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Rash of fire alarms hits high-rise dorms
By MELISSA JORDAN
Red and Black Suff Writer
The recent rash of fire alarms in three of the
University's high-rise dorms — caused both by
mechanical bugs and student pranks — may be
causing some residents to lose faith in the new
fire alarm system, some University officials
fear.
The fire alarm system is part of a (390,000
renovation of the fire safety facilities in the
dorms.
Since March 29, six false alarms have been
reported to the Clarke County Fire Department.
Four alarms were reported in Russell Hall,
three of which were listed as mechanical
failures. The fourth alarm in Russell and one
each in Crewsell and Brumby have been
classified as “maliciously false."
Renovation of the fire safety system began
last summer after the Board of Regents
authorized a special allocation to upgrade the
facilities after an investigation showed the
system was inadequate.
The regents’ allocation also provided for the
installation of new fire doors, smoke and heat
detectors and emergency lighting and fire
lanes.
The regents do not normally provide funds to
the housing department because it generates its
own money through housing fees
"The decision to put them in was brought
about mainly by publicity,” said Bob Huss,
assistant housing director "A legislative sub
committee's fire safety investigation and some
publicity prompted the Installation of the
system We didn't Just say, 'hey, why don't we
Install these new fire alarms in the dorms.""
Huss said the malfunctions are being cor
rected by the electrical contractors and the
makers of the system’s control unit
"They’re still trying to straighten out the
system. It will take some time, but we'll have It
worked out as soon as possible," Huss said.
Students have set off the alarms both acciden
tally and intentionally, officials said. An alarm
in Russell Hall was set off by students lighting
firecrackers, and a Brumby alarm went off
when a student burned food she was cooking.
Huss said.
"We've had several calls to Russell Hall at 2
or 3 a m. that were written up as malicious false
alarms The students just pulled the alarms and
set them off," Clarke County Fire Marshal
Johnny Pritchett said.
Huss said the housing department is trying to
keep the number of alarms under control
because they are causing much student con
cern. "I'm sure the students are angry about be
ing awakened early in the morning, and I don't
blame them," he said.
Each time an alarm goes off all dorm
residents are required to evacuate their rooms.
However, because so many false alarms have
occurred, housing employees fear that students
may remain in their rooms when the alarms
sound.
Byron Finch, resident Life Coordinator for
Russell Hall, said, "The fire alarms are
definitely becoming a problem. The students
are starting to think that they're not serious. We
are looking at a number of ways to Increase stu
dent awareness and keep students from abusing
the equipment that is there.”
Russell Hall resident Jeff Jones said, "The
alarms go off Just for a minute, and we all run
out In the halls, then they stop and everyone
goes back In their rooms Then they go off again
— you Just don't know what’s going on.
"One morning I thought it was my alarm
clock, so I pressed the snooze button but it kept
on buzzing. When my head started vibrating I
realized it was the fire alarm, so I got up and
ran out again. It's a real pain In the butt," Jones
said.
“It's like the boy who cried wolf. The fire
department Is going to get tired of coming over
here every night One day the building's going to
catch fire and they'll say, 'Oh, It's just those
Russell Hall people, don’t worry about it.' Then
we're all going to burn,” Jones added
One Russell Hall resident, who asked not to be
identified, said, “I've Just started locking the
door to my room so the R.A. won't know I'm in
here, and hiding in my closet until the stupid fire
alarms are over. There's a $50 fine for staying in
your room, but you have to get some sleep
somehow."
The history of the fire alarm system itself is a
major source of problems. Brumby Hall Resi
dent Life Coordinator Deb Collins said. Since
about 60 percent of the students In Brumby are
freshmen, they are not aware of last year’s
public stir concerning the safety of the dorms,
Collins said
"Last year students would come to me and
say they wanted to move out of their dorm
rooms because It wasn't 'safe' on the higher
floors. When It was determined that our fire
safety system went above and beyond the re
quired standards, student fear was no longer a
problem," Collins said.
Collins said, "There are always going to be
bugs that have to be worked out when you install
a new system. Our particular bug Is a malfunc
tion in the smoke alarm in the fifth floor kitchen,
but another one has been ordered and is on the
way."
"We’re trying to work out the problems with a
minimum of inconvenience to the students. So
far I have been very pleased with the actions of
the Brumby students. They have been very pa
tient,” Collins added.
Lloyd: bouncing back
By BILL KRUEGER
Red and Black Stall Writer
It was probably one of the greatest days ever for a
Georgia athlete. It was the third Saturday in October 1979,
and an 18-year-old kid from Australia was battling the top
college tennis player in the country.
Georgia’s Peter Lloyd was facing Tennessee's Mel
Purcell in the semifinals of the Southern Intercollegiate
Championships. Lloyd was having a good year — by most
accounts he was playing the best tennis of his life, But for
him to beat Purcell would still have been considered a
tremendous upset. The Tennessee star had risen to the top
of college tennis primarily because of his speed and
aggressive play Despite the similarities in the two
players' styles, Purcell's skills were far more developed.
Purcell won the first set easily, 6-2, showing the sparse
crowd at the Henry S, Feild Tennis Stadium why he was
the number one player in the country. "He was just
playing with me, because he was just so smart and so
quick," Lloyd says,
In the second set, Purcell apparently got cocky and
started making mistakes. “He started to miss a little bit. I
put a lot of pressure on and came to the net a lot," Lloyd
says. Lloyd won the second set 6-4.
Playing on court one, Lloyd continued pressing Purcell
in the third set. Obviously fired up by the partisan crowd
and the idea of defeating Purcell, Lloyd continued
charging the net and used his speed to get to balls that
most players would just wave at. He did not have the big
serve most good tennis players have, so he used Purcell's
brand of tennis to beat him
He broke Purcell early in the set and then held serve at 5-
4 to take the third set and complete the upset. Georgia
Tennis Coach Dan Magill called it "one of the greatest
matches we’ve ever had here."
Lloyd's match against Purcell was merely a precursor
of things to come, as he went on to play No. 1 singles for
Georgia that year and was invited to join the elite of
college tennis In the NCAA Singles Championship.
"He was just playing unreal, He had a lot of confidence
and he made all of his shots," says teammate Tom Foster,
who is probably Lloyd's closest friend on the team. "He
really did have a great year. He was just tough to beat."
But Peter Lloyd's college tennis glory was short lived.
He was injured the following summer (the summer
between his sophomore and Junior years), got out of shape
and lost interest in tennis. He was also declared
academically ineligible during winter quarter his junior
year after he failed economics 105.
Due to the injury and the ineligibility, Lloyd got few
opportunities to play competitive tennis - and when he did
play, it was at No, 6. This year, his last, he is still playing
No. 6 — his year of tennis glory two years behind him.
Although he is still playing No. 6, this is a different Peter
Lloyd than the one who played No 6 last year. His attitude
and scholastic problems behind him, the 5-6, 140-pounder
Htaff Illustration by auphan Heard
Magill says. "If he had the opportunity to play No. 1, he'd
probably rise to the occasion and upset some of those
fellows — or it might not even be an upset."
Assistant coach Bill Rogers, who was Lloyd's teammate
the last three years, says, "He hasn't lost any of his
strokes. He may have lost some of his patience that he had
But I don't think he's a worse player. He had a peak at that
time when he was beating Purcell and playing No. 1.
Everybody peaks out and then goes back down. He's
probably back in the middle now.
Please See LLOYD, Page I
‘Last year I didn’t
play that well and
I kind of lost
interest in tennis.
Now I really want
to play. ’
— Peter Lloyd
from Canberra, Australia, Is playing much better tennis.
While he no longer gets the chance to play the top players
In the country, Lloyd has beaten several of the top players
on Georgia's team in challenge matches this year
"Last year I didn’t play that well and I kind of lost in
terest in tennis,” Lloyd said during a recent noon practice
session. "Now I really want to play. I think I'm playing as
well or better now than I was two years ago ”
His coach and teammates apparently agree with his
assessment. "I’ve been very pleased with his consistency
this year. It's not as glamorous playing No. 6 as it is
playing No. 1, but it's just as important to the team,"
Ambassador says
Nicaragua willing
to settle differences
By C.E. REINEKE
Htd and Black SUH Writer
Although the government of Nicaragua still views the
United States as a threat to its security, It is willing to initiate
talks to resolve the two countries’ differences, said Francisco
Fiallos, Nicaraguan ambassador to the United States.
"We are sure there is a covert operation," Fiallos said,
"nevertheless we are willing to talk to the administration."
Fiallos' remarks came Wednesday before a crowd of about
200 University students in the Library Auditorium.
Fiallos was appointed ambassador only two months ago
after serving as his country’s senior diplomat to Canada for
two years He was educated in the United States at Harvard,
and Boston College before heading home to join the
Nicaraguan revolution.
William Chlttlck, director of the University's Center for
Global Policy Studies, described Fiallos as a moderate In the
Sandlnlsta government.
Fiallos told the crowded auditorium that the main pro
blems between his government and the United States is a
lack of trust stemming from previous relations between the
nations.
"The word that could best describe relations is distrust,"
he said. "The only experience they (Nicaraguan government
officials) have with the American people are the Marines and
the corporate sharks The image of the Americana was most
negative."
Fiallos said the distrust among the people of Nicaragua Is
based on the history of invasion and the support this nation
gave to deposed dictator Anastasio Somoza.
Fiallos cited former president Richard Nixon as a par
ticularly strong supporter of the Somoza government. During
Nixon's administration, the United States supplied military
aid that the Sandlnlsta revolutionaries believed hampered
their efforts to establish a new government.
Fiallos blamed the Reagan administration for refusing to
Join In negotiations to settle differences in the region and for
exaggerating Sandlnlsta Involvement In the Salvadoran
Revolution.
“We are willing to talk to the administration to Improve
relations with this nation," he said. "We would like to sit
down and discuss the problems In a very mature way. We
support completely the peace proposal made by Mexico in
Managua."
Mexico's peace plan calls for a negotiated settlement to the
Salvadoran civil war, a nonaggression pact between the
United States and Nicaragua, and discussions to ease ten
sions between the United States and Cuba,
Fiallos denies the U S. claim that his government is pro
viding military aid to Salvadoran rebels.
"The government of the United States Is claiming that we
are helping the rebels in El Salvador," he said. “We say 'give
us proof' This government does not support the Salvadoran
revolution."
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University officials dispute college guide review
By JOAN LAMIA
H«1 anS Black Stall Writer
If everything Edward Fiske says is true, then this
University is peopled with "small town rednecks and
bit-city sophisticates" taking the high road to eternal
partydom while chanting “how 'bout them dogs "
Now really.
Fiske and his "New York Times Selective Guide to
Colleges,' have created quite a stir on college cam
puses An education editor for the Times, he has com
piled essays on 265 of the nation's colleges Besides
the usual statistics on enrollment, tuition, SAT scores
and financial aid, the guide assesses academics,
social life and overall quality of life using a rating
system of up to five stars.
Fiske's overall impression of the University is that
it is too large, that housing facilities are in constant
disrepair, and that the Greek system provides a
never-ending supply of parties for all students Near
ly everyone attends at least one Greek bash a year,"
the guide says
Some of Fiske's more favorable comments make
the University sound like a resort He reports that
"some dorms have swimming pools" (Only
Oglethorpe House does t The campus, he says, is
well-greened, and athletic facilities provide
"everything the weekend jock could want ” Students
winter in the Smokies, while spring is strictly reserv
ed for Florida.
Social life at the University received five stars;
quality of life, three; and academics, only two.
Some University officials aren't taking the assess
ment lightly
Public Relations Director Barry Wood objects to
Fiske's methods of gathering information, which In
cluded student surveys, telephone calls, and campus
visits But Wood said the essays are too anecdotal,
and that information was gathered at random
“He had to rely on those who would respond to the
questionnaires," Wood said.
Wood wrote Fiske a letter in February pointing out
factual errors In the essay concerning the University.
For Instance, Fiske reported that the law school
graduates "more jurisdoctors yearly than any other
American institution." In fact, Wood wrote, several
universities graduate more J.D.s than the Universi
ty's annual 200.
Wood also refuted a comment about "average
students" taking "gut courses" by citing the large
number of National Merit scholars and honors
students enrolled at the University.
In his reply, Fiske promised to keep these details in
mind when he revised his guide.
Housing Director Dan Hallenbeck also took excep
tion to some of Fiske's assessments of dorm
facilities The guide told of "miscreant" air condi
tions and elevators, as well as kitchens and laundries
in poor repair
"We’ve had difficulty with the elevators from time
to time, but the air conditioners generally work very
well," Hallenbeck said.
Hallenbeck said the assessment is a generalization,
but that it may contain some truth
"He does some of the same sterotypic things all ar
ticle writers do," Hallenbeck said
Reactions of some students to Fiske's statements
about the University were mixed. Leslie Mallory,
freshman in pre-journalism, said when dorm
facilities are not working, it is "usually due to
students' destruction "
And taking issue with Fiske's claim that
undergraduates rarely get Individual attention from
professors. Don Hobbs, a two-time transfer student,
said communication "takes a desire on the student's
behalf."
Other universities got the same irreverent treat
ment from Fiske Georgia Tech, the guide says, is
tough, "unless you weigh 225 pounds and have a
nickname like Bubba or Tank." An anonymous stu
dent quotation characterizes Tech as a mix of "jocks,
nerds, rebel hicks from South Georgia, and upper-
crust preppies " Clemson students, It reports, are
regular church-goers who are easygoing and "not
overly intellectual."
Tiny Colby College in Watervllle, Maine, managed
to get its academic rating changed from three to four
stars for the guide's next edition Like those at many
other colleges. Colby officials felt their rating was un
just and wrote Fiske about it.
Fiske said he is willing to correct errors and
reassess some ratings.
“In a project as complex as this there will be some
factual errors," he said.
The second edition to the guide has already been
printed, but is titled "The Selective Guide to Col
leges " The New York Times dropped its name from
the publication after all the fuss began, although
Times Books will continue to publish it.
Sandy Brawarsky, a publicity representative for
Times Books, said the Times felt Fiske's guide was
too subjective to carry its name
"The Times supports the book but felt it was Ed
Fiske's book," she said.
Fiske said the book "v.asn’t written like a
newspaper." thus prompting the Times to withdraw
its name
Nevertheless, the controversial guide is selling well
and is about to go into its third printing since its
January debut Brawareky said public response has
been “terrific.”
Material from the College Press Service was used In
preparing this story.