Prosecutors in the murder trial of Meleia Willis-Starbuck '07 showed a video confession yesterday given by her killer, Christopher Hollis, according to CBS 5 News, based in Northern California. In the video, Hollis said he felt "horrible" when he learned that the shots he fired had struck Willis-Starbuck. He added, "I just wanted to die. I still do," according to CBS 5 News. Christopher Wilson, a high school friend of Willis-Starbuck and Hollis, testified on Monday and Tuesday. Wilson, who drove Hollis away from the scene of the crime, pleaded guilty to being an accessory to the crime and may serve three years in prison. Hollis is being charged with murder, assault with a firearm and possession of a firearm by a felon. He could be sentenced to life in prison if he is found guilty.
Student lender Sallie Mae announced that it had quarterly losses of $104 million, The New York Times reported yesterday. In light of the ongoing credit crisis, Sallie Mae said it would be more selective in determining who is eligible for loans, increasing the weight it puts on a student's likelihood to graduate, which is often a factor that determines whether the loan will be repaid. "Today's environment is the most difficult we have seen in our 35-year history of student lending," Albert Lord, the company's chief executive officer, said in a statement to The Times. The company's shares fell $1.18 after the announcement on Wednesday.
Dartmouth's Board of Trustees held a forum for alumni to provide input on what they would like to see in the College's next president on Tuesday. More than 40 alumni attended the event, hosted by Board Chairman Ed Haldeman '70 and Al Mulley '70, chairman of the presidential search committee. John Hatheway '48 said that addressing the "increasingly fractious environment" was one of his primary concerns, referencing the ongoing Association of Alumni lawsuit against the College, The Valley News reported. Other alumni said they would like to see a president who has the qualities of a "businessman," "true intellect" and a commitment to expanding the liberal arts, according to The Valley News. Similar forums have been held with students, faculty and staff over the past week.
