Law School Evicts Student Impostor

After deceiving students and faculty at the Law School for almost two months, a University of Notre Dame dropout posing as a student has been ordered off campus by University officials.

Stephen Travis, who applied for admission and was rejected by the Law School three times, had been attending first year classes since the beginning of the academic year, Law School Dean of Students Mary D. Upton said yesterday.

One of Travis instructors defrocked the impostor last Tuesday when his name did not appear on a list of registered students.

Fooled Professors

Travis fooled professors by telling them he had enrolled late after being admitted off the waiting list, students said.

Travis is the second impostor evicted from the Law School this year. Two weeks ago, a Canadian student left without incident when school officials learned he had been attending classes without permission.

"There's nothing we can do to prevent this." Upon said; calling theimpostors presence "a serious problem."

"They're using the resources of the school, and they're obviously not paying tuition," she added.

Upton notified Travis last week that he would be arrested for trespassing if he returned to class, but the impostor vowed that he would be back in the class room.

Travis cluded security personnel Tuesday after he was spotted on campus.

'Certain Danger'

"He is a certain danger to the community and I want him off the premises," Upton said.

June Thompson, assistant director of admissions, said Travis sent several letters to President Bok arguing that he should be admitted on the basis of his performance this year.

In a telephone interview yesterday Travis refused to comment on his efforts to gain admission, saying, "That's privileged information."

A resident of Ashland, Mass., Travis said he was at the Law School doing undercover research for a free-lance article on legal education.

"I'm doing a story on law schools," he said, adding that the story would answer the question, "What is law school?"

Classmates described Travis as a well-prepared student who always wore a suit and tie to class.

"He spoke more often than anyone else in the class," said first year student Michael Anderson '84.

"None of us had any suspicion," said Donald Abrams, also a first year student.

Travis evidently did not socialize with other students, and he was reportedly seen infrequently outside of class.

Travis visited the admissions office to protest his rejection, Thompson said. His most recent application contained several "serious irregularities," she added.

According to a Law School source, Travis submitted forged letters of recommendation.

Travis told Law School officials this week that he would apply again, but his chances appear slim at best.

JOEL A. GETZ contributed to the reporting of this article.