According to Southern University Police Department, one of the two black males sought for the possible connection in an alleged Sept. 12 sexual assault has been questioned and released. SUPD Detective Byron Cage said that Parris McLeary, an 18-year-old freshman from Tangipahoa, voluntarily came to campus police on Sept. 21 after being sought for questioning about information on the alleged rape of a 17-year old freshman female by three male students.
On Sept. 14, the female alleged that Eric Gordon Pait, 17, of Houston; Justin Fontenot, 19, of Mandeville; and Travis Washington, 19, of Rialto, Calif. sexually assaulted her after she was given alcohol. The three males were arrested and charged with simple rape and released on $5,000 bail.
“He (McLeary) was interrogated last week,” Cage said. “But he is still under investigation. We are still looking for another male known as “John,” who may be connected with the case.”
In response to the incident, two forums were held on Sept. 23 in Oscar Dunn Hall – one for freshman female residents and one for the freshman males – by SUBR Chancellor Edward R. Jackson, SUPD Chief Dale Flowers and SU Dean of Students Robert Bennett to discuss campus safety issues and the expectations of freshman students at Southern.
SU Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Dr. Raymond A. Downs, Dr. ValaRay Irvin, director of the SU Counseling Center and Marilyn Hill, director of residential housing, were also on hand to speak to students about visitation policies, dorm safety and counseling options when students are physically threatened.
Although none of the females asked questions during their respective forum, the male residents spent over an hour to discuss their rights and responsibilities as both students and citizens.
Jackson, Flowers and Bennett gave the men’s forum colorful speeches on their own responsibilities as campus leaders, the separation of legal statutes on campus and the expected role of the students. Afterwards, West Baton Rouge Parish Special Prosecutor Tony Clayton delivered a “tough love” address to the males. The former East Baton Rouge Parish district attorney and Southern alum candidly discussed the repercussions and consequences of irresponsibility among young Black males. He even shared a few personal experiences as analogies to connect with them.
“When I was younger, I had kids out of wedlock,” Clayton said. “No, it wasn’t a smart decision, but now I pay $5,200 (a month) to take care of them. I love them, but it’s about being responsible.”
He said that the experience made him realize that he was “held accountable for his own actions,” and that young men should realize the same. Clayton also addressed the male forum about legal issues he said might not be clear to young people such as the state’s statute on assault and rape.
Edward Carroll, a freshman education major from Atlanta, inquired a series of “What if’s,” during the forum. He presented a hypothetical scenario of a male and female who had engaged in sexual intercourse and the male was later incriminated with sexual assault charges.
“What are you supposed to do then,” Carroll asked.
Clayton offered his support to the males and invited them to contact him whenever they felt they were in a “questionable situation.”
Jackson said that he was pleased with the forum and wanted to have one every semester for freshmen.
“This was a great idea,” he said. “It really hit home and I was glad that we could conduct such an informative meeting.”
