Here's an update on the case I posted about over the weekend in which a university dean was charged with something (criminal negligence, I guess), because a student drank himself to death in a hazing ritual.

The dean, Anthony Campbell, has pleaded not guilty. What this means is that apparently the DA thinks he has a criminal case against the dean, although I still can't figure out precisely what the legal theory of criminal liability is.

Neither can the dean's lawyer:

Before yesterday's hearing, Campbell's lawyer, Rocco Cipparone Jr., said his client wasn't at the party and played no role in arranging it.

"I'm not aware of any set of facts and circumstances that could remotely serve as a basis for a conviction of a crime," he said.

Standing with Campbell after the hearing, Cipparone said his client had received many supportive phone calls and e-mails. He described Campbell as a "very caring dean of students."

If convicted of the hazing charge, the officials and fraternity members would face a maximum penalty of 18 months in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Prosecutors said the defendants "knowingly or recklessly organized, promoted, facilitated or engaged in conduct which resulted in serious bodily injury" to DeVercelly and another student, William Williams, who survived.

I don't think they have a good case, and while I initially suspected prosecutorial grandstanding, for some reason the DA is neither quoted nor mentioned in today's report. But the desire to send a message is:

Doug Fierberg, a lawyer who's represented hazing victims since the mid-1990s, said it's rare for a university official to be held responsible for hazing.

"This involves a watershed event where the public has to recognize that universities have to be safe and have to take these kinds of events seriously," said Fierberg, who's been retained by DeVercelly's parents.

Henry Nuwer, a college professor who's studied campus hazing for years, said the case will send a strong message to higher education officials about their accountability for hazings.

"Who wants to go through a perp walk? That would scare anyone to death. It's not what you go into teaching for. The pay isn't good enough," said Nuwer, an assistant professor of journalism at Franklin College in Franklin, Ind.

Nuwer said it will be difficult for prosecutors to prove Campbell and Badgley committed a crime.

"I haven't seen the reckless disregard you would need for a conviction," Nuwer said.

Campbell and Badgley are still employed by the university. A university spokesman, Jonathan Meer, has said a decision on their status is expected next week.

I think this is a bad case.