VOLUME 112, ISSUE 98
Judge drops Dorrance suit
CASE AGAINST UNC OFFICIAL WAS
SET TO BEGIN IN COURT MONDAY
BY BRIAN MACPHERSON
SENIOR WRITER
A lawsuit against North Carolina wom
en’s soccer coach Anson Dorrance will not
go to trial after a U.S. District Court judge
granted a summary judgment in favor of
the defendants Wednesday.
Chief Judge N. Carlton Tilley Jr. of
the U.S. District Court in Greensboro
effectively dismissed the claims of
Melissa Jennings, a former goalkeeper
Severe
illness
at UNC
BY EMILY STEEL
UNIVERSITY EDITOR
Officials have initiated an exten
sive search for anyone who has
been in close contact with a UNC
freshman who was diagnosed
with meningoccal meningitis —a
highly contagious, potentially life
threatening bacterial infection
Thursday afternoon.
Jonathan Parker Davis, a resi
dent of Granville Towers West,
was admitted to UNC Hospitals
on Wednesday, and a lab test con
firmed his condition Thursday.
Late Thursday night Davis was
in serious condition as he battled
the disease, which can lead to per
manent brain damage, hearing loss,
learning disability, limb amputa
tion, kidney failure or death.
“The situation is being monitored
because we can’t know which way
it will go,” said Stephanie Crayton,
spokeswoman for UNC Hospitals.
Meningitis, an inflammation
of the membranes that surround
the brain and spinal cord, is con
tracted through close or prolonged
contact with an infected person.
“We are concerned about iden
tifying individuals who have come
into contact with him,” said Bob
Wirag, director of Student Health
Services. “We need to be as coop
erative as possible in the public
health interest.”
Area health officials are rec
ommending that anyone who has
been in close proximity to Davis
during the last two weeks imme
diately pursue treatment even
if they have been vaccinated by
contacting officials with Student
Health or the Orange County
Health Department.
The disease, which Wirag said
was last reported at UNC in 1998,
is transmitted through coughing,
sneezing, kissing and oral' contact
with shared items, such as ciga
rettes and drinking glasses.
Davis attended a party Oct. 22 at
611 Chamberlain Rd in Raleigh and
was at Top of the Hill Restaurant
and Brewery on Thesday.
Nurses will administer doses of
the oral antibiotic Cipro to students
SEE MENINGITIS, PAGE 5
Last-minute shoppers shouldn’t be spooked
DTH/LEAH GRONNING
Bianca Manuelli (left) and Sarah Leonard (right) explore Surplus Sid in
Carrboro on Thursday night during their search for Halloween costumes.
ONLINE
Groups ready for Nov. 2 with hotline
Weekend offers haunted happenings
Spice Street hosts masquerade event
Serving the students and the University community since 1893
ohr Bailu ®ar Mrrl
for the Tar Heels.
Jennings alleged in 1998 that Dorrance
had reimbursed team members for alco
hol bought during her recruiting trip and
had forced her to withdraw S4OO from
her bank account to buy supplies for her
teammates before a game.
She also accused Dorrance of invasion
of privacy, saying he intimidated players
into sharing details of their personal
lives, including their sexual activity.
! IB 11 i m
DTH/JULIA LEBETKIN
North Carolina State Representative Alma Adams speaks at the Active and Informed Voter Education Rally, a final event organized
by the Black Student Movement and Southerners for Economic Justice on Thursday night in Manning Hall to increase voter turnout.
BSM AIMS
FOR ACTIVISM
BY MARTA OSTROWSKI
STAFF WRITER
Profound and aggressive in his manner of speaking, the Rev.
William Barber inspired students Thursday night during a
speech aimed at increasing minority voter turnout at UNC.
The address was one of two events held Thursday to motivate stu
dents to take part in the democratic process.
Along with Barber’s speech, the Black Student Movement held the
last of four “Vote Early” marches, in which students gathered in the
Pit and walked to Morehead Planetarium to cast their ballots ahead
of Tuesday’s election.
The BSM political action committee
and workers’ rights group Southerners
for Economic Justice, who sponsored
the speech, said they are working
together to build anew wave of stu
dent activism.
The BSM is bringing speakers to
UNC’s campus to talk about election
issues pertinent to minority students.
“It's your time now, and your turn
RHA and DPS put on a safety expo
Town committee discusses mobility
Find more stories at www.dthonline.com.
www.dthfmline.coiKi
a
*
Women's
soccer coach
Anson Dorrance
was absolved
Wednesday of a
sexual harassment
lawsuit brought by
Melissa Jennings.
The case had been scheduled to go to
trial Monday.
The complaint named Dorrance,
three assistant coaches, a trainer,
numerous University officials including
Director of Athletics Dick Baddour and
the late Chancellor Michael Hooker,
to let freedom ring,” Barber said as he
encouraged students to take advantage
of their rights and vote.
He also told students to look for guid
ance from historical African-American
leaders, such as Martin Luther King Jr.
and Malcolm X, and to change the world
in which they live.
Natalie Murdock, co-chairwoman of
the political action committee, said the
speech was a success.
Local vendors offer various Halloween getups
BY BLAIR RAYNOR
STAFF WRITER
Chapel Hill police are expecting a crowd
of 70,000 to overtake Franklin Street on
Sunday.
After 9 p.m. the street will be closed off
in honor of ghosts, ghouls and goblins, in
addition to those locals
who plan to sport more
atypical costumes.
But with only two days
left until the celebration,
some Chapel Hill resi
dents and students might
be spooked that they have
INSIDE
Town prepares
for onslaught
of 70,000
people Sunday.
PAGE 2
yet to find a costume.
Fortunately for those last-minute shop
pers, some of the best places to shop for cre
ative costumes are not hard to find.
At 30 9 E. Main Street in Carrboro, Surplus
Sid is glowing with the Halloween spirit.
Mi
and the University itself.
“I am thankful the court has ruled
to dismiss the case,” Dorrance said in a
statement issued Thursday. “I appreciate
the support of so many people, includ
ing the University, my players and family,
gave me throughout this entire process.
“So many of the comments that were
attributed to me were simply not true.
I apologized before for making some
inappropriate comments, but none
of them reached the levels that were
claimed in this case. I’m glad we can all
move forward and I can concentrate on
SEE DORRANCE, PAGE 5
“This event is to help get students
excited and let them know that they can
also take part in issues,” she said.
According to the Center for
Information and Research on Civic
Learning, only 42 percent of eligible
African-American citizens aged 18 to
24 turned up to vote in the 2000 presi
dential election.
This year, BSM pfficials said, they
want to focus on educating student vot
ers so they can cast an informed ballot.
CIRCLE statistics show that 81 percent
of young voters say they are paying close
attention to this election the largest
number since 1992.
“It seems like students these days
have a spark to get involved and have
control of their destiny,” said Julius
West, co-chairman of the political action
committee.
“I also think that George Bush is the
SEE ACTIVISM, PAGE 5
“We, consider ourselves world famous
‘Halloweenists’ down here,” said Barry “Sid”
Keith, owner of the army supply store.
He said this year’s most popular requests
have been rock star costumes, including a
Marilyn Manson getup, and “Star Wars” cos
tumes, which include a variety of Jedi out
fits.
Keith said people who wanted to wear cos
tumes in groups can also find help at Sid’s.
The Village People, characters from
“Gilligan’s Island” and the Seven Dwarfs
were popular costume requests. The shop
also carries military costumes for any “Top
Gun” fans out there, Keith said.
Time After Time, a vintage clothing store
at 414 W. Franklin St., is another Halloween
haven for locals.
Co-owner Annie Jackson said that cus-
SEE HALLOWEEN, PAGE 5
SPORTS
TAKING THE NEXT STEP
The women's soccer team ends its regular season
with an undefeated record in the ACC PAGE 7
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2004
Graduate
students
vie for a
presence
Report critiques GPSF,
looks at group’s impact
BY RACHEL BROCK
STAFF WRITER
The Graduate and Professional Student
Federation aims to have its voice heard on cam
pus, and as GPSF President Jen Bushman’s
administration approaches the midway point of
its term, the group is examining the impact of its
voice.
The student body executive committee’s
October Report, which was released Tuesday,
outlines Bushman’s platform and evaluates the
success of programs the GPSF has implemented
thus far.
Bushman said she is pleased with where her
administration stands.
“I think we’ve gotten a great jump on goals that
we set,” she said.
Much of the report focuses on the GPSF’s efforts
to develop the graduate student community.
According to the report, this process involves
integrating graduate and professional students by
incorporating individual schools and programs
into the graduate school as a whole.
A redesigned Web site also is aimed at making
GPSF more accessible and helpful to student in
the group.
“It will help us get the word out,” said Ben
Mount, GPSF secretary. “We are an inclusive orga
nization.”
Bushman said anew and improved gradu
ate student orientation provided a jump-start to
achieving this development.
This year, a panel was developed for orientation
to aid international graduate students.
Also, this year’s Welcome Reception was operat
ed differently, as invitations were extended to both
current and incoming graduate students instead of
just new members.
Awareness and communication have been
focuses of the administration as well.
SEE GPSF, PAGE 5
Poll workers
troubleshoot
heavy voting
BY KATHRYN REED
STAFF WRITER
HILLSBOROUGH As the line to vote extend
ed outside the Orange County Board of Elections
at times Thursday afternoon, poll workers tried to
maintain a calm, friendly atmosphere for voters
inside.
“There’s a heavier turnout this year for early vot
ing,” said Carolyn Thomas, director of elections for
Orange County. “I think people are more aware of
how important it is to vote.”
But Thomas said many people only pay atten-
tion to their ballots when they vote
and do not realize the effort that
goes on behind the scenes to make
the process run smoothly.
“We do get a little tense,” she said,
holding a thick stack of phone mes-
ELECM
3ffD4
sages to return. “But we’ve all just worked together
so many years we all just work as a team.”
A record number of voters have rushed to avoid
Election Day headaches by casting their ballots
early. But while one-stop voting makes life easy for
voters, someone has to manage all those people.
The Board of Elections employed about 17 peo
ple during this election season. Of these workers,
only four are not temporary hires.
Keith Cecil of Efland has worked part-time at
the Board of Elections for the past four years.
“What’s amazing is that all these people lined up
day after day after day,” Cecil said. “How could all
these people vote in one day?”
More than 26,000 county residents have already
voted, either at one of three one-stop voting sites
or by mail, Thomas said.
As voters took part in the democratic process
workers diligently and patiently checked driv
ers’ licenses, resolved registration discrepancies
explained ballots, monitored supplies and, of
course, handed out stickers.
Some, including Cecil, even took some time
while helping people to joke with voters as they
waited.
“It’s just good to get people in and get them satis-
SEE WORKERS, PAGE 5
WEATHER
TODAY P.M. showers, H 66, L 59
SATURDAY Partly cloudy, H 81, L 59
SUNDAY Sunny, H 78, L 48
46*