Mirror - Vol. 35, No. 04 - September 23, 2009

              WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 23,2009
Vol. 35, Iss. 4-20 pages
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WWW.FAIRFIELDMIRROR.COM
The independent student newspaper
of Fairfield University
Fairfield alum indicted for child abuse
INSIDE:
UNIVERSITY
COVER UP?
SEE STORY ON
p. 3
Former commencement
speaker Doug Perlitz f92
led mission in Haiti
BY MEGHAN SCHELZI
Just one week ago an internet search for Doug Perlitz
'92 would reveal a man who had dedicated his entire life to
living out Jesuit ideals, providing aid and security to home-less
children in Haiti, inspired by his Fairfield education.
But on Friday morning, that all changed, when the 2002
commencement speaker was indicted on federal charges
alleging he sexually abused at least nine boys while work-ing
in Haiti.
The views on Perlitz have clearly changed, revealed by
the almost 300 articles and blogs writ-ten
about his arrest and the opinions
of students around campus.
"It's an atrocity, definitely. I think
there are bad people wherever you
go, but it's still unfortunate that he
went here — I don't want to be por-trayed
in that light, or have the University be portrayed in
that light. I don't understand how people do things like that,"
said Nicole Fogliano '12.
"It is astonishing to hear that an alum could have been in-volved
in such a horrible crime," Gabriella Markides '13 said.
"Furthermore it is more astonishing to hear that if convicted,
how did he get away with it for so long?"
The indictment charges Perlitz with seven counts of
traveling outside the United States for the purpose of engag-ing
in sex with minors and three counts of engaging in sexual
conduct in foreign places with minors. Each of the charges
carries a maximum 30-year prison term and $250,000 fine.
The indictment alleges that from 2002 to 2008, $2 million
was transferred from the Haiti Fund, an account established to
control the millions of dollars raised for Perlitz's work with the
boys, which is a registered Connecticut charity, to a separate
account in Haiti that Perlitz had control over. Many of those
donations came from persons involved in Fairfield, including
former director of campus ministry, Fr. Paul Carrier.
But University spokesperson Rama Sudhakar said that
the organization was not directly tied to the Haiti Fund. .
"Fairfield University did not have any role in their man-agement
or board oversight," she said, but many University
members contributed funds and time independently.
According to the indictment, Perlitz used his control over
project finances to silence questions about his behavior: "In
an effort to control the American volunteers from discover-ing
or questioning his abuse of minors, Perlitz maintained
exclusive control over operations, including funding, making
it difficult for volunteers, staff members, or other to question
his actions," the indictment states.
Perlitz first visited Haiti in 1992 on a campus ministry
ourtesy Fairfield University
Doug Perlitz '92 gave the commencement speech in 2002.
He was indicted on federal child abuse charges on Friday.
mission volunteer trip during his junior year at Fairfield. He
claimed it was that visit that inspired him to work there.
Perlitz earned a master's degree in theology at Boston
College and then returned to Haiti in 1997 to work as a pastoral
minister at Sacre Coeur hospital in Milot, Haiti.
In 1997, Perlitz obtained a grant from the Order of Malta,
a religious organization, used to establish Project Pierre Tous-saint
in Haiti. The project's goals included providing basic
classroom education, recreation, and meals as well asrunning
water for baths for the boys.
Project Pierre Toussaint, which Perlitz established over
eleven years ago, closed this summer.
With Perlitz on his way back to Connecticut to face trial
as early as this week, the campus will continue to buzz about
his indictment.
"First of all, I don't understand how anyone can sexually
abuse children under the pretense of religion or charity," Bri-ana
Cronk '12 said. "Second, I think its unfortunate that this
could possibly affect the reputation of Fairfield University and
overshadow a lot of good that the University has done."
Meanwhile, the University will continue to monitor the
situation.
"The University will continue to respond to this unfolding
situation," Sudhakar said. "In the context of the economic and
political turmoil in the world today, the I ONLINE:
need for education, particu,larly Jesuit :: -1r.HE FU„L.L I
education, is greater now than ever. : :
The investigation is still ongoing I INDICTMENT j
and the Immigration and Customs En- : AND CONTINUING j
forcement agency invites anyone with : COVERAGE I
knowledge to call 203-773-2029. : :
University, local leaders
tied to Perlitz indictment
BY TOM CLEARY
CARRIER
The indictment of Doug Perlitz '92 on allegations that he
sexually abused children in Haiti sent Shockwaves through
the University community. While the organization that funded
Perlitz, the Haiti Fund, was not directly tied to the University,
multiple University members, ranging from alumni to adminis-trators
gave their time and money to the organization.
The strongest connection to the indictment and Fairfield
is the involvement of former director of campus ministry Rev.
Paul Carrier, who was the chairman of
the Haiti Fund board. Carrier led fund-raisers
on campus and made several
trips to Haiti, often bringing Fairfield
students along, to help Perlitz at Project
Pierre Toussaint, the school and home
for homeless boys that Perlitz founded
in Cap-Haitien, Haiti.
In 2006, Carrier was reassigned by
the Jesuit Provincial of New England,
who at the time was former Fairfield
professor Rev. Thomas Regan, to sab-batical,
a decision that the University played no role in. Regan
nor the Jesuits of the New England Province responded to
phone calls.
The indictment states that "Board Members of the. Haiti
Fund were chosen by a religious leader, who had met and be-friended
Perlitz while Perlitz attended college in Connecticut
and who frequently communicated with and visited Perlitz in
Haiti."
Jhe indictment states that the $2 million donated to the
Haiti Fund was moved directly to a bank account in Haiti con-trolled
by Perlitz, by the religious leader. The lawyer for the
Haiti Fund, Richard Markert, told the Connecticut Post that it
is unknown what the funds were used for, but the indictment
states that Perlitz used portions of the money to give gifts to the
boys he was abusing in exchange for sexual acts.
The religious leader was not named in the indictment and
Thomas Carson, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office in
Connecticut declined to comment to the Connecticut Post on
whether Carrier was a target of the continuing investigation.
An internal investigation
Both Carrier and Perlitz were removed from the Haiti Fund
last year following an internal investigation that revealed the
allegations against Perlitz.
The investigation was the second in a short period of time
conducted by the board, both run by outside counsel. The first
investigation did not reveal any truth to the allegations, accord-ing
to former board member Philip Allen Lacovara, a prominent
SEE "PERLITZ" ON P. 3
Two Fairfield students arrested for marijuana possession
BY KERI HARRISON
Two Fairfield students were arrested last Monday night
on charges of possession of two pounds of marijuana, ac-cording
to an article by the Connecticut Post. The students,
junior Jonathan Roberts and sophomore Michael Coscina,
are roommates in Claver Hall.
According to the Post article, Roberts and Coscina
were charged with "possession of more than four ounces
of marijuana, possession with intent to sell and possession
within 1,500 feet of a school."
The discovery came after Roberts was caught speeding
on Oxford Road by Fairfield Police officer William De-motses,
who then discovered about one quarter of a pound
of marijuana in the car. Police then found two pounds of
pot and $3,000 in cash in their dorm room in Claver Hall
when the room was searched, leading to the subsequent
arrest of Coscina.
Although the University did not make an official state-ment
in reaction to these events, Associate Vice President
of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Thomas Pellegrino
commented on the University's overall drug policy.
"In general terms, our drug policy is similar to poli-cies
you will find at other colleges and universities," he
said. "Illegal drugs and paraphernalia are prohibited on
campus."
He referenced the University Handbook when speak-ing
of the difference between simple offenses and major
offenses. The Handbook describes a simple offense as
"possession of drug paraphernalia and possession or use
of small quantities of drugs," which then result in fines
and other probations. Major offenses, however, result in
dismissal or expulsion, and these offenses include, "pos-session
or use of large quantities of drugs...and/or the
intent to sell or distribute."
In regards to the policy, Pellegrino said, "These are
matters we take very seriously, and students should be
aware of the significant and lasting impact these mat-ters
will have not only on their educational careers but
their lives."
No one at the University agreed to officially comment
on the case, due to student confidentiality.
Mirror File Photo
During an ordinary pullover for speeding, Fairfield
Police discovered one Fairfield student with possession
of pot. After police raided the student's dorm room, they
discovered two pounds of marijuana and thousands
of dollars in cash. The student and his roommate were
both arrested.