In the wake of the Bernie Williams sex-abuse scandal, Syracuse University does not need any more bad publicity. Unfortunately, it has some further bad news to deal with.

Evidently, a male Syracuse grad student choked a female student in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs last Wednesday, according to an e-mail sent out by the university. The occurrence sounds like it may have been a domestic incident and could possibly lead to assault charges being brought against the male student.

Not much is known about the incident, other than that charges have been filed with local law enforcement and that the victim was taken to a local hospital, treated and released. So far, the student has only been suspended and banned from contacting the alleged victim, but he is going to have to undergo the school's judicial process, which will decide whether he can continue attending the school.

If the student did indeed assault the female student, then he behaved in an unacceptable manner. Violence is not an okay answer to anything.

However, it would be wise if those involved with the school's judicial proceedings took into account any punishments he may face from the courts system. They may also want to factor in the man's sentiments in the wake of his purported misdeed; if he is genuinely remorseful and sees the error of his ways, there may be less need to punish him.

Once again, turning to violence or aggression as a way to deal with a problem is never okay. But then again, a draconian punishment will not solve things, either.

Source: The Syracuse Post-Standard, "Syracuse University graduate student accused of choking fellow student," Douglass Dowty, Dec. 12, 2011