A University of Wisconsin student spoke out Thursday on
charges of disorderly conduct, after allegedly pulling a knife on two students
in Witte Residence Hall following a night of drinking Feb. 1.

According to a criminal complaint, UW freshman Brandon
Bensen, 19, pulled a knife on two students, including his roommate.

According to UW Police Department Lt. Eric Holen, Bensen
allegedly entered another student?s room late at night while drunk. When the
student tried to make him leave, Bensen pulled out a knife and held it to the
person?s throat. Bensen left the room shortly afterward and returned to his own
room where he also pulled the knife on his roommate.

In a phone interview with The Badger Herald, Bensen said he
was very drunk and does not remember very much about the events of the evening,
except that Witte Hall house fellows had gotten involved.

?They kicked me out after the knife incident,? Bensen said
of the first confrontation. ?There was no actual fight.?

He added he does not believe he ever threatened his
roommate, saying there is a good explanation for the second incident.

?I don?t remember, but somebody told me I was showing him
what had happened in the other room,? Bensen said.

According to Bensen, UW has since allowed him to return to
school, but he can no longer live in university residence halls.

He has also been placed on two years probation with UW,
meaning if he violates any other university policy in that period, he will be
expelled. Benson said he must also undergo alcohol assessment and meet with the
associate dean who first handled his case.

Bensen is scheduled to make his initial court appearance for
the incident Monday. He said he has been charged with disorderly conduct with a
weapon, which is a misdemeanor, as well as underage drinking.

This is Bensen?s second underage drinking offense. His first
offense occurred in October.

Bensen said he thinks he will plead guilty Monday, but he is
not sure because he has not spoken with a lawyer yet.

University Housing Director Paul Evans said incidents like
this, and violence in general, are very rare occurrences in residence halls.

?I think it?s kind of a rare thing anywhere on campus,?
Evans said. ?For the most part, the vast majority of our community treat each
other with respect.?

Evans added UW has very low tolerance for violence or
threats in residence halls, adding ?with anything that serious, it doesn?t
matter if it is your first offense.?

According to Evans, alcohol is almost always a factor in
negative incidents like this.

?If nobody told me that [alcohol] was involved, I would
assume it was,? Evans said. ?Typically, in incidents like this that are out of
the ordinary, most likely there?s a really good chance alcohol is involved.?

Representatives from the Offices of the Dean of Students did
not return phone calls as of press time.