Student files suit against UC Riverside for
hazing
RIVERSIDE, Calif. “”mdash; A University of California, Riverside
fraternity pledge who suffered a lacerated liver during what was
described as a hazing incident gone awry filed a negligence suit
against Psi Chi Omega and the college.
Dann Ryan Banaag, 20, of Loma Linda filed the Superior Court
suit this month seeking unspecified damages for conduct described
as “˜”˜despicable, grossly wanton and reckless.
Defendants included UC regents, the fraternity and two Psi Chi
Omega members.
University spokeswoman Kathleen Peach declined comment.
The suit said Banaag was injured during a Nov. 5
“˜”˜trust game” at a park near the
university. He was allegedly blindfolded and told to run through
the park, where he was tackled by fraternity members.
Banaag suffered unspecified long-term physical and mental
injuries and continues to incur expenses, the suit said.
Psi Chi Omega was suspended for a year and will remain on
probation for three years, the UCR student conduct committee
decided.
Challenge to lap dance ban fails in court
SANTA ANA, Calif. “”mdash; A judge threw out a strip-club
owner’s lawsuit claiming the city of La Habra’s law
banning lap dances was vague and unconstitutional.
Taboo Gentleman’s Club owner Badi
“˜”˜Bill” Gammoh sued La Habra challenging
an April 2003 ordinance requiring dancers to stay at least two feet
away from customers. Gammoh said he would appeal the federal
court’s decision, made public Wednesday.
U.S. District Court Judge Gary Taylor said the club’s
dancers have no First Amendment right to make contact with patrons
and that the city’s law “˜”˜is not a complete ban
on protected expression.”
Reports from Bruin wire services.
Students, former U.S. president oppose Taco
Bell:
Student activists from the Student Worker Front and the Social
Justice Alliance marched through campus Thursday in support of the
Coalition of Immokalee Workers and their continued boycott of Taco
Bell.
The protest came in response to the decision from the
students’ association board of directors last Friday to keep
UCLA’s Taco Bell on campus. A day before the board voted,
Yum! Brands CEO David Novak offered to address workers’
concerns if the CIW ended its boycott.
About 20 students marched up Bruin Walk and around North Campus,
beating drums and expressing dissatisfaction with ASUCLA’s
decision.
On Wednesday, former President Jimmy Carter spoke out against
Novak’s offer to the CIW, releasing a statement calling the
CEO’s proposal “a lost opportunity for the head of the
world’s largest restaurant company to take the lead in
eliminating human rights abuses.”
Compiled from Bruin reports and wire services.