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INSIDE: Bomb coverup could have blown up in officials' faces see opinions, page A

An editorially MURFREESBORO, independent TENNESSEE newspaper ^±,^r Middle Tennessee State Univers

Volume 76 No. 12 www.sidelines.mtsu.edu Mass Comm receives bomb scare Happy

By Wesley R. Bush and Becky Pickering which one because it is an active investigation. News Editor and Staff Writer Firefighters and ambulances surrounded the building to restrict access but students birthday Wednesday afternoon, while demonstrators inside were not warned of the threat or evacu- were raising voices at the Genocide Awareness ated. Project, police and firefighters responded to a Several hundred feet away, firefighters bomb threat inside the Bragg Mass awaited word from police who were quietly Scarlett Communications Building. searching for signs of validity in the threat. At approximately 2:41 p.m.. a male caller "Usually in these situations they would By Leslie Carol Boehms telephoned the Department of Public Safety evacuate the entire building," said Captain Staff Writer and informed them that there was a bomb "at Gaines, head of the district one fire depart- this location." ment of the Murfreesboro. It has been just more than a year "The caller didn't specify where it was." said Gaines said he was unsure why no one had since Scarlett Commons opened its Ben Coman of public safety, "so it took a while left the building. Photo by Btdty factoring | Staff Photographs doors. Many have wondered about to trace the call." Public Safety is not releasing any more Firefighters wait outside the Mass Comm building for and some have experienced the Cates said that the number was traced to a information at this time.^ instructions during a bomb threat while emergency vehi- splendor of these new on campus phone in Mass Comm but could not specify cles provide a temporary blockade of traffic. apartments. The luxury of Scarlett Commons has appealed to many students because they are able to have an apartment and live on campus. "Students have access to kitchen facilities in their apartments and stu- dents have their own private bed- room," said Associate Director of Housing Sarah Sudak. "I chose Scarlett Commons because it's a heck of a lot nicer," said Freshman Scarlett Commons resi- dent Heather Wilson. "I wouldn't want to live in a dorm with one person not knowing them. That's why I chose Scarlett Commons. I love it." Scarlett Commons opened in August 1999. and according to Sudak their have been no problems to her knowledge with the facility this past year. The biggest frustration with the residents seems to be parking, a problem that plagues all university students. "We're not allowed to park in PtatM-by Jtwy CoroV | Staff Photographs very many places." said Wilson. [Above] Students hold signs of protest in front of the Genocide Awareness Program on the KUC Knoll. Most students were peaceful Scarlett Commons residents are during their protests, but at least one student had to be guided away from the exhibit. [Below] Two students pass by a GAP display of allowed to park in four different locations: their own reserved spot aborted fetuses. within the complex, the parking lots adjacent to the Softball field and recreation center, the lot nearest the mass communications building and the parking lot nearest to Murphy GAP, protesters Center. The only new addition to the complex for this fall was a sitting wall that was added to the patio area behind the clubhouse. Many students this year and last clash on Knoll chose Scarlett Commons because It was more economical than an off By Elizabeth McFadyen-Ketchum parking policy reform milled about on the Knoll. campus apartment. Staff Writer Some walked by stone-faced, some shouted, "You have your own kitchen and some watched, some debated. you can save money that way," said Mention the word abortion and opinions fly. Everybody saw. Jon Garrison a residential assistant Hang 10-foot-tall photographs of aborted fetuses at Scarlett Commons. "You only on the busy green of a university campus and pas- • The Debaters share your bathroom with one other sionate debate ensues. "How can you equate a woman who might walk person. There are four people per "You crazy mother f***ers!" junior Coral Smith past this and might have had an abortion with apartment but you all have your own shouted as she threw her bicycle, grabbed and Hitler?" a young woman asked Gregg Cunningham, individual room. It's really cool and shook the metal barrier separating the onlookers the lead GAP representative. you can keep things clean," said from the full-color display of aborted fetuses and "We're not equating her with Hitler." Garrison. the representatives of the images. Cunningham replied. "We're saying doctors are According to Vicki Justice Lowe, After an MTSU police officer gently pulled Smith behaving like the Nazi doctors. associate director of Housing, the from the barrier, Smith moved on yelling all the way. "We think women are very often victims of abor- over throughout the day. GAP representatives and 1999-2000 population of Scarlett "This is our campus!" Smith shouted to the tion," Cunningham said. "Women don't have the students alike had plenty to say. Commons totaled 405 residents. crowd. "You should be screaming. You should be same level of awareness... as a doctor does. (These) "The back alley issue is a clever rhetorical Of the 405, approximately 46 per- appalled by this." women haven't been to medical school .. .""I don't device," said Erica Rogers, a CBR representative cent were freshmen. The remaining In eerily intimate tones — barely above a whis- see the doctors," another student interjected. from Ohio. "There never will be hangers and there residents were classified as follows: per — representatives with the Genocide Awareness Bill Raeth, a sophomore Aerospace major, posed never were." 13 percent were returning students Project discussed the issues with Pro-Lifers and Pro- another question. "That's untrue. I had a family member in the with less that 30 hours classified as Choicers throughout the day. "Why should a man have a say in what a woman 1930s..." a woman argued. freshmen, 16percent were sopho- GAP, which is a division of the Center for Bio- can and cannot do with her body?" "Let me take that back," Rogers interrupted: mores, 17 percent were juniors. 7 Ethical Reform (CBR) — a private organization cre- "Because there's a second body involved here," "There were occasions with hangers long ago. But percent were seniors and 1 percent ated in 1990 fighting for "prenatal rights" — erects Cunningham replied. "Let's help the woman instead •even if it was outlawed now, doctors have the equip- were master candidates. oversized photos of aborted fetuses, lynchings and of killing the baby." ment anyway." This year. 401 students are resid- Holocaust victims to inform students on college "Back alleys and coat hangers" — a commonly Another man walked by later and shouted with- ing in Scarlett. Of those, 31 percent campuses across the nation of their view that abor- discussed reason for keeping abortion legal in hopes out missing a step, "Shame on you. Shame on all of are first-time freshman. 12 percent tion is a form of genocide. of preventing women from self-aborting as was you." are returning freshmen, 26 percent Students, protesters, police officers, administra- done historically by piercing the cervix with sharp are sophomores, 16 percent are tors, jewelry salesmen and petitioners for university objects such as coat hangers — came up over and See GAP, 3 juniors, 14 percent are seniors and 1 percent are master candidates.^

By J. Michael Neal our success, Up 'Til Dawn is now Office of Student Organizations and This year's event director is Kyle Staff Writer appearing on 38 campuses. Community Service hopes for record Mayhew, the associate director is Laurie The upcoming event will begin the participation at the upcoming event. Cook and the spirit chairs are Willie Volunteer Although it's five months away, evening of Feb. 23 at the Recreation Although this years goal of $25,000 Nelson and Abby Epps. recruitment of volunteers is already Center, and will conclude the following seems like a lot of money, Prugh If interested in participating, stop by underway for next years Up Til Dawn morning. The 12 hours of fesUvities will reminds everyone that, "the daily cost Up Til Dawn on the Lawn on Oct. 5 fundraiser. include sporting events, live entertain- to run St. Jude is over $400,000." from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the KUC hunting Up 'Til Dawn was first brought to ment, assorted games, a massage parlor To get involved with Up Til Dawn courtyard. Up 'Til Dawn volunteers will our campus last November when stu- and lots of food. In addition, students you can form a team of 4-8 and begin be on hand to answer questions and dents raised $21,000 for St. Jude will also have the opportunity to meet collecting donations. The goal for each sign up prospective teams. Children's Research Hospital. MTSU patients of St. Jude whose lives may be team is $750. After the collection For more information contact Prugh Til Dawn was the second university to ever partic- affected by our schools generosity. process is complete, teams will receive at 904-8418. visit KUC 306 or send e- ipate in this fundraiser. With others and Maggie Prugh, coordinator of the an invitation to attend the celebration. mail to [email protected].^

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