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FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 1994 » ATHENS, GEORGIA » VOLUME 101, ISSUE IS
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Kappa Alpha Psi
Pledge says he was hospital
ized after members paddled
him more than 70 times.
By JENNIFER BAKER
and CRYSTAL PAULK
Staff Writers
Clutching a gold good-luck
medallion given to him by his
grandmother, Christopher Powell
said Thursday he was telling the
truth publicly for the first time
about numerous paddlings he
received from members of Kappa
Alpha Psi.
Powell, a sophomore from
College Park, said fraternity
members paddled him five times a
week for five weeks during spring
quarter 1993. But he testified
before the Student Judiciary late
Thursday that he had not been
completely truthful before
because he still wanted to become
a recognized member of the his
torically black organization.
If found guilty of hazing, the
three-member fraternity could be
expelled from the University.
Powell said the members
would take him to apartments
belonging to fraternity brothers
five times a week and each mem
ber would paddle him at least 10
times a piece. He said that after
trying to avoid one paddling, he
was paddled at least 70 times the
next night.
Powell was hospitalized on
May 23, 1993 when friends found
him having convulsions in his
dorm room, according to Xeron
Jerne Pledger, a junior from
College Park.
In the hospital, Powell was
treated for blood clotting as a
result of paddling, according to
University advocate Bob
Trammell.
Powell said he endured the
paddling, even though a pledge
could become a member by learn
ing fraternity history and taking
a test.
“I felt I wouldn’t get any
respect if I didn’t go through it
this way,” he said.
Powell said the paddling start
ed two weeks into spring quarter
1993 and continued until the
night he was hospitalized. He said
the pledges were also required to
do calisthenics, such as push ups,
and run errands for the brothers.
Powell said he was initiated
into the fraternity the day he was
released from the hospital, but
has still not been recognized as
member by the national organiza
tion.
Jeanna Mastrodicasa, student
defender for the fraternity, said
Kappa Alpha Psi was not disput
ing that the hazing took place.
“Whether Kappa Alpha Psi can
be held responsible for the actual
incident is what we’re disputing,”
she said.
She said it was a possibility
that the defense would try to
show that only individual mem
bers of the fraternity could be
held responsible for the hazing.
Leslie Bates, director of minor
ity services and a Kappa Alpha
Psi alumnus, testified on the fra-
tried
ternit/s behalf.
“The reason why the recent
alumni do not like the new intake
process is because they believe
the traditions should be kept
intact,” he said. “I myself am frus
trated with the present hazing
policy. I don’t agree with physical
punishment, but other things
abolished in the policy should still
be allowed. If I went to a Kappa
Alpha Psi pledge and told him to
do something, I believe he would
do it in order to become a member
of the fraternity.”
The defense had not presented
its entire argument or called all of
its witnesses before press time.
Pledger, who is a friend of
Powell’s but not a fraternity mem
ber, said he suspected Powell was
being hazed.
“I saw him in the dining hall
and he wasn’t sitting on his but
tocks like you normally would,” he
said. “He was bracing himself
with his hands.”
Pledger said he went to mem
bers of the fraternity and told
them he wasn’t pleased with what
was going on.
Please see HAZING page 5
for hazing
MARY SAMS/fhe and Black
Christopher Powell with his lawyer Dawn Luzier before a
Student Judiciary hearing where Powell testified he was
repeatedly beaten for weeks while a Kappa Alpha Psi pledge.
Dogs lose top recruit Lombard;
signs with Braves in second round
By MARK SCHLABACH
Sports Editor
The Georgia Bulldogs’ nationally-ranked
football recruiting class was dealt a serious
blow Thursday when Parade Magazine Back of
the Year George Lombard signed with the
Atlanta Braves.
Lombard said in an phone interview from
Hawaii, where he is vacationing, that he
received a $425,000 signing bonus from Atlanta,
and they will also pay for his college education.
He said he signed the contract via facsimile.
Lombard was the first pick in the second
round and the 44th overall.
“It was a quick decision. I said if I got first
round money I was coming out,” he said. “I was
surprised that I went this high. I thought I was
going to go really high or really low. I think they
knew if I was selected low, I wouldn’t sign.”
Lombard, who hit .447 with 12 home runs
and a school record 48 RBIs in his senior year
while leading Lovett to their second straight
Class AA State Championship, signed with
Georgia to play football on Feb. 27. He was also
expected to play baseball at Georgia.
“I want to thank Georgia for everything. I
really wanted to play college football, but I’ve
always said if I could play either sport profes
sionally, it would be baseball.”
Lombard will be going to the Braves rookie
team in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Georgia baseball coach Steve Webber, who
was unaware of the deal when contacted by The
Red and Black, said he’s not surprised at the
amount of money involved in the deal.
“When it comes down to that a young man is
going to have to make a decision between going
to college or playing baseball professionally,”
Webber said. “That’s a decision between him
and his family.”
Lombard was named All-USA by USA Today
after rushing for 1,526 yards and 18 touch
downs as a senior. He chose the Bulldogs over
Florida State, North Carolina and Notre Dame.
“He was definitely one of the top athletes
that anyone in the
SEC signed,” said
recruiting expert
Steve Figueroa. “I’m
really surprised that
any major league team
would put out that
amount of money for a high school kid. i ve been
doing this for 20 years and I thought those days
were over.”
Lombard told The Red and Black on Nov. 1
that “my first concern is getting a good educa
tion. Baseball is an option, but I’m really ready
to go to college.”
Georgia head football coach Ray Goff was out
of town and unavailable for comment.
The Braves pulled a similar move in both the
1992 and 1993 drafts. In 1992, they signed
pitcher Jamie Howard, who also pulls double
duty as LSU’s starting quarterback.
Last year Atlanta signed outfielder Andre
King, who had signed with Michigan as a tight
end.
George Lombard
IFC raises required GPA
By DANA SIEGMUND
Staff Writer
Fraternity members must now
keep their grade point averages
above 2.45 and remember not to
bring bottled beer to parties, accord
ing 1o ordinances passed this week
by Interfratemity Council.
The IFC voted Wednesday to ban
all bottles as well as other glass con
tainers from fraternity functions.
The council also voted to raise the
required GPA from 2.40 to 2.45.
“This puts us in the cream of the
crop as far as fraternity systems,”
said Ron Binder, adviser to fraterni
ties. “This (GPA requirement) shows
the University community that we
are serious about scholarship.
“We put the No. 1 privilege on the
line — that’s parties — (we) put it
on the line for grades,” he said. “We
put our money where our mouth is
when it comes to parties. If you don’t
have a 2.45, you don’t have parties.”
Chris Carr, IFC president, said
the change in the GPA policy
reflects rising GPA requirements at
the University and shows that both
the University and the Greek sys
tem are moving ahead.
“I think it is a step forward,” said
Mike Nuwar, a Phi Kappa Theta.
“It’s going to make everybody wise
to the fact that you go to school for a
reason, and that’s to get your
grades.”
Ridley Howard, a Sigma Alpha
Epsilon from Atlanta, agreed. "I
think it’s a good step, it shows that
the Greek system is moving in the
right direction,” he said.
The second ordinance prohibits
bottles and other glass containers
from University events. Binder said
the ordinance “eliminates the last
risk management issue we have.”
Carr said the bottle ordinance is
a great way to remove all liability
from fraternity parties. “It’s a good
way to keep our guests and mem
bers safe,” he said. “We are con
stantly looking for ways to improve.”
Binder said although there has
never been a bottle-related injury at
a fraternity function, he is pleased
with the ordinance.
Booze blamed for theft attempt
By CRYSTAL PAULK
Staff Writer
Two University students were accused
Thursday of breaking and entering, theft of a
University student’s property, alcohol-related
misconduct and attempting to elude University
police officers in a Main Court hearing.
Pieter John Derijke, a freshman from Marietta
and Jeff McKelvey, a sophomore from Marietta,
were discovered breaking into a Nissan Maxima
parked in the Candler Hall parking lot by
university police at about 2 a.m. on April 27,
according to testimony at the hearing.
When two plain-clothe'd policemen approached
the car, both men ran in opposite directions,
police reports said. McKelvey was immediately
caught by police and was denied removing any
items from the car.
However, when police discovered a tape
recorder hidden in the bushes, McKelvey admit
ted to taking the item and identified Derijke as
the person who had escaped, police said.
After a floor-by-floor search of the Chi Psi fra
ternity house, Derijke was found in a friend’s
room and arrested.
Both men signed a written statement admit
ting that they had broken into and removed items
from the car.
Derijke testified that he didn’t recognize the
two men approaching them in the parking lot as
police officers because it was dark and they were
not in uniform.
“I thought I heard someone yell ‘Stop or well
shoot,” Deriike said. “I thought it was the owner
of the car. Ever since I was mugged in the fall, I
have been paranoid of the same thing happening
again. I got scared and ran home.”
During his hearing, McKelvey said they never
intended to break in the car and would not have
done it if they had been sober.
“TiTiis was a dumb thing that was done purely
because of intoxication,” he said.
Both defendants have already received 18
months probation and 40 hours community ser
vice from Athens-Clarke County courts. The deci
sion will be released by Student Judiciary on
Thursday.
Allmans’
Haynes to
play at
Super Jam
June ±2,1994
1:00 Kinchafoonee Cowboys
2:00 Jackopierce
2:30 Aquarium Rescue Unit
4:00 Warren Haynes
& Allen Woody
5:30 Dave Matthews Band
7:00 Allgood
9:00 Widespread Panic
By JOHN EDWARDS
Staff Writer
As if the lineup for Super Jam IV
wasn’t already one of the best to hit
Athens this year, the coordinators at
the Georgia Theatre just added a sev
enth act to the bill.
Now, along with Widespread Panic,
Allgood and Aquarium Rescue Unit,
Warren Haynes and Allen Woody from
the Allman Brothers Band will also
contribute to what promises to be a day
of romping entertainment.
Domingo “Sonny” Ortiz, percussion
ist for Widespread Panic, said a long
term friendship between the Allmans
and Widespread led to the sudden
addition.
“We’ve done some shows with the
Brothers,” Ortiz said. “And every time
we go up to New York, Warren Haynes
always comes and sits in with us, so
we’ve established a good rapport.
“He called to say hello, and we said,
< Hey, you wanna come down to Georgia
and do a good ole’ Southern show?’ And
he said, ‘Sure,’” Ortiz said.
Ortiz promises that next Sunday’s
show will have plenty of surprises for
fans who’ve been to Super Jam before.
Not only is Haynes likely to jam with
Allgood and Widespread, but there’s
also the possibility that Colonel Bruce
Hampton might join on stage his old
bandmates from the Rescue Unit.
“WeYe just so lucky that all our
favorite people get to play on this bill,”
Ortiz said.
For most of those involved, Super
Jam represents much more than just a
miniature Lollapalooza. It’s the one
time of the year when Athens bands
who struggle against the impending
pressures of the music industry come
together to show fans just how power
ful old-fashioned rock ‘n’ roll can be.
Corky Jones, lead singer and back
up guitarist for Allgood, said this
refusal to give in to industry wants has
created an entirely new mode in
Athens music. No longer do bands
hastily sign contracts that require
them to alter their approaches for
MTV.
“I think one thing that Widespread
Panic, and Allgood, and The Aquarium
Rescue Unit and all these other bands
are all about is music for music’s sake,”
Jones said. “None of these bands are
really interested in the posing aspect.”
Ortiz agreed that this sincerity pays
off in the long run.
“We figure that [success will come]
in due time with patience," Ortiz said.
“Our music and a lot of the music
that’ll happen on the 12th will never
change. The sound might change, but
the basic roots and the basic founda
tion won’t change.
“We’re just trying to progress in our
own way," he said.
The gates of Athens Fairgrounds
will open at 11:00 a.m. on June 12.
Kinchafoonee Cowboys will kick off
Super Jam at 1:00 p.m. and the music
will continue until midnight, with
Widespread capping off the show.
The setup also includes arts and
crafts, food vendors and security
guards that don’t mind fans bringing in
kegs, coolers or couches. Bottle are the
only forbidden containers.
Tom Daniel, a senior from Atlanta,
is an employee of Black Tie Parking,
which was contracted by the Georgia
Theatre to handle traffic. Daniel, who
skipped last year’s show but attended
in ’92, said the lax attitude toward
alcohol definitely improves the festi
val’s atmosphere.
“A lot of people were drinking [in
*92],” Daniel said. “A lot of people
brought their own coolers and brought
kegs. They’re not real strict about it."
Although he contended that all
bands were equally powerful, Daniel
said he expects Widespread to be the
highlight of the event.
“I’m gonna work it from 10 'til four,"
he said. “Then we get to go into the
show free, so I’m gonna watch
Widespread Panic and all the bands
that are playing at the end of the
show.”