December 1, 1994
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Hip- Student's experiences Recognize Wildcats drop Hop's call others to protect World AIDS Rattlers in Florida 'Main' free speech Classic Day 1994 Flava .II)S IP~tv I & 5 Inlrtinmeni I Opinion i 'Sports 12 The Iamuan DECEMBER 1,1994 1 The Voice of Florida A&M University - Tallahassee, Fa. Vol. 80 - No. II ~~" H" Woman set afire while /b- sleeping Police have a warrant out for her husband uwhom they haven't found. By Tracee N. Williams I Staff Writer She said her husband poured kerosene around their bed and on her L body as she lay there sleeping. The Famuanl KALI MEEKS Then, Kim Rinkins told police, get a taste of some ice cream at a booth during the Allistir Hayes (left) and Stacy Greenwtod set her on fire. recent Campus America tour. he took a match and The Tallahassee Police Department said Rinkins, a 25-year- old physical education student, is in Students can play a key role critical condition at Shands Hospital Film actress in Gainesville with second- and third- degree burns over 60 percent of her in Public Agenda forums body. to hold Tonight's meeting will Gale Workman, a professor at Police are still looking for FAMU and a moderator for the event Michael Rinkins, 35, her husband of give students a chance six months, who is suspected of set- workshop said, "It (the first meeting) was good concerns. beyond our expectations." ting his wife on fire after she told him to voice that she was divorcing him. Tyra Ferrell will discuss By Miranda Fleener She said she was delighted by the of FAMU students who stood up According to Officer Phil Correspondent number black women and film and made comments during the session. Kirocofe, TPD public information Students now. have the chance to Joe Ritchie, coordinator of the officer, there is a warrant out for By Walter Cooper express their concerns for Tallahassee at FAMU portion of the Public Agenda and Michael Rinkins arrest. Staff Writer tonight's community forum. journalism professor, said the two main "When he is apprehended he will Called Public Agenda, the forum is reasons for FAMU's involvement is be charged," Kiracofe said On Saturdayp - -i designed to discuss community concerns, research and a future community newslet- Wednesday. "She's burned from in Charles Winter- including crime, race relations and the ter. cheekbone to feet," said a relative of wood Theatre. environment, said Cathi Lees, agenda "What we are envisioning is to estab- Kim Rinkins who did not want to he Tyra Ferrell, vsh program assistant. lish a public editor at The Faimuan," identified for fear of reprisal. "She starred in 'Boyi For those who missed the first Public Ritchie said. looks terrible, I don't even know why Agenda forum held last month, they can The editor would be responsible for she would want to live- her whole "Poetic JusticLc catch another community dialogue today detininc issucs, setting up forums on epidermis, the outer layer of skin, is "\Vvhite Men Can gone and some of her dermis." at 6:30 p.m. at Bethel AME. Church,Se Agnap e2 Jump." at _ Lees said.Se Ag dap e2 Tallahassee Police Lt. Al Brown "Jungle Fever erl said, "Officers thought she had on will be conducting a burnt clothing, but later w~e found out workshop describing the political Panel cannot confirm Tait's that it was actually her skin coming importance of black women and their dowsn." role in films. According to police, after talking Ferrell spoke briefly after the first claims of police mistreatment about getting a divorce Nov. 24, Kim movie showing at her film festival at dent Larry Tait va' mistreated by the Rinkins went to bed, leaving her hus- Florida State University's Screening Spokesman said FAMU police department on Oct. II,' band sitting on the couch. At approx- Center Tuesday and Wednesday about there was a "window of said the Rev. Adam J. Richardson, chair- imately 1:30 am. he entered the bed- her career and why she chooses the man of the committee and pastor of room and set the fire. Kim Rinkins roles that she does. opportunity." Bethel AME. Church at a press confer- said in a statement to police. "To me it's not about taking any- By Elysia L. Richardson ence Monday. "She woke up because of his thing or any part that come.s my way, Staff Writer The committee, appointed by movements and she remembered him just to get autographs and stay in the Humphries. was formed to investigate wsatching her on fire for a while be beneficial spotlight. I take what will An informal fact-finding committee Tait's allegations that he w~as mistreated before he ran out." Browsn said. to me and my race." has ruled there is not enough evidence to and injured by acting police chief Charles Then Michael Rinkins ran out- Ferrell also talked about race play- determine if Student Government W. Hobbs. after he w~as detained for side yelling that the house wsas on fire film industry. ing a very big role in the Association president Larry Tait was obstruction of an officer and resisting and no one saw him after that, wsit- blond and blue-eyed I'd be "If I was assaulted by the university's police w~ithout violence. nesses said. all the time. But since getting scripts department during an on-campus lecture. "There w.as a window of opportunity Moments later, witnesses said I'm black I have to be careful about "Speaking on behalf of the commit- for the alleged incident to have taken the\ 4av Kim Rinkins run out of the so that I bring a what role I portray tee, we have concluded there is not suffi- See Tait page 2 See Rinkins page 2 good image out on the screen." cient data to substantiate that SGA presi- 2 The Famuan I December I , 1994 Public Agenda from page I The forum, sponsored by the Tait from page I press conference. campus and getting students involved Tallahassee Democrat, WCTV 6, Florida place, however, there is simply no body of Hobbs could not be reached at press with the election process. State University's Center of Professional data to prove that it did occur," time. "I think students who do participate Development and FAMU School of Richardson said. "A meeting was scheduled with Dr. stand to gain the appreciation of public Journalism, Media and Graphic Arts, takes Tait said he testified that he had been Humphries and Tait on the morning of the life...[the] best antidote for student apa- the form of discussion, not debate, assaulted while in custody of FAMU's press conference, but the president fell ill thy," Ritchie said. Workman said. police department. and it was canceled," Jackson said. Workman said Tallahassee's student The focus of today's meeting will be "As a result of him choking me, 1 had The committee acted on its own when population makes up nearly 10 percent of to provide possible solutions to communi- a sore throat and my neck was badly they called a press conference to the city's population, and that's why ty problems. bruised. I still have a mark from where he announce its findings. agenda coordinators strongly encourage (Hobbs) nicked my neck with his finger- A press release said the five-member students to attend. nail," Tait said. committee heard more than 10 hours of I Other injuries Tait said he suffered testimony, reviewed more than 400 pages were a knot on his head and soreness to of documents including transcripts, Rinkins from page I warrants for violation of probation and his back after being thrown against a wall administrative inquiries, sworn testimony yellowandt-rowouse into the street, possession of cocaine. He was still at and the floor. and newspaper articles. screaming, her skin dropping away from large by The Famuan's press date. Richardson said that medical reports 4"Nothing I said is reflected in those her body. She ran across Gibbs Street to Michael Rinkins, originally from do not substantiate Tajt's allegations. reports," Tait said. "So what was the point Michael Rinkins' cousin's, Charles Quincy, now living in Miami, was visit~ Tait said he was not contacted about of testifying? It was a cursory job at best. Roberts', driveway. ing his wifc for Thanksgiv4 the committee's decision before the press I don't blame them (the committee) She was on Roberts' driveway Kim Rinkins was a quiet person and conference was held. because they are not investigators." when the officers arrived. had recently attended a student leader- He said he should have been among Tail, who had been attending an on- "Earlier that day, I heard him say, '1 ship conference in Orlando, said Clarke the first to know because he brought forth campus lecture by poet Sonia Sanchez, don't care whatcanybody says, that's my Byrd1 an office manager in the division the allegations. had positioned himself to block a tow wife!"' said a neighbor, "and I remem- of healh$ physical education -ndrccre- 'That shows the disrespect they have truck from towing a car on police orders. ber wondering why he shouted like that, ation Herxelati* described her as "fun for students here," said Tait, who was not According to the committee's report, but I didn't see anything." loving and happy-go-lucky.", surprised by the ruling. there were three police officers working Police said that Michael Rinkins "TFn just trying to forget it," si Eddie Jackson, director of university the evening of the lecture.