The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 81, No. 25, Ed. 1 Friday, April 8, 1994 Page: 1 of 16
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SINCE 1916
VOLUME 81, NUMBER 25
ENIGMA SUCKS
APRIL 8, 1994
Abductions cause students, university to evaluate security
by Kate Hallgren
Before last week's violent crimes,
many Rice students felt safe within
the hedges, often walking home late
at night without fearing for their safety.
But now many no longer feel safe and
are looking for changes in campus
security.
Four students, two males and two
females, were returning from a video
store at 12:45 am. March 31 when
they were approached by two men
with guns in the Jones College park-
ing lot and forced back into a student's
car, said Robert Hurst of the Houston
Police Department
The suspects made the students
drive to an automatic teller machine
by the intersection of Kirby and Main
Street. None had an ATM card.
The suspects then forced the four
to drive to a building at the 4800 block
of Almeda Road.
At this location, Hurst said, all four
were forced to disrobe. One woman
was forced into the car and to drive the
suspects around. Both suspects sexu-
ally assaulted her and released her at
2800 Barbee by Texas Southern Uni-
versity.
While the suspects fled on foot,
she ran to a nearby home, asked the
woman who answered to use the tele-
phone and called the police.
As ofTuesday, HPD was still in the
process of talking to the four victims.
"Hopefully we'll havecompositedraw-
ings after we talk to the victims and
get more details," Hurst said.
At about 11:30 p.m. March 29, a
similar crime occurred in the univer-
sity North Ijot when a lone gunman
reportedly forced a male student to
drive him to an ATM machine, where
the student gave him $400.
Then the student drove around
until the suspect demanded to be
dropped off.
"As I understand, this incident with
the four is not connected to any other
cases," Hurst said. But he said the
police may uncover links to other
crimes.
Although students have been
speculating that the suspects were
under the influence of drugs, Hurst
could not confirm this.
"Since the suspects are not in cus-
tody there's no way of knowing
whether or not they were intoxicated
he said.
University response
University spokesman MikeCinelli
said the university has responded in
two ways. First, he cited increased
numbers of patrols and vigilance on
the part of campus police officers.
"I can't talk in specifics about what
we've done about security on cam-
pus," Cinelli said. That's part of our
safety measures."
Carl MacDowell.assistantto Presi-
dent Malcolm Gillis, said the univer-
sity is conducting ongoing reviews of
campus security.
"We are continuing to review all
security steps the university takes all
over campus," MacDowell said. "We
do this continually and this incident
makes our review all the more impor-
tant"
Second, Cinelli also mentioned in-
creasing student awareness through
posted bulletins, electronic-mail mes-
sages and college-sponsored meet-
ings.
"Because we advised everyone
about the incident, that should raise
awareness," he said. Doing this should
help students protect themselves, he'
said.
Campus Police Chief Mary
Voswinkel did not return phone calls
from the Thresher.
The Board of Governors met on
March 31 in a regularly scheduled
meeting and approved a budget in-
cluding increased funds for campus
lighting and other security measures.
But Vice President for Finance and
Administration Dean Currie called th is
"a coincidence" as the budget had
already been drawn up and was passed
in committee the day before.
There are six lighting projects in
the budget, at acost of about $290,(XX),
Currie said.
Voswinkel has said in meetings
that lighting improvements may be
delayed until next semester.
The budget for campus police has
also grown.
"In campus police, I'd asked Mal-
colm and he'd approved a number of
salary initiatives to make it easier to
keep campus police officers that tire
SEE SECURITY PAGE 7
Gillis' decision prevents Willy's Pub from shutting down
Willy's Pub may undergo renovations that could eliminate this wall and the furniture.
by Ryan Koopmans
After reviewing two proposals from
the Willy's Pub Committee, President
Malcolm Gillis decided last week to
waive distributive charges for this year
and reduce the charges for next year,
keeping the Pub from closing down.
Pub Manager Antroy Arreoja was
happy with the decision. "It was gen-
erous of him to waive the distribution
charges," Arreola said. "Thatwillgive
us more money for our capital im-
provement program."
The Pub has lost money in the
past, but it possessed a cushion of
money that kept it operating. The Pub
was in danger of closing this year
when that surplus ran out
The Pub has not made a profit for
several years becauseofthedecrease
in alcohol sales caused by the change
in the drinking age from 19 to 21 and
the university enforcement of the al-
cohol policy.
To lower distributive charges, o nly
the bar itself and its immediate area
will be considered part of the Pub
beginning next year. The official size
ec of the Pub will be reduced by 80 per-
I cent
| As a result, the distributive
| charges, which arc based roughly on
« the amount of the Pub floor space,
| have been lowered from $13,221 this
s 'year to $4,080 next year.
Despite the changes in the floor
space, the same alcohol restrictions
will apply* No alcohol will be allowed
beyond the basement of the Rice
Memorial Center.
Gillis said he would see how the
new system works before consider-
ing waiving fees in future years.
"1 mean to be supportive of the
Pub," Gillis said. "I have read the re-
port and have tried to respond posi-
tively."
Arreola said, "If we have the same
revenue as this year, we'll be able to
meet the costs [of distribution]."
The committee presented two pro-
posals to the president on Feb. l.The
first proposal asked that the univer-
sity waive all distributive charges. The
second asked to restructure the Pub
floor space, which would reduce dis-
tributive charges.
In a report presented to the presi-
dent Feb. 1, the committee suggested
opening a new entrance to the Pub
from the under-utilized stairwell next
to Sammy's and the Coffeehouse. The
committee also suggested putting up
a neon sign to attract customers.
Gillis rejected the idea of a neon
sign and told the committee there was
no money available for major renova-
tions.
But Associate Dean of Student Af-
fairs and committee member Bob San-
born said the Rice Memorial Center
basement may be renovated later this
summer or the beginning of the next
academic year after the Marchi ng Owl
Band moves into the Central Kitchen
basement
The committee would also like to
have better lighting to make the l\ib
moreconducive to studying and meet-
ing.
Other plans include adding a
lounge for off-campus students with
lockers and a refrigerator.
The Pub management is planning
to replace some of the Pub furniture.
The Pub is currently soliciting bids for
the improvements.
Gillis has asked the I\ib not to
encourage patrons from outside Rice.
"The Pub is designed to support the
interests of the students," he said.
Gillis also requested that the Pub not
advertise off campus.
The only circumstances in which
the Pub might be closed down by the
university is if non-Rice patrons begin
causing disturbances there, Gillis said.
Pub staffers didn't have any defi-
nite plans to advertise off-campu s. "We
have a strong enough base on-cam-
pus that we don't have to look off," l\i b
officer Randy Block said.
Willy's Pub is owned by V & W
Permits, which also owns Valhalla. It
is a non-profit company composed
entirely of Rice students and faculty.
The university is not legally re-
sponsible for any sale of alcohol on
campus.
Speech, debate teams face
national, world tournaments
by Rebecca L. Corkill
A freshman debate team qualified for the world tournament in
parliamentary debate, making this the first time Rice will be represented
at this tournament
Will Rice College freshman Ryan Levy and Lovett College freshman
Scott Ruthfield qualified for the world tournament by placing fifth at the
National Parliamentary Debate Championships. It was only the third
competition for the team in this event, which is usually dominated by
experienced seniors.
"We knew we were two freshmen who hadn't competed in a while. It
was a surprise to us as well as a surprise to everyone else who didn't know
who we were," Ruthfield said.
The freshman team was the only one from Rice to qualify for the
national championships, which were held from March 25 to 27 at
Colorado College.
To qualify for the national tournament they had to place among the
top 50 in the nation in earlier tournaments.
Although University of New Mexico won the tournament, Levy and
Ruthfield were the only team to defeat the national champions in
SEE DEBATE PAGE 6
Allegations prompt investigation
By Lisa Ann Robertson
Campus police continue to investi-
gate charges that Sgt. Clarence
Veltman manhandled a drunken stu-
dent at Rondelet
Will Rice College Master Dennis
Shirley requested an investigation af-
ter several students told him they were
concerned about Veltman's behavior
when he transported a passed out Will
Rice freshman from Rondelet to Park
Plaza Hospital last month. ,
An internal police investigator has
interviewed the students and Veltman
and is currently processing the infor-
mation.
The freshman involved in the situ-
ation has not pressed charges or re-
quested an investigation. "I didn't file
the complaint I think [my treatment]
was justified.This is an issue between
me, Officer Veltman, and thead minis-
tration," he said, requesting his name
not be used.
Will Rice junior David Maas and
Sid Richardson College junior Tho-
mas Fowlkes said they pressed for an
investigation because as students they
fear receiving such treatment them-
selves in the future.
"When you call the police, you ex-
pect to get help," Maas said. "What we
got wasn't necessarily help."
Fowlkes agreed. "My biggest con-
cern was for the kid's life. There is a
risk of inducing vomiting and Sgt.
Veltman showed no concern for the
students. That incident gives a mes-
sage to me that campos don't care
about students.
"Foraweekafterwards I didn't like
the thought of having to call them if I
needed help. They had proven them-
selves totally incompetent I realize
that's a generalization, but you judge
an institution by its parts," Fowlkes
said.
Veltman declined to comment on
the incident or the investigation and
referred all questions to Police Chief
Mary Voswinkel. Voswinkel did not
return repeated phone calls from the
IJtresher.Campus police policy pro-
hibits any officer except Voswinkel to
answer questions about the depart-
ment. staff members said.
SEE OFFICER PAGE t-
SportS
Crazing to
theSWC
crown
11
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Hale, David. The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 81, No. 25, Ed. 1 Friday, April 8, 1994, newspaper, April 8, 1994; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth246030/m1/1/: accessed June 21, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.