The Daily Tar Heel

Serving the students and the University community since 1893

Saturday April 1st

Women's Tennis


Durham Murders May Be Connected

Durham police identified similarities Tuesday between two recent murders and are investigating possible connections between both victims. "We have not drawn a link, but we have discovered some similarities," said Lt. Ed Sarvis, spokesman for the Durham Police Department. "Both victims were roughly the same age, both the same race, both are known homosexuals, and both frequented chat rooms on the Internet." As the investigation progresses, officials are warning local Internet chat room users to exercise extra caution online.

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Re-electing Allen Spalt Ensures the Preservation Of Local Environment

TO THE EDITOR: Re-elect Allen Spalt for Carrboro alderman. For over two years now a diverse coalition of citizens, activists and local legislators has been fighting Carolina Power & Light Co.'s unwise plan to double the storage of high level nuclear waste at the Shearon Harris nuclear power plant. The plan would make Shearon Harris the largest repository of spent fuel rods in the country, with much high-risk transport of dangerous materials to the plant.

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Campus Officials Respond to Mail Threats

UNC Mail Services officials said Tuesday that they have not identified any packages as potentially harmful, despite the adoption of strict guidelines. But the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Environment, Health and Safety have responded to about 20 emergency calls on campus regarding suspicious mail in the last week. In every case, the DPS officers determined there was no credible threat. University Mail Services, the sole recipient of all University mail, said regardless of the precautions it takes, its system is not foolproof.

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Americans Still Support War

For most Americans it was only a matter of time. Many see the military strikes on Afghanistan as an inevitable response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. The mainstream American response, from the halls of the U.S. Capitol to the lunch counters in Midwestern farmlands, has been a call to arms to rid the world of such threats. Many Americans wanted a swift military response, and that is what they have received. But the far-reaching implications the attacks will have on American society remain to be seen.

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Local Officials Claim Layoffs Unnecessary

Chapel Hill and Carrboro officials say they do not foresee local government layoffs, despite an economic decline that has hit home for some N.C. businesses. State officials recently announced that the state's economy is expected to grow more slowly this year than previously expected. But Carrboro Town Manager Bob Morgan said careful budgeting will prevent the slowing economy from affecting town employees. So far, Midway, U.S. Airways and some furniture plants have reported job cuts or are planning them.

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Major Choices Require Major Input, Insight

I've got to do some shopping. I need orange juice, new blue jeans and some direction in life. It's about that time to get a major, and I'm getting worried. The years have crept up on me. I'm practically a junior which means it's about time to gulp back trepidation and stare down my destiny. It's time to decide my fate, future, and choose from more than a hundred options -- the majors list. I'm turning to you all for help.

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New Hotel Will Only Help Town

A proposed addition to West Franklin Street could breathe new life into the downtown area. And for once, there seems to be broad support for new construction. Last week, the Chapel Hill Town Council held a public hearing on The Franklin, a five-story, 66-room hotel slated to be built across from Ham's, where the abandoned Trailways Bus Station currently sits. The bus station was purchased last year by Richard and Robert Capps of Greenville for $795,000. The Capps also own hotels in Greensboro, Jacksonville and Greenville.

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Journalists Strive For Objectivity During Tragedy

As the World Trade Center collapsed before their eyes, many journalists found it challenging to maintain their objectivity during one of the darkest moments in American history. Though called to be loyal, patriotic Americans, reporters sometimes had to pick through disturbing information. NBC's Tom Brokaw and CBS's Dan Rather -- two icons of American journalism -- both have displayed emotional response to the attacks and their aftermath on the air.

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Tar Heels Move Up in Poll

The North Carolina men's soccer team moved up one spot in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll, climbing from No. 7 to No. 6 after a pair of wins last week. Southern Methodist is ranked No. 1, as it has been all season. UNC is the second-highest ranked ACC team this week behind No. 2 Virginia, which defeated North Carolina in Charlottesville last month. Saint Louis, which defeated the Tar Heels 2-1 in September, is ranked third. Stanford is fourth and St. John's is fifth. Indiana, Washington, Clemson and Rutgers round out the top 10.

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Envy, Horror, Sadness: A Red Sox Fan Reacts

This Saturday, Carl Adamec will once again wear that familiar, smug smile favored by championship monopolists around the world. Regardless of what happens during the following week, he has won. And I, once again, have lost. That's because Carl is a Yankees fan, proud and boastful, while I am a Red Sox fan, disgusted and inconsolable.

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UNC Study Explains Beer `Skunkiness'

A new UNC chemistry study has the potential to eliminate one of the annoyances of many college students' lives -- foul-smelling, "skunky" beer. Malcolm Forbes, a UNC chemistry professor and one of the experiment's conductors, said the study revealed that the biggest factor contributing to some foul-smelling beers is sunlight. Forbes said sunlight provides energy for a chemical reaction to occur within the beer. "We've figured out what's going on and what causes skunky beer," Forbes said.

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ASU Keeps Freeze on Expenses

Appalachian State University officials have said they will continue freezing all nonessential spending until there are indications of a more stable state budget situation. But UNC-system officials said it is up to individual universities to choose their response to looming threats of budget cuts. Two weeks ago, Gov. Mike Easley indicated that the UNC system might have to contend with budget reductions of up to 4 percent. But Easley has said he will try to avoid targeting educational programs when looking for additional savings within state expenditures.

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More Riser Seating Unlikely

Officials say architectural and seating difficulties within the Smith Center prevent the possibility of building additional risers in the near future. Although they have explored the possibility of constructing a new riser section under the west end of the basketball court, officials say it is not a feasible option for the upcoming basketball season. "Right now we don't have the capabilities to do risers on the other end," said Clint Gwaltney, director of ticket operations.

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Town May Incorporate Tract in Transit Plans

Concerns about future traffic problems prompted town officials Monday to address the impact of UNC's proposed Horace Williams development on regional transportation plans. The Chapel Hill Town Council voted to continue participating in a regional transportation study and instructed town staff to develop a process to connect regional mass transit plans to the future Horace Williams development. No plans now directly link the tract to a proposed corridor that would connect areas of the Triangle with various forms of mass transit.

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Mayoral Candidate Pavao Advocates Continuation Of Preserving Greenways

TO THE EDITOR: I am voting for Lee Pavao for mayor of Chapel Hill, and I urge you to do the same. I have known Lee for many years and have enjoyed working with him on various volunteer projects. One that I remember well was the planting of the mini-park of East Franklin Street and Elliot Road. Pavao was there, shovel in hand, working to better that little bit of environment, making Chapel Hill more attractive. There were not many folks there, not enough to attract the media, but Pavao was. I think that is indicative of Lee Pavao.

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Mayoral Candidate Kevin Foy is Qualified Choice For Area Neighborhoods

TO THE EDITOR: Kevin Foy is my choice for mayor because Foy, not Lee Pavao, has been the champion for Chapel Hill neighborhoods over and over and over again. Let's look at just three cases: Case 1: Widening Weaver Dairy Road. When the state wanted to widen Weaver Dairy Road to five lanes, Pavao said sure, OK with me. But not Foy. He stood with the neighborhoods in their fight to limit the widening of the road to what truly was necessary. Foy is the champion of the Timberlyne, Cedar Hills, Silver Creek and Chandler's Green neighborhoods.

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Campus Calendar

Today 5:30 p.m. -- The Kenan-Flagler Business School will hold a "Women in Business Forum" in Koury Auditorium at McColl Building, Kenan-Flagler Business School. 7 p.m. -- Delta Sigma Theta sorority Inc. and the Yes, I'm Saved College ministry of Orange Grove are sponsoring Bible Study in McIver first-floor lounge discussing "The Power of Money." 8 p.m. -- The Carolina Union Activities Board is sponsoring Killer Condom, a dark German comedy to be shown in the Union Cabaret. Erotic food and prizes will be provided and a discussion will follow.

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Government Toughens Research Standards

University researchers across the country now have more than students peering over their shoulders. The White House Office of Management and Budget released new guidelines this month concerning the quality of information that can be represented as fact at the federal level. According to a press release, the guidelines issued by the OMB Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs apply to facts, statistics and technological information used by government officials.

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