TCU Daily Skiff Friday, December 3, 1993 Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas 9lst Year, No. 56 O Tannenbaum! Minority students Left, students gather Wednesday night allege harassment around the Christmas Tree at Sadler Hall for Order of Omega's annual tree lighting. Below, a family sings Christmas carols at the holiday by campus police celebration. By ANGELA WRIGHT "The officer told me 'Don't get an TCU Daily Skiff attitude' and asked me 'You got a Photos by Alex Taliercio problem?' Fraternity parties with racial "1 told him 'Yes, I have a problem. themes, the debate over the Confed- I pay to go here and you are harass- erate flag and black student protests ing me,'" he said. have all contributed to the rising Bledsoe said the officer then threw racial tension on college campuses. his ID back at him and all the officers Now campus police forces are left. being brought under tire by African- Bledsoe said he never filed a American students who say they are report. being stopped for no reason other Roy Whatley, a junior business than their race. major, never filed a report either An article in the April 14. 1993, when he was detained by campus edition of the Chronicle of Higher police last spring. Education cited volatile incidents "Black Student Caucus was hav- between black male students and ing a party and I left in my car to go campus police at Princeton, the Uni- to 7-Eleven. On my way back, as I versity of Rhode Island and the Uni- turned off Berry on to Stadium. I saw versity of Arizona. a Campus Police officer behind me. Some African-American male stu- "It was no big deal until I got into dents at TCU claim they are all too the circle drive (of the student center) familiar with what they describe as and he turned on his lights. He pulled harassment by campus police. me over and called two other cars for Joseph Cottrell. a senior English back-up," he said. major, said he and his friends were Whatley said they questioned him stopped by TCU police earlier this for about 20 minutes and then let him semester as they walked from the Pit go. to Milton Daniel residence hall. "I was too mad to go to the party Cottrell said the officer pulled up then, so I just went home," he said. and put his flashlight in their faces. Wanda Mosely. president of Black "We gave him our IDs and 1 asked Student Caucus, said though it is him was there a problem and he told good students are speaking out about me 'No. just checking' and then he it. run-ins with campus police for drove off," Cottrell said. black students are nothing new. "We were just walking along, "If they see a group of black guys dressed like average college stu- walking on this campus, they are Union to determine fate of 'scabs' dents." he said. "What were we going going to see them as 'suspicious- to do?" looking' characters," she said. "They By GINGER RICHARDSON "We have experienced some prob- "Really, much of the blame for this Union members said the flight Cottrell isn't alone. Other black could have been here for four years TCU Daily Skiff lems with some individuals," said Al should be placed on the airline." he attendants deserved to be punished males tell the same story. and they will still get stopped. Becker, a spokesman for American said. 'They have many of the flight because they betrayed a great trust. Albert Bledsoe. a sophomore "1 think if a pattern develops American Airlines may be back in Airlines. "We are very much aware attendants so paranoid of being "People wonder why this is such a finance major, said he was stopped where minorities continue to get the air. but for the 2.100 flight atten- of the situation and are asissting them harassed that everyone is starting to big problem." Bergman said. "The six times last semester by campus stopped, TCU needs to take a look at dants who crossed the picket lines on in various ways." lose sight of reality. whole idea of a union is to have unity police — three times by the same its police force." Nov. 18. the trouble isjust beginning. Edwards and Eric Bergman, a "The reality is there have only of the members. If you are in a union officer. Oscar Stewart, chief of police, said The union board for the Associa- negotiator for the union, both deny been 14 complaints out of 21.000 you are supposed to take the risks and Bledsoe said the incidents hap- neither he or the university will stand tion of the Professional Flight Atten- the charges. possible confrontations, so that is fight the fight with the rest of us. pened when he was walking alone at for racial discrimination by police dants will meet today and Saturday to "Our policy is that we have never really a very miniscule amount," he "They violated that trust." night and was stopped by campus officers. determine what disciplinary action condoned threatening or harassment said. Edwards said the flight attendants police and questioned. Stewart said any student who has should be taken against the "scabs," against those individuals who chose Becker denied allegations that the avoided their responsibilities as "They always call for back-up first had a run-in with a campus police said Randy Edwards, communica- not to strike," Edwards said. "We are airline is causing panic among the union members. so that there are about three of them," officer is welcome to meet with him. tions coordinator for the APFA. encouraging our members to follow flight attendants and said American "Everyone else put their neck on he said. "They ask me for my ID and a dean and the police officer to talk "The board will decide what inter- a policy of social ostracism." is doing it's best to contain the prob- the line," he said. "Everyone else the first few times I just gave it to about it. nal union charges the scabs should be Bergman said the situation may be lem. participated, so obviously the scabs them." Arizona required the members of brought up on at the meeting," tense and uncomfortable. "We are dealing with this issue are not held in very high esteem and Bledsoe said after being stopped a its police force to attend mandatory Edwards said. "Possible action could "They (the flight attendants) will privately and we are trying our best there is a lot of tension on all sides." few times, it got irritating. He classes this year on the "black culture be the levying of a fine, suspension be viewed with a certain amount of to minimize the damage of this entire Julie Hill, a sophomorejournalism recalled one case where he and his as it relates to the police" as a result or expulsion from the union, or disdain and will almost certainly be situation in every way we can, he major, said she hopes the flight atten- girlfriend were sitting on the steps of of a fatal shooting of a black student expulsion from office." given the cold shoulder," Bergman said. dants can put their differences aside Robert Carr Chapel on University by the campus police in August 1990. The disciplinary meeting comes said. "We won't be ugly — we just "We realize that many people had for the sake of their passengers. Drive and Princeton. The purpose of the classes was to amid allegations by flight attendants won't be friendly." to make many different personal "I would hope that they would be "Once I was with my girlfriend, distinguish between a prototypical and airline officials that members of Bergman blamed the airline for decisions, and right now we are just able to keep a professional working who they passed up to get to me." he dangerous situation (a known crimi- the union have been threatening and creating unnecessary levels of fear eager to put this entire situation relationship when serving their cus- said. "They called back-up and asked nal neighborhood) and a stereotypi- harassing those who crossed the and panic among the flight atten- behind us and get on with the busi- for my ID. This time I asked told picket line. dants. ness of serving our customers." see Fate, page 12 them 'Look, I'm not doing anything.' stt Racism, page 2 Academic Services will INDEX Families' approaches to holiday Scattershooting help students with skills Hooked on Phonics, the Kennedy assassination range from traditional to topless and an Opinion Editor's make Christmas cookies." to get through test week final words. By VANESSA SALAZAR my other relatives come over and Page 3 TCU Daily Skiff . visit. The night before at my cousin's Professors also enjoy their own house, we exchange gifts with all my special moments and traditions By CARRIE SCHUMACHER People study in different ways, so Holy Mosaic! around Christmas time even if they TCU Daily Skiff it is important to know how to study It never fails, just as the turkey cousins. There are about 30 to 40 best, Corbett said. She said making Eve's Plum, INXS and a finally settles into the stomach and people there and we all just eat and are considered typical. The dreaded days of all-night outlines, flashcards or explaining the whole mess of movies. the ALL of the leftovers disappear, it eat and eat." "I guess the biggest thing is just cramming and caffeine-induced information to others can help if rep- Page 6 happens again: Everyone goes home Maurie Succop.