The Center on Central’s statement on Katie O’Connor:

Katie O’Connor is a former employee of Chester County Art Classes, LLC and was assigned as a temporary summer staffer at The Center on Central during the summer of 2012.

Ms. O’Connor presented last year as a candidate with strong credentials in art and in working with children. She passed the routine background checks we conduct on all employees. Her tenure of employment was satisfactory.

After the summer of 2012, Ms. O’Connor returned to her studies at Carnegie Mellon University. She did not seek any further employment opportunity with Chester County Art Classes, LLC.

We have recently learned that Ms. O’Connor was involved in an on-campus display of nudity during an event, which she has evidently characterized as being free speech under the First Amendment, but which offended some people and for which she has been charged with indecent exposure. The legal status of her actions remains unresolved at the time of this statement.

Regardless of the legal status of Ms. O’Connor’s actions, The Center on Central offers the opinion that people do have the freedom to make choices in their lives, and those choices sometimes lead to consequences – both positive and negative. As Ms. O’Connor’s current notoriety may open some doors for her, it may also close other doors.

We wish Ms. O’Connor the best in her future choices.