Twenty-six first-year law students received the single-page letter - signed "Ray A. Sism" - after returning from winter break. Marshall Collins, a university spokesperson, said the letter may have been sent by someone within the university.
The letter criticized the university's affirmative action policies and said black law students are unwelcome in the "White Man's law school." The letter added that although the black students have already been admitted, "we don't have to let you graduate."
Campus police officials said they are still investigating the incident. Norman Lefstein, dean of the law school, has offered a cash reward to anyone who can identify the author of the letter.
The University of Minnesota Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid accidentally paid the maximum amount of Minnesota State Grant money to all scholarship recipients, including those who did not fulfill the 15-credit requirement for the semester. Grant money was deposited directly into the students' bank accounts.
The 2,500 students that mistakenly received extra money will be mailed a letter notifying them of the error and requesting them to return any excess grant money by Feb. 6.
The university barred the man, whose name has not been released, from attending the institution in 1981 after his strong odor and dirty clothing prompted complaints from students and faculty. The man was studying astrophysics and claimed that living in a plastic, foam shack since 1978 helped him acquire a more profound understanding of astrophysics.
In several related cases, courts have ruled against the man
Florida engineering senior Daryl Banks, who was apprehended after the girl identified him from an ATM security video, pleaded no contest to lewd assault of a person under age 16. Conditions of his probation include the completion of a psychosexual therapy program, no contact with the victim and no unsupervised contact with anyone under 16. Banks was also ordered to undergo testing for sexually transmitted diseases.
The girl began conversing with Banks through an America Online chat room last May. Banks eventually asked the girl if she wished to meet him, but the girl told him she was only 14 years old. Banks convinced her to sneak out, and picked her up at her home.
- Compiled by Daily Staff Reporter Christine M. Paik from the Chronicle of Higher Education and the University Wire.
01-28-98
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