Police: First-year student died from ‘toxic mixture’ of drugs, alcohol
University authorities say a “toxic mixture” of drugs and alcohol led to the Jan. 22 death of first-year UGA student Lewis Rockwell Fish.

Fish, 19, died in his Russell Hall room after ingesting alcohol, cocaine and heroin, says UGA Police Chief Jimmy Williamson.

The police have issued warrants for seven people stemming from events on the night of
Fish’s death. Four are students at UGA.

Williamson says he expects the individuals, all under 21, to turn themselves in to authorities.

“I hope this incident helps students make better decisions about alcohol,” he says. “I hope this loss of life is not in vain.”

The UGA students will face local authorities as well as a university judicial process, Williamson says. All are charged with multiple misdemeanors.

A Gainesville State College student and a visitor also face misdemeanor charges. Thomas Stuart Carpenter, a Georgia College and State University student, faces a felony charge for possession of heroin. Carpenter first contacted police at about 10:30 a.m., Jan. 22 when he realized Fish needed help. The two were staying in Fish’s dorm room. By the time police and medical personnel arrived, Fish was dead, according to Athens-Clarke County Coroner Bobby Tribble.

Carpenter, who has retained an attorney, has refused to answer further questions, Williamson says.

Forestry degree program reaccredited; Grady College receives recommendation
UGA’s forestry degree program received reaccreditation, and the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication has been recommended for reaccreditation, according to their deans.

The Society of American Foresters reaccredited UGA’s forestry degree program through 2015. Dean Richard Porterfield of the Warnell School of Forest Resources says the 10-year reaccreditation, which comes without qualification or further progress reports, is a testament to the program.

A review team representing the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications completed a three-day site visit to the college late last month. They found Grady College in compliance with each of the organization’s nine accreditation standards, according to Interim Dean Len Reid. The reaccreditation recommendation was based on the team’s review of the college’s self-study and an on-campus assessment of faculty research, teaching, outreach and service, resources, students and student ­services, diversity, learning outcomes, facilities and administration.

The recommendation for reaccreditation will be reviewed by the Accrediting Committee in March and then by the Accrediting Council in May. Both the committee and council can alter the review team’s recommendation, and the council makes the final decision.

HBO communications head will speak
Quentin Schaffer, HBO’s senior vice president of corporate communications, will speak on Feb. 7 at 5:30 p.m. in room 148 of the Student Learning Center. The lecture, sponsored by the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication’s Peabody Awards Program and the Cable Center, is free and open to the public.

Schaffer is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of national public relations campaigns for all HBO and Cinemax programming, including original movies, documentaries, music events, comedy shows, series, sports and family programs.

The UGA lecture is part of the Cable Center’s “Mavericks Lecture Series,” which features innovators in cable programming and provides lectures, seminars, discussions and career advice to undergraduate and graduate students at universities across the U.S.