Editorial: Collegian year in review
Highlights from the 2005 - 2006 academic year

April 26, 2006

As the Spring 2006 semester winds down, we reflect back on a year that was filled with charity and hope, close-mindedness and closure, loss and gain at our home at 20th and Olney.

La Salle started off the year with an Affirmation in effect, in which students pledged to respect, “people, property [and] Our University.” A few months later, the 20th Street protesters decided to finally respect our people, property and University by dropping their cause and giving North Dorm residents the early morning shut-eye they so deserved.

After our nation was hit by Hurricane Katrina in the beginning of the semester, many La Salle organizations came together to raise over $2,500 to help aid the victims. The University also opened its arms to three students who could not return to their colleges in the damaged areas. In those first few weeks of the 2005-2006 academic year, we all observed what a caring, generous community we live in, and what a difference we can make when working together for an important cause.

Unfortunately, the first semester also saw an increase of crime on and in the areas around campus, including an incident where three students were fired upon at Germantown Hospital in late October. This crime spree confused many members of the University, since La Salle had boosted its security in the previous months. Thankfully, not as many Safety Advisories have been littering the SDR booths lately. However, as all of the Safety Advisories preach, students should be cautious while walking on and around campus, and should travel in groups whenever possible.

In early November, Mike Cleaves and Gary Neal were acquitted of their charges of raping a woman in the St. Miguel Townhouses in June 2004. However, both men admitted to behaving in ways that go against our Lasallian values. A month later, Dzaflo Larkai’s charges were dropped. Now that one of the worst events in recent La Salle history was in the past, the University community finally started on a long journey of repairing our reputation that was unjustly sullied by an unfortunate situation.

Tragically, first semester also reminded students of their own mortality. Senior accounting major Danielle Leonard died of an accidental drug overdose on Nov. 28. A student death always shakes a university, and Danielle’s death was no different. But there is a way that we can take meaning from this tragic event. Danielle’s father Tom collaborated with Dean of Students, Joseph J. Cicala, on his annual letter about drug and alcohol policies, in which Tom urged young people who are using illegal substances to get the help they need. We applaud the Leonard family for being so brave and open about Danielle’s death, and we hope those in need take Tom’s advice. A scholarship fund has also been set up in Danielle’s name.

Further, in a November football game against Duquesne University, sophomore linebacker Preston Plevretes experienced a severe brain injury after being hit. Plevretes suffered from a stroke at the time of his injury and was in critical condition. By January, Preston was able to have sufficient movement in most of his limbs. He is progressing slowly, using non-verbal means to communicate with medical staff and family.

On March 1, the Collegian celebrated two major milestones: our 75th anniversary and getting the newspaper back online after being off for two and a half years. That issue also featured a commentary article (“Sorority’s tactics squelch individuality”) which resulted in the most feedback the Collegian had gotten all year. Some letters to the editor asserted that the Collegian unfairly covers Greek Life. In the March 22 issue, we tried to point out many of the positive stories, some of them on the front page, in which we have featured Greek Life during this academic year. The Collegian hopes to continue to receive educated responses from the University community on our coverage of the campus.

Ending on a sour note, Neumann RC William Ortega resigned in March. In November, racist graffiti was found outside of Ortega’s residence in Neumann, which he shared with his wife and children. Security reported that in early February, another case of this type of graffiti was found “attached to the door of the resident director’s office” (Collegian, “Security Report,” Feb. 8, 2006). Regardless of the fact that the University cannot comment on Ortega’s reasons for leaving, a shameful hate act was still committed. It is horrifying to know that the same people who came together to aid Hurricane Katrina victims earlier in the year could also spread vicious hatred throughout what should be a close-knit, open-minded community.

It is a sad thing that the Collegian had so many downbeat stories to observe and report this past year, but that in no way dampens our spirits in this little office located in the depths of the Union building. We anticipate with open arms the upcoming academic year with the highest hopes that we will have an abundance of uplifting stories to report, a plethora of responses to issues we raise in these weekly issues and nothing but fond memories come next April.