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Friday, March 12, 2004
Since 1900 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon
Volume 105, Issue 119
Fraternity incidents elude University sanctions
Director of Student Judicial
Affairs Chris Loschiavo says
his office only investigates
reports of serious incidents
By Jared Paben
Senior News Reporter
University fraternity members violate
the law and the student conduct code
perhaps as often as every weekend, but
they often escape University sanctions,
Student Judicial Affairs Director Chris
Loschiavo recently told the Emerald.
Loschiavo said violations frequently
occur at fraternity live-out parties, or fra
ternity-sponsored parties off the orga
nization's premises, but his department
only receives about 10 reports of frater
nity-related incidents per year. He also
said his office will not investigate an in
cident unless it is officially reported and
a large amount of evidence of wrong
doing already exists, and of those only
the serious incidents are pursued.
"If the police aren't called to your
location, we really don't care,"
Loschiavo said. "It's very difficult to
impose sanctions based on rumor. If
I have a suspicion, I will probably call
a chapter president and say, 'You
know, you might want to be really
careful. You came close to violating
the conduct code here.'"
One incident that did result in Uni
versity sanctions occurred when Sigma
Alpha Epsilon members admitted to
damaging a house in Bend in fall 2003,
causing what the homeowner says was
$30,000 worth of damage. The home
owner reported the incident to the
University and the fraternity was put on
probation, forced to do community
service and told to write letters of apol
ogy to neighbors of the house.
Incidents such as Sigma Alpha Ep
silon's have called into question
whether the University's greek en
dorsement standards — which took
effect in September 2002 and forced
the greek system to go dry and main
tain GPA standards — have reduced
rule-breaking at fraternity live-out
parties. These incidents also bring
into question whether the current ju
dicial processes are doing enough to
punish and prevent such incidents.
Interfraternity Council President
Faryl Kagan said he would not com
ment on Loschiavo's assertion that
fraternity members probably break
rules on most weekends, saying, "I
don't know how he could say that
without any proof, necessarily."
Loschiavo said incidents where a per
son's health or safety are endangered
take precedence over all other reports.
Turn to INCIDENTS, page 12
MAKING MUSIC
Divisi, a women’s a
cappella group on
campus, is: back,
from left to right:
Suzie Day, Katie
Hopkins, Josi
Henderson, Evynne
Smith, Erica Barkett,
Anna Corbett,
Rachel Wierichs,
Diana Erskine,
Megan McCornack,
Sarah Klein; front:
Lisa Forkish. They
will be making a trip
with On the Rocks,
their male
counterparts, to
Stanford this
weekend for the
ICCA West Region
Semifinals.
Danielle Hickey
Photo Editor
Singing sensations
On the Rocks and Divisi, two University a cappella groups, will compete this weekend in the ICCA Semifinals
By Breanna Scott
Freelance Reporter
On the Rocks, the University's men's a
cappella group, is making its third
straight trip to the International Cham
pionship of Collegiate A Cappella Semifinals
this weekend.
This year, they're bringing along some stiff
competition, however.
Divisi, the University's women's a cappella
group, finished ahead of On the Rocks at the
ICCA Quarterfinals, and the two groups will
make the trip together to the semifinals.
"We were proud to make it to the next round,
but we were really happy for Divisi," On the
Rocks member Brian Jacobson said. "They put
on a fantastic show."
Divisi took first place at quarterfinals with a set
featuring its versions of "Happy Together," "No
Need to Argue" and an original medley. The
group also earned the awards of Outstanding
Choreography and Outstanding Arrangement
for the "Divisi Medley."
On the Rocks took second place for its set, in
cluding renditions of "Wild, Wild Life," "Hal
lelujah" and "Stacey's Mom."
Turn to DIVISI, page 6
UO alum,
9th Circuit
judge visits
law school
Alfred (Ted) Goodwin, a judge
on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court
of Appeals, said law students
can help defend civil liberties
By Chuck Slothower
News Reporter
A prominent federal judge elicited laugh
ter and appreciation from a large crowd at
the Knight Law Center Wednesday night.
Senior Circuit Judge Alfred ( Led) Goodwin
of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
spoke on "The Role of Federal Courts in
Protecting Civil Liberties" and other issues
in a speech to an audience dominated by
law students and faculty.
Goodwin, a University alumnus, said
law students can help defend civil liberties
by Fighting for them in court.
"You'll never get anywhere waiting for
Congress or the Justice Department to en
force the law," he said.
Goodwin urged law students to "prepare,
prepare prepare" if they ever face an appellate
court in a case against a powerful defendant.
" Be like David when you attack Goliath,"
Turn to LAW, page 5
New vice provost discusses University’s need for diversity
The second forum, attended
by about 20 people, featured
discussion regarding retention
of students and faculty of color
By Chelsea Duncan
News Reporter
Gregory Vincent, University vice provost for
Institutional Equity and Diversity, discussed
retention of students and faculty of color
along with other recruitment issues at two
open forums this week.
Few people attended the general meeting held
Wednesday, but about 20 people showed up for
the Thursday meeting, which focused on issues
concerning students of color.
The goal of the meetings was to encourage
open discussion about campus diversity and the
necessity of examining how current diversity
programs are functioning.
Vincent, who just recently stepped into the
new post, said he wanted to gather as much in
formation as possible to determine the best
course of action for a diversity plan.
"I think it's appropriate to consider how dif
ferent entities around diversity are aligned," he
said.
Some audience members expressed concerns
about ensuring that faculty members are sensi
tive to the needs of students of color. Vincent
suggested the need for faculty diversity training
so faculty can better connect with students.
Questions were also raised about student
union funding and the lack of support from the
University for cultural events and programs.
Sophomore Khanh Le explained the difficul
ties of funding important student union events
without adequate University support.
"It's just difficult especially for students of col
or to do a lot of programs," he said.
Vincent agreed that it is vital for the University
to support cultural events even at a time when it
lacks funding overall.
"If the University is going to continue with the
language of supporting diversity, they've got to
find a way to support these events," he said.
Other issues focused on increasing the stu
dent of color population, which was about
Turn to DIVERSITY, page 5
WEATHER
INSIDE
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Campus buzz.6
Classifieds.11
Commentary..2
Corrections.6
Crossword.11
Sports.7
Find out how
the Ducks fare
this weekend