Athletic Department officials said a new policy governing how broadcasters cover University sports events should become official this week, but the final draft will look different from the current version that has caused an uproar among journalists nationwide.
Assistant Athletic Director Dave Williford said the department hopes to remain on schedule by having a policy decision by the beginning of August.
“I don’t think it’s very long before an exact policy comes out,” he said.
But last week, Athletic Director Bill Moos admitted the policy will have a different look than its current proposed position, but he wouldn’t say how.
Charges against Hager dropped
The Associated Press reported Saturday that junior art major Morgan Hager has been released from jail in Italy after being arrested and hospitalized during protests in Genoa, Italy last week.
Charges were dropped against Hager, 20, of vandalism, resisting arrest and possession of arms like sticks and bottles, but she was ordered to leave the country.
Hager’s parents, Susan and Chris, flew to Italy last week to meet her and bring her home early this week.
Genoa police raided the sleeping quarters where Hager and other protesters slept, reportedly based on tips that the “Black Bloc,” a protester sect that has caused violence at previous demonstrations, were housed there.
Susan Hager said her daughter has always believed protests should be non-violent affairs, and added that she sustained bruises and a fractured arm in the raid.
Hager’s order to leave the country could interfere with her plan to spend fall term studying art in Siena, Italy.
Dispute over parking citations continues
The Department of Public Safety issued a number of parking citations at last weekend’s Relay for Life at Hayward Field, and a handful of those ticketed say the University should donate the fees to the relay.
Complaining that it is unfair to ticket people at a charity event, some people are even talking about not paying their tickets, said Ricardo Martinez, a mechanical designer with Balzhiser & Hubbard Engineers, a firm that participated in the relay.
DPS Director Tom Fitzpatrick said the department has no plans to void the tickets, but encouraged spurned motorists to file a petition at the DPS office adjacent to Earl Hall. Petitions are reviewed by officials outside the department.