Two University administrative sources confirmed that Mamoon Darwish, a student in last year's Transitional Year Program, is not on the Brandeis 2008 freshman roster. Darwish was suspended and barred from campus from February to April 2008 after his involvement in a fistfight. After completion of TYP, a student can reapply to Brandeis in order to become an undergraduate student. Due to federal privacy laws, several Brandeis offices and administrators were unable to confirm details about whether Darwish reapplied to Brandeis or whether he was accepted.

According to the Waltham District Court report written Feb. 16 and submitted by Sgt. Brian Cogan of the Brandeis University Police, there were separate assault charges filed against Darwish on the afternoon of Feb. 16 in addition to the charges for the fistfight. These accusations referred to incidents that were reported to University Police.

Following the incidents, the University Board of Student Conduct recommended suspending Darwish from campus in a Feb. 29 hearing on the fistfight case, and he was officially suspended following the hearing. Darwish's suspension was originally deemed to be in effect until May 2008.

Darwish appealed this recommendation for suspension and on April 16, the University Board of Appeals lifted his suspension, and he was allowed back on campus. Darwish was unable to complete his TYP year by the end of spring, Darwish told the Justice in May.

However, TYP Director Erika Smith wrote in an e-mail to the Justice, "I am pleased to say that [Darwish] was able to reach his goal of completing the TYP. Many people from various parts of the University worked hard to make this happen. I, and [Darwish's] TYP instructors were in close touch with him over the summer working on this."

According to the Brandeis directory, Darwish remained on campus for summer school.

Smith also wrote, "All other details of [Darwish]'s application, and outcomes of it are his to tell."

Darwish did not respond to repeated requests for information.

-Anya Bergman contributed reporting.