Stolen Yacht Club Statues Found at Alabama Frat House

Stolen Statues Found

By Patrick W. Connelly
Co-Editor, The Frat Boy News

Two statues valued at about $17,000 stolen from a local yacht club were found last week at the University of Alabama's Sigma Pi house, police said.

While brothers were home for winter break, a university employee was doing a routine inspection of the fraternity's house when she found the two statues first reported stolen sometime between Dec. 14 and 19 from the NorthRiver Yacht Club in Tuscaloosa, Ala., police said.

One of the statues, a goat worth about $16,000, would have need three or four people alone to move, police said.

Because of the break, students and brothers of the fraternity haven't been questioned or charged in the theft. Police plan to begin inquisitions when students return to campus.

The club's Web site says the facility is a premier golf, recreational and social facility.

Alabama, Arkansas State Girls Get Bids

UA Recruitment Continues to Grow
Sororities Give Out Bids

The number of girls rushing sororities at the University of Alabama and Arkansas State University was bigger than ever this year, causing campus officials to consider adding more sororities.

"Recruitment was extremely successful and our four organizations are excited about their new members," said Arkansas State administrator Sara Bailey. Each sorority at the college was allowed to take 10-12 more girls than usual because so many signed up.

"I am excited to now be an Alpha Gam because they are the best and most lady-like ladies I've ever seen," said Mary Grace Hughes, an Arkansas State sophomore who received a bid from Alpha Gamma Delta.

At Alabama, 1,079 girls received bids while more than 1,400 signed up for recruitment.

"I'm really pleased that 87 percent of girls that signed their bid cards got their first choice," said Alabama Panhel president Julia James. "I think overall all the chapters have been really pleased with their recruitment classes."

Alabama Sororites Get New Pledges

Sorority Bid Day

More than 14,000 girls at the University of Alabama received bids Sunday to sororities.

Each house accepted about 80 girls, a report said.

All of the campus' sororities gathered at Bryant-Denny Stadium for the announcement.

String of Textbooks Pawned at UNC-Wilmington

The Frat Boy News daily campus police report for Monday:

University of Alabama (compiled by Jamon Smith, Dateline Alabama)
Feb. 17 - 6:19 p.m.: A reverend from a nearby church was killed when he was hit by a vehicle near Coleman Coliseum. Police said the man was walking when he was hit by an unknown driver.

University of North Carolina-Wilmington (compiled by Brittany Butcher, The Star News)
Feb. 18: Students are being warned to keep a close eye on their belongings. Since Feb. 7 there has been a string of textbook thefts from the Library, said police. Textbooks are being stolen and sold back to Seahawk Book & Supply in University Landing, said UNCW police. There have been six incidents in which textbooks have come up missing either from backpacks being stolen or textbooks taken out of backpacks left unattended.

The stolen textbooks are easily identified by students, and usually show up within minutes at the off-campus book store. Campus police are notifying students through e-mail and fliers, and are asking students to keep their belongings with them or to lock them up, although there are no lockers available in the library. Some students have had their textbooks returned, police said.

Southern Illinois University (compiled by Maria Baran, thr Belleville News-Democrat)
A series of burglaries to vehicles at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's main campus has students and police on the lookout. 14 such thefts have been reported since the beginning of the year, compared with 76 break-ins for all of 2006. An all-campus safety bulletin was e-mailed earlier this month to all university students, faculty and staff. It advised always locking vehicles, making sure windows are closed and never leaving valuables in sight. Police reported no pattern in the thefts that took place in various parking lots, during all hours, every day of the week.

New Beta and DKE Mansions Coming Soon at 'Bama

New fraternity houses' construction on schedule

Delta Kappa Epsilon and Beta Theta Pi have both seen their houses torn down only to start on the construction of new chapter homes at the University of Alabama.

"We're going to build something that lasts for years and years," said a representative from the construction administration. "It's a lot like building a custom home. It's very high maintenance," he continued.

The new houses will be adjacent to the plaze near the university's football stadium. Officials said construction costs total about $10 million.

"We had mixed emotions at first when we heard what was going to happen, but when they showed us the plans, we were very excited about what they wanted to do with the stadium and, in hindsight, we're very pleased with the way it turned out," said a DLE alumni. The new house will be large enough for 29 brothers to call it home.

"We've been having to have our parties at bars and with all of the new pledges there's been no place to party," one Beta said. "It'll be really nice having our place back so we can party. Really, that's one of the big things is having a place to hold functions and where we can all get together."

That's right Beta brother, it's all about getting together to party my friend.

Gun Shots Fired, 2 Alpha Phi Alphas Attacked

Two Members of Alpha Phi Alpha Attacked at Frat House

Two Alpha Phi Alpha brothers were attacked in front of their fraternity house at the University of Alabama Saturday morning.

The attackers have yet to be identified, but rumors say it may Kappa Alpha Psi may have been involved.

Kappa Alpha Psi has denied the allegations.

No one was injured, and police are investigating gun shots in the vicinity that occurred around the same time.

Theta Chi Brother Charged in Pill-Popping Death

Student Charged for Fraternity Brother's Death

A Theta Chi brother at the University of Alabama is being charged with the death of a fellow student and friend's September death. Police believe that Christoper Skelton gave fraternity brother Jamie Echols the Fetanyl which, combined with alcohol, led to his death. Skelton was also charged with illegal receipt, possession, and distribution of presription drugs. Police officials said it is not an indictment of the Greek system by any means, but hope that the fraternities at the campus have learned a lesson from the student's death.