Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

? , ? I The South Carolina Library ^MgfiigBis^Mi , Campus Vol Sigm< By Mark Platte Mssrsiani mows tartor A USC student died early Friday morning in the Sigma Nu fraternity lounge after drinking a large quantity of alcohol. He vomited and choked to death, according to Frank Barron, Richland County coroner. Lurie Barry Ballou, 20, of Johnsonville, SC. attended a Sigma Nu party Thursday night and was last seen alive at 4:30a.m. Friday. At 7:30 a.m., Ballou was found dead by a fraternity brother. Ballou, a Sigma Nu pledge, was majoring in retail management and was a junior at USC. Barron said, "We have found that he had a very high level of blood alcohol. Legally, drunk is .1 percent, and this fellow's was high enough to kill him. His death resulted from drinking too much alcohol." BARRON SAII) in a preliminary report, "he strangled to death on the regurgitation going down his trachea ... because of the gastric content that caused the trachea to close up so he couldn't breathe." Steve Madert, a former Sigma Nu pledge trainer, said, "As far as we know, a pledge died in our lounge last night. It was an unfortunate incident, and he died of natural causes. That's all I have to' say." 'The State criticized By Leslie Smith Qamocock Staff Writftr The Sumter County Gamecock Club has requested action by the USC Student Government on a resolution criticizing The State newspaper for its coverage of Gamecock football. Sumter County Gamecock Club Chairman D.B. "Skeet" James requested that SG adopt a resolution similar to the one the club recently passed. The resolution states that as supporters i* ri t no/* i. r X tt uim i* a nun, uoo naau rout van coach. of the university through its athletic program, Gamecock Club members praise and accept criticism of The State's coverage expressed by USC Head Football Coach Jim Carlen. CARLEN CRITICIZED Herman Helms, The State's executive sports editor, after Helms wrote a column stating that Carlen's contract should not have been extended for five years. James said a copy of the resolution has been sent to Carlen and to The State but, "They have ume LXX, No. 50 U i Nil pk Although the Sigma Nu fraternity claims Ballou died of natural causes, Barron disagrees and denies telling anyone that it was a natural death. 'Tm a long way off from saying it was natural causes. If they said I told anybody it was natural causes, then they're wrong." I DON'T BELIEVE there was any foul play involved," Marvin Harrelson, chief of police, said Saturday. Because the fraternities would not comment on the death of Ballou, Barron said, "I can just subpoena the whole fraternity if I want to and have every one of them come to the inquest, put every one of them on the stand, and find out what happened under oath if they v-give me a hard time." The Intrafraternity Council held a meeting Friday afternoon and decided that none of the fraternities would comment on the matter and would refer all inquiries to USC Information Services. The information service had no information about Ballou other than the coroner's report. "Everything is speculation at this time,' concerning the circumstances surrounding Ballous death, Tom Cannon, Intrafraternity Council president, said. ;'s 'football by Sumter refused to reply or to print it, saying it is not newsworthy." Helms said a reply has been sent to the Gamecock Club saying the issue lacks sufficient newsworthiness and The State stands on its record. ?Ac nnWn I ? no spuiio CUIIUI 1 IllctKC HO apologies for our coverage of Carolina sports. Our coverage is factual, fair, objective and I think very good, and I believe that that is the judgment of the majority of our readers." 'Our coverage is factual, fair, objective and / think very good, and I believe that that is the judgment of the majority of our readers.' Herman Helms, 'The State' executive sports editor James said the reporting by The State hurts recruiting efforts. "We feel that as a business operating in Columbia, the home of the Gamecocks, they have a responsibility to promote the university rather than detract from it." James said he directs his criticism mainly at The State and Herman Helms. Other local media make mistakes, he said, but these are not done intentionally as is the case with Helms, whom James said is a "vindictive reporter." CAROLINA COACHES have niversity of South C idge die J^Wn ^\*l\'' '&%. ' * anS^KCI > jMB;1 -|^^S^gi4?^^^fafe? 9H|WR?^BKj| |b| I BBB1 Br I E^LSS&h| ~.J The wreath on Sigma Nu fra Barry Ballou who died here earl\ VICE-PRESIDENT of Student Affairs, James B. Campbell, said that all fraternities must request and receive a permit for having liquor at any fraternity party. Sigma Nu made no such request, according to Campbell. coverage boosters been complaining about coverage of USC sports for years, James said, and, "As coach Carlen said on his program, we are not asking for cheerleading, only fair reporting." The course of action, if any, SG will take is undetermined. "We will take action only if students express interest," said Barbara Derrick, athletic committee chairman. Students are invited to leave i"y k Herman Helms, ' The State' executive sports editor ideas or suggestions in the athletic committee box in the SG office on the first floor Russell House. "If there is a great response, we will introduce the resolution into the senate," Derrick said. SG President Peter Haeseker said he wtis willing to help the Gamecock Club in any way possible: However, he said he doubts* student response will be sufficient to warrant the time and expense of copying the resolution and soliciting signatures as the Gamecock Club requested. Carolina, Columbia, i is after I I ternity's front door symbolizes / Friday morning. Funeral services for Ballou were held Sunday in Hemingway, S.C., and all fraternity members attended. This is the fifth death of a USC student during the current school year. In September, Scott Sinclair, Previously d Professor By Karer Gamecock S For the first time, the S.C. Stat< stated a USC professor who was der The decision to reinstate assist; Smith was anounced last Thursd; review by the state Budget and Com Although he was approved by th and the Committee on Tenure an tenure by USC President James B. 1 SMITH APPEALED to the Fact recommended that he be reinsta makes the final decision in grievan< recommendations. Smith then took his case to the i such action was not common procec "I really had no choice ? it wai ployment graciously," Smith said. The State Grievance Board said! without "cause" or a formal apprai last six years. Smith said declining enrollment taught was perhaps a factor in Ho However, Smith said enrollment w have changed majors from hum business and economics in the last f< THE TERMS of Smith's reinstat not been discussed. There is the appeal the decision, but Holderman Ann Furr, Smith's attorney said unlikely. Two killed i By Leroy Gtmaceck A USC student and a man believe early Sunday morning when the ca bridge abutment. Osborne Allen Arant, 22, of Nortl Blaekville, S.C., died from injuries car in the right lane of Blossom S streets meet, according to Richland Barron said a witness saw the c Blossom Street from Bull Street an They then pulled in behind the witn< according to the witness. As they Street, they moved into the parking The witness said the car passed h side at a high speed, according to B car they ran into the abutment. B.C. Jan. 28,1980 party l^^b iiimi j^p ywihw HIP Barty N?wman GAMECOCK the mourning for pledge Lurie USC freshman football player, collapsed and died whle dressing for a workout. Patrick McGinty and Terrell Johnson were fatally shot during a fraternity party in October. Osborne Arant was killed Sundav in a car accident enied tenure *? reinstated 1 Addy taff Writer j i Grievance Committee has rein- i lied tenure. ?nt history professor Michae! S ay after a two-day hearing and trol Board. e Department of History faculty d Promotion, Smith was denied tfftldprman ' ilty Grievance Committee which ted. However Holderman, who :e cases, ignored the committee's state Grievance Board, although ! lure. > either do that or accept unemSmith should not have been fired sal of his performance during the in upper-level history classes he lderman's decision against him. ; as down because many students lanities and social sciences to ew years. ement, including back pay, have possibility the university might said that has not been decided, the possibility of an appeal was Sm Tenure, page 4 n car wreck Williams Staff Writer (d to be a former student were killed r they were driving slammed into a i, S C. and Kenneth C. Bailey, 23, of after they were seen trying to pass a Itreet where Blossom and Gadsden County Coroner Frank Barron, tar they were driving pull out onto d try to pass his car in the left lane, sss and started yelling from the car, approached the bridge on Blossom lane on the right and tried to pass, im and three other cars on the right arron. As they tried to pass a fourth