University of Missouri, St. Louis IRL @ UMSL Current (2000s) Student Newspapers 2-12-2007 Current, February 12, 2007 University of Missouri-St. Louis Follow this and additional works at: http://irl.umsl.edu/current2000s Recommended Citation University of Missouri-St. Louis, "Current, February 12, 2007" (2007). Current (2000s). 313. http://irl.umsl.edu/current2000s/313 This Newspaper is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Newspapers at IRL @ UMSL. It has been accepted for inclusion in Current (2000s) by an authorized administrator of IRL @ UMSL. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE UM-ST. LOUIS. SINCE 1966 STUDENT NEWSPAPER February 12, 2007 www.thecurrentonline.com ANNOUNCEMENT Student organization SGApushes for more Metro pass support budgets due Monday Student organizqtion By SARAH O'BRIEN Quick Read began charging the university twice budgets are due January as much as before for the free pass Metro pass program comparison . Assistant News Editor 50 far this year, the Cashier'S Office has 12, online budget forms program. not reached its goal of selling 3,300 are accessible from the "They were charging $120,000, UM-St. Louis Metro MetroLink passes may be on their passes to keep its offer to sell passes at then bumped it to $470,000. We can Student Life Web site at $45 per semester. If the program ceas­ https:l/fusion.umsl.edu/st way out of the UM-St. Louis system only speculate why," said SGA pres­ Student status requirement: Student status requirement if a major response from the student es, students would pay $125 per ident Nick Koechig, senior, political udentlife/budgetsl Full-Time population fails. semester from Metro. science. Currently enrolled students The program, which offers unlim­ "We are not necessarily saying . INSIDE ited semester Metro rides for a $45 that the pass is gone," Koechig said. Student Age: Student Age: fee has not hit its 3,300 sold mark in an in-depth schematic, wliich con­ The program, however, without a order to keep the current offer. trasted the prices that were offered by sudden influx of purchases, may lead No age restrictions Under 23 Some believe that there has not Metro with those that the UM-St. back to harder negotiations, or the been a positive response to the new Louis program is offering. ending of the program. Costs: Costs: program because the Metro does not With the program offered directly "We will do everything we can in reach the residential areas of all the through MetroLink, roughly only order .that this program not be cut," $0.38 per day $1.06 per day commuters, such as those coming to 3,000 students would be eligible to Koechig said. $2 .67 per week $7.41 per week UM-St. Louis from the St. Charles receive the student-discounted price $11 .45 per month ' $31.81 per month area. of $125 per month. Student Government Association The MetroLink passes became an $45 per semester $125 per semester members distributed to the assembly issue two years ago whe~ MetroLink See SGA MEETING, page 9 Take a look at HAVING ABALL-OON AT THE BASKETBALL GAME Pike house Media Studies The Current gives you an fire ruled inside view of the new Media Studies degree program at UMSL. accidental See page 6 • Fraternity's fire emergency systems found inoperable three months prior B y JASON G RANGER News EdiJOr UMSL hockey The ftre at the Pi Kappa Alpha house that took the life of Brian players ro into Schlinler has been ruled an accident, according to sources in the Normandy Sl Louis Fire Protection District. Jason Sheilds and Jeff Ron Fritz, captain with the district, Palliser came to UMSL said no signs of foul play have been from Louisiana to play found at the inline hockey. house, and the Quick Read ruling is the incident was The fire at the Pi See page 12 "just a tragic Kappa Alpha fra­ accident." ternity house on ONTHEWEB "We know Natural Bridge that the fire started at killed student the couch," Fritz Brian Schlittler last AdIm1 D. Wiseman • EdiJor-in£biej said. "We are November was still thinking it ruled an accident. During the basketball games at the Mark Twain this past Thursday night, children enjoy balloon animals during 'Pack the Stands' night. \Va~ started by a Three months ea r- Web poll results: The night featured a face painter and a balloon conton;ionist. The women's basketball team lost to Southern Indiana 67-62 and the lier. fire inspectors men's team lost by a score of 72-59. cigarette. We What is your favorite know it wasn't fo und smoke type of movie to watch? electrical, and detectors discon­ nected and the there are no fire extinguisher signs of any uncharged. accelerants at Nickname suggestions are in Suggested Names for UMSrs Identity Project the house." An accelerant-sniffing dog was The Identity Project reaches phase two, but even brought in to try and find any traces of accelerants, such as gasoline or even hard alcohol, but the dog some question the cost invested in the search found nothing. "The [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco By MELISSA S. HAYDEN Quick Read and Firearms] even investigated," Fritz said. Sci-FilFantasy }t'Janaging Editor The 'nickname committee for The UM5L More troubling, according to Fritz, Identity Project has narrowed down a list was the fact that the house had been of six possible suggestions, including Mudcats? Holding tradition inspected just three months before the ThrillerlHorror UM-St. Louis' search for a new or Archers? The Gateway Arch re-vamped identity and its Web site keeping the Rivermen. However, two . is a symbol of St. Louis, with a river theme, mudcab, fire, and found to be lacking in sever­ for submitted name possibilities gen­ anonymous ~uggestions asked whether and archers are usually pre­ found in the Mississippi al areas. River, are a unique name. Romance erate.d not only six nickname the money used for the project is being cise at hitting their goals. Fritz said every smoke detector in options, but a bit of conu'oversy as well spent. the house was disconnected during the Comedy well. yearly inspection, and fire extinguish­ At last Friday's Student ers needed to be charged. Government Association meeting, lected in the project's processes. However, since the house was tech­ Action Bryan Goers, chief justice for Student Two of the anonymous submis­ nically a private residence, the inspec­ Court and student-athlete member to sions expressed concerns over the tor had no sway over the actions of the the Nickname Cornminee for The amount of money being spent on the students. Fritz said the inspector was II Porn lJMSL Identity Project, announced project. concerned and did take some action. the six possible nicknames that had "Who cares?" . one submission "He stayed until the members had This weeK's question been narrowed down by the commit- said. "Why don't you spend a linle Tritons? The god of water in Aviators? St. Louis' strong replaced all the batteries in the smoke association with aviation his­ Did you get what you tee. time worrying about the quality of the Greek mythology keeps with detectors," Fritz said. "Were they the tradition of river in the tory and the fact that planes wanted for Valentines The new nickname choices, he education and school experience constantly fly over campus. operational at the time of the fire, we Day? said, were the Archers, Mudcats, rather than the stupid name the University's mascot while don 't know." depicting players as warriors. make aviators a possibility. Aviators, Tritons, and Red Thunder. sports teams are called? THAT is The Normandy Fire Protection INDEX The Rivennen, the university's cur­ what will improve the school's District conducts the inspections as a rent nickname, also is going to image." favor to the University. Fritz said What's Current 2 remain a possibility. The anonymous submission was when the University is inspected, the Camf2us Crimeline 2 The six names will be posted on from someone listed from the project district lumps the fraternities in and the project's site at as "other," from choices that also inspects the houses. The sorority hous­ Of2inions 4-5 www.nickname/urnsl.edu. included faculty, staff, students or es are owned by the University and Features 6-8 On March 1, students, faculty, alumni. subject to University rules. staff and anyone else can go to the The other submission from a stu­ "They're always really good about 10-11 A&E Web site to vote for the name they" dent suggested the nickname should letting us in to inspect." Fritz said. Red Thunder? Associating Rivermen? Why break a Sf20rts 12-13 feel best suits the campus. be "The Biggest Waste of Money "We've never had any problems the identity with the schoors 40-year old tradition when Those six names were brought up Ever." before. Comics 15 'color of red and gold makes UMSL has been long known at the meeting, but nicknames were this another option. for being the Rivermen? Maximo Predicts 15 not the only things submitted and col- See IDENTITY COST, page 9 See FRATERNITY FIRE, page 9 Page 2 'OChe tturrfJlt February 12,2007 CAMPUS MyYIEWMAKES ITS DEBUT The Universi[y of Mi~tJJII1i-St.louis Student ;>;ewspaper SinL'e' i%6 CRIMELINE ST~FF Adam 10. Wiseman. Editor-in-Chief WEDN ESDAY, FEB. 7 Melissa S. Hayden • Managing :E.ditor Michael Kennedy • Business Manager STEALING UNDER $500 - Rob Borkin • Ad :Director Judi Linville • fl,Giviser SOCIAL SCIENCES BUILDINGRO OM440A TIle victim left hi s bag containing a text book and miscellaneous items in this room Patricia Lee • Copy Editor unattended.