TECHNICIAN
wednesday january
9
2013
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
University employee charged for weapons possession Sam DeGrave News Editor
An employee of the College of Veterinary Medicine was arrested Monday after police discovered he had several weapons on campus. Police charged medical technician Steven Patrick O’Connell, 56, with three counts of possessing a weapon on educational property after they allegedly found weapons in his work locker and car Friday. An anonymous tip prompted police to search O’Connell’s locker at the CVM where they found two
handguns, an unloaded Colt “Delta Elite” 10mm pistol and a loaded Taurus .357 magnum revolver, according to Mick Kulikowski, assistant director of N.C. State News Services. O’Connell permitted police to search his locker and was with the cops when they found the weapons, Kulikowski said. During the search, O’Connell reportedly became ill and was taken to Rex Hospital where he remained under police custody until he was released Monday and arrested. In an article published in the News
& Observer Tuesday, director for public relations at N.C. State, Frederick Hartman, said that O’Connell expressed surprise when the police discovered the guns in his locker. Police also searched O’Connell’s car, which was located on campus, and found a Colt AR-15 rifle, two axes and a Gerber Mark II dagger. O’Connell has worked as an employee for the University continuously since June 1, 1989, and he worked for the University between 1984 and 1987 as well, according to Kulikowski. There were no threats made and
at no time do police believe anyone at the University was in danger, Kulikowski said. In addition to the charges brought against O’Connell, Kulikowski said the employee has been trespassed from University property and will go through the University’s disciplinary review process. O’Connell was released after posting the $12,500 bail.
PHOTO COURTESY OF WAKE COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
Dorothea Dix hospital signed to city of Raleigh Jessie Halpern Senior Staff Writer
In one of her final acts as Governor of North Carolina, Bev Perdue signed a bill that leased the campus of the Dorothea Dix hospital to the City of Raleigh Friday, Dec. 28. The Dorothea Dix Hospital, named after mental health heroine Dorothea Dix, is the now desolate site of what was once a psychiatric hospital. Located adjacent to N.C. State University, much of the property’s previous 2,000 plus acreage was sold to the University and has become part of Centennial Campus. The hospital has been in decline dating back to 2000. Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane joined Perdue at the event to sign the 26-page lease that would give the hospital to the city. According to the News & Observer, the lease procures a $500,000 annual rent the city will pay for 75 years, with yearly increments of 1.5 percent. With the option to renew the lease for another 24 years, putting the city’s lease at 99 years. The property’s value would be $112 million, going directly to the state. The hospital’s remaining patients
Jake Moser Deputy News Editor
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PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NC DIVISION OF STATE OPERATED HEALTHCARE FACILITIES
were moved to a facility in Butner, N.C., Aug. 15, 2012, according to News 14 Carolina, despite Dorothea Dix Hospital’s previous reputation as a leading provider of mental health services in Raleigh.
The hospital’s new lease under the City of Raleigh is not expected to have a significant effect on Raleigh’s mental health patients, but rather on the city itself as plans to transform the 325-acre property take place.
N.C. State not immune to increasing influenza rates
Staff Report
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“We understand that preservation of God’s best resources, like Dix Park, is part of the common good,” Perdue told the News & Observer.
Congress passed legislation Jan. 1 in an attempt to avoid the fiscal cliff, but negative economic effects are still a possibility. This legislation was dubbed “The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012,” designed to lessen the impact of the fiscal cliff, which could have sparked another recession. The fiscal cliff is the result of increased national taxes and federal budget cuts taking effect simultaneously. The budget cuts were set to begin at the same time the Bush Administration tax cuts were set to expire. Most experts agree that an increase in government revenue and a decrease in spending
The now vacant Dorothea Dix Hospital was recently leased to the City of Raleigh by Mayor McFarlane and Governor Perdue.
Raleigh Mayor makes international attention Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane is now halfway through her first term, and as she carries on the momentum from former Mayor Charles Meeker, who served for 10 years and endorsed McFarlane, Raleigh has earned the title as one of the “cities of the future” from the BBC. On Dec. 28, McFarlane spoke on the program Newshour to talk about how the city hosts a growing job markets. Raleigh is the fastest growing city in the U.S., according to the Census Bureau. With help from Research Triangle Park attracting multinational companies and an economy based on high-tech innovations, the Forbes reported that 116,500 people have relocated to the city since 2007, seeking better jobs. McFarlane discussed her values on keeping Raleigh sustainable, one of her campaign platforms, and spoke
Fiscal cliff crisis still poses threat
Jessica Hatcher Correspondent
PHOTO COURTESY OF NANCYMCFARLANE.COM
of the importance of diversity in cities. The program also featured other “cities of the future,” including Perth, Australia and Curitiba, Brazil. Perth is the capital of Western Australia and since the 1950s has been transforming its economy from naturalresource based to service industries. Curitiba is the capital of the Brazilian state, Paraná, and is a manufacturing hub for the country.
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This winter has brought with it a drastic increase in the number of inf luenza cases in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu cases have been reported in all 50 states, 41 of which experienced widespread influenza activity. In North Carolina, flu rates got high enough for some Wake County hospitals to turn patients away due to a lack of treatment resources. The rising flu rates have been especially severe for the University as well. According to Dr. Beth Neel, the medical director of Student Health Services, those working at the Student Health Center have been treating students for influenza since the beginning of November. “We can expect to see the flu for about four to six more weeks,” Dr. Neel said. “It is still very active. We just had a student’s test come back positive for the flu on Monday.” The Student Health Center administered free flu shots in October to increase the number of vaccinated students, reaching almost 3,500. The center also posted flu prevention tips on electronic billboards around campus. The flu is spread quickly and easily, especially on a large campus. Living in dorms and eating in din-
PHOTO COURTESY OF WWW.SXC.HU
ing halls increase students’ chances of getting the flu, said Dr. Neel. Emily Avera, a senior majoring in business administration, got vaccinated at the start of the season. “I got the flu shot because I wanted to stay healthy so as to not affect my grades,” Avera said. But not all students share her en-
thusiasm. Sophomore Ryan Girard, a commuting student, opts out from getting a flu shot each year due to past personal experiences with the vaccine.
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