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Stevenson Hall, the tallest building in Charleston, houses upperclassmen students attending Eastern. (Bryce Peake | Daily Eastern News)

Alleged domestic battery under investigation

Hudson describes incident as "isolated"

By: Nora Maberry/News editor

Posted: 3/3/08

Scott Kooistra, 21, from Chicago, was arrested Saturday morning on charges of domestic battery, stemming from an incident in Stevenson Hall, said University Police Chief Adam Due.

UPD was notified of an incident in Stevenson Hall at approximately 4:04 a.m. on Saturday, Due said.

Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs, confirmed the domestic battery in Stevenson and said the incident is under investigation.

According to Illinois statutes, a person can be charged with domestic battery if they intentionally or knowingly without legal justification by any means, cause bodily harm to any family or household member.

The female victim is a Stevenson Hall Resident Assistant.

The victim said that Kooistra was visiting her at Eastern and was intoxicated before the alleged incident happened.

The incident was unprovoked and the victim and Kooistra were not fighting or arguing before it happened, the victim said.

"It all just happened so fast," she said. "And that was it."

The victim, Nadler and Mark Hudson, director of Housing and Dining Services, described the victim's injuries as "not severe."

The victim said her injures consisted of a few bumps and bruises.

After the incident, the victim went into her suitemates' room and locked the bathroom door that connected their rooms.

Her suitemate then called Stevenson Hall resident director Brittney Fentress.

The victim described the response from residence hall staff as "textbook."

"The director was immediately called and she came to assess the situation," she said.

The victim said staffers told her the police were going to be called.

Fentress removed the victim from her suitemates' room.

The police then questioned the victim and took her statement.

After the statement was taken, the police arrested Kooistra.

"They went downstairs to remove him from my room and the woman (a female police officer) just said, the door is locked and we need permission to get in," the victim said.

After the attack, the victim did not return to her room.

"I didn't sleep a wink," she said. " But my director took very good care of me."

The suitemate has been assured by Housing and Dining Services and the Counseling Center that a new lock will be installed on the conjoining bathroom door.

Hudson described the domestic battery as "very much an isolated incident."

The victim said she understood that the incident posed safety concerns.

"I didn't think he would be a threat to me and I was wrong about that," she said.

The victim said she had people supporting her after the incident.

"Today, I sort of wanted to go home, but I didn't," she said. "I have to stick it out."

Next week, the victim will be going home for spring break and she plans on speaking to her alleged attacker.

"I'm not sure I can face him yet," she said. "When I sit down with (him), I don't want to be emotional. I want to be upfront and mature."

She said she has been told that her alleged attacker "feels very remorseful."

Domestic battery is a Class A misdemeanor, and is punishable by serving time in a county jail for less than a year. A fine of $2,500, or an amount specified in the offense, whichever is greater, can be levied.

Kooistra currently attends St. Xavier University in Chicago. He is a junior and a defensive end on the school's football team. Kooistra, at 6 feet 3 inches and 240 pounds, had seven-and-a-half sacks this past season for Saint Xavier, who advanced to the quarterfinals of the NAIA playoffs.

Nora Maberry can be reached at 581-7942 or nemaberry@eiu.edu.