INDEX
Emory Events Calendar, Page 2
News Roundup, Page 2
Classifieds, Page 8
Staff Editorial, Page 6
On Fire, Page 11
Student Life, Page 9
THE EMORY WHEEL Since 1919
The Independent Student Newspaper of Emory University
Volume 95, Issue 1
www.emorywheel.com
Friday, August 30, 2013 STUDENT LIFE
Every Tuesday and Friday ACADEMICS
FEVANS VICTORY
Dispatch To Perform At Emory Concert
Academic Changes Take Full Effect
By Josh Cowle Contributing Writer
By Jordan Friedman Executive Editor
Indie band Dispatch will perform on McDonough Field for the Homecoming concert on Sept. 28, the Student Programming Council (SPC) announced. Other performers have been booked but have yet to be announced. To attract Emory Alumni, the Emory Alumni Association (EAA) — co-sponsoring the concert with SPC — wanted an artist that would “appeal to a diverse audience,” said College senior and SPC Homecoming Co-Chair Ashley London. She added that SPC wanted an artist that would excite students as well. “Dispatch was a great choice for this event because while they have been around for a long time, they are also popular now so they are appealing for both students and alumni,” London said. The news came as part of SPC’s Facebook announcement campaign, which was organized by College sophomore and SPC Technology Chair Max Mayblum. SPC developed the campaign, which launched on Aug. 26, to generate buzz throughout the Emory community and increase Emory pride, Mayblum said. To find out more about the Homecoming performers, SPC asks for at least 75 shares of their Facebook status to learn who the Homecoming comedian is, 100 shares to know
Emory and aims to promote dialogue. She worked on the project through a fellowship from University President James W. Wagner’s office and the Ford Foundation, an organization that aims to reduce injustice and strengthen democracy worldwide. She began her tenure at Emory in 2000 as a research assistant, according to her LinkedIn page. Harris fired Sexton in late May 2012 nearly two weeks after she objected to “discriminatory” comments Harris made during a staff meeting, according to the lawsuit. He allegedly said that if a woman does not immediately file a complaint about rape or sexual harassment through the Office of Equal
Several academic changes regarding credit hours, graduation requirements and class timeslots have gone into effect across the University this semester. In the College, credit hours for courses are now determined based on the amount of time a class meets each week, rather than designating most classes with four credit hours as was done in the past. Classes with an extra component — such as a lab — are worth more credits than the “standard” three-credit courses. At the Goizueta Business School, almost all core classes are worth three hours, effective last semester. As of this fall, all BBA electives and prerequisites are also worth three hours, rather than four, except for two courses that meet for extra hours and carry four hours. With the credit-hour changes taking effect, the College has officially lowered its graduation requirement to 124 hours from 128, and the B-School to 128 from 138. Laney Graduate School has also changed its credit-hour system, implementing a “strict 1:1 match between time in class and credit recorded,” said Ulf Nilsson, the assistant dean of operations at the school. Beforehand, course credits varied, but the standard, full-time course was four credits, she added. The graduation requirements with
See SEXTON, Page 5
See ADMINISTRATORS, Page 5
See STUDENTS, Page 5
Erin Baker/Staff
H
undreds of freshmen packed into the Woodruff P.E. Center for the annual Songfest competition as older students observed from above. Freshman represented their respective residence halls as they performed choreographed song and dance routines. This year’s champion was Few and Evans (Fevans) (above).
LEGAL
Lawsuit Accuses University of Gender Discrimination By Jordan Friedman Executive Editor A former Emory employee is suing the University, alleging that an administrator engaged in gender discrimination when firing her in May 2012. Melissa Sexton, a former community research post-doctoral fellow who worked at Emory for more than a decade, filed the lawsuit at the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Georgia through her attorney on June 3. The lawsuit, obtained by the Wheel, claims that Senior Vice Provost for Community and Diversity Ozzie Harris displayed “discriminatory conduct” during verbal altercations with Sexton that led to the
termination of her employment. Specifically, the document alleges that Sexton was fired for objecting to the promotion of a much less qualified male candidate to a position in which she had expressed interest, and for disagreeing with comments Harris made about women not immediately reporting sexual harassment or rape. The lawsuit charges the University with two counts of gender discrimination: one under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and another under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. It also says Sexton suffered from mental and emotional distress, as well as lost wages and employment benefits. Nancy Seideman, Emory’s interim vice president for communications
and marketing, wrote in a statement to the Wheel that “Emory takes all allegations of employee misconduct seriously” but said the University declines to comment on the pending lawsuit. Harris also declined to personally comment, referring an inquiry to Emory communications. When reached by email, Sexton referred all inquiries to her attorney Matthew Billips, an Atlanta-based employment lawyer. Billips, who has recently gained attention for representing a woman suing celebrity chef Paula Deen, did not respond to multiple emails and phone messages seeking comment. Sexton held multiple positions at Emory and helped lead the Transforming Community Project, an initiative that studies race history at
DINING
GREEK LIFE
Emory Revamps Dining, Adds New Venues Fraternities Change
Houses; SDT Returns
Late-Night Food Trucks Now Available
By Jordan Friedman Executive Editor Several fraternities have moved into different houses on Eagle Row this semester, and Sigma Delta Tau (SDT) sorority is returning after a semester-long hiatus.
By Dustin Slade Asst. News Editor Students craving a midnight snack will be able to grab some grub at late-night food trucks that Food Advisory Committee Emory (FACE) is bringing to campus this semester. As part of a campaign to improve the dining experience on campus, FACE announced Aug. 19 on their official blog that the trucks will be on campus every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., beginning last night after Songfest. There will be a variety of trucks offering different types of food every night. Trucks will stay open later than 1 a.m. at their own discretion if the demand is particularly high for food that night. The trucks will typically be spread throughout Emory’s main campus, at several locations including the Clairmont Campus and both sides of the Woodruff P.E. Center. The locations, however, will not necessarily be permanent as FACE will seek student feedback to ensure the trucks are positioned to be easily accessible, College
See TRUCKS, Page 5
Greek Housing Changes
Dustin Slade/Asst. News Editor
While students were away this summer, Cox Hall underwent some extensive renovations. The food court eliminated chains such as Papa John’s and Chick-fil-A and replaced them with new venues.
Cox Hall Alters Options Based on Feedback By Naomi Maisel Contributing Writer While students were away from campus this summer, Cox Hall underwent a significant overhaul and brought new dining options to students. The new additions to Cox Hall include Twisted Taco, Top
Hat Pizza, Dooley’s Grill, D.B.A. Barbeque, Star Ginger, Cox Salad Bowl and the Green Bean, which Food Advisory Committee Emory (FACE) announced on its blog during the summer. In addition to the new restaurant venues, Cox has now added a convenience store called Cox Convenience Corner, also known as C3.
Since last semester, FACE has been conducting surveys and holding interest meetings to determine what food venues students would be most satisfied with in Cox Hall based on student feedback, the Wheel reported in March. “When selecting the new ven-
See FACE, Page 4
Starting this fall, Kappa Sigma fraternity is residing at the former Phi Delta Theta house along with several non-member residents. Phi Delt formerly occupied the house but has been suspended from campus for four years due to hazing violations. Chi Phi fraternity, which returned to Emory last year after a four-year hiatus, is occupying the former Kappa Sig house. And Beta Theta Pi fraternity will continue living in its same house, despite an initial University decision to move them into the Kappa Sig house. The University originally planned to move Beta because the fraternity failed to fill its current house to 90 percent capacity, said Megan Janasiewicz, the director of the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life. A 2012 amendment to the Phoenix Plan, which guarantees some fraternities long-term housing as part of an agreement with the University, requires fraternities to fill their houses to 90 percent to avoid excessive charges, or they are reassigned to another facility, said Jeff Tate, the
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SOPHOMORES FORM CLUB SWIM TEAM ... PAGE 9
TEAM TRAVELS ABROAD TO
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FRAT HOUSING CHANGES Kappa Sigma Residing in the former Phi Delta Theta house
Chi Phi Occupying the former Kappa Sigma house
Beta Theta Pi Living in its same house, despite initial change SEE INSIDE Editorial board reaction to campus hazing culture, See Page 6. assistant director of operations for sorority and fraternity housing. College senior and Beta President Niko Franchilli said he believes the fraternity was at 90 percent the entire time and that the fraternity was blindsided by the decision. He described the situation as a “miscommunication” between the fraternity and University. Franchilli said many Beta parents and students continuously emailed Greek Life and Campus Life officials after finding about the initial change to express their disappointment. Jansiewicz has a different perspective on the situation. “We communicated expectations
See THIRY-TWO, Page 5
NEXT ISSUE NEW QSS MAJOR TO BE OFFERED NEXT FALL ... Tuesday