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Volume 74 Number 3
Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama
September 28, 1989
SU community waiting for answers
Ш
concerning Copeland murder
By Theresa Holloway
Editor
#
Please see related stories on page
3.
The Samford community and
many others are waiting for
answers to the many questions
concerning the murder of fellow
student, Rex. Bartley Copeland.
As of press time, there is no
suspect, motive or identified
murder weapon.
The most recent theory of
Copeland’s murder is the slim
chance that it was a case of mis¬
taken identity.
Shelby County sheriff’s detec¬
tives are still exploring this the¬
ory that the killer had the wrong
person.
Copeland, a junior debater and
member of Sigma Chi frater¬
nity, was found in his north
Shelby County apartment last
week by friends and a security
guard.
The fact thatCopeland had only
been living in the apartment
since last month and the lights
were off in the apartment dur¬
ing the nighttime death may
indicate the killer had intended,
to kill the apartment’s previous
The most recent
theory of
Copeland’s mur¬
der is the slim
chance that it
was a case of
mistaken identity.
renter, said detectives.
The murderer may have had a
key to the apartment because
there are no signs of forced en¬
try or Copeland could have
known his killer and opened the
door himself.
Officials now believe Copeland
was asleep when the intruder
came, because his bed looked
slept in and he was wearing boxer
shorts.
Copeland was to be going out-
of-town on a debate tournament
so papers were spread across a
living room table and on the
floor.
The killing took place about 3
a.m., investigators said. Two
neighbors indicated they heard
noises coming from Copeland’s
apartment around that time.
Copeland died of multiple stab
wounds to the chest and suf¬
fered at least two wounds to each
arm, indicating he attempted to
fight off his killer, Shelby County
authoritiessaid. His funeral was
Monday.
Detectives are questioning
Copeland’s friends to try to come
up with a possible motive. His
friends indicate he was a hard¬
working student who could not
have any enemies.
Shelby County sheriff’s Capt.
Reed Smith said officials are
digging into the previous ren¬
ters' background for clues. He
said they do not know what type
of moral character past tenants
have.
Investigators have some physi¬
cal evidence ^uch as a footprint
in the apartment that may not
have been Copeland ’s. They also
have a possible weapon, but are
not identifying it yet.
Most officials agree it is like a
puzzle with most of the pieces
missing.
Although nothing appeared to
be missing from Copeland’s
apartment, investigators have
not ruled out the possibility of
burglary as a motive either.
"Since he lived alone, we do not
know what kinds of things he
kept in his apartment," officials
said this week.
Anyone having any informa¬
tion pertaining to the murder is
asked to call the Shelby County
Sheriff's Department Secret
Witness Line at 669-9116.
Jones
SU mourns
death of
Mark Jones
c
By Darren Dobbins
Co-Sports. Editor
The Samford Bulldogs will al¬
ways remember Sept. 18, the day
they lost 'their friend and former
teammate Marcus Samuel Jones.
Craig Connor, a junior all-
American linebacker, said Jones
was “a participator that never
complained...a good kid.”
Jones died of an enlarged heart
suddenly after a light afternoon
practice. According' to prelimi¬
nary autopsy reports, Jones’
condition was not related to ath¬
letics or stress from the work¬
out.
David Cunningham, Jones'
Please see Jones page 3
Photo by Dana McClendon
Shelby
Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama spoke Monday at
Samford at the Induction ceremonies for the Alabama
Men's Hall of Fame.
First full-tuition merit
scholarships available next year
By Beth White
Staff Reporter
According to Financial Aid Di¬
rector Don Belcher, there may
be some changes in Samford ’s
scholarship program by next
year.
Belcher,said his office is plan¬
ning to offer 20 full-tuition schol¬
arships next year and cover the
difference for tuition for up to
10 National Merit Scholars.
Belcher said with this new ar¬
rangement, Financial Aid will
not be able to offer as many
scholarships as they have be¬
fore.
Presently, the highest merit
scholarship available at Samford
is the Presidential Scholarship.
Thescholarship’svaluechanges
each year, usually ranging from
$2000 to $4000, and is renew¬
able for four years.
Presidential Scholarships are
awarded to incoming freshmen
on the basis of academic and ex¬
tracurricular achievement as
well as character and leader¬
ship. Applicants must have an
ACT score of 28 or an SAT score
of 1200 to qualify. Recipients
must maintain a 3.0 GPA.
This year, Samford offered 31
Presidential Scholarships, but
only 15 were accepted. Belcher
said the otherl6 people went to
schools that offered them full
scholarships.
The only full-paid scholarships
(those covering tuition, housing,
meals and books) are available
through the athleticdepartment.
Bill McClure, associate dean of
athletics, said there are 50 avail¬
able full-paid scholarships for
football players (which can be
split between players) anci 15
available full basketball schol¬
arships (which cannot be split).
The money for these scholar¬
ships comes from funds raised
by the athletic department and
funds from the university.
Belcher said he feRs the next
step will be for the University to
re-evaluate its scholarship pro¬
gram. He said he hopes the ani-
versity will one day be able to
offer full-paid academic schol¬
arships. Hesaid he wants to make
Samford ’sacademicschfilarship
program “really competitive” so
as to attract the “best” students
to Samford.
University endowment shows increase
By Carol Guthrie
Staff Reporter
Over the past six years,
Samford University’s endow¬
ment has experienced an in¬
crease of more than 500 percent,
from a market value of $7.9
million to $49.1 million, accord¬
ing to the basiness affairs de¬
partment.
Gerald Macon, vice president
of business affairs, said, “The
endowment has enjoyed dra¬
matic growth largely due to a
very successful fund-raising pro¬
gram and successful investment
management activity.” .
Macon also said President Tho¬
mas Corts’ arrival in 1983 and
Ills subsequent work have also
factored into the endowment’s
growth. “Dr. Corts’ leadership
created the climate that caused
(the increase] to happen,” Ma¬
con said.
Please see Increase page 3
Samford University Library
