A former student of the Graduate School of Education (GSE) who was acquitted of rape charges earlier this year has accused Harvard administrators of discouraging him from applying for readmission.

Georgi Zedginidze, 36, was found not guilty on all six counts of rape and assault after a five-day trial at Middlesex Superior Court in August, according to his lawyer, Edward W. Wayland.

But Wayland said Harvard administrators have advised Zedginidze not to reapply, warning that, if the GSE’s disciplinary body finds him guilty, his academic record could be marked with an expulsion. Currently, Zedginidze’s record notes his voluntary withdrawal in 2002.

“[GSE officials] sat him down and told him they didn’t think it was a good idea, that he was risking his academic record by doing it,” Wayland said. “He told me they were kind of hostile.”

Zedginidze was arrested on Jan. 20, 2002, when a female resident of his dorm reported to police that Zedginidze had “pretty much pulled” her into his Child Hall room and kissed, fondled, undressed and made sexual contact with her against her will. Wayland said a Harvard official came to the jail that night and recommended he withdraw from the GSE, which he did.

Despite Harvard’s warnings, Zedginidze decided he would risk his clean transcript to gain readmission. Wayland said Zedginidze wrote a letter officially declaring his intent to reapply about a month ago.

GSE spokesperson Christine Sanni wrote in an e-mail that the GSE could not comment on an individual case, but that the school’s disciplinary body decides independently of the criminal justice system whether a student’s conduct warrants punishment.

“A finding by a court that a person did not violate the state’s criminal laws does not speak to whether the student has acted consistently with the School’s code of conduct and related expectations for members of the community,” Sanni wrote.

To apply for readmission, Zedginidze must appear at a hearing before the GSE’s Committee on Rights and Responsibilities, a disciplinary committee equivalent to the College’s Administrative Board which is composed of two continuing doctoral students and three faculty members.

Wayland said Zedginidze has not heard anything from the GSE since he submitted the letter a month ago and may not receive a hearing, or even a response, for several more months.

“He sent the letter into a black hole and that’s it,” Wayland said. “The next step should be waiting for Harvard to decide what, if anything, they are going to do.”

Zedginidze, a citizen of the Republic of Georgia, was forced to return to his country when his visa expired earlier this fall. He could not be reached for comment.

“My understanding is that they told him it could take many months to set up the hearing,” Wayland said. “They gather as much info as possible and then have the hearing. Just [getting] the transcripts for the trial can take many months.”

Harvard’s Trial

The GSE’s Committee on Rights and Responsibilities will decide whether Zedginidze violated the GSE’s code of ethics and, if so, what punishment would be appropriate.