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21, 2010 | V
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D A I L Y
MISSISSIPPIAN
this week
OXFORD CRIME RATES CONTINUE TO DROP
In conjunction with UM’s annual Fall Family Weekend, the museum presents an exhibition of memorabilia that follows the graphic representation of “Ole Miss” across decades, including sports uniforms, band instruments, luggage, caps, pennants, jewelry and clothing.
The Student Newspaper
of
The University
BY CHRIS LAWYER The Daily Mississippian
The crime rate in Oxford continues to drop despite higher crime rates across the rest of the country. The Oxford Police Department reports that most crimes in Oxford are related to public drunkenness and DUIs. Oxford Police Chief Mike Martin said he thinks this is a good thing for residents of Oxford. “Most of our arrests are the normal college arrests,” Martin said. “We see a lot of public drunkenness and DUIs, and when you’re in a town with 15,000 college students, you’re going to see that.” Martin said that OPD also has a lot of drug arrests. “Marijuana is as common as a cigarette and about 90 percent of the kids aren’t going to do anything that catches our attention, but there are always a few,” Martin said. He was also quick to clarify that Oxford rarely has murders, and so far the city hasn’t had one in 2010. There was one murder in 2009. Oxford’s most serious crime problem is property theft, which can be anything from breaking into houses and stealing, common theft or commercial theft. Martin said OPD is working on solutions to fix these problems. Having patrolmen on horses on the Square is one of OPD’s newest tactics to assist in reducing the crime rate. According to Martin, one officer on a horse can cover the work of ten officers on foot. Public support has been great for the program, according to Martin. “We had a lady who commended what we did, then she proceeded to give us $20,000,” Martin said. “That’s a pretty good way to be able to start our program.” The big case at the department is currently the panty thief. Martin said OPD is on the case and will solve it. “We are working hard to find them,” Martin said. “We have no leads, but this case is our greatest concern. It’s a different kind of person who would
of
M i ss i ss i p p i | S e r v i n g O l e M i ss
do this and you never know what this could turn into. It’s hard when no one has seen the thief, but we will find them.” In addition to low crime rates in Oxford, they are also low on campus. Calvin Sellers, UPD director, said that Ole Miss’ crime rates are nothing compared to those of other universities. “We just don’t have a big problem.” Sellers said. “We try to be visible all over campus and that seems to help; we identify the problems and then tackle them.” Sellers reported most crimes on campus are petty theft, aside from football weekends, where drunken arrests are more frequent. “We see a lot of stolen bicycles and laptops,” Sellers said. “But that deals with common sense because no one should get up and leave their laptops or bookbags for five minutes– it’s just dumb.” Ole Miss sophomore Sealy Smith said she has never felt unsafe in Oxford because she said she feels that it is such a tight-knit community where crime doesn’t happen often. “I still use the same precautions as looking out for myself, and always keeping possession of my things, but I feel I can go almost anywhere in town and be safe,” Smith said. Ole Miss was recently ranked the safest campus in the Southeastern Conference according to StateUniversity. com. Oxford was named one of America’s 100 Best Small Towns. Both Sellers and Martin said the best way to stay safe is to watch out for yourself and always be ready. “It’s pretty simple.” Martin said of how to stay safe. “Number one, lock your doors and windows. Don’t advertise what you have with your purse in plain view in your car. Get to know your neighbors and always be suspicious. We are always out on a patrol and our cars are visible. We want both good and bad folk to see us. Take these precautions and you can easily not become a victim.”
and
Oxford
since
1911 |
www.thedmonline.com
Arrests made for selling of synthetic marijuana
F R I D AY
FILE PHOTO | The Daily Mississippian
BY ASHLEIGH DAVIS The Daily Mississippian
Three arrests have been made by the Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit for allegedly selling spice, the recently banned synthetic marijuana. Fifteen random businesses were searched during a ten-day period, with no businesses specifically targeted. Although during the undercover control purchases they arrested two business owners and one worker according to Keith Davis, agent in charge at Metro Narcotics. Davis said they will continue to search within Lafayette County and crack down on those that are still selling the drug illegally. He also said that they had several encounters with the substance before, but it was not yet illegal. The University Police Department says they haven’t had a problem with the substance on campus so far this school year. “I think it is good they are banning mind-altering substances like spice. Anything that falls into that category should be banned,” Victoria Meadows, an Ole Miss senior said. Meadows said she thinks the substance should be illegal because it has the same effects as its natural counterpart does. Spice, also known as K2, is marketed as a type of incense made of herbs, spices and synthetic cannabinoids that allegedly produces a high that is two or even four times the high of smoking marijuana but doesn’t last as long, Martin said. It has been found sold at convenience stores and head shops and typically ranges from $15 to $30. According to Mississippi Criminal Defense Blog, it is now illegal to sell, use or possess synthetic marijuana. On August 27, 2010 the governor signed a bill making it illegal statewide in Mississippi. The University’s ban on spice went accordingly to the counties’ on September 1st, where as the city of Oxford made a ban on the substance on August 17. Users tend to believe that the drug is a safe alternative to marijuana, but it is unknown as to what may be in spice
FREE FRIDAYS: REBEL CHALLENGE COURSE Check out the Rebel Challenge Course every Friday from 2-4pm for FREE FRIDAYS. The RCC is open to students, faculty and staff and consists of high elements. We are located on campus near the intramural fields off Hathorn Road. 2 p.m. - 4 p.m., free. Rebel Challenge Course
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Editorial clarification: This is a follow-up to a story published last week. policy. The purpose of the dead period would be to alleviate student stress the weeks before and during final exams by requiring that classes not meet other than for the exams. Cortez Moss, Student Director of Academic Affairs, says that we should hope to see the dead pe-
OLE MISS MEMORABILIA EXHIBIT
All day, free. University Museum
PROPOSED DEAD PERIOD STILL UNDER REVIEW The dead period policy was first proposed last year by Virginia Burke, ASB president. A task force on the issue is now in the beginning stages of formation. This means that the resolution for a student dead period is in the process of consideration to become an official university
T O D AY
riod task force created by the end of this month. Cortez said, “We are working extremely hard to speed up the process and we understand that this is a problem that needs to be addressed.” Cortez put extreme emphasis on the fact that the resolution can only move as swiftly as
the process will allow. The resolution must pass both the undergraduate and graduate council to be considered by the council of Academic Administration. Only then will the resolution become university policy. If passed, the policy would not be enacted until next year.