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VOLUME 114, ISSUE 3 1 DIES IN FALL FROM DORM 4-story plummet shocks campus; other student is in ‘fair condition’ BY CHRIS COLETTA AND JOSEPH R. SCHWARTZ SENIOR WRITERS One student is dead, one remains in fair condition and the campus community is in mourning after two students fell more than 30 feet from their residence hall early Friday. The fall, which UNC officials and safety experts are calling a freak accident, took the life of Keith Shawn Smith, a 20-year old sophomore from Greensboro. It also sent 19-year-old freshman Tyler Downey to UNC Hospitals where he is recovering from bro ken vertebrae and other injuries, says his room mate, Trey Flaherty. The accident, which police say involved nei ther drugs nor alcohol, has hit close to home for the friends of Smith and Downey many of whom live on the third floor of Stacy Residence Hall, where the inci dent took place. Three days after the events of Friday morning, many of them still found it hard to be alone. “What’s most impor tant to me right now is being around people Freshman Tyler Downey is in fair condition at UNC Hospitals. Sophomore Keith Shawn Smith died after the fall. who experienced it and feel the same way I do,” Alan Kneidel, a sophomore from Charlotte who lives on the third floor, said Sunday. “I can barely control my emotions if I'm alone in tbe shower.” * ~’yThose who witnessed the fall saw, by all accounts, an unintended tragedy. They say SEE FALL, PAGE 4 |ji DTH/RICKY LEUNG In an accident Friday, two UNC students fell out of a third-floor Stacy Residence Hall window onto a ramp four stories below. UNC s annual one-night stand Dance marathon nets fundraising record BY SAPNA MAHESHWARI STAFF WRITER Except for the flashing of colored lights, Fetzer Gym was dark. Moralers lined up in two rows, many with glowsticks in hand, and began cheering. As “Eye of the Tiger” blasted, the dancers poured into the room and the battle to stand for 24 hours began. This year’s Dance Marathon began at 7 p.m. INSIDE Additional coverage of the marathon. PAGE 11 Friday and ran through 7 p.m. Saturday, boasting record-breaking participation and raising a hefty $201,141.90 for the N.C. Children’s Hospital. SEE MARATHON, PAGE 11 CORRECTION Due to a reporting error, Friday’s “today in history” incorrectly states that in 1956 UNC had an all-male student body. Women first were admit ted to upper-level University courses in 1897- They were unrestrictedly admitted as freshmen in 1972. The Daily Tar Heel apolo gizes for the error. Serving the students and the University community since 1893 ®hr fatly ®ar Herl Student deaths at UNC Keith Shawn Smith is the third UNC student in the last 18 years to die after an accidental fall from a campus building —and the second of the three not to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. March 1988: David Mantey, a 22-year-old senior, falls to his death from the ninth floor of Granville Towers. Mantey's girlfriend speculates that the potential Phi Betta Kappa inductee was under the influence of hallucinogenic mushrooms, but medical exam inations rule out alcohol and drugs as causes of the fall. April 1995: Freshman Jamie McGee dies after falling as she and a friend try to climb Phillips Annex in the middle of the night. The case makes national headlines when it becomes known that McGee, who is only 18, was served alcohol earlier in the evening at Buckheads, a Franklin Street bar at the time. The bartender is charged in the incident. Smith reported dead A hospital representative says that Smith has "expired." - .. „., Downey is reported to be in 1 About 12.20 a.m. critical condition. Racing down the hall ■ Sophomore Keith Shawn Smith Mid-morning Friday and freshman Tyler Downey U smith's nts arrive 7 th * Smith's parents visit Stacy and third-floor hallway of S acy gather a few belongings Residence Hall. They fell four floors and landed on a ramp * 12 45 p m outside the entrance to the * Press conference hall s basement-level laundry Melissa Exum dean of stud room, which faces Country announces that investigators mm^ don't think alcohol or drugs 2,, played a role in the accident. 12:23 a.m. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Student calls 911 * cria„, UNC freshman Adam Farag 8 windo * is r |aced hears the two fall, races from Workers |ace the window jn across the street and calls 911. Stacy wjth the same type of 3 window the students crashed bout 12.28 a.m. through, which is in compliance Police respond to scene with state bui , ding codes Smith and Downey are taken aHllßaHMHSHaaiaiiaHHaaiaMßniHa||a to UNC Hospitals by Orange q Friday evening County emergency response 3 In'fair condition' units. Police investigate, and After sittting in critical condition for more than 13 hours, Downey is reported to be ZJ, 1:07 a.m. j n f a j r condition," which A quiet dorm means he is conscious, though Police declare the scene clear. he might be uncomfortable, and A few students remained, h is vital signs are stable and some crying and others silent. within normal limits. SOURCE; STAFF REPORTS PTwEH-DtNGCAGE - -p|"' DTH/ROB LANGDON Exhausted dancers at the UNC Dance Marathon lean on tables as the fatigue begins to settle in early Saturday at the 24-hour fundraiser. announcement SPOTLIGHT DELAYED Due to Friday's death, The Daily Tar Heel has delayed its weekly Monday spotlight to Tuesday's issue. The piece will examine town-gown relations. wwW'dailytarheeLcom - • iff Flowers in makeshift bottle vases lie in front of the railing of the ramp leading up to the basement of Stacy Residence Hall inmemoryof Keith Shawn Smith on Sunday. Smith died early Friday from wounds sustained in the fall, which officials have called a freak accident. online j dailytarbeel.com EDITOR'S BLOG A forum to discuss the Stacy accidents and campus reaction PHOTO BLOG One photojournalist's emotions after Friday's Stacy accidents SPORTS BLOG Our experts name their All-ACC picks at A View from the Press Box SMITH, 20, LEADER, BELOVED FRIEND BY BRIAN HUDSON NEWS EDITOR As the resident adviser for the third floor of Stacy Residence Hall, Keith Shawn Smith, 20, fostered a bond among his hallmates. Three days after Smith’s death, that camaraderie has provided solace for the more than two dozen men on the hall. “One of his best skills was being able to get along with everyone,” said freshman Eric Sabo of Westlake, Ohio. “He could be your RA, but at the same time he was also one of your best friends.” Smith was more than the leader on the hall, say those who lived with him. His genial demeanor brought the residents together. The residents reminisced about the activities and events Smith organized to bring the students on the hall together, such as a version of hide-and seek in which everything on the floor was fair game. “He would try to get everyone to go as a whole to eat or to (athletic) games,” Sabo said. “A couple weeks ago, he cooked us a whole spaghetti dinner.” 42 UNC 77 B DUKE 65 UNC dumps on Blue Devils BY BRIANA GORMAN SPORTS EDITOR All season long, North Carolina women’s bas ketball has been lauded as the speediest team in America. Saturday against No. 1 Duke, the Tar Heels showed just how quickly they could move on the court and in the rankings, as they defeated the Blue Devils, 77-65, and were left to await their impending INSIDE Tar Heels see rebounding talk into action. PAGE 14 No. 1 spot in the nation. No. 2 North Carolina used its speed to run rings around Duke on both ends of the court as it defeated the Blue Devils to win the ACC regu- SEE WOMEN'S HOOPS, PAGE 4 campus | page 7 ARMY OF ONE The University's Army ROTC unit takes to the terrain of Duke Forest this weekend for a series of combat-simulated training exercises. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2006 The residents formed a fraternal bond with Smith who would yell, “Daddy’s home!’ to announce his return to the floor that they say is unique across campus. Remembering Keith Shawn Smith Details about Smith's funeral were released Sunday. Check Tuesday's Daily Tar Heel for more information. Day: Wednesday Time: 2 p.m. Location: Mount Zion Baptist Church, Greensboro Arranged by: Unity Memorial Funeral Service, Greensboro Transportation: UNC officials say they plan to offer transportation from Chapel Hill to Greensboro for the service. “That’s been one of the hardest things to deal with— just that Keith had so many aspi rations and so many goals,” he said. “One of SEE SMITH, PAGE 4 gig# * 1 nntfl rnMss£ liflpfrJ V DTH/LOGAN PRICE After deafeating Duke, Ivory Latta jumps onto the press table in celebration Saturday. today in history FEB. 27, 2002... N.C. politicians abandon a plan to tie tuition to family income because it raises questions about equity. “Our hall is probably the most amazing hall I’ve seen,* said John Pope, a freshman from Charlotte. “And Keith’s right in the middle of every thing.” Smith’s dedication carried over to his work on the Honor Court board, where he demon strated concerns for students’ interests when on the bench, said Erin Scharling, executive vice chairwoman of the Honor Court. “It was clear that he was a court member that had a high level of compassion for the stu dents he was judging,” she said. “His enthusiasm and his com passion are definitely going to be missed.” Smith, an economics major, had an interest in entrepreneur ial work and wanted to own his own business, Pope said. weather Sinny W H 54, L 36 index police log 2 calendar 2 crossword 6 edit 9 sports 14
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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