Prosecutor’s Decision Expected Next Week in Cal Football Player-on-Player Attack

by Irvin Muchnick

The Fabiano Hale story — the football player who was beaten by a teammate into a concussion and the Alta Bates Hospital emergency room after missing a weight training session — is not primarily about whatever criminal charges get meted out. It is about the rancid culture of University of California football.

But when last we revisited all this, on January 7, the campus police did say they had submitted a report on the November 1 incident to the Alameda County district attorney. In a phone interview today, assistant D.A. Paul Hora confirmed that. Hora also said a decision on whether to prosecute should be made next week. Right now the office is gathering and clarifying some final information — but Hora emphasized that the UC police, who originally submitted a report in the period just after Thanksgiving, have been prompt and diligent in responding to all of the D.A.’s requests for supplements.

As I’ve said, this is one California citizen who would like to get past whether Hale’s assailant will be arrested, and even whether Hale’s family will file a civil claim against the university. What I want to find out is whether and when the administration of the new chancellor, Nicholas B. Dirks, intends to reassert civilian control over the current militaristic mess at Haas Pavilion and Memorial Stadium.

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The Most Telling Concussion in Cal Football Occurred Off the Field