Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Dec. 5, 2003, edition 1 / Page 3
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©je iaily <lar UpH CITY BRIEFS Man charged with assault in fight with UNC employee A Chapel Hill resident was arrested and charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and one count for possession of carrying a concealed weapon after an alter cation with a UNC employee, police reports state. The incident occurred at University Gardens on 800 Pritchard Ave. Ext. According to Chapel Hill police reports, Octavius Delrae Harrell, 22, of 3420 Avon Lake Road in Durham, was arguing with Jerrod Chavis Pettiford, 25, of 602 Airport Road, Apt. 306, when the the two men began fighting. Harrell, a UNC employee, walked away from the fight and fell down. A gun shot was then heard around 11:38 p.m., reports state. “It could be that Harrell is pret ty lucky that he fell down,” said Chapel Hill police spokeswoman Jane Cousins. Spencer Troy Allen, 18, of 2227 Charles St. in Durham, got in a car after hearing the gun shot, reports state. Pettiford approached the car, pointed the gun at Allen and pulled the trigger but the gun did not fire, reports state. Reports state that police arrived at the scene of the incident and arrested Pettiford. Pettiford was taken to the Orange County Jail and placed under a $5,000 secured bond. He was scheduled to appear in the Orange County District Criminal Court in Hillsborough on Thursday, but his trial is still pending. STATE BRIEFS Some call for independent judge to hear redistricting RALEIGH A Johnston County judge agreed Thursday that an independently appointed judge should decide who hears the latest legal challenges to new state House and Senate district maps. N.C. Superior Court Judge Knox Jenkins, who has ruled two previ ous sets of legislative maps uncon stitutional, also issued an order that essentially stops the redistrict ing case before his court. Jenkins issued a stay pending a decision on who has jurisdiction in the case. He joined Wake County Judge Donald Stephens in requesting that state Chief Justice Beverly Lake Jr. appoint another judge to decide whether legal challenges to redis tricting should be heard in Wake or Johnston counties. Dick Ellis, spokesman for the Administration Office of Courts, said Lake had not decided Thursday whether to grant the requests. Lawmakers approved new House and Senate districts last week, but a group of Republican legislators again sued to block the new districts. Flu reaches peak levels in North Carolina, officials say RALEIGH Flu activity this season has reached peak levels of a year ago in North Carolina, state health officials said Thursday, urg ing people to get flu shots. An examination of flu activity last week found reports of the ill ness equal to those reports in mid- March, late in last year's flu season, the state Department of Health and Human Services stated in a news release. A person can also reduce the threat of catching the flu by wash ing hands frequently and covering the mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, state officials said. WORLD BRIEFS Rocket fired into field near U.S. embassy in Afghanistan KABUL, Afghanistan Suspected Islamic militants fired a rocket into a field next to the U.S. Embassy here Thursday, Afghan authorities said. Tbe blast occurred less than two hours after Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld left the Afghan capital. There were no reports of injuries in the 6:15 p.m. explosion about 300 yards from the embassy compound and 100 yards from the headquarters of international peacekeepers in Kabul. Earlier, Rumsfeld had held talks with President Hamid Karzai at his palace elsewhere in the city. The defense secretary left about 4 p.m. to continue his tour of Central Asia. CALENDAR Today 9:30 a.m. The UNC School of Medicines Program on Aging, the Division of Geriatric Medicine and UNC Health Care will host seniors in the Triangle for a free morning of fun and facts about health fea turing Neil Shulman, the original “Doc Hollywood,” at the United Church of Chapel Hill. Compiledfrom staff and wire reports. RDU regroups after security rifts Travelers say airport still dependable BY ELLIOTT DUBE ASSISTANT STATE & NATIONAL EDITOR RALEIGH At first glance, it’s business as usual at Raleigh- Durham International Airport. But two recent incidents have brought airport security and pas senger safety under renewed scrutiny. On Tuesday, eight illegal immigrants were arrested on fed eral charges related to falsifying information and violating Federal Aviation Administration security requirements. Along with one other immi grant, they had been able to make their way through a screening process and find employment at the airport, RDU officials said. In October, a Guilford College student placed box cutters and other restricted items aboard Mr " (l iy| ll n - - >?■ iwSmi n 8&k JH H|A E-;'ss s 'Hn. t k§ HHaf^''' 5l - y .'%'- Waßi • . ■ - , DTH/JUSTIN SMITH Travis Kephart, a senior Germanic languages major and master bell ringer of the University's Bell Tower, plugs his ears as the bells toll. Student rings in new era, adds to Bell Tower history Master bell ringer Travis Kephart takes pride in keeping UNC tradition BY KIRSTEN VALLE STAFF WRITER Travis Kephart nonchalantly climbed a skinny metal ladder, surrounded on all sides by 9-foot clock faces, opened a hatch and emerged into the bitter cold, where he paused, towering more than 100 feet above campus. “Are you scared of wasps?” he called from the belfry, his voice nearly lost between 14 bells and the December wind. The worry about insects soon gave way to the view: bells, ranging in weight from 160 pounds to 3,500 pounds and hanging in anticipation of the half-hour on one side, and a hazy panorama of UNC-Chapel Hill’s cam pus on the other. There was Kenan Stadium to the south, resting beneath the trees, the top of Wilson Library to the north and, beyond that, the rest of Chapel Hill. “I come up here about once a week,” Kephart said. “You know, to see the view, see how- the skyline changes.” It’s a view of campus that few see, but it’s become familiar to Kephart, a senior Traffic, open space remain top worries BY SUSIE DICKSON staff writer At the third public forum regarding the University’s plans for Carolina North on Thursday, resi- dents again raised concerns sur- rounding transportation and traf- fic congestion. The University is holding a series of presentations for mem- bers of the community to gain feedback and communicate with local residents about the plans for Carolina North, the University’s satellite campus. The campus is planned for development on the 963-acre Horace Williams tract off Airport Road. Several residents expressed con- cerns with the main road that will run north to south and cut through the northern portion of Carolina North. Top News planes at RDU and Baltimore- Washington International Airport. Despite the breaches, many pas sengers say that even with increased security precautions, air port officials can’t be expected to eliminate all potential threats. Mike, a Smithfield resident who declined to give his last name, said occasional security failures are inevitable. “It’s just the nature of the beast,” he said. The airport’s luggage screening process is effective, said Amy Omer of Morrisville. She added that the system will never be perfect and that the incident involving the ille gal immigrants isn’t particularly surprising. Nannette Monreal of California also said RDU’s most recent breach isn’t shocking, as it perhaps is Germanic languages major and master bell ringer of the Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower. Jeffrey Fuchs, director of athletic bands, chose the former tuba player as bell ringer in May 2002 because Kephart expressed inter est and had the right qualities. “He had proven himself as an individual who was responsible and w-ho would be com mitted,” Fuchs said. “(Kephart has) redefined the role, totally. Everything he’s done has been above and beyond the call of duty.” Kephart started the tradition of playing the bells for special events. He played a short con cert before each home football game and after, if UNC-CH won. For Halloween, Kephart made jack-o-lantems out of the clock faces with paper cutouts and an orange light. Saturday, he will resurrect the old tradition of live performances with a 7 p.m. concert that will include 30 minutes to 45 minutes of Christmas and Hanukkah songs, as well as secular holiday music. Additionally, Kephart is responsible for keeping the time. “I’m a stickler for correct time,” Kephart said. "People depend on that Resident Dave Sidor, of the Ironwoods community, said the planned road could present traffic problems within Carolina North. “You’re putting a lot of non- University traffic through the heart of the campus, and it seems a little strange to me,” he said. Project transportation planner George Alexiou said the road will be necessary to decrease the volume of traffic on Airport Road, w-hich was another common concern among residents, Resident Paul Harrison said the intersection of Airport Road and Estes Drive, where the University plans to build Carolina North’s main boulevard, could cause traf fic congestion, “It strikes me at the moment as SEE FORUM, PAGE 7 impossible to implement a fail-safe screening process due to a lack of resources. She said updated securi ty measures, including stricter bag gage rules, are reasonable. “It takes a long time,” she said. “It’s inconvenient, but at least we’re trying to ensure some measure of safety.” The United States stepped up its aviation security regulations after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The Aviation and Transportation Security Act, signed into law by President Bush in November 2001, created the Transportation Security Administration as part of the U.S. Department of Transportation. In March, TSA was moved under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security. According to a Nov. 20 report by SEE RDU, PAGE 7 clock to get to class.” The bell tower and the duties of its ringer have changed significantly throughout the years. The monument began with a proposal by John Motley Morehead, class of 1891, w-ho originally wanted the bells to ring on top of South Building. The administration declined. Later, the family of Rufus Lenoir Patterson II joined Morehead’s effort, and they decided on the tower’s site behind Wilson Library. The University dedicated the 172-foot mon ument Thanksgiving Day in 1931. Following a speech on UNC-CH’s history- the bells played songs such as “The Old North State” for atten dees, who gathered after the ceremony for a Thanksgiving meal on the tower’s base. Kephart, w-ho has researched the tower’s history, said the role of early bell ringers was different from his since they had to operate the original 12 bells manually. The tower was first electrified in 1967, when a keyboard and roll player were installed. Both now stand disconnected on SEE BELLS, PAGE 7 Researchers lure student subjects Studies provide easy way to earn cash BY STEPHANIE M. HORVATH SENIOR WRITER Ben Gullett, a senior from Eden, needed money to travel to Peru last summer. Rather than getting a job or applying for a grant. Gullett decid ed to earn the money by testing a new AIDS drug cocktail at the UNC School of Medicine. The school was testing the drug’s effects on healthy people. Gullett took the medication, went into the hospital three times for blood work and dealt with side effects such as nausea and diarrhea. I\vo months later he was paid $1,500. “I wanted the money,” he said. “It’s a really easy way to make money really quickly.” Gullett is not alone. Donating their bodies to science is a part of life for many students at UNC. Students who take introductory FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2003 l-f'i '! I I t 11 M ' I > HkL rSm 1] i m/* DTH/ASHLIE WHITE Passengers pass security at RDU International Airport on Thursday. Eight illegal immigrants were arrested on federal charges this week. psychology or political science class es must participate in academic studies. Some students give plasma or blood for quick cash, and others elect to be guinea pigs in a myriad of studies at universities and pharma ceutical testing companies. Easy money is a motivator for most students, but some also like to be involved in the process. Cara Mitchell, a junior biology major, said her interest in science leads her to participate in some studies. But she likes the money too. “It’s just something interesting to do,” she said. “It’s kind of cool to say, ‘Hey, I participated in this study.’” Mitchell earned about SIOO from an asthma study run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and she and her boy-friend now are participating in a psychology study on relationships, earning SSO each time they answer questions. Federal lawyer found dead Was graduate of UNC law school THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BALTIMORE - A federal prosecutor and UNC School of Law alumnus was found shot and stabbed to death in Pennsylvania on Thursday. The body of assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan P. Luna, 38, was found after Luna failed to show up at the trial of an aspiring rapper and his former associate accused of dealing heroin, the judge in the case said. Luna suffered multiple stab and gunshot wounds, said U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles Jr. Authorities had launched a search earlier in the day after Luna did not show up for court. His body was discovered in Lancaster County, Pa., about 50 miles from Baltimore. Luna was trying the case of Baltimore rapper Deon Lionnel Smith, 32, and his one-time asso ciate Walter Oriley Poindexter, 28. The two men were accused of heroin distribution and running a violent drug ring in part from their Stash House Records studio. Luna and the defense attorneys negotiated through the afternoon Wednesday and reached a plea deal about 5 p.m., Quarles said. The men entered their guilty pleas about 11:30 a.m. Thursday, and they remained in custody. Smith agreed to plead guilty to one count of distribution of hero in and to possession of a weapon for the purposes of drug traffick ing. Poindexter agreed to plead guilty to three counts of distribu tion of heroin to a government witness. The parties were expected to appear Thursday morning to enter the agreement, but Luna was not present, the judge said. Two other prosecutors told Quarles that they were “out of touch” with Luna and that the FBI had begun looking for him. Luna was married and had two SEE LUNA, PAGE 7 Others do the studies out of a sense of community service. Courtney Robinson, a junior from Fayetteville, said she will earn $25 for participating in a study on how young women communicate with their doctors. “I was more than happy to do that just to help them get statistics,” she said. But most students are in it for the money. Casey Gradick, a senior from Plymouth, Minn., earned $l,lOO for testing an osteoarthritis pain medication at aaiPharma, a pharmaceutical testing company in the Research Triangle Park. Students are good subjects because they are healthy, have the time and need the money, said Rosa Yeh, a pharmacology research fel low at UNC’s School of Pharmacy. She is running a study of anew HIV medication on healthy subjects. Students make up about 50 percent of her subjects, each earning $1,300 SEE TESTING, PAGE 7 3
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