College Clips
Published Oct. 17, 2006
Band kids in trouble for 'semi-nude' dancing
After three days of intense media scrutiny, administrators at the University of Wisconsin released details of its marching band's alleged misconduct during a trip to Ann Arbor, Mich.
The allegations included several hazing incidents. Reports of highly sexualized conversations, semi-nude and "lewd" dancing, and complaints of general discomfort by female members during the weekend trip last month prompted a meeting with the executive assistant to Chancellor John Wiley, the band Director Michael Leckrone and the band members. At an Oct. 10 press conference, Leckrone said he and Wiley might not be seeing eye-to-eye.
"The big difference is that I know these kids pretty well. The chancellor doesn't know them. All he can go by is what happened in the past," Leckrone said.
The university is also investigating accusations that there was inappropriate conduct between a staff member and student on the same trip.
— The Daily Cardinal (University of Wisconsin)
Legal Cocaine available in three states
Although most college students rely on coffee for energy boosts, students in three states — New York, California and Nevada — can now turn to the new Cocaine energy drink.
The drink is the creation of the Las Vegas-based Redux Beverages, which boasts that the Cocaine energy drink is 350 times stronger than Red Bull. The drink contains secret ingredients that are designed to mimic feelings that a cocaine user can feel, such as euphoria and a numbed throat. Several storeowners said they would refuse to stock the drink.
"We would never sell a product whose name carries such a bad stigma. There are enough energy drinks out there, and we are sticking with Red Bull," said Josh Tell, the bar manager at Fat Jack's in Bloomington, Ill. "There is going to be a demand for anything people can't get their hands on, but in time people will forget about this product."
— The Daily Vidette (Illinois State University)
Web site created to report hate crimes
Texas A&M University has devised a Web site called "Stop Hate" that it hopes will help those who wish to report hate crimes committed on campus.
"In the past, people in these situations oftentimes wouldn't know where to turn or to whom to report," said Dean Bresciani, vice president for Student Affairs. "The lack of an established medium usually resulted in failures to report incidents altogether."
Incidents reported online are submitted to the Critical Incident Response Team, as well as the Office of the Vice President and Associative Provost for Diversity. The CIRT is a team of staff members trained to respond to all types of campus emergencies. That team will review the online report and then forward it for response to the appropriate unit within the university.
— The Battalion (Texas A&M University)