College Clips
News from colleges around the nation
Published March 11, 2005
U. Oregon student dies after falling 14 stories
University of Oregon senior Timothy D. Buras, 22, died Saturday night after falling 14 stories down a chimney shaft while visiting a friend at a downtown Portland apartment complex.
Portland Fire and Rescue found Buras buried beneath 3 to 4 feet of ash at the bottom of the chimney shaft in the building's boiler room at 11:55 p.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators believe Buras climbed to the chimney area and stepped onto the covered shaft, The Associated Press reported.
"There was a ladder leading up to it that was blocked off," said A.J. Jackson, a spokeswoman with the Portland Fire Bureau. "Somehow they took extraordinary measures on their own to get up there, which basically means they were someplace they weren't supposed to be."
— Oregon Daily Emerald (U. Oregon)
''''''''¹"Å"Â"Dynamite' characters get write-in votes in Kansas State U. elections
"Pedro" received some votes for both student body president and vice president at Kansas State University.
Signs and sidewalk chalk messages around campus contain the message "Vote for Pedro." The message comes from the 2004 film "Napoleon Dynamite."
Pedro Leite, assistant professor for computer systems technology, received nine votes for president and two for vice president with various running mates.
"I was surprised," he said. "I don't even know who my running mates are."
Leite said he didn't know why he received the votes at first, but he's seen the movie.
Rob Caffey, director of mediated education, said when students want to write in a candidate, the voting program brings up a search.
Leite said he is a graduate student, but he isn't taking any classes. He's doing research work, so he is an enrolled student.
Caffey said he is not concerned about the votes for Pedro affecting the election.
— Kansas State Collegian (Kansas State U.)
Web site appeals to vulgar
side of users
It's cruel. It's malicious. But apparently, it's real life.
Catch27.com is a way to meet people online, but unlike other Web sites, Catch 27 wants to know how its users lost their virginity and how many hearts they've broken. And the masterminds behind the project want the stories to be as vulgar as possible.
Lindsay Johnson, campus spokeswoman for Catch27.com, said the Web site mirrors society.
"In reality, all of these stereotypes exist, so it's just kind of a snub-in-the-face of how your social life works," Johnson said. "Just saying, ''''''''¹"Å"Â"You know what? They exist. They're out there. Embrace it.'"
Catch 27 is limited to people 18 and older, but there is no maximum age limit. Johnson said its users are primarily college students and young professionals.
Johnson said the Web site is meant to be a joke about social lives.
— Daily Lobo (U. New Mexico)