5.Jennifer Carr-Callison — Direct
163 linesJENNIFER CARR-CALLISON, duly sworn
COURT CLERK: Have a seat. State your name, spell your first and last name for the record, keep your voice up and speak into the mic.
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: Okay. My name is Jennifer Callison. It's J-E-N-N-I-F-E-R, C-A-L-L-I-S-O-N.
DIRECT EXAMINATION BY MS. CONRAD:
MS. CONRAD: Good afternoon, Ms. Callison.
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: Good afternoon.
MS. CONRAD: What kind of work do you do?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: I am the transition specialist for the office of special education in the Winchester Public Schools.
MS. CONRAD: And what is a transitional specialist?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: My job kind of is to help students who have disabilities transition from high school to adult life.
MS. CONRAD: And how long have you been with the Winchester school system?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: This is my first school year with them.
MS. CONRAD: Where did you work before there?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: The Cambridge Public Schools.
MS. CONRAD: And before -- where did you go to school?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: I went to school at the University of Massachusetts Boston and to Norwich University.
MS. CONRAD: And are you currently -- in addition to working for the Winchester school system, are you also currently going to school yourself?
MS. CONRAD: And what are you studying?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: I'm studying for my Ph.D. in leadership in urban schools through the University of Massachusetts at Boston.
MS. CONRAD: And before you went into the field of education, what kind of work did you do?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: I was the director of marketing and promotions for multiple major market radio stations in both Massachusetts and California.
MS. CONRAD: And which radio station did you work for in Boston?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: WBCN and then formerly WBOS.
MS. CONRAD: And were you ever a disk jockey?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: I was.
MS. CONRAD: Turning to the Cambridge school system, during what years did you work in the Cambridge school system?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: I started working there in 2007 and finished working there in June of 2014.
MS. CONRAD: And in the school year 2010 to 2011, what was your position in the Cambridge school system?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: I was the transition coordinator for the district.
MS. CONRAD: And where specifically did you work? What was your place of work?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: I worked at the high school, at Cambridge Rindge and Latin school.
MS. CONRAD: And at that time, was your last name the same?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: No, it was not.
MS. CONRAD: What was it at that time?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: It was Garcia.
MS. CONRAD: So tell us a little bit more about what your responsibilities were when you were working at -- in the Cambridge system, specifically, in the 2010-to-2011 school year.
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: I was the transition specialist for the district, so I worked in the office of special education. I worked with students who were 14 to 22 who had a variety of disabilities to help them plan for the transition from adult -- from high school to adult life, so really looking towards employment opportunities, education and social and community relations, connecting students to state agencies, also connecting students and families to day programs and other supports that may be useful to them when they leave school.
MS. CONRAD: Can I ask you just to slow down just a little bit for the court reporter.
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: Sorry. Of course.
MS. CONRAD: When -- in that position, did you also serve as advisor -- faculty advisor to a student group?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: Yes, I was the faculty advisor to the CRLS chapter of Best Buddies.
MS. CONRAD: What is Best Buddies?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: Best Buddies is an international organization, they have chapters at high schools, elementary schools, middle schools and colleges as well as other programs they run. The program that I supervised specifically was a social club at the high school level, which was a chapter of Best Buddies that ran for students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities.
MS. CONRAD: And what role -- what relationship did the Best Buddies program have to your responsibilities as -- in the transitional assistance?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: They weren't interconnected necessarily, but as part of my role, I was the faculty advisor, and many of my students who I was transitioning out also participated in Best Buddies.
MS. CONRAD: What do you mean by "transitioning out"?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: Students that were preparing to leave high school and go into adult life to kind of help gain social skills, they would join Best Buddies to make new friendships, participate in social activities both on and off campus, and I would oversee that club.
MS. CONRAD: So what were some of the activities of Best Buddies?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: We would alternate activities on campus and off campus. So around Christmastime we did an annual gingerbread house-making competition on campus for students. Then off campus we would go out to lunch, go out to dinner. We went to the Best Buddies prom. We had a year-end banquet. We had different events that were designed to foster social skills and development and create friendships for students with and without disabilities in one setting.
MS. CONRAD: And in the 2000 -- and do you know Jahar Tsarnaev?
MS. CONRAD: And how do you know him?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: He was a member of our club.
MS. CONRAD: In what year?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: 2010 to 2011.
MS. CONRAD: And is this -- by the way, for students who participate, students like Jahar, is this an activity that they get academic or school credit for?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: No, they do not.
MS. CONRAD: And, in fact, do they -- did Cambridge at the time have a community service requirement?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: We did.
MS. CONRAD: And would this fulfill the community service requirement?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: It would not.
MS. CONRAD: And I take it it's purely voluntary?
MS. CONRAD: And what types of students -- I'm talking about students who did not have developmental challenges. What types of students generally would participate in the Best Buddies program at Cambridge Rindge and Latin?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: Overall, the students that participated were typically students that were involved in other sports, students that were doing well academically, students that wanted to make more friends, students that wanted to be part of a club that was inclusive and that was designed to have fun and be social.
MS. CONRAD: I'm going to show you what's been marked for identification -- I don't know if the government has an objection -- as 3507-068.
MS. PELLEGRINI: May we see that on the screen, please?
No objection, your Honor.
MS. CONRAD: We'd offer that.
THE COURT: Admitted.
MS. CONRAD: Thank you.
(Defense Exhibit No. 3507-068 received into evidence.)
BY MS. CONRAD:
MS. CONRAD: Do you see that photograph on the screen?
MS. CONRAD: And can you tell us if you recognize what -- when and where that photograph was taken?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: That was our -- I believe our end-of-the-year banquet at Ryles jazz club in Cambridge.
MS. CONRAD: And do you see Jahar in that picture?
MS. CONRAD: And you just -- you can just touch the screen and draw a circle around it with your finger.
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: (Witness complies.)
MS. CONRAD: And where was that held?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: That was at the Ryles jazz club.
MS. CONRAD: Now, was that the only -- I'm sorry. Do you see Jahar in the courtroom today?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: Yes, I do.
MS. CONRAD: Was that the only event that Jahar attended?
MS. CONRAD: Can you tell us what some of the other events were that he attended?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: The Best Buddies prom at Babson College, which was held by Best Buddies, which our chapter went to. I believe there were other on-campus events and off-campus events that Jahar did attend.
MS. CONRAD: And, in fact, are there events that are held on a regular basis, say once a month or once a week?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: The events that we had were once a month, third Friday of the month, typically from 6 to 8 p.m.; and we also had a weekly lunch event where students could meet during their lunchtime and sit together and have lunch, and that was typically on Wednesdays.
MS. CONRAD: And you mentioned the prom. Can you tell us about the prom?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: The Best Buddies prom was held at Babson College. It was run by Best Buddies International. They had the prom for any student chapter in Massachusetts who wanted to attend. For a fee we could buy tickets and take students to the Best Buddies prom.
MS. CONRAD: And what would happen at the prom?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: It was a typical dance. Students got dressed up. They went -- they had a dee-jay. They had pizza. They had music. They did different kind of activities, just they crowned a king and queen group of different peer buddies and buddies who were together. So it was more of just kind of a fun social event where kids danced, and it was a really good time.
MS. CONRAD: What was that like for the kids?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: Wonderful. I mean, it was the kind of event where, for many of the students who I worked with who had developmental disabilities, they might not get the chance to go to a prom, so this was an opportunity to go and have a great time with your friends from school, celebrate and, you know, really just participate in a great social event.
MS. CONRAD: What are the expectations for the students -- the students without disabilities who participate? I mean, do they just go and eat the free pizza and hang out with their friends and leave?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: No, the expectation of all members of the club is that you're there to help create an inclusive environment for students with developmental disabilities. The idea is that you're there to participate in the social event, behave respectfully, be part of the team of the Cambridge Rindge and Latin Best Buddies. Students are expected to have a good time and be respectful.
MS. CONRAD: Other than seeing him in this picture, do you remember Jahar?
MS. CONRAD: What do you remember about him?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: Like all students in the club, he was kind. He was respectful. He came to the events. He was nice to every student that he encountered. He was a good member of the club.
MS. CONRAD: And do you remember anything about how he was interacting with the students who had intellectual challenges?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: Yeah, he was very nice to them.
MS. CONRAD: Did he ask you for college recommendation?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: He did not.
MS. CONRAD: Is that something that some of the students do?
MS. CONRAD: And as far as attending the events, who pays for the students to attend?
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: It was funded by students. Typically they would pay for tickets. We also had a grant that we got to pay for some of the events, and the school funded the bus that took us to the Best Buddies prom.
MS. CONRAD: Is there anything -- at some point you learned that Jahar was involved in the marathon bombing, correct?
MS. CONRAD: And was the Jahar -- was that consistent with the Jahar that you knew?
MS. PELLEGRINI: Objection.
THE COURT: Overruled.
You may answer. You may answer.
JENNIFER CARR-CALLISON: I don't believe that it was. The student that I worked with in my club is the student that I am speaking on today.
BY MS. CONRAD:
MS. CONRAD: And could you imagine that person --
MS. PELLEGRINI: Objection.
THE COURT: No, go ahead.
You can follow up.
BY MS. CONRAD:
MS. CONRAD: Could you imagine that person committing the marathon bombing when you knew him in 2011?
MS. CONRAD: I have nothing further.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Just a second, your Honor.
(Pause.)
MS. PELLEGRINI: Nothing, your Honor.
THE COURT: All right, Ms. Callison. Thank you. You may step down.
(The witness is excused.)
MS. CLARKE: Your Honor, I wonder if we should take the lunch break early.
THE COURT: Let me just see you briefly.
(Discussion at sidebar and out of the hearing of the jury:)
THE COURT: General --
MS. CLARKE: A test?
THE COURT: No, just general orientation.
MS. CLARKE: Yes. Next would be Eric Traub and then Kevin Roche and then the ADX.
THE COURT: How long do you think Bezy will be?
MR. BRUCK: Not terribly long, maybe 45 minutes. But we have a legal matter. There's a motion respecting this business of whether or not putting in the SAMs opens the door to ESPN.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. BRUCK: So we'll take that up.
MR. WEINREB: Your Honor, for the record, it's not a matter of putting in the SAMs that opens up the door to ESPN, since these are now all being published. I think it's important that the record reflect that the argument that if the defense wants to put on a portrayal of what life in ADX will be like, then the government is entitled to make sure it's not a one-sided misleading portrayal.
THE COURT: All right. I don't want to --
MS. CLARKE: I was just asking for an early lunch break.
THE COURT: I just want to know what's coming. So he'll be on and off today?
MR. WEINREB: Yes.
THE COURT: Because I assume he's remote, and he'll go back to wherever he's come from.
And then?
MS. CLARKE: That's all we had planned for today.
THE COURT: You won't get to these others?
MS. CLARKE: That's what I call the ADX.
MR. BRUCK: We're not exactly sure what our planning is for the rest of them. We're going to see how Mr. Bezy --
MS. CLARKE: These four.
THE COURT: I see. Okay. All right.
MS. CLARKE: Thanks.
THE COURT: And then for tomorrow? Just to get a preview. Is there a tomorrow?
MS. CLARKE: Yes, there's a tomorrow, and it will probably be debated with the Court, but there's -- tomorrow we have two witnesses -- potential witnesses left tomorrow, and that would be Vogelsang and Prejean.
MR. WEINREB: So we'll be filing a motion in limine after court today to exclude the testimony of Sister Helen Prejean.
THE COURT: Okay. All right. So -- fine. We can break for lunch.
MS. CLARKE: Thank you.
(In open court:)
THE COURT: All right. We will take the lunch recess at this point.
COURT CLERK: All rise for the Court and the jury. The Court will take the lunch recess.
(The Court and jury exit the courtroom and there is a recess in the proceedings at 12:47 p.m.)