Student Fights To Keep Custody, Resume College

Gina M. Ocon '98 seemed to have it all. She was involved in crew, she had just been accepted into the interdisciplinary social studies concentration and she was known by Thayer hallmates as "fun" and "cool."

Then she got pregnant.

Ocon left school last November to give birth to her daughter, Bailey, in her hometown of Lakewood, Calif. Now she wants to come back, but her ex-boyfriend and the baby's father, Tommaso Maggiore, is trying to stop her.

Maggiore claims that a Harvard education would force Ocon to "warehouse" their baby daughter in day care, according to an article on the front page of Sunday's Los Angeles Times.

Maggiore is seeking a custody-sharing arrangement which would force mother and daughter to remain in Southern California, the paper said.

The issue will be decided May 6 by Long Beach, Calif. family law commissioner John Chemeleski, the article said.

Maggiore refused to comment until after the court date.

"We would not like to make any comments until this gets resolved in a professional way," he told The Crimson yesterday.

One of Ocon's former Eliot house roommates, Ana M. Balcarcel '98, said that the custody battle comes as a great surprise.

"I knew she was having some problems, but I didn't know any specifics," she said.

Ocon lived with Balcarcel, Pia A. Menezes '98 and Jane A. Rubio '98 in Eliot House until she left for home in November. Balcarcel has fond memories of their first year, when she would hang out with Menezes and Ocon, who lived across the hall in Thayer 201.

"She was very spontaneous, a very fun person, very laid back. She was very cool," Balcarcel said.

The Times said that this fun-loving nature led Ocon to take up with the "handsome" Maggiore in the summer of 1995, despite her mother's disapproval.

Maggiore is a 21-year-old waiter who works in his parents' Long Beach restaurant, Andiamo. Balcarcel said that Ocon and Maggiore had been friends for years.

Ocon told her roommates that she was pregnant during October of her sophomore year. Balcarcel said that Ocon's Catholic upbringing meant she didn't consider abortion as a possible option.

"We did discuss a lot of things, but in the end, it was her decision," Balcarcel said.

Ocon decided to leave Harvard in November, said Balcarcel, and Maggiore flew out to get her.

"He struck me as a very nice and responsible person from the little I got to know of him," she said.

Balcarcel said this impression came from the time she visited the couple in California during spring break and saw how happy they were together.

But appearances can be deceiving.

Ocon walked out on Maggiore this past September, taking the baby with her. Three days later, Maggiore filed for custody, according to the Times.

Three months later, Maggiore was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and convicted on one count, according to the Long Beach District Attorney's office. The Times reports that he was arrested once again in December for suspicion of public intoxication. The Long Beach Police Department said it had no record of a second arrest.

Balcarcel and her other room- mates know nothing of Ocon's legal battles and her desire to return to school.

"She had mentioned coming back, but we weren't sure just because it's been a while," Balcarcel said.

"We've gotten maybe a couple of letters throughout the year, but she doesn't really keep in touch with us," she said. "She mentioned briefly that things aren't going well, but...."

The legal battle hinges upon Maggiore's doubts about Ocon's abilities to manage class work and child care at the same time, according to the Times.

Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III said he does not believe the Harvard housing system provides services for undergraduates with children.

He cited Dudley House as a possible place with special services for undergraduate parents, but referred questions to Associate Dean of Housing Services and Senior Tutor of Dudley House Thomas A. Dingman '67.

Dingman could not be reached for comment last night

"She had mentioned coming back, but we weren't sure just because it's been a while," Balcarcel said.

"We've gotten maybe a couple of letters throughout the year, but she doesn't really keep in touch with us," she said. "She mentioned briefly that things aren't going well, but...."

The legal battle hinges upon Maggiore's doubts about Ocon's abilities to manage class work and child care at the same time, according to the Times.

Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III said he does not believe the Harvard housing system provides services for undergraduates with children.

He cited Dudley House as a possible place with special services for undergraduate parents, but referred questions to Associate Dean of Housing Services and Senior Tutor of Dudley House Thomas A. Dingman '67.

Dingman could not be reached for comment last night