12ISPORTS James Madison University THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 20,1990 VOL. 68, NO. 8 Strickler gets death sentence defile Whitlock. LanReefflL The sentence upheld a jury's July capital murder staffwriter conviction and its recommendation to sentence "The key here is that Thomas David Strickler acted Strickler to die in Virginia's electric chair. without any emotion, remorse or conscience before, Thomas David Strickler was sentenced to death Judge Thomas Wood also found sufficient evidence during or after Leann Whitlock's murder," Wood said. yesterday in the Augusta County Circuit Court for to sentence Strickler to two separate life terms for But Strickler maintained his innocence. the January murder of JMU student Leann Whillock. convictions of robbery and abduction with intent to "I don't really understand what went on here today," Strickler said before the sentence was handed down. "I have no knowledge of Whitlock being killed — at no time did she give me the impression that she was being forced." As (he sentence was announced, Strickler turned to look at his mother. Whitlock's parents, also present, sat quietly. Commonwealth Attorney A. Lee Ervin, the prosecuting attorney, said, "This kind of case demands the death penalty, especially due to the horrible treatment of the victim." At the start of the hearing, chief defense counsel William Bobbitt Jr. motioned for a continuance of the case because Strickler wanted time to circulate petitions denouncing the death penalty. Wood denied the motion. Bobbin then asked Wood to change the capital murder conviction to a lesser conviction of murder in the first degree, on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence to prove Strickler actually killed Whitlock. Suspect Ronald Lee Henderson, also charged with Whitlock's murder and facing extradition from Oregon today, also may have been involved. Whitlock died from a fractured skull after three to four blows to the head from a 69-pound rock, according to trial testimony. But Ervin argued that because of the absence of any other physical injuries, it is likely that Whitlock was CHWSTYREE/THE BREEZE Tommy David Strickler is led out of the courtroom by police after being sentenced to death. STRICKLER page 2 Group aims to analyze, prevent sexism at JMU Christy Mgmfagjj ^— brochure infilled "Sexism in Higher concerns about sex discrimination at of last year's women's issues assistant lifestyles editor Education: the James Madison the university. committee, agrees the brochure is not a Perspective" designed to handle such But Dr. Elizabeth Ihle, affirmative response to a major problem at JMU A professor cracks a joke about "a questions. action officer, said JMU has received a but is more of a preventive measure blonde bimbo secretary." Controversy surrounding sexism has bum rap because of the coincidental designed to raise the awareness of A sign appears outside an off-campus plagued JMU over the last year, timing of these incidents. "At this students, faculty and staff in regards to fraternity house advertising a daiquiri including a sexual harassment point I know of no other institution their attitudes toward gender roles. party with the slogan "Try a Virgin," complaint against men's basketball that is doing as much as JMU as far as "Some things happen because of lack including pictures of women and coach Lefty Driesell and an Equal investigating sexism," she said. "We of awareness," she said. "We're champagne bottles. Employment Opportunity are much closer to reflecting the way interested in consciousness-raising, Are these examples of harmless Commission investigation instigated we want society to be. getting people to think. jokes — or are they sexist stereotypes, by a philosophy professor over the "The university has made a real effort "Subtle comments are made — I'm and therefore potentially damaging and filling of a tenure position. to make sure to institute policies that not saying they're said intentionally — offensive to some students at JMU? JMU also was the subject of an are as gender-free as possible," she that lend some students to ask, 'Am I The Women's Issues Committee of article in The Washington Post in said. 1989-90 has compiled a university March, detailing student and faculty Dr. Joanne Pearson, the chairwoman SEXISM page 4 2 • TOE BREEZE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20,1990 Strickler. CONTINUED from page 1 conscious at the time of her death. Therefore it would be impossible for only one man to both restrain Whulock and strike her repeatedly with a rock of that size, he said. Judge Wood sided with the prosecution, saying joint perpetrators can be convicted of the capital murder of one person and that Strickler was in control of the situation from the time of the abduction to the lime of the murder. The question then became whether Strickler should be sentenced to either death or life imprisonment — and Bobbin said although Strickler had eight prior felony convictions, none involved violence. Bobbin called as a witness Dr. Janet Warren, who had performed a psychological evaluation of Strickler. She testified for the defense that Strickler grew up with an alcoholic stepfather who routinely beat and threatened Stickler's mother and caused him to run away repeatedly. She also PHOTOS BY CHRIS TYREE/THE BREEZE said Stickler's father had died mysteriously, and that Strickler had little education. Strickler has an IQ of 74, Warren testified. People with IQs of 70 can be considered mentally retarded, she said. And IQs of 100 are considered average. Tommy David Strickler, (above) Bobbitt then asked for life waves from the window of a holding imprisonment on the grounds of room before his sentencing. Esther Warren's testimony. and Edward Whitlock (left) make Ervin argued Strickler posed a future their way to the courtroom to find danger to society, since he has been the death penalty handed down to involved in crime since age 18. He their daughter's killer. also said the excessive blows to the head used in the crime justified the death penalty. He also reminded the court that witness Donna Kay Maddox Tudor testified in the July trial that Strickler said, "You can't help but feel Supreme Court, which automatically grief is "ill as fresh as it was in had joked with suspect Ronald Lee sympathy for Strickler's past. But it reviews all cases with death penalty Ju....P " Henderson after the crime, talking makes it easy to understand how sentences. But Esther Whitlock accepts that about putting "it" in a rock crusher. something like this could happen." If Strickler uses every chance for Strickler may not be executed for When Tudor asked what "it" was, Wood set the execution date for Dec. appeal, the whole appeal process could another seven to nine years. Strickler told her that "it" "was a 19 at 7 a.m., but the defense was take seven to nine years, Ervin said. "It's the system," she said. "It's up to nigger," according to Ervin. granted a stay of execution to have Esther Whitlock, Leann's mother, Strickler to appeal and the court Before sentencing Strickler, Wood time to File an appeal with the Virginia said, "The punishment was deserved for system to decide." that type of premeditated murder. The Authorities are still investigating a prosecution did an excellent job," she third suspect in the case, an unknown said. blond woman who was reportedly seen "However, today does not provide me with Henderson and Strickler the night with a sense of relief," he said. "The of the murder and near the murder site. RmfcdN22 JameMsknlMwEty To Repress alone, chequered as uuwuh abuses, the world is indebted for all toe triumphs which have been gained by reason and humanity oner error ana oppression " James Madison torrcctions Laurel Wfc*s«*r<*a*)r Jennifer Ross managing editor asa ama&orApalrleher Mdiaal K. Wyrm harness manager business arfjtrMaefMn Johnson Monday's issue of The Breeze Males were identified as members J—MM Powel as business manager asa. business oduorlomSpiii* LacCoctk designedilor sports edUortMX WawaewsM stated that in Spring 1990, tuition of Alpha Kappa Alpha fraternity. Elen Stem graphics editor asa spcraaditorGrttUni surcharges will total $60 for Wendy Warren newseduor nitoruUeduorDmMNoon Alpha Kappa Alpha is a sorority Usa Ctabbi ass news editor osst eduorial eduor Joel Larajay in-state students and $231 for and the males are not members. Card Wley asa newseduor photo aaborChss) Tysss Laura Hutchison k/atyles educr asa pbooadMorVmtm Hunt out-of-state students. In fact, these Also, two males, identified as Christy Mumford asa Msryles editor copy editor Dorian Jaoobson surcharges will be added to tuition playing darts at JM's, were not at David SchMCk at*, eduor production manogerDank Carbomau bills in Spring 1991. JM*s. The band Electric Kool Aid «p Deluca. Alan Neckownz, David WendeHten advisers Monday's issue of The Breeze played at JMs Satuiday only. The The [freeze is published Monday and Thursday mornings and distributed throughout JMU ran improperly identified caption said they had also played Mailing address is Ihe Breeze, Anthony-Seeger I lall, IMi; Harrisonburg. Virginia 22807 photographs on pages 16 and 17. on Friday. i-or advertising call 568-6*96. For ediKaial offices, call 56&3>12X Comments and complaints should be directed to Laurel Wissinger, editor. THE BREEZE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20,1990 »3 Theta Chi house needed $30,000 in repairs KenUmato new building, and secondly, we wanted plumbing fixtures, faucets and drains organization, but there was no stqffwriter to start from zero with that group." • Installation of a new floor in the organization to bill." Over the summer, JMU spent These repairs prepared the house for party room, maid closets and basement JMU doesn't plan to recover any of $29,839 for repairs to what used to be the arrival of Alpha Kappa Lambda bathroom and the Theia Chi house on Greek Row.