Letter to the Editor

In my seven years as head of the media-relations office for the University of Pittsburgh, I… In my seven years as head of the media-relations office for the University of Pittsburgh, I interacted with The Pitt News on virtually a daily basis. And while, candidly, I wasn’t always overly happy about the subjects that were being pursued, I did at least feel confident that I would be given a chance to respond to any charges or statements made about the University and that those responses would be fairly represented in the ensuing articles.

It was with some surprise and disappointment, then, that I discovered upon reading the article about Peter Okema Otika that The Pitt News had apparently abandoned the tenet of journalistic fairness when it decided to publish Okema’s exaggerated and misleading allegations about La Roche College, without even making any attempt to verify those allegations or to get a response to them.

Okema was admitted to La Roche College in 1999 on a scholarship provided by the Pacem In Terris Institute. Founded in 1993, the Institute brings to the La Roche College campus selected groups of promising, college-age women and men from conflict, post-conflict and developing regions of the world. The scholarships they receive cover tuition, room and board, books, medical insurance and a small monthly stipend.

In return, the students agree that, upon completion of their studies, they will return to their homelands and use the education they have received to contribute to the peaceful development of their countries of origin. Okema was aware of and agreed to this commitment prior to accepting the scholarship, and at no time during his two years at La Roche did he ever express any concern about returning to Uganda.

Since 1993, almost 400 persons have participated in the program, the vast majority from Africa. To date, more than 150 have graduated and 225 are still enrolled. Over the history of the program, only 10 have been dismissed prior to graduation, most of those for academic deficiencies.

Okema’s scholarship was revoked and he was expelled from the college for having a live-in girlfriend in college housing — a clear violation of college rules — which Okema himself acknowledged in writing after it came to the college’s attention following the issuance of a warrant for his arrest by Ross Township police on charges of indecent assault and attempted rape.

Even though there was no requirement to do so, La Roche bought Okema a ticket to return to Uganda, following his expulsion, because there was no evidence that he had sufficient funds to acquire a ticket on his own. At no time was Okema forcefully taken anywhere by La Roche College personnel. Two security officers in plain clothes provided Okema with transportation to the airport. On the day he left, he had a conversation with the president of the college. At no time during that conversation did he request any appeal of his expulsion, nor did he express any concerns about returning home. In fact, he requested the president’s assistance in gaining admittance to the national university of Uganda upon his return. No one was more surprised than our security personnel when he decided at the last minute that he was being “kidnapped.”

As far as his lawsuit against the college goes, that too is without validity. La Roche College has assisted any number of our international students who have experienced problems ranging from potential deportation because of visa irregularities to difficulties returning to the college following visits home.

Peter Okema had a wonderful opportunity to study in this country on a full scholarship. It is a shame that he lost that opportunity through his own actions. It is a greater shame that he is now trying to place the blame for his trouble on others. And it is perhaps the greatest shame that The Pitt News saw fit to print his misleading exaggerations without any attempt at verification.

Kenneth P. Service

Executive Vice President

Pacem In Terris Institute

La Roche College