SpringHillian the
April 15, 2010
Volume 90, Number 9 Mobile’s 1st Collegiate Newspaper
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
Questions arise from SHC YoMo event draws large crowd Greek fraternity expansion KENDRICK DUNKLIN News Editor
In fall 2009, Spring Hill College’s Greek Life decided to expand the number of fraternities on campus. Sigma Chi, a Greek organization which was suspended from Spring Hill College in 2005, received but rejected the invitation to apply for Spring Hill’s Greek expansion process, according to Jennifer Stallings, Director of Student Leadership & Involvement. “We decided in 2009 that we would pursue Greek expansion. When we met with Sigma Chi, they were told that they would be receiving a letter explaining the Greek expansion process and that they would have to apply,” said Stallings. “They asked us, since they had been here before, if they would get special consideration, and they were told yes. We had room for that in our policy, but they were one of four fraternities that had been here before that wanted to come back. Three of the other fraternities did apply, but Sigma Chi did not apply. Sigma Chi was directly told that they would have to participate in this pro-
cess, and they were given a copy of our expansion process.” The suspension of Sigma Chi The Theta Mu charter of Sigma Chi was revoked in October 2005 by Spring Hill due to an alcohol related incident involving underage drinkers, according to a November 2005 issue of The SpringHillian. The removal came months after Sigma Chi members were involved in a fight at an off-campus location in May 2005, according to the Press-Register. The off-campus fight resulted in the suspension of those members involved in the fight. During that time, there were also reports of hazing made to the national headquarters of Sigma Chi, according to Ken Kvalheim, Grand Praetor of the Sigma Chi Southern Region. He felt that the organization was not given enough time and information to respond to Sigma Chi’s removal. “We were never told the full story behind the incident. We were told that there was an incident of hazing on campus, which cannot be true because we did not have any See SPRING page 2
Photos by Doug Bruce
The Mobile Experience: Bellingrath Gardens Book Nook MEGAN WIGAL-HARRISON Staff Reporter
Bellingrath Gardens and Home is 65 acres of beautiful flowers located along the Fowl River in Theodore, Ala. Stunning blooms are not the only things to be found at Bellingrath Gardens. There are also the Delchamps Gallery of Boehm Porcelain, the chapel, riverboat cruises, a bayou conservation boardwalk and the Bellingrath home. Bellingrath Gardens is a self-guided tour, but there are signs posted along the walkways letting people know that they can dial a number and have a guided tour of the gardens right from their cell phone. There are two walking tours, Photo by Megan Wigal-Harrison so visitors have the option of walkBellingrath offers a variety of walking tours. ing a full tour or a shorter version.
The Southern Belle Cruise is a 45-minute waterfront cruise along the Fowl River. It provides participants an up-close look at some of the scenery and creatures of Mobile Bay. The Exxon Ecological Boardwalk takes walkers into the Dwight Harrigan Bayou Preserve. The Bayou Preserve showcases native plants, such as cypress trees, as well as animals, such as ducks and turtles. Sometimes an alligator or two can be spotted along the Bayou Preserve. Walter and Bessie Bellingrath created Bellingrath Gardens. The Bellingraths bought the land as a fishing camp and originally called it Bellecamp. Bessie Bellingrath brought azaleas to Bellecamp to spruce up the place and decided to decorate the fishing camp with See BELLINGRATH page 2
leaves Toolen DEMARCO WILLS Ads Editor/Staff Reporter
On April 10, the Book Nook reopened in its new location in the basement level of the Burke Memorial Library. The Book Nook is a used bookstore run by Spring Hill College’s Friends of the Library. All proceeds go to the Friends organization that provides funding for initiatives at the Spring Hill College library. Books are sold for as low as 50 cents and as much $10. Liaison to the Book Nook, Richard Weaver, said, “The Book Nook can be described as basically a group of See BOOK page 3