VOLUME 114, ISSUE 102 UNC - to host Chinese official Visit signals start of collaboration BY ANDREW DUNN STAFF WRITER The University will host a senior official from Peking University in China this week as the first step in a partnership between the two schools and another development in UNC’s push to link with the country. Min Weifang, the executive vice presi dent of Peking University in Beijing, will tour the School of Public Health today before being honored at a luncheon. The tour is in preparation for a recently announced conference Min Weifang of Peking Univesity in Beijing will stay for six days. examining Chinese health care reform. During his six-day stay in North Carolina, he will meet with Peter Coclanis, associate pro vost for international affairs, and Chancellor James Moeser. Min also will tour several local companies, N.C. State University and Duke University. The conference, scheduled for Dec. 11 and 12 in Beijing, will focus on improving China’s health-care as the country moves toward a more capitalistic economy. Moeser will make his first visit to China to participate, and will serve as an honorary co-chairman of the event along with Min. The partnership between UNC and Peking University is the lat est of several ties between the University and the economically booming nation. More than 120 UNC faculty and staff members are working on China-related topics. UNC’s School of Medicine has been involved with China since the late 1980s. China is valued because of its SEE CHINA, PAGE 5 Freshmen ready for hoops opener Forced to let their play do the talking BY DANIEL MALLOY SENIOR WRITER As sophomore Marcus Ginyard lounged in the Smith Center bleachers fielding questions from reporters, wide-eyed freshman Deon Thompson took a seat in the row behind him. “Hey Deon, come on in,” Ginyard said as the 6-foot-8,245- pound newcomer sat down. Thompson and the rest of the freshmen weren’t allowed to talk to the press two weeks ago at North Carolina basketball media day, a rule that dates back to early in the Dean Smith era. So the newcomers just watched and listened. SEE FRESHMEN, PAGE 5 Online I dailytarheelcftfn EXIT POLLS The unofficial election results for the off-campus district are in WHERE'S THE TORTOISE? Students take part in the hare and hound run SCENIC ART Outdoor sculptures bring more art to the town community center Serving the students and the University community since 1893 Wat lathi (Bar Reel m ’ jb v in B tHmsßJB* bb * ® Thousands flock to Franklin Street BY JESSICA SCHONBERG CITY EDITOR Capt. Jack Sparrow, aliens, Adam, Eve and the Disney prin cesses all got invitations to one of Chapel Hill’s biggest parties Ihesday. Officials were expecting between 50,000 and 70,000 people to head downtown for the annual Halloween celebration. % Hie festivities drew students, residents and out-of-towners to socialize, peo ple-watch and throwafewback at local bars. “We’re just walking around, checking peo ple out, maybe causing a little trouble later,” INSIDE How three attendees fared and the top five costumes PAGE 4 Children and parents trick or-treat in neighborhoods PAGES UNC senior Daniel Peters said. Tuesday marked the first Halloween since the Chapel Hill Town Council considered ending the celebration this summer. The council weighed the fate of all downtown celebrations after unanimously voting to end Apple of shootings that took place after the festivities. Although Apple Chill was axed, all other downtown celebrations were allowed to go on normally. “It’s a great tradition. I just hope nothing happens to this like Apple Chill,” said Shonna Okada, who came to the celebration from Sanford. More than 400 officers from multiple jurisdictions were brought in to staff Ihesday’s event. Officers were in cars, on foot, motorcycle and, for the first time, horseback. Chapel Hill police officer Phil Smith said that as of aboutTl p.m., there had been no major problems downtown. DTH FILE/LAUREN COWART Freshman forward Brendan Wright jams during Late Night with Roy. He is one of six freshman who will make their official debut tonight. www.dailytarheel.com OTH PHOTOS/AUCIA TOWLER The view from Top of the M Restaurant and Bar at 10:40 p.m. Tuesday showsfranklinSfreetovercome by ghouls, ghosts, goblins and the like. The crowd continued to grow throughout the night during the first Halloween after officials considered canceling street festivals. Smith estimated there had been eight arrests so far. Last year Chapel Hill police reported 11 arrests in the closed area of Franklin Street on charges including assault with a deadly weapon, assault on an officer, armed robbery and carrying a con cealed weapon. When asked if he thought the department had prepared well for any possible violence, Smith responded, “Of course, as best we could.” In addition to the increased number of officers, police also brought in raised lights to help illuminate the street. One such Tyrrell County faces lack of training, jobs Editor’s note: The Daily Tar Heel traveled to North Carolina’s five poorest counties to gauge the University’s mission to provide service to the state. BY ERIN FRANCE STATE & NATIONAL EDITOR COLUMBIA Small dreams are appreciated in Tyrrell County. With a population slightly more than 4,000, even small steps have a big impact The local Food Lion, for exam ple, will have been in business for only two years come January, but it saves many in the county a lengthy journey to buy groceries. Columbia is die only municipal ity in the cbunty, so the town and county relationship is close, said Rhett White, the town manager. “We have people who live 13 miles out in the county,” he said. “Many of them do not separate the fact that the town line may have stopped 11 miles short of their house.” When it comes to the county’s | pap ff PERFECT TREAT Children in Chapel Hill go trick-or-treating, showing that Halloween isn't just for the Franklin Street crowd. light shone directly on the spot where one of the post-Apple Chill shootings occurred. But crime was not the focus for most revelers who attended the giant street party. “It’s fun to watch all the people in their outfits,” UNC junior Matt Richmond said. “It’s different every year. “Plus if you don’t go, you’re pret ty much a loser.” Senior writers Kayla Carrick, Rachel Ullrich and Ted Strong contributed to this report. Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu. Today: Tyrrell County Thursday: Robeson Count^w relationship with UNC-Chapel Hill, White said, East Carolina University in Greenville is more visible in die community. “East Carolina probably does more because of the proximity,” he said. He added that the town still could use help from UNC-CH, especially in creating a system for higher education in die county. “We’re not married to East Carolina University.” White and other county officials said they would appreciate more involvement from UNC-CH in Tyrrell County, the third-poorest county in the state. A frustrating problem White said poverty is an issue in Tyrrell because of high unemploy ment, 6 percent, according to the state | pap 7 KIDS FRONT, CENTER A center opening irv North Carolina will seek to aid undocumented im migrant children across the state. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2006 w a LIL'iM Mounted police make their way down Franklin Street on Tuesday night. The horses were new this year and helped control the crowd. U.S. Census Bureau. “It’s due to lack of training and lack of education,” he said. Educated adults often leave the county because there are no industries where their talents are useful. Unskilled workers also are forced to look elsewhere for jobs. “A lot of folks drive to the Outer Banks to work in the ser vice industry.” But employment often is temporary seasonal jobs, which affects the paychecks of many residents. Even the Tyrrell Prison Work Farm does little to alleviate the unemployment rate. The medium-security facility has 600-plus inmates and cre ates staff positions for guards, clerks and administrators, but many of those positions go to nonresidents. “They have difficulty finding qualified people in the county who want to work there,” White said. this day in history NOV. 1,1792... Commissioners meet in Pittsboro to decide on a location for the new University. In the following days, the committee visits sites near Pittsboro, Haw River and Raleigh. Tyrrell County Total population: 4,149 White population: 56.5 percent Black population: 39.4 percent Hispanic population: 3.6 percent Families below the poverty level: 19.1 percent >■ Individuals below the poverty level: 23.3 percent Percent of civilian labor force unemployed: 6.1 percent SOURCE: 2000 U.S. Census Bureau data “I could use a dozen adjectives to tell you beyond frustrating how it feels.” - Though development from sur rounding counties and traffic from the expanded U.S. 64 is increas- SEE TYRRELL, PAGE 5 weather O Sunny H 78, L 53 index police log 2 calendar 2 games 9 sports 9 opinion 10