Thursday, October 15, 1998
College Briefs
Colorado State student takes blame for float
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Coming on the heels of an investigation
into how a derogatory figure made it onto a float at Colorado State
University’s Homecoming parade, a man claimed responsibility and
resigned from the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, said Brent Seebohm,
the public information officer for the fraternity.
According to the Rocky Mountain Collegian, a member of the
fraternity said he was responsible for erecting a scarecrow that
contained derogatory messages about gays on a Homecoming float,
Seebohm said.
The float was co-sponsored by the fraternity and by the Alpha
Chi Omega sorority.
The individual resigned his membership and wrote a formal letter
of apology to the fraternity and the community, Seebohm said.
"He acknowledged his actions," Seebohm said. "He apologized to
the chapter itself and for harming the reputation of the Greeks,
the university and the community, and he did it on his own."
So far in the investigation, the fraternity has suspended seven
members.
Currently, there will be 11 university discipline hearings in
the coming weeks, said Sonia ImMasche, assistant director of Greek
Life at CSU.
"Suspended means they are no longer members; they are
terminated," ImMasche said.
Balkan students distrust Milosevic agreement
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – As Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic’s
agreement Monday night to end attacks on ethnic Albanians made
headlines, Harvard students from the region said they doubt he will
keep his word.
The Harvard Crimson reported that Milosevic agreed to remove his
troops from the Albanian region and to end the Serbian attacks in
the province of Kosovo. If the promise is fulfilled by Friday, NATO
said it will call off airstrikes that it promised if the president
did not comply with United Nations demands.
The U.N. gave Milosevic four days to keep his promise, but in
the United States the agreement was met with skepticism.
"Balkan graveyards are filled with President Milosevic’s
promises," President Clinton said Tuesday.
Harvard students said they agreed.
"Anyone still willing to believe (Milosevic) has clearly been
unable to learn from his past lies," said Emir Kamenica, who is
from Sarajevo in Bosnia-Herzegovina. "Anyone with any sense should
assume that the things he says are lies unless shown otherwise in
his actions."
He said he strongly approves of the actions the international
community is taking and especially of the United States ultimatum
on the Yugoslav president.
Ohio State race relations initiatives questioned
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Some members of the Ohio State community are
skeptical about two initiatives President William "Brit" Kirwan
announced last week to improve campus race relations, the Lantern
reported.
"These initiatives are excellent as long as they are followed up
by work, sincerity, honesty and commitment," said Love Ali,
spokeswoman for the Afrikan Student Union.
Last spring, the union organized the nine-day occupation of
Bricker Hall, protesting the restructuring of the Office of
Minority Affairs. Love said Ohio State now needs to concentrate on
listening and communicating with students.
Kirwan’s first initiative includes a diversity fair to take
place Thursday, and town meetings and educational field trips
throughout the year.
Under the second initiative, Ohio State will hire a consultant
to analyze women and minority recruitment and retention and make
recommendations on potential policy changes.
"These initiatives seem very circular in what’s been going on in
the past," said Jeff Capell, president of the Ohio State College
Republicans. "It’s mostly upper-class white people sitting around
and making decisions."
Capell said he believes progress cannot be achieved until
diversity is properly defined. He said diversity is the "number of
people with different life experiences and ideas."
Tuition hikes double current inflation rate
MINNEAPOLIS – The average annual in-state tuition rate rose four
percent nationally this year, more than twice the rate of
inflation, according to a survey released by the College Board.
To calculate last year’s inflation rate, the College Board used
the Consumer Price Index, which rose 1.6 percent for the 12 months
ending in August.
Minnesota undergraduates pay $1,025 more than the national
average in tuition and fees for four-year public universities,
according to the survey released late last week. The average
tuition for all undergraduate freshmen at the Minnesota is $4,458
and is slated to rise three percent to $4,577 for next year, said
Tom Gilson, a senior analyst for the Office of Planning and
Analysis.
Last year, undergraduate students paid an average of $4,268 for
tuition and fees; that amount increased by an average of three
percent this year.
"The average is three percent, but the actual dollar amount
might be more for some students and less for others, depending on
the tuition structure," said Richard Pfutzenreuter, vice president
of the Office of Budget and Finance.
Compiled from University Wire reports.
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