Posted on 01/12/2010 3:39:35 AM PST by Born Conservative
A King's College student accused of urinating on the nativity scene in Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, is apologizing for his behavior.
"I was being a drunken idiot," Nathan Strawn, 22, said.
The apology, however, might have little effect on the legal and educational consequences facing the senior from Bangor.
"It is deep down in my heart to tell all you students out there that one night of fun and drunkenness is not worth it. Nowhere near it. With this life lesson learned, I'm apologizing to all I have offended. These people are Christians, the Wilkes-Barre community, King's College, the church of St. Mary's and lastly my family. I have represented all of you in a cowardly and misleading way," Strawn wrote in an apology to the public.
Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton could not be reached for comment.
According to police, a Wilkes-Barre City officer spotted Strawn fully exposed and urinating on the nativity scene at about 1:54 a.m. Sunday. He was arrested and charged with indecent exposure, desecration of venerated objects, open lewdness, public drunkenness and disorderly conduct.
A preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 20, and Strawn said he intends to plead guilty. He was, however, hopeful the charges could be dropped to public drunkenness. Strawn is most concerned about the indecent exposure charge.
Strawn said he met Monday morning with school officials, President Thomas O'Hara and Robert McGonigle, associate vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students. Strawn has known O'Hara since freshman year, and the college president said he was "appalled" by the incident, Strawn said.
"That could have been one of the most disheartening things I've ever heard. But I deserved it," Strawn said.
Strawn could receive discipline from King's College that ranges from a simple warning to expulsion, spokesperson John McAndrew said. Strawn is an aspiring journalist and said he has eight credits left before earning his diploma.
When incidents of this nature happen to King's students off campus, the procedure includes the student meeting with school officials, he said. On-campus incidents are handled by a judicial review board.
College officials also wanted to look at the police report regarding the incident.
King's College did not ask or require Strawn to write the apology letter, McAndrew said, and had no comment on it.
Strawn also spoke to his parents on Monday for the first time since the incident. Strawn, a Christian, said he was raised in a faithful home by his religious parents. Although he was reticent to relay the conversations he had with his mother and father, he said they were deeply disappointed.
"I can't take anything back, all I can do is apologize for what I did," he said.
Strawn, who described himself as a social drinker, has also vowed to stop drinking.
emoody@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2051
Hello everyone,
As of today my affiliation with the nativity scene is by far the most embarrassing and inappropriate thing I've ever done. It was crude and immoral. As a college student I understood that keeping your grades up was a part of being a successful student. Well I found out the hard way that to be a successful student, you need to be a good person outside of the school. I did not follow these by doing this stupid act. As a self-proclaimed Christian, I have unsuitably represented them by doing this humiliating action. I apologize to everyone for what I have done. After meeting with the King's College Dean of Advisors, Mr. McGonigle, I have realized the effects it has had on the campus. Father O'Hara came in himself and told me he was, "appalled." Knowing him since my freshman year, that could have been one of the most disheartening things I've ever heard. But I deserved it. I'm dedicating myself and life to this letter because my menace to society act has gone too far. I've never been arrested and I'm a good person. It's just amazing how a college student can think he's invisible at one moment and be in the dumps at the next. It is deep down in my heart to tell all you students out there that one night of fun and drunkenness is not worth it. Nowhere near it. With this life lesson learned, I'm apologizing to all I have offended. These people are Christians, the Wilkes-Barre community, King's College, the church of St. Mary's and lastly my family. I have represented all of you in a cowardly and misleading way. I will be devoting myself to quitting drinking, helping out the church of St. Mary's with any community service action they need and with the city of Wilkes-Barre itself. I deeply regret ever having to do this, but it happened and nothing can change that. I just hope that all of you who I have apologized to will take this with sympathy and understand that I'm not that type of person at all. Please forgive me for all the troubles and concerns I have portrayed on the city.
Sincerely,
Nathan Strawn
The more I read the more I concluded this kid is going to end up a (Dem) Senator some day. Sounds like the apology was written by a political lawyer.
I actually believe him. I’m sure he was forgiven by the most important individual of all.
“Strawn is an aspiring journalist.”
Well this should enhance his resume. ;-)
Let me guess before finishing the article. He plans a career educatin' youts.
Democrat pol was another good guess. Nah, with Dems, public indecency is expected...
Typical democrat party lying little sub-human, all lawyered up and reading a fake apology.
Strawn is an aspiring journalist and said he has eight credits left before earning his diploma.
nah. A politician or political lawyer would have said “I’m sorry if anyone was offended.”
Agreed. The apology states, "My affiliation with the nativity scene." Affiliation???? Affiliation??? Very poor word choice for "an aspiring journalist." 'Affiliation' implies an association, an adoption or a connection with a group or ideas, likely as a member or in a subordinate position.
I would have preferred: "My actions at the nativity scene." It is far more accurate, and also conveys a sense of accepting personal responsibility.
Oh, wait, forgot what we were dealing with here...
I've never heard any politician say he/she "was being a drunken idiot." Nor have I ever heard of any politican being willing to own up (i.e. pleading guilty) to any of the bad things that he/she did unlike this person. I hope he can make a recovery and be a good person again. If he is sincere, and seeks out the help of Jesus Christ, then he definitely can pull it off.
I respectfully disagree. It was coherent, wasn't insulting or snide, and actually seemed apologetic. Way different from a Senatorial 'to anyone who may have been offended' apology.
Kudos to the kid!
I cannot imagine what went through the mind of a person who takes the initiative to desecrate religious objects of veneration. Such action clearly shows his attitude toward religion is deep seated and hostile, making him untrustworthy. Attitude adjustment, penance and reparation could take years. Of course, he is sorry and embarrassed that he got caught. But what is in his soul?
Does he simply reflect present day attitudes?
I would sentence him to one year’s service as an altar boy at the Church. After proper training.
What is so wrong with people that they can't simply fess up to their bad dead and say "I'm sorry for my bad behavior"? Why is the caveat added so the apology is always addressed to "those who were offended." If you violated all norms of civilized behavior, simply apologize for such.
I initially had high hopes for the kid until I read the caveat.
To point out the difference in religions, if he had urinated on a statue of Mohammed he would be stalked by crazed muslims who would demand he be beheaded for his act. Therefore, how can any rational person concluded we worship the same God?
place the punk in stocks in the village square and let EVERY one pee on him.
Christians will forgive him.
If he had pissed on a koran, however, he’d be in hiding for the rest of his life, lest his head be removed.
He’s a senior majoring in journalism? His writing skills are pretty poor for a senior in college.
Writing skills aside, what he did was very foolish. Now he will face the consequences, which could be lifelong. A conviction on indecent exposure means he will be listed on the sex registry. Where ever he goes this could follow him for life.
ping
An aspiring journalist ? His command of the English
language is laughable. He says his actions were “ cowardly
and misleading “ what on earth is that supposed to mean ?
We are a nation filled with ignorant, deluded failures.
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