By Cody Clark Shayne Merwin, the Western student who pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree burglary and malicious harassment in connection to racist and homophobic vandalism on Western’s campus, has been expelled from Western and is trespassed from returning to campus, according to a campus-wide Western Alert sent Dec. 11, 2018. Expulsion is the most significant discipline the University may impose and means Merwin is permanently separated from Western and not allowed to re-enroll, according to the alert. The alert also says that Merwin will have the opportunity to appeal the disciplinary decision before a University appeals board if he chooses to do so. Merwin is expelled from Western’s campus after an investigation into vandalism found in Nash Hall, and on the Wright’s Triangle outdoor sculpture, according the alert. According the the alert, the vandalism is considered a very serious violation of Western’s Student Conduct Code. Malicious harassment is Washington’s hate crime statute and is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of $10,000, according to Washington State Law section 9A.36.080. University Police are continuing their investigation into the vandalism, according to the alert.
