Campus News Editor
AUSTIN - The University of Texas Tower is a symbol of the university for many, lit to celebrate football victories and visible from all parts of Austin.
But it was also the scene of a tragedy in 1966 when Charles Whitman barricaded himself on the observation deck above the Tower's 27th floor and killed 16 people below with gunshots.
The observation deck was re-opened in 1968, but closed indefinitely in 1975 after a rash of suicides.
Now, a group of UT students is hoping to open the top of the Tower to visitors again, the third such attempt in six years.
"I firmly believe that students are looking for a means of identifying with their campus," said Martha Shelton, a junior finance major who co-authored the proposal.
Under the plan, which was submitted to UT President Larry Faulkner early this week, scheduled tours of the Tower would be offered for $5, and priority would be given to graduating seniors and alumni.
Funds raised from the tours would be used for security guards and maintenance.
UT officials, however, cite security issues and potential suicides as reasons for keeping the Tower closed.
"You can't leave it as a seductive nuisance," said Senior Vice President William Livingston.
"There are just enough people to see the availability of the Tower as a chance to make some sort of declaration to society or to themselves."
Those who keep offices in the Tower, which is located atop the university's Main Building, complain that opening the deck would increase traffic through 27th-floor offices, and others say the Tower elevator might not be able to carry heavy traffic to the top.
In addition, university lawyers fear that the proposal would not satisfy the Americans with DISabilities act since the stairs leading to the observation area are very narrow and there is no room to install an elevator.
Ultimately, the decision to re-open the Tower lies with the UT System Board of Regents.
BERKELEY, Calif. - After an eight-day stakeout atop the University of California's Campanile clock tower, dehydrated protester Mike Kennedy came back down to earth Tuesday.
At 1:15 p.m., a crowd of about 200 gathered at the south side of the tower to watch Kennedy, clad in camouflaged Army pants and a T-shirt that read, "May all be free from suffering," descend.
Kennedy had ascended the tower and perched on a platform on the clock face last week to protest experimentation on animals. UC arrested his co-protestors in the observation deck and stopped the clock's hands to prevent damage to either the clock or Kennedy.
"I'm tired but feeling really good," Kennedy said in an impromptu statement issued from about 10 feet above the ground.
When he reached the ground at 1:45 p.m., Kennedy was given a bottle of water by police and then taken to the university's police facility.
Kennedy could be held liable for the cost of the police guard at the tower, which could be as much as $800 per day, and for profit losses due to tourists not being able to visit the Campanile.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - A revenge attack last Friday morning resulted in the beating of two students and legal trouble for Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at the University of Illinois.
The fraternity was suspended last week pending a university investigation. Police allege that Jeffrey Rajski, the fraternity's president this year, and several other members of the group forced their way into a Champaign apartment, beating two residents and damaging property.
Police believe the attack was retaliation for an incident that occurred the day before. Both of the victims are members of Beta Theta Pi fraternity and were both treated and released at a local hospital.
Rajski was arrested for home invasion, aggravated battery, mod action and criminal damage to property. Those charges mean a possible six to 30 years in prison if Rajski is convicted.
Police are still investigating to determine the other participants.
If more than two fraternity members are implicated in the attack, it could be considered a fraternity activity, said Jim Dobrovolny, president of the University Board of Fraternity Affairs.
"If it's determined to be a fraternity activity, the university could request that their charter be revoked," Dobrovolny said.
LARAMIE, Wyo. - Two university of Wyoming employees are immune from a lawsuit relating to the 1993 suicide of a student, the state's Supreme Court declared early in April.
The parents of Chauncey White sued the school and two employees, Sherene McHenry and Bobbi Johnstone, accusing them of failure to adequately treat, monitor and counsel their son and of failing to report a 1990 suicide attempt.
During that incident, McHenry, then a residence hall director, found White intoxicated and took him to a hospital. After being discharged, White inflicted superficial cuts on his wrists.
McHenry then referred White to Johnstone, a volunteer at the university's counseling center. After talking with White, Johnstone and McHenry concluded he was not at high risk of attempting suicide again. But in 1993, White did kill himself.
The court ruled the two employees were immune because they were responsible only for addressing the chance White might commit suicide and referring him to appropriate support services.
"Neither (employee's) position involved treating or diagnosing physical or mental illness," Justice Larry Lehman wrote in the court's decision.
College News Roundup briefs are collected from U-Wire member newspapers and College Press Service wire reports.