News in Brief: Nov. 9, 2011

FOUR DKES CHARGED FOR RECRUITING

Four members of the Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE) fraternity have been charged for attempting to recruit students on campus, violating the five-year suspension imposed on the fraternity last January following allegations of hazing.

UAPS Director Bill Mowbray said the four students were charged under the code of student behaviour, which was handled by the Office of Judicial Affairs. A decision was then rendered by the office’s discipline officer.

The office was unable to comment on the nature of the discipline imposed, citing confidentiality for all cases.

The investigation took about two weeks to conduct, according to Mowbray. The case was forwarded to Mowbray for investigation by the Office of the Dean of Students, who received a video of DKE members engaging in recruitment activities during orientation.

The incident was recorded by several students aware of the DKE’s suspension, who subsequently complained to the Office of the Dean of Students.

Dean of Students Frank Robinson said he was unable to comment now that the investigation has closed. However, he said the office is looking to add an official definition of hazing in the U of A’s code of student behaviour, which it’s currently lacking. 

Interfraternity Council (IFC) President Kevin Thomas said it’s important to note that the DKE members were violating more than just their suspension.

“It wasn’t just that they weren’t supposed to be doing what they were doing. It’s that they were doing something that no student group is allowed to do, which is soliciting on campus,” Thomas said.

“As a student, you have a specific right to be left alone. People aren’t allowed to come up to you randomly and try to promote stuff. It has to be with your consent, and anything else is solicitation.”

Mowbray said no further incidences of recruitment on campus from DKE has been reported since September.

COUNTDOWN TO SYMPOSIUM

More than 130 student submissions have been received for the fast-approaching Undergraduate Research Symposium, a sizeable jump from the Students’ Union goal of 100 submissions.

“We’re really happy considering this is our first year,” said Emerson Csorba, SU Vice-President (Academic).

Csorba noted that the majority of submissions have come from the Faculty of Science, but said there were a number of submissions from faculties like Arts, Engineering and ALES.

A fifth of the participants will receive a total of 20 scholarships at the symposium, said Csorba. He added that the symposium has amassed about $8,000 in funding.

As part of the final leg of symposium preparations, the symposium team has a launched a “Big Idea” contest. Students will be to fill out ballots all over campus and submit an “interesting question.” Csorba said the most interesting questions will be reviewed by a panel of students and professor judges, and the four students with the most interesting questions will each receive $250.

“Part of my concern about the symposium was that it is limited to students already doing research, and who have high GPAs,” Csorba said. “I think that this contest will help make the symposium more inclusive to the whole campus.”

“It’s difficult to turn down somebody,” Csorba said of the symposium submissions. “As it stands, we’ve said ‘yes’ to 120 students. We’re working hard to accommodate everyone.”

BOG CHAIR STEPS DOWN

Gordon J. Clanachan has been appointed the acting chair of the Board of Governors effective Nov. 1, following the resignation of former chair Brian Heidecker.

Heidecker stepped down as chair after assuming the position for nearly six years. He oversaw a period of significant expansion at the U of A, including the investment of $2.5 million in the campus and the addition of more than three million square feet of space since 2000.

In addition to his extensive committee service on the board, Clanachan served as a vice-chair and public member of the board prior to taking on the role of acting chair.

President Indira Samarasekera wrote on that U of A’s blog that she is unsure when the minister of Advanced Education and Technology will appoint a chair through an order in-council, but said the board will be led by Clanachan’s “able hands” until then.

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