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Volume Number 6
Inside
This
Issue...
POLlC^
UMCV/
Police Beat
UNCW police seek help
solving auto break-ins / 5
Skiing Safari
Waterski team gets ready for
competition /18
Serving UNC-Wilmington Since 1 948
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SEPTEMBER 21, ZDOD
N.C. takes initiative to reduce underage drinking
Bomer Stahl
Inspector Hound
UNCW Art & Theatre presents
play at Kenan Auditorium/11
Staff Writer
North Carolina is cracking down on un
derage drinking by stiffening current poli
cies and passing new legislation which tar
gets 19 and 20-year-olds caught drinking and
those individuals over the age of twenty-one
who provide alcohol to minors.
Underthe new law, 19-20-year-olds who
are caught will be charged with a class three
misdemeanor and a $200 fine. This legisla
tion replaces an old law that charged this age
group with an infiaction, no criminal pen
alty, and a $25 fine.
The new law also nsquires 25 hours of
community service and a $500 fine to those
over twenty-one who are charged with
caiding and abetting a minor. Additional con
victions within four years will result in a pen
alty of no less than 150 hours of service and
a $500 fine. 18-year-olds caught consuming
alcohol are charged with a class one misde
meanor, the highest charge possible.
New legislation wiU also impose harsher
penalties upon those who are caught selling
alcohol to minors. A person convicted for
the first time of selling or providing alcohol
to someone under the age of 21 will recieve
a minimum sentance of a $250 fine and 25
hours of community service. Like the pen
alty for aiding and abetting, a second or sub
sequent offense within four years of the first
conviction wiU impose a penalty of no less
than 150 hours of community service and a
$500 fine.
Lieutenant David Donaldson of the uni
versity police also cited one other law that
came into effect as of September 1.
“It is now illegal to have an open con
tainer of alcohol in the passenger area of a
motor vehicle,” Donaldson said. “Quite
fiankly, it has just simplified the original law
and made things easier,”
“The new law also requires
25 hours of community service
and a $500fitte to those over
twenty-one who are charged
with contributing to the delin
quency of a minor ”
Donaldson also said that there had always
been misconception when dealing with the
term “open container" and remarked “if the
seal is broken, then it has been opened.”
“When I heard about the new open con
tainer law in cars I was surprised,” said out-
of-state sophomore Michael Kelly.
“In my hometown it was always a law
that no matter how old you are, you can’t
have an open container in the car. 1 just as
sumed that the same was tme when I came
to North Carolina.”
It is important for students to realize that
under this legislation, party hosts will be held
responsible if their guests are caught drink
ing underage, a policy many students fmd
unfair.
“When you make an amount that high
your creating a deterrence rather than deal
ing with the problem,” said senior Gabriel
Ciampi, regarding the fines imposed on those
charged with contributing to the delinquency
of a minor. “I don’t think anyone will ever
collect that amount unless there is a medical
incident. I think they should stop making
such stringent laws.”
UNCW PoUce Chief BUly Dawson, di
rector of public safety on campus, confumed
SEE DRINKING, Page 5
UNCW student dies in motorcycle accident
DAN GUY
INDEX
Campus News..........»
Classifieds
OP/ED
A & E
The ^ ^
Sports
.15
Staff Writer
Students and community mem
bers gathered on at a memorial ser
vice on Monday, to honor the life of
Douglas Norman Zeliff, who died in
a motorcycle accident last Wednes
day.
Zeliff, a 25-year-old junior, died
on impact when a jeep collided with
his motorcycle near the intersection
of Wrightsville Avenue and
Rogersville Road.
According to police reports,
Zeliff was driving faster than the
posted speed limit of 45 miles per
hour when his motorcycle crossed
the yellow centerline and side-
swiped an oncoming truck. Zeliff
was thrown from his motorcycle and
a jeep that had been behind him.
collided with the motorcyclist after
attempting to avoid hitting him.
Police indicated that Zeliff died
upon impact, and there were no
other injuries in the accident. As of
Monday, the police report had not
yet been released. The incident is
still under investigation and no
charges have been filed against the
driver of the jeep.
“This is a tragic situation for our
community,” said Associate Dean of
Students Brian Hemphill. “Douglas
was an extremely bright student, had
a great personality, and really got
the most out of life.”
Zeliff had transferred to UNCW
this semester from Cape Fear Com
munity College, and was majoring
in computer science. He previously
served four years in the United
States Coast Guard, and had also
earned the Boy Scout’s prestigious
Eagle Scout honor.
“Douglas was a person of great
integrity, who was very honest and
courteous,” said Zeliff’s roommate
Ray Morris. “He gave everything
in life a full effort, and knew what
it took to succeed every time.”
Approximately one hundred
people came to memorial service
Monday afternoon at the Church of
the Servant on Oriole Drive. Rev
erend Nancy Cooper of the UNCW
United Christian Campus Ministry
presided over the service during
which many individuals spoke of
Zeliff's achievements and character.
“I heard words like honor, integ
rity and perseverance [associated
with him,]” one unidentified speaker
at the service said.