MOVIE NIGHT
TOP CAT
New UB Movie coordinator adjusts to job, plans for Family Weekend.
Wide reciever Erik Lora sets records in his 2013 season.
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Dai ly Eastern News
THE
WWW.DAILYEASTERNNEWS.COM
Thursday, Sept. 18, 2013
“TELL THE TRUTH AND DON’T BE AFRAID” C ampus| social E vents
C Ampus | ROC Fest
VOL. 98 | ISSUE 24
Union parties suspended indefinitely By Bob Galuski News Editor @DEN_News An email was sent Tuesday to various registered student organizations on campus informing them the operation of late night dances at the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union have been suspended. The email, sent by Dan Nadler, the vice president of student affairs, was a result of Saturday’s “Barn Party” shooting.
ing union parties may be difficult for some individuals and organizations to accept. I also understand and appreciate the importance of having safe social events, especially for our students of color.” He concluded the email by stating he wants to move through this process as quickly as possible, and Eastern will work with students in an attempt to reschedule as many late night dances. “This is by no means an easy decision,” he stated at the end of the email. “Thank you for your under-
"It’s discomforting. The way people talk now, it’s like we’re being generalized." Janai Cooks, a sophomore family and consumer sciences major,
Danielle Tadlock | The Daily Eastern Ne ws
Shahmir Haq, a senior communication major, overcomes the big hump from the obstacle course in the South Quad Wednesday. The obstacle course was a part of RHA’s ROCFest.
Weller Hall slides to victory By Laura Hamlyn Staff Reporter @DEN_News A giant inflatable obstacle course took over the South Quad Wednesday as the ROCFest week events continued on campus. Patrick Morrow, the Residence Hall Association vice president, said that ROCFest events are a great way to bring students together. “The aim of ROCFest as a whole is to get everyone to get to know each other from the different halls,” he said. Four representatives from each residence hall took on the obstacle course in an attempt to achieve the fastest
time as a team. Participants had to duck and weave their way through the course before making their way down the giant slide and tagging the next student. The students representing Weller Hall were optimistic heading into the competition. Ryan Johnson, a sophomore biological sciences major, said he felt confident Weller was headed for another victory. “We’re coming off the adrenaline rush from the win at the boat race, so we’re expecting another win here,” Johnson said. Anne Brown, a sophomore biological sciences major, stepped up to the
obstacle course to represent Weller in her first ROCFest event. “It seemed like fun and I wanted to get involved,” she said. The team said their only tactic for the competition was to go fast. Weller beat Ford Hall by 20 seconds in the first competition. Nate Lemenager, a sophomore business management major, somersaulted his way from the top of the slide to celebrate Weller’s win. Clayton Mieszala, a sophomore history major, also representing Weller, said he felt good following his run. “It was easy,” he said. “The hardest part was probably the first because I had to go over and down a triangle OBSTACLE page 5
“In light of the recent ‘Barn Party’ incident last weekend, I have consulted with numerous individuals who have expressed to me concerns about hosting late night dances in which large audiences are anticipated,” the email stated. Nadler did not return multiple phone calls and an email to comment further on his decision or to confirm which RSOs had received the email. Nadler went on to state the reason for the suspension is because the “Barn Party” incident is an on-going criminal investigation and no arrest has been made of the responsible individual or individuals. He also said in the email he will be asking a small working group of individuals to propose to him, as soon as possible, a list of recommendations to enhance the safety and security of individuals attending parties at the Union. “Nothing is more important than the safety and security of our students,” Nadler continued in the email. “I fully realize that suspend-
standing and cooperation.” Janai Cooks, a sophomore family and consumer sciences major, said even though she does not attend parties at the Union, she still disagreed with the decision. “It feels like we’re being quarantined,” she said. Cooks said she had not heard of anybody else’s parties being stopped. “It’s mostly for black students,” Cooks said. She said she anticipated getting weird looks from the rest of the Eastern community throughout the next several weeks. “It’s discomforting,” she said. “The way people talk now, it’s like we’re being generalized.” She said this situation was much like last year during the Penalty Box shooting. “It’s definitely going to be a rough patch,” Cooks said. Bob Galuski can be reached at 581-2812 or rggaluski@eiu.edu.
student Governance| meeting
Student Senate hears feedback to Nadler email
By Jarad Jarmon Student Governance Editor @DEN_NEWS At the Student Senate meeting on Wednesday, the National Pan-Hellenic Council members addressed their concerns to Student Senate revolving an email Daniel Nadler, the vice president for student affairs sent to some registered student organization. In the email, Nadler said he is suspending the operation of late night dances because of the incident on S]early Sunday morning where three attend-
ees were injured at a “Barn Party.” He said he did this to give the university time to conduct an assessment of security measures. He also said he understands and appreciates the importance of having safe social events, “especially for students of color.” The NPHC executive board members including Tiara Pillow, the NPHC first vice president; Lindsey Lutrell, the NPHC second vice president; Eric Starks, the NPHC treasurer; Crystal Johnson, the NPHC secretary; and JaLisa Smith, the NPHC parliamentarian, attended the meeting in order to
start a joint effort between NPHC and the senate to promote diversity in response to the email. “We feel like the community doesn’t want us here,” Smith said. “The institution isn’t really doing much in making us feel safe.” Senate member Danielle Swindel, a history major, said the email was discussed at city council. “It was not specified any organization that is predominantly students of color, it was union parties,” Swindel said. Ceci Brinker, the director of student
programs, said it will allow the university to figure out how they might safeguard against any danger at on-campus events. Darnell Tyms, the student vice president for student affairs, said it was unfortunate that the community was viewing the “Barn Party” as a black problem instead of an organizational problem. “We feel that the university should be protecting us and not canceling the only social event we have in this community,” Pillow said. “The university should be trying to keep the students
safe and on-campus.” Lutrell said she was frustrated that the on-campus activities are being suspended over an off-campus event. NPHC members plan to walk around campus and the rest of the community getting people aware of the importance of diversity. “We are going wear buttons saying ‘Education Has No Color,’” Pillow said. Brinker also said homecoming will not be canceled. Jarad Jarmon can be reached at 5812812 or jsjarmon@eiu.edu.