The Stetson Reporter

Th he A tetsonMReporter ^[orid^s Oldest Cofhamt^^w^amr JL. September 24, 1996 Florida's Oldest Collegiate thfewspaper Stetson University • DeLand, Florida liMeillliliiliciili ifijiisiilli ffi|a|ti|||| llii^illifli iliiiflsiiii :,;Ti|||c(a^ |5^S|p5ddp|||TjiuSag ; Source: WecrthorChdnnoi VolunidlllllBiiBillil This Week... More foryour money New College of University of South Florida is rated #2 in the U.S. top 25 best college buys. Page 2a. Greek Life An update on recent accomplishments of Stetson sororities and fraternities. Page 3a. Opinions Head Resident Response Smith Hall's head resident responds to Pointe's opinions. Page 4a. lorfs Volleyball Tourney a Stetson hosts ^^S volleyball w^nBH ^ tournament in ■B^^ the Edmunds ^Pwt Center. |M ¥ Page 6a. French Connection Stetson students study abroad in Dijon, France. Page lb. ** Movie Review -~A.look at The First Wives' Club, a ,:iiiliSI!B» new ■*"■"■" :: ^4!>;imovie . starring Bette Midler, Diane Keaton, and Goldie Hawn. Page 2b. Correction The facilities for the Institute for the Digital Arts consists of the multimedia classroom, a MIDI music area, and the Computer Sci- ; ence Research Laboratory, all lo- , cated in the second floor of Elizabeth Hall. The facilities house seven SGI machines and 13 PowerMacs, according to Michael DeMurga, coordinator of digital arts. Fifty students are enrolled in digital arts courses, including classes cross-listed under other subjects. There are 12 digital arts majors and eight digital arts lab assistants, according to DeMurga. The Stetson Reporter will not be published on Tuesday, Oct. 8 because of Fall" Break. Recent alumnus survives head-on collision by Stacy Gum ,. the stetson reporter Stetson alumnus Michael Cassidy, 25, remains in stable condition after a head-on collision sent him, his fiancee and her mother to Halifax Hospital last Tuesday. Cassidy graduated from Stetson in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. "His injuries were severe," his mother Debbie> who works at Stetson's Health Services, said. "He's- stable now. We feel he'll have a good recovery." Michael suffered a dislocated and fractured left shoulder, severed humerus, crushed left wrist, a fractured left hip socket, left femur and crushed right ankle. Samantha Le, Cassidy's fiancee, who was in the passenger seat, suffered bruised ribs and a broken finger. Her mother, Chi Le from California, suffered from a punctured and lacerated heart. Mrs. Cassidy was told that Mrs. Le's injuries should have killed her. "She had open heart surgery and should be getting out soon," Mrs. Cassidy said. "We are just so happy. It makes us realize what's important in life." At the time of the accident, Michael and Samantha were traveling with her mother to meet his family in Orlando to celebrate their Congressional candidate visits Stetson BY KOMPHEAK KOEUT THE STETSON REPORTER County Young Democrats hosted a reception for congressional candidate George Stuart Jr. last Wednesday in the Stetson Room. Stuart, a former state senator and Orlando city councilman, is running for. the Florida District Seven seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. The luncheon/reception, according to organizers, was an opportunity for the public to meet Stuart; a former state senator and Orlando city councilman, as well as to hear campaign ideas and ask the candidate questions. Stuart's opponent is incumbent John Mica, R-Winter Park, who has served as U.S. Senate chief of staff and as a member of the House Public Works and Transportation Committee. During the reception, Stuart emphasized his positions on educational issues, particularly concerning the administration of financial aid. The candidate said he would like to give to those parents paying for a college education a tax deduction based on the amount of tuition, and emphasized his views on student loans. A press release distributed by the Stuart campaign quoted Stuart as saying, "I will work with anyone from any parry to continuously improve educational quality and opportunity—as I always have— because it is the cornerstone of future economic growth and prosperity. However, I will fight anyone who says that we will improve education opportunity by cutting student loans when we need students more than ever," said Stuart. Stuart said he would also like to continue the funding that is now being given to national organizations affecting education, citing as examples the National Endowment of the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Public Radio and public television. According to Stuart, colleges and universities nationwide benefit see CONGRESS, page 3a U.S. Congressional Candidates, District 7 John Mica: Republican, Winter Park On Education: "Local schools and teachers deserve our support, not bureaucrats in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C." On Federal Budget: "I voted fora balanced budget, line item veto and to curb runaway spending." George Stuart, Jr.: Democrat, O rla ndo On Education:! will work.. .to continuously improve educational quality and opportunity," On Federal Budget: "...I will not abandon my basic principles and balance the budget on the backs of seniors by cutting Medicare." Massey Services creates student scholarship program Stetson business and music students with financial need may receive tuition assistance through the newly-established Massey Services Scholarship Program. According to Stetson President H. Douglas Lee, an initial gift of $25,000 is earmarked for first-year or transfer students who are academically talented or performance oriented. Preference will be given to students who are working to put themselves through the university or whose families are economically challenged.. Lee said that preference for the scholarship also will be given to students involved in activities that demonstrate social responsibility. "We are delighted Harvey and Carol Massey have chosen Stetson University for this scholarship program," Lee said. "A new set of talented students each year will benefit from the Masseys' generosity and regard for young people." Harvey and Carol Massey purchased the Orlando-based Walker Chemical Co. in 1985. Their family-operated pest control and termite company has grown into the largest independently owned and operated pest prevention and lawn care company in Florida, Massey Services Inc. Information compiled from press release. recent wedding engagement. The day of the accident was also Mrs. Le's birthday and Michael's grandparents' fifty-third wedding anniversary. "[Michael and Samantha] were just engaged the Friday before, and Samantha's mom flew in from California to celebrate with the family," Mrs. Cassidy said. "It was going to be a get-to-know- each-other, family reunion type of dinner." Mrs. Cassidy said Michael asked Samantha to let him" drive her Saturn the day of the accident because it was a rainy day and she could not see the road well. About five minutes after they traded places, John Vieira, driving a Bronco in the opposite lane, lost control of his vehicle and slid over the center line, colliding with the Saturn. It took rescue teams an hour to free Michael from the crushed car. "If [Samantha] had been driving, she probably would have been killed because she's so small." Mrs. Cassidy said. Vieira suffered from broken legs and ankles and was taken to Volusia Medical Center. Charges are pending. Michael's father, Daniel, director of Volusia County Corrections, and his wife are grateful for the rescue team and, particularly a state trooper who was at the accident scene. "Because he didn't think our son was going to live, he told us, 'your son and the people in the car were helpless victims who had no place to go and no time to get there,'" Mrs. Cassidy said. "I know he told us that so we could feel some relief, and it helped." She said the state trooper later visited Michael in the hospital. Mrs. Cassidy said that the Friday after the accident was the first time Michael had "been himself," although he was still uncomfortable. "We've had to have someone at the hospital 24 hours a day with him, because he's unable to do anything for himself," she said. "My mom has been wonderful," Michael said from his hospital bed. "My mom's been there to itch my nose when I couldn't move, and move my legs when they were hurting. "I want everyone to know she hasn't left my side for more than three hours at a time since the first Michael Cassidy day I was in here," Michael added. Due to his injuries, Michael, who works as a supervisor at Target, will have to spend the next three months in a wheelchair or in bed. "I think the hard part's over," Mrs. Cassidy said. "Now it's time to start recovery." During a phone interview, Michael and his family could be heard laughing and telling jokes about his recovery. According to Mrs. Cassidy, his spirits are high and the family is happy that everyone involved in the accident survived. Row, Row, Row Your Boat... photo by Jim Tinsley Jonathan Rosenband and Michael Carlino, both student interns for KRO 93.1 FM Radio, row with KRO representatives Darlynn Nangano and Alison Peltonan at Saturday's raft race. See story, page 2a. Also see our crew team preview, page 9a. Alumnif Homecoming weekends ■ combine to form Stetson Weekend by Layne Stringer the stetson reporter For the benefit of both past and present students, the 1997 alumni reunion and homecoming will be combined in one weekend, referred to as Stetson Weekend, to be held the weekend of Feb. 21-23,1997. During the summer of 1996, Stetson's Alumni Association decided to combine the two events, based on numerous alumni sugges- A sorority float from the 1994 Homecoming parade. titans to do so. Stetson Weekend co-hostess Jerra Former said she hopes the change will result in higher alumni attendance, since everyone will have the opportunity to socialize with not only their own fellow graduates, but also those from other years and current Stetson students. The goal of the two-in-one weekend, according to the Alumni Association, is to bring together alumni and students in an attempt to enhance the spirit of community created by both events in the past. The reunion years to be celebrated in 1997 are 1947, 1952,1957,1962, 1967,1972,1977, 1982,1987, and 1992 According to a tentative schedule of events, when alumni arrive Friday morn ing, Feb. 21, they will begin the weekend with a Stetson Weekend Golf Tournament and Bar-B-Que. Entertainment sponsored by the Council of Student Activities is expected to take place that evening, followed by a student/alumni dance, featuring the crowning of the Stetson Weekend King and Queen. An All Alumni Bar-B-Que is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 22, possibly to be held in the Pit, located in fraternity row. Stetson Weekend coordinators hope to use the Pit as a location because alumni from the '70s cleared and built its stage area. The basketball game will be held Saturday evening in the Edmunds Center. The Alumni Association is hoping to schedule another campus-wide social event to be held following the game. Student organizations will be able to compete in a sheet art contest, and the entries will be displayed on campus throughout the weekend. Student Government Association will vote on student suggestions for the Stetson Weekend theme this week.