The Reporter

: Wednesday, February 25,1998 '* FORUM > Tfo f0p ten places to avoid over spring break. Column, 4a Volume 110, issue 20 (904) 822-7224 « FAX: (904) 822-7233 News: [email protected] Life: [email protected] Forum: [email protected] Sports: [email protected] Ads: [email protected] General: [email protected] http://the-reporter.home.ml.org A. look at the origins of Black History Month. Life, page 1b Stetson University, DeLand, Florida CATASTROPHE > Between 10 and 12 tornadoes touched down during severe thunderstorms that hit late Sunday night and early Monday. By ANDY DEHNART Editor-in-Chief At least 36 people were killed and more than a hundred were injured when tornadoes spawned by El Nino- driven storms tore through Central Florida late Sunday. One man was killed in Volusia County when a tornado hit the trailer he and his girlfriend lived in. According to wire reports, she fled when she heard the tornado, but he remained. Minutes later, the trailer was torn apart. The tornadoes were category F4 on the Fujita scale, with wind speeds from 207 to 260 mph, according to re ports. Tornadoes are categorized from FO to F5, with F4 and F5 twisters causing violent damage, similar to those seen in the Midwest. In addition to the one dead in Volusia County, 11 were killed in Seminole County, three in Orange, and 21 in Osceola. Nine people are still reported missing. One ofthe dead in Seminole County was a 9-year-old girl who was found dead Monday morning amid debris. Tractor-trailers were overturned on 1-95, and homes were ripped apart by the tornadoes, some of which stayed on the ground for more than a mile—also unusual for Florida. Many schools and roads remained closed as cleanup continued early this week. Stetson RAs plan to collect clothes and food to give to victims. Around 10 p.m., severe thunderstorm warnings were issued as storms moved rapidly at 45 mph east and northeast across the region. A tornado watch for all of Central Florida was in place most of the evening, and many of the affected counties were under tornado warnings when the storm hit. Ronald Roux, maintenance and building systems manager, said there was no damage on campus. Power was out for about 45 minutes for most of DeLand and the campus. Storm casualties ORANGE COUNTY 3 dead VOLUSIA COUNTY 1 dead SEMINOLE COUNTY 11 dead OSCEOLA COUNTY 21 dead Graphic by Andy Dehnart EDUCATION > Student Life hosted activities last pjeek comer-aim alcohol abuse. 8w> tW4 % CELEBRATION: Michael Green, a nationally touring speaker, discussed his experiences as an alcoholic. Using humor and wit, Green entertained a group of approximately 300 students for an hour and a half. Green's speech was one of the highlights of the Department of Student Life's Alcohol Awareness week. Photo by Paut Davis By KAITL1N BELLEROSE Staff Writer This past week, the Alcohol Education Office held the Third Annual Alco-. hoi Awareness Week. The coordinator ofthe Alcohol Awareness Week, Kirsten Fogle, hoped to show Stetson students how dangerous drinking irresponsibly could be and what the detrimental effects were. The activities included an interactive Alcohol Memorial Wall, and Alcohol Information Table, a highly emotional speech by Kevin Cornett, an Impairment Goggles demonstration, a signing ofthe "Contract Between Friends," and another information table at Carnaval. The Alcohol Memorial Wall, located in the foyer ofthe Carlton Union Building, was open to any student or Stetson employee who wanted to share and write their experiences with the effects alcohol on the Wall. Many ofthe "bricks" in the wall were filled with memorials to those who were killed or injured by drunk drivers. One entry on the Wall was written anonymously: "In memory of Shawn Hamilton, whose spirit was killed by a drunk driver in 1993. He took his life in 1995. I love you Shawn." Kirsten Fogle and the members ofthe Student Willingness advisory team manned the alcohol information table at lunchtime every day, distributing informative pamphlets on such topics as drinking & driving, alcohol & sexually transmitted diseases, alcohol & the body, and alcohol & sexual assault to interested students. Students could also win prizes by answering three questions involving the topic ofthe day correctly. Many said they were surprised by the severity ofthe statistics involving alcohol abuse provided by the BACCHUS and GAMMA peer education network. The people at alcohol information table also answered any and all questions posed by the students involving alcohol abuse. The impairment goggles demonstration on Wednesday provided students and others with the opportunity to try to function while being sensually impaired, being drunk without drinking. The goggles were designed in such a manner that they caused the same impairments that are associated with being inebriated. Students experienced a variety of symptoms including feeling dizzy, confused, and could not see properly. Each student that participated in the demonstration were administered a sobriety examination by some visiting DeLand Police officers. None of the participants passed. Also on Wednesday night, around 50 students attended the speech given by Kevin Cornett in the lobby of Nemec Hall. Cornett had a firsthand experience of what the consequences of alcohol can be. A few years ago, Kevin was a passenger in car being driven by a friend. A drunk driver quickly ended their drive when he smashed into the vehicle. Kevin's friend died in that crash. As a result, Cornett became a speaker, speaking out against drunk driving in order to try and prevent similar See AWARENESS, page 3a 'M^^^^^^^W^^^'J-A Monday, Feb. 16th Mock Car Crash and Crash Test Dummies Tuesday, Feb. 17th Michael Green, Guest Speaker Wednesday, Feb. 18th Impairment Goggles Demonstration Thursday, Feb. 19th NBC Lineup Social Friday, Feb. 20th Signatures for "Contract Between Friends" By STEPHANIE ADDUCI Associate News Editor Credit card solicitation has riled many people on campus. The Reporter questioned the solicitation policy after Vice President for Campus Life James Beasley told News Channel 2 (WESH) last fall that solicitation was not permitted on campus. Solicitation a few weeks ago—the second time this academic year—by MBNA, the company which offers the Stetson credit card, prompted another editorial by The Reporter and a follow-up investigation by WESH reporter Kathy Marsh. MBNA, Stetson's contractual credit card provider, is allowed to solicit students, faculty, staff, parents, and alumni, according to F. Mark Whittaker, vice president for university relations. In the beginning of the academic year, MBNA came to campus and solicited for the university credit card in front of the Carlton Union Building. At this time, with consent from the university, MBNA was allowed to offer students the option to apply for a credit card. Complaints were made regarding the degree of respect that the employees of MBNA were showing to the student body—namely, haggling and intruding upon the students' normal activities. MBNA was alerted to the unsatisfactory actions of their employees and issued an apology to the university, Whittaker said. They returned during Stetson weekend to extend the offer to the alumni only. Once again, students were solicited. MBNA provides credit cards for numerous universities and organizations such as Florida State University. The Alumni Association approached the university administration to offer a Stetson credit card, Whittaker said. The university does receive a small royalty for allowing MNB A to use the Stetson name and a picture of Elizabeth Hall. Part of the royalty that is received is diverted to the Alumni Association to fund activities such as Stetson Weekend. "Royalty is a fact of life. If the university allows its name to be used, which it will only do by agreement, because our mark of the university—Stetson University—is a registered, licensed trademark of the university." said Whittaker. Stetson, as a business corporation, contracted MBNA to supply the faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and students with a corporate credit card. The students were added to the contract by the urging of the parent's council. Whittaker said that the credit card would teach the students how to handle responsibility. In addition, students would have the opportunity to establish credit, which is a necessary thing to have once they begin to search for loans to purchase cars, apartments, and See CREDIT CARD, page 3a ADMINISTRATION > A&S dean Gary Maris' announcement early last semester that he would retire at the end of this year and return to teaching prompted the nationwide search. By ANDY DEHNART Editor-in-Chief The group of applicants for the dean of the college of arts and sciences has been narrowed down to 17, some of who will be brought to campus next month to be interviewed, officials said. "We had approximately 156 applications for the position, [and] we have currently narrowed that down to a pool of 17," said Leonard Nance, chair of the committee and associate professor of sociology. Nance also serves as the university adviser on diversity issues. The committee is currently conducting "intensive phone interviews of the references," he said. Based on the reference checks, the committee should have the group narrowed down to five to eight candidates, who will be invited to campus in March. Once here, the candidates will participate in a "wide-ranging interview process. Not only will the committee have the opportunity to interview candidates," but administration, faculty and students will be able "to come and interact with the candidates," which is "a vital aspect of the process." Nance said. After the on-campus interviews, members ofthe committee will travel to "see the person on their home base, [and] talk to their colleagues to see how the person is as an administrator and as a facilitator of ideas." Dean Gary Maris announced early this academic year that he would retire from the post at the end ofthe year and return to teach- insioe \ FORUM:.Clinton's focus should LIFE: 'Radio Gals' a be on iraq, not a sex scandal, 5a [ toe-tapping good time, 3b ing in the university's political science department. The search committee was appointed by President Lee following Maris' announcement." The selection process is "a faculty decision up to the point of bringing the candidate on campus." Nance said that his "expectation is that we should not have a problem finding a person who is a fit." The committee advertised nationally last semester in publications like the Chronicle of Higher Education and other journals, some of which "are geared toward African- Americans, women, and Hispanics.. .in order SPORTS: Hatters take 2-1 lead in South Fla. series, 4b to reach as broad a pool as possible," Nance said. In the advertisements, Nance said they specified five qualities that the candidate should possess, including being an "advocate for the value of a liberal arts education" and an "understanding of and commitment to women's and minority issues." Also mentioned were the ability "to articulate a vision;... interdisciplinary and multicultural experience and commitment," and serving as a "facilitator and consensus builder," he said. N.\Mew5, J; %y3a^_x Fprunv-j^L-5a -j - Et Cetera 6a Life ~~ 1~-' 4b