Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Nov. 19, 2003, edition 1 / Page 2
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2 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2003 Red light statistics spark more debate on cameras Officials contest Safe Light benefits BY CHRIS MCLAUGHLIN STAFF WRITER Opponents of Chapel Hill’s red light camera program have received their first round of ammu nition in the form of hard data. Local officials say newly released statistics, which measure the num ber of violations against the cam eras’ ability to produce ticket wor thy images, show the cameras to be ineffective in most cases. Out of the 680 violations record ed by the camera at the intersection of U.S. 15-501 and Sage Road, the town issued only 205 tickets, about 30 percent of the violations. Of the 135 violations recorded at the intersection of Airport Road and Estes Drive, 50 were issued tickets, about 36 percent. This low percentage is due to the cameras' inability to produce clear images of the violating cars’ license plates. Kumar Neppalli, Chapel Hill’s traffic engineer, said these prob lems have not been addressed properly by Affiliated Computer Services, the company contracted by the town for the program. “We have experienced problems with image quality and customer serv ice,” Neppalli said. Chapel Hill Town Council mem ber Mark Kleinschmidt said he was disappointed with ACS’s failure to cooperate with town staff. “(ACS officials) don’t comply with Chapel Hill values. They don’t comply with minimal customer service values,” he said. “I don’t know what level of patience the Town Council will demonstrate.” Kleinschmidt said that when the new council is in place, he plans to discuss the possibility of ending the town’s contract with ACS and getting rid of the red light cameras. “It looks like the inclination of that discussion will be to end the program,” he said. Mayor Kevin Foy echoed Kleinschmidt’s sentiment. “It doesn’t seem like there is going to Pre-med? Pre-dental? Pre-professional? 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Lee, Student Services Manager, at SOKXX OF PIZIOHEALTH 919.966.7212 or, via email at Joanne_Lee@unc.edu. & SCHOOL OF MEDICINE On the internet: www.sph.unc.edu/nutr/ DEPARTMENT OF NUTRITION SJw# # | f mm mam wmp fM "" - HHr jk- :? ■■ DTH FILE PHOTO/KATE BLACKMAN An employee of Fulcher Electric installs one of Chapel Hill's first red light cameras at the intersection of Airport Road and Estes Drive on Aug. 22. be support for continuing (the pro gram).” Foy said that his reasons for opposing the program hinge most ly on his lack of faith in the cam eras’ ability to prevent accidents. “I have not been convinced that this is a safety measure,” Foy said. Kleinschmidt echoed similar sentiments. He said that cameras’ low accuracy suggest to potential violators that they have only a one in three chance of getting a ticket if they run a red light. “This undermines any confi dence in the deterrent value of the cameras,” Kleinschmidt said. But Rita Berman, a Safe Light appeals officer, said the presence of the cameras makes people more News aware of their driving habits. “I think (Safe Light) will be suc cessful if people give the program time to work,” Berman said. Neppalli said the town cannot say yet whether the cameras are indeed an effective safety measure. “It is too early to decide whether we have positive results or negative results because we don’t have enough data to determine that,” Neppalli said. Neppalli and several town offi cials said the town will need six months to a year of data to deter mine whether the cameras are effective in preventing accidents. Contact the City Editor at citydesk@ unc.edu. UNC tops for black students BY CAROLINE KORNEGAY STAFF WRITER Although UNC did not admit black undergraduates until 1955, it now accommodates the largest percentage of black students among the nation’s top universi ties, according to a recent report. The statistics, published by the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, listed the 50 highest rated universities, as ranked by U.S. News and World Report, according to their percentage of black undergraduate enrollment. Officials said that UNC’s high ranking is proof of the drive toward a more inclusive campus. “I think it reaffirms Carolina’s commitment to a diverse class,” said Terri Houston, director of on campus recruitment and support for the Office of Minority Affairs. Edging out Duke and Emory universities, UNC headed up the list with 11.1 percent black enroll ment followed by Duke’s 10.4 per cent and Emory’s 9-3 percent. Houston said UNC has been Police look for link in robberies Carrboro business hit in latest crime BY TERRENCE JORDAN STAFF WRITER Carrboro police are investigat ing the town’s third reported armed robbery in November and are exploring a possible link between the crimes. According to police reports, three men entered the Spinx Oil on West Main Street at 11:55 p.m. with their faces covered and wear ing gloves. Florence Kaha, 63, the store manager and the only employee in the building at the time of the inci dent, stated in the police report that the men entered the building, came behind the counter and demanded money. One of the men pointed a black revolver at her and ordered her to get on the floor, reports state. Carrboro police Lt. Jim Phillips said only one man was observed with a gun. “After a review of the surveil lance tapes, it appears only one man was armed,” he said. Kaha reported hearing one man What's your attitude? Is it groovy? How about swingin’? m Do you command the room? Mell, you do now. „ 7 Runway fashions Design 149 is here to open up your from NY fashion mind—help you think outside Vintage fashions the shoebox. It's new. It's vintage. from every era It's both and it's nothing like you've Cosmetics & Body ever seen. 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With programs such as the Carolina Covenant, which is designed to help low-income stu dents graduate debt-free in four years, and the University’s strong stance behind affirmative action, UNC is staking its claim as a cam pus with an important focus on diversity, Houston said. “We’re sending a national mes sage that we are committed to identifying and enrolling high achieving students who are also (a part of a diverse) campus and corn say, “We want the money.” She pushed the key to the regis ter toward them, and one of the men, who was wearing a red ban danna over his face, took S7O out of the register, reports state. The men then emptied a spare money drawer that contained about $52. In the police report, Kaha stated that the third man “stayed away from the other two.” After taking the money and the business phone, all three men left the building. According to reports, a witness saw the men jump the chain link security fence after the incident. Upon arrival, Carrboro police found the business phone at the base of the fence but no sign of the men. Police took the business’ sur veillance tape and checked the area for fingerprints but found none. This instance marks the first time this month that a Carrboro business was the victim of an armed robbery. The previous two armed robberies reported to £fjr BaiUj (Ear Hrrt munity,” she said. Stephen Farmer, senior associ ate director for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, said his office always looks to improve diversity on campus. “I’m pleased to get this publici ty, but we’re pleased that this pub licity represents the truth about Carolina,” he said. Farmer added that the statistics reflect not only that UNC is recruiting minority students, but also that minority students are staying on campus past their fresh man year. Houston said that the University always can do more to improve both recruitment efforts and services offered to minority students but that this ranking shows how far UNC has come. “I think it’s a great step, and it’s a great achievement.” Staff writer Jonathan M. Carl contributed to this report. Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu. Carrboro police in November both occurred on Broad Street. Spinx Oil is located less than 1 mile away from Broad Street. There have been dozens of rob beries in Carrboro this year, including about 12 armed rob beries, said Carrboro police spokeswoman Brenda Goodrich. She characterized the robberies as being “more than you would think.” One armed robbery in particu lar, which occurred Nov. 1, has sev eral parallels to Monday’s incident. A Carrboro man reported being robbed at his home by two men, both of whom wore hooded sweat shirts and masks. Robbery victim Charles Brockwell, 70, also reported that one of the men carried a black handgun, which he used to threat en Brockwell. The suspects took almost $1,300 and then fled on foot. Police have yet to capture either of the suspects. Carrboro police are investigat ing leads in all cases. Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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