Soily (Tar MM Police Roundup City Thursday Sept. 23 ■ A Chapel Hill man was the target of an attempted armed robbery at 2:45 a.m. in front of the Wicked Burrito Restaurant on West Franklin Street, reports stated. The 45-year-old man said he was approached from behind by a 5-foot-9-inch, 25- to 30-year-old white man with long, blond hair. The victim told police that the man asked for his wallet, but when he refused, the attacker cut him on his chin and left arm with a box cutter. Police found a razor blade at the scene, reports stated. Wednesday Sept. 22 ■ William A. Jones, 22, was struck in the left eye some time before 3 a.m. when an unidentified woman hit him with a beer bottle at the Alley Oops Tree House at 157 East Rosemary St., reports stated. According to police spokeswoman Jane Cousins, the woman struck the Tree House employee while he was breaking up a fight between two men. She fled the nightclub and escaped in a car that was waiting in the parking lot, Cousins said. ■ At 11 a.m. a Cary woman returned to her parked car at University Mall to find that all four of its tires were deflating, reports stated. Janene M. Zentmeyer, a Dillard’s employee, called police when she dis covered that someone had let the air out of the tires on her 1998 Ford Explorer. ■ A Chapel Hill man called police around 6 p.m. after he discovered that an unauthorized person had charged adult entertainment calls to his credit card, reports stated. William L. Thorp, of 214-A McCauley St., called police after he was surprised by a credit card bill that included charges for several calls to dif ferent services, said Jane Cousins, police spokeswoman. ■ A Carrboro man told police his car was stolen Monday, although he didn’t report the incident until Wednesday at 2:34 p.m., said Sgt. D. Caldwell. Torrey Perry, of 501 N.C. 54, Apt. - 3, told police his car was stolen by two men who he was taking on a test drive because he was trying to sell them the 1986 Toyota Corolla, reports stated. One of the men pulled out a gun and told Perry to drive to Durham, where they robbed him of S6OO and left him, reports stated. University Thursday Sept. 23 ■ Police approached Christopher Baldwin, who is not a UNC student, in front of Morrison Residence Hall at 5:14 a.m., reports stated. The subject was removing a bicycle in front of the residence hall. When questioned by the police, he said he parked the bicycle at Morrison and then went on campus to consume alcohol, reports stated. Officers later discovered the bicycle was stolen from 31 IB Lindsey St. in Chapel Hill. The bicycle was returned to the owner, who did not press charges, reports stated. Tuesday, Sept. 21 ■ A two-car collision on Manning- Drive in front of Hinton James Residence Hall caused approximately $1,700 in damage. Michael Hoefle, 53, of Chapel Hill was driving on Manning Drive when an 18-year-old UNC student pulled off the curb in front of Hinton James and attempted to turn into Ehringhaus Residence Hall. There were no injuries. ■ Officers responded to a call from a burglary witness at 3:24 a.m. The wit ness watched the suspect take a bicycle from a bicycle rack on the victim’s car and then walked toward Morehead Planetarium carrying the bicycle, reports stated. The witness described the subject as a 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-8,140- to 150-pound black man wearing a white shirt and dark pants, reports stated. The witness ran after the subject and saw a suspi cious white pickup truck leave the Morehead Planetarium area quickly. Police questioned Christopher Baldwin who fit the description but later released him, reports stated. Monday, Sept. 20 ■ A burglary was reported at Van Hecke Wettach Hall, reports stated. A videocassette recorder, valued at S3OO, was taken from Room 3049. Reports stated that it was not known exactly when the last time the VCR was seen or used. Flooding Claims Life of ECU Freshman; Recovery Continues By Taena Kim Staff Writer An East Carolina University fresh man’s body was found floating in a flooded stream by campus police Wednesday morning, the first flood casu alty at a school More Coverage Of the Flooding's Aftermath See Page 6 beleaguered by Floyd’s aftermath. Aaron Christopher Child, 18, of Leland, was last seen at his brother’s Drumming Up Spirit for UNC By Alicia Peters Staff Writer When the band comes roaring in during halftime of Saturday’s home football game, it will be marching to Betty Landers’ beat. Asa sophomore transfer student from Fayetteville, Landers plays the drums for the UNC marching band - despite her inability to see the notes. Difficulties from a premature birth caused Landers to lose her vision as an infant. But she realized early in life that she loved music as much as she loved UNC. “I started banging at a (young) age, but I never stopped,” Landers said. Landers began her musical career with the violin, but after practicing the string instrument she realized that her heart belonged only to the drums. “I decided to play in the band because music has always been part of my fife,” she said. In high school, Landers quickly developed a passion for both her music and Carolina blue. “I realized in ninth grade that I wanted to attend UNC,” Landers said. But that road was somewhat harder than learning to play the drams. “1 was the first person with a disability to attend only the public schools,” Landers said. “(But) I graduated from high school with honors.” After a devastating letter of rejec tion from UNC her senior year, Landers’ desire to be a Tar Heel only grew. “I did not care that I was not accepted the first time I applied,” she said. “I would have done anything to come to UNC.” She spent a year at Gardner- NAACP Official Questions Prison System By Kim Minugh Staff Writer An NAACP official said Thursday the cost of funding overcrowded prisons was financially detrimental to the public education system. Elaine Jones, the Director Counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund focused on the need to improve the U.S. public education and prison systems at UNC’s eighth annual Murphy Lecture series, which drew a crowd of nearly 100 law students. “For a democracy, you have to have an avenue for our children to be able to learn and develop their minds,” said Jones. “And it has to be available to all our kids regardless of their economic status. If we don’t do that, we weaken the democracy.” Speaker Calls for Labor Action By Beth O'Brien Staff Writer A major figure in the movement against sweatshops called for more national student involvement Thursday. Charles Kemaghan, director of the National Labor Committee, appealed to students to continue with the straggle. “The U.S. student movement is the strongest human rights movement today,” Kemaghan said. He urged students to use that power in their efforts to end sweatshops. “These companies are terrified of stu dent movements,” he said. “It puts you in the driver’s seat. You can call the cor porate bluff.” For more than two years, UNC stu dents have demanded that all UNC licensed goods be made under fair working conditions at a living wage. Kernaghan’s tone of urgency comes in response to deteriorating conditions apartment on Bth Street in Greenville, according to a police report. The cause of death was ruled an acci dental drowning after the State Medical Examiner’s office conducted an autopsy Wednesday afternoon. Despite the tragedy and severe flood related damage on and around campus, school officials are anxious to revive the long-deserted campus. Students are scheduled to return to class next Wednesday. “Sooner we open, sooner we’ll get things back to normal,” said Cliff Webster, student body presi dent. “That’s what we’re aiming for. I iJJ JB ';vhH SHte DTH/MILLER PEARSALL Sophomore Betty Landers, a blind percussionist for the Marching Tar Heels, rehearses in her UNC attire Tuesday afternoon. Landers has combined her passion for music with her love for UNC. Webb University and then reapplied to UNC. The second time, she was finally accepted to the school she loved. In the fall, she came to the University filled with enthusiasm and school spirit - spirit for UNC she had been dangerously displaying at other schools’ activities. “Now I will not get beat up at the football games,” Landers said. During auditions, a UNC percus sion instructor played rhythms that Landers cautiously played back on the snare drum. “I was very nervous because I had not played on the drums since my senior year of high school,” Landers said. But when the jittery tryouts were Jones said the breadth of the educa tion system did not adequately cover all who needed it. She said the age-old tra dition of educating only the wealthy still existed today. “Our system is not what it ought to be, but we’ve got to fix it,” she said. “We can’t abandon it, because if we do we will pay a price that you and I will live to see. We will live to see the folly of our ways.” Jones said America’s prison system benefited at the cost of public education. She cited California as an example of one state where prison budget deficits were funded by money intended for the higher education system. The national bill for the existing prison structure is about S4O million a year. Jones called the figure a total waste that was getting out of control. “We have in sweatshops around the world. The workers’ mistreatment has escalated to the point of death threats, he said. Two women and a labor organization leader from El Salvador also gave impassioned speeches that were trans lated for the audience. Blanca Ruth Palacios, a 43-year-old seamstress for Caribbean Apparel, a manufacturing company that makes products for Nike, Wal-Mart and Kathie Lee, said she questioned the working conditions and was fired for it. “We aren’t here accusing or claiming anything except what we’ve suffered in the flesh,” she said. Palacios recalled 12- to 15-hour work ing days and screaming managers who hit tables to emphasize their points. She said she was fired when she and some co-workers began talking about survival. “We formed a union,” she said, “Our boss found out, and we were out.” Lorena del Carmen Hernandez, a 21- News am one out of 100 students here. There is nobody here.” The school originally planned to start classes Monday. The ECU buildings have only sus tained minor damages, Webster said, adding that two were flooded and a tree fell on the Alumni Center. Chancellor Richard Eakin ended the widespread rumor that the rest of the fall semester would be canceled, announc ing in a press release that faculty mem bers would report to campus Monday. The residence halls will reopen Tuesday for classes to resume over, Landers became an official member of the Marching Tar Heels. She plays in the band’s pit during the games and stands on the field instead of marching at halftime. “The best part about being in the marching band is that I acquired 300 new brothers and sisters,” she said. Jeff Fuchs, the band instructor, said Landers’ personality was an asset to the organization. “Betty enjoys being part of the group and she brings a lot of enthusi asm with her,” he said. Phil Gardner, a senior journalism and mass communication major from Conover, said he enjoyed being in the band with Landers. “Betty is amazing ... and she just has a great attitude,” he said. created a system, this prison industrial complex, on our watch. It is the legacy we bequeath to our little brothers and sisters, to our children, to our grandchil dren. We are better than that. That is a legacy we should not leave.” Jones said the enormous increase in the prison population over the last 30 years could be attributed to the increased sentencing of people who committed nonviolent offenses. She cited statistics that showed the increasing disproportion of nonviolent criminals to violent criminals. According to these statistics, half of the offenders entering prisons in the 1980s were vio lent. In 1995, violent offenders consti tuted less than one-third of prison pop ulations. She said called it ridiculous that petty criminals were overcrowding prisons year-old seamstress, echoed Palacios. “But there are worse things to see,” Hernandez said detailing sexual abuse. She said her friend wanted to leave work early to be with her baby. “She was forced to work until 10 at night,” she said. “She was beaten and raped, and offered money to stay quiet about it.” Jiovanni Fuentes, the union organizer who deals with factory workers’ com plaints, mentioned the risk the three had taken in coming to the United States. “We’ll be considered illegitimate chil dren, traitors to our country," he said. Fuentes already experienced the dan gers of fighting the system in El Salvador. Lawyers associated with the Caribbean Apparel company warned him to be cautious of his life. “They told me to leave my work, that for about $lO they could have anyone in the country killed,” Fuentes said. “I thought to myself, ‘What have I done for them to be telling me this?’” Wednesday. “Nothing like this has (ever) happened to Greenville,"said George Threewitts, assistant director for ECU’s News Bureau. “There hasn’t been a dis aster like this in North Carolina.” But members of the community have pulled together to get things back to nor mal, he said. “An outpouring of goodwill has come from the community,” Threewitts said. A Floyd Relief Resource Center has been established in a dining hall for stu dents seeking aid in replacing books and searching for a place to stay. Threewitts said the center had made A psychology major, Landers said she often found schoolwork abundant and difficult, but she used music to keep her spirit upbeat. “I am addicted to music and I use it as a way to relax from the struggles of being a student,” Landers said. After graduation, Landers wants to be a social worker for the blind. She said she hoped her own experiences would encourage and inspire others like her. “I am afraid of failure, and I will not accept anything less then the best,” she said. With her intense spirit and enthusi asm, she said she wanted not only to reach her dreams but also to help oth- See STARHEEL, Page 6 and serving longer prison terms than necessary. Jones has been fighting social injustice with the LDF for 30 years. The organization was founded by Thurgood Marshall in the 19405. It is a nationwide civil rights law firm. She received a standing ovation at the end of her lecture.” She’s a really ener getic speaker,” Chris Willett, a third year student in the UNC School of Law, said. “It makes you want to go out and do whatever you can do, and that’s not a thing that law school typically inspires.” “She is a symbol of die reason why I came to law school, in that she’s an advocate,” said Rachel Esposito, a third student in the law school. “It’s not often we hear a voice like this.” The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu. DTH/KAARIN MOORE Charlie Kemaghan comments on apparel made under Kathie Lee Gifford's name. Kemaghan criticized Gifford and sweatshop conditions. Kemaghan and the workers from El Salvador emphasized the role students could play in keeping these events in the public eye. “It’s sad and beautiful to see and hear you,” Palacios said, tears edg Friday, September 24, 1999 a list of available apartments for students to live in until their homes were assessed for damage and repaired. “We have secured some money to give to students who need a place to stay,” said Kay Wilkerson, director of ECU’s Student Health Service. Webster expressed concern with pos sible student shock and withdrawal due to the massive flooding. “I know if every student and faculty member experiences the shock I did, it is going to be hell.” The State & National Editor can be reached at stntdesk@unc.edu. Volunteer Programs Join Forces Volunteer Orange! has a new office at the Campus Y in an effort to recruit more students to volunteer. By Brian Young Staff Writer A merger of two civic-minded orga nizations will make it much easier for residents to volunteer this semester. Volunteer Orange!, a service of the Triangle United Way, has joined forces with the Campus Y in an effort to gain greater access to the students and facul ty of UNC. In the past, the organization’s recruit ment of volunteers has been somewhat hampered by its less-than-ideal location off campus. This should change with its new office in the Campus Y and its new main office, located on North Columbia Street “The appeal of being on campus is obvious,” said Volunteer Coordinator and 1998 UNC graduate Betsy Alley. “Campus Y is in the center of things. “It’s just easier for students and fac ulty to find out about volunteer oppor tunities while on campus.” Alley said it made more sense for both organizations to be working together, rather than separately to serve the volunteer community. Volunteer Orange!, which Offers vol unteers to the more than 100 agencies with which it maintains contact, won’t be the sole beneficiary of the new asso ciation. Campus Y, which serves as an umbrella for a multitude of service minded organizations in the area, will also benefit from the connection of the two groups. “Volunteer Orange! will provide an outlet into the surrounding communi ty,” said Campus Y Director Zenobia Hatcher-Wilson. “Their database of agencies will give students more choices in where they volunteer,” she said. Katherine Liu, a freshman business major, volunteers as co-chair of the Hunger and Homelessness Outreach Project, one of Campus Y”s subcommit tees. She said the presence on campus of Volunteer Orange! in conjunction with Campus Y would be positive for stu dents and residents alike. “Lots of students know about (Campus Y),” Liu said. “They’ll come in and find out about even more volunteer work available.” Alley said Campus Y could find a match for a willing volunteer, no matter what the student’s interest, skill or schedule. There are opportunities for one-day service projects, which should appeal to See VOLUNTEER, Page 6 ing her voice, “I know that working together, we can gain a little bit” The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu. 3

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