,N One hundred nine years ofeditonalfreedom i NEWS: 76-DAILY CLASSIFIED: 764-0557 www.michigandaily.com Wednesday April 5,2000 Y t J 1'1 { ' FC to probe hazing charge By David Enders Daily Staff Reporter The University's Interfraternity Council suspended the campus chap- er of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity last week to investigate hazing allega- tions. "On late Thursday night last week, the IFC voted to temporarily suspend all chapter operations of the ZBT chapter here on campus because of an alleged violation of IFC hazing policy," IFC Vice President of Exter- nal Relations Jerry Mangona said in a written statement. "We want to get to the bottom of his," said Jonathan Yulish, ZBT's executive director. A source from within the Greek system, who wished not to be identi- fied, said the hazing incident occurred less than two weeks ago. The victim had bleach either poured or sprayed on his face dur- ing a line up, where new members of the fraternity were being ver- ally and physically abused by active members, the source said, adding that the victim's burns were treated - but that he received permanent scaring and irreparable skin damage. IFC has taken statements from witnesses, but is currently protecting their identities and declining to release testimony. "No other details regarding the incident will be released to the public until this case s resolved by our judiciary body," Mangona said. ZBT was investigated by national officials earlier this year after par- ents of some prospective fraternity members complained of hazing, but Yulish said no one found substantial proof of the allegations. Alpha Epsilon Pi, another campus fraternity, was disbanded earlier this ear when pledges at that house spoke out about hazing after a pledge was shot in the groin with a BB gun. Carville, Ford to speak on U-S-. By Jeremy W. Peters Daily Staff Reporter Political junkies will find t tooths satisfied this week as profile political events will tainly grab the attention of t just can't seem to get enough Tonight, political consuit Carville will lecture on Amer tics. Friday, former President G will host a conference comm the 25th anniversary of the e involvement in the Vietnam Carville, most notably k guiding President Bill Clint presidential campaign to vic speak free of charge tonight ham Auditorium at 8 p.m. in sity Activities Center sponsor "We're really excited," s Wedlick, chairman of the UA er Initiative. "We've had a to tive reaction to it and we ho will walk away more inform politics," he added. Although tickets for the out since last Thursday, We UAC will try to accommod who arrive 15 to 20 minut Carville takes the stage. "We're trying to fit as ma as we can into the auditorium In addition to serving as consultant for the prime mi Greece and Honduras and the of Brazil and Ecuador, Cary lances as an author and a speec He is married to his poli politics Mary Matalin who headed George Bush's unsuccessful 1992 re-election bid against Clinton. heir sweet Friday's conference on the Vietnam two high War, "After the Fall: Vietnam Plus most cer- Twenty-Five," brings former President hose who and University alum Gerald Ford to CNN. campus as host of a day-long program ant James that will examine the impact of the rican poli- war on American politics. "Rather than rehashing the Viet- erald Ford nam War, what we really wanted to emorating do was bring in those who were nd of U.S. closely involved with it and get War. their impression on how the war nown for affected the government," said Dick on's 1992 Holzhausen, who is coordinating tory, will the event sponsored by the Gerald at Rack- R. Ford Foundation, the Gerald R. a Univer- Ford Library and the University's red event. Ford School of Public Policy. aid Jason The conference, scheduled for C Speak- Friday at 9 a.m. in the Michigan )t of posi- League Ballroom, offers the library pe people the opportunity to release thousands ned about of pages of recently declassified documents relating to U.S. involve- event ran ment in the war - particularly the dlick said war's end and the fall of Saigon [ate those while Ford was president. es before Panelists will include former U.S. senator Eugene McCarthy, who ran for ny people president in 1968 on an anti-war cam- ," he said. paign; Robert Dallek, presidential a political biographer of John F. Kennedy and nisters of Lyndon Johnson; Lawrence Eagle- presidents burger, former Secretary of State ville free- under George Bush; and journalists chwriter. Andrea Mitchell of NBC and Morely tical rival Safer of"60 Minutes." SAM HOLLENSHEAU/Uaily LSA junior Brad Chod of Sigma Alpha Mu and LSA senior David Singer of Beta Theta Pi read parts of a new hazing policy drafted by the University Hazing Task Force last night at the Sigma Delta Tau sorority house. HaigOoic elae By Caitlin Nish Daily Staff Reporter Backing up its promise with quick action, the University Hazing Task Force released a preventative hazing policy yesterday that the task force is recommending to the Greek system. The policy defines hazing as "any action or situation, with or without consent of the participants, which recklessly, intentionally or uninten- tionally endangers the mental, physi- cal or academic health or safety of a student.' It also outlines accountability, procedure and sanctions that could occur if a chapter is found guilty of hazing. Interfraternity Council President Adam Silver said the committee's detailed policy exceeded his expecta- tions. "One of the problems in the past is we've never addressed the issue, it's been the Greek system's dirty little secret," Silver said. "This policy is an integral part in changing the culture of the Greek community," he said. The 15 members of the hazing task force had until the end of the semes- ter to compile a hazing policy. All three branches of the Greek system are expected to vote on the policy when it is presented to them later this week for ratification. "Most important when creating the policy was keeping it centered around self-government and self-enforce- ment," said LSA senior David Singer, co-chair of the taskiforce. "It is important that we show we can take care of ourselves and we will address the problem within our sys- tem without being told to do so," he said. In order to create the policy, the task force looked to the policies of other Big Ten schools. "We selected a bunch of different policies which seemed the most thorough and picked out the loop- holes to make sure that we didn't have those in ours," said Business junior Brad Chod, co-chair of the task force. The policy states that each term an appointed 12-member committee will be appointed will preside over all investigations and hearings regarding hazing that occur throughout the semester. Singer said if the policy is rati- fied, the task force will ensure the confidentiality of students, faculty or parents who alert the force to allegations of hazing through e- mail, a special phone line or a drop box located in the Office of Greek Life. After receiving a tip, the task force will then choose three members with See TASK FORCE, Page 2 Safety of Naked Mile questioned By Caitlin Nish Daily Staff Reporter b yhsuicide facts hi about keep idden The downward spiral While most students are looking forward to the Naked Mile as an annu- al event of crazy naked fun, the admin- istration is gearing up for April 14 as a dangerous night of mayhem and chaos. In response to growing concern for runners in the unendorsed event, the Campus Safety. Commission held a mass meeting last night outlining the safety dangers posed to runners by the crowds of onlookers. "We know that this is an event that begins after Naked 200 helpful, student body," she said. Linn explained to volunteers at the meeting that their ,main focus should be keeping the paths open for the run- ners. The volunteers, who will be wearing "security" T-shirts, will report open intoxicants, groping, violence, rioting and medical problems to site leaders who will communicate via walkie- talkies and cell phones. In his annual letter sent to all seniors, President Lee Bollinger urged students not to participate in the Naked Mile. "From assaults to exces- Mile sive drinking, to hypother- 0 mia, to the exploitations of international pornographers, the list of potential bad -conse- quences is serious, even grave, and becoming more so with each pass- ing year," Bollinger wrote. "Addi- tionally, this is a violation of the law and could result in the arresting of students." While both University administra- tion and the Department of Public Safety are recommending that students stay far from the event, DPS will still attempt to protect the runners. See MILE, Page 2 By Lindsey Alpert Daily StaffReporter As finals week approaches, students may feel more pres- e, anxiety and stress. But although it is often thought that cide rates tend to be higher for college students, especial- ly during final exams, this is a myth. "Suicide is not higher than other young adults that are not in college;' said Cheryl King, an associate professor of psy- chiatry. In fact, the sui-_ cide rate of college Myths about suicide students is actually lower than young U People who commit suicide people of the same always leave a note. age.pAccordingto People talk about suicide only to a collected by U Ther s no risk of suicide after a American person's emotional state improves. Association of Sui- U People commit suicide without cidology in 1997 warning. from coroner * Discussing suicide can cause reports, the suicide someone to take his or her life. rate for 15 to 24 year olds is 13.2 Source: American Association of percent of the pop- Suicidology Website ulation. The suicide w ww.suicidology.org rate of college stu- Ots at 12 large universities was half of this rate. The study also reported that most suicides occur during February, March and October. Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Diane Brown said there have been far more attempts than deaths at the University in the last nine years. "There were 90 attempts from 1991 to 1999, and nine everyone gets drunk and we want to make things safer for everybody," LSA junior Marisa Linn, co-coordi- nator of the Naked Mile Safety group said. Although the fliers posted on cam- pus by Naked Mile Safety advertised a need for "security," DPS spokes- woman Diane Brown said that the stu- dents can be used only as volunteers and not as security guards. "They won't be able to be trained to do security. They will be a volunteer, SAM HOLLENSHEAD/Daily A University employee walks up a spiral of stairs in the LSA building yesterday. Diabetes advocates work toward education By Ahmed Hmaid F'or the Daily When LSA sophomore Dena Stein started a group for students affected by diabetes, she wasn't sure what kind of impact it would have. "When I was thinking about starting this club, I wasn't sure there was a need for it on campus." Stein said. "But now, the response has been out- standing." Stein founded Diabetes Support and Educa- tion, which is sponsoring activities this week to create awareness about the disease. During Diabetes Awareness Week, sponsored by DSE, the 25-member group will aim to reach out to all diabetics at the University and to pro- "The response has been outstanding" - Dena Stein Diabetes Support and Education founder "extreme thirst, frequent urination, extreme fatigue for no reason and unexplained weight loss." Yesterday members handed out ribbons and information on diabetes in Angell Hall. They also setup tables with information in the residence halls. "The most important thing is for people to understand what it is and know what to do in a- i.. r ..I 4