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Serving Southern Miss since 1927
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Volume 93, Issue 5
USM investigating alleged hazing Football a Lesley Walters News Editor
The University Police Department has begun the investigation of an alleged hazing incident that took place Thursday, August 28 in the Kappa Sigma house on Fraternity Row. Two female students involved were admitted to a local hospital for treatment of alcohol poisoning. One of the students was released over the weekend, but the other is being held in the Intensive Care Unit at Forrest General Hospital for continued treatment and observation. University Police Chief Bob Hopkins said there is no open investigation of the USM chapter of Kappa Sigma, but that UPD is following up on a complaint regarding an incident that took
place in that house. Hopkins said there are several students involved in the investigation, including witnesses, possible suspects and perhaps more victims. The incident was not immediately reported to the UPD, Hopkins said, so piecing together the information will be an added challenge. He added that because of the holiday weekend and the threat of Hurricane Gustav, Wednesday was the first time students coming back to campus could be questioned. Hopkins said the penalties for hazing involve disciplinary action from the university as well as criminal charges since “hazing is a violation of the law.” Hopkins said the UPD is looking into violations of the university’s alcohol policy as well as criminal charges. He added that some of
the students may have been under the legal drinking age at the time of the incident. “Yes, they could be [underage]. I have not seen the ages of them but I would suspect, dealing with the number of people that we are, that’s a strong possibility,” Hopkins said. University President Martha Saunders said alcohol and drug education are a key factor involved in USM’s safety efforts, and that any incident of substance abuse is taken very seriously. “Our students are our treasure, and we place their safety and well-being at the top of our list of priorities,” Saunders said in a statement to the USM Department of Marketing and Public Relations. “Incidents such as what allegedly took place last week are unacceptable.”
In another statement to the Department of Marketing and Public Relations, Vice President for Student Affairs Joe Paul said that any actions that threaten students’ lives, including hazing, will not be tolerated. “We will not rest until we have secured every detail regarding this incident, and any persons and organizations found to be responsible will be held harshly accountable,” Paul said. He added that the university administration is in “close contact” with national fraternity offices now, and in any case of hazing. President of the Inter Fraternity Council George Napier, a second-year senior and economics and business management double major from Mandeville, La., said the IFC and the University of Southern Miss “do not condone
nor allow community alcohol, underage drinking or hazing of any sorts.” “We never want this stuff to happen,” Napier said, “and we’ve never condoned or accepted this kind of activity.” The university’s institutional policy on hazing states that “Individuals and organizations both must be responsible for ensuring that all activities exclude any form of hazing. While chapter members may not be present at a new-member activity, it is still the chapter’s responsibility to ensure the activity does not include hazing.” The university policies regarding hazing and alcohol on campus are included in the Student Handbook which can be found online at www.usm.edu/union/ downloads/handbook0708.pdf.
Students return to class after Gustav Kate Hunte Printz Writer
The University of Southern Mississippi website announced on Tues. Sept. 2 that succeeding Hurricane Gustav, classes would resume and business offices reopen for Wed. Sept. 3. Although damage to Hattiesburg was minimal, some students did choose to evacuate. For them, one day without class may have been too few. “I feel like we should have had more time to let students get situated,” said freshman Orlando Brent who evacuated to Prentiss MS to be closer to family. “Everyone’s not back yet,” said Brent referring to his fellow residents in Roberts Hall who still have not returned, “because of family reasons.” President Martha Saunders responded that students like these will not be penalized for missing class saying, “I expect the faculty to accommodate those individuals unable to return.” The burning question for many students is whether closures for hurricanes will take away from scheduled holidays. “No, we will not lose a holiday
at this point,” said Joe Paul, “If we were forced to miss multiple days, that would have to be examined, again by the President and her cabinet.” The storm closed school for one day, which sophomore Jamani Johnson said he thought was “just fine.” Johnson evacuated to Jackson for the storm. “It was enough time for the people who left to be able to come back,” said Johnson. Traffic was a little worse than usual but still “free flowing.” “I think I made the right choice.” Many students believe that people overreacted in Hattiesburg, anticipating Gustav to be as devastating as Katrina. “I went to Wal-Mart and got stuff to cook on the grill,” said Karla Pendleton USM junior, who like many others thought Hattiesburg might lose power due to the storm. “I kind of regret it now because I wasted money on food I don’t normally eat.” Students in the dorms had to comply with numerous tornado alarms, which signal residents to go to the first floor hallway. “We all chilled in the hall with
pillows and blankets,” said Eyslyn Hunte, sophomore resident assistant in Pulley Hall. “It was actually [kinda] fun. A couple people complained but that’s to be expected when you wake someone up at 7 a.m.” Most agree that the extended holiday weekend provided time to catch up on needed rest, and
that in Hattiesburg the storm was fairly uneventful. As for other storms brewing in the Atlantic, President Saunders said, “ We have already begun monitoring them.” The decision for USM to close, said Joe Paul, Vice President of Student Affairs, will be made based upon “the severity
of the threat, the potential for damage and power outages to the campus.” Students are more uncertain than fearful at this point. “You never really know how bad it’s [gunna] be with weather,” said Johnson who like others will be paying close attention to forecasts during the next few days.
welcome escape for students Meryl Dakin Printz Writer
The Golden Eagles’ victory over LA Lafayette this weekend provided a stark contrast to the damage Gustav was wreaking in the Gulf of Mexico. As the death toll in Haiti reached 77, Gustav threatened hundreds of Southern Miss students’ weekend plans. For some, more was ruined than missing the 51-21 triumph at the Rock. Holly Sanchez, a freshman kinesiotherapy major from Baton Rouge, La., said that as a cheerleader, she was required to stay until the end of the game, but left early the next morning for home. “My mom didn’t want me to stay here by myself… she wanted me with my family so I went back,” Sanchez said. “She wanted to make sure the house was okay so we stayed there. It was worse than Katrina for sure.” Sanchez added that in Baton Rouge there were several tornado warnings, accompanied by flooding and fallen
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We had lots of fun, but I left at half time when it started raining. The weather sorta reminded me of what was going on in the gulf.
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-Paige LeBlanc, Meridian
Rebecca Macias/Printz
Residents of McCarty Hall gather in the hallways after the campus siren was sounded during tornado warnings Monday.
University presidents look to lower drinking age Lesley Walters News Editor
Sebe Dale IV/Printz
The Amethyst Intiative is headed by 128 university chancellors and presidents who signed a public statement condemning the present drinking age. As of now only one administrator in the state has signed the statement.
Few things can catch a college student’s attention like a discussion on lowering the legal drinking age. In recent weeks, however, both students and nonstudents alike have been talking about the topic thanks to the introduction of the Amethyst Initiative, a campaign designed to spark debate on the 21-year old drinking age. The Amethyst Initiative, launched in July 2008, is headed by 128 university chancellors and presidents who have signed a public statement condemning the present drinking age as the architect of a “culture of dangerous, clandestine ‘binge drinking.’” The document calls for “informed and dispassionate public debate” concerning the effects of the 21year old drinking age. Though it is the responsibility of individual states to set a drinking age within their respective borders, the federal government withholds ten percent of federal highway funds from any state with a drinking age lower than 21. The Amethyst Initiative questions the wisdom of this policy, asking whether the practice “encourages or inhibits” debate. The full statement can be read online at www.amethystini-
tiative.org. Among the university chancellors and presidents in Mississippi, Dr. Frances Lucas of Millsaps College is the only one who has signed the statement. Joe Paul, Vice President for Student Affairs, said, “Our position is that the determination of the legal drinking age for Mississippians is not within our purview, but rather is the business of our state lawmakers, who are entrusted to make that determination.” Dr. Paul added, however, that problems with alcohol abuse cannot be remedied solely by setting a comparatively high drinking age, saying, “There is certainly no single ‘silver bullet’ solution, but the national conversation coming out of the Amethyst initiative is a welcome one.” Whether or not the Amethyst Initiative is successful in persuading lawmakers to lower the legal drinking age, it has already provoked conversation among faculty, staff, and students across the nation. Nick Treat, a sophomore polymer science major from Hattiesburg, said, “The twenty-one year old drinking age doesn’t solve any problems. People disregard it all the time.” Whatever the outcome of the campaign, academia can prepare itself for a long, many-sided debate.
trees. Her family’s home lost power Monday afternoon and was still out as of Wednesday evening. Others evacuated from Hattiesburg to avoid what they thought might be a dangerous weather situation here. However, except for some amplified wind and rain, Gustav left Hattiesburg mostly in peace. When asked about the effects of the storm at USM, Jessie Fortson, from Meridian, replied “Has it hit yet?” Those who did brave the weather and attended the game were in for a treat. Jamie Hale and Olivia Chisolm, both freshmen cheerleaders, agreed that spirits were high. They said that the crowd was very responsive and everyone wore gold as instructed. Michael Gilmore, freshman drummer in the Pride band, said “The team had some pretty impressive plays - Lafayette got it handed to them.” Abigayle Simmons, native of Baton Rouge, says it was not at all difficult to boo the opposing team from her home state, even as the hurricane approached Louisiana. “I don’t care,” Simmons said. “I don’t have any ties at ULL. My allegiance is here now.” Though the game allowed for pleasant distraction, Gustav seemed to remain on everyone’s mind. Paige LeBlanc, from Meridian, said she had never been to a USM game before Saturday. “We had lots of fun, but I left at half time when it started raining,” LeBlanc said. “The weather sorta reminded me of what was going on in the gulf.”