tityp Satlij (Jar Heel
y
Police
Roundup
University
Wednesday, Jan. 12
■ At approximately 1:52 a.m. a
freshman resident of Ruffin Residence
Hall received a strange phone call from
a person she reported as male.
After refusing to answer his ques
tions, the student hung up and called
the police to report the incident.
■ Freshman Dannielle Ballen was
served an arrest warrant in the after
noon for an instance of simple assault
that occurred in 332 Morrison
Residence Hall.
The assault was a result of a verbal
agreement about the movement of
Ballen’s roommate’s belongings. The
victim reported that Ballen pushed her
on the bed. When she stood up to
defend herself, both exchanged blows.
After the arrest, Barren was taken in
front of Magistrate Koelling at the
Chapel Hill Police Department, where
she was released on written promise to
appear.
■ A woman staying in room lit) of
the Motel Unit called the police depart
ment when she was bleeding profusely
from what was considered a possible
miscarriage.
After an examination by the nursing
staff, it was determined that her bleed
ing was a result of an ovarian tumor or
cyst instead of a miscarriage.
Tuesday, Jan. 11
■ A fire alarm sounded at 3: lti a.m.
in suite 519-522 of Morrison Residence
Hall. An unidentified student set fire to
an aerosol spray, reports state.
After inspection of the rooms, a bot
tle of Pledge was found and is suspected
to be the fuel used. Minimal damage
was sustained on the door and discol
oration of the whiteboard.
■ A projector, laptop computer and
monitor were reported stolen from the
Old Dental School. Estimated value of
the stolen items is $14,307.
■ At approximately 10:08 a.m., a
UNC light pole fell on three cars, which
sustained a “fair” amount of damage,
according to police reports.
The rear window of one involved
vehicle, a white Chevrolet, was broken
but of its frame. The same car was left
with damage to the trunk and a Hat right
fear tire. The other involved cars, a gray
Cadillac and a blue Dodge, were left
with scratches and possible dents.
A witness reported that a driver in a
1986 Chevrolet Celebrity backed into a
parking spot and hit the light pole,
knocking the pole over. The driver of
the car denied the accusations.
City
Thursday, Jan. 13
■ Michael Christopher McGinnis of
1206 Madison Court in Jacksonville was
issued a citation for misdemeanor lar
ceny after a store manager found him
inhaling propellants.
The manager of Harris Teeter, locat
ed on North Greensboro Street, called
Carrboro police around 3:03 a.m. after
Witnessing McGinnis remove a
Reddiwhip can from a shelf and inhale
propellants. McGinnis offered to reim
burse the store and left the area without
further incident.
■ N.C. State University student
Jeffrey Carter of 5512 Kaplan Drive,
Apt. B, was pulled over by Chapel Hill
police at 2:17 a.m. and charged with
drunk driving.
Police reports state that Carter was
also charged with misdemeanor posses
sion of marijuana as well as possession
of drug paraphernalia.
• Carter was taken before a magistrate
and released on a written promise to
appear in court.
Wednesday, Jan. 12
■ Chapel Hill police spokeswoman
Jane Cousins said police had a suspect
ifi a breaking and entering on McDade
Street which was reported about 6:45
p.m.
According to police reports, a burglar
entered the house and stole $2,000
worth of jewelry and electronic equip
ment such as a CD player as well as a
pager.
An undisclosed amount of money
was also taken.
. Cousins said no arrests had been
made in the case, but police would con
tinue to investigate.
At approximately 4:10 a.m.
§hapel Hill police responded to an acti
vated alarm at the Eckcrd Drugs on
Weaver Dairy Road.
The suspect took broke the glass on
the entrance of the store and stole ciga
rettes and perfume, according to police
reports.
; • .'Cousins said police had no suspects
in; the case but do not believe it was
related to two other breaking-and-enter
■fiigs the same evening.
BOG: UNC Drug Laws
Could Need Revision
By Kathleen Hunter
Assistant State & National Editor
Members of the Board of Governors expressed
concern Thursday that a drop in drug policy vio
lations at UNC-Chapel Hill might indicate a press
ing need to revamp the school’s drug enforcement
procedures.
The BOG’s committee on educational policies,
planning and programs received its annual report
from the 16 UNC campuses at its meeting
Thursday in Wilmington.
The BOG’s discussion of the report preceeded a
discussion of a systemwide tuition increase that will
be addressed at a workshop today.
Statistics indicated that UNC-CH experienced
a much lower number of drug violations per stu
dent as compared to other schools.
“It shows that we have a problem on our cam
pus,” said student BOG member Jeff Nieman. “I
don’t think there is anything inherently different
about drug-use patterns from one campus to anoth
er.
“I think this reflects that there is something
wrong in the way drug policy is enforced or viola
tions are reported.”
UNC-CH reported only 12 violations during
1999, as compared to 119 alleged violations at
Appalachian State University, 112 at UNC-
Charlotte, 77 at East Carolina University and 54 at
N.C. State University.
Reported violations at UNC-CH also decreased
by four over the past school year, Nieman said.
But Cynthia Bonner, UNC associate vice presi
dent for faculty and stall resources, said the system
merely served as a watchdog to make sure that
individual campuses’ drug enforcement procedures
Reason
SNEEZIN'
By Shahrzad Re/vani
Staff Writer
With the coming of the year 2000.
Y2K wasn’t the only bug students had
to fear.
As the 2000 flu season approaches,
many students are making a trip to
Student Health Serv ice within the first
week of school.
Nearly 20 UNC students have been
N.C. Flu Season
Bucks Trend,
Stays Normal
By Rachel Leonard
Staff Writer
While national reports from the Center for
Disease Control indicate that the current flu season
is hitting harder than in recent years, state officials
are telling residents they have little to fear.
Bill Furney, spokesman for the N.C. State Health
Director’s Office, said this year’s flu season was noth
ing out of the ordinary.
“The flu season has not started earlier in North
Carolina," he said.
The typical flu season begins in late December
and lasts through March.
The local situation appears to be similar.
According to UNC Hospitals, no flu crisis has
occurred.
“At last check, the numbers of influenza cases has
not significantly changed ... they are pretty even
with last year,” said UNC Hospitals spokesman
Lynn Wooten.
That might not be the case nationwide. According
Renovations Set for 5 Fraternity Houses
The fraternities will be
remodeled to install new
sprinkler systems by the
town's fall 2001 deadline.
By Elizabeth Breyer
Staff Writer
Members of a UNC fraternity have
temporarily bid their house goodbye as
Greek organizations continue their quest
to update their houses and meet fire
safety requirements.
UNC’s chapter of the Delta Kappa
Epsilon fraternity closed its house dur
ing Winter Break to begin renovations
met minimum requirements.
“It is being handled on the campus level, as is
appropriate for student judicial matters,” she said.
Bonner said concern over the lack of violations
caused the UNC-CH Board of Trustees to require
Student Affairs Vice Chancellor Sue Kitchen to
report to the BOT last March on the state of the
University’s drug policy.
Since March, a University drug committee has
been examining ways to step up enforcement on
campus.
The committee is also trying to resolve a dispute
over whether or not to include possession of drug
paraphernalia and drug use as punishable offenses.
But concern that stricter laws might keep stu
dents from coming forward to seek help with
addictions has stalled the process.
Overall, though, BOG Secretary Lois Britt said
committee members were pleased with the report.
“I think everyone felt a comfort level with the
data today,” Britt said.
Despite the attention paid Thursday to drug pol
icy. the lingering issue of tuition was not lost on the
BOG.
UNC-system President Molly Broad presented
her plan to raise tuition $475 to fund capital pro
jects and faculty salaries to the board’s Budget and
Finance Committee, said UNC Vice President of
Finance Jeff Davies.
Broad’s recommendations were released late last
week.
The full board will vote in February on a tuition
recommendation to send to the N.C. General
Assembly.
The State & National Editor can be reached at
stntdesk@unc.edu.
diagnosed with the flu this past week
after being infected with the Influenza A
virus, said Dr. Mary Covington of SHS.
“We definitely see this every year.
It’s just a question of intensity,” she
said. Covington said that at this time
last year, the cases were fewer because
the virus hit students later in the
month.
The number of students with flu
symptoms has definitely increased
Flushing Out the Flu
A rash of fairly severe cases of influenza have caused alarm across the country and state. But
officials say this is typical for flu season. Just in case, here are some symptoms and treatments.
What are the symptoms of the flu?
Fever, dry cough, sore throat runny or stuffy nose, headache, muscle aches and
extreme fatigue.
What can people do to protect themselves? £jw§|| ]
0 The most important preventative measure is to get vaccinated in the fall. Cl
ff one is exposed, how long does it take to get sick? One to four days. \
ow long is a person with the flu contagious? Three to five days. ( \
'hat are some misconceptions about the flu? \ jJutTL \
■ "The flu is merely a nuisance." It is actually a major cause of illness )
and death in the United States. / l / /
■ "The flu vaccine causes the flu." The vaccine is made from killed influenza if
illnesses and cannot cause the flu, j i V H
■ "The flu vaccine is not very effective." When the vaccine viruses and Hj V
circulating viruses are well-matched, the vaccine can be very effective.
It's not too late to get the vaccine, which takes two weeks to take effect.
SOURCE: CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
to the CDC Web site, there were more cases of
influenza this year than last.
The figures indicated an earlier start to the season,
perhaps due to the w armer weather.
The site also reported that mortality percentages
have been above last year’s figures and “the current
increase in pneumonia and influenza mortality
should be treated with caution.”
that will ultimately cost more than $ 1
million and will continue until school is
dismissed for the summer,
Four other fraternities - Kappa Sigma,
Kappa Alpha, Tau Epsilon Phi and Beta
Theta Pi - are planning similar construc
tion. The primary purpose of these pro
jects is to install updated sprinkler systems
by the fall 2001 deadline set by the town
after five students died in a 1996 fire at the
Phi Gamma Delta house.
“All the Greek organizations have to
change their sprinklers, and while they
are at it, they are taking advanUige of the
opportunity for full renovation,” said
Ron Binder, director of Greek Affairs.
In addition to the sprinklers, the
changes at the Delta Kappa Epsilon
News
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DTH KAARIN MOORE
Brianna O'Neil, a junior biology major, buys a sunflower on Franklin Street on Thursday
afternoon. The famous flower ladies of Chapel Hill often station themselves in front
of Nationsßank Plaza, peddling their colorful bouquets.
since the end of fall semester classes,
Covington said. “The students have
been trickling in, she said. “This may
be the beginning of a peak.”
Covington said SHS was prepared
for the infected students. “We always
gear up for this in January- and
February,” she said.
Doctors at SHS prescribe
Amantadine, a drug that can shorten
the duration of the flu if given within
house will include wiring for Internet
connections, creating a study area and
restoring the central staircase.
“The house hasn’t had much renova
tion since 1972, when there was a fire,
and it is well time for it to be done
again,” said Howard Brubaker, director
of the Student Activities Fund Office and
an adviser to Delta Kappa Epsilon.
Former residents of the house are either
finding alternative boarding arrangements
in Chapel Hill or studying abroad.
Kappa Sigma member Jimmy Grahl
expressed hesitation about losing his fra
ternity house to the upcoming renova
lions. “Not being able to eat meals
together or have a central meeting place
will be the big inconvenience,” he said.
FLOWER CHILD
Students
Swarm to
Student
Health as
The Flu
Bug Bites
48 hours of the onset of symptoms.
Another medication prescribed is
Tamiflu, which is effective against both
Influenza A and its milder form,
Influenza B.
She said the Food and Drug
Administration recently approved
Tamiflu, and SHS pushed hard to
make it available to students.
See HEALTH, Page 4
Presbyterian Health Care Vice President Cecily
Durrett, whose organization provides health care for
a large number of North Carolinians, also said she
noted the increase in flu cases.
“There are definitely more upper respiratory
infections (this flu season),” she said.
See FLU, Page 4
Grahl said Kappa Sigma members
are looking for ways to make up for the
loss of the house. He said arrangements
should be made by the time construc
tion starts in mid-May.
The renovations at each house are
being financed entirely by private dona
tions and fund raising by the members.
How ever, the size of the project and
the cost will be different for each house.
“We don’t have funds for a full cosmet
ic renovation - this is mostly for safety
reasons," Grahl said.
Once renovations begin, the houses
w ill be closed for at least a semester.
The University Editor can be reached
at udesk@unc.edu.
Friday, January 14, 2000
Class Rank
Decision
Postponed
The University's admissions
director asked the Board of
Education not to eliminate
the class-ranking system.
By Robert Albright
Staff Writer
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of
Education decided to suspend their vote
regarding a waiver from East Chapel
Hill High School that would eliminate
the class-ranking system.
Due to the recent addition of three
new members, the board decided it was
in its best interest to further discuss the
waiver before making a final decision.
Although the vote was delayed until
next month's meeting. ECHHS
Principal David Thaden said Thursday
night’s meeting was a step in the right
direction. “This discussion is going to
help (the board) make informed deci
sions," he said. “It presents a compelling
situation.”
l haden said since an overwhelming
number of ECHHS students main
tained high grade point averages, some
students in the middle part of their class
are overlooked by colleges. Eliminating
the class ranking system would benefit
these students.
“Our kids who sit in the second half
of the top 30 percent present a com
pelling situation," he said. “These stu
dents are extremely competitive, even
though their class rank may not indicate
it.”
Board member Gloria Faley said she
was still considering the merits of the
school’s waiver, but said she agreed
w ith Thaden’s remarks about the nega
tive aspects of class rank. “I'm on the
fence, but we need to look deeper into
the situation,” she said. “The world is
for students to feel and see, not for them
to worry about class rank.”
While Faley focused on the positive
aspects of eliminating class rank, Jerome
Lucido. admissions director at UNC,
came before the board to voice his
opposition to the waiver.
“Admissions officials w-ant to under
stand how students do in a competitive
environment,” he said. “College admis
sions is about making the right match,
but if you reduce the information, you
make it difficult.”
Board member Teresa Williams said
she supported Lucido’s doubts.
“I cannot reconcile the possibility- of
harming some students by removing
class rank,” she said.
Richard Chen, whose daughter
attends ECHHS, said he also came to
the meeting to voice his opposition to
the waiver.
“It does a disservice not to give class
rank,” he said. “I’m concerned because
I think my daughter would suffer if
ECHHS eliminates class rank.”
Regardless of the board's decision at
their next meeting on Feb. 10,
Superintendent Neil Pedersen said the
See BOARD, Page 4
3