Morning Scoop: Another day, another college suspends Greek life after pledge death

By Uloop Staff on November 15, 2017

Uloop Morning Scoop for November 15, 2017 was compiled by Uloop Staff and Natalia Kolenko.

 

THE LEAD: FOUR DEAD, TWO CHILDREN INJURED IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA SHOOTING THAT ‘COULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH WORSE’

Authorities say there are seven crime scenes in a shooting in Northern California yesterday. (Image: KCRA/CNN)

A gunman shot multiple people in several locations in a northern California county, including an elementary school yesterday, but authorities say quick action from school officials and law enforcement prevented something much worse.

The Los Angeles Times reports, “Authorities described a chaotic scene in which a gunman appeared to pick targets at random in the rural Northern California county.”

Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston told the Times that, “This incident, as tragic and bad as it is, could have been so much worse if it wasn’t for the quick-thinking staff at our elementary school. I really want to say that the quick action of those school officials, there is no doubt in my mind based on the video that I saw, saved countless lives and children.”

No children died at the school, but two suffered gunshot wounds and are in the hospital recovering.

This morning, the Times reported that “Johnston would not disclose the names of the gunman or victims, pending notification of next of kin. But in a phone interview, the sister of the gunman confirmed his identity as Kevin Janson Neal, 44.  Sheridan Orr of North Carolina said her brother had a history of mental illness and episodes of rage.

‘There are certain people that do not need guns and my brother was clearly one of them,’ she said.”

President Trump was roundly criticized on social media for appearing to copy and paste and older tweet offering condolences to the victims of a shooting.

 

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ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER COLLEGE SUSPENDS GREEK LIFE AFTER DEATH OF A PLEDGE

A fraternity house at Texas State University. (Image: ABC)

Add Texas State University to the list of schools that has taken action after a pledge died following a social event.

ABC News reports that “Matthew Ellis, a pledge for the university’s Phi Kappa Psi chapter, was found unresponsive Monday by officers with the San Marcos Police Department after attending an ‘off-campus social event’ the night before, Texas State University President Denise Trauth said in a statement today. Friends of Ellis called 911, and Ellis was pronounced dead after first responders were unable to revive him, Trauth said.”

The school’s president said she she suspended all activities for Greek fraternity and sorority chapters at the university, which are now prohibited from holding events, chapter meetings, social functions and philanthropic activities “until a thorough review of the Greek Affairs system is completed.”

Texas State joins LSU, Penn State, Ball State, Florida State and the University of Michigan in shutting down Greek life social activities this year.

 


TODAY IN A TWEET

The lion looks a little too excited about recycling, but hey, it’s America Recycles Day after all.

 


TAX REFORM JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT MORE COMPLICATED

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is out front on a new tax reform/health care repeal bill. (Image: CNN screenshot)

Vox reports that “Senate Republicans are going to try to use their tax reform bill as a way to repeal the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate tax penalty (the provision that penalizes people who don’t have health insurance).”

Yes, meaning they are trying once again to repeal a key part of Obamacare.

This move would save more than $300 billion over 10 years that Republicans would likely use to pay for the tax cuts they have been discussing publicly.

Vox also concludes that passage of the bill “would also mean millions of people would lose their health insurance, according to analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.”

 


LAST BUT NOT LEAST: EARTHQUAKE STOPS COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS

Business Insider bring us this report from Asia:

After a magnitude 5.4 earthquake near Pohang, South Korea, shook the nation and damaged some school buildings, the country decided to postpone its critical college entrance exams by one week, according to Yonhap News.

The quake, which injured 14, came the day before the nation-wide tests that all South Korean high schoolers undergo before being placed in a college.

The exams are a huge deal in South Korea, where the entire country essentially shuts down as teenagers sit for the eight-hour test.

If someone was wishing for something to happen to postpone that test, we’d just like to say that an earthquake was a little extreme. Maybe just a freak blizzard next time, OK?


We’re halfway to the weekend — and almost to Thanksgiving break — so get out there and be the best college student you can be, OK? 

And remember, you can use Uloop to find a part time job on your campus, connect with a tutor or get a head start on housing for next year. 

 


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