
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, August 28, 1994                   TAG: 9408290059
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE                                LENGTH: Medium

UVA NEWSPAPER TO PRINT ACCOUNT OF SUMMER RETRIAL

A student newspaper plans to publish an account of a controversial honor court retrial at the University of Virginia, despite a warning letter from the school's lawyer.

Editor David Hanlin said the Cavalier Daily plans to print a 60-page edition Tuesday offering coverage of the retrial of Christopher Leggett. Leggett was expelled for cheating in 1992 but was exonerated this summer in an unusual retrial by the student-run Honor Committee.

The retrial has brought much criticism to the university, which entered into an agreement with the Honor Committee and Leggett's lawyer to allow the retrial. The school released a statement two weeks ago saying it used state funds to pay Leggett's $40,000 legal fees.

In a July 26 letter to the Cavalier Daily, general counsel James J. Mingle wrote that disclosing confidential information about the retrial ``will lead to the filing of judiciary charges by the office of the dean of students.'' Such charges would be handled by the student-run judiciary system.

Mingle also cited a federal law that prohibits federally funded universities from releasing information ``in the education records of a student to any unauthorized party without the student's permission.'' Mingle wrote that federal money may be withheld if the law is violated.

Hanlin said, ``It makes my blood boil for an agent of the administration to threaten students. The university is here supposedly for the students.''

He said the Cavalier Daily plans to fully inform students about the retrial that took place while they were on summer vacation.

University spokeswoman Louise Dudley said the possible charge mentioned in Mingle's letter - ``conduct which violates the rules of confidentiality'' - could lead to expulsion for a student.

Dudley said that while the newspaper receives no financial support from the university, the Cavalier Daily must adhere to student conduct rules.

Leggett's father, Robert Leggett, said of Mingle's letter, ``I think it's about time that the university stepped in. The time might be overdue.''

by CNB