The Student Newspaper of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Volume XIV, Number 11
(photo by Robin Colby)
The bridge near the co-ed dorms suffered extensive damage from two
deliberately set explosions. The FBI has taken over investigation.
Unroyal treatment at Queens
By Terri Feimster
There are 46 UNCC girls living at
Queens College because they couldn’t
get in our dorms. The choice was an
alternative to commuting from
wherever or renting an apartment.
For these girls, the decision was
either living at Queens or not coming
to UNCC. Of those interviewed, most
wish they’d chosen the latter.
The problems they face are big
ones: transportation (bus difficulties,
the distance to school) and the rules
at Queens. Many of the girls don't
have cars and rely totally on the
Mean Green Shuttle Machine for
transportation. The schedule is not
bad, buses run about every two hours
Charlotte, North Carolina
if they run. They’re frequently so late
they miss classes; sometimes the
buses don’t come at all.
The route from Queens to UNCC
takes an hour on the Shuttle Machine,
30 minutes by car. Those liking a lit
tle extra sleep in the morning (and
who doesn’t) or study in the afternoon
aren't too pleased with the time fac
tor.
Some of the girls are resentful of
the Queens’ rules they are obliged to
obey. Curfew is 1 a.m. weeknights, 2
a.m. weekends. Although this is an
hour more than Queens students are
allowed, the UNCC girls had to “fight
like hell to get it.” Men, fathers and
brothers included, are allowed in the
FBI investigates
bridge explosion
By Keith Gunter
At approximately 3 a.m. on Nov. 1,
the wooden footbridge on the path
between Scott Hall and the health
center was heavily damaged by two
deliberately set explosions.
Repairs are underway as is an in
tensive investigation by the FBI and
the Mecklenburg County Police. The
FBI is automatically placed in charge
of reported explosions on college and
university campuses. Normally the
Federal Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms Bureau would handle such
cases, but because of a law enacted
dorm only on Fridays and Saturdays
from 7-10 p.m., but this is not strictly
enforced. The other rules are,
however; offenders have 24 hours to
turn themselves in when caught
breaking a rule. They must then ap
pear before a judicial board which
decides punishment.
UNCC Residence Life originally
planned for 100 UNCC girls to live at
Queens, qualifying them for a
separate dorm. Under this set-up,
Queens would have waived regula
tions for our students. The plan fell
through; the number of girls choosing
Queens never reached 100.
Although the situation is far from
(continued on page 3)
November 7, 1978
during the campus riots of the 1960’s,
the FBI was called in last Friday.
Jerry Hudson, director of public
safety at UNCC, reported that all
their leads resulted in dead ends and
alibis. The FBI is still investigating
new leads and trying to wrap up the
case.
Hudson said the dorm guards at
Scott Hall heard the explosions,
which were spaced from three to 15
seconds apart, and quickly pin
pointed the area. Many students also
heard the blasts. According to Hud
son, the nature of the explosives used
is unknown pending laboratory
analysis of what evidence that could
be found.
The force of the explosions was so
great that a four-foot section of the
bridge was lodged in a tree limb 20
feet above the site. The bridge was
rendered impassable by the damage.
Hudson said this is the first inci
dent involving explosives on campus
in recent years and, “It is easy to lose
sight of the potential danger inherent
in the use of explosives in a Hallo
ween ‘prank.' I am concerned about
the possibility of harm to people." He
also stressed this crime will “not be
swept under the rug."
Anyone with information on this in
cident is encouraged by Hudson to
contact the office of public safety. All
information will be treated in the
strictest of confidence. Anonymous
information can be directed to
members of the student media.
Students warned of
insurance tactics
By Kim Burns
College campuses are life insurance
companies biggest market, but do col
lege students really need life in
surance?
As a rule the youthful consumer re
maining a member of the parents
household, a dependent, are covered
under the parent’s health and in
surance program until they reach the
age of 19, except coverage may con
tinue to age 22 if they are a college
student, Fred L. Seaman, assistant
deputy commissioner of the Con
sumer Insurance Division, says.
The first encounter with life in
surance for a student is usually
through the acceptance of a job. The
student may be eligible for a group in
surance plan provided by the
employer.
However, the college student may
be approached while he is still in
school. Many of the companies recruit
and train former students, to sell such
coverage to other students, usually
nearing graduation, Seaman says.
Many companies offer what is
known as “college insurance pro
grams.” This is when a small down
payment is made to initiate the
policy. It is accompanied by a pro
missory note, a legally binding docu
ment, to be paid when the college stu
dent has reached a certain level,
generally when he is in an earning
capacity.
Seaman says the majority of the
sales are made on a proper basis with
a clear understanding of the obliga
tion. In some instances, however, the
salesperson may employ vague or
deceptive means of influencing such
sales, and the student realizes the
obligation has been assumed when it
is time for the promissory note to be
paid.
“Student counselors should con
tinuously warn the student body of
improper sales practices and advise
consultation with knowledgeable per
sons before purchase," Seaman said.
Policy concerning insurance sales
at UNCC states commercial promo
tions and sales are prohibited on the
university campus except by invita
tion of an affiliated group.
Dean of Students Chuck Lynch’s
advice to students considering taking
on life insurance is “to look into
several policies and find the one that
suits them best."
“A warning flag must be hoisted,
so the college student will totally
understand he is making a serious
commitment ... which can be col
lected legally at a later date,” Seaman
said.
To control the practice of improper
selling, the North Carolina Depart
ment of Insurance has issued a
regulation setting stringent re
quirements for such sales within the
state. The regulation fully protects
students and their right to be inform
ed completely on the contents of
policies and the terms of financing.
The Consumer Insurance Informa
tion Division of the North Carolina
Department of Insurance has several
suggestions to students who are con
templating buying insurance of any
kind.
1) The student should always know
the amount of protection being pro
vided and what items or conditions
they cover.
2) The student should know what he
is being charged, what period of time
it covers, and how it is to be paid and
what he can and cannot do under the
policy conditions.
3) The student should find out if his
policy has a grace period, so as not to
lose a policy through neglect of not
paying a premium on time.
4) Ask questions.
5) Get comparative coverages and
costs from the competition.
6) Finally, if one has any doubt, con
tact the Department of Insurance for
assistance.