OCR::/Vol_105/WLURG39_RTP_20030203/WLURG39_RTP_20030203_001.2.txt (3 378,755 (9552. I/-105 ,~, no, If C» 7» Commons update: it BY KATIE HowEu EDITOR IN CHIEF dent Thomas Burish said last week. “We are considering a beer and wine bar in the Com- I‘. mons,” Burish said. “Right now we are exploring a number of things that the University can do.” Burish suggested serving alcohol in the Commons for several reasons. He said such a setting would promote interaction between law school students and 21-year-old 4 undergraduates. He also said serving alcohol on campus would “encourage respon- sible drinking and would be consistent University’s policies on al- cohol.” Before administrators make a final decision whether to include a stu- dent bar or restaurant serv- ing alcohol, the University is gathering student, fac- ulty and alumni input as - ~ well as feedback from other colleges and universities that serve alcohol in their student centers. “At this point, the general feelings we are getting ‘X (from faculty, students and other universities)»is that serv- ing alcohol on campus is a possibility and doesn’t appear to be a big deal,” Dean of Students David Howison said. Howison and Burish both said they have gotten positive feedback from most individuals approached about the idea. “The students are overridingly in favor of the idea,” (DURlIE’\lV\lVWDB3l:Nl*lANl\VO()ll’A(}(.(I).Ul( ON TAP. Beer may be sold in the new Commons. Burish said. ulty, staff, board and alumni opinion. BY MEGAN MORGAN SENIOR STAFF WRITER On Jan. 31, the Virginia State As- sembly unanimously passed a bill that, if enacted, will allow universities more discretion in determining appropriate punishments for individuals found guilty ofhazing. Under current state law, any student found guilty of hazing must I be expelled from their respective uni- versity. Many university officials, how- ever, complain that since hazing can range from pinching to serious bodily harm, it is unfair for these students to receive the same punishment. If the new hazing bill becomes law, universities will have much more leeway in determining appropriate punishments for students ' 1 found guilty of hazing by applying a Beer may Beer and wine may be served in the new student Com- mons alongside coffee, books and school supplies, Presi- Before a final decision is made, Burish said the Uni- versity must look at the liability issues, licensing and fac- “Some people have said that serving alcohol in the Commons is inconsistent with the school’s current mes- sage that there’ is ‘too much" drinking at‘W&L’,” Burish IFC unsure about hazing law WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY T HE IN G'TUM with the BER AND nooks. Construction crews Continue work on the John W. Elrod Commons. The said. “These people think that to offer alcohol on campus wide range of sanctions instead of man- datory expulsion. The new bill also redefines haz- ing, offering a detailed definition which is missing from current state ‘ law. Currently, a student must suffer bodily harm as a result of hazing in order to press charges or sue. In the new bill, the definition of hazing is widened to include not only bodily harm but also purposeful endanger- ment of a person’s safety. It is hoped that the new bill will assist in ending underreporting of hazing cases and assist universities in prosecuting cases brought before them. Because hazing is poorly de- fined and the punishment for those found guilty of it is so severe, stu- dents may be reluctant to press will be promoting drinking.” Howison and Burish said, however, that few people school,” Howison said. “They all said little alcohol was have expressed this sentiment. ‘ charges. By offering a more precise definition of hazing and a wider vari- ety of possible punishments, it is hoped that students will be less re- luctant to press charges. It is unclear how this bill will af- fect the Washington and Lee commu- nity. Christopher Pickens, Washing- ton and Lee’s Interfratemity Council President, thinks that the greater flex- ibility the bill gives to the school is “a good thing, although I hope that it does not encourage schools to be more tolerant on hazing.” The bill now goes to a Senate subcommittee, which has its own ver- sion of the hazing bill. In order for the bill to become law, the two houses will have to agree upon a single version of it. ' , Shuttle explosion saddens campus I if it .. .. .NmG_Ov MOURNING. Columbia glided toward Edwards Air Force ‘ Base during its first mission in 1981. BY CAIEY ANDERsoN AssIsTANT NEWS EDITOR It On the morning of Feb. 1, the 22-year-old Space Shuttle Columbia exploded approximately 200,000 feet above the Earth’s surface. All seven members of its crew, including Ilan Ramon, the first citizen of Israel to fly in space, were lost. While details are only speculative at this I’ point, NASA ofiicials believe that the “number one likely cause” of the accident was a piece of wing insulation that fell off the shuttle at takeoff. The failure of any part of the shuttle’s insulation/heat shield structure would likely lead X to such a catastrophe, as temperatures caused by high- speed friction with the planet’s atmosphere on re—entry can reach 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The Washington and Lee community, in step with the rest of the nation, has reacted with remorse and re- gret to this tragedy. “It’s just so sad,” said one W&L sophomore who wishes to remain anonymous. “It only makes it worse that it was the first Israeli in space.” Other students had similar sentiments. “I was skiing and I found out when I got back to the van,” said senior Richard Kilby, who has some friends and acquaintances among the Texas NASA family. “It made me think about some of the people down there and how close they are.” Faculty reacted as well. “I think it’s a very sad thing,” said history professor Ted DeLaney. One al- most universal sentiment was the desire to see the space program press forward despite the setback. “I don’t want to see the space program halted at all,” said DeLaney. Kilby expressed a similar sentiment, noting “America is a country that keeps going on.” This sentiment is markedly different from American popular sentiment following the Challenger space shuttle explosion in 1986. Following that tragedy, American sup- port for the space program fell sharply into apathy.» The Columbia explosion has, by contrast, led many citizens to a more fervent support of NASA. “These things are horrible, but it makes you realize that space travel is definitely not like going down in your car to pick up lunch,” said Kilby. Washington and Lee, and the rest of the nation, mourns the loss of the seven lost crew members, but applauds their courage and hero- ism. “Other schools have said that serving beer has not caused a problem, nor has it changed the culture of the sold in each setting.” Publications win big in EC fundinggame BY CALEY ANDERSON AssIsTANT NEWS EDITOR The Executive Committee of the Student Body has allocated over $17,000 in secondary Winter Term funding to 20 organizations. The Jan. 29 Budget Hear- ings were marked by,the presence of several new organizations as well as several breaks from prece- dent. In Athletics, the new club sport of boxing received $500 in startup funds. Ultimate Frisbee, which was re- started during Fall term and took in $300 from the EC then, received $400 in additional fiinds this term. Newly re—founded Club Fencing took in the most of any athletic ‘ organization at $800. They had received $675 in Fall term funding. New organizations receiving funding included the Knitting Society ($100), Project HOPE ($250), the Spanish House ($100), and the W&L Turkish Generals ($120). However, the most notable parts ofthe hearing came from previously-standing orga- ' nizations. The College Republicans, one of the largest or- ganizations on-campus, had applied for EC funding in the Fall, but was turned down due to its politically ‘ 7 partisan nature. Seeking to evade partisanship, this term both the College Republicans and the Young Democrats applied jointly for EC funding. The Ex- ecutive Committee decided to allocate no money to thejoint applicants, however, and a hearing is sched- uled which will discuss the rules of EC funding. The EC also hinted that the lack of funding to the unified political organizations may not solely have been due to partisanship, but rather a lack of funds, and that the Democrats and Republicans would probably have better luck in Fall term ofthe next school year. The Trident, the campus’ formerly independent student newspaper, received EC funding for the first time in its history. The Trident had previ- ously applied for funding during Fall term, but was turned down by the EC. This term, however, the EC saw fit to allocate $3,240 to the financially be- leaguered Trident. The International House, which has moved from its old facility, also requested funding for the first time, citing a need for any aid the EC could manage. The EC complied with a small funding package of $100. .W-VoLUIII~: CV, N0.XIX MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2005 JEN Bllt XJIG /' 7beRi71g—/1mIPbz' a beer and wine bar. The GHQ served beer and wine during the 1980s (inset). All legal students Commons will house dining facilities, study rooms, meeting rooms, a movie theatre and possibly couldbuyalcoholthere until Virginia law changedthe drinking age and the barbecame a r%urant Housing a bar in the new Commons will not be the first time alcohol has been served on campus. BEER, PAGE 3 iIz—tImPb lNFOGRr\l’l ilC BY OCR::/Vol_105/WLURG39_RTP_20030203/WLURG39_RTP_20030203_002.2.txt stairs I}, §,i%:."‘rR‘i~a =-.:r.-r. W.9§EP»3?f(.§ir#.,$n‘Ez rm. 2.. 2 E’-’ C01 IIIIAY \lI.ll CAr’s CRADLE. Noted author Kurt Vonnegut will speak in Lee Chapel tomorrow evening. He said, however, that he will not give autographs or signatures so DON”T ASK HIM. [. Vonn gut will speak in Lee Chapel tomorrow i BY KYLE WASS sI2.\'IoR STAFF WRITER Kurt Vonnegut, J r., a best-selling science-fiction au- thor, will speak at Washington and Lee this week. Vonnegut is also an accomplished filmmaker, sculptor, and graphic artist. The speech, entitled “How to Get a Job like Mine,” will be held at 7:30 in Lee Chapel on Tuesday, February 4, and is open to the public. It is sponsored by W&L’s student—run Contact Committee. Vonnegut was the Con- tact Committee’s first choice speaker, said Contact’s Vice Chair of Publicity, Victoria Guroian. Vonnegut is the author of many highly-acclaimed novels and dozens of essays and short stories, including Fates Worse than Death and Breakfast of Champions. Among his better—known novels, Cat’s Cradle and Slaugh- terhouse—Five are currently required reading in many col- : owison runs Camus BY IMRAN NAEEMULLAH CONTRIBUTING EDITOR When one considers the traits ' that a Dean of Students might em- '3 body, humor is probably not one that comes straight to mind. More likely are fairness, discipline, vision, and people skills, yet to these assets "; David Howison adds a good sense of " humor. When he and I sat down to dis- ‘ cuss his 13-year career at Washing- " ton and Lee, Howison was full of hu- morous anecdotes much like the ones he shares in his weekly newspaper ' columns. One of his favorites is the time when he and his wife, Chris, were sleeping, and around 3a.m. he heard I voices talking on the front porch. For ‘ a while he tried to ignore them, but after some time had passed he got dressed and went downstairs. Sitting on his porch he found two students, so he introduced himself as the Dean of Students to their utter surprise, for they had thought it was a fraternity house. Certainly, it takes a man who doesn’t take himself too seriously to deal with a job like that. Howison came to Washington and Lee in 1990 from St. Lawrence Uni- , A versity in upstate New York, where he had spent 22 years in various adminis- .- trative positions, on the advice of his I friends David Long, Vice President for 5" University Relations, and Professor Lyn Wheeler. He notes that he was 5.‘ immediately impressed by the Honor 1" System, the quality of the faculty, If W&L’s rich history, and former Presi- dent John Wilson, who had led the University through coeducation a few ' A years back. He also has his family roots , in Virginia, so he was happy to come to what he considers one of the most I beautiful parts of the country. During his tenure at Washington and Lee, Howison has faced many ‘, " challenges. Perhaps his biggest one I..}-' was also his initial one, the Fraternity " Renaissance. Before Howison arrived f;_ at W&L, the University had begun a $15 million project to completely reno- ‘iii 1 vate the fraternity houses and bring them under University control. That had been largely completed, but the if-lnecessary accompanying social change had not. Howison says that at the time, the predominant culture 3" in the fratemity houses was one of ,5. destruction, with students routinely ' breaking windows, smashing in walls, destroying furniture, and essentially turning the houses upside down. Howison managed to persuade the fraternity brothers that they needed to preserve the newly renovated houses and foster a culture of greater respect for property, because he felt the old situation was inconsistent with the values of Washington and’ Lee. He succeeded, for while the oc- casional broken window is something age 6 reports. «.-.=».:-.