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A trip to Anthony Hall with a present for former Chancellor Walter Wendler has an SIUC senior in hot water with Student Judicial Affairs for the second time this semester.
Garth Kiser, a 28-year-old from Murphysboro, was first targeted by SIUC Police and Student Judicial Affairs after authorities accused him of placing a cooked pig's head on Wendler's car during the spring semester. Kiser has denied any wrongdoing.
Judicial Affairs censured Kiser and sentenced him to write an eight-page paper, for which he would have to interview Wendler about how the university spends tuition dollars.
Now, Kiser is accused of harassment and disorderly conduct after attempting to deliver what SIUC Police called a "gag gift" to Wendler's office Oct. 12. Inside the package were farm animal figurines, a package of pork chops, a Wild West toy gun and sheriff's badge, play handcuffs and a T-shirt that had on it a picture of the head on the car and the phrase, "Wendler sucks! SIU's resources dry."
Kiser is awaiting a date for a Judicial Affairs hearing for the two new charges, which could bring him punishments ranging from a censure to expulsion.
Kiser had also appealed his first case. Earlier this month, presiding appeals officer Michael Stokes sent the case back to Judicial Affairs for a new hearing, which will take place Friday. It was unclear why the case was returned.
Kiser said he learned of the new harassment and disorderly conduct charges before Thanksgiving break.
Wendler, whose demotion to professor of architecture was announced Nov. 8, was at a meeting of the SIU Board of Trustees at the time Kiser attempted to deliver the gift. Kiser instead spoke to two chancellor's office staffers and eventually an SIUC police officer.
A letter from Judicial Affairs stated Kiser was charged because he caused a disturbance that required police intervention as he attempted to deliver a "gag gift."
Wendler has said he did not feel threatened by Kiser's visit, and his position called for a certain amount of "teasing and chiding," but he was upset Kiser made his office workers feel uncomfortable.
"I understand that's part of the job, but those people aren't paid to put up with that stuff," he said in October. "I just don't think it's right. It's rude and inconsiderate."
SIUC police arrested Kiser on Sept. 8 and accused him of putting a pig's head on Wendler's car on May 11, along with a poster board stating, "Wendler, stop pigging out on tuition $$!!" University authorities also accused Kiser of sending a mass e-mail that contained a picture of the pig's head on the car and the typed message, "Next time it won't be cooked!!!!!"
Brandon Weisenberger can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 254 or brandon_weisenberger@dailyegyptian.com.
