About The Red and Black (Athens, Ga.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 7, 2007)
WEDNESDAY March 7, 2007 Vol. 114, No. n8 1 Athens, Georgia Partly cloudy. High 69 | Low 40 ONLINE: www.redandblaGk.com Facebook pools against NCAA gambling policy By SAMUEL STEINBERG ssteinber® randb.com The Athletic Association has warned its student ath letes, coaches and staff not to get involved in any type of gambling pool whether an entry fee is required or not. Yet some student athletes, including men’s basketball players, don’t seem phased JOSH D. WEISS :T Bi>. Buu > A University Chief of Police Jimmy Williamson emerges from a dunk tank outside of the Chi Phi house on Lumpkin Street during the Spring Break Safety Block Party Tuesday. The fraternity, along with Kappa Alpha and Safe Campuses Now, played host to the program, which aimed to raise awareness for Spring Break safety and featured educational events and safety demonstrations. University woman up for ‘Hottest Girl’ honor By ALEC WOODEN awooden@randb.com Sporting a modest turquoise polo shirt and an unassuming smile, Tricia Miller hardly has the edge of an aspiring college model. So it should come as a surprise the University sophomore is now in the top tiers of a nationwide amateur modeling contest. It came as one to her, too. Bulldog recovered, ready to ‘re-establish himself By MEGAN HARRISON mharrison'S’randb.com Senior Sean Bailey is set for his last year as a Bulldog and is hoping to make the best of it after having to forgo his first senior year due to injury. But first he has to prove to his team mates and coaches he can be back out on the field for spring football. “I’m excited. My knee feels great," the receiver from Alpharetta said. “I’m Just anxious to get out there and just re establish myself.” After injuring his knee during prac tice for the Sugar Bowl in December 2005, Bailey underwent surgery to repair the problem. He missed all of last season while recovering from the surgery and rehabil itating his knee. Since he sat out last season, Bailey finally is able to partake in his senior year and show the team a good example. “This is what you come to Georgia for ... hopefuUy have a great season to leave your legacy on,” Bailey said, adding he is typically a quiet man who does not say Reaching the Newsroom News (706) 433-3037 Variety (706) 433-3041 Sports (706) 433-3040 Opinions (706) 433-3043 Photo (706) 433-3046 The Retßßlack An independent student newspaper serving the University of Georgia community ESTABLISHED 1893, INDEPENDENT 1980 by the National Collegiate Athletic Association policy and are participating in Facebook’s Men’s College Basketball Tournament 2007. “We do reiterate the avoid ance of pools and online even if they don’t put any money in,” said Eric Baumgartner, the assistant director of com pliance. Baumgartner said athletes who participate in DUNK-A-COP When Miller received a call from Collegehumor.com, it was her first inkling that a practical joker of a friend had signed her up for the annual “Hottest College Girl” contest, which pits girls from across the country in head-to-head matches in competition for the title. much, but is now speaking out more and making sure people know what to do. And the coaches are looking for the same qualities from him. “Obviously you want him to set an example on the field that the younger guys can look at and try to emulate in a positive manor,” wide receivers coach John Eason said. Not only is he a leader to the younger players, but he can relate to rising senior Thomas Brown and others about the challenges of going through knee sur gery and recovering for the next season. And Bailey, now recovered, can see the potential In other players who are injured. "Thomas is mentally strong,” Bailey said. “He knows when to be patient and ► See BAILEY, I'nge 8 JENNA FINDLAM I Tn> Ru> * Hutu flanker Sean Bailey, who missed last football season due to a knee injury, ties recovered and is ready to play again. On the Web redandblack.com Need an Idol fix? See our blog for news on your favorite reality TV per formers! Facebook’s pools risk violat ing NCAA guidelines. As of press time Tuesday night, Corey Butler, Brad Brizendine, Takais Brown, Billy Humphrey and Josh Stephens, who all play for the men’s basketball team, have signed up for March Madness pools on Facebook. Brown is Georgia’s leading scorer, averaging 14 points BS’ MILLER Indigo page 6 Looking for anew spring styles? Emily Samuel’s digs the newest Athens fashion hot spot. per game, and Humphrey averages 7.5 points per game. When asked if he was going to fill out a bracket before Tuesday afternoon practice, Humphrey shook his head and said, "No.” According to information on Facebook, Humphrey was in five tournament pools before practice started. Brown, who also is part of “I said Oh my gosh, I'm in a real modeling competition.’" said Miller, adding the culprit is yet to confers. “I was so mad." So what kept Miller from withdraw ing? The first prize of a modeling contract and SIO,OOO cash probably didn’t hurt, but the ambitious biology major saw other opportunities to use ► See HUMOR. Hifjr 5 rzm !mK jjriK .JWPS t M'> 'M sl^ ) I p jnraßr Jll Igjr- o KM •f •> u Jn five Facebook pools, said he would not be part of pools that reward prizes. “I don’t really do the bracket thing,” he said. The NCAA policy is clear when it comes to any brack ets in which participants can win money, regardless of the cost of entry. “It is a violation for stu dent athletes, coaches, as SGA may support tax-free textbooks, party-free elections By CAROLYN CRIST ccrist<®ra ndb.com Students could see the end of textbook taxes and the party system in the Student Government Association under recent movements in the Senate. SGA senators approved a resolution Tuesday sup porting Georgia House Bill 141 to eliminate taxes on textbooks. The bill could save stu- ff e n t s approxi mately S7O on books, said SGA President Ka t y Bowers. She has testified at the “The main reason behind this is because I want more people to get involved in SGA. ” capitol in approval of the bill. The SGA party system also could see change under a bill written by SGA Attorney General Justin Shepherd. The change only allows the president and vice president to run as a party. Senators would be prohibited from running with executive members, combining campaign money, sharing logos or endorsing fellow candi dates. “The main reason behind this is because I want more people to get involved in SGA," Shepherd said. “In my opinion, parties help some people but dis courage others from run ning." Everyone should have a fair and equal opportunity to run for a position with University affiliates to campaign for post By KRISTEN COULTER kcoulter@randb.com With a professor and an alumnus running, the University is well-represent ed in the race for the Athens-Clarke County eighth district commission seat. Andy Herod and David Hamilton are competing in the special election on March 20 to fill States McCarter's vacated seat. Herod, an economic and urban geography professor, is promising to protect the environment. “I think that we need to make sure we have smart growth in our city,” Herod said. "We do not want sprawl.” Herod said he has been involved In local politics for over a decade. SEC on XM page 7 Can’t make it to the men’s SEC basketball tournament Thursday? SEC and XM Radio join forces to bring the games to your ears. HOUSE OF YES a. M-i. u... 1 ' j It wiw mini ► Thalian Blackfriars debut new production tonight. PAGE 5 well as administrators to par ticipate in bracket contests for monetary benefit gain and sports wagering," said NCAA spokesperson Stacey Osbum. “A prize would be the same as monetary gain.” Osburn said it violates NCAA rules even when ath letes do not put money in to ► See POOLS. Pnye 7 SGA, he said. The Senate held its first reading of the bill for con sideration Tuesday. Senators can debate and vote on the bill during its second reading after Spring Break Party policy is only men tioned vaguely in the SGA constitution, and there have been many different inter pretations of party roles, said Ali Gibbons, SGA vice president. “There was a problem because the elections com mittee kept changing the rules,” Gibbons said. “The constitution and elections code don’t support the party system, but they also don’t say anything against i t This gave the committee the power to make deci sions." Although Gibbons said there are flaws with the party system, she said she still supports the idea. “I won't deny that secre cy and insider information hinders those who don't know what to do to be on the right foot,” she said. “But, I want the sys tem to open up. It's helpful to pool funds while cam paigning." Gibbons said she thinks the party system is a good idea because candidates ► Sep SGA, hif/r 3 He serves on the Athens- Clarke County Planning Commission, which he said has helped prepare him for the job of eighth district commissioner. Since the eighth district commissioner is considered a part-time job, Herod said if elected he will continue to work as a professor. Hamilton, a University graduate, also is running for the open seat. A former Snelling Dining Hall dish washer, Hamilton now owns Accurate Insurance Agency. Hamilton plans to "main tain the same level of strong representation,” he said the eighth district has enjoyed. He said he has received the endorsements of the ► Ser ACC, Pnge 3 Index UGA Today 2 Wire 2 Opinions 4 Variety 5 Crossword 5 Sports 7 Sudoku 7