Accused rapist sentenced

STATESBORO – Students at Georgia Southern University can start the year off feeling a little safer. Accused rapist Manuel Ayala, 24, has been convicted of raping three GSU students and assaulting another in 1997, according to The George-Anne.

Ayala was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences plus 30 years for the crimes. Three of the four victims were present during the reading of the verdict. After reading the 21 felony charges against Ayala, District Attorney Joe Martin made the sentence recommendation. "It was a hard sentence, I know that," Martin said. "But he did things, and he hurt these girls both physically and emotionally." After the trial, Ayala said, "If I could give my life to change what I have done, I would."

Fraternity to pay $22,600 for pledge’s drinking death

BATON ROUGE, La. – The drinking death of a 20-year-old pledge at Louisiana State University is costing an LSU fraternity $22,600, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon pleaded no-contest to 86 counts of purchasing alcohol for underage consumption. The pledge consumed alcohol at an off-campus party, then also at another bar party sponsored by SAE. The pledge had been celebrating his acceptance into the fraternity on Aug. 25, 1997, when he died.

Mother blames university for her son’s falling death

ITHACA, N.Y. – Last August, while visiting friends at Cornell University, Peter Matzke died when he fell into Cascadilla Gorge. Now, a year later, Matzke’s parents are suing Cornell for $3 million, according to the Cornell Daily Sun. Matzke had a blood alcohol level of .198 (.08 is legally drunk).

He and his friends streaked through campus and Collegetown, then escaped from Cornell police. The chase ended for him, however, when he fell to his death in the gorge. Matzke’s parents claim their son’s death is a result of the university’s negligence. Cornell "failed to exercise reasonable care to prevent injury or death to users of the premises," they said.

KSU enrollment is down

KENNESAW – While the enrollment at many universities keeps increasing, Kennesaw State University’s student population is decreasing.

KSU enrollment for fall semester dropped from last year’s fall quarter, according to The Sentinel. The official enrollment this fall is approximately 12,650 students, down from last fall’s enrollment of 13,094 students. The University expected a drop-off in enrollment with the semester conversion and planned for a 10 percent drop in tuition revenue.

The 1 to 3 percent drop in enrollment, however, is less than the university expected. "I think Kennesaw spent a lot more time planning on semester conversion than did our sister institutions," said Ed Rugg, vice president of academic affairs.

Tennis players accuse coach of harassment

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Two former Syracuse University women’s tennis players accused the Syracuse varsity tennis coach of sexual harassment, according to The Technician.

The two women are suing Syracuse University and its athletic department for $745 million. They accused the coach of harassing them physically and verbally throughout their years at the University.

The coach has been with SU since 1978 and is accused of harassment for the past 19 years. The former players contend the coach "gave team members inappropriate full body massages, instigated sexual discussions with team members, made sexist comments on a regular basis and used stretching exercises to make intimidating sexual contact."

– Compiled by Alicia Adan