Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

Police: Princeton student fabricated story about attacks
From Staff Reports
The Daily Princetonian (Princeton)
12/17/2007

(U-WIRE) PRINCETON, N.J. — Princeton junior Francisco Nava has admitted to fabricating an alleged assault on himself that he said occurred Friday evening and to sending threatening emails to himself, other members of the Anscombe Society and prominent conservative politics professor Robert George, Monday while being interviewed by Princeton Township Police.

"He fabricated the story," Det. Sgt. Ernie Silagyi said.

Nava was released to Public Safety and charges "have not been filed pending further investigation," according to a statement from Township Police.

Former Anscombe president Sherif Girgis '08 said he is "deeply angry and upset" at the news the incident was fabricated. "I am deeply troubled about what this must mean about Francisco and about his personal life," he said, adding that he had harbored suspicions about Nava's story before the Township confirmed the assault was faked.

Girgis, who was one of the four Anscombe officers who received threatening emails Wednesday evening along with George, added that he believed the organization — which promotes socially conservative sexual mores on campus — had handled the situation well. "We did everything right," he said. "We did not jump to any conclusion about the facts of the case."

University communications director Lauren Robinson-Brown said the University is looking into the incident and "the investigation is ongoing," adding that "as the investigation continues, we will continue to provide all necessary support to everyone involved."

"As standard procedure, discipline isn't considered until an investigation is concluded," Robinson-Brown said. Nevertheless, the fabricated threats and assault are likely to result in disciplinary procedures against Nava.

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