Community Briefs

Monday, June 8, 1998

Community Briefs

Viking-themed party ends in hospital calls

One woman was taken to the hospital and another was treated at
the scene after university police and fire department units
responded to an emergency call from Phi Psi fraternity on Gayley
Avenue Saturday night.

Phi Psi was holding its annual "Valhalla" party when the police
and fire department arrived around 11: p.m. The two women were
reportedly suffering from alcohol over-consumption. Later that
evening, around 12:30 a.m., the fire department ordered the party
shut down for overcrowding, fire officials said.

Duet nightclub closed down for overcrowding

Last Saturday night, LAPD vice cops shut down Duet Nightclub and
Restaurant for overcrowding.

The club closure, which occurred around 10:30 pm, comes at a
time when Duet is applying for a dancing permit.

Vice cops were apparently inspecting the club for alcohol
violations. Although some citations were given out for open alcohol
containers in the street, no arrests were made. The club itself was
cited for overcrowding, an issue that has been in dispute ever
since the club opened in Westwood over a year ago.

Duet has been cited for overcrowding twice since its opening,
but Duet managers argue that the maximum occupancy has never been
clearly stated by the fire department.

A total of six police units were sent to the sent, as well as
fire trucks.

Duet was unavailable for comment at press time.

Grants bring minorities to UT Law School

University of Texas, Austin officials and students planning to
attend the UT School of Law said the increase in minority
admissions at the law school was boosted by new scholarship
opportunities for minorities and the new admissions criteria.

Besides the UCs, the UT is the only other public school system
in the country that has abolished the use of affirmative action in
admissions.

Last spring, the Ex-Students’ Association created the Texas
Leaders Scholarship Program, a financial aid program designed to
increase diversity and counter the effects of the Hopewood
decision.

So far, five minority law students have been awarded the $7,500
scholarship, and Eleanor Moore, scholarship coordinator for the
Ex-Students’ Association, said she expects more recipients to be
named soon.

Christina Allen, who graduated from the University in May, said
the scholarship was the decisive factor in her decision to attend
the UT law school this year.

Although she considered the university for its reputation as a
solid law school, Allen said receiving financial aid clinched her
decision to stay in Austin.

Allen, a African American student, said although she applied to
and was accepted by Georgetown, Northwestern and Pepperdine, the
university was the most affordable.

Despite the school’s reputable faculty and affordability, many
minority applicants are "scared off" by the negative things they
hear or read about in the press, she said.

However, Allen said the university is a diverse community,
contrary to what many people think.

"If I didn’t feel that UT was a welcome environment after
spending four years as an undergraduate, I wouldn’t have chosen to
stay here for another three years," she said.

But she added that a larger minority applicant pool is necessary
to achieve better diversity because having more candidates would
increase the number of qualified candidates.

This year, 21 African American students have been offered
admission, while 11 African Americans were admitted last year.