Friday, Jan. 30, 2015 | Volume 210 | Number 89 | 40 cents | iowastatedaily.com | An independent student newspaper serving Iowa State since 1890.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity member, chapter suspended By Danielle.Ferguson @iowastatedaily.com A member of the ISU chapter of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity has been suspended after being named in a sexual assault case, according to the fraternity’s national headquarters statement. The ISU chapter suspended the member and the national headquarters is investigating the situation. “Suspended members have their membership privileges re-
moved temporarily for a period of time until the suspension has been lifted,” according to the Sigma Alpha Epsilon suspension form. The chapter was placed on an interim suspension Jan. 21, Annette Hacker, university news service director, said via email. The chapter had an interim suspension hearing with Dean of Students Pamela Anthony on Jan. 23, and on Thursday, the chapter was notified that the interim suspension is being upheld pending outcome of the judicial case, she said in
the email. The chapter’s president, Christian Dahl, could not give comment because of fraternity protocol and directed the Daily to Brandon Weghorst with the national headquarters, who shared a prepared statement. “Any form of assault or sexual misconduct by anyone is unacceptable, and we will not tolerate actions that are inconsistent with our values,” the statement said. “The individual behavior of any member that deviates from our beliefs does not and should not reflect on
other members, other chapters or other fraternity men. “We continue to work with our chapter at Iowa State University and its strong alumni advisory board to make sure that brothers meet or exceed our guidelines set forth at the national level.” There are different levels of suspension, Weghorst said. In the case of a sexual assault, a chapter may suspend a member because of the individual’s action, pending what occurs in the legal system, he said. “Sexual assault is an impor-
Today’s lessoN:
ADDRESSING PROFESSORS DOCTOR PROFESSOR FORMAL VS. INFORMAL
“MR.” DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “MS” AND “MRS.”
Courtesy of Thinkstock Instructors may ask students to refer to them by their professional titles. One option to find out how to address an instructor is by simply asking them.
Learning title of instructor shows respect By Matthew.Rezab @iowastatedaily.com
E
xcuse me, sir... I mean ma’am ... err?... Dr.?... Professor?... Jim?... Oh Captain my Cap-
tain? It can sometimes be confusing to know exactly how to address an instructor, especially during the first few weeks of class. While most instructors will indicate how they prefer to be known in the first class, there are times when the proper etiquette can be mired in ambiguity. There may be a difference depending on the setting. It might be acceptable to address an instructor by their first name while at a picnic in
the park, but not when asking a question during lecture. Brenda Lohman, who has a Ph.D. and is also an associate professor in human development and family studies, said she prefers to be addressed as Dr. Lohman in professional situations. However, she does give permission to some students to address her as Brenda during one-on-one mentoring situations. But not all students take her up on her offer. “Some students, for whatever the reason, don’t feel comfortable calling professors by their first name,” Lohman said. “And that’s okay.” The academic hierarchy at colleges and universities can be tough to navigate.
From endowed, distinguished and/or university professors down to adjunct or teaching assistants, the system can resemble military ranks to students unfamiliar with the distinctions. Lohman said confusion can occur even in real world situations. She described a colleague who used her title of doctor when purchasing a plane ticket. A medical emergency occurred during the flight, prompting airline staff to ask for her assistance. The problem was that she was not a medical doctor (M.D.), but rather a Ph.D. She has since ceased using her title when purchasing airline tickets. At some American high schools and foreign colleges and universities, any teacher
can or may expect to be addressed as “professor.” Most American universities use the term “professor” to describe a person of the highest academic rank. Kevin D. Hill, senior lecturer and adviser in the history department, who also holds a Ph.D., said addressing instructors in a professional manner regardless of position is important to maintain a student-teacher relationship and to prepare for the reality of using formal names in the professional world. “It makes the relationship more clear,” Hill said. “Sometimes, teachers have to deliver bad news and if
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tant topic to us,” Weghorst said. “We believe in the legal system’s process of someone is innocent until proven guilty. It’s better to suspend the member and wait to see the outcome of what may happen as the situation pans.” Sigma Alpha Epsilon also has members participating in It’s on Us, the national initiative to fight sexual assault on campuses, according to the statement. The suspensions come after a sexual assault was reported to
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ISU being investigated for sexual assault handlings By Makayla.Tendall @iowastatedaily.com Iowa State University is one of 90 colleges being investigated by the U.S. Department of Education on whether the university investigates sexual assaults appropriately. ISU President Steven Leath received a letter from the Department of Educations’ Office for Civil Rights on Oct. 15, 2014 after an ISU student filed a complaint with the OCR saying she felt discriminated against during her sexual assault case involving a male student. According to the letter, “the complaint raises whether the University fails to promptly and equitably respond to complaints, reports and/or incidents of sexual violence of which it had notice.” The complaint argues that failure to properly investigate sexual assaults creates “a sexually hostile environment” for students at Iowa State. The sexual assault in question occurred at the end of March 2014, according to the criminal complaint filed with ISU Police Department. According to the complaint, Patrick Whetstone, a 19-yearold freshman at Iowa State at the time the assault occured, was charged with third-degree sexual abuse. The criminal complaint stated that Whetstone assaulted a 19-year-old female ISU student in Frederiksen Court by penetrating her vagina with his finger and penis and forcing her to give him oral sex, all against her will. Whetstone and the victim were both consuming alcohol at a party in an apartment on campus the night before and the
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April brings same-sex marriage concerns to US Supreme Court By Kelly.Schiro @iowastatedaily.com Same-sex couples will get their day in the Supreme Court in April. On Jan. 23, the court announced it would hear cases from Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee combined into one, according USA Today. “The court has been cautious in this area,” said Dirk Deam, senior lecturer in political science. “I think they will jump and issue a very dramatic change in the law.” Deam has been teaching courses in constitutional law for many years. According to the Huffington Post, justices likely agreed to hear the case because the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit upheld bans on same-sex marriage after other appellate courts had found similar bans unconstitutional. The court will decide whether same-sex couples have the right to marry and if they have
the right to have out-of-state marriages recognized. Deam said he thinks the court will decide if the bans against same-sex marriage violate the equal protection clause because marriage is a fundamental right. Deam also said the Supreme Court could decide to classify sexual preference as a suspect class, potentially affecting other laws that discriminate against sexual preference. “Some of the characteristics of homosexuality fit with the characteristics of traditional suspect classes,” Deam said. A suspect class has been shown to have endured a historical pattern of discrimination against the people in the group and the characteristics of the class can’t be changed ... they’re born with them. “It would go one of those two ways,” Deam said. “I suspect it will be the fundamental right because it would be the easier jump to make.” President of the LGBT Ally
Richard Martinez/Iowa State Daily
As of Jan. 5, 2015, a vast majority of the United States has passed or is in the progress of discussing legislation for the legalization of same-sex marriages. Missouri, however, only recognizes same-sex licenses in the city of St. Louis.
Alliance Adam Guenther said he is waiting for the plaintiff’s brief for the Supreme Court, which is due Feb. 27. During the brief, the plaintiff will argue that state bans on same-sex marriage are unconstitutional. “With what I know now about the court’s composition, I imagine it’s going to be really split, it’s going to be a 5-4 decision,” Guenther said. Both Deam and Guenther agree that justice Anthony Kennedy will be a deciding factor in
the court’s ruling. Deam said that Anthony Kennedy has written all major decisions relating to homosexuality since he’s been on the court. “Usually, Kennedy is the swing,” Guenther said. “He’s kind of a moderate.” As of today, same-sex marriage is legal in 36 different states. Oral arguments are expected to be heard by the court late April, with a final ruling sometime in June.
Richard Martinez/Iowa State Daily