Miami Hurricane, August 28, 1998

              What was Hot & Not so Hot
this Summer
ACCENT page8
Santos turns down Dodgers returns to UM SPORTS page6
Volume 76, Number 1	WWW.HURRICANE.MIAMI.EDU	Friday, August 28,1998
State seeks death penalty
By KELLY RUANE Hurricane Senior Reporter The trial of Lahrant Deshawn Dennis, accused of the 19% on-campus murder of Hurricane linebacker Marlin Barnes and friend Timwanika Lumpkins, begins Sept.
Dennis, who shares a five-year-
BARNES
old child with Lumpkins, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of armed burglary with assault and one count of criminal mischief. The state is seeking the death penalty for the murder
counts.
The road to trial has been complicated by delayed by both the prosecution and Dennis’ defense attorney, Ronald Guralnick. Dennis has been in jail since May of 1996.
Guralnick said he feels his client has been treated unfairly.
“He’s been incarcerated for [almost] three years for a crime he didn’t commit.” Guralnick said
Assistant State Attorney Flora
Seff declined comment on the case.
“Any statement I make is what 1 will say in court," Seff said.
The University issued the following statement about the trial:
“This was a tragic occurrence for the University and we are confident that the criminal justice system will bnng this matter to a conclusion.” said Dan Kalmanson, head of University media relations.
The State Attorney’s Office postponed the Dennis trial until the end of another priority case. Then when the state became ready for trial, Guralnick had to finish a priority trial of his own before concentrating on Dennis’s defense.
Guralnick then filed a motion to dismiss the case because of what he claimed is inappropriate conduct on the part of the prosecution. That motion prompted Circuit Court Judge Victoria Platzer to step down from the case.
Guralnick argued that the Dennis case should be thrown out of court, alleging that Assistant State Attorney Michael Von Zamft had gone behind his back and spoken to Platzer about delaying a specially-set trial date in July. Platzer stepped down because Von Zamft made his request, on his and Seff's behalf, while Guralnick was not present.
Kappa Sigma gets house; ATO leaves
By KELLY RUANE Hurricane Senior Reporter
Students looking to Rush at the University of Miami have fewer options to choose from this year.
Both Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and Gamma Phi Beta sorority left the University of Miami due to lack of membership, allowing Kappa Sigma to move into the former ATO house.
The brothers at Kappa Sigma are excited about moving in, fraternity president Mike Bolooki said.
“I think it’s definitely a boost,” he said. “We’ve already seen it with the guys moving in, a totally positive effect.”
"It’s really great for their chapter,” said Dan Hart, president of the Interfraternity Council. That’s exciting for them.”
Bolooki said he was disappointed to see ATO leave the University.
“1 wouldn’t say it’s a profound negative effect,” Bolooki said. “It brings the morale of the whole greek system down a little bit, but it’s not a totally negative thing.”
Hart said ATO’s departure will benefit the fraternity in the long run.
“It’s really good for them because they have time to restructure. 1 think their national [chapter] is trying to change the organization overall,” Hart said. “It’s a positive thing if you look at longterm rather than concentrating on short-term.”
There were no ATO brothers on the executive board of the IFC, Hart said.
Associate Dean of Students Greg Singleton said Kappa Sigma’s Housing Corporation is leasing the house from Alpha Tau Omega Housing Corporation for three years.
He also said ATO can reapply for active status at the University after five years.
“So far that hasn’t even been discussed," Singleton said. “That doesn’t guarantee either that they will be approved by the University.”
When ATO relinquished its charter to its national fraternity, the fraternity house at 1531 Liguria Ave., became vacant. The brothers of Kappa Sigma are now living in the house.
"The three-year lease is negotiable [at the end] for either purchase or for an additional time of lease,” Singleton said. “That’s at the discretion of the ATO Housing Corporation "
Singleton said ATO Housing Corporation considered other fraternities for the lease before choosing Kappa Sigma.
The Panhellenic Building that once housed Kappa Sigma and Gamma Phi Beta now has two vacancies, which Singleton said the University is trying to fill with a new fraternity and sorority. Singleton said the sorority expansion involves approval from the National Panhellenic Association.
“We’re looking at a fraternity that left campus previously and could reapply starting in 1997,” Singleton said. “Nothing has been finalized.”
Singleton said despite the decrease in options. Rush seems to be successful this year.
“We sent out mailings over the summer and the response has doubled,’’ Singleton said.
All members of ATO and Gamma Phi Beta who are still students at the University have been granted alumni status from the national chapters of their organizations.
Circuit Court Judge Manny Crespo took over the case which will begin without fail on Sept. 8. Crespo denied Guralnick's motion to dismiss, citing a lack of legal precedent for granting a dismissal. Guralnick later filed complaints with the Florida Bar against Von Zamft and Seff.
Guralnick said even though he is “disappointed” that Crespo denied his motion to dismiss, he is ready for trial.
Both the prosecution and defense anticipate a trial of at least a few weeks.
The murders in Barnes’ on-campus apartment shook the campus and the football team.
At approximately 7:30 a m. on the morning of Apnl 13, 19%, UM defensive hack Earl Little came home to Apartment 36-C, which he shared with linebacker Ray Lewis, running back Trent Jones and Barnes.
Little found the tires slashed on his Ford Explorer, which Bames borrowed the night before to dpve to a party at the South Beach nightclub Salvation. Friends said they last saw Bames, a UM junior, at 4 a.m. with Lumpkins at Salvation. Bames, who celebrated his 22nd birthday the weekend before, was at a party
thrown by former Miami Dolphin Louis Oliver.
Little tried to open the apartment's front door, but could not. He called police when he saw blood on the floor. Wlien police forced entry into the apartment, they discovered the beaten bodies. Bames was dead on the scene, his 216-pound body slumped against the front Joor. Little later recalled that Bames. his lifelong best friend and roommate, called out for Little as he lay dying.
Lumpkins was still alive in a bed room. She was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center, where she died shortly after. Both victims died from blunt trauma to their torsos.
Police immediately -ran a background check on Lumpkins to find out if any men had reason to be jealous of Bames.
Dennis, her ex-boyfriend, was not a suspect at the time, although later there were reports that Lumpkins had wanted to take out a restraining order against him.
Police arrested Dennis in late Apnl of 19%, after receiving an anonymous tip from Crime Stoppers of Miami-Dade County. That tip led to witnesses and evidence, including a shotgun police found in a drainage culvert off 1-95 and N.W. 151 Street.
Dennis allegedly bludgeoned Bames and Lumpkins with the gun.
At a press conference following the arrests. University President Edward T. Foote II said the arrest brought “closure" to the campus after a month of shock and sadness.
Following the double homicide, the University doubled the number of on-campus police officers and increased the number of officers on bicycle patrol. Private security guards were placed in UM residential colleges.
The Bames family, however, said the University acted too late. The family sued UM, citing a lack of security on campus. The suit also alleged that there had been a recent rash of crime in and around the Apartment Area before the murders. The University settled lawsuits with both families in December of 19%, for $1.9 million each.
The family is still recovering from the loss of Bames. His mother, Charlie Mae Postell, still visits her son’s grave every day.
As Dennis sat in jail on the one-year anniversary of the murders, April 13, 1997, students, family and friends gathered outside 36-C, then vacant They lit candles and circled the building three times, remembering Bames and Lumpkins.
Many of those in attendance were children, whom Bames worked with as part of the Right Trac program, a community involvement program for inner city children. One of Barnes' responsibilities was coaching one of the Right Trac football teams, with Little and former University of Florida safety Lawrence Wright, another life long friend, as rival coaches. At Bames’ memorial service, Little laughed as he recalled that while other coaches were naming their teams the Hurricanes and the Gators, Bames called his team the “Liberty City G’s."
Bames, whom friends and family affectionately called "Red,” had a promising future as a linebacker at UM. Football coaches said Bames. who wore No. 56, had excelled in spring training and that he had a chance to start the next season.
Instead, at the home opener at the Orange Bowl, a banner reminded the crowd of the loss of Bames, and Hurricane teammate Robert Woodus, who was killed in the 19% ValuJet crash: “Starters in Heaven.”
Hurricane staff reports contributed to the story
Orientation focuses on tradition
By CHRIS SOBEL Assistant News Editor
Record numbers turned out for orientation events designed to introduce new students to University of Miami traditions, said Renee Dickens Callan, Director of Orientation.
The President’s Picnic featured performances by The Miami Hurricane Ch Headers and Sunsations, a calypso band, and Foote’s welcome speech to new students.
“The spirit and participation is definitely coming back to UM with the class of 2002,” said Ileana Espinosa, an Orientation coordinator.
“There seems to be a great deal of spirit with the new freshmen, and we’re excited to see where it will go in terms of future student leaders and involvement in student organizations, as well as continued academic success for students,” said Patricia Whitely, vice president for Student Affairs.
Other Orientation events included ‘Cane Kick Off, a barbecue cosponsored by the greeks, and seminars on various UM-related topics.
“We re trying to get students to see the rich tradition UM has,” said Renee Dickens Callan, Student Activities director.
‘Cane Kick-Off featured motivational speaker Mike DeRosa, who recently turned his motivational program into a business called Smile and Think, Inc., in Boca Raton. This was his eighth year at the event, meaning he’s now gone through two full cycles of students.
Commuter students this year got a head start on Welcome Week activities by meeting with their Orientation assistants Saturday afternoon. They were treated to a seminar called “Just Park It!” and a free dinner at the Rathskeller before campus residents met their OAs.
“[We’ve] gotten so many compliments from parents saying that the
commuter program is doing a really good job," said Dickens Cailan.
Organizers also said commuter participation was the highest ever during Welcome Week ‘98.
Dickens Callan said the design on the Orientation staff’s T-shirts this year featured a torch, symbolizing the passing of tradition to the new students.
UM tradition was also the focus of one new seminar. Based on one of UM’s slogans, “I bleed green and orange," seen on merchandise from bumper stickers to football pendants. the seminar was titled “We All Bleed Orange and Green: Traditions at UM” and aimed to keep this year’s freshman class of some of UM’s many traditions.
Toward the close of the student picnic. Fire Rescue was called after a waiter collapsed and suffered head injuries from an epileptic seizure, according to Lee Rapport, director of retail opera'ions for Chartwell’s, the campus dining service.
Students watched as rescuers
Chris Sobel / Assitant News Edita
ORIENTATION ‘98:
Students enjoy themselves at the President’s Picnic and check out student groups at the Invovlement Fair.
hooked the waiter up to an IV, placed him on a stretcher and earned him off in a fire-rescue vehicle,
“It’s a terrible shame but the good news is that he’s going go be fine, according to the doctor,” Foote said.
Miami's infamous heat raged full-force all week, with temperatures reaching the mid-nineties Tuesday, forcing the work staff to push extra hard to cater to the overwhelming number of students who showed up for the picnic—more than 1,300 by some estimates.
“1 think people understand that accidents happen,” said Mickey Marrero, Orientation program coordinator.
C/5 ■ UM HAS NEW $6 MILLION IX. PARTNERSHIP
Computer Associates International Inc. and the University of Miami announced a $6 million partnership that provides students with hands-on
information technology experience. CA will provide state of the art operating systems, software, computer equipment and student internships to the University.
The initiative addresses the challenge faced by
today’s technology companies to meet the large demand for qualified and knowledgeable information technology professionals.
■ ISRAELI FILM SERIES
Matinees added to Israeli Film Series The 4th Miami Israeli Film Series has expanded to include Sunday matinee showings along with the Thursday evening screen-
ings. All showings are at the Cosford Cinema at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. “We had a lot of requests from people who live too far away to make evening shows and from those who don’t drive at
night,” said film series administrator Norma Salz. “The matinee will accommodate their needs.” The series showcases five outstanding contemporary Israeli films, one each month from November See BRIEFS Page 2