Ed and Becky Meek revealed as donors for new School of Journalism

Chancellor Robert Khayat announced to the department of journalism advisory board Friday morning that Becky and Ed Meek, former assistant vice chancellor for public relations and marketing and associate professor of journalism at the University of Mississippi, are the donors of $5.3 million to fund the creation of the new School of Journalism at Ole Miss.

"The concept for the school is so exciting," Ed Meek said in a university press release. "It's going to create an academic program in journalism that stays ahead of the curve, looks into the future and returns to the curriculum an interdisciplinary approach that will give students a wide range of options."

Approval for the Edwin Meek School of Journalism is still pending with the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. A press conference to announce the donation will be held today at 11:30 a.m. on the steps of Farley Hall. Check out Monday's edition of The Daily Mississippian for updates.

Daniel Cummings pleads guilty to manslaughter

The original capital murder charges against Daniel Cummings were reduced to manslaughter by culpable negligence shortly after 9 a.m. today because of a motion by the prosecutor, according to The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal blog.

Cummings pleaded guilty to manslaughter and Daily Mississippian photographer Ryan Moore confirmed that Cummings has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for manslaughter.

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.

UM student identified as Rodney Lockhart

The victim of today's shooting has been identified as Rodney Lockhart. According to a University press release, Lockhart, 20, was a junior psychology major and a member of the Ole Miss track team. He was from Vaiden, Miss.

"We are deeply saddened by Rodney's death," said UM Head Track Coach Joe Walker in the news release. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Rodney's family and friends."

UM student found dead, homicide being investigated

According to a news release from the University Police Dept., officers from the Oxford Police Dept. and a team from the Baptist Memorial Hospital Ambulance Service were dispatched to Taylor Pointe Apartments on Anderson Road Saturday morning just after 10 a.m. in response to a 911 call concerning an unresponsive person. The victim was found to be shot and county coroner Lonnie Weaver pronounced the victim dead on the scene.

Upon further investigation, The Daily Mississippian has learned the victim is an Ole Miss student. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and OPD and are investigating the homicide, and no further information is being released by OPD at this time.