The Daily Helmsman

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The

Daily

CiscoSystems’ urban prototype

‘City in a box’ to benefit developing world

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Helmsman Vol. 77 No. 116

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Independent Student Newspaper of The University of Memphis

www.dailyhelmsman.com

Jefferson guilty, gets life BY MEGAN HARRIS Editor-In-Chief Former University of Memphis student Devin Jefferson filed a motion for a new trial less than three weeks after a jury convicted him on Mother’s Day of the felony murder of Tigers football player Taylor Bradford. The first of four defendants to be tried in the case, Jefferson, now 23, was automatically sentenced to life in prison, where he must serve 51 years in the state penitentiary before he can be considered for release. He will be 72 years old. An amended motion will be

filed June 28, giving defense attorneys more time to prepare for appeal before a hearing can be set. In the days following Bradford’s murder in 2007, the former sophomore psychology major admitted orchestrating the robbery that resulted in Bradford being shot to death, but said he was not present and never intended for the 21-year-old lineman to be killed. Defense counsel Greg Carman said he was still optimistic about the case. “We have some good issues for appeal,” Carman said. Co-defendants Daeshawn

Tate and Courtney Washington testified for the prosecution. Tate said Jefferson contacted them about a man with money and showed them where he lived at Carpenter Complex the night of the murder. Bradford was shot in his right side in front of Carpenter Complex at approximately 9:30 p.m. Sept. 30, 2007, after Tate, Washington and Victor Trezevant, three of Jefferson’s high school friends, attempted to rob Bradford of the $7,400 he won that weekend at Horseshoe Casino in Tunica. Bradford, a business major, drove off, crossed Central and

lost consciousness while heading south on Zach Curlin and crashed into a tree. The shell casing found in the Lincoln Town Coupe was the same caliber as the 9mm Lugar slug taken from Bradford’s body. Prosecutors Reginald Henderson and Ray Lepone said Jefferson’s guilt was justified because he set the robbery plan in motion, thereby making him criminally responsible for the actions of others. Defense attorney Charles Mitchell said that in choosing to kill Bradford, the three men were

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Devin Jefferson was found guilty in the case of slain U of M footbal player Taylor Bradford.

Jefferson, page 3

Budget Woes

Can’t afford an education? Blame TBR

Anita Vaughn, administrator and CEO of Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women, moderates “Healing the Community: The Impact of Women in Healthcare.”

Women in healthcare discuss making a difference at U of M BY BETH SPENCER News Reporter

Years of medical service in the Memphis community made them doctors, nurses and educators, but first, they were women. Anita Vaughn, administrator and CEO of the Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women, moderated yesterday’s event at the Ned R. McWherter Library, dubbed “Healing the Community: The Impact of Women in Healthcare.” Vaughn and other community professionals discussed ways women overcame inequality in the field, started healthcare movements and increased the quality of life for the underprivileged.

“Today we have prominent women with us who have succeeded in the workplace, where once they would have been considered unsuitable,” she said, citing sectors such as administration, education, oncology, private and public practice, nursing, pediatrics and hospice care. “These women have influenced and enhanced the practice of medicine.” Most medical schools consist of half men and half women – a giant leap from more than a century ago, when Elizabeth Blackwell became the first female doctor in the U.S., said Marcia Bowden, doctor of internal medicine and owner of Bowden Internal Medicine. “We are making great strides

in medicine, policies and everything,” she said. “In the next 20 years I can see us cheering for a woman as president.” Angela Watson, doctor of internal medicine at Complete Healthcare Center, said that although women have moved forward in the medical field, some patients still visualize doctors as men in white coats. “You’ll walk into a patient’s room, introduce yourself (as a doctor), and they’ll be on the phone and say, ‘My nurse just walked in,’” Watson said. “One lady told me, ‘Go get the real doctor.’” Watson said it is important for

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Healthcare, page 3

by Beth Spencer

BY MEGAN HARRIS Editor-In-Chief Students at the University of Memphis can expect less bang for their buck this fall under a plan passed unanimously Tuesday by a Tennessee Board of Regents committee. Though not final until full board approval June 25, the hikes will raise tuition costs locally between 5 and 9.3 percent for the 2010-2011 academic year, on top of the $29 per semester fee increase already in place at The U of M. In-state undergraduates taking 12 hours will see a 5 percent increase, paying an additional $161 per semester, $3,390 e have tried total, not including to balance on-campus residence fees. Students cost-cutting and taking 15 hours will TBR’s tuition pay $233 more, 7.1 percent, for $3,495. increases, keeping Undergrads takthe timely ing 18 hours will pay the most. A 9.3 graduation of our percent increase will equal $305, or $3,600 students as our total. primary goal.” The plan includes a second fee increase — Shirley Raines for the 2011-12 University President school year at the same levels. Memphis students will receive the lowest percentage increase, but will ultimately pay more than any other TBR university or community college. Designed by the TBR’s Business and Finance Committee, the fee plan was proposed to make up for 80 percent of state tax money appropriated from higher education funding over the past three years.

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TBR, page 3


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