Hawk returned
Joy Pavelski
Issue date: 3/6/08 Section: News
The male student who stole a red-tailed hawk from the biology department returned it late last Thursday to a physics department display case. It is now home in its biology display case, glass door locked.
Professor of Physics Jim Peters found the bird and e-mailed Associate Professor of Biology Tony Swinehart, who recovered and replaced it Friday morning. Swinehart said the bird was returned without damage, and that the culprit e-mailed him later to confess.
"They even returned the name tag," Swinehart said yesterday.
The last time a student stole from the biology department, the purloined eagle sustained irreversible injury. The two birds are part of Hillsdale College's collection, which dates back to the 1800s and includes several rare and endangered fowl.
In light of the swift recovery and confession, Swinehart said he will "take care of it in-house," and not share the student's name with college administration. He said he is relieved the bird is back.
"They're not mine, but you hold them and feel the history," he said. "You can get another hawk, but not that hawk.
Professor of Physics Jim Peters found the bird and e-mailed Associate Professor of Biology Tony Swinehart, who recovered and replaced it Friday morning. Swinehart said the bird was returned without damage, and that the culprit e-mailed him later to confess.
"They even returned the name tag," Swinehart said yesterday.
The last time a student stole from the biology department, the purloined eagle sustained irreversible injury. The two birds are part of Hillsdale College's collection, which dates back to the 1800s and includes several rare and endangered fowl.
In light of the swift recovery and confession, Swinehart said he will "take care of it in-house," and not share the student's name with college administration. He said he is relieved the bird is back.
"They're not mine, but you hold them and feel the history," he said. "You can get another hawk, but not that hawk.

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