2008 Woodie Awards
Months later, debate surrounds MU students' charges
Stacey Skotzko
Issue date: 8/21/07 Section: Campus
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The two remaining students-Maureen E. Grady, charged with furnishing alcohol to Speidel and Danielle E. Davis, charged with permitting underage consumption at the same off-campus residence-face pretrial hearings Thursday.
Carr, Byrne, Sicker, along with Grady and Davis, were originally scheduled to appear in Butler County Area I Court May 5.
Speidel was killed by a CSX train at approximately 1:45 a.m. April 14, with a blood alcohol level at .229, according to the Butler County Coroner.
All five students were sophomores and underage when charged. The Oxford Police Department (OPD) has halted its investigation of the case unless new evidence is uncovered, which Sgt. Jim Squance of the OPD said is unlikely.
Sgt. John Buchholz of the OPD explained that the delay in court dates is normal for cases of a higher profile and ones where students-who often do not live in Oxford year round-are involved.
"In cases that get a lot of public attention, they take a long time," Buchholz said. "Everybody wants to make sure that everything is done right. Nothing is being delayed, rather it is progressing. We're making sure justice is being done."
Buchholz said that the charges themselves against the students are not unusual, however the fact that an extensive investigation was performed is atypical.
"But with the death, wouldn't you expect that?" Buchholz said. "About 90 percent of the phone calls and comments that we got said 'thank you for doing something' … Regardless of what happens to them in court, they are going to move on. But Beth Speidel is not."
The charges have become a matter of debate, as both students and Oxford residents question if the five students-all friends of Speidel-should be charged at all in connection to the events of April 14. Many believe Speidel's actions that evening-the sophomore had a blood alcohol level of 0.229-were of her own doing.
Oxford City Councilman Doug Ross, an Oxford native, said even though the prosecution of these students may draw attention to the problem of student alcohol abuse in Oxford, it would not solve the problem.
"I'm not very impressed or too happy about (the charges placed on the students), however due to the magnitude of the problem I'll have to go along with it," Ross said. "We have a great problem with the drug abuse in Oxford. Every year it gets worse. But the responsibility and blame rests with the unfortunate young lady, (Speidel). Unless I hear they made her come into the house and drink alcohol, it's her fault."
Student Code of Conduct changes
With the main goal of hoping to deter students from abusing alcohol, Miami instituted changes in the Student Code of Conduct for 2007-08-namely increasing the penalties and costs for certain code violations. For example, minimum charges for four-hour required substance abuse education classes (for students charged with intoxication or negative behavior while intoxicated) have jumped from $80 to $200. Minimum charges for a required two-hour substance abuse program (for students charged with prohibited use of alcohol) jumped from $50 to $150.
These increases were due, in part, to recommendations made by the alcohol task force under the Garland Initiative.
Leslie Haxby McNeill, prevention coordinator for Miami and who oversees and instructs some of the classes, said while she cannot say why those exact numbers were chosen for the new prices of the programs, they were partly created to deter students from alcohol abuse and to cover the general costs of the program.
"I know coming in (to these programs), some students are going to be very unhappy and very angry," McNeill said about the increased costs. "My goal-and my role-is to give them something useful to go home with."
She also added that the programs are being "tweaked" this semester.
"The philosophy and curriculum has not changed, but the degree and depth that will go with it will change," she said.
In addition, the use and possession of a fake ID is now considered a violation of the Dishonesty Policy of the Student Code and a student found guilty must participate in an integrity education program, costing at minimum $200.
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