WEEKLY SUMMER ISSUE
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INSIDE
THURSDAY
MAY 29,1997
•
Williamson files $ 1 million damage suit
■ The suit seeks damages
for alleged negligence on
the part of UNC officials.
BY KATHERINE BROWN
CITY EDITOR
A lawyer for former UNC law stu
dent Wendell Williamson, who killed
two people in a January 1995 shooting
rampage, filed a civil suit May 21 claim
ing damages because of negligence on
the part of University officials.
The suit, filed with the North
Carolina Industrial Commission, names
Dr. Myron Liptzin, a former psychiatrist
at Student Health Services; Winston
Crisp, associate dean for student affairs
in the School of Law; and Frederic
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Tammy Bouchelle and Christina Blackwood finally received their diplomas in a special ceremony last
week. Due to a computer error, they did not receive their diplomas with the rest of their class.
Law School defends negative numbers
BY JEFF YOUNG
STAFF WRITER
In her meeting last week with the Board of
Trustees Committe on Academic Affairs and
Dean of the School of Law Judith
Wegner took time to address concerns about
several recent problems at the school.
Although negative publicity has stemmed
from Barry Nakell’s dismissal, a student’s in
class smoke break and the shool’s dipping U.S.
News World and Report ranking, Wegner told
the committee these instances have not altered
the effectiveness of the law school itself.
“The general tone (of the meeting) was pos
itive and enjoyable,” Wegner said.
Wegner countered the declining number of
applicants for the law school’s 1997 entering
class with figures relating to the continued
strength of the program, which now ranks 18th
in the nation by reputation, according to U.S.
News and World Report. The schhol is ranked
35th overall.
Heather Alston, president of the Student Bar
Association, said she believed the fewer appli
cations paralleled a national trend, not a falling
of UNC’s School into disfavor.
“The profession may not be viewed as excit
ing as it once was,” she said.
Curtain closes on
comedy troupe
Selected Hilarity will stage
its final show tonight at
the Union Cabaret. Page 4
Schroeder, who was dean of students at
UNC at the time.
The suit alleges the three were negli
gent in that they knew of Williamson’s
mental illness and did not take steps to
ensure that he received proper treat
ment.
Since all three were working as
employees of UNC at the time of the
alleged negligence, the suit is actually
being brought against the University.
“It’s an important suit to everybody
that’s involved in it,” Williamson’s attor
ney, Nick Gordon, said on Tuesday.
Crisp, the suit states, had gained spe
cific knowledge of Williamson’s condi
tion after a March 1994 incident in
which Williamson disrupted a law
school class.
“(Williamson) spoke at length with
Dean Crisp relating his belief that he
“(But) UNC is still a
great name to have on
your resumd.”
Applications to the law
school dropped from
2,281 in 1996 to 1,720 this
year, a figure which elicit
ed concern from the com
mittee.
Wegner, however,
insisted the law school’s
applicant pool quality
remains consistent, and
graduates rate with those
from higher-ranked law
schools.
A 97 percent place
ment of 1996 graduates
within nine months of graduation indicates the
marketability of the students, Wegner said.
Committee member David Whichard said
the reduced applicant pool prompted him to
question Wegner about possibly reducing class
size in the future.
“It’s a trend we need to look at, but you cer
tainly don’t want to take action because of one
years’ numbers," Whichard said.
Wegner cited a “peak” wave of applicants,
that included a large number of minority and
If God is a Catholic, how come he only had one son?
Unknown
Trudging ahead
for a good cause
Local officials took part in
a run to raise funds for the
Special Olympics. Page 2
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had telepathic
powers that people
were physically
injuring him with
their thoughts, and
that they were
envious of his spe
cial powers,” the
suit states.
According to
the suit, Crisp dis
cussed
Williamson’s prob
lems with
Schroeder.
“Realizing the
serious nature of
Wendell’s prob
lems,” the suit
A suit filed by former
UNC law student
WENDELL
WILLIAMSON claims
the University had a
responsibility to see
that he got treatment.
states, “Dean Crisp in effect required
Wendell to seek counseling at Student
V . • ; ; "‘y-
“The profession may not be viewed
as exciting as it once was, (but)
UNC is still a great name to have
on your resume. ”
HEATHER ALSTON
Student Bar Association President
over 30-year-old students, as contributing to the
decline.
“There are generational and economic fac
tors that affect the size of the applicant pool,”
Wegner said.
Increased non-resident tuition, a smaller
undergraduate pool and a declining interest in
law as a profession were other reasons Wegner
pointed to as ossible factors in the decreasing
application numbers.
The law school’s new faculty members
including a full-time health specialist —and an
inherent strength in public service areas would
aid the law school in future recruitment,
Wegner added.
The law school supplies 40 percent of all
North Carolina lawyers and 41 percent of
North Carolina judges.
Dean of the UNC
School of Law
JUDITH WEGNER
explained why there
has been a drop
in applicants.
A
Health.”
The suit claims Liptzin, as
Williamson’s psychiatrist, should have
arranged for the proper transfer of
Williamson’s treatment to another
physician upon his retirement in June
1994.
“After Dr. Liptzin’s retirement, no
efforts were made by him, Dean Crisp,
Dean Schroeder or any other persons at
Student Health, The School of Law, or
the UNC administration to monitor
Wendell’s psychiatric condition,” the
suit states.
Because of the nature of
Williamson’s illness, the suit states, he
was unaware of the severity of his con
dition and did not seek further treatment
on his own.
On Jan. 26,1995, Williamson opened
fire with a semi-automatic military rifle
Pomp and
circumstance
BY MOLLY GRANTHAM
UNIVERSITY EDITOR
Two undergraduates made University
history by graduating in UNC’s smallest
and most informal commencement cere
mony Friday at the Old Well.
Christine Blackwood of Chapel Hill and
Tammy Bouchelle of Hays both thought
they were graduating May 11 with the rest
of the Class of 1997. Upon entering Kenan
Stadium for the Commencement cere
monies, though, they discovered their
names were not on the program and diplo
mas were not available.
“I was devastated,” said Bouchelle, a his
tory major and a University Distinguished
Scholar. “It was a big deal to me. I’d
worked four years for a diploma and it
meant a lot to have one.”
Chancellor Michael Hooker opened the
informal ceremony, and UNC-system
President C.D. Spangler followed with a
personal apology to the two graduates.
“I apologize for the errors of the
University,” he said. “It is (our) responsibil
ity to make sure things go well, and this
time they didn’t go exactly as planned.”
Corbin Williams of Salisbury was also
omitted from the program, but she was
unable to come to the small ceremony. Her
diploma was mailed.
The error occurred when the women reg
istered to graduate in early spring. That day
Roberts reels in
national honors
Shortstop Brian Roberts
was named the country's
top freshman. Page 7
on Franklin Street pedestrians. Ralph
Walker Jr. and Kevin Reichardt, a UNC
lacrosse player, were killed in the inci
dent.
The action claims that because of the
negligence by UNC officials,
Williamson suffered physical, mental,
emotional and economic damages.
The suit lists $150,000 as the amount
sought, but states the damage is actually
much higher. It states Williamson would
like to seek $1 million if such an amount
would be rewarded.
In a similar Industrial Commission
claim of negligence on the part of the
University, Karl and Carol Reichardt,
the parents of Kevin Reichardt, are seek
ing $150,000 to $1 million for the death
of their son.
Schroeder said Tuesday he had been
advised not to comment.
the computers crashed, and no proof of
their eligibility was recorded.
“Of course if it was to happen to anyone,
it would happen to me,” Bouchelle said.
After learning there was no diploma for
her at Steele Building, Bouchelle immedi
ately contacted administration members.
“I went to work on Monday and
stomped out a letter for Spangler and
Chancellor Hooker,” she said. “The next
day I was at work, and (separately) they
both called.”
Each apologized for the error, and plans
for the informal ceremony were made.
At the ceremony itself, Blackwood and
Bouchelle sat on folding chairs, with
Hooker and Spangler standing before them
and a handful of family members standing
behind.
After Spangler’s apology, Hooker per
sonalized the conferring of degrees by
telling the women he was quite familiar
with their files and knew they would both be
successful.
“Both of you are very bright women,” he
said.“ You will both clearly have leadership
positions in the state.”
Both women said they appreciated the
ceremony.
Hooker made light of the situation with
his closing remarks.
“Well, the band would normally play,”
he said with a laugh. “But the band has all
gone home for the summer.”
Floyd: Position won’t affect SBP
BY JOHN SWEENEY
EDITOR
Like most May graduates, Aaron Nelson will
head to work next week to begin his new job.
Unlike his classmates, though, Nelson will not be
going far; it’s just a few hundred yards from his old
stomping grounds in Suite C to South Building.
That’s because Nelson will be filling anew posi
tion in the University administration, serving as a
special assistant to Chancellor Michael Hooker and
Executive Vice Chancellor Elson Floyd.
The job is a one-year appointment, with an
option for renewal next year, Floyd said.
While the job description lists significant experi
ence and knowledge of student government and
student issues as a primary qualification, Floyd said
it would not be reserved for the student body pres
ident every year.
“I think in some ways it will depend on the stu
dent body president,” Floyd said.
Having elected student officials seeking jobs with
the University could raise the specter of conflict of
interest.
But Floyd said that should not be a problem.
“A lot of people, I suspect, will run for student
offices with the intention of going into university
administration,” Floyd said. “I’m not sure if this
will mean that all student body presidents will be
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Today's
Weather
Partly cloudy,
high mid-70s.
Friday; Cloudy, high near 80.
County rabies
epidemic hits
town borders
■ Authorities confirmed
that the disease had spread
to Chapel Hill on May 22.
BY KATHERINE BROWN
CITY EDITOR
The first confirmed case of rabies
within Chapel Hill town limits was dis
covered May 22, according to Orange
County Animal Control reports. It was
the second case of the disease in south
ern Orange County within the past
week.
The latest case was discovered in
Umstead Park by a local woman walk
ing her two dogs along Bolin Creek.
One of the dogs attacked and killed a
raccoon, which was later found to cany
the disease. Although both dogs had
been vaccinated two months ago, they
were revaccinated as an extra precau
tion.
John Sauls, director of Orange
County Animal Control, reiterated
Tuesday the importance of keeping pets
indoors at night.
“With the onset of the past two
cases, as expected, the rabies epidemic
is moving towards the Southern portion
of the county,” Sauls said.
“It is imperative that pet owners take
precautions to ensure the safety of their
children and pets from suspicious
wildlife or other unfamiliar pets.”
Animal Control has now confirmed
37 cases of rabies in Orange County
since the epidemic began last July.
Sauls said the last time North
Carolina had a rabies outbreak, it was a
canine-based epidemic that spanned the
late 1940’s and early 1950’5.
He said this year’s rabies problems
are primarily wildlife-based, with most
of the confirmed cases occurring in
raccoons.
Animal Control states that in order
to avoid exposure to rabies, people
should do the following:
■ Avoid contact with all wild ani
mals, including stray dogs, puppies, cats
and kittens.
■ Secure all trash so it does not
attract animals.
■ Never feed pets outdoors.
■ Call a veterinarian or animal con
trol department if your pet is attacked
by a wild animal.
■ Confine animals to your property.
According to animal control,
wounds that might be exposed to rabies
should be washed with soap and water
for 10 minutes. This might effectively
wash away the the virus and thus pre
vent infection. After washing the
wound, seek treatment from a health
care provider immediately.
interested in coming to work here.
“It depends on their interests and goals after
graduation.”
The special assistant’s primary responsibilities
will be “directing special programs and projects at
the direction of the Chancellor and the Executive
Vice Chancellor.”
Among these projects are next summer’s Special
Olympics and the recently-announced America
Reads Program.
Hooker said last month that he modeled the job
after similar positions at other universities. Hiring
students is a common practice at other schools, he
said.
Floyd also said the position would not serve as a
buffer between students and the chancellor’s office,
despite the hiring of someone with longtime stu
dent contacts.
“We have a vice chancellor for Student Affairs
whose position is specifically for dealing with stu
dent issues,” Floyd said.
In any case, he added, the prestige that comes
with being student body president at UNC would
likely not be undermined by the presence of any
former student government official.
“We have a very strong tradition for student
body president here,” Floyd said. “I don’t think
Aaron will in any way affect Mo Nathan’s term as
SBP.”