TECHNICIAN
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11-MEMBER GROUP TO MAKE RECCOMENDATION TO UNC SYSTEM PRESIDENT Managing Editor
A commission of leaders from across the UNC system met for the second time in Chapel Hill Thursday afternoon to hear the thoughts of faculty, students and citizens regarding the potential creation of a system wide hate crimes policy. Such a policy could limit some forms of speech on all 16 campuses within the system. System president Erskine Bowles created the commission following the events in
the Free Expression Tunnel Nov. 5, 2008 and charged the group to determine if a policy is needed. The commission is scheduled to make an initial report to Bowles in March. Matt Woodward, a freshman in microbiology who spoke to the panel, said he was glad to see those making the decisions listening to the concerns of students. “I’m glad the commission was so receptive and made the panel open to the public so students could speak,” he said. “When administrative decisions are made sometimes the student perspective gets a
little skewed.” The commission heard remarks from seven presenters, two of which were students. The public presentation segment of the meeting lasted under an hour. Geoffrey Hunter, an N.C. State alum and member of the commission, said he was surprised the commission didn’t hear more speakers. “I wish there would have been more students come and speak before the commission,” he said. “It was kind of a conflict with class shcedules. Woodward said the lack of student at-
tendance at the forum was disappointing. “I do wish it was a little more advertised,” he said. “But the commission is made up of well represented people, so they’ll do what’s right for their best interests.” Hunter said the lack of attendance at Thursday’s forum does not mean the commission has not been receiving the public’s opinion on the issue. “A lot of people are sending in comPOLICY continued page 3
DAVID MABE/TECHNICIAN
Two models strut down the runway wearing Grace Jones’ collection entitled “Victorian Cocktail.” The collection consisted of four dresses in white and floral cotton with ruffled accents. Jones, a junior in fashion and textile management, won second place in the collection category. Chase Kennedy, a sophomore in fashion and textile management, took first place, beating out both Jones and his mentor, Ashley Tucker, a junior in textile and apparel management.
Textiles’ Cotton Couture show dazzles College of Textiles students show off their most haute couture. Taylor McCune Features Editor
Cotton, one of the original cash crops of North Carolina farmers relinquished its humble roost and took an haute turn on the runway at the Cotton Couture fashion show Thursday night. Each model that strode down the catwalk wore student-created designs made of, at least, 75 percent cotton fabric. The show was a collaborative effort between the College of Textiles and Cotton Incorporated. The show was one of only a few national university programs that received sponsorship in 2008 from the corporation. Mark Messura, executive vice president of the global product supply chain division of Cotton Inc., said the corporation sponsored the show because “it raises awareness for cotton.” The show also raised awareness for the leading cause of death among women in America — heart disease. Proceeds from ticket sales, T-shirt sales and silent auction items benefitted the American
Raleigh, North Carolina
Panel discusses hate crimes Derek Medlin
Heart Association’s Go Red for Women were the most popular silhouette with campaign. most of the designers who competed The charitable theme of the evening for the $300, $400 and $500 prizes, but was echoed throughout the show. Mas- everything from men’s jackets to highter of ceremonies, reporter Julie Henry waisted women’s pants made a showing. of NBC 17, wore four different dresses Mejia entered her untitled design in the throughout the show. College of Textiles beginner’s individual category. It was her professors and stufirst fashion show, dents designed the and she did everydresses. Each was thing herself, from red, in honor of Go sewing the outfit to Red for Women. doing her model’s A ll four dresses makeup. were auctioned off “I wa s goi ng , to benefit the AHA, overall, for a couStephanie Mejia, sophomore in and, of course, all ture look. It took me fashion and textile management were made of cotmaybe a week to put ton. everything together,” Mejia said. The everyday textile, loved by many Lorenzo Agustin, a senior in textile and as a mainstay in underwear and sock apparel management, also took a very production, gave some designers a bit of high-fashion approach to his poufy, bettrouble. ulled entry — but with a pink twist. “To make something creative, it was “It’s an alternative, punk Marie Antough to use cotton,” Stephanie Mejia, a toinette. I reused the fabric. This is the sophomore in fashion and textile man- actual fabric used in the [warm-up suits] agement, said. for the women’s basketball team for the The difficult fabric didn’t stop the 34 Hoops for Hope game last year,” he said. College of Textiles students who populated the two-hour show with dozens of COTTON continued page 3 hand-sewn designs. Women’s dresses
“It took me maybe a week to put everything together.”
Crime rates show increase Raleigh crime also spikes, affecting campus rates James Cox Staff Writer
The University saw a slight increase in crime rates in 2008 after a three year decline. Tom Younce, chief of Campus Police, said part of the increase was due to the stealing of catalytic converters by a group of individuals during the summer. “One of the problems with crime is, in terms of numbers, our crime is so low that an individual can come through and affect the percentage of the increase real easily,” he said. According to Younce, there were 465 total crimes for the year of 2008. Raleigh’s crime, particularly armed robbery, has gone up drastically this year. “If someone comes in and commits 10 or 15 [crimes],” Younce said. “That dramatically affects the crime rate. We sit right in the middle of Raleigh, so what happens in Raleigh usually happens to us.” Younce said he is concerned the increased crime rate could be a trend for the coming years, especially in terms of property crimes. “Generally, economic hard times don’t affect the crime rate, but this hardship is a little bit different,” Younce said. “It’s a lot more dramatic because a lot more people are unemployed.” Younce did say the rate of crime on campus is lower than surrounding areas. “For every robbery we have on campus, the surrounding area has seven or eight of the same crime,” Younce said. “What robberies we do have are big because they generate a lot of media coverage because they are rare.” According to Younce, a student is seven times more likely to be a victim of a violent crime off campus than on campus, though Younce said the philosophy of Campus Police is that one crime is too many. “We’re not immune,” he added. “Things that happen in Raleigh sometimes spill over onto campus.” Younce said the main areas for crime on campus are D.H. Hill Library, Talley, Carmichael and the West Lot. Leah Van Halsema, a senior in spanish language and literature, works at the front desk of Talley four times a week, and said students ask questions regarding crime frequently. “Every other time I work, I get someone asking where to go to report something stolen and I refer them to Campus Police,” she said. Younce said if people are going to leave valuables in their vehicle CRIME continued page 3
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DAVID MABE/TECHNICIAN
A model struts down the runway at the Cotton Couture fashion show Thursday night. Stephanie Mejia, a sophomore in fashion and textile management created the untitied look. Mejia won first place in the beginner individual category. Her prize was $500 given by Cotton Incorporated, which sponsored the show.
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Becoming the prey See page 5.
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