UGA News

*Update*

Per the AJC:

“We see no reason for classes to be canceled,” university police Chief Jimmy Williamson said.

Students, faculty, and staff just received another email from the University of Georgia administration and President Adams regarding the shooting yesterday:

To the Members of the University of Georgia Community:

We have had a tragedy this weekend that has impacted Athens and the entire University of Georgia community. We are saddened by the shooting that took place Saturday, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of all those who have been affected. As we grieve, we are determined to move forward.

Over the past 24 hours, I have had several meetings with the senior administrative team and received briefings from campus and local law enforcement regarding measures of campus safety and security. UGA and Athens-Clarke County police have done an extraordinary job of providing a strong law enforcement presence as we enter the final week of classes, and I have great confidence in their abilities.

UGA will operate under a normal schedule this week with classes and other business. However, I urge everyone to continue to exercise caution until the suspect is apprehended.

In wake of this tragedy, the University Health Center, through the Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) unit, will provide grief counseling and support for UGA faculty, staff and students affected by these recent events. Should anyone need or desire such services, please contact CAPS at 706-542-1162.

As a reminder, police are still looking for George M. Zinkhan III, 57 years of age, 6-feet three-inches tall, 240 pounds, blue eyes, white male with a goatee, with light brown hair and some graying. He was last seen wearing a polo shirt and blue shorts with a backpack, and driving a
2005 reddish Jeep Liberty with Georgia tag AIX 1376. If you know his location or see him call 911. Please do not call 911 seeking information. Please do not call UGA Police asking questions. Only call to provide information that you may have regarding this matter. Police continue to urge members of the University community to use your best judgment in taking precautions while this suspect remains at large.

We will continue to share information with you regarding this matter as it becomes available.

Michael F. Adams,
President

UGANews.com continues to track this story and will provide updates on any breaking news.

Authorities are still on the lookout for UGA Professor George Zinkhan, who is accused of shooting and killing three people yesterday at a community theatre in Athens.

After searching his house yesterday with no luck, authorities are looking for Zinkhan in his 2005 red Jeep Liberty with Georgia license plate AIX1376.

The University of Georgia sent the following update to students, faculty, and staff last night (by email, not using the UGA Alert system):

From: Official UGA Announcements <archnews@uga.edu>
Date: Sat, Apr 25, 2009 at 10:16 PM
Subject: Off-campus shooting incident update
To: ARCHNEWS-E@listserv.uga.edu

This is to update the University community on the status of the search for the alleged perpetrator in Saturday afternoon’s shooting deaths of three individuals at a Grady Avenue location off-campus in Athens. Athens-Clarke County Police and all area law enforcement agencies continue their search for George Martin Zinkhan III, 57 years of age, 6-feet three-inches tall, 240 pounds, blue eyes, white male with a goatee, with light brown hair and some graying. His photo is posted on the UGA home page at www.uga.edu. Zinkhan is a professor of marketing at the University of Georgia. He was last seen wearing a polo shirt and blue shorts with a backpack. He is thought to be driving a 2005 reddish Jeep Liberty with Georgia tag AIX 1376. He was last seen near his residence on Chesterfield Road in Bogart.

Use extreme caution if contact is made. If you know his location or see him call 911. Please do not call 911 seeking information. Please do not call UGA Police asking questions. Only call to provide information that you may have regarding this matter. Police continue to urge members of the University community to use your best judgment in taking precautions while this suspect remains at large.

University President Michael F. Adams released the following statement regarding this matter:

“The university community is shocked and saddened at this tragic event. Our first thoughts are for safety of the community and for prompt apprehension of the person responsible. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of all those who have been affected.”

It was reported this morning that Zinkhan has not used his cell phone, ATM use, credit card or passport.

Other coverage with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Red and Black, and Athens Banner-Herald.

The UGA Alert system just sent the following out to UGA students, faculty, and staff:

This is a UGA Alert Emergency Message. UGA Professor George Zinkhan is a suspect in a shooting off campus. George Zinkhan is a white male in his mid 50s with a goattee or beard. Current information is that he was last seen wearing a polo shirt, blue shorts, and a backpack. He was last thought to be in a red car in the area of Prince Avenue. Use extreme caution if contact is made. Call 911 if you know his location. Please do not call 911 for information.

The shooting took place at Town and Gown Players Theater at the Athens Community Theatre at the intersection of Grady Avenue and Prince Avenue sometime before 2 pm Eastern.  Three people were shot.  Athens-Clarke Police are checking multiple locations for Zinkhan, who is still on the loose.

George Zinkhan is a professor in the Terry College of Business.  His Terry bio website is here and his class website is here.

Local news coverage: Red and Black, Athens Banner-Herald, and Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Update: National news has picked up the story.  Story is on front page of CNN (article here), and has been on both CNN and Fox News television stations.  Now in the New York Times.

The UGA administration just sent this email to students, clarifying the confusing new tuition rates.

From: Official UGA Announcements <archnews@uga.edu>
Date: Thu, Apr 16, 2009 at 4:17 PM
Subject: New tuition model for fall freshmen and full-time status
To: ARCHNEWS-E@listserv.uga.edu
TO: Students, faculty and staff

FROM: Rebecca Macon, Registrar

This week, the Board of Regents approved a new tuition model for freshmen students who enter the University of Georgia for fall 2009. The new tuition rate is calculated on 15 credit hours versus the current 12 hours. Fall 2009 freshmen who take six hours or less will pay a flat tuition rate of $1,800 per semester and students taking in excess of six hours will pay a flat tuition rate of $3,035. The rate of $3,035 is based on an hourly rate equivalent to 15 credit hours.

Unfortunately, there is some confusion as to whether or not this means that full-time status has now changed from 12 hours per semester to 15 hours per semester for Fall 2009 freshmen as well as all currently enrolled undergraduates. We want to assure you that the full-time classification for undergraduate students remains at 12 hours per semester. The classification of 15 hours applies only to the calculation of tuition.

Undergraduate students who entered a University System of Georgia institution as a first-time freshman in Fall 2006, Fall 2007, or Fall 2008 are, with few exceptions, under the Guaranteed Tuition Program (sometimes referred to as GTP or Fixed for Four). The Board of Regents will honor its commitments under this program which locks in a student’s tuition rate for 12 consecutive terms (including summers). These students will see no increase in their tuition rates during their Guaranteed Tuition eligibility.

Students who transfer to the University of Georgia in the Fall of 2009 from another University System of Georgia institution and who were eligible for the Guaranteed Tuition Program at their previous institution will maintain their GTP eligibility for the continuation of the 12 consecutive terms.

Please note that these programs apply only to undergraduate students. Professional students and graduate students have separate tuition models. Specific tuition information for these students will be available on the Bursar’s Office website within the coming week.

However, the Special Fee of $100 per semester applies to all UGA students.

Further information on the new tuition model may be found on the Board of Regents’ website at: http://www.usg.edu/student_affairs/tuition

Please do not hesitate to contact the Office of the Registrar with any questions at 706.542.4040 or email to reghelp@uga.edu.