Retired UM Professor Dies

Michael Louis Harrington, former professor of philosophy and chairman of the Department of Philosophy from 1999 to 2005, passed away this week while in Portland, Ore., where he was born 63 years ago.

A University media release said that Harrington, who retired from the university last year as professor emeritus, joined the Ole Miss faculty as assistant professor in 1970. He is survived by his wife, Mary Mathison Harrington; two daughters, Elizabeth Harrington and Emily Harrington; and two brothers, Peter Harrington of Winston-Salem, N.C., and Lee Harrington of Washington, D.C.

Funeral arrangements are still pending and will be announced by the Coleman Funeral Home in Oxford. Memorials can be made to the Heifer Foundation of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Cummings denied continuance

The murder trial of Daniel Cummings will continue as planned after Cumming's lawyer Steve Farese Sr. was denied a continuance by Lafayette County Circuit Judge Henry Lackey. Farese asked for the continuance in order to review new discovery materials and negotiate with the prosecution.

Cummings, a former University of Mississippi student from Germantown, Tenn., is charged with the murder of University Police Department officer Robert Langley, who died from head injuries after allegedly being thrown from Cummings' vehicle during a routine traffic stop from which Cummings tried to flee. Cummings was denied bond last November.

Cummings has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder charge. The prosecution is not seeking the death penalty at the request of Langley's family.

Beta Theta Pi fraternity sanctioned for alcohol violations leading to student death

According to a university press release, the Dean of Students office found that members of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity violated the university alcohol policy by purchasing and distributing alcohol Sept. 15, the night freshman Bradley Jameson fell 12 feet from a tree in the backyard of the Beta house and died.

Sanctions imposed against the fraternity include probation through December 2008, 400 hours of community service and social probation through the 2007-08 school year. The chapter must also participate in programs concerning alcohol education and ethical development education.

In addition, the fraternity has the option of paying a $1,000 fine or coordinating a campuswide alcohol education program.

During the investigation, the office also determined the fraternity provided a common source of alcohol, lacked organizational control of alcohol and used chapter funds for alcohol purchase, all violations of the alcohol policy.

Beta Theta Pi was also charged with disregard of university authority because they misled university officials by denying the presence of alcohol at the chapter house and withheld information concerning the investigation, the press release said.

Coroner: Lockhart died from gunshot to head

According to the Associated Press, Lafayette county coroner Lonnie Weaver said Lockhart died from a gunshot wound to the head. He added that there were no other wounds on his body. The autopsy was performed Sunday.

Check The Daily Mississippian Newsblog for updates as they become available and pick up Monday's copy of The DM for the full story.