VOLUME 114, ISSUE 106 Voters asked to turn out to polls today YOUNG PEOPLE DON’T VOTE BUT VOLUNTEER IN DROVES BY NICOLE NORFLEET STAFF WRITER Tables line the Pit. Fliers litter the ground. Every day, students are on campus fighting against hunger, oppression and cancer. While young people are notori ous for not voting, a study released in October recognizes that they are contributing to their commu nity in other ways. According to the 2006 Civic and Political Health of the Nation Survey, more than 36 percent of people ages 15 to 25 volunteered in the last year, and almost 20 percent were involved with solv ing community problems. The report was conducted by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at the University Officers face repeat crimes Downtown force hits streets today BY MEREDITH MILLER SENIOR WRITER Chapel Hill police will have a greater presence downtown start ing today, as more officers are added to the area. The 12-unit force, which includes five new officer positions, is intended to help police create a safer downtown. But much of the business district is plagued by repeat offenders for minor prop erty and nuisance crimes, side tracking officers from their overall goals. “We have a lot of needs in the community. ... And we spend a lot of time dealing with the same people,” Chief Gregg Jarvies said. From Jan. 1 to Oct. 26, 24 people have been either cited or arrested on more than three occasions in the downtown area, according to Chapel Hill police reports. Those 24 people made up 196 of the 1,017 crimes reported dur ing that period, or about 19.3 per cent. The majority of repeat offend ers were cited on charges of minor property and nuisance crimes, such as misuse of public seating or second-degree tres passing. “A lot of the time that (officers) spend dealing with these same nuisance crimes is time they could use preventing crime,” Jarvies said. Downtown usual suspects Twenty-four people have been charged more than three times between Jan. 1 to Oct. 26, making up 19.3 percent of all reported crimes in downtown. By the numbers: 24 196 19.3 people charged more combined charges by percent of all crimes in than three times these individuals the downtown area \ Top 8 Charges trepassing 29 Failure to appear 29 Open violations 22 seating 18 Drug paraphernalia charges 11 Panhandling ■mm 11 Communicating threats Drunk/disruptive behavior 9 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 number of charges SOURCE: CHAPEL HILL POLICE DEPARTMENT DTHKURT GENTRY CLARIFICATION The Monday front-page story, “UNC streaks to confer ence title,” states that the UNC women’s soccer team has lost two ACC Tournament games. The team has lost two penalty kick shootouts, which count as two ties in the standings. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes. Serving the students and the University community since 1893 ohr Daily ®ar Her! of Maryland and examined how young Americans involve them selves in the community. The study focused on different measures of civic engagement, such as volunteering, boycotting and fundraising. At Chapel Hill, students are active in more than 600 officially recognized student organizations. Students are bombarded with ways to get involved. “There are an overwhelming level of choices, I don’t know how people sort it out,” said Virginia Carson, director of the Campus Y. In a 2003 survey of UNC first year students, 88 percent of the 434 surveyed said they volun- SEE YOUNG VOTERS, PAGE 8 Not a full picture According to the most recent downtown crime report, which was presented at the late- September Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership meeting, crime down town has declined. The report included the num ber of reported crimes in the area and the number of nuisance/dis turbance calls. In the first six months of the year, personal crimes, which include murder, robbery and aggravated assault, had decreased in the central business district by 13 percent, compared to the num bers from July through December 2005. Likewise, property crime, which includes larceny and bur glary, declined 9 percent down town. Police spokeswoman Jane Cousins said there can be a gray area in using crime statistics as a way to determine the safety of an area. “Representing crime and arrests does not always reflect people’s perception about their safety,” she said. Cousins said the department does deal with a number of calls reporting things that are not ille gal. “We do get reports about people getting intimidated by people.... That’s an example of something that is not quite a crime but makes people uncom fortable.” The statistics also do not show how many property crimes and SEE CRIME, PAGE 8 inside CAUGHT IN THE WEB Web site that catches plagiarism is controversial, PAGE 5 ART ATTACK Residents can submit ideas for public art projects, PAGE 10 LOOKING BOTH WAYS Group presents ideas to help pedestrian safety, PAGE 11 www.dailytarheel.com Groups gear up to support electorate BY ERIC SHEPHERD MARTIN SENIOR WRITER Today is the day for Orange County residents to place their votes at one of more than 40 available polling loca tions. Members of campus political organiza- 4 1 VOTE tions will be on hand to make sure the process runs as smooth ly as possible. Kris Gould, chairman of voter advocacy group Vote Carolina, said members of the organiza tion will greet students in the Pit with voting guides and cot ton candy. Gould said this year’s elec tion is vital to students, as many Orange County offices are on the THE GIFT OF GIVING * ''‘Sg&SukrfßhJann . dfrluLolVm mmsam DTH PHOTOS/SARAH NEAL SIMPSON Jean Plow teaches Aliterrick "Ja" Harrell, 5, how to use his new school bus as he sits on Judy Farley's lap Monday at UNC Hospitals. Renee Bailey presented anew computer and more than S6OO worth of books and gifts to the children enrolled in the Hospital School. Oprah’s money used for students BY EMILY GALLIMORE STAFF WRITER Oprah Winfrey gave Renee Bailey a debit card with SI,OOO on it when she attended the taping of her show. She also gave Bailey 10 days to use the money for a charitable cause and record her experience. On Monday, Bailey fought back tears while presenting the Hospital School at UNC Hospitals with gifts purchased using the money. The Hospital School is part of Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. It serves UNC Hospitals’ patients from kindergarten to 12th grade. Three students infected by E. coli BY ERIN ZUREICK UNIVERSITY EDITOR Three UNC students have developed ill nesses related to E. coli bacteria in recent days, University officials said Monday. The students have confirmed cases of gastro enteritis, or inflammation of the stomach and intestines, according to an e-mail sent out to University students at about 5:45 p.m. Monday. Health officials also are investigating addi tional possible cases among University stu dents, said Mary Covington, associate vice chancellor for campus health services. She said the number is “a small handful.” SportS | page 13 GOING SWIMMINGLY UNC'S swimming and diving team wades through a suc cessful weekend against tough competition at a double-dual meet at Koury Natatorium. Where to vote To find out where you should cast your ballot visit www.sboe.state. nc.us/votersearch/seimsvot.htm ballot. The 2006 elections also will include candidates for national and state positions, such as a seat for the U.S. Congress and the N.C. Supreme Court chief justice. But most candidates will be competing for local posi tions, including county commis sioner and dis- BLOGGIN | with the City Desk For live updates on Election Day: apps.dailytarheel .com/blogs/categ ory/newsroom trict superior court judge. “Because these are much more SEE ELECTION, PAGE 8 Bailey was selected to be one of3oo audience members on the Oct. 30 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show after submitting an essay that described her desire to help others. Her daughter, Melissa Bailey, is an N.C. Teaching Fellow at the University and a Hospital School volunteer. “It was Melissa who told her mother... about Hospital School,” said Flicka Bateman, principal of the Hospital School. “When Renee was told, ‘Find your favorite char ity,’ she knew just what it was.” Winfrey instructed the audience to spend the money helping others and to capture the experience with the recorder. The DVD recordings SEE GIFT, PAGE 8 Neither Covington nor Lisa Katz, director of UNC News Services, were able to confirm the statuses of the students or release their names. “We think this is isolated,” said Margaret Jablonski, vice chancellor for student affairs. The sickness, which is caused by a particular type of E. coli bacteria, can cause severe diar rhea, abdominal cramps and occasionally is associated with severe complications partic ularly among young children and the elderly. “Most people come to medical attention because they have the acute onset of severe diarrhea oftentimes it’s bloody,” Covington said. Contested Races in Orange County County Cnnuidninner, pick three: ► Alice Gordon DEM ► Barry Jacobs DEM ► Mike Nelson DEM ► Jamie Daniel REP N.C. Superior Court Judge District 15R pick two: ► Charles Anderson ► Allen Baddour ► Carl R. Fox ► Adam Stein ULS. Congress District 04 : ► David Price DEM ► Steve Acuff REP NX. Senate Dictftet 22: ► Ellie Kinnaird DEM ► E.B. Alston REP MX. Houm District 54: ► Joe Hackney DEM ► Alvin Reed REP _, syi i t I Bailey presents Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools' Hospital School at UNC Hospitals with SI,OOO of gifts courtesy of Oprah Winfrey. The affected students developed symptoms between Oct. 26 and 29, according to the e mail. The bacteria usually makes people sick within 10 days of infection. The investigation has not identified any common source of exposure so far, and there is no indication that other students are at risk, according to the e-mail. Covington said the illness generally is food borne. Most cases are caused by eating under cooked, contaminated ground beef. People also SEE E. COLI, PAGE 8 this day in history NOV. 7,1987 ... UNC dedicates Katherine Kennedy Carmichael Residence Hall. Carmi chael came to UNC in 1946 as dean of women and in 1972 became associate dean of student affairs. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2006 NX Court of Appeals: ► Linda Stephens ► Kris Bailey ► Donna Stroud ► Robert Hunter NX Siyurmr Court Chief Justice: ► Sarah Parker ► Rusty Duke NX. Suprwu Court Associate Justice: ► Rachel Hunter ► Mark Martin ► Eric Levinson ► Patricia Timmons-Goodson ► Ann Calabria ► Robin Hudson Orange County Sheriff: ► Lindy Pendergrass DEM ► William Parker REP SOURCE: Orange County Board of Elections weather Rain H 61,154 index police log 2 calendar 2 games 9 sports 13 opinion 14

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