Western Front - 2005 November 11

              THE WESTERN FRONT FRIDAY
NOVEMBER 11, 2005
WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY An independent student newspaper serving the campus community since 1970. ISSUE 16, VOLUME 135
Mills can return to Western
If Mills serves another suspension, he
could resume teaching theater classes
BY CIARA O' ROURKE
The Western Front
After a yearlong paid suspension
and six meetings to assess the teaching
eligibility of Perry Mills, a tenured
Western theatre arts instructor, the
controversial professor could return
to Western.
First, however, he must serve
a two-quarter unpaid suspension,
according to the document containing
the findings of the panel mat reviewed
the charges against Mills.
If Mills decides to continue
teaching, he must also sign a statement
agreeing to comply with Western's
code of faculty ethics.
"They threw me out of a college-teaching
job," Mills said. "How can
they do this to me?"
The hearing panel that conducted
the six meetings unanimously voted
to recommend to Western President
Karen Morse that the university
suspend Mills without pay for two
quarters during the school year.
Five Western professors comprised
the hearing panel.
The theatre arts department placed
Mills on an indefinite paid suspension
in October 2004 for violating the
faculty handbook, to which all faculty
must adhere.
The hearing panel issued the
recommendation to Morse, Provost
of Academic Affairs Andrew Bodman
and Mills Oct 31, Western Assistant
Attorney General Wendy Bohlke said.
Morse can decide to review the
panel's decision if she finds it arbitrary,
unfair or unlawful.
"We're still in the middle of a
waiting game," Bohlke said. "It's a
serious matter."
Mills said he is appealing the
panel's recommendation.
Psychology professor Jeffrey
Grimm, sociology professor James
Inverarity, English professor John
Purdy, finance and marketing associate
professor David Rystrom and English
professor Laura Laffrado formed the
five-member hearing panel.
The panel conducted six meetings
between Oct 5 and Oct 19 to assess
see RULING, page 4
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JARED YOAKUM AND TAYLOR WILLIAMS / THE WESTERN FRONT
Western theatre arts professor Perry Mills has been on an indefinite, paid suspension
since October 2004. Mills started teaching at Western in 1980 and, despite his con­troversial
approach to teaching, received tenure in 1994. Former students debate his
teaching methods; some call it ineffective, others call him a theater savant.
Students uncertain about DUIs
BY ANDREW IRVINE
The Western Front
Red and blue flashing lights illuminate
the Bellingham streets as police officers
pull drivers over for driving under the
influence.
The Bellingham Police Department
has made 228 DUI arrests in 2005, an
average of slightly fewer than one per
day, Lt. Craige Ambrose said.
Many Western students face drunk-driving
charges, and some deal with it
worse than others, said Elva Giddings,
coordinator of Western's Alcohol and
Drug Consultation, Assessment and
Skills program.
"With some students it's like life
stops," Giddings said "That can be
deadly to their academic quarter because
they can't think or concentrate, and I can
help them with that."
Giddings said she helps students by
referring them to a lawyer before they go
to trial or helping them with issues that
arrive after trial.
"Sometimes students have to take
classes, attend victim-impact panels or
outpatient treatment, and I can help them
out and fit that into their financial needs,"
Giddings said.
The minimum fine for a DUI when the
driver's blood-alcohol content is more
than 0.08 percent, which is the legal
DUIs issued by Bellingham Police Department by month
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INFOGRAPHIC BY LAUREN ALLAIN / THE WESTERN FRONT
Officers have made more arrests for driving under the influence, averag­ing
one per day, during the past three months compared with last year.
limit in Washington, is $820. Lawyer
fees usually cost a minimum of $1,500,
Giddings said.
If the driver is younger than 21 years
of age, the legal blood-alcohol-content
limit is 0.02 percent
Many citizens don't know what to
do if an officer pulls mem over for a
suspected DUI, but being polite to the
police officer is important, said Tom
Lester, a Bellingham criminal defense
lawyer who specializes in DUIs.
'Have your license, registration
and insurance ready when the officer
approaches your vehicle," Lester said.
"From the time you are pulled over, what
you need to do is be extraordinarily polite.
Answer questions with 'yes sir,' 'no sir,'
see DUI, page 4
Early results
indicate tight
election races
BY MEGAN MULDARY
The Western Front
As of Thursday morning, the Whatcom County
Auditor's Office had received 35,427 ballots from
Tuesday's election. Whatcom" County residents
voiced their opinions on issues that will affect the
future of Bellingham and Whatcom County.
Whatcom County Auditor Shirley Forslof said
the office counted approximately half of the votes,
with several races and initiatives still undecided.
Forslof said she expects to receive 60,000 resident
ballots, equaling 60 percent of the registered voters.
in Whatcom County.
The Auditor's Office will finalize election
results Nov. 29.
Initiative 1, which would add fluoride to
Bellingham's water supply, is too close to call as of
Thursday. Voters are approving it 50.92 percent to
49.08 percent.
Fluoride Initiative 1 caused controversy in
Bellingham.
Voters in other cities throughout the United
States voted against initiatives that would fluoridate
those cities' water supplies Tuesday. Two cities in
Ohio, Springfield and Xenia, and Toole, Utah, voted
see RESULTS, page 4
TALKING DIRTY
A sex educator comes to Western
with a positive message for men
and women
ACCENT, PAGE 6
TIME FOR TIPOFF
Hie No. 14-ranked Western
women's basketball team re­turns
four of its five starters
SPORTS, PAGE 8
CRIMINALS IN ACTION
The CIA's secret prisons are an
example of the United States sac­rificing
human rights in wartime
OPINIONS, PAGE 10
WEATHER
Saturday: Rainy
Hi: 46 Low: 38
Sunday: Rainy
Hi: 48 Low: 42
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