One of the two University of Pennsylvania students who entered a probation program for the assault on Princeton debater John Brantl '05 has published an apology in the Daily Pennsylvanian, in which he expressed his "deep and heartfelt regret" over the incident.
The letter from Penn sophomore Thomas Bispham Jr. appeared in the newspaper Friday. Last month, Bispham and freshman David Hochfelder agreed to an 18-month, court-mandated rehabilitation program that includes anger management and alcohol counseling, as well as fines paid partly to Brantl.
Three other Penn students involved in the Nov. 16 assault had charges dropped by the Philadelphia Municipal Court in February.
Both Bispham and Hochfelder will have the charges expunged from their records upon completion of the program, the Associated Press reported.
Asking for forgiveness
In his letter, Bispham apologized for his behavior and the behavior of the other students, which he called "atrocious." While he described himself as being in an "intoxicated state" during the incident, he said there were no excuses for his behavior and asked for the forgiveness of those at Penn who were "embarrassed" by the assault.
"I not only embarrassed myself, but also caused Penn, an institution that I love, to lose face among its Ivy brethren and the community at large," he said. The incident generated national media attention as an example of college rivalries gone too far.
Bispham also apologized personally to Brantl.
"I will be sorry for that night and what transpired for the rest of my life," he said.
Brantl and other members of the Princeton Debate Panel were sleeping in a dormitory lounge on the Penn campus during a weekend tournament. According to Brantl, Bispham and the others kicked him, poured motor oil on him and threatened him.
The five students turned themselves in to police a week after the incident and were charged with felony and misdemeanor assault charges.
All five students still may face disciplinary action from Penn's Office of Student Conduct.
Neither Brantl nor Bispham were available for comment last night.
Owl Society
The Penn students are affiliated with the Owl Society — a secretive alternative to Greek life — according to the Daily Pennsylvanian. Bispham and two of the other students are members of the organization, while Hochfelder and another were prospective members, the Pennsylvanian reported.
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