Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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suspension • connnueorRomi back on campus.” The first step, he said, is to determine what charges the university will file against the student organization. “Our goal is to write it up and do it as quickly as possible,” Brewer said. On the night in question, the students caused $ 1,000-in damages to the building and $1,300 in damages to a flat screen television, according to police reports. One member of Alpha Phi Alpha was sent to the hospital for treatment. “It was an unfortunate incident,” Howard said. “One of our members reacted to an off-campus altercation that led to the incident.” The off-campus altercation happened the night before the attack, and involved USC graduates who were members of Omega Psi Phi and Alpha Phi Alpha. Warrants identified graduate Dustin Thomas, 25, as the organizer of the attack. “I was hoping that they would see it wasn’t a majority of our chapter involved in the incident and would let us stay on campus,” Howard said of his reaction to the altercation. “Before ... we did a lot of good things (on campus) and ... we did a lot of community service.” The national office of Omega Psi Phi suspended although Howard believed the students were still members. Daniels said that no further disciplinary action would be taken until the university made a final decision. “They are suspended from the fraternity. They are facing enough trouble with the law and being suspended from school,” Daniels said. Construction of the Omega Psi Phi house in the Greek Village, however, will continue as planned, Daniels and university officials said. When the house is completed, it will be filled on a sliding scale, with a larger percentage of Omega Psi Phi members living in the house ^ each year, Brewer said. He expects it will take the fraternity five years to reach 100 percent capacity in the house. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocknews @gwm. sc. edu AWARD • COATinUCDFROmi Fourth-year mechanical engineering student Charlie Aldave said the Wellness Center deserved the award because “it’s state-of-the-art. It’s the nicest I’ve seen by a landslide.” Patt Scott, a judge for the competition, said in a news release that the Wellness Center added to the traditional-style architecture of the campus. “The inherent challenges seem to have been met successfully,” Scott said. “The building is an appropriate addition to the very traditional campus of South Carolina.” Another judge, Jack Patton, said it was “certainly a classical building.” Despite the award, L.J. Post, a second year accounting student, noted some potential improvements. “Parking could definitely be better,” Post said. “The best things are the variety of activities, the TVs on the cardio machines and the hydraulic machines.” Matthew Jamison, a first year business student, said students could use help from the trainers. Davidson said the center has features and activities^ in which students don’t^ participate. “Most students don’t know about the wellness office downstairs.” In the wellness office, students can have their blood pressure checked, receive diet and nutrition plans, and can attend various health support groups. The Wellness Center opened in March 2003 and has since had more than a million people go through its doors. The Center cost $38.5 million. _ The facility features^ 192,000 square feet, including four basketball courts, indoor swimming pool, sauna, six racquetball and squash courts, auxiliary gym, cardio deck, strength and conditioning area and a 50-foot climbing wall, among many other features. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocknews@gwm.sc. edu , J -1 Cultural Awareness Commission Brines you: •» w r. . » , ■ ffiPaHl « ,. > .1 * g What is the name of tire largest I natural waterfall in the world? P Welcome Back Students! I ■I Visit us at I Whaley's Mill I • Premiere Location • Movie Rentals • Swimming Pool • Computer Lab • Social Activities • Shuttle Service to Campus • Fully Furnished Apartments • Friendly Management Team • 24-Hour Maintenance Team • 1,2,3 and 4 Bedroom Apartments I ", ." - ' 1 ' " ■ . I ■ . . . " 1 sj 1 Month Free Rent .■ ■■ -i ■■■■ i .... .. .. .v . ,, " ' - . .... " — . Reduced Rates on 2 & 3 Bedroom Apartment ->----—.... Gall Right Now To Improve Your Standard of Living 803.254.7801 the chapter and is waiting to take any further action until the university makes a final decision. “We’re letting the university handle tire issue that they have with the students,” said Jameel Daniels, an undergraduate representative for Omega Psi Phi. For now, the students involved in the attack are suspended from the national fraternity, Daniels said,