Ark. State U. Newspapers (with SX story) Stolen

[hoosier]

Jan. 26, 2005


Arkansas State U. Newspapers Stolen

Associated Press


LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - About 3,000 copies of the Arkansas State University campus newspaper were stolen this week, and the editor believes they were taken to squelch a story about underage drinking at a fraternity.

The copies of The Herald, nearly half of its 6,500-paper run, were taken from newspaper boxes across the Jonesboro campus Monday, editor Dustin Faber said. Additional copies were distributed Tuesday.

Faber said the edition had a story in it about a 17-year-old girl who suffered alcohol poisoning after a party at the Sigma Chi fraternity house earlier this month.

The university told Sigma Chi Wednesday that it couldn't hold any more social events for the rest of the semester. Officials said there could be additional sanctions if the fraternity is implicated in the newspaper theft.

Sigma Chi's international headquarters said it is also investigating the Arkansas State chapter.

[hoosier]

Thursday, January 27, 2005 · Last updated 8:42 p.m. PT

Ark. students return stolen school papers
By KELLY P. KISSEL
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Four members of a fraternity returned thousands of stolen campus newspapers and apologized for taking the copies in an attempt to quash publicity about a party at which a 17-year-old girl suffered possible alcohol poisoning.

The members of the Sigma Chi fraternity at Arkansas State University admitted taking 3,000 copies of The Herald, the newspaper serving Arkansas State University's Jonesboro campus, according to Jory Taylor, the fraternity's international director of chapter development in Evanston, Ill.

Much of the paper's 6,500-paper run was taken from a number of distribution points Monday night, editor Dustin Faber said. The edition featured a story about the possible alcohol poisoning at a Sigma Chi party Jan. 14.

Sigma Chi's parent organization directed the four to return the missing papers, apologize and pay the $745 needed to reprint and distribute the copies, Taylor said Thursday.

"When I read the front page article, emotions overtook my good judgment and irrational behavior was the outcome of my emotions. I am terribly sorry," one of the four wrote to The Herald.

The four have not been charged with a crime. They said others in the chapter were not involved with taking the newspapers.

The university told Sigma Chi on Wednesday that it couldn't hold any more social events the rest of the semester and that there could be more sanctions.