Miami Hurricane, September 12, 1975

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Four RA's Dismissed For Smoking Grass
Students met with administrators yesterday to discuss the situation.
Hill Claims Violations Of Students' Rights
"This is a staff matter and student rights are not applicable in this case."
—Area Coordinator Bill Bell
"These students were drilled until two of them confessed and at no time were their student rights ever read to them."
—USBG President Aubin Hill
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Four students employed as Resident Assistants (RA s) at Mahoney-Pearson Hall were dismissed from their |obs Tuesday evening by Area Coordinator Bill Bell He accused them ot smoking mari|uana in a dormitory room while one ol them was on weekend duty
Scott Amsel, Rich Ruberti, George Sossi and llleno Tombank said in a press conference that their rights had been violated An appeal to Dr Nick Gannett, the dean of students, is scheduled for today
This wasn t a bust, explained Residence Halls Director James Grimm Someone reported that the four RA's had violated university policy and when asked about it they said yes '
Undergraduate Student Body Government (USBG) President Aubin Hill said the RA's were "in terrogated by Bell without letting them know they had a right to remain silent
"I'm concerned that the area coordinator (Bill Bell) is basing his decision on hearsay and not on proof because these RA's were not caught smoking or possessing maniuana Hill said
According to Tombank afresh man girl told her RA in con fidence that she had been smok mg mari|uana with some RA s Fri day night
Students Stiff Waiting For Housing
LYNN SEQAL
Hurricane Writer
Of the original 192 overflow students. 34 remain without permanent housing
Housing Director James Grimm said he is more than satisfied that the number of students forced to stay m motels is diminishing at this rate
"I'm really pleased that it's been as quick as it has," Grimm said
He said the problem wasn't expected to be handled until October. but the number of "no shows' was double that of last year
This yea' 100 students reserved rooms and paid their money, but did not show up This space was utilized for the placement of some of the overflow students
Grimm hopes to have the final group settled within the next week "I don't know if we did a bad thing by accepting all of these students," Grimm said, “but I don't like to see qualified students turned down by admissions because of a housing shortage "Furthermore. UM is a private school and its budget depends upon the number of students
Library Fund Started In Memory Of Son
A fund has been established in memory ot UM student Lynn (Barney) Clarke III by his parents. Lynn and Mildred Clarke
The Barney Clarke Memorial Fund will be used to purchase books and related library materials and services most in need by UM undergraduate students
"It occurred to me that I wanted to do something more for the students — not |ust have the usual flowers sent. Clarke said
He said over 100 contributions have already been made to the fund
Barney Clarke died in a drowning accident in August while visiting friends m California He was a junior maioring in communications
His father is director of governmental relations at UM and his mother is a learning disabilities teacher in the Dade County Public School System
They have contributed a personal check to the fund and according to Clarke, will continue to do s9 during the months and years ahead."
A memorial service is planned for Sunday morning at 10 30 at the St Augustine Church in UM's Catholic Student s Center It was arranged by students that he had worked with at the Rathskeller
Funeral services were in St Patrick's Roman Catholic Church in Largo. Fla , followed by burial In
the Clarke family plot at the Calvary Cemetery in St Petersburg
enrolled "
He said the students affected were all late registrants
Most students didn t mind the inconvenience because they had color t v a swimming pool, maid service and fully furnished rooms he said
The only complaint I've heard has been about the distance of the hotel rooms from classes and other UM activities
The temporary inconvenience to the student is far less of an inconvenience than having to Choose another school or start classes in January "
Grimm said the three establishments involved. University Inn, Holiday Inn and Howard Johnson's, didn't seem to mind the overflow
"They appreciate the customers, although UM was given reduced rates." he said
In Grimm's opinion the students
have been handling themselves well No damages or complaints have been reported No housing shortages are ex pected in January
False Alarm
We have always had more space than students in the second semester," Grimm said, "but I think a lot will depend on what happens to our economy
Student 'Kidnapped'
The reported kidnapping of an 18-year-old UM freshman turned out to be a hoax
On Wednesday at 1125 am Mrs Gerald Whitney received a phone call from a man who said her son had been kidnapped Which one? Mrs Whitney asked
The eldest the man replied referring to her son Wilfred He told her to put $500 in a brown paper bag and to leave it in the cannon in front ot an Oyster House
He did not give any further instructions, but added he would pick up the money that night
Mrs Whitney, a resident of Florida City immediately called UM and a security check located Whitney in one of his classes
He was questioned by Security and said he knew nothing of the kidnapping
Ten Law School Acceptance Letters Mailed Out Through Clerical Error
VICTORIA SIMON
Hurricane Writer
Almost 400 aspiring lawyers enjoyed the triumph of UM Law School acceptance letters last April But for 10 recipients a clerical blunder quickly transformed dreams-come-true into an applicants nightmare Awaiting further notification from the Law School, the 10 applicants discovered that they had in fact been rejected and their acceptance letters had been mailed in error
l am at a loss to know how this could have happened " said Assistant Law School Dean. Jeannette Hausler, adding that a clerk apparently inserted the wrong letters in the envelopes "Blank acceptance forms were picked up from a tray next to the rejection letters," Hausler explained
Immediate apologies from the Law School, accompanied by rejection letters, provided little solace to the disappointed candidates
"There is no way a reasonable person could interpret the letter as a valid offer."
This has been a very defeating experience but I have not given up." said Manuel Nunez, one of the applicants, a social worker in the Dade Human Resources Division When Nunez read a news report of a similar situation in which Princeton University made good on two erroneous acceptances, he again contacted the Law School requesting that they reconsider their decision
Hausler disclaimed the precedent however because, unlike UM s Law School letter, the Prin-
Jeannette Hausler
ceton acceptances had included an individual salutation and a per sonal signature
Advice from several professors confirmed her opinion that the acceptances were not legally bind mg
“There is no way a reasonable person could interpret the letter as a valid offer Hausler said
According to Nunez, "The only defect in the letter was the missing salutation but it was signed with the printed signature of Law School Dean Soia Mentschikoff
Nunez said he was advised to retake the l SA T and was promis ed he would receive further notification by September 1 He is still waiting "I don t know whether to keep trying or to start looking for some thing new Nunez said I really won t be able to decide on any thing until the University makes a decision
Another applicant now enrolled in law school elsewhere who re quested that her name not be disclosed described her reactions "I was devastated I thought this was the end of the world she said
An A student in high school and college she was told that her LSAT scores although above minimum requirements were too low and that her file could not be reviewed
Neither she nor Nunez initially suspected that the letter was a mistake despite omissions
According to Hausler, no legal action has been threatened by any of the applicants
Tho freshman girl, Jill Zenker, had been written up the week before for smoking marijuana, Tombank explained, and she wanted her RA to be a little more lenient next time since smoking pot was not all that bad
Students are told that they can discuss anything with their RA's in private and yet look at what has happened
Later that day. Tombank said that the RA the trosh girl had spoken to "in confidence went to Graduate Assistant Jack Gibbons to ask him it a private meeting could be arranged to wain the four RA's that they should not smoke marl)uana In the dorms anymore Tho next day the freshman girl was called down to Bell's office to meet with Bell and Gibbons Relia ble sources said the girl did not know the names of all the RA's involved and had to give a physical description of two of the four Sources said more people were present in the room but the girl only was able to remember four fJresident Hill said Bell did not warn Zenker that "she had the right as a student not to answer questions concerning the smoking of marijuana which could lead to disciplinary action against her "
1 was not going to use the infor mation to file charges against the girl so I saw no reason to read her the rights Bell explained No charges have been filed against Zenkor
In a lettor to Dean Gennett, the four RA s explained that Tombank was also not warned by Bell of her right not to say anything about smoking marijuana which could lead to disciplinary action against her The throe male RA s refused to answer questions when they were interrogated by Bell
This is a staff matter and student rights are not applicable in this case Bell said Hill contends that the RA Is a student first and page 15, paragraph B of the Students Rights and Responsibilities Handbook is applicable
These students wore drilled until two of them confessed and at no time wore their student rights ever road to them Hill said
That's not true said Bell. "I did not drill any of them or use any Gestapo tactics
I had more than enough evidence to base my decision on An RA at Mahoney not involved in tho controversy, said he has been ridiculed by the students on his floor ever since they heard four RA's were caught smoking pot
But I'm glad they were fired, said the RA who requested his name to be withheld, It will make my |ob a lot easier since the students now realize that nobody is above the rules and regulations
Meanwhile petitions are being circulated around the dorms ask mg re instatement of tho four
It will be up to Dean Gennett to make the final decision in this
case
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V VUIIH z	J.
SAGA		page 2
Bulletin	
Board		.page 2
Sharks		.page 3
Mr*. G		.page 4
Letters		.page 5
Beach Boys.	.page 6
Weekend		page 7
Sports	
Building...	page 8
Classifieds..	.page 10
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