James Madison University MONDAY APRIL 19,1993 VOL 70, NO. 49 King civil rights jury convicts two officers LA.Times, Washington Post verdict. "The difference between the two cases is that there was a riot and a news service national controversy after Simi Two Los Angeles police officers Valley," he said. were found guilty Saturday of Dr. Robert Roberts, JMU associate violating Rodney King's civil rights, professor of political science, said, and a sense of relief immediately fell "There were three possible scenarios: over a city traumatized by violence a a hung jury, no one found guilty was year ago. very unlikely, and a split decision. It Sgt. Stacey Koon, the officer in made sense as far as finding a charge, and officer Laurence Powell, consensus on the jury." who issued most of the blows with his Roberts also said that the jury's baton in the original incident of decision couldn't be second-guessed King's beating, almost two years ago, unless one had sat through the entire were convicted after 40 hours of jury proceeding, and said that the jury had deliberation. come up with a "rational conclusion." Officer Theodore Briseno, who had Other JMU reaction to the verdict attempted to restrain Powell at one was similar to the nationwide feeling point during the beating, and Timothy of relief, but concern was over the fact Wind were acquitted by the jury of that Briseno and Wind were acquitted. eight men and four women. Two "Some say 'half justice is better jurors are black. than no justice,'" said Verta Maloney, All four officers are white. King is president of the Black Student black, but government prosecutors Alliance. "But I can't personally say avoided alleging that there was any that full justice was met. racial motivation for the beating. "I don't see how you can come up Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven D. with a verdict of not guilty when the Clymcr said in his closing statements videotape clearly shows what that the officers had administered happened," she said. "street justice'' to restrain King. U.S. District Judge John G. Davies The same defendants were set sentencing for August 4, after acquitted last April 29 on 10 of 11 rejecting a proposal by Clymer to have MELISSA CAMPBELL/THE BREE2E state charges by a Simi Valley jury it in early July. Davies refused the that included no blacks. proposal because it could coincide 'Prophet Daniel' Defense attorney Harland Braun, with the beginning of the July 14 trial Last Wednesday a visiting 'prophet' and his wife who represented Briseno, said that the preached to over one hundred onlookers on the commons. riots had played a major role in the KING page 2 INSIDE Freshman Seminar surveys returned Sun worshipers beware with support to keep but change class Skin cancer can affect anyone at any age/11 by Christie Breen and students in regard to the Freshman Seminar." staffwriter The questionnaire was returned by 1,797 students, Get on out. 217 faculty members, 23 department heads and three Local clubs provide Change is expected for the Freshman Seminar deans, and asked participants to rate the clarity of the alternative to college course, according to a recent survey of deans, course's goals, how rewarding it is for those scene/19 department heads, faculty and students designed by involved and whether the course should be Outstanding! the Freshman Seminar Coordinating Committee. continued. JMU freshman Meredith Eighty-eight percent of students, 87 percent of Only 23 percent of faculty respondents said they Jamieson was named Most department heads, 94 percent of faculty and 100 believe that Freshman Seminar is the cornerstone of Outstanding Performer at the percent of deans who returned the survey said they the Liberal Studies program, which had been the CAA Women's team's believe the seminar needs either modification or initial purpose of the course. championships /23 elimination, the survey reported. Many faculty members stressed the need for The eight-person Freshman Seminar Coordinating greater administrative support for professors who INDEX Committee was formed last semester by Or. Bethany teach the seminar as well as improved conditions for Oberst, vice president for academic affairs and Dr. the classes. Campus 3 Arts 19 Violet Allain, director of the Madison Institute. "If there is going to be Freshman Seminar, the World 7 Sports 23 "The purpose [of the survey] was to review and administration should support it . financially Focus On 11 Humor 29 evaluate the Freshman Seminar," said Dr. David spatially, and not at the detriment of other programs Opinion 14 Classifieds 30 Zimmerman, associate vice president for academic affairs. "We needed to get the mood of the faculty SEMINAR page 2 2 • THE BREEZE MONLW, APRIL 19,1993 King. CONTINUED/*™ w« 7 of three defendants accused of beating truck driver Reginald O. Denny during the riots. After last year's unexpected verdicts, riots were touched off resulting in S3 deaths and nearly $1 billion in property damage. But Saturday was reported as being peaceful. "I think the sense of relief came as a result of the damage that had been done to the community," Maloney said. She said the media made riots seem inevitable. "It's a shame how it was aired. It sent out a message that people in that socioeconomic situation would automatically react that way." The jurors, who have been sequestered since opening statements February 25 and had deliberated for a week, told Davies Friday afternoon that they "Some say 'half justice is better than no justice. But I can't personally say that full justice was met." CRAIC NEWMAN/THE BREEZE Verta Maloney Just chillin' president, Black Student Alliance Competitors and spectators weathered the cold wind at Saturday's JMU Invitational track and field meet at Bridgeforth Stadium. See story, page 25. had reached unanimous verdicts. Davies held the verdict until Saturday morning to allow for advance warning and further mobilization of police forces. Koon and Powell could receive prison sentences of up to 10 years and fines of $250,000. Davies Seminar. allowed them to remain free on $5,000 bail. CONTINUED from page 1 should be included in their report to Oberst planned Koon had been the only defendant to take the for mid-May. stand in the federal trial, and had testified that he within the university," said one professor in the "There will be changes," Zimmerman said. "It is took "full responsibility" for all of the officers' survey. The surveys were filled out anonymously. an ongoing subject with the Freshman Seminar actions, which he insisted fully complied with Los Students expressed a wide range of concerns in Coordinating Committee. Changes are continually Angeles Police Department policy. their written evaluations of the seminar. High on considered." As the verdicts were read, Briseno was the most their list of recommendations was to screen and train Scott Surovell, administrative vice president of the emotional of the four officers, and Braun said that he prospective seminar professors. Another popular Student Government Association is also on the was crying because "he believed to the depth of his request was for more multiculturalism within the Coordinating Committee and was not surprised by soul that [Koon and Powell] were innocent" seminar, whereby literature of more diverse races the outcome of the survey. Koon, Powell and Briseno now face a hearing and backgrounds would be studied. Surovell said he believes "students need to be before the LAPD Board of Rights to determine Some deans said they believe the Freshman more aware of the goals and purpose of the seminar. eligibility for back pay or reinstatement The officers Seminar is beneficial because it links disciplines and . the goals themselves need to be focused and have been suspended without pay since the incident. promotes critical thinking. broken down." Wind was fired immediately following the incident Problem areas such as inconsistent assignments According to Zimmerman, the initial purpose of "It wouldn't surprise me if they were reinstated," and faculty leaving their discipline were on the the Freshman Seminar Coordinating Committee was Maloney said. "They're saying that this is an isolated deans' list of things that needed attention. to designate the objectives of the Freshman Seminar incident, and that's what they would like you to The deans made several recommendations to cure and look into questions that had been raised believe. But police brutality of this nature happens what they believe ails the seminar. regarding the consistency of assignments given in all the time." Improvements suggested by deans included the each section. It is unlikely that Briseno, who has now been use of junior faculty, large lectures and small The committee has already discussed using a acquitted twice, will ever work as a street officer discussion groups, and relating topics to current thematic approach in the seminar, so that each again, according to his lawyer. Wind told reporters issues. professor would need to cover at least four major he has not found work since he was fired. "Everyone agrees that there need to be some themes over the course of the semester. King testified as a prosecution witness after not changes," Zimmerman said. "Of course, they will have the freedom to add being called at all during the Simi Valley trial, and "You can look at the results a number of ways," their own aspects to the course," Zimmerman said. now has a multi-million dollar civil suit pending he said. "The results were pretty much as expected." Changes in the structure of the Freshman Seminar against the city of Los Angeles. The committee will meet today to discuss the will come after the committee meets with Oberst, —Drew van Esselstyn contributed to this article.