North Carolina Newspapers

4 MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2004 Wal-Mart reverses erroneous charges THE ASSOCIATED PRESS DENVER A computer hard ware problem caused more than 800,000 credit and debit card transactions to be double- or triple billed last week at Wal-Mart stores nationwide, according to officials at First Data Corp., which handled the electronic payments. The excess Visa and Mastercard charges, which occurred . Wednesday and were posted on Thursday, have been reversed, First Data spokeswoman Staci Busby said Sunday. Busby said the problem showed up on reports the company gener ates for quality control purposes. She said that it’s unclear how many customers were affected, and that she had no other details about the hardware problem. “Anyone who conducted a trans action with a Visa or Mastercard on March 31 should check their state ments,” Busby said. Danetta Thompson, a spokes woman for Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart, said Sunday that the retailer had posted signs about the problem and was informing cus Fall 2003 an J Spring 2004 PLi Beta Kappa Initiates Zachary David Addison - Sociology Sohair Ahmadi - International Studies Sarah Elizabeth Allen - German Studies Victoria Bales Aiterman - Philosophy Abigail Aria Ames - International Studies Ahmad Zamael Amin - Biology Wesley James Ange - Chemistry/Communication Studies Megan F. Avots - Psychology Earl Eugene Bain 111 - Biology Heather Irene Balance - Psychology/Spanish Harvey Wayne Barbee, Jr. - Political Science Bret Thomas Barden - Public Policy Analysis/Political Sciene*. Robert Banks Basinger - Art History Joseph David Batchelor - Chemistry Jennifer Anne Baucom - Education Bruen Crawford Beek - Biology Mary Corinne Berry - Anthropology Frank Arthur Biazich, Jr. - History James Anthony Boccardo - Computer Science John Tanner Bond - Political Science Matthew Scott Bonzek - Mathematics Kevin Michael Bowman - Biology Courtney Elizabeth Bridges - Philosophy/Anthropology Josey Elizabeth Bridges - Religious Studies Michael Franklin Brinkley - Chemistry/Anthropology Scott Michael Brittain - Biology/Economics Christen Lynn Broecker - International Studies/Peace, War & Defense George J. Broze 111 - Chemistry/Music Beth Anne Buchholz - Psychology Laura C. Burnett - American Studies Susan Emily Burns - International Studies Matthew Michael Calabria - Political Science/Public Policy Analysis Jonathan Patrick Caldwell - Music Lee Armfield Cannon - English Adam Michael Caputo - Chemistry Elizabeth Camden Carter - International Studies/Spanish Yung-Lin Chang - Biology/Nutrition Wayne Alexander Chomitz - Chemilstry/English Rosaleen Hsu Chou - Economics Katherine Allyson Cichucki - International Studies Rachel Courtney Citron - Psychology Karyn Beth Collie - English Ann Upchurch Collier - English Melissa Jane Couchon - English/Philosophy Paul Mason Cox - History William Mark Craig, Jr. - Asian Studies Madelyn Jane Curley - International Studies/Dramatic Art Cara Craig Davidson - Biology Charles Hardy Davis - Chemistry Emory Olivia Davis - Political Science Elisa Kalindi Doctor - Psychology Elizabeth Hope Doggett - Women's Studies Patrick Martin Doggett - Environmental Studies Casey Molino Dunn - Music/Communication Studies Judson Matthew Englert - Chemistry Gary Brian Ernst, Jr. - History Ashley Jean Fairbrother - Biology Melanie Anne Fehrenbacher - English Justin Dean Fender - Biomedical Engineering Matthew F. Fiorentino - Music Gina Kim Flakes - International Studies/Political Science Meredith Austen Flowe - International Studies Justin William Follin - Philosophy Kristen Jeanne Foster - Psychology Lewis Chilton Foster 111 - Economics/Political Science Jennifer Leigh Frye - Political Science/German Nicole Elizabeth Gallagher - American Studies/Political Science Allison Brook Garren - Political Science Adam Jordan Gierisch - Political Science/History Vadas Gintautas - Physics/Mathematics “Ifeel like they’ve got their arms around the problem.” DANETTA THOMPSON, WAL-MART SPOKESWOMAN, BENTONVILLE, ARK. tomers. She said signs in the stores direct customers to First Data’s toll-free number, 888-893-0626. “I feel like they’ve got their arms around the problem,” Thompson said. “Those charges have been reversed.” Busby said some affected cus tomers may not see the reversed charges on their accounts until Tliesday. She said First Data has instituted additional measures as a result of the overbilling. First Data processes payments for retailers, moving money from consumers’ accounts to merchants’ bank accounts. The Greenwood Village, Colo.-based company has 30,000 employees and operates in 195 countries and territories. From Page One MARCH REPORT FROM PAGE 1 on that,” Adams said. Tepper played an instrumental role in helping craft a one-year, S3OO tuition increase for in-state students, later reduced to $250, but a $1,500 increase for nonresi dents was approved by the UNC Board of Ttustees despite Tepper’s strong objections. “Although we all agree that the tuition debate this year went in the direction that most of us would not have liked it to go in, we had some really stellar student support in all of the issues relating to that,” Student Body Vice President Rebekah Burford said. The administration, led by Adams, also completed a student wish list, which was a large part of Tepper’s platform. The wish list, which will be used to inform Carolina First campaign donors of students’ needs, included establishing more graduate student fellowships, as the average salary for graduate students at UNC is $2,000 less than at peer institu tions, according to the report. The student wish list also accounted for a student-directed speaker series endowment, which would bring big-name speakers to campus without sole funding from student organizations. Even with the administration stepping down Tuesday, it is work Melissa Allison Glass - Business Administration/Political Science John F. Gleason, Jr. - History Sean Henderson Goforth - Political Science Michael Allen Gold - Peace, War & Defense/Communication Studies Jennifer Beth Good - Geology Matthew Vernile Greco - Physics/Classics Scott David Gremillion - International Studies Evan August Gurney - English Lydia H. Guterman - Journalism & Mass Communcation Sinisa Haberle - Psychology Stephen Leigh Ham - Anthropology Julia Hecker Hansen - English Katie Susan Hardin - Psychology Samuel A. Hargrave - Communication Studies Jonathan Westleigh Harmon - Art History/Geography Alana Mae Harrington - Communication Studies Katherine Jennifer Harris - Biology Katherine Vilanova Harris - Political Science Heather Hyun Harrison - Music/Mathematics Mary Davenport Hauser - French/English Sarah Elizabeth Hegyi - Communication Studies David Layne Hillman - Mathematics/English Laura Katherine Hoeing - Education Kathryn Fay Holloway - English Emily Catherine Hooper - English Erin Davis Hopper - Chemistry Joseph David Hoyle - Biostatistics Melissa A. Hubbard - English Laurie Jane Hull - Dramatic Art Jason Gassan Idilbi - Philosophy/Political Science Shayerah llias - International Studies Jessica Grace Ipock - Comparative Literature Heide Motaghi Iravani - International Studies Victoria Louise Jackson - History David Philip Janka - Chemistry Sasha Nicole Jenkins - Biology Louise Ann Johnson - Political Science Courtney Valentine Jones - Exercise & Sport Science/Psychology Mary Elizabeth Joos - Exercise & Sport Science Rebecca Jane Kehrer - Environmental Sciences Dave A. Keith - Biology Amanda Carol Kennedy - Biology Lara Suzanne Kent - Interdisciplinary Studies Kristin Lynne Keranen - History/Political Science Meesun Sunny Kim - Political Science Elizabeth James Kistin - Political Science/Latin American Studies Alexa Nicole Kleysteuber - Economics/Spanish Mary Gretchen Kroncke - English Anil P. Kumar - Computer Science Clarke Stanfield Lambeth - Communication Studies Jason Brett Langberg - Political Science Melissa Lee Lassiter - Economics/International Studies Frances Claire Leggett - Psychology/Political Science Lindsay Kyle Lewellyn - Biology Katherine Darden Lilley - Art History Peter Brennan Lingenheld - Geography Laura Elizabeth Little - International Studies/Political Science Natalie Colleen Lucas - Biology Hilary Brooke Lundquist - Psychology/International Studies Elizabeth Jane Makrides - Biology/Economics Emily Beth Martin - Environmental Sciences & Engineering Kristina Marie McCowan - Psychology Michelle Lea McCoy - Biology Jessica Leigh Merville - Mathematical/Decision Sciences Meyer, Shannon Rae - History/English Jenkins Robert Miller - Psychology/Anthropology Lindsay Michelle Miller - Communication Studies Meredith Elliott Miller - Psychology Rebecca E. Miller - History Sarah Chapman Miller - History/Psychology ing on a voter precinct reform project to alleviate the lack of stu dent accessibility to precincts dur ing town election season. Students living across the street from each other on campus often have to go to entirely different places to vote under the current plan. By alerting legislators to the precincts’ complexity on campus, Tepper said, student government could work to reform the current precincts. The move could make it easier for students to vote, thus increasing student voter turnout. “Hopefully, the next administra tion will put some pressure on that issue,” Nunn said. The administration’s success shouldn’t be attributed to one per son, Burford said. “It was really a joint effort.... Everyone had a job they were set out to do, and they were focused on making it happen.” Though realistically most stu dents aren’t going to read the report, Tepper said, it can serve as a resource for the incoming administration. In addition, it also functions as an archiving tool for future admin istrations to examine. “I feel like we’ve been going nonstop,” Tepper said. “At this point, if you’re not exhausted, you haven’t been doing your job.” Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu. Brian Andrew Michael Millikin - Communication Studies Kristi Marie Moretz - Psychology Jennifer Elise Mouchet - Political Science/English Brenna Katherine Murphy - Studio Art Mary Margaret Murphy - Business Administration Ali Ufuk Nardali - Mathematics Mariam Rosalie Noorai - Classics Rachel Elizabeth Norton - Economics/Political Science Amanda Anne Novelli - Philosophy Sarah Elizabeth Old - Biology Leigh Anne Page - Business Administration Sapna Kiritbhai Patel - Biology/Exercise and Sport Science Sarah Kay Peterson - Psychology Clarissa Holleben Pinheiro - International Studies/French Nina Eloise Poe - Religious Studies Brigid Hollywood Poole - English Melva Poole - International Studies/Communication Studies Baker Hamilton Pratt - English Kathryn Ringler Pruitt - Music/Linguistics Johanna Carola Rankin - International Studies/French Michael Stewart Reichert - Biology Andrea Rose Richardson - International Studies/Spanish Peter Jeffrey Richmond - Economics/International Studies Patricia Coe Robbins - Political Science/Psychology Laura Julide Say - English Christopher John Sayed - Biology Laura Elizabeth Schabinger - Philosophy/Political Science Joel Epstein Segel - Economics Lauren Marie Shepard - Drama/Linguistics Abby Claire Shoun - Linguistics Karen Lee Shurig - Linguistics/Music Brian Osborne Sigmon - Religious Studies Katherine Culp Silver - Biology Joshua Bradford Simmons - Political Science/Ecbnomics Alden Hamilton Smith - Political Science/Histoiy Isaac H. S. Solomon - Chemistry Erin Marie Sullivan - English Mary Christoph Sumner - Political Science Keyvan Tavakoli - Anthropology Zephyr Taylor - Economics Matthew Dale Thompson - Music Russ Michael Thompson - Mathematics Lan-Chi Bich Tran - Biology Anna Michelle Tulchinsky - Chemistry/Biology Lauren Elaine Turner - Art History Stephen Brett Twitty - English Hillary Barton Vaden - Music Ellen Elizabeth Veazey - Environmental Science Quyen Ngoc Vu - Chemistry Walton Harris Walker 111 - English/Political Science Laine Miki Watanabe - Biology/Chemistry Richard Christopher Waters - Mathematics Amber Lee Weant - History Pailin Lorraine Wedel - Biology Patrick Benton Weede - Political Science Meredith Lee Whigham - History/Political Science Nathan Oliver Ray White - Biology Thomas Alexander Whitmire - Psychology/Communication Studies Melinda Leigh Whittington - Music/Psychology Sonia Monika Wilson - Classics/History Douglas Harrison Wolfe - English/Political Science Amorn Wongsarnpigoon - Applied Sciences Jennifer Leigh Woodard - Biology Denise Marie Woodward - Environmental Science/Biology Theresa Ann Yelich - English/Spanish Theresa Caroline Younger - Peace, War, & Defense/Political Science Amy Leann Zaccaria - Biology Sarah Spicer Zerner - Classics/French CLASSROOM FROM PAGE 1 many students in the classroom. “I’m sure everyone is concerned about what they are saying, and in the back of their minds they’re thinking about what is being said in class,” she said. “It’s honestly frustrating. It’s not a learning envi ronment. Now it’s more like a legal atmosphere.” She said she doesn’t see the necessity for the government inves tigators to request the personal dis cussions of the students on the Web site. “If they are really concerned about getting the feelings of the stu dents in the classroom, they should come to us and ask us personally.” In a letter to administrators released last week, Buckley, Dombalis and a number of other KUCINICH FROM PAGE 1 passionate about creating afford able housing, curbing unemploy ment and preventing domestic and community violence. “My folks never had a home, Kucinich said. “When I was 17, we had lived in 21 different places and that included a few cars.” Kucinich said he thinks the gov ernment should create programs to counter unemployment and provide affordable housing. Asa member of Congress, (Htjp Hatty (Ear Uwl XMembers of the class) are afraid of their comments being brought into the media” AMANDA BUCKLEY, unc student students described the release of the information on Blackboard as a blatant violation of their rights. The investigation, Dombalis said, has deterred the students from their purpose at UNC. “The point of being in this class, of being in school, is to learn, and they’re taking that ability away from us.” Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu. Kucinich submitted a bill to create a Cabinet-level department of peace to counter violence in the United States and to encourage peaceful foreign policy. Kucinich and his supporters urged people to vote in the presi dential preference caucus April 17. Voter registration booths were set up at the event. Sally Goener, treas urer of Kucinich for President, esti mated that more than 100 people registered during the event. Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu. FOX FROM PAGE 1 story in the last 50 years.” Broad added that UC-San Diego has assumed a leadership role in science in that short time and has become a leader worldwide. The UNC system likely will cre ate a search committee this sum mer and Broad will appoint an interim chancellor once Fox accepts the new appointment. Broad said she hopes N.C. State will have anew chancellor by early 2005. If she accepts the job at UC-San Diego, Fox will be the fifth UNC system chancellor to vacate the post in the past two years. Though fiie UC-San Diego posi tion will be offered to Fox in April, Broad said she is confident Fox will remain at N.C. State until the end of the academic year. The chancellors at N.C. State and UNC-CH, the state’s two major research universities, typi cally have formed a unique part nership. UNC-CH Chancellor James Moeser said he hopes that partnership will continue in Fox’s absence. “It’s a devastating loss for N.C. State and (for) North Carolina,” he said. “They’ll be very hard-pressed to find someone with her national stature.” Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu. ASSAULT FROM PAGE 1 was a direct result of the slur,” Jarvies said. “We can’t act on how someone feels. We have to look at what the statute requires.” Jarvies said the incident was still considered a hate crime because of the possibility that hate was involved in the assault. But Bindra claims he was intim idated. “If it’s not intimidation, what is it?” he said. “It’s not like these guys are being friendly to me.” The incident occurred March 27, when Bindra and two friends passed three boys near the inter section of West Franklin and Mallette streets. Bindra said one of the boys called out, “bin Laden” and Bindra replied, “Your mother.” Bindra said the boys followed him and his friends for more than a block before one of the boys hit Bindra in the jaw. The boys then formed a circle around Bindra and one of his friends and proceeded to assault them, Bindra said. After the altercation, his friend was taken to UNC Hospitals, where he received four stitches for a cut above his eyebrow. Antonio Burnette, 18, of 311 Lindsay St., was charged with one count of assault to inflict injury, one count of simple assault and one count of possession of marijuana. Police charged brothers Frederick Perry and Kenneth Antwaine Perry, of 2534 Gemena Road, each with one count of assault to inflict injury and one count of simple assault. A warrant was served on Kenneth Perry for an unrelated charge of second degree trespassing. All charges filed were misdemeanor charges. “Police did a good job arresting them, but those charges of simple assault are not enough,” said Bindra, who plans with his friend to meet with Carolina Student Legal Services this week to discuss filing a civil suit against the boys. “We have people from all over the world who come here to study,” he said. “There shouldn’t be some fear that people are going to intim idate you.” Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.