Harold D. Craft Jr., vice president for facilities and campus services at Cornell University, today (April 19) issued the following statement concerning several events involving a CU Transit bus on April 15: "The safety of the entire community is a primary objective of the CU Transit system. The events of April 15 that have already been reported in the press are matters of grave concern to the university. One of our students was reportedly bumped by one of our buses as she attempted to cross East Avenue in a marked crosswalk. This is a most serious allegation and would be a violation, not only of the vehicle and traffic law but also of the Cornell safety standards that are a critical part of the regular training of all drivers in CU Transit. The University wishes to express its profound apology to the pedestrians involved and its regret that the incident occurred.

"It has already been widely reported that the Cornell Police, acting in consultation with the Office of the Tompkins County District Attorney, have issued a citation to the bus driver involved for violating Section 1151a of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law -- 'failure to yield right-of-way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.' The citation is returnable in the Ithaca City Court.

"In addition, the performance of the driver of the bus in question is being reviewed in accordance with the provisions of the 1994-1997 collective bargaining agreement between the University and the Cornell Service and Maintenance Unit of the United Autoworkers, Local 2300. Article 12 of that agreement, 'Discipline and Discharge,' commits the University and the Union to a procedure of progressive discipline and to the principle that discipline has the objective of improving the future performance of the employee. Furthermore, the University is committed by the bargaining agreement 'to strive, whenever possible, to handle all disciplinary matters in a private setting with relevant personnel only.' The University will adhere to these provisions in commenting about this case.

"While the University is not in a position to comment on the specifics of the disciplinary action that already has been taken, several points need to be considered. First is the nature of the infraction. The Cornell Police have taken eyewitness testimony from a significant number of individuals who witnessed the original event, and much of that testimony is inconsistent with regard to apparent intent. Second, the University has reviewed and given consideration to the prior performance and personnel record of the driver. In this instance, the driver has had a substantially above-average record with no prior incidents that are in any way similar to the event of April 15. Third, the driver has expressed his deep remorse for the event that occurred, denied that there was any intention on his part to endanger anyone with his bus, and apologized for his actions personally to the student involved. Fourth, all CU Transit drivers will participate in additional safety and sensitivity training in the next 30-60 days.

"There is no question that Cornell's central campus is heavily congested. That has been a major factor in the continuing concern of the administration to encourage, through a wide variety of means, the utilization of public transportation and thereby reduce the total number of vehicles on campus each day.

"It needs to be said that the bus drivers in CU Transit have a highly successful record of service to the campus. They are, however, frequently subject to considerable pressure. The University does not condone or excuse the movement through any occupied crosswalk by any vehicle, a principle that has been reinforced with CU Transit drivers. Nevertheless, our drivers are frequently faced with substantial numbers of pedestrians who enter crosswalks long after one of our buses has come to a complete stop, thereby unnecessarily prolonging the delay in traffic movement for other members of the Cornell community. In order to meet the needs of many diverse parts of the campus community, these buses have frequently sought to inch their way through openings that occur in otherwise crowded intersections. This practice will be closely evaluated in light of the findings in the case at hand.

"Finally, while the incident at the crosswalk is indeed a serious matter, we must continue to be mindful of an equally serious matter, the complaint of the bus driver that he had been harassed by several individuals, and assaulted by one who struck him severely in the right ear. Members of this community are not and cannot be permitted to take the law into their own hands. No matter what provocation may have been felt, this attack was wrong. Cornell Police continue their investigation into this matter and solicit statements from any individuals who may have had access to relevant information in this case."