Friends of the five charged are still shocked by the events.

When names of the Penn students arrested for the alleged assault of Princeton University student John Brantl were released, friends of the five were shocked.

Other acquaintances, however, said they weren't surprised by the charges against the students.

"Basically I was shocked," College sophomore Liz Schoen, a friend of Thomas Bispham Jr., said. "I can't imagine him doing something like that.... He seems more level-headed than that."

"It all sounds very strange to me," she added. "None of this makes sense."

But others were not caught off guard.

"It didn't surprise me,"said a student who worked with Bispham in the Mask and Wig Club and did not want his name printed. Bispham "is a bad decision-maker. Obviously he acts before he thinks. I don't think he is a bad person -- he just doesn't think of the consequences."

According to the student, Bispham ended his affiliation with Mask and Wig last year through a "mutual agreement" with its members.

Another student, also a member of Mask and Wig, agreed that Bispham's behavior did not come as a complete shock.

"If there was anyone I knew who would do something like this, it would be him," he said. "I could definitely imagine him going along with it as part of a group."

Other students said they were surprised to hear about their peers' alleged involvement pouring motor oil over Brantl and throwing a lit cigarette at him.

"I can't see [Wharton sophomore Tavraj Banga] doing any such thing," said Wharton sophomore Siddhartha Ahluwalia, who attended high school with Banga in Bombay, India. He's a "really nice guy, got his head on his shoulders and would definitely not do the things that people claim he did."

"I think it's really blown out of proportion," Ahluwalia added.

Two hallmates of College freshman Philip Balderston also said they were surprised to hear about the accusations against him.

"He seemed friendly and was easy to talk to," one of the students said. "I thought he'd be smarter than that because he seemed like an intelligent guy."

"I was really surprised this morning to see his picture on the front page of the paper," the second hallmate said of Balderston on Tuesday. "He seemed like a pretty quality kid, and I wouldn't expect him to [do this] because I didn't see him as the kind of kid who would randomly assault someone."

College freshman Benjamin Black, a friend of Balderston, was also caught off guard by his alleged involvement in the incident.

"Phil is an incredibly loyal friend and extremely not violent," Black said. "I felt horrible for them with how publicized it was and everything."

Black, who also knows College freshman David Hochfelder, said news of his possible involvement, too, was unexpected.

"He's a really fun guy and a really good friend," Black said. "From hanging out with him, I don't think he'd do something like this."

A friend of College senior Steven Stolk would not comment on Stolk's association with the alleged assault.

Comments (9)

Not Exactly When I spoke to the reporter from the DP, I did not expect this type of change in my statement. She called to ask specifically about David whom I have been friends with since the 3rd grade, a fact which she repeated twice. I didn't want to speculate on the situation because I don't know enough about it to make an educated statement, and I didn't say "From hanging out with him, I don't think he'd do something like this." I did not speculate on this. What I did say was that from hanging out with David in friendship for over 10 years nothing remotely like this had ever happened, and to say that I also know him doesn't exactly make me a strong testament to character demonstrated in 10 years. I don't know every fact about this situation that I can form a totally educated opinion, and so I choose not to do so. The facts I can speak from are that David and Phil have been extremely good friends to me, and guys that have been extremely trustworthy and caring towards their friends. I am disappointed that this newspaper demonstrates such a clear bias in its reporting that it cannot properly convey a positive outlook on people involved. Benjamin Black bblack@sas.upenn.edu

It is nice to see a level headed response given the heated situation. Many of the responses in other articles have been particularly heated and irrational. Many of the facts have not yet been revealed. Moreover, our system encourages us to take a stance of innocent until proven guilty. We should thus give the boys the benefit of the doubt. HOWEVER, I would like to state one point which I stand by firmly, which is that IF they are indeed guilty, it would be very sad if both parties settle. They should be persecuted to the full extent of the law for their acts. A settlement would only enforce the fact that rich kids get away with it all. A travesty to our justice system. Penn '02

Honestly, even though I am interested in the story (knowing one of those involved), this goes far beyond what any newspaper should publish. You're asking people that have known Balderston for 3 months if they're surprised? I would have been surprised to see the guy that lived across the hall from me last year walk out of his room and say hi, let alone have his arrest publicized. You're smearing people's characters, especially Bispham's. Who really cares if he decided to quit a club? Maybe he didn't like it, it wasn't what he expected, he had creative differences with people, whatever. But the Daily Pennsylvanian is using these quotes to sensationalize the events. The comment boards have enough mud-slinging, and the Daily Pennsylvanian should let it stay there. This story should never have been printed. Liz, Cornell '05 Ithaca NY ewb22@cornell.edu

bblack: do you still have pink pumas? new york loves hoch forever and ever spence chick

FREE! DAVE! HOCK!, If the glove don't fit you ain't got sh*t!!! Dave we love you in NYC and we are praying for you. Keep your head up even with all those ivy league faggots giving you sh*t. We love you kid!! Bag'o, Criminal Lawyer NYC

Stephanie Steward, I am disgusted with your inflammatory brand of journalism. It is abundantly clear that you have been exploiting this story and your classmates in an attempt to secure a future as a journalist. So far you have a great resume that can secure your spot at The Enquirer. It is unfair to blame the Owl Society for the actions of a few individuals who are linked to the organization strictly by hearsay. Snow Golf Rules! Dave, Senior Golf Pro Minneapolis

Stephanie Steward, you seem to have really struck gold with your trio of libelous articles. The sensational nature of your articles is appalling. Have you no limits? That you blatantly misquoted Benjamin Black should be grounds enough for your dismissal from the DP. You have shamed the Daily Pennsylvanian and indeed the whole PENN community with your efforts to make the DP a tabloid. Street is our tabloid, not the DP itself. Even so, it was only a few years ago that a certain female was accused by Street of starring in a pornographic film. Her picture and name appeared. She took legal action and the insert has been tamed down since then. These 5 students should certainly take legal action against you and the DP. Snow Golf Rules! Dave, Senior Golf Pro Minneapolis

Not sure it's fair to use blind quotes in a story like this. If someone wants to come out and say these kids are creeps (which they would seem to be, if they did what's alleged), they ought to be willing to be identified by name doing it. Mike, Reporter Washington

To Stephanie Steward and the DP editors: If you're going to publish a quote that's critical of a student, have the balls and the editorial judgment to quote the criticizer by name. Thomas Bispham may have committed nasty crimes, but he still deserves better than to have the DP print anonymous quotes about him. Cam Winton, Penn '01 Boston

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