A look back at the year in numbers, page 11 UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA Keep posted over the April Summer Break at www.unfspinnaker.com 25 Volume 30, Issue 31 2007 Wednesday Presidency still in question BY TAMI LIVINGSTON FREE FLOW NEWS EDITOR [ A MESSAGE FROM THE STAFF ] Entering the last weeks of the semester, the next student body president and vice president for To our readers, the University of North Florida they directly impact who will be sworn in as next have yet to be determined. Over the past 30 years, the Spinnaker has year’s student body president and vice president. Two stays were issued April worked to keep you informed about issues and When we questioned the omission, we were 20 by the Student Government actions on campus and across the state that affect told the violations had been referred to student judicial council, which will pre- you. Fee increases, new majors, parking issues, conduct and the documents are no longer public vent any presidential candidates new buildings and facilities, the future of the record. The documents were public records when or senatorial candidates from university, crime on campus, Student Government we requested them and both times when we were being sworn in until the outcome and university administration decisions – all these supposed to receive them. of a judicial hearing tentatively and more have been reported to you. The current situation is the most alarming case scheduled for later this week. However, our mission to keep you informed we’ve encountered, and sets a chilling precedent of As of publication, Jacqueline and aware of what is happening with your money, individuals selectively releasing information and Simard and Alban Brooke were your university and your fellow students has been failing to tell us. the only qualified candidates for impeded on many occasions. We are often denied We want to make you aware of this situation the positions because the two access to information because university sources because when we are denied information, you are major violations against candi- don’t want us to report on it, such was the case of denied information. Each time an individual or an dates Rachael Tutwiler and A.J. the student suicide that occurred on campus earlier organization deems it unnecessary to explain their Souto have not been negated, this year, or cases of misconduct by Greek Life actions to the media, they deem it unnecessary to according to a statement by members and more. explain their actions to the public, ostensibly the Chief Justice Robert Allen. The As the official student newspaper of the very people they are supposed to be serving. By violations allege Souto verbally University of North Florida, our duty is to report withholding documents and then selectively assaulted two senators during the facts and the facts only. Whether those facts releasing some of them, people hinder the media’s elections. They were supposedly reflect well or poorly on the university, an mission. But more importantly, they negated because they have been organization or and individual doesn’t matter – we disrespect you. referred to student conduct and report them either way. Government officials on any level – national, are out of the purview of SG. It is our job to keep you informed, and that’s state or local – are elected by the people and are “The judicial council is in the what we attempt to do. However, sometimes those therefore accountable to the people. But without process of looking at all aspects attempts are unsuccessful because students, the free flow of information and laws protecting of what has been sent in as far as administrators, faculty or staff avoid answering the public’s right to know, this check and appeals go,” said Dr. Lucy Croft, our questions or giving us information. balance relationship cannot exist. assistant vice president of The Spinnaker recently requested election Freedom of the press and freedom of student life. violation documents from Student Government. information are protected by law because The Spinnaker could not Through multiple verbal agreements over the without those laws, those freedoms would not determine the appeals that will course of several weeks, we were told the exist. Time and time again, information is restrict- be heard by the judicial council. information would be released. When we tried to ed, withheld and manipulated to serve the Attempts to interview Allen and retrieve the documents, we were denied because interests of a select few. A journalist’s job is to SG Adviser Laurel Kendall we had not informed the SG adviser of report what is happening, not just what were unsuccessful. our request. people in positions of power want you to know. Blair Mitchelson, a former Days later, when we finally received the Newspapers and other media all over the senator who is defending Simard documents, they were incomplete. world fight censorship and prior restraint and Brooke, said he believes all Student Government deliberately withheld key everyday to fulfill their duty to allow you, their the appeals filed will be heard, as documents regarding the major violations that had readers, to make informed decisions. will a perjury charge against been filed (and upheld) against current Senate And we at the Spinnaker will continue to serve Souto stemming from the viola- President A.J. Souto for verbally assaulting two you to the best of our abilities and fight for your tions hearing. people during elections. We were not told of the right to know what is happening on your campus The judicial council met April omission. The documents are important because and why. 24 to “make a determination on how to proceed,” Croft said. The Jenna Strom Ace Stryker Tami Livingston Emily Bruce Jen Quinn Jamie Williams outcome of the meeting was not Editor in Chief Production Manager News Editor Copy Editor Graphic Designer Staff Writer known before publication. Robert Pietrzyk Kristen Montalto Matt Coleman Rebecca Daly Sarah Diener Laurel Wright Pending a decision, business Art Director Advertising Manager Features Editor Photo Editor Assistant News Staff Writer will continue as usual, Croft Adina Daar Joshua Stewart Holli Welch Megan Dornbrock Ross Brooks Jason Strickland said. The current president, vice Business Manager Media Adviser Sports Editor Web Editor Assistant Features Distributor president and senators will remain in office until new repre- The following individuals have read and approve the above statement: sentatives are inaugurated. Eric C. Williams Cynthia Barnett Mike Hiestand Robert Orndoff A Senate meeting is sched- Professor, University of Associate Editor, Legal Consultant, Station Manager, uled for 6:30 p.m. April 25. Souto, North Florida Florida Trend Magazine Student Press Law Center Osprey TV the current Senate president, said the meeting “will not Editor’s note: The preceding is an editorial statement from the Spinnaker staff. We have chosen to run it on the front page because we feel this be cancelled.” issue deserves the most prominent recognition, as it directly affects our ability to report the facts in their entirety to you. E-mail Tami Livingston at [email protected]. SAE members acquitted of hazing charges BY SARAH DIENER The chapter was previously issued a have been reinstated. Other individuals the national board will make a formal ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR cease and desist order by the either did not reapply or did not meet the recommendation to the chapter on how Interfraternity Council and members were evaluation standards set and maintained to continue. The Florida Nu chapter of the Sigma suspended until graduation, said Tom Van by the national organization and the uni- Sigma Alpha Epsilon served a period of Alpha Epsilon fraternity at the University Schoor, associate dean of students. versity. However, the deadline to reapply probation in 2006 for convictions of under- of North Florida has been reinstated from A representative from the national has been extended to allow for age drinking and possession of beer kegs. a period of suspension following allega- organization conducted a member review more applications. The Florida Nu chapter of SAE was estab- tions of hazing. of all current brothers. Each brother was “We wanted to make sure we had no haz- lished at UNF in fall 2003. Fraternities have After an investigation, the national evaluated on GPA requirements, student ing,” Van Schoor said. “We want to protect been an institution on campus for 30 years organization of SAE has decided the conduct and their contributions to the our students.” according to UNF Greek Life’s Web site. actions in question did not meet the criteri- chapter. Members were given the opportu- Brandon Weghorst, SAE’s director of on of hazing defined by the organization. nity to reapply for membership, and 21 communication, said after lifting the order, E-mail Sarah Diener at [email protected]. PAGE 2 Spinnaker’s Picks ã BEST ä WORST â FIX In less than two weeks, Although students voted for next year’s student SG needs to devote all its efforts to rule students will be free to enjoy a much leaders April 3 and 4, it is still undecided who on the necessary appeals to get the needed break from classes. will lead the university next year. A course of qualified candidates sworn in. Then action has yet to be taken to address the they can move on and devote more alleged threats made by one of the candidates. time to doing their jobs. O O O Editorials O O O WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2007 Campus unites during tragedies Awarded first place for Best of Show at he question no longer tims’ families at a memorial service from danger. Yet, many of the phone the 2005 National College Media addresses where you were on the Virginia Tech campus one day calls were from parents who had not Convention by the when JFK died, or Apollo after the shooting.