2/The Blue Banner/Thursday, Sept. 5, 1985
Is campus safe?
Last week’s murder of Chapel Hill co-ed Sharon
Stewart is a chilling reminder of past crimes on our
own campus.
It was 12 years ago that Craig dorm resident
Virginia Olsen, a drama student from Lexington, was
raped and murdered while stud3ring one April afternoon
in the Botanical Gardens. Authorities never found her
assailant.
And Olsen was not a freak accident from the past.
In February 1984 another Craig dorm resident was
raped in her room after she fell asleep studying.
Another student narrowly missed being raped last
October, but that time the assailant broke into the
wrong room. The Swain co-ed's visiting boyfriend
foiled the attacker's attempt.
That man, 24-year-old Johnny Ray, was caught and
recently sentenced to a jail-term. Police caught
Stewart's slayer also; he will, no doubt, receive life
imprisonment.
Have campuses become open targets for sick people
who like to prey on young women? And if they have, can
prevent further incidents?
UNCA has taken some preventative action. The
lighting has improved in the past two years,
especially in the Village. But it could still be
better, especially near the library, Zageir, Owen Arts
and Carmichael buildings where students frequently
walk to night classes.
The primary responsibility, however; lies not with
housing or campus police, but with the students.
After last spring's rape, the Student Government
Association announced they would begin an escort
service. The service never seemed to materialize, but
we have a feeling few co-eds called to request the
service either.
Housing then gave the Village an option of locking
up 24-hours a day. Although the university purchased
and installed heavy-duty steel doors, only one dorm,
Swain, tried the full-time lock up.
The reason for their reluctance? The majority of
residents wanted their buddies to have free access to
visit them.
And this year the Village has reverted to its old
hours: 12:30 a.m. on week-nights and a 2 a.m. lock
on weekends.
We at The Bine Banner just hope it doesn't take
another attack on a student before co-eds realize
their lives outweigh the inconvenience of living
behind locked doors.
TJjQg [liiCiii®
Editor Penny Kramp
News Editor ; David Proffitt
Sports Editor Joan Sterk
Features Editor Anne May
Arts Editor Chris Streppa
Entertainment Editor Anna Wilson
Photography Editor Don Kremers
Circulation Manager Debbie Buckner
Advertising Manager Karen Noffsinger
Business Manager Jolene Moody
Advisor Greg Lisby
Pat Cabe
Laura Ann Clark
Celeste Cox
Don Hardin
Jennifer Heglar
Donna Kirby
STAFF
Scott Luckadoo
Jonna McGrath
Mike Norris
Michelle Samuel
Tiffany Thum
Julie Tilka
THE BLUE BANNER is the University of North Carolina at Asheville student newspaper. We publish
each Thursday except during summer sessions, finals week, and holiday breaks. Office: Carmichael
Humanities Building, 208-A. Phone: (704) 258-6586 or 258-6591.
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Editorials represent the opinion of a majority of the editorial board. Letters, columns, cartoons and
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Donkey ball denounced
Dear Editor:
It has come to our
attention that the Donkey
Softball Game on Sept. 15 is
being run for the financial
benefit of the UNCA and is
being backed by the Optimist
Club.
Perhaps the sponsoring
organization and the university
are not aware that the Humane
Society of the United States
has condemned any games using
animals in this fashion as
cruelty.
They told us that the
animals are "coaxed" with
electric cattle prods and if
they do not react as expected.
BLOOM COUNTY
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a stick with a nail on the end,
wrapped in tape for conceal
ment, is used.
It is a sad commentary
that a fine institution of
higher learning and a club like
the Optimists, devoted to civic ^
virtue, feel there is not a
less painful way to raise
funds.
George Bernard Shaw
said, "As long as we abuse
animals we are barbarians." Vfe
must speak for those who cannot
speak for themselves.
Robert L. Plemmons
President, Humane
Society of Bunccmbe County
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