Sophomore To Face Court Hearing

Vali D. Chandrasekaran '03 will appear in Middlesex County Court Feb. 12 for a pre-trial hearing in connection with his alleged break-in to the English Language Center (ELC).

Chandrasekaran pleaded "not guilty" on Jan. 2 at his arraignment.

An editor of the Harvard Lampoon, Chandrasekaran told reporters that when he broke into the ELC, located at 12 Plympton Street, he intended to get inside The Crimson, at 14 Plympton.

Chandraskearan said he was trying to sneak into The Crimson as a prank in the long-running Harvard-Lampoon rivalry, which dates back to 1904.

The Cambridge Police Department (CPD) arrested Chandrasekaran around 3 a.m. on Jan. 2.

Charged with nighttime breaking and entering, Chandrasekaran faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Crimson President C. Matthew MacInnis '02 said he hopes the court will consider the light-hearted nature of the Crimson-Lampoon rivalry when hearing Chandraskearan's case.

"Although The Crimson has no legal power in this situation, I'm hoping the district attorney's office will take Vali's situation with us into account. I'll be encouraging them to do so," MacInnis said.

Chandrasekaran is being defended by Boston attorney Jeffrey C. Page.

Assistant Middlesex County District Attorney Brendan Frigault will prosecute the case for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

--Staff Writer Andrew J. Miller can be reached at amiller@fas.harvard.edu.