MADISON, Wisc., — University of Wisconsin football players Dwayne Smith, 19, and Anwar Jones, 22, were arrested Sunday on charges of second-degree sexual assault.

The victim is a 19-year-old female, a resident of Madison.

According to the police report, the victim met one of the suspects at an underage drinking party last Saturday.

Later that night, after leaving the party, the victim was assaulted in an apartment.

She has been treated and released from a Madison hospital.

According to Lt. Sue Williams, the lead investigator of the case, the victim was the one who identified the suspects to the police.

Smith and Jones were in custody until early Monday.

Following the bond hearing, Smith was released from jail, while Jones remained in custody.

According to a release from the university athletic department, Smith has been indefinitely suspended from the team for violating the Student-Athlete Discipline Policy.

Gator religious groups embrace ‘Passion’

GAINSVILLE, Fla., — Groups at the University of Florida and around Gainesville are gearing up for the controversial release of Mel Gibson’s newest film on Wednesday.

“The Passion of the Christ” will portray the last 12 hours of Jesus’ life according to the Scriptures.

Julie Kricher, president of Victory UF, a Christian student group, said she is excited that a respectable film finally will be available to the general public to portray the life and death of Jesus.

“So many of the Jesus movies are cheesy or poorly made,” she said.

While Christian groups are anticipating the movie’s release, those not in the Christian community are intrigued by the movie as well.

Islam on Campus President Hassan Rasheed said he hasn’t heard much about the content of the movie, but said some people are concerned about the movie’s theme.

“In anything made about Jesus’ teachings, we’d like to see it carry that honor in which we hold him,” he said.

Some critics have said they feel the film, produced by a devout Catholic, might be favorable to Christianity.

However, UF adjunct assistant professor of Judaism, Christian origins and historical fiction Leo Sandgren said he doesn’t feel a religious bias will affect the film’s outcome.

Delaware closes farms due to avian flu concerns

NEWARK, Del., — Concerns about the avian flu found in Delaware prompted the state to close all poultry farms to the public, including the University of Delaware’s farm on South Campus.

As of last week, the Delaware Secretary of Agriculture ordered all poultry farms on the Delmarva Peninsula to be restricted to only authorized personnel because of the recent outbreak of the bird flu.

In compliance with this order, the university posted a sign on the front door of the Carpenter Sports Building warning distance runners to refrain from training on the farm roads and trails.

Maryann Rapposelli, assistant director of recreational services, said employees of the Carpenter Sports Building and various other university departments received an e-mail from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources stating the restriction.

Robin Morgan, dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, said the Delaware Secretary of Agriculture ordered only authorized personnel gain access to poultry farms on the Delmarva Peninsula.

“The people who work on our farms really need to know (about this restriction), because they are likely to have contact with other farms in the region,” she said.

Anne Fitzgerald, chief of community relations for the Delaware Department of Agriculture, said humans cannot contract this strain of bird flu, but they do spread it.

– The Badger-Herald, The Independent Florida Alligator and The Review. Compiled by Purvi Patel.