W E D N E S D AY APRIL 28, 2004 Vol. 125, No. 78
Sunny / Windy 78°/ 61° w w w. s t u d l i f e . c o m
STUDENT LIFE T H E I N D E P E N D E N T N E W S PA P E R O F WA S H I N G T O N U N I V E R S I T Y I N S T. L O U I S S I N C E 1 8 7 8
INSIDE Videos spark scrutiny of Sigma Chi RESTROOMS, THYRSUS-STYLE
Greek Life Office says actions of Sigma Chi brothers, pledges were ‘unacceptable’ and ‘distasteful’
Cadenza talks with Pushkar Sharma about the resurrection of Thyrsus in the form of a bathroom production of “Downsize,” and reviews the best and worst Greatest Hits collections and AST’s production of “Cabaret.”
STUDENT LIFE
Above: A Sigma Chi brother dunks his head in water filled with ice cubes.
PAGE 12
Left: A frame from a video depicting a group of Sigma Chi pledges and brothers performing while their audience throws beer cans and boxes at them.
FENCING, ANYONE?
New videos surfaced yesterday with images of Sigma Chi brothers and pledges engaged in what University officials This story was reported by have deemed Jonathan Greenberger, Liz “unacceptNeukirch and Cory able” and “inSchneider. It was written by appropr iate” Greenberger. behavior. The videos appeared on the same day the fraternity received sanctions from the University as the outcome of a hazing investigation. The videos, obtained early yesterday morning by Student Life, were allegedly shot by a member of Sigma Chi. The Greek Life OfVisit studlife.com fice, which received for excerpts from copies of the videos two of the videos yesterday from another fraternity, has opened an investigation into the incidents. Most of the 28 videos and 31 photographs obtained by Student Life show fraternity brothers and pledges performing raucous, sexually-charged skits before their peers. During and after many of the skits, videos show the performers being pelted with beer cans and boxes by members of the audience.
See INVESTIGATION, page 3
New University Center construction pending Anticipated groundbreaking in fiscal year 2006 The Midwest Sectional Olympic Fencing Championships will be held at the AC this weekend. Joe Ciolli prepares you for the action and lets you know which fencers will be the ones to watch on Saturday and Sunday.
PAGE 11 KERRY V. BUSH FUNDRAISING Fundraising: Bush vs. Kerry 200
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By Pat Kennedy and Sarah Kliff News Staff
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A new “University Center,” which will likely be built west of Mallinckrodt Student Center and south of Prince Hall, will be a long time in the making. Concerns and problems with the cost of the building’s construction have some members of the administration doubtful about the date of its groundbreaking, but Chancellor Mark Wrighton stated in an e-mail that construction will commence between July 1, 2005 and June 30, 2006. “We have long held the view that we need to enhance space for student groups and student activities,” wrote Wrighton. “We made the decision to move forward with a start sometime in [fi scal year] 2006, [when] we will be in a position to pay for the projected new facilities and support the additional operating expenses.” Wrighton also commented that a lack of space for many students groups has been one of the motivating factors in the new center’s construction. “There are many student groups that do not have adequate space for their programs…The detailed space commitments have yet to be worked out, but we believe we will be in a good position to move forward on the detailed planning in the near future,” he wrote. While details about the new center are still sparse, Director of Campus Life Jill Carnaghi is optimistic about the new
building, and commented on its future purposes. “There will be large spaces for students to come together,” Carnaghi said, adding that the building’s design should improve on Mallinckrodt’s layout. She also expects that there will be “meeting rooms to enhance campus life” within the new University Center. Only general ideas are known at this point, however, as planning and construction are pending. “Hopefully in the next six months we will have a meeting to get things jumpstarted,” said Carnaghi. She added that a meeting to revisit plans and intentions for the building is scheduled for July 2005. “We’ve always talked about it [University Center] as being very significant,” Carnaghi explained. “We want it to be a building used by everyone and owned by no one, and this makes its planning a little more difficult.” Problems with the building’s costs and questions of payment are a main cause of the building’s delay. Fred Volkmann, vice chancellor of Public Affairs, commented that there are currently insufficient funds for the new student center. While there have been longstanding plans for a new building, he said, no permanent plans will be made until funds are secured.
pkennedy@studlife.com STUDENT LIFE ARCHIVES
skliff@studlife.com
Architects’ renderings of the area where Mallinckrodt and Prince Hall sit, before construction on a student center and after.
Debate prep continues, volunteers needed By Kelly Donahue q News Editor
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KRT CAMPUS
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INDEX Cadenza Forum Calendar Sports
pages 5-6,12 pages 7-8 page 9 page 11
As the academic year comes to a close, members of the Washington University community will keep working throughout the summer and fall to prepare the campus for the Oct. 8 presidential debates. According to Steve Givens, assistant to the chancellor, the University’s preparation for the event continues to run efficiently without any major concerns. “We are continuing to move ahead with the behind-the-scenes work within the [debate] committee,” said Givens. “The Career Center has already set up the process to get student volunteers, and Student Union is coming up with its own ways to be involved. We feel like we’re in great shape and everything is running smoothly.” The Career Center is now accepting applications from University faculty, staff, and undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in volunteering their time before and during the Oct. 8 debate. Possible volunteer responsibilities include administrative support, leading tours of the facilities, ticket distribution, and ushering on the day of the debate. Approximately 200 applicants will be selected based on their level of interest, schedule availability and the quality of their submitted application essay. More details are available on the Career Center’s website. Interested volunteers should not count on receiving access to the debate venue itself, as only a handful of positions may place workers near the action.
See DEBATE, page 3
STUDENT LIFE
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STUDENT LIFE ARCHIVES
The Atheltic Center as preparations were underway for the 2000 presidential debate. The University is currently asking for volunteers to help with this year’s debate.
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