X Baseball/Softball Preview page 9 Ntf"--*»3,tt FEB 1 0 2005 f^^^^ -w^»_v lames Madison University a>M ^k Teaay: Snow showers High: 39 THEIBREEZE^ LiK 25 I'd/. S2. /--". )i Convicted: Tri-Beta Highlawn honors fails to car crash pay taxes victim By COLLEEN SCHORN BY MARIA NOSAL senior writer staff writer Local owners of Highlawn The biology honor soci- Pavilion were convicted last ety Beta Beta Beta wiU offer a Wednesday in Rockingham scholarship in honor of a for- County Circuit Court for fail- mer member who was killed ure to pay state sales and city in a car crash in 2001 meals taxes. Ian Kincheloe was on his way Brenda and Nick Neohtis home for Thanksgiving break in were found guilty of embezzle- 2001 when he was involved in ment in Virginia's first felony the single-car accident conviction for failure to pay sales pfecag Daannoa by CASEY TEMPLETON/«tf p/wograpiwr "I came across this article tax. Sentencing is scheduled for in The Breeze and found out April 1 and each could be sen- about Kincheloe," said junior tenced to up to 20 years in prison Tri-Beta member Gene Wong, or up to a $1500 fine. a student senator. The conviction cov- When Wong contacted ers crimes committed from Kincheloe's family, they prom- January 2002 until March 2004. ised to match whatever funds which totalled $108,000. Tri-Beta raised. Gene Hart, the attorney "When the family found for Nick Neofibs, said thai out we were doing fund raising his client already has plans Cell Watch around the same time as his to appeal. Hart also said that passing, they were in shock and this was the first time the House to decide if minors can drive, call wanted to help," Wong said. embezzlement statue had Through T-shirt sales, Tri- been used in such a case. Beta raised $250 and has pro- BY STEPHANIE STRAUSS they have a headpiece." look young." "Thai is certainty a case that posed a bill asking the Student senior writer Critics of the bill said it was unrea- The Ml also dictates a curfew from will be appealed," Hart said. He sonable to expect police officers to midnight to 4 a.m., except when the Government Association for said this is a tax case and not an A bill passed in the Virginia accurately guess the ages of drivers to minor is responding to an emergency, $500 from contingency. If the embezzlement issue. Although Senate last month will prevent teens identify them as minors. going to or from work or a school-spon- bill passes in the Student Senate. the Commonwealth proved under the age of 18 from talking on sored activity or driving beside a parent Tri-Beta will have raised $750 Highlawn Pavilion. LLC, the cell phones while driving. "I think if they are going to pass a for the scholarship. The total company that owns Highlawn The bill won passage in the Senate -64 law about not talking on cell phones scholarship will be $1,500. Pavilion, failed to pay taxes in a with a vote of 32-7, and will now advance driving, they need to apply "Kincheloe was a model timely manna Hart said Nick to the Virginia House of Delegates. / think if they are going jl .~ O.'"T..... " (....1........ M.,., ■ tutlent who exemplified \eo8tie has done iwhmg wrong Teens violating the law will also be to pass a law about not Aaronson said. "Maybe people under amazing qualities of schol- "The Commonwealth alle- ticketed if they do not wear seatbelts, 18 have more of a chance of causing arship for which we should gations were against Nick and according to the bill. talking on cellphones when an accident than someone older, but all strive," said sophomore Ashley Lakner, Tri-Beta presi- Brenda, but it hadn't proved "V* feel that the teen driver with the the risk is still there for someone older driving, then need to apply dent. 'Tri-Beta would like to they had taken the money for provisional license and a learner's permit too. This is probably a good blU to pass honor him. and have an annu- their personal use," Hart said. should be dedicated to one single act it to everyone. because it will help reduce accidents al scholarship presented to a He said Highlawn Pavilion and that is the awesome lesponsibility of that could have been prevented." - Margot AaTonson deserving Tri-Beta member also is owned by LLC, but only driving a can" said the bin's sponsor Sen. Other students expressed similar freshman who wishes to further (his/ Jay O'Brien, to the Associated Press opinions. "This Is a good idea; it may the Neofittses were brought to her] education in biology." Freshman Emily Nilsen said, "My decrease the number of accidents," court for the charges. Currently, Tri-Beta is work- friend flipped his car while I was on 95 freshman Ashley Alexander said. Since the bar is owned by a ing on an application for the the phone with him and that scared me Sen. William C. Mims said to AP, Freshman Katie Anderson said, "I "mix of corporation and partner- scholarship. The Kincheloe out of using my ceU phone for awhile. "In many municipalities, there are have never actually gotten in an acci- ship," according to Hart Nick family will present the award I'm not sure that they necessarily curfews at midnight... and they apply dent but I have come dangerously Neofitis should not have been with Tri-Beta at the induc- need a law completely outlawing it — only under age 18 and local police close while I was on a cell phone. I feel brought to court personally. tion ceremony in April. The maybe they should allow kids under have to make the determination about it is a little inconvenient though it is Hart also said that at the family will be traveling from 18 to use their phones while driving if whether to stop someone when they better to be safe than convenient." Mountain Top, Pa. see TRIAL, page 3 SG A lobbies student support with new campaign Richmond trip successful, members say Senate un-tables Crew Club bill biU. Students also shared their thoughts on By un-tabling the bill the BY MARIA NOSAL BY MARIA NOSAL the university charter bill. Student Body Senate allowed for money to SGA reporter SGA reporter President Tom Culligan said. be set aside from contingency The Student Government "It was the most successful trip in at The Student Senate to ensure funds are not allo- least the past three years," senior senator approved a motion to un- cated to other groups. This Association is beginning a campaign EVIN SHOAP'Joilor paoKpaphtr titled "JMU Writes, Virginia Listens," Beth Rudolph said. "Everyone was uible a finance bill for Crew motion guaranteed that if the received well by the senators, delegates Gub from October in an administration approves the The science building's renovation* are expressing concerns about issues in the scheduled to begin In 2006. General Assembly. or the aides. It was an enjoyable time and effort to earmark a portion bill, the Crew Club will be able The letter-writing campaign will a great educational of remaining money in the to receive the money because supplement the legislative visit sixteen opportunity for contingency fund. there is only a limited amount students from SGA students took to dis- everyone." A motion was made by the of contingency left. Miller Hall to cuss issues involving higher education The absentee bal- chair of the finance commit- "We are concerned that to with representatives in Richmond. lot reform bill pro- " tee to un-table the Crew Club since we had already passed be renovated The students met with more than 40 posed would allow students to submit finance bill from October. The it and they came to us on a legislator- ,\nd discussed iaausj showing requests for absentee ballots online. bill was tabled by the admin- first come, first serve basis BY CLAY GAYNOR support of a financial aid security bin, Having passed committee review, SGA istration because it proposed that contingency would run contributing writer absentee ballot reform, a proposal for $40 senators are urging students to contact to build a boathouse off cam- out before they get their million budget request to buy Rockingham pus, causing issues with legal Miller Hall will undergo major renovations Memorial Hospital and a weapons policy see Bill., page 3 and personal liability. set SGA. page 3 beginning next year after the departments cur- rently situated there move to new locations. "Miller houses chemistry, physics and geology in facilities that are relatively unchanged since their original construction in Notes at'Night' Alum murder trial selects jury 1972," said JW Myers, assistant vice president Opening nUanmmi began yesterday in of a violent crime. The charges are not for academic resources. "Building systems, Senior Janna Abingdon for the federal trial of a man convict- considered double jeopardy because discipline specific equipment and even basic Sailed, of Note- state and federal sovereignties are under architectural components have substantially Oriety performs ed of muroering two JMU students m 19%. exceeded their useful lives." at the Take Brent Simmons ('96), 32, faces federal different jurisdictions. Back tha Nlght charges and, if found guilty, could receive Simmons was convicted in the mur- Win Hunt director of facilities and con- Beneftt Concert the death penalty. A federal judge m the ders of his ex-girlfriend, Ann Olson, and struction, said after preliminary work is Tuesday night.