Newspapers / University of North Carolina … / Aug. 26, 2004, edition 1 / Page 1
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UnfuJ . ^ /S'S '6o4~i Volume LVI, Number 1 Serving UNC-Wilmington since 1948 August 26, 2004 Task force assembled Alisha Gore Senior Staff Writer On July 2, 2004 the UNCW Task Force on Campus Violence Prevention was implemented. This task force consists of persons outside of the university as well as UNCW students, faculty and staff. The 17 members of the task force include the Chief of the University Police, the UNCW Dean of Students and the UNCW Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. The chair of the task force is the honorable Rebecca Blackmore, the fifth District Judge of North Carolina. The goal of the task force is to evaluate issues that threaten the safety of members of the UNCW community, particularly the student body. Such issues would include domestic violence, stalking and sex ual assauh. “I am asking this task force to conduct a thorough review of the processes and procedures we currently have in place for safe ty and security and make specific recommendations to me on ways that we can improve,” said UNCW Chancellor Rosemary DePaolo, according to a press release. The task force will compose a report on improvements that need to be made in the education and training of students, faculty and staff on matters of campus violence prevention. This repwrt will be pre sented by early November. The murder of two students raised concerns among students and members of the community about the safety of the UNCW campus. UNCW sophomore Cara Overbey feels that students should practice discretion. “You still have to be cautious. Know who you’re hanging out with,” Overbey said. Another UNCW student murdered Kiara Jones News Editor In the wake of the first murder on UNCW’s campus, the campus community is shocked after another student. Christen Naujoks, 21, was killed at her apartment complex on Jime 4,2004. Within only a month of Jessica Faulkner’s tragic murder in Cornerstone Hall, Naujoks was shot and killed outside her North Chase Apartments building. John Peck, 27, was responsible for her shoot ing, according to New Hanover County Sheriffs officials. Reports on Naujoks’ death state that Peck was upset with Naujoks after she ended their relationship. According to an autopsy report, Naujoks was shot eight to 12 times. Her death was followed by a three-day manhunt for Peck, who was finally spotted at the Tennessee/ North Carolina line. After a park ranger made contact with him and reported the occurrence, roadblocks were set up. Later, Peck approached one of the roadblocks. He then fired shots at officers and gunfire was returned. Rangers and officers pur sued Peck, but then his lights disap- John Peck was accused in the murder of Christen Nau joks. A three-day manhunt ended with his suicide. peared. They were able to verify that Peck’s vehicle had rolled down a steep ravine and rested in a creek. Peck had been reported to have an SKS assauh rifle in his posses sion. It was later confirmed that he had committed suicide before his vehicle rolled off the ravine, a report from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park stated. UNCW Chief of Police David Donaldson provided a chronology of events prior to Naujoks’ death in Curtis Dixon update Kiara Jones News Editor Curtis Timothy Dixon, 22, is currently awaiting trial for the murder of 18-year-old Jessica Lee Faulkner. Authorities have now decided to make the trial a capital murder case, meaning Dixon could face the death penalty if convicted. Dixon, however, could be waiting for a while to face a judge and jury, as the prosecutors and defense attorneys assigned to his case are currently involved in another unrelated murder trial for Paul Cummings. Dixon’s original trial was set to begin m July 2005, but customary delays in evidence and scheduling could set the trial date back. r- j Dixon was charged with the first degree-kidnappmg, first-degree rape, fu-st-degree sexual assault and first-degree murder of Faulkner. He is currently being held without bond. The Seahawk will follow the Dixon trial as it proceeds, and will publish updates as they become available. CONTACT US Editorial: 962-3229 Ads: 962-3789 www.theseahawk.org a press conference on June 8. On March 21, UNCW Police spoke with Holly Naujoks, Naujoks’ mother, who expressed concerns she had with respect to her daughter's domestic relationship with Peck. Police requested that her daughter visit the UNCW Police department, and Naujoks did the same day. Naujoks was not sure if she wanted to seek formal action against Peck at that time, but reported that she had received harassing phone calls at her residence, and that Peck had threatened to commit suicide. Because Naujoks lived off campus and was beyond the jurisdiction of the UNCW Police Department, she was encouraged to file a report with the New Hanover County Sheriffs Department. She was also encouraged to save any messages she received ft'om Peck and was informed of her options of obtain ing warrants and protective orders. Throughout the following weeks, Naujoks reported a confrontation in a parking lot on campus, and obtained an emergency protective order and warrants. After the order was made permanent, Naujoks vis ited the UNCW Police Department and requested that the detective she had spoken with on March 22 appear in court with her. The detective described her appearance as much more at ease when compared to his observations of her on March 22. Though this is the second death of a UNCW student within a month, some students do not feel like their safety has been threatened by the two events. “I still feel safe; it’s less of a mat ter of safety and more of a matter of an accident, to me. I feel like it’s an isolated event. I’ll still walk to my car by myself at night,” said senior Danielle Morlier. Nevertheless, Donaldson had some tips for staying safe on campus. He stresses that awareness is the key to prevention. “First, admit that there is a pos sibility [even that someone you know can commit a crime against you]." Then, look for warning signs. "Maybe it’s the relationship that’s on the downhill, one of the two is trying to end that relationship and one is not letting go ... Trust your intuition,” advises Donaldson. “There are a lot of times where the victim knew something was wrong.” First Lady Laura Bush visited the campus on July 30. She was the keynote speaker for the Burr for Senate Campaign fundraiser held in the Warwick Center ballroom. The College Republicans sponsored the $1,000 plate fundraiser. Is North Carolina becom ing a swing state now that John Edwards is candidate for VP?
University of North Carolina Wilmington Student Newspaper
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Aug. 26, 2004, edition 1
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