2 Delta Phis + video camera = trouble at Cornell

[hoosier]

ITHACA -- Two Cornell University students were arrested Wednesday for allegedly filming two people having sexual intercourse in the fall of last year, according to police documents.

Michael Pusateri, 21, and Kristoffer Kaminski, 21, are both members of Delta Phi fraternity. Police said the two filmed the couple through a window in October of 2003 and that there was no indication that the couple knew they were being filmed.

Michael Taylor, D-4th Ward, is a member of Ithaca's Common Council and a former member of Interfraternity Council. News of the arrest added to Taylor's concern for his Collegetown constituents.

"This is very unfortunate," Taylor said. "I hope the actions of a few don't let the many good deeds of the Cornell Greek system speak for them.

"We'll be definitely thinking about more ways to get across the seriousness of this kind of thing, how blatantly inappropriate and wrong this kind of conduct is."

Pusateri and Kaminski have been charged with unlawful surveillance in the second degree, a class E felony, and are scheduled to appear at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8 in Ithaca City Court.

"The charges against the two men are very disturbing," said Tommy Bruce, Cornell vice president for communications and media relations.

According to the Cornell University Web site, Kaminski is a hotel major from Wisconsin Dells, Wis. and a vice president of Delta Phi Fraternity. He worked with the school's orientation program.

This episode follows the recent arrest of David Church, a local landlord. Church, 44, was charged with 10 counts of unlawful surveillance in the second degree after police found hidden cameras he had placed in apartments rented out to local college students. The charges relate to incidents beginning in May 2003 and carrying through last week.