DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Take Back the Night newspaper editorials and articles, 1982 | 1982-11-01 Daily Iowan Article: "Editor was accused of harassment"

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Take Back the Night newspaper editorials and articles, 1982

1982-11-01 Daily Iowan Article: "Editor was accused of harassment"

The Daily Iowan - Iowa city, Iowa - Monday, November 1, 1982 - Page 3A

Editor was accused of harassment

By Paul Boyum 
Staff Writer

The news editor for The Daily Iowan who said he was beaten at the Oct. 23 " Women take back the night" rally said Sunday he pleaded guilty earlier this year to a charge of telephone harassment of a former girlfriend. 
Tim Severa, 26, was fined $50 in the case brought by Leslie Ireland of Cedar Rapids. 
In a telephone interview Sunday, Severa explained the incident as " a conversation between a boyfriend and a girlfriend" He said he was in the midst of breaking up a relationship with Ireland at the time. 
One night he called her two times " If he father answered the phone I would hang up," Severa said. " On that particular night he answered the phone both times."
Severa said the Cedar Rapids police had a traceer on the phone and were able to determine he had called. Ireland filed the charges of phone harassment based on the events of one night, Severa said. 

" I HADN'T CALLED her for about a month" he said. He said he was surprised when charges were files " It's something that should never gone to court."
Rally organizers - some of whom doubt the accuracy of Severa's accounts of what occurred Oct. 23 - reacted Sunday to the previous charges against Severa. 
Acting as a spokeswoman for the eight-member ad hoc committee to " take back the night" Tess Catalano said Sunday. " We think it's kind of unfortunate," that Severa had a previous record of harassing a woman. 
" It is an example of the ways in which men don't seem to be able to make a personal commitment to being opposed to violence against women " Catalano said. 
Catalano said she doubted " very strongly that (Severa) was the victim of violence" at the rally. She said all of the incidents of violence reported so far are just accusations and because no formal charges have been filed. "I'm inclined to think this man is lying."

DI METRO EDITOR Rochelle Bozman said she had no knowledge of Severa's record before she assigned him to cover the rally. " I guess I wouldn't have sent him if I knew he had this record because it doesn't look good in appearance. But I don't think it had anything to do with the events of that night."
The editor of the DI, Craig Gemoules, said he was aware Severa had had some legal problems but " the dispute was of kind of a personal nature. I don't think that is a good indicator of his true nature."
Gemoules said he perceives Severa as a seriously-minded and professional journalist. " I don't regret the fact that we sent him out to cover the rally. That one dispute can't be translated into general disrespect for women."Gemoules said.
Severa would not comment for the record on whether he planned to proceed with filing charges against two of the women who he said attacked him at the rally. 
He said the incidents that occurred Oct, 23 have brought him more trouble than he anticipated. 
" I went to the rally to cover what I thought would be a peaceful event I didn't expect to have my life threatened and be beaten. I have nothing against any women in the group. I have nothing to gain from this" Severa said.

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The Daily Iowan - Iowa city, Iowa - Monday, November 1, 1982 - Page 3A Editor was accused of harassment By Paul Boyum Staff Writer The news editor for The Daily Iowan who said he was beaten at the Oct. 23 " Women take back the night" rally said Sunday he pleaded guilty earlier this year to a charge of telephone harassment of a former girlfriend. Tim Severa, 26, was fined $50 in the case brought by Leslie Ireland of Cedar Rapids. In a telephone interview Sunday, Severa explained the incident as " a conversation between a boyfriend and a girlfriend" He said he was in the midst of breaking up a relationship with Ireland at the time. One night he called her two times " If he father answered the phone I would hang up," Severa said. " On that particular night he answered the phone both times." Severa said the Cedar Rapids police had a traceer on the phone and were able to determine he had called. Ireland filed the charges of phone harassment based on the events of one night, Severa said. " I HADN'T CALLED her for about a month" he said. He said he was surprised when charges were files " It's something that should never gone to court." Rally organizers - some of whom doubt the accuracy of Severa's accounts of what occurred Oct. 23 - reacted Sunday to the previous charges against Severa. Acting as a spokeswoman for the eight-member ad hoc committee to " take back the night" Tess Catalano said Sunday. " We think it's kind of unfortunate," that Severa had a previous record of harassing a woman. " It is an example of the ways in which men don't seem to be able to make a personal commitment to being opposed to violence against women " Catalano said. Catalano said she doubted " very strongly that (Severa) was the victim of violence" at the rally. She said all of the incidents of violence reported so far are just accusations and because no formal charges have been filed. "I'm inclined to think this man is lying." DI METRO EDITOR Rochelle Bozman said she had no knowledge of Severa's record before she assigned him to cover the rally. " I guess I wouldn't have sent him if I knew he had this record because it doesn't look good in appearance. But I don't think it had anything to do with the events of that night." The editor of the DI, Craig Gemoules, said he was aware Severa had had some legal problems but " the dispute was of kind of a personal nature. I don't think that is a good indicator of his true nature." Gemoules said he perceives Severa as a seriously-minded and professional journalist. " I don't regret the fact that we sent him out to cover the rally. That one dispute can't be translated into general disrespect for women."Gemoules said. Severa would not comment for the record on whether he planned to proceed with filing charges against two of the women who he said attacked him at the rally. He said the incidents that occurred Oct, 23 have brought him more trouble than he anticipated. " I went to the rally to cover what I thought would be a peaceful event I didn't expect to have my life threatened and be beaten. I have nothing against any women in the group. I have nothing to gain from this" Severa said.