T^ TheA ne Easterneastern «T Eastern student running marathons to raise money for Progress%^^ www.progress.eku.edu leukemia research/Bi week ical I Eastern Kenti -, "I love dogs ...the thing that I have a problem with is dog poop, Jeff King, Brockton resident Colleges to unite for Dec. 11 graduation BY JAONTA FELDMAN "Each student will receive their Managing editor moment," Marsden said. Marsden said the ceremony Eastern's December graduates will take between 2 and 2 and half will break tradition this year, and hours to complete for the possible gather together, not in their indi- 900 graduates. vidual colleges, to mark the end Next year the date of gradua- of their college career. tion will be pushed back until "This brings us together as a after finals have been held, community and it brings us togeth- Marsden said. er as a community that The university was celebrates academic suc- going to change the date cess." said Michael for this year's December Marsden provost and vice graduation to Dec. 18, but president for academic some parents were affairs, who was instru- unhappy with the possi- mental in making the deci- ble change. Marsden said sion about the change. because some people This year's university- have already made travel wide ceremony, which arrangements, the school will be held on Dec. 11 at decided to stick with its 10 a.m. in Alumni Michael original date of Dec. 11. Coliseum, is part of a two- Marsden, "Because this date was fold change in the provost and published ... it's common December graduation vice president courtesy we stay with this that will be in place by date this year," although for academic next year, Marsden said. he said he is still uncom- In years past, December affairs, was fortable with graduation graduates have met by col- instrumental in before final exams. lege the weekend before making the Some rescheduling had finals for a recognition cer- change. to be done with the date Don Knight/Progress emony with no commence- changes. Two basketball Kenneth Damron, a freshman from Louisville, walks bis two dalmatian Apartments Tuesday afternoon. One Brockton resident is raising a stink ment speaker. games were scheduled puppies on the grassy area opposite the 700 Block of Brockton over dog waste in the Brockton area. But this year all graduates will for the same time, but they were gather together for what Marsden both pushed back to later that called a "full-fledged commence- afternoon so the university-wide ment." ceremony could be held. After the speaker, who has not Marsden said the change was been chosen yet, all the graduates' really for those graduating, to Walkin' the dog names will be announced as they give them " the appropriate kind walk across the stage to shake of commencement celebration Brockton resident passing poop have accidents," Damron said. hands with President Robert Kustra. they deserve." King also maintained some Campus pet policy pick-up petition for pet owners dog-owners are breaking rules, even in the designated field. ■ Three noise, nuisance, or BY SHAWN HOPKINS residents a policy was set allow- "The pet policy states that disturbance calls in 30 days News editor ing them to keep a pet. owners are supposed to immedi- Public Safety says The guidelines of the pet poli- ately clean up waste... and these will require removal of pet. Kenneth Damron held his cy say family housing residents guys aren't doing it," King said. ■ Pets will be on a leash at all dog, Little Bitte, up. Little Bitte, a can own one domestic animal Damron admits that he waits times when outdoors. tiny brown-eyed dalmatian (some dog breeds, such as pit- about three days before picking ■ Waste elimination from the campus safe place puppy, squirmed playfully in his up his dog poop, saying that pet must be disposed of arms. bulls are restricted) if they pay $200 in fees. Rules include keep- gives it time to dry out. He said immediately and property "I don't see how anybody can he cleans up any poop over on BY SHAWN HOPKINS "The numbers are so small hate something as adorable as ing the pet on a leash while it is (bagged and tied) by the that slight changes are not signifi- outside, taking full responsibility the sidewalk immediately. News editor this," Damron said. pet owner. Before dispos- cant," Lindquist said. Nobody's claiming to hate the for the pet and cleaning up after "I don't see what the big ing of cat litter, it must be Fonzie Geary isn't afraid to walk However, for 1998 Eastern dog, yet, although Damron and the pet when it defecates outside. ruckus is. We try to keep it as placed in a trash bag and around campus at 2 in the morning. crimes per hundred (students) rate clean as we possibly can," Lavisa several other Brockton Residents The designated area for the dogs securely tied. "Generally I feel very safe," are higher than other Kentucky to relieve themselves is a small Damron, Kenneth Damron's claim Jeff King, another ■ Family Housing reserves said Geary, a senior theater and universities. The crimes per 100 Brockton resident, does. grassy area across from the 700 wife, said. psychology major from Louisville. rate is at 2.38 percent, even higher block of Brockton apartments. King collected 21 signatures the right to refuse any pet, "He has a vendetta against based on any safety con- "I've never had any problems, than the University of Kentucky at "That's where they are sup- for his petition which he deliv- even at that late hour." pets," said Nathan Hoskins, cerns of the campus com- 2.17 percent. Liquor law violations another Brockton dog-owner posed to take the dogs. And ered to President Robert Kustra's Public safety's yearly Public push those statistics up. who has called the police on sometimes they do," King said. house. munity. Safety Information Campus Crime There were 309 liquor law viola- King at least twice. King said he didn't have a "It was easy to get 21 signa- ■ Dead pets are to be bagged Report statistics back up Geary's tions in '98 with four arrests and King has circulated a petition problem when that area was tures because nobody likes dog for removal. Call Family assessment of the situation, at 305 referrals to judicial affairs. accusing many Brockton dog used. His problem was when the poop laying around," King said. Housing for a pick up dur- least in the view of Public safety Lindquist said alcohol tends to owners of violating the universi- dog poop showed up on the side- Associate Director of Family ing regular business hours. director Thomas Lindquist. fuel campus crime. ty's pet policy, which has only walk. He said that in the dark Housing David Hepburn said that No pets may be buried on "We have a large campus, a lot "We find that in a lot of major been in place since late last year. and early morning there was a King told him he had gotten 200 campus. of people who come and go daily. problems that occur alcohol is He denies any vendetta. possibility that someone could signatures. King points out that ■ Pet owners must provide I feel very good about it," involved," lindquist said. Fights, "I love dogs," King said. "The step in it. Kustra is a dog-owner himself. name, address, and phone lindquist said. vandalism, and disorderly conduct "That's kind of nasty." King "I'm sure president Kustra is The '98 statistics show crimes often wouldn't happen if alcohol thing that I have a problem with number of an "emergency is dog poop." said. more responsible than these peo- reported on all of Eastern's cam- wasn't involved. lindquist said. contact person" to assume Dog poop, a natural by-prod- Brockton dog owners such as ple too," King said. puses and the public property Another contributor to the uct of dog ownership. Not an Damron and Hoskins say most of Two other issues are the num- immediate custody of pet in directly adjoining them and non- crime rate is family housing on incredibly common site on cam- the poop that ends up on the ber of pets an owner can have, an case of serious illness or campus property used by student campus. Family issues and dis- pus until last December when sidewalks comes from stray dogs issue which King said he doesn't death of the pet owner. organizations. For the Richmond putes are handled by campus the pet policy changed at and cats over which nobody has care about, and a stipulation in ■ Any biting incident or attack campus the statistics show a safety and reports are filed on cus- Brockton apartments. any control. Damron admits that the policy that the pets must be will require the pets immedi- marked decrease in auto thefts tody, domestic disputes and Before last December the uni- Little Bitte has contributed to the on a leash at all times. On ate removal from campus. (two, down from eight in "97) and issues like child abuse. versity enforced a no pet policy problem but said he cleaned it Monday and Tuesday several drug arrests, but sex offenses and lindquist said most of the for the entire campus. At the up. »ource: exempts from Eatfem's pet poHcy robbery stayed at four and liquor request of some family housing "They're puppies, so they do See Pet«/A7 and weapons violations went up.