HEMPSTEAD, NY VOL. 81 Issue 6
The Hofstra
Chronicle
Tuesday November 3, 2015
KEEPING THE HOFSTRA COMMUNITY INFORMED SINCE 1935
Student charged in Singas and Murray Olivia McClellanâs death debate for DA position By Chronicle Staff
A former Hofstra student has been charged with manslaughter in the death of Olivia McClellan, a sophomore student who died in her dorm room last semester, according to a news release from the Nassau County District Attorneyâs Office. Nineteen-year-old Joseph Joudah was indicted by a grand jury on charges of second degree manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, criminal injection of a narcotic drug, second degree reckless endangerment, seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminally possessing a hypodermic instrument. Joudah is charged with leaving McClellan alone in her dorm room for 17 hours while aware that she was overdosing on heroin with which he allegedly injected her, according to the release. He reportedly left the room at around 9 p.m. and anonymously alerted Hofstra Public Safety at 2:15 p.m. the next day. She was found dead when public safety officials reached her. âThis defendant allegedly injected 19-year-old Olivia McClellan with heroin and failed to get her timely help knowing that she was in the throes of an overdose and alone in her room,â Acting District Attorney Madeline Singas said in the
release. Multiple news sources broke the story Friday, October 30, and a statement was emailed to the Hofstra student body the same day, in an effort to clarify the context of Joudahâs charges and avoid confusion, University Relations officials said. âThe loss of one of our students, Olivia McClellan, last spring was heartbreaking for our entire community,â the release read. âThis morning a young man, who is no longer an enrolled student at the university, has been charged in that studentâs death.ââ McClellan and Joudah were romantically involved at the time. According to Hofstra University Relations, Joudah has been suspended from the university. Joudahâs father, Mohammad T. Joudah, is an administrative programming manager at Hofstra and his employment has not been affected, according to University Relations. Hofstra learned of the charges shortly before they were made public. In cases when students are charged with serious crimes, UR officials said the student involved is typically suspended, pending the outcome of criminal proceedings. Joudahâs bail is currently set at $10,000 and he is due back in court at Nov. 23, facing five to 15 years if he is found guilty of all charges.
2015 Day in the Pride
Photo courtesy of University Relations President Rabinowitz displays the âRoar with Prideâ T-shirt students received for participating in the media event.
Story on A3
By Kirstyn Brendlen STAFF WRITER
Acting District Attorney Madeline Singas and Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray went head-to-head at the 2015 District Attorney Debate on Wednesday night, hosted by the Maurice A. Deane School of Law in conjunction with the political science department and the League of Women Voters of Nassau County. Singas, a Democrat, and Murray, a Republican, debated for about two hours in Koppelman Hall in front of 200 people, as well as two overflow rooms that held about 80 additional viewers. Undergraduates and student volunteers from the law school collected questions from viewers both before and during the debate in preparation for the election on Nov. 3. The candidates answered questions on controlling the recent surge in heroin use on Long Island, gun control in Nassau County and raising the age of prosecution for nonviolent crimes. One of the first questions asked was, âAre college campuses doing enough to punish attackers and support victims [of sex crimes]?â They also discussed underage drinking in the wake of the recent arrest of 16 Hempstead bartenders. Dr. Rosanna Perotti, chair of the political science department, estimated that there were between 50 and 60 students in attendance to the debate, not including the volunteers. âWe host these debates for student benefit and also because we have an ongoing relationship with the community,â Perotti said. The League of Women Voters is happy to have this mix of students, faculty and community we have at Hofstra.â The League of Women Voters of Nassau County is a nonpartisan group that encourages informed involvement in government. The League allows voters easy access to information about voting, especially in small local elections and holds events like open forums and debates between candidates when they can, though both candidates must agree to a debate before it can be held. If one or both of the candidates do not wish to debate, one
cannot be held. âWe want students to be exposed to candidates and issues in a local election,â Perotti said, who attended the debate and spoke to students in both of the overflow rooms. âToo often weâre focused on the national institutions in studying politics. Many of our students go on to work in local politics, in local administrations, so this is a good first exposure for them.â Becky Marks, a sophomore political science major, felt this event was helpful for the Hofstra community. âIt was very beneficial,â Marks said. âJust because there were a lot of students here, so I think itâs really great to spread this awareness of whoâs running and what they stand for ⌠this is a good opportunity for students to actually come out and see them in person.â Nassau Countyâs district attorney is the highest-ranking elected judicial official in the county, prosecuting criminals under Nassau County and New York State law. Madeline Singas has held the role since January, though she entered the field in 2001 by joining the Queens District Attorneyâs Office. Singas has been endorsed by Newsday and the New York Times. Her opponent, Kate Murray, has been Hempstead Town Supervisor since 2003, prior to which she was the first woman elected to the New York State Assembly in 1998. Murray, a Republican, has been endorsed by former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani. âMany of the undergraduate students aspire to study law,â Perotti said. âAnd then when theyâre there at the debate, it turns out to be really fun and interesting. Itâs one thing to watch on C-SPAN, to watch a formal debate. Itâs quite another to see the candidates and all their entourage behind the scenes ... itâs really invaluable.â âI came because I was interested in seeing the candidates, hearing what they wanted to say,â Marks said. âI really didnât think there was a winner, I think they both brought up really good points and I learned a lot more about each of them.â Nassau County general elections will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 3 and will include several county and regional positions in addition to district attorney.