The Michigan Daily - Monday, April 30, 2001- 3 $antor sues national fraternity for daughter's death By Maria Sprow Daily News Editor George Cantor, the father of former University student Courtney Cantor, filed a lawsuit in Washtenaw County Circuit Court against the national Phi Delta Theta ternity and several former local mem- bers, alleging the organization played a role in his daughter's death. Courtney died Oct. 16, 1998, after falling from her sixth floor Mary Markley Residence Hall window. She attended a Phi Delta Theta faterity paty the previous night. The lawsuit charges the national fra- ternity and former members for buying and supplying alcohol to minors and serving the illegal drug Gamma- Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB) to guests. "The National Fraternity knew or should have known that its agent and in- house representative, Erik Peterson, pur- posely left the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house and did not enforce the National Fraternity's alcohol-free policy when fra- ternity sponsored social events were being held," states Cantor in his brief. Phi Delta Theta representatives could not be reached. Cantor's attorney, Dale Robinson, said Wednesday that the fra- ternity had not responded to the lawsuit. Courtney's autopsy revealed traces of GHB in her blood, but her blood alcohol level was below the legal limit for intox- ication, leading her father to believe that the drug, which intensifies the effects of alcohol, caused her to fall out the win- dow. Cantor said he believes the GHB was obtained at the fraternity house. An investigation by the Ann Arbor Police Department could not determine how the drink was given to Courtney. "How it got there or where it came from is something that will be determined dur- ing the course of the trial, Robinson said. Cantor said he filed the lawsuit in revoked for violating its no-alcohol poli- order to "make it too expensive for fra- cy. Phi Delta Theta hopes to have its ternities ... to break their promises" to charter reinstated in the near future. the University and their national chap- Cantor said the purpose of the lawsuit ters, referring to the alcohol-free policy was not to stop the fraternity from com- the fraternity violated. ing back to campus. "I rely on the Cantor said he was not satisfied with University to make the best judgment" the actions of the fraternity following the he said. "They've been lied to once." incident. "They continued to manufac- Cantor sued the University for negli- ture phony credentials so they could buy gence last January, maintaining the liquor after my daughter died" University did not provide a safe living The Washtenaw County Prosecutor's environment and had not warned his Office charged 10 of the fraternity mem- daughter about using alcohol and drugs. bers with alcohol-related offenses. The Cantor received $100,000 after negotia- fraternity's charter at the University was tions with the University. Hopwood ceremony honors 'U' writers NAKED MILE: Stopped cold Increased police enforcement led to 12 arrests at the tradi- tional running of the Naked Mile April 17, causing students to protest in the middle of streets and create their own naked runs in the following days. "A couple dozen students actually ran" on April 17, said Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Diane Brown. Many students were stopped by officers while disrobing. Students who did not heed the advice of officers were arrest- ed. Twelve people were arrested for various offenses the night of the Naked Mile, and Brown said DPS officials are seeking arrest warrants for six additional Individuals. Students showed their disapproval of the police presence by yelling obscenities at police officers. The crowd also organized an Impromptu sit-down. Attempts to hold unofficial runs In sub- sequent nights were unsuccessful. At leash five people streaked the night of April 18, Brown said, and offi- cers intercepted a' gathering of more s, than 100 people April r 21 before they could run.L Traugott, officials discws allots to avoid future e By Uzoma Anyanetu partially-punch For the Daily cials to test wh as required in I Following the five-week battle over the presidential elec- Another par tion recount in Florida between then-Gov. George W Bush Multnomah C and Vice President Al Gore, researchers and election officials seminar - het convened at the Michigan League on April 20 to discuss be sent by mail ways to prevent similar problems in the future. ers have twent Department of Communications Chair and elections expert received on or Michael Traugott, the sponsor of the "Election Administation in the election. Er the United States" seminar, opened the discussion by empha- participation, sizing that voting problems in scattered parts of the country can Craig Donsa have a substantially negative impact on the results of major U.S. Departme elections, as the situation last year demonstrated. would be elect "Elections are the most administrative part of a democra- Emphasizing cy," he said, adding that voting discrepancies in small parts of Donsanto caut the country can shake people's faith in the system every- tronic voting s where in the United States. Following th Christopher Thomas, director of elections for the State of various antique Michigan, said the problems that occurred in Florida would resident Dougl likely not happen in Michigan because of voting reforms imple- was the infamo mented after the 1950 gubernatorial election. Michigan, he said, Fla. that many E had l"clear definition" of voting standards that does not accept number of vote Photos by Abby Rosenbaum By Michael Osinsid For the Daly Author Andrea Barrett compared Arctic expeditions to an author's voyage of creativity in her guest lecture at the University's Hopwood Awards ceremony on April 17 at Rackham Auditorium. "The secret to writing," she revealed, "is a lifelong process of exploration.' Barrett detailed scientific ventures to the poles that, while failing in some areas, ended with success in other areas. ;She said the voyage itself is a learning experience, so it is not necessary to know where you are going. Her descriptions of floating aimlessly in Arctic ice gave a message of hope to aspiring writers who might feel adrift intheirliteraryjourneys. This encouragement followed the F#s Jt. siomv, Uo oi presenotatin of the Hopwood Awards, wwwmihgdiy~m monetary prizes given to University stu- dents for their creative use of the English language in fiction, screenplays, essays and poetry. Dozens of students were rec- i S u oognized for their writing, with individual awards ranging from $700 to $6,000. lection flasco s "It's great that the University can sup- port the arts with such generosity," said sed ballots and thus doesn't require election offi- Rackham student Patricia Akhimie, who ether light can be seen through the indentations, was awarded a $2,000 Meader Family Florida with dimpled-chad ballots. Award for her work. ticipant, Vicki Ervin, director of elections for ounty, Ore., brought a unique perspective to the r state is the only one that requires all ballots to . Under the vote-by-mail system in Oregon, vot- y days to return the ballots. All ballots must be FOR WOMEN before - not postmarked before - the date of RADIANCE, LOVE vin said the method has greatly increased voter THURSDAY, MAY especially among teens. nto, director of the election crimes brnch of the FOR MEN ON nt of Justice, said the perfect system of voting THE WAY OF THE tronic but would also leave printed records. PRACTICING THE "the public has to believe the process works FRIDAY, MAY 4, ioned against states hastily implementing elec- BTH WOA ystems, which he said invite fraud. se presentations, audience members could view FOR MEN AN ballots from the private collection of Ann Arbor - SPIRITUAL DYNA as Kelly. One of the ballots that Kelly displayed SATURDAY, MAY us "butterfly ballot" used in Palm Beach County, Democratic voters blame for the disproportionate s going to Reform Partycandida atBuchana. "It's welcome appreciation, but also it's just good money,' said RC senior Daniel Kahn, a $4,000 winner in the drama/screenplay category. Prizes vary from year to year. The Hopwood Awards Program gave out $107,600 last academic year. "It's splen- did to see people rewarded for their work of words, said Prof. Nicholas Delbanco, director of Hopwood Awards Program. Program associate Andrea Beauchamp said the awards are nationally known and are a selling point for prospective writers. Beauchamp pointed out that Arthur Miller came to the University "because he heard he could get paid for writing.' The awards are an important part of the University's efforts to encourage the arts, as well as "one of the oldest and most prestigious writing awards, she said. The Hopwood Awards are bestowed in honor of 1905 University graduate Avery Hopwood, apopular dramatist of his day. He donated one-fifth of his estate to the University to encourage creative writing. The competition is open to students at all three of the University's campuses. Students must also enroll in either of the departments of English Language and Literature or Communication, or in the Residential College for one course in English composition.