-
'Zombie Feeling' Settles Over Campus After Minnesota Bridge Collapse
Tweet Share on Facebook August 3, 2007 CommentWhile the Interstate 35 bridge collapse has wounded the nation, it cut a little deeper for the students at the University of Minnesota. The disaster, only five blocks away from the school's Twin Cities campus, has led the university to provide walk-in counseling and advice for stunned students, reports the Minnesota Daily.
As the days pass, some students are finding the edge wearing off, but certain memories are playing on repeat. One student described it sounding as if "a plane was flying overhead too closely," while the pandemonium reminded one local of the 2003 hockey riots.
The paper highlighted the silent heroism (a bystander directing traffic until help arrived was "just a normal guy with a backpack" telling everyone where to go), but shock and awe suffused the mood. "It was like a zombie feeling," said a nearby bartender. "Everyone was just zoned out." —Jackie Mantey
-
Another Look at the UCLA Taser Incident
Tweet Share on Facebook August 2, 2007 CommentAn independent investigation of the infamous UCLA Taser incident—university police zapped a student after he refused to show his school ID, and a cellphone clip of the incident was posted on YouTube—says the officers violated use-of-force policies and guidelines of office conduct, the Daily Bruin writes.
This probe, launched at the behest of the school's chancellor after students protested the incident, contradicts the original university police report. "Regardless, the level of resistance, even if not strictly or absolutely passive, was not actively or violently aggressive, and the use of the Taser was not justified," according to the independent investigation's analysis.
In January, Mostafa Tabatabainejad filed a civil rights lawsuit against UCLA and university police citing unprovoked police brutality. —Christina Mueller
-
Give Me a L-O-O-P-H-O-L-E?
Tweet Share on Facebook August 2, 2007 Comment (17)We can already hear that stupid "Hey Mickey" song on repeat. A recent decision by the University of Oregon athletic department to invest a pretty penny in a competitive women's cheerleading squad has twisted the spankies of parts of the college sports community, resulting in a war of words via the Oregon Daily Emerald.
Deciding to Bring It On, the sports editor at the newspaper called into question the university's motives. He argued that paying for a sport that had little competition and NCAA recognition was just the school's cheap way of complying with Title IX. The school fought back, saying the sport was cutting edge.
The spirit stick of argument then passed to an alum who blasted the editor, saying cheerleading was a respectable sport and could even generate revenue for the university.
Five days later, a letter to the editor revealed that the alum was in fact a cheerleading coach (bias!) and that the university wasn't best serving its female athletes by choosing a sport that is "usually viewed as sexist and anachronistic." Oh, snap! That's like a squad doing a multilevel pyramid after your measly toe-touch-double-pike combo. —Jackie Mantey
-
Going Once? Twice? Sold! To the Psychic in the Back
Tweet Share on Facebook August 1, 2007 Comment (2)After a two-month whirlwind tour of the world, Northeastern University student Josh Minney was out of money and stranded in Rome. His genius idea? Sell himself on eBay.
Lucky for him, Minney did not end up as centerpiece for a Dateline story on human trafficking. His post, titled "Help! I'm Stuck in Europe," garnered the attention of thousands of potential owners, but the winning bidder was a benevolent Boston psychic, writes the Northeastern News. She paid $935.01 to fly him back to Beantown in exchange for a week's worth of labor in the clairvoyant's psychic tearoom, where he will serve as greeter. She also wants to share her craft with the fun and fancy-free jet-setter. "He's reiki trained," said the psychic, referring to a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation, "so he's got good qualifications for this kind of work." —Christina Mueller and Alison Go
-
Top Five Reasons Why This Ball State Story Is Cool
Tweet Share on Facebook August 1, 2007 CommentDavid Letterman is getting a telecommunications building named after him at Ball State University, his alma mater, class of '70, the Daily News and the Indianapolis Star report. Sorry that we're five short. Couldn't think of more.
5. Letterman is by far the most famous alumni from Ball State. Garfield creator Jim Davis doesn't even come close.
4. "The [school's] board presented [Letterman's mother] with a picture frame with a slide show of digital pictures of the new building." Those newfangled moving pictures sure are neat.
3. He is actually going to Ball State for the building's grand opening, which automatically makes the Midwest 22 percent cooler than usual for the duration of his trip.
2. He was a frat boy in Sigma Chi. Imagine Letterman doing a keg stand 37 years ago. Or right now, for that matter.
1. Letterman's mom was the one who insisted he accept the honor. HIS MOM. That's just adorable. —Alison Go
-
Trail Mix
Tweet Share on Facebook August 1, 2007 Comment*While it's no Captain Planet chasing Sly Sludge, seven armed robberies in the past 10 days have Penn State University, city, and township police teaming up to hunt down the minimart and pizza shop robber, writes the Daily Collegian.
*After an extensive search for an "irreplaceable" 3-foot statue, Delta Chi fraternity brothers at Oregon State University can finally sleep easy. The "art," which was found in a basement, is coming home, reports the Daily Barometer.
*Harvard's endowment lost $350 million in the past month or so, because of some bad investments, the Wall Street Journal reports. Paper Trail's staff of psychics sees tutition hikes in the near future. —Jackie Mantey and Kenneth Terrell