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©hr Hath} dar Hn'l attfl 104 yean of editorial freedom Serving the students and the University community since 1893 University Police chief takes leave during probe ■ No one knows officially why University Police Chief Don Gold asked for a leave. BY SHARIF DURHAMS UNIVERSITY EDITOR AND KERRY OSSI STAFF WRITER University Police Chief Don Gold took a personal leave from the depart ment in the middle of an investigation as to whether supervisors in his depart ment tried to obstruct justice. University Police Lt. C.E. Swain and Capt. Danny Caldwell, who filed griev Head r i acQ ofthe Udbb ELECTIONS 97 The Daily Tar Heel asked students which five elections issues were most important to them. The DTH now presents a five-part series detailing the issues students chose. Issue 5: Taxes Issue 4: The environment Issue 3: Education Issue 2: Town-gown relations Issue 1: Crime Pagans explain myths about rituals, practices ■ Halloween reunites the group with their ancestors during sacred ceremonies. BY AMANDA GREENE STAFF WRITER The re-emergence of the spirits of dead ancestors walking the earth at Halloween means more than just tricks or treats to one campus religious group. “Druids consider Halloween the Celtic New Year," said Larry Machett, a junior and a druid in training. “It is the night when the spirit world draws closer to the mortal world.” Druidism is a nature-based form of spirituality. “Halloween is one of two fire festi vals important to druids,” he said. “The ancient agrarian Celts believed that on Halloween the spirits of their dead ancestors would visit their home and they would prepare feasts for them.” Although pagans said Halloween was important to them, most agreed the hol iday was not their most important one. “Focusing on us just at Halloween is like focusing on Christians just at Christmas,” said Michael Williams, a senior from Horseshoe. Some wiccans, who practice another pagan religion and whose ethical state ment is “If it harms none, do as you will,” believe that many Christians have misconceptions about the nature of pagan beliefs. Bascha Harris, a senior from Garner and a wiccan, said the pagan myths gave them a bad reputation. Wicca is a matri archal tradition of spirituality, based on the male and female poles. “Rumors of animal sacrifice and peo ple howling at the moon are just not true. Because of our wiccan beliefs, ances against the department three weeks ago, said Thursday that they would appeal their complaints to a panel of University faculty and staff members. No one knows officially why Gold asked for a leave of absence Monday. But Caldwell said that if Gold was involved in a cover-up, then the University should take more direct action against him. “If he’s on leave, that means he can come back,” Caldwell said. “If he’s involved, he should be terminated. “All who are involved should be ter minated. That’s corruption and a viola tion of several department policies and N.C. general statutes.” The alleged violations stem from Swain’s and Caldwell’s complaints about BY HUGH PRESSLEY STAFF WRITER As the Nov. 4 elections draw closer, the education issue continues to play a major role, especially in the race for the three vacant positions on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education. Now, many candidates and school officials are reflecting on the strengths and weaknesses of the existing school system and what must be done to main tain its level of excellence. “We have been the number one-ranked school district for 21 years in the state,” said candidate Nicholas Didow, vice chair man of the board. “The school board has taken the philosophy that every child is gifted and that course alterna tives should be made for every child in this district —a very fundamental change in educational philosophy,” he said. Kim Hoke, director of public rela tions for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, said the ranking includes such factors as Scholastic Achievement Test “All religious paths lead into one. The God that Christians worship is the same as the ones 1 worship. 1 just see something different.” KAT LEONARD Sophomore from Raleigh spilling any blood that is not your own is a deadly sin.” Stacey “Cat” Largent, a senior from Chapel Hill and member of the pagan group Kallisti, said she wanted to dispel the commonly held belief that pagans all practice black magic. “(Kallisti) does n’t want everyone to think they’re Satanists because they’re not.” Kallisti, the oldest pagan organiza tion in the United States and the only one on campus, has members of druidism, ceremonial magicians, wic cans and many other pagan religions. Harris said the classic images of wic can witches riding on broomsticks was based on practicality of ritual. “Often a broom was used in rituals to symbolically clean the negative energy from a place and sweep away the debris. The myth of ‘flying’ came from the hal lucinogenic drugs used in some of the rituals which caused a feeling of flight.” Largent said most pagans try to accept all religions, even Christianity. “Kallisti believes that just because they believe in many gods doesn’t mean we don’t accept other religions.” Kat Leonard, a sophomore from Raleigh and another wiccan, said her belief stressed respect for other religions. “All religious paths lead into one. The God that Christians worship is the same as the ones I worship. I just see some thing different.” Some folks are wise and some are otherwise. Tobias Smollett Friday, October 31,1997 Volume 105, Issue 101 JIL L the department’s handling of an alcohol citation written for Caroline Hancock, 18, daughter of Billy Armfield, a Board of Trustees member. Swain, who wrote the citation, said Public Safety supervisors violat ed department policy by taking the citation out of the computer sys tem. Gold said in an earlier inter- University Police Chief DON GOLD has taken a leave of absence from the University and did not say when he would return. 3RJ| Tp *&’ •** ' DTH FILE PHOTO Students at East Chapel Hill High School pile onto a school bus after their first day of classes Aug. 20. Election can didates want to keep Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools among the best schools in North Carolina. scores, end-of-grade tests and net per formance achievements. “I think the vast majority of students grow up in an environment where education is val ued,” she said. “The community also supports eduction through volunteering and funding.” Randy Marshall, principal at Wm Jr &'+'• > l ’Ur*'^ * rCx an VB DTH/ION GARDINER Litz Plummer shuffles tarot cards at the UNC pagan organization's table in the Pit. Plummer is a member of Kallisti, the University's paganist group. view that the file was erased only during the investigation. After Gold dismissed their original grievances, Swain and Caldwell both appealed the decision to University offi cials. Swain said he met Wednesday and Thursday with Vice Chancellor for Business Carolyn Elfland, who is in charge of ruling on the complaint, but was not satisfied with her reaction to his complaint. Swain said Elfland also was involved in removing the ticket from the file. Elfland did not return several phone calls to her home and office on Thursday. At their meeting, Swain said Elfland told him that she had brought the cita Carrboro Elementary School, said in addition to supportive parents and well funded schools, the success of the school system also lies in the hands of talented teachers. “We have a number of qualified teachers to fill in when positions become vacant," he said. “Over 60 percent of our teachers have “AU who are involved should be terminated. Thats corruption and a violation of several department policies and N.C. general statutes.” DANNY CALDWELL Captain, University Police Department tion to Executive Vice Chancellor Elson Floyd, who told her to handle it herself. Swain said Elfland decided to have Gold pull the citation out of the records and keep it in-house because his super visors had previously reassigned him to a duty that did not require him to write master’s degrees.” Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools per form at a level higher than school dis tricts in major college towns like Charlottesville, Va.; Bloomington, Ind.; and Ann Arbor, Mich., Didow said. See EDUCATION, Page 4 Doctors allow Fernando to leave hospital ■ Former UNC graduate student Romesh Fernando will receive outpatient care. FROM STAFF REPORTS A former journalism graduate stu dent who was involuntarily committed to UNC Hospitals’ adult psychiatric unit was released Thursday. Romesh Fernando, who had battled with UNC administrators in the last year over many complaints, was allowed to leave after eight days of eval uation and treatment. Gloria Vaughan, administrative nurs- ing supervisor for UNC Hospitals, said he had been released because he was “better.” Chapel Hill attorney Karen Murphy con firmed that she would represent Fernando regard ing his involun tary commitment. She could not comment further on the case because of client attorney privilege, but she the court |W Former journalism graduate student ROMESH FERNANDO said he planned to appeal his expulsion from the University. appointed her to represent Fernando. Fernando, who was a doctoral stu dent in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, was expelled in September for alleged “disruption of the academic process.” He had e-mailed messages, mention- See FERNANDO, Page 4 News/Features/Am/Sports: 962-0245 Business /Advertising. 962-1163 Chapel Hill, North Carolina C 1997 DTH Publishing Corp. All rights reserved. tickets involving alcohol use at football games. Swain wanted the response to his complaint in writing, but he said offi cials told him a written response would not be in the University’s best interest. He also said Elfland said a written response could be subpoenaed in an unrelated civil court case in which Swain is accused of using excessive force. “See what kind of tactic she’s trying,” he said, referring to Elfland. “She’s using scare tactics, but it’s not working.” Floyd said he had not heard a report from Elfland about the complaints. “I have not seen her response,” he See POLICE, Page 4 Police to use Granville on Halloween ■ A newsletter said Granville Towers South will be a station Friday night. BY JON OSTENDORFF ASSISTANT CITY EDITOR Some students are questioning the motives of a recent newsletter inform ing them their residence halls will become a Halloween hideout for Chapel Hill police. Letters have been posted in the Granville Towers South building stat ing Chapel Hill police will use the facility as a Police prepare for Hafloweea eight MEm.LC. e* ■ mmkjih See Page 2 mobile station Friday night. In the letter South Tower Manager Chad Garrett stated, “The Chapel Hill police and (Alcohol Law Enforcement) will be using Granville South as a mobile station.” The letter also informed students that police will be entering the building throughout the night and could issue citations for underage possession and public drink ing. According to the letter, police can “issue citations if you are in any com mon areas," which, according to the let ter, includes rooms with open or “even cracked” doors. Some Granville South residents said these measures were excessive. Granville South resident Matthew Ricketts, a sophomore from North Wilkesboro, described the letter as a shock tactic. He said he did not condone underage drinking but that the measures taken by Granville officials were too harsh. See HALLOWEEN, Page 4 Happy Halloween INSIDE Football sheds Jackets UNC defeated Georgia Tech on Thursday for a key ACC road win. The Tar Heels had <j£ IN over 500 yards of offense. Page 7 Candidates get schooled Students from East Chapel Hill High School held a candidate forum during lunch Thursday. Page 2 Today's weather Increasing clouds; low 60s Weekend: Showers; mid 60$ %
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Oct. 31, 1997, edition 1
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