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	Jesuit Backs Principal Amid Gossip over E-Mail By Dorothy Korber Sacramento Bee [Carmichael CA] May 1, 2007 http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/163876.html Aiming to quell gossip that has upset students and parents, the president of Jesuit High School in Carmichael on Monday addressed campus rumors involving the school's principal, the Rev. Edward Fassett. President Greg Bonfiglio, who heads the exclusive Catholic boys school, said the rumors stem from a photograph Fassett inadvertently displayed to faculty and staff in October — an incident that was handled at the time. Bonfiglio emphasized that Fassett has not resigned and has not been dismissed, contrary to stories that had Jesuit students buzzing last week. "I'm confident in Father Fassett's integrity," said Bonfiglio, who also is a Jesuit priest. "He is a good priest and a good administrator." During an Oct. 23 meeting with a dozen faculty and staff members, Fassett booted up his laptop computer and the screen displayed a photograph attached to an e-mail sent to him by someone else, according to Bonfiglio. The photo depicted a nude man in a pose reminiscent of Michelangelo's David, recalled David Novak, a Jesuit High assistant principal. "It popped up quickly, I took a quick look at it and we went back to the meeting," Novak recalled Monday. "It wasn't prurient, it wasn't sexual. ... No one thought much of it." The dean of students notified Bonfiglio, who spoke to Fassett the same day. Bonfiglio said he reviewed the e-mail attachment and conferred with Jesuit's board of directors. The matter was handled according to the school's established personnel policy, he said. "Father Fassett received an unsolicited e-mail with an attachment which was accidentally displayed during a staff meeting," Bonfiglio said. "These are unfortunate facts, which he regrets. "What is also unfortunate is that he has been victimized by rumor and innuendo that don't fit those facts." The trustees were polled again on the matter Friday and reaffirmed their support, Bonfiglio said. One Jesuit board member, Carol Dreyer of Carmichael, said she is amazed that this incident is generating so much turmoil so long afterward. "This thing seemed so mundane — no big deal," Dreyer said Monday. "I don't know what brought it to a boil last week." Fassett wasn't available for comment Monday. In a statement released by the school, he said: "I deeply regret that this incident has caused embarrassment to the community of Jesuit High School, and I reiterate my apology to the faculty and staff. I have devoted most of my professional life to secondary education, and I would never intentionally jeopardize the mission or the good work of the school." Marty Wilson, a Carmichael parent with two sons attending Jesuit, said his boys brought the rumor home Friday evening. "You're always concerned when kids brings these things up — but you also want to put a lot of context around it," Wilson said Monday. Wilson said he called Bonfiglio. "I came away with a very strong sense that the school acted appropriately and — this is important — they acted promptly," Wilson said. Fassett, 50, is in his first year as principal of Jesuit, a selective four-year high school with 1,070 students and a rigorous college preparatory program. Bee Publisher Janis Heaphy has a son at the school and is a Jesuit board member. She has taken a leave of absence from the board while this matter is resolved. For the school community, Bonfiglio said, this is the kind of moment that tests character. "When we're on the other side of this, we have to be able to say that we acted according to the values and principles that define us," he said. "I think that we have done it and that we are doing it." • The Bee's Dorothy Korber can be reached at (916) 321-1061 or dkorber@sacbee.com.
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