her days before in SUB100. |
Statement by Nicole Javaly
- Note: This statement is included as part of the appeal filed in this case.
On the morning of Thursday, April 27, at approximately 10:30 AM, a half-hour after election results had been posted, Corinna Caracci came to the fourth floor of the Student Union Building to go to a meeting in room 418. Room 418 is approximately 20 feet down the hall from the Student Association Executive Board, Legislative, and Business offices. On this morning, as Ms. Caracci was walking into her meeting, five students: Dan Curtis, R.J. Partington III, Nicole Javaly, Christian Amez, and Mike Peters were standing in the hallway near the S.A. offices. As Ms. Caracci was walking into her room, R.J. said, 'sorry, you lost.' She walked into the room, then came back out, and said, 'what did you say?' To which Dan Curtis responded, 'Didn't you hear? Justin won the election.' Ms. Caracci then said, 'no, no, what did R.J. say?' R.J. responded by saying that he was sorry she'd lost the election. She asked for clarification, and Dan and R.J. stated that they believed the administration, and, specifically, Residence Life (the department which Ms. Caracci heads), had engaged in campaigning for Brian Gold, a presidential candidate in the election. Ms. Caracci's voice became louder, and she kept walking towards R.J. and Dan. Then, about a minute into the encounter, Justin Holmes walked out of his office carrying a camera, and said, (rather tiredly), "Shut up, Corinna." Ms. Caracci was incised at this comment, and continued yelling that she hadn't been involved in the election. Justin then said, "Corinna, I heard you in SUB 100." She replied, "That was an RD… I'm not going to discuss this in the hallway." Justin expressed a similar sentiment about the location as Ms. Caracci walked into her meeting and slammed the door.
Statement by Jeremy Demick
- Note: This statement is included as part of the appeal filed in this case.
- Note: Jeremy Demick can be heard playing Blue Öyster Cult's hit song (Don't Fear) The Reaper at the beginning of the video of this incident.
On April 27th, at 1030am I was in the Student Senate Office. I was in the office with my friend Nicole. We were waiting to meet up with two other students, so that we could begin putting up flyers for the Rock Against Racism concert. Justin and R.J. entered the office. The door of the office was open, but I didn't not hear the verbal exchange in the hallway. The distance from the Student Senate Office to the room 418 is approximately 20 to 30 ft. Nicole and I, were talking in the office when Justin entered the office. I was not aware of any ongoing exchange in the hallway. He informed me that they had won the election, and he was going downtown with everyone. I asked him if I could play the acoustic guitar in the office while Nicole and I, were waiting. Justin said yes it was fine if I played the guitar. Justin left the office with his camera. As Justin left his office he turned on his camera. You can hear the me playing guitar as he is exiting the office. I was still unaware that there was any confrontation in the hallway. The door remained open after Justin left the office. I was unaware that there was any exchange in the hallway until I saw the tape. The exchange in the hallway was not loud enough to be heard in room 426.
Statement by Justin Holmes
Myself and five of my colleagues, President R.J. Partington III, Senators Dan Curtis and Nicole Javaly, our secretary Mike Peters, and Christian Amez were preparing to go for a walk into town at around 10:30AM. We had just found out that we had won our election despite intense opposition from the Administration, particularly Residence Life.
I was getting ready to go and I stepped into the bathroom. When I re-emerged, I saw Corinna Caracci walk into SUB 418. My colleagues were standing in the hallway talking with one another – I think that RJ said something like "Sorry you lost" half jokingly to Corinna on her way into the door.
At this point, my colleagues continued to talk in the hallway outside my office as they were waiting for me to finish up a few things before we could leave.
I walked into my office and sat down to put the final touches on my website before we left. This took about 60-100 seconds. I picked up my camera and got ready to go, and as I started walking out of my office I heard Corinna, who I thought had gone into her meeting, yelling very loudly and quickly at my colleagues. I flipped my camera on and walked into the hall.
I saw her yelling and pointing at my friends in an "I'm an authority figure" sort of way. She was by no means surrounded – in fact she had walked several feet away from the open door of her meeting toward my friends. She became more excited and starting snapping at R.J. And clapping her hands together.
She was yelling that her office had not engaged in the campaign, which made me personally feel very distressed and victimized, as I had personally overheard her planning with a few RD's about how to campaign against me only a few days before. I sent her an e-mail so she knew that I had caught her in the act.
As she continued to yell at a high-speed, saying something like "show me the proof," I asked my friends to just go and I told Corinna to shut up. I probably should not have said "shut up," but I was very frustrated with her behavior and the fact that she was treating my colleagues with such disrespect after they had been working so hard to dispel the lies that Residence Life had been so active in spreading. I really did not want her outside my office making trouble on what had otherwise been a great morning.
Corinna then said my name, and I turned around and reminded her that I had overheard her planning the campaign a few days beforehand. She responded very nervously and did not address my statement, finally saying that she did not want to have that conversation in the hallway. I told her that I did not either, and we left.
Statement by R.J. Partington III
On the morning of Thursday April 27th, 2006 at around 10:30am I was on the 4th floor hallway of the Student Union Building. I saw Corinna Caracci, Director of Residence Life, walking into her meeting. I said jokingly, “Sorry you lost the election Corinna.” She was walking into SUB 418, so I didn’t think she heard what I said, as I was walking towards my office. Corinna said in an annoyed manner “what did you say”. Dan responded and said that we know what she did. Corinna said, “What did R.J. say?”
As they were talking I was walking over, nervous because I didn’t expect her to hear what I said. I walked up to her where she was talking to Dan. I told her I knew what she did – that she told the RDs to spread lies about Justin, and that he wants to cut RA program funding.
Corinna said that she did not play any role in the election. She said that she didn’t know what we were talking about and that she had nothing to do with the election. Dan said something to her at this point, and then she turned toward me, with her face very close to mine – probably about 14 inches.
Then I said “Corinna you are lying to my face” as I smirked at how smoothly she lied even though she knew that I knew the truth. I then proceeded to stare her in eyes for about 5 seconds, and she stared back into my eyes.
Corinna then said that if we didn't stop she was going to bring this to a higher level.
I was so angry that she lied to my face, I hate when people lie to me. I stood there with my hands on my head listening to what Dan was saying to Corinna. Mike Peters, Nicole Javaly and Christian Amez were listening to the most of the conversation but said nothing throughout the whole time.
Dan Curtis said something about misappropriation of funds for the campaign. At that point I did not say anything else. Dan was talking to Corinna and letting her know that we have an Email from an RDs to players on the Rugby team.
At this point Justin walked over with a video camera around his neck. Corinna said that she would like us to show her proof on how she lied about Justin to the RDs. He said that we should get going and to stop arguing. Then he told Corinna to shut up, in an annoyed, tired voice. Corinna said “Justin” in an annoyed manner.
Justin then told Corinna that he couldn’t believe how she was going to lie to us when he had over heard her in SUB 100 talking to the RDs about campaigning against him. She started to say that they were talking in an RD, and then she stopped talking. She said that she was not going to have the conversation in the hallway. Justin said that he was not going to have the discussion in the hallway. And then Justin was talking and Corinna slammed the door.
Statement by Dan Curtis
At approximately 10:30 am on Thursday morning myself and R.J. Partington III were walking out of SUB 426 and made visual contact with Corinna Caracci. Following close behind us were our colleagues Christian Arnez, Nicole Javaly, and Mike Peters. As Corinna waved at us and stepped into her office, R.J. apologized that she had lost the election, or campaign, or something to that effect.
Corinna stepped back out of the office and asked what he had said, and I replied, "We just wanted you to know that Justin won the election". She responded with, "NO, What did R.J. say?" in an elevated tone. He repeated himself exactly, and she became quite irritated.
Corinna accused us of lying and said that we should prove it. I explained that we had seen incriminating e-mails from her department and that we knew what the athletics coaches and RHSA had done.
RJ asked her why she was lying to his face as I reminded her very calmly that it appeared as though she had committed felony misappropriation of state resources for a state campaign. At this point Justin Holmes stepped out of SUB 426 and said something like "Shut up Corinna, you are lying straight to our faces".
At this point, Corinna became even more enraged as Justin reminded her of the conversation he had overheard in an RD meeting in SUB 100. She responded with something like "That was an... Nevermind I am not going to talk about this in the hall." Justin responded in kind that he would not talk about this in the hall and that he did not understand why she was still talking at all.
Before he was done speaking she slammed the door of the conference room and we exited via the elevator.
Statement by Christian Amez
On April 27th, at approximately 10:30 am, R.J. Partington III, Daniel Curtis, Michael Peters, Nicole Javaly, and I, had been waiting outside of SUB 426 for Justin Holmes to leave the men's restroom and get his things, so we could all go into town. While waiting, Corinna Caracci appeared from around the corner, waved at us quickly and stepped into a meeting in SUB 418. It was at this point that R.J. Partington III said something along the lines of, "Sorry you lost the election Corinna", in a witty tone. During this time, Justin Holmes, had passed by, walking from the men's restroom around the corner, to his office in SUB 426. He looked exhausted, and looked as if he didn't want to be bothered with giving Corinna any recognition. This took about five seconds.
Almost immediately after R.J. made the comment, Corinna stepped out of her meeting, stormed up to R.J. and Daniel Curtis, and in a demanding tone asked to know what R.J. just said. Michael Peters, Nicole Javaly, and I were a few feet behind the three, and Justin Holmes had already entered his office to gather his things by this time. I did not wish to take part in the unsettling confrontation which Corinna Caracci presented, so I remained where I was and didn't say anything.
R.J. Partington III looked noticeably nervous by Corinna's audacity, and Daniel Curtis calmly clarified by saying that Justin Holmes just won the election. In a clearly aggressive tone, she said, "No, what did R.J. say?", while looking at Daniel Curtis, then turning to face R.J. Partington III.
May it be noted that at no point had anyone approached Corinna Caracci during the beginning of this confrontation. She stepped out of the meeting, and approached these two students who were waiting in a hallway.
R.J. said something along the lines that he knew what she did, while Daniel Curtis said something about felony misappropriation. Corinna didn't pay attention to what Dan Curtis said, and intimidatingly said something along the lines, "You don't know", to R.J. Partington III, while staring straight into his eyes. R.J. replied saying, "You're lying to my face".
In an escalateed voice, Corinna then threatened that if this continued, she would take it to a higher level. She continued by loudly and rapidly claiming that she was not involved in spreading rumors of Justin Holmes, and demanded proof of this while smacking her hands together. Daniel Curtis then repeated what he said earlier about felony misappropriation. At around this time, I turned around to see Justin Holmes leaving the office, and once again he looked exhausted from the election.
Realizing that Corinna had stepped out of her meeting and confronted his colleagues, Justin asked us all to leave in a tired and annoyed tone, and asked Corinna to, "shut up", while walking away. Corinna called Justin's name, and he turned around to remind her that he heard her speaking about him in SUB 100. Corinna was about to confirm that it was an RD's meeting, when she stopped herself, and claimed that she didn't want to talk in the middle of a hallway. Justin Holmes agreed, at which point she freely walked back into her meeting and slammed the door behind her.
Corinna Caracci's deposition
I, Corinna Caracci duly sworn, deposes, informs and says that upon April 27, 2006 at about 10:30 A.M., at Student Union Building 4th floor, on the State University of New York campus in the Town of New Paltz, County of Ulster and State of New York, the following occurred:
On the above date and place I Corinna Caracci, Director of Residence Life at SUNY New Paltz was approaching room 418 for a meeting at 10:30 A.M. At this time I was approached by members of the student association, RJ Partington III, Justin Holmes, and Daniel Curtis. RJ approached me in a hostile manner yelling that I (me) had lost, meaning the SA election. His voice was very loud to a point where it alarmed me. He carried on about winning the SA election last night and that he had won despite a smear campaign by me, which was not true. RJ came up to about one inch of my face and Daniel Curtis and Justin Holmes began to scream at me in a hostile manner. They were all screaming about the SA elections and accusing me of a smear campaign against them. Their voices were very elevated and hostile. I felt like a terrorized single woman with no one to protect me. The shouting and cornering went on for about five to six minutes and I felt like I could not get away. I finally managed to get away from their hostile environment and went into my meeting. I would like to state that I asked them to cease with both their words and actions, which I felt, were very threatening. All three of these individuals know who I am and have known me from one to six years. I went to the meeting and called University Police to speak with Chief Ray Bryant about the incident. I was extremely upset and annoyed about the whole incident.
I have read this statements and understand that false statements made herein are punishable as a Class " Misdemeanor pursuant to section 210.45 of the New York State Penal Law.
Taken and read over to witness, subscribed and sworn to before me April 27, 2006
(signature)
Corinna's Complaint
That on the aforesaid date and place at 10:30 A.M., said defendants did intentionally harass, annoy and alarm the complainant, To Wit: That the above named defendants did approach, encircle, annoy and alarm the complainant Corinna Caracci by confining her movement and not allowing her to proceed on her own free will to a scheduled meeting. And that said defendants did raise their voices in a threatening manner and do so while face to face with the complainant after the complainant asked them to cease. Such actions by the defendants in a manner, which caused the complainant annoyance and alarm by instilling fear in the complainant, a female who at the time was surrounded by three hostile males.
