Friday, Jan. 28, 2011
Utah Statesman The
Campus Voice since 1902
Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.utahstatesman.com
Settlement reached in Starks lawsuit By MEGAN BAINUM assistant news editor
A lawsuit filed in August 2009 has been settled between the family of Michael Starks and Utah State with the agreement that USU implement as they see fit five recommendations regarding hazing, alcohol and drug abuse education. After engaging in an off-campus Sigma Nu fraternity initiation activity in November 2008, Michael Starks, 18, died of alcohol poisoning. The Sigma Nu fraternity and Chi Omega sorority were closed following the incident and 13 students were charged. In August 2009, the Starks family filed a wrongful death suit against USU, saying that the university’s “benign neglect” played a part in the death of their son. The settlement specifies five implementations for the university that James Morales, vice president for student services, said are in cohesion with what Utah State is already committed to doing. Morales said the university is pleased with the outcome because the settlement agreement
outlines things that, “we (the university) are very much committed to.” The safety and well-being of students has always been something the university takes seriously, Morales said. He said nothing was surprising in the agreement because USU has already been doing the things that were outlined. “We cherish them (students) very much and we try very much to the best of our ability to provide an environment that is conducive to their safety,” Morales said. “It is an opportunity that we take upon ourselves and we are constantly looking for ways to improve and enhance and find better ways of doing something.” John DeVilbiss, executive director of public relations & marketing, said USU shares concerns with the Starks’ family. “We share their concern of prevention,” DeVilbiss said. “What can we do to insure this never happens again?” As part of the settlement, Utah State agreed
5 Recommendations 1. Review existing alcohol and hazing training and have students participate in the designing of new ones. 2. Invite local police to participate in training. Have students be more actively involved. 3. Provide information about local hospital policies regarding police notification. Encourage students to call 911. 4. Encourage faculty to support surveys of alcohol and drug use among students. 5. Making annual alcohol and hazing update training programs mandatory for club sports and Greek organizations.
- See SAFETY, page 3
Prescription drug use number rising at USU
By DAN SMITH senior news writer
Prescription drug abuse and misuse are on the rise at Utah State University, said drug and alcohol prevention specialist Ryan Barfuss of the USU Wellness Center. “The high-risk groups on campus are your student athletes, your Greeks and incoming freshman,” Barfuss said. “People are going out and abusing (prescription drugs) to get high and sharing it and using it in non-prescribed ways.” Barfuss is the USU representative on the Northern Utah Substance Abuse Prevention Team, which is a coalition in Cache County made up of law enforcement, the health department, PTA and concerned members of the community. The team, which works with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), recently received a grant to research problems with prescription drug abuse. Sharing, improper disposal and medications over-prescribed by doctors were the three main issues found in surveys. The Problem with Prescription Drugs “Since 2000, Utah has experienced a more than four-fold increase in deaths associated with prescribed opioid pain medications,” Barfuss said. Barfuess said according to the website, deaths due to prescribed pain medications are
PERSCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE IS slowly rising at USU. Officers say people should dispose of old drugs immediately. STERLING BOIN photo illustration
the fourth-highest in the state. More Utah residents die from unintentional overdoses than from motor vehicle collisions. Barfuss said 2009 results from a survey he does every two years did not indicate a problem
with prescription meds on campus, but he suspects the problem is underreported. “On campus a lot of people don’t think it’s a problem or that because they’re prescribed it, it’s okay to have it or use it down the road,”
he said. “You hear about it all the time with students using ADHD drugs like Ritalin and Adderall for studying and staying up later.” In 2011, he said he will narrow the scope of his survey to include questions regarding sharing and using without a prescription. “They start diagnosing themselves and thinking it’s okay to take a friend’s prescription medication,” Barfuss said. “If a student is into hard drugs like cocaine or heroin, they generally started with prescription drugs.” Capt. Steve Milne of the USU Police Department cited 2009 department arrest data showing 18 drug-related arrests. Drugs are the third-highest reason for arrest and are sometimes concurrent with alcohol, the highest reason for arrest. Most drug incidents occur on Friday and Saturday nights between the hours of 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., according to the USUPD arrest data. Sgt. John Italasano of the North Park Police Department said painkillers like oxycodone and oxycontin appeal to young people who sometimes raid their parents’ and grandparents’ medicine cabinets for a free high. “Those types of painkillers are abused by a lot of people,” Italasano said, “so any time we can get rid of them we’re better off.” Italasano, Milne and Barfuss recently worked together with the DEA and health
- See HIGH, page 4
ASUSU arts and lectures job filled Landslide case settled for $100K By CATHERINE MEIDELL news editor
Hillary Searle, ASUSU’s newly appointed arts and lecture director, was sworn in during Wednesday’s executive council meeting, taking on the duties Skyler Parkhurst was responsible for during fall semester. “While the arts and lectures responsibilities could have been dispersed among the programming board, there are big plans to end the semester. We can serve the students more efficiently with Hillary’s service,” said ASUSU Programming VP Tom Atwood, who appointed Searle. Searle has been a part of numerous event committees and is partially responsible for the execution of Poetry and a Beverage, Week of Welcome and former Utah Jazz player Jeff Hornacek’s appearance on campus. Atwood said Searle has been updated on the events she will be responsible to take part in preparing and he is confident that she will fulfill her new position because of her “innovative new ideas.” “The most challenging thing is just getting thrown in halfway through the year,” said Searle, who is a senior majoring in public relations. “I’m excited to take this on. It’s a different atmosphere – a different energy. I just have to get used to it and adapt.”
Inside This Issue
In Searle’s public relations background, she said she has learned event planning is unpredictable, and it is key for those running events to stay on their toes, always ready to fix screws that have become loose with fresh ideas. However, these ideas must be cultivated quickly, she said. “Hillary Searle is creative, forward-thinking and has been involved with planning and executing arts and lectures events since we were put in office,” Atwood said. Searle said when Atwood asked her if she would be interested in taking the position, her answer was definite. “I did not hesitate,” she said. “This is something I’ve been wanting.” One of the events Searle will organize with Atwood and Diversity VP Kaho Fiefia is a fundraising event that was presented and voted on unanimously during the executive council meeting. Katchafire, a reggae band from Hawaii, is booked to play April 12, and 100 percent of the revenue will be used for as many $1,000-scholarships for USU students as will be possible. Students who show academic excellence, leadership and financial need are encouraged to apply when the application is made available.
- See ASUSU, page 3
9/02/09 Word lovers gather for sixth annual Scrabble Scramble. Page 5
By DAN SMITH senior news writer
Legal representatives for USU and all other parties involved in the Logan landslide lawsuit met on Wednesday to reach a global settlement in which all plaintiffs and respondents agree on terms. “We all agreed to put aside our arguments and facts and came up with a settlement that, after hours of negotiations, the plaintiffs agreed to,” said USU risk management attorney Joe Dulin. “We all felt that the most important thing was to bring closure to the family.” Prior to the discovery portion of the legal process, when all sides meet to share the grounds for their cases, a mediation was held at which experienced trial lawyer and mediator Paul Felt presided, Dulin said. Dulin said he thinks that the parties being sued, USU, UDOT, Logan City, Logan Northern Irrigation Company and the land-
- See CLOSURE, page 4 Ashlee Brown set a school record for double-doubles. Page 8
www.utahstatesman.com Miss an issue? Our website has stories galore, even the one you missed. Just click on “More” and that’s what you’ll get! www.utahstatesman.com Official Student Newspaper of Utah State University • “It’s All The News You Need!”