Scully confronts TV reporter
By TERESA FRALISH
Assistant News Editor
A confrontation between WNDU-TV reporter Bonnie Druker and Notre Dame executive vice president Father Tim scully occurred near the Fisher Hall parking lot shortly before the beginning of the 10 p.m. Mass celebrated Thursday for missing freshman Chad Sharon, University officials said.
Druker, a reporter for the University-owned television station, was on campus to cover the Fisher Hall Mass for Newscenter 16. She was unavailable for comment.
"Father Scully told the WNDU crew that they were parked in the wrong spots," said Notre Dame spokesman Matt Storin.
A Notre Dame Security/Police crime blotter report listed an incident at Fisher Hall under the offense category "other assault." The online blotter narrative said "a visitor reported a confrontation with a University employee regarding parking." The incident was reported at 1:14 a.m. Friday.
While police officials said they were unable to comment on any possible investigation into the report, the incident is listed as "active" on the blotter.
"If it says it's active then it's been assigned to a detective," said Phil Johnson, assistant director of NDSP.
Storin said he believes the dispute occurred over the location of WNDU vehicles parked in the spaces between Fisher Hall and "Father Scully told the WNDU crew that they were parked in the wrong spots," said Notre Dame spokesman Matt Storin.
"I saw the trucks in the parking area that I believe is probably part of the South Dining Hall parking," he said. Storin said the news vehicles may have been parked in spaces reserved for South Dining Hall parking and not Fisher Hall parking.
Scully apologized to Druker after the incident occurred, according to Storin. "It is my understanding that Father Scully apologized to Ms. Druker the next day and that she accepted that apology," he said. "[Scully apologized] just for what he felt was a misunderstanding."
The confrontation occurred shortly before the Fisher Hall Mass was scheduled to begin, according to Storin. "It was five or 10 minutes before that," he said.
Scully also said he apologized to Druker for the incident. "A misunderstanding transpired between Bonnie Druker and myself prior to the Mass," Scully said. "I apologized to Ms. Druker after the event for anything I might have done that may have contributed to the misunderstanding. Ms. Druker accepted my apology."
Scully has served as Notre Dame's executive vice president since July 2000 and as a vice president and senior associate provost since 1994.
Scully is the founder of the Alliance for Catholic Education, a postgraduate service opportunity that allows recent college graduates to serve for two years by teaching in underfunded Catholic schools across the nation. Scully is also the founder or Holy Cross Associates, another postgraduate service opportunity that allows college graduates to serve for one year in poor communities in the United States and throughout the world in conjugation with the Holy Cross ministry.
All News Stories for Monday, January 20, 2003
