Student PR group wins national award
UGA's chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America was named outstanding chapter at the organization's national conference earlier this month in Nashville, Tenn. The Dr. F.H. Teahan outstanding chapter award is given to a strong and active chapter that has achieved success with fund raisers and public relations work for the university and the community. The UGA chapter won the award in 1995 as well.

"To be named the best of 202 PRSSA chapters across the nation, including those schools with the very best PR programs, is quite a testimony to our students and our program," says Lynne Sallot, an assistant professor of public relations who serves as the chapter's faculty advisor. Sallot was honored with the Dr. F.H. Teahan faculty advisor award for her guidance, motivation and advocacy.

Law students' public service efforts are recognized: The UGA chapter of Phi Alpha Delta, a law fraternity, has been named National Law Related Education Chapter of the Year for its volunteer education effort in 1996-97, and the program coordinator, 1997 law graduate Dena Gardner of Richmond Hill, was recognized for Outstanding LRE Student Service. Gardner coordinated the work of more than 70 student volunteers who made dozens of presentations in local elementary, middle and high schools on such topics as conflict resolution, the Bill of Rights, driving laws and affirmative action. The students completed a training seminar in order to be certified to lead LRE classes.

Author to speak: Donald Windham, internationally acclaimed author and editor of 11 books, will give a reading and talk called "Remembering Tennessee Williams, Fritz Bultman, and a Childhood in Atlanta" Dec. 7 at 1:30 p.m. at the Georgia Museum of Art.

Windham's connections to the university are many. Several years ago, he donated a significant collection of letters, photographs, manuscripts and first-edition books to the Hargrett Rare Book Library. The collection includes several Tennessee Williams manuscripts (A Streetcar Named Desire, Portrait of a Girl in Glass, Battle of Angels and Stair to the Roof), along with other items. Most recently, Windham wrote the biographical essay about Fritz Bultman for the catalog accompanying the museum's current Bultman exhibition.

In 1996, the University of Georgia Press published new editions of two of Windham's better-known books, Emblems of Conduct and Tennessee Williams' Letters to Donald Windham, 1940-1965. He is also the author of several works of fiction and memoirs and letter collections.

The talk is open free to the public and will be followed by a reception.

Georgia beats Florida, again: Students from the UGA School of Law beat University of Florida law students for the 10th straight year in the Hulsey-Kimbrell Moot Court Competition, held each year in conjunction with the football game between the two schools. With the victory, UGA improves its overall record in the contest to 11-3-2. The UGA team consisted of third-year law students Tom Shanahan and Brandon Lewis. They represented the defendant in a hypothetical case in which a suspected war criminal, facing deportation, invoked his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. Oral arguments in the case were heard by a distinguished panel of judges.

Fraternity activities restricted: A student judiciary panel has placed Theta Chi fraternity on graduated social restriction for violating university regulations by providing alcohol to underage students. The incident which led to the hearing caused the hospitalization of a freshman, who had begun an evening of drinking at the Theta Chi house before moving on to commercial establishments. The student was released from the hospital the following day.

The decision bans alcohol entirely on Theta Chi premises until spring semester 1999. In addition, the fraternity is prohibited from hosting any events at all until spring quarter 1998. During spring 1998 the fraternity may host three non-alcoholic events and participate in non-alcoholic rush activities; during the following fall semester, unlimited non-alcoholic events are allowed, and the fraternity may host registered events at which alcohol is present as long as the event takes place off Theta Chi property.

All active members of the fraternity are required to attend an alcohol-awareness seminar during each academic term until the restriction is removed in spring 1999. A detailed pledge-education process must be developed, the goal being to "change the culture and traditions of the pledge program that supported the environment for this incident to occur." Numerous additional requirements include community-service events and risk-management seminars.

A review panel will determine whether the fraternity has complied with these requirements, with immediate suspension to be the result of any violation.