The Stetson Reporter

S.TET. SON UN IJV E R S I T Y m < ■ t- z o life | The recent Stover Theatre production "Picnic" was the first of the 1998-99 season. The play starred Joy Carney and Ulysses Knight as two young people in the rural 1950s. Our reviewer says that while the play is full of "trite phrases," the acting and sets were impressive. [ cover, section B ] wed 0 C t THROUG w L1JUL \b/i3 tu B W < m m 2 "The charter revocation follows considerable and repeated efforts by the university and the national fraternity to overcome consistent disciplinary issues and risk management violations." by andy dehnart j The university and the national fraternity simultaneously revoked the charter of the Alpha Chi chapter of Delta Sigma Phi last week, officials said Friday. Citing "consistent disciplinary problems," the university banned the fraternity, which has been on campus since 1925. In a statement, Vice President for Campus Life Jim Beasley said that the "action does not stem from any one incident but from a series of failures to meet the goals and objectives of Stetson University." All 27 members of Delta Sigma Phi will become alumni of the fraternity. However, the fraternity will no longer be recognized as a Greek organization and the letters will be removed from the fraternity's house. Delta Sigma Phi President Keith Wood said only that "Stetson will never be the same." "The charter revocation follows considerable and repeated efforts by the university and the national fraternity to overcome consistent disciplinary issues and risk management violations," Beasley said. The fraternity was placed on probation by the university in March. Delta Sigma Phi's executive director, Jon Hockman, said that despite "a long tradition of positive contribution," both Stetson and "the national fraternity have acted in concert because the chapter has failed to meet the expectations placed on them by both the university and the national chapter." Hockman said that a revocation of a chapter's charter is "not unprecedented, but it's not an everyday occurrence." A vote of the organization's Indianapolis, Indiana- based national board of directors, called the grand council, was required for the action, he said. "We very much hope to return to the Stetson campus at the appropriate time," Hockman said. The university is "willing to work with the national fraternity and with Alpha Chi chapter alumni toward eventual reestablishment," Beasley said. That probably won't happen "for at least three years, until after the current member have graduated," according to the. statement, which was released by Stetson last Friday. All members of the fraternity currently living in the house "will remain in the same building through the end of the semester, and then probably at the end of the semester be reassigned to other housing throughout the university," said Brian Miller, director of Marketing and Communications. "Weil continue to staff it (the fraternity house) right now," and the current house father will remain in that position, said Michelle Espinosa, director of Residential Life. Depending upon the availability of vacancies in other residence halls around campus, the university would "like to move them out of the house" at the end of the semester, she said. Because all of the fraternity and sorority houses on campus are considered residence halls, Espinosa said that ±e Department of Residential Life may "use those spaces for other residents" in the future. There are now six fraternities and six sororities. According to the statement, following fall rush, about 30 percent of the student body will be Greek. "The university continues to recognize that Greek organizations offer student members opportunities to learn responsibility, develop leadership skills, promote character and scholarship, and establish lifelong friendships and ties with Stetson," Beasley saidin the statement. The university's "long tradition of support" for the Greek organizations stems from its "emphasis on leadership, community service, and academic success," Beasley said. Andy Dehnart is the editor of The Reporter. TfaUHTCu, ?cy Lecture &- enes 7^ by julie gowan | Marion Barry Jr., mayor of Washington, D.C, launched the Howard Thurman lecture series on Oct. 14, speaking on the topic, "African-American Community Power: The Battle of the 21st Century." Dr. Anne Hallum, department chair of political science, introduced Barry at the workshop and conversation that was held Thursday, the morning after Barry spoke in the Elizabeth Hall Auditorium. Tickets were distributed to faculty and students because of the anticipated popularity of the lecture. Hallum gave an intense biography of Barry before introducing him, taking faculty and students through the many hardships of his life and struggles he overcame to lead African-Americans in the fight against racism. Hallum praised Barry for being a strong advocate for black empowerment. "I am delighted to be here at Stetson University. Stetson has gone through many twists and turns; working for a better future," said Barry. Barry played an active role in the fight for civil rights. When Barry took a drink of water from a white fountain, he and 300 other blacks were arrested for this action. Barry and others also participated in a six-month breakdown of desegregating lunch counters in Nashville. Barry talked about the oppression of the blacks in Mississippi where 60-70 percent of the blacks had no representation and not one was even registered to vote. The state had control of the blacks by developing racist polices like literacy tests and taxes for voting. "Most of black citizens were sharecropper/ and always found themselves in the red, not the black. No one would notice those behind the counter tacking on an extra dollar to the original price, thus the blacks could never get ahead," said Barry. In addition to being a civil rights activist, Barry also was an advocate for stopping the war in Vietnam. "Over 50,000 United States citizens fought and died for nothing in this war," said Barry. College students at that time gave a. voice to campuses. They held sit-ins and were in control of their education. "Students are responsible for the vanguard of social change. We are here to translate and transform the community," said Barry. Barry shocked the audience of students and faculty when he said that students at Stetson University are apathetic. Barry made a call for action for all college students to bring about change within them and around the campus. "Stetson needs to adopt a service requirement. By inducting this into the curriculum, energy is being put into the community and making a full circle back to the college campus," said Barry. Barry encouraged the trustees to adopt this requirement. Throughout the workshop, Barry posed questions to students as well. "Do you think racism still exists, are students apathetic — how do you feel about that?" One student answered, "I think racism is becoming less public. However in the private sphere, I think racism still has a longway to go. I think college is the best place for the reformation of racism; it all begins with education." At one point in his graduate work, Barry wanted to be a chemist. "Other black people I had known wanted to be doctors, dentists, preachers, teachers, social directors, or a film director, but I couldn't conceive of any of these," said Barry. Barry felt he could empower people more in politics. Dr. Wayne Bailey, a professor of political science, asked Barry, "Do you think the vision of a color blind society could exist and do we still need schools like Bethume Cookman or Florida A&M?" ....-'.. Barry said, "We can't get away from color. It is the first thing people see and stays in their mind. We need schools like Florida A&M, this is the bedrock of the black history and the needs of the black students can be met there not here at Stetson." Barry recognized the need for a more diverse society and for incorporating more of the minorities into the public arena, but admitted, "I need their help, I can't do this by myself. All of us have to work together because power of the people is nothing without struggle." • According to a statement from the office of Marketing and Communications, "Barry is credited by many with reshaping the district's ailing economy and finances by first introducing an accounting system to determine the city's exact financial standing." . o THURMAN LECTURER: Washington, D.C. mayor Marion Barry tauts with students and faculty, photo by julie gowan "Barry took office as mayor in January ! 979, assembling a team of top aides from the ranks of the civil rights movement and declaring he would reform the government he inherited, reduce a staggering deficit by .281 million/empower citizens, and rebuild a sense of "community." This past May he announced he will not seek a fifth term as mayor, ending the political dominance he has held in the District since the 1960s," the statement said. "Rogers, who has known Barry since 1962," said the statement and credits Barry with being "an effective politician," admires Barry greatly for the struggles he has had to endure from being a sharecroppers son, fighting racism and protesting the Vietnam War. Rabbi Herbert M. Baumgard, founder of Temple Beth Am in Miami, will continue the series of the lectures tomorrow night at 7 p.m. in the Stetson Room. Baumgard's topic is, "A View of Dynamic Religion and the Social Problems of America." The Howard Thurman Program is designed to unite people of diverse backgrounds in seeking solutions to societal problems that plague the youth of today. Through the series of lectures Stetson is committed to keeping the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Howard Thurman ongoing, according to the statement. Julie Gowan is the News editor of 'The Reporter. . (A EU St K- U UJ -J iu. et 3 t- 3 Rabbi Baumgard founder of Temple Beth Am. "A View of Dynamic Relgion and the Social Problems of America." Served as the national president of the Synagogue Council of America, the Southeast Region of Reform Rabbis, and the Greater Miami Board of Rabbis. October22 7p.m., Stetson Room Derrick Bell attorney, activist, educator, and author. "Afrolantica Legacies, the title of his latest book." Visiting professor at the NY University School of Law; he has taught since '91. Was the first black tenured professor at Harvard University Law School. Novembers 7p.m., Stetson Room Randall Robinson President of TransAfrica Inc. "Defending the Spirit: A Black Life in America." Internationally known advocate for human rights. Robinson staged daily protests during the apartheid era. November 18 7 p.m., Stetson Room Barbara Omolade Sociologist and educator "Teaching and Learning in the Midst of a Knowledge Explosion and Social Transformation." Dec. 3, 7 p.m., Stetson Room anon Barry is a ^corrupt politician' by bill moeller | Now that we live in an age of moral relativism, exemplified best by our current president, it is good to see Stetson has abandoned any notions ofholding to a higher standard, as its antiquated motto would suggest, and is sinking to the morally depraved depths of the rest of the nation. In this age of budget surpluses and virtue deficits, Stetson could have looked a little closer to home for a corrupt politician, but instead Stetson chose to go straight to the top — to the cream of the corrupt crop — and selected none other than Marion Barry, a former drug addict and convicted felon, to address its students. [ read this story in Forum, page 4a ] J u fRaw Deal' offers a different outlook by andy dehnart [ Raw Deal is not a happy book. But that's okay. There are way too many of those life-changing, Oprah-endorsed books whose authors peddle freakishly positive ways to simply and easily transform your miserable existence into a slap-happy good time. Besides, the book doesn't pretend to be in line for the next animated Disney film: if the title doesn't hint at a lack of cheerfulness, the back cover and introduction both provide warnings. Ken Smith looks at 22 Americans screwed over by their fellow human beings. N [ read this story in Life, page 2b ] en win TAAC the game, lose to Elon by chris tunno | There is no such thing as a good loss in sports, but then again, there might be a better loss. The Stetson men's soccer team won their TAAC game, but lost the one non-conference game to Elon College. Stian Tobiassen scored the. lone goal in a 1-0 shutout of Mercer. Tobiassen's goal came in the 17th minute off a lob pass from Kjell Aasheim. The Hatters won in a defensive dominated game. The back line of the Stetson defense played a solid game. Goalkeeper Todd Cooper recorded his second shutout of the season. Rich Serianni, Kane Mehaffey, and Michael Poole held the Bears offense to only six shots. [ read this story in Sports, page 5b ] if#lfMllt^ Bt<||f§i|f 7H1