Fraternity Faces Lawsuits After Last Year's Fire Playgirl and Playboy
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of he <T Intwrsity ^cjg V-</Volume 93" ^^ No. 28 / April 22,IQ^ftARV Fraternity faces lawsuits after last year's fire By Jenny Poole and Chris Anderson "refused to repair and maintain the Sigma The University Echo Chi House so that it was safe and met applicable codes." Two people who were injured in last Kirkland, who is currently the vice April's fire at the Sigma Chi fraternity house president of Sigma Chi, lived in the house are now suing for damages. at the time that it caught fire. In his suit, Separate lawsuits were fded by both Tobi Kirkland said that the "hazards rendered the Gray and Eric Kirkland on March 5 against Sigma Chi House unfit for human habitation different parts of the Sigma Chi fraternity, due to the increased risk of fire." The suit including the Delta Theta chapter at UTC, also says that the defects in the house "were the Delta Theta House Corporation and the the direct and proximate cause of Kirkland's Sigma Chi Alumni House Corporation of injuries." Chattanooga. They are suing for Both Kirkland and Gray have been asked compensatory and punitive damages that by their attorneys not to speak about the case. resulted from the April 18, 1998 fire at the Since Gray is a former sweetheart of the fraternity house. fraternity, and Kirkland is the current vice Gray is suing for $12.5 million and president, both attorneys said that it was hard Kirkland is suing for $3.5 million. for their clients to file lawsuits. Though neither Roger Dickson, who is "Bringing this suit was not something representing Kirkland, nor Terry Basista, (Gray) enjoyed doing, but something had to Jenny Poole who is representing Gray, would comment The remains of the Sigma Chi House after it was destroyed by a fire last April. be done," Basista said. "Accountability helps on how they reached the monetary amounts keep all of us as safe as we can be at this day that they were asking for, both offered at this time. She is doing considerably better, injuries. and age." details about their client's injuries. but she has a long, long road ahead of her. According to both of the lawsuits, the The Sigma Chi fraternity is also slaying "She (Gray) has severe injuries from She will never be fully recovered." defendants (Sigma Chi) were aware of the supportive towards their brother. burns over approximately 54 percent of her Gray received her injuries when she problems associated with the house, "There's no animosity towards Eric in body," Basista said. "She has fairly horrific leaped from the second story of the fraternity including the "lack of repairs, lack of any way," said Sigma Chi president M 'i.irl scaring and considerable discomfort because house after it caught on fire. sufficient fire escapes, fire alarm apparatus Kaplan. "There is a business side and a social of the scars. She has a severe back injury Kirkland's attorney offered only that his ... or fire extinguishment equipment." The side to every organization." that is causing her a great deal of difficulty client had "sustained some burns and other lawsuits also state that the defendants had Playgirl and Playboy removed from bookstore By Kandi Austin Playboy and Playgirl had been sold in the publications were removed from the about the issue. University Echo UTC's bookstore for many years before bookstore. But he said he knows it may not "I guess it makes us look like a regular Long came to UTC, Long said. The be permanent. If the magazines are college," said Ivy Underwood, Manchi ster, Playgirl and Playboy magazines are not bookstore manager who preceded Long restocked, he said he will protest again. " Tenn. freshman. "You don't think Knoxville available in UTC's bookstore anymore. But placed the magazines "under the counter," There were several people who didn't has them?" the bookstore manager says if she gets she said. The bookstore stopped selling them get to sign [the petition] that expressed "I never go in there to get them because enough requests, she may restock the in the last two years because Long believes interest in it," he said. I don't need them. There's better things to publications. students were too embarrassed to ask for the Amick said he was embarrassed that worry about on campus than pornography Following a student-led petition drive, magazines. Playboy and Playgirl were sold on his being sold on campus," said Andrew bookstore manager Rene Long removed the However, bookstore employees began college campus. "Skipper" Kelso, Nashville junior. magazines in March. getting requests and Long began stocking "When my parents or visitors come, I Other students do not believe that it is "It happened while I was on vacation so the magazines again in late January. don't want them to see that where I go to wrong for the publications to be sold in the I said go ahead and pull [the magazines]." But some students disagree with the school," he said. bookstore. But Long also said if enough people magazines' sale on campus. A petition drive Another student agreed with Amick's "If someone thinks these magazines are wanted the magazines, she might reconsider. to remove the publications from the opinion. obscene, don't complain to the people who "There may be 400 people out there who bookstore began at the beginning of March "If the University is going to take a stand purchase them," said Jeremy List, Franklin don't want [the magazines] and 800 that do," when Matthew Amick, Athens, Tenn. junior, against pornography in the computer labs, junior. "Complain to the manufacturer." Long said. "I don't want to jeopardize my saw the adult magazines displayed. Amick and if the bookstore is affiliated with the "If we're all supposed to be adults, why relationship on campus unless those 800 said he was told by an official in the housing University, then they shouldn't sell it in the can't we make our own decisions? Just come in and say they want it, then I may." office that a petition showing students' bookstore either," said Dan Beery, Oak because it's sold doesn't mean we have to This is the second time the magazines protests might help remove the magazines. Town, Ind., junior. read it," said Jodi Rohling, Knoxville, senior. have been taken out of the bookstore. Amick was "excited and relieved" when But other students showed indifference Fo w much do UTC employees make? See pages 10 and 11 for details 2 The University Echo I Thursday, April 22,1999 President orders information on college hate crimes By Molly Cate youth were announced the same day as a McNeely said the existing legislation is The extensions, which went nowhere in Echo Staff Reporter survey from MTV was released. adequately efficient to identify the nature of the house and senate last year, would also The survey found that nearly two in 10 a crime and is frustrated with the increase make the prosecution of hate crimes easier. President Clinton recently ordered the young people know a victim of a gender in regulations by the federal government. They would delete the provision which Education Department to begin collecting based crime and that 91 percent of 12-24 "It is becoming an administrative states the victim is targeted for engaging in data from college campuses concerning hate year olds describe hate crimes as "very nightmare," McNeely said. certain federally protected activities, such crimes. serious" or "somewhat serious" national Administrative actions against hate as jury duty or attending a public school. "We have significant problems there and problem. crimes have mounted following three highly Clinton also included middle school aged we need to shine a light on that," Clinton Although there were more than 8,000 publicized cases: Matthew Shepard, a gay children in the new extensions. He formed said. hate crime incidents reported in 1997, the college student, was beaten to death, pistol a partnership with AT&T, Court TV, Cable The request is part of the Hate Crime problem has not effected college campuses whipped, and tied to a fence to die in in the classroom, the National Middle Prevention Act, passed by Clinton in 1997. in Tennessee, according to UTC Police. Laramie, Wyo., James Byrd Jr., a black man, Schools Association, the Anti-Defamation Clinton asked Congress to include offenses "To my knowledge, no school in the state died as he was being dragged by a chain League working with the Justice and based on sexual orientation, gender or of Tennessee has ever had a problem with hooked to the back end of a pick-up truck in Education departments to develop curricula disability. Current laws ban crimes based on hate crimes," said Dale McNeely, UTC Jasper, Texas and Billy Jack Gaither, a gay to combat intolerance. race, ethnicity and religion. police chief. "But, it (the law) may be good textile worker in Alabama was beaten to Clinton's extensions into the country's for some colleges." death then burned on a pile of tires. Students have different reasons for attending college By Robyn Butters teacher." college and be a teacher because I've always Andrews, Cleveland junior said. "I'd rather The I 'niversity Echo Older students, usually between the ages set high goals for myself," said Natalie take a break for about a year, but I'd never of 25 and 39, usually return to improve their Patterson, Chattanooga junior. hear the end of it if I did." C« >llege means a better education to some employment possibilities, according to Another student said he is a first- A survey conducted by the University of UTC students.