Leading history Black History Month person of the day George Washington Bush was a free black man living in the South in the mid-1800s. Bush and his family left Missouri in 1844 with a wagon train headed for the Oregon Trail. Along the way, he told fellow traveler John Minto that he hoped blacks would be treated better in the new territory than they were in the South, The party stopped in what is now The Dalles, and they discovered that the provisional govern ment in the area had recently passed a law ex cluding blacks. Bush stayed the winter, but then headed north across the Columbia River, where the British still had control and he hoped for less discrimination. In 1845, the pioneers landed in the Puget Sound. The land Bush and his family settled became known as Bush Prairie, and Bush’s success in trading and his generosity to other settlers led the way for more Americans to settle in the area. Historians write that when Britain and the United States signed a treaty in 1846 establishing the border between the two countries, Bush’s presence helped make what is now Washington part of America. —Michael J. Kleckner Recruit continued from page 1 and marijuana were readily avail able, and the football star said he was also put in a situation where a female offered him sex. It wasn’t the first time such things had crept into the recruitment process. In fact, the report said, Hamilton claimed such goodies were available at each location — Oregon just happened to be the worst. “Every trip I went on — sex, drinking, drugs — they were all available to me,” Hamilton told The Record. “I didn’t do it because that’s not who I am. Tm a Christian. God was with me on those trips.” At Friday’s press conference, Bel lotti would not confirm whether Smith did indeed host Hamilton, but he did say that recruits are usu ally matched to players who play the same position. Bellotti also said that recruits, whose visits are most ly filled by meetings and tours, are usually given free time at night to spend with their host. The content of that free time, he added, is up to thetecruit. “We want the recruit to be the most important person,” Bellotti said. After the trip, according to The Record, Hamilton went home and told his parents about the fringe benefits he was offered. They told the paper they weren’t mad at their son, but they began to question the Athletic Department. “You’ve got to pick a host who has better judgment,” Hamilton’s father, Leo, told The Record. “It’s your re sponsibility as a school to make sure things don’t happen.” Soon after, the report said, Hamil ton’s father called Bellotti to com plain of the allegations. Bellotti said he would conduct an investigation and get back to the father, but the elder Hamilton said that never hap pened, according to the paper. On Friday, Bellotti would not say whether he received such a phone call from Hamilton’s father, but he did say he has received one phone call like it during his tenure. Bellotti also confirmed that an investigation was conducted during the fall about certain allegations, but he would not say what the investigation was about or what the results of the in vestigation were. Moos said University President Dave Frohnmayer and Vice Presi dent for Administration Dan Williams were all contacted about the situation. Little more was said Friday, al though Bellotti indicated he would like to clear both his and the Univer sity’s name of any wrongdoing. But because of NCAA regulations, Bel lotti couldn’t comment on an ath lete signed by another school. Fur thermore, he could not discuss the allegations because doing so would violate student privacy laws, per haps of current athletes. “I think the people in this program right now are committed to doing things the right way,” Bellotti said. Bellotti did not sign a tailback in the 2003 recruiting class. According to The Record, Hamilton very much wanted to join the program. In the end, however, Hamilton’s parents chose for him and against the University. “I was upset that I couldn’t make the decision for myself,” Hamilton told The Record. “But I’m OK with it now. I’m 100 percent committed to San Diego State.” Contact the news editor at bradschmidt@dailyemerald.com. ROCK MUSIC MIXED BY DJ-KAMAKAZI ALL NITE LONG! A Uffle O-p-p fUg fop. A Jof le£f iv\ fUe iw 6:00 PM 301 chapman * INFORMATION SESSION February 12, 5:30 PM, EMU-Walnut Room TEACH AMERICA www.teachforamerica.org