DailyMississippian The
thedmonline.com
Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011
Vol. 100 No. 177
Advancements in technology give rise to fake IDs BY LEE HARRIS LTHarris11@gmail.com
Have you ever looked around the bar and said to yourself, “Wow, that kid looks like he’s 14.” Well, he might have been. During the first half of 2011, the Oxford Police Department charged approximately 50 individuals with possession of false identification; however, this number represents only a small portion of the fake IDs that were seized in Oxford this year. “The number of 50 can be a little misleading sometimes,” OPD chief Mike Martin said. “A lot of times when an officer catches you in possession of alcohol, and you have a false ID, they’ll only charge you with the minor in possession and just seize your ID.” This number is also misleading because it doesn’t include the IDs seized and turned over to police by private security working at bars and events. Martin said this brings the total number collected and destroyed each year well into the hundreds. John Darby, who worked as a bouncer for the last year at Funky’s and now is at Rooster’s Blues House, said that in
ILLUSTRATION BY PETRE THOMAS | The Daily Mississippian
Left: Ways that minors could use or create a fake ID. Right: Ways to catch a fake ID.
addition to the ones that are confiscated, many fake IDs recognized by doormen are not collected. “There are some bars that will take the ID, and then there are other bars that just turn you down,” Darby said. “There’s not really a set protocol as far as being required to take the ID or anything.” While fake IDs are not new, advancements in home computer technology in the last 20 years have changed the landscape of fake ID production. Large-scale print operations with high-quality printing presses are no longer neces-
sary to produce fake IDs. “Nowadays, with the computer software and the quality of printers that you have available, it’s made it a whole lot easier for people to manufacture false IDs,” Martin said. “And some of them are really good. You have to look twice at them. Sometimes three times.” The common sight of highquality personal printers in college towns has made the production of fake IDs much easier; however, it is another type of false identification that is much more prevalent in Oxford.
“What we see the most is mous because of the legal people that have other peo- implications surrounding this ple’s IDs,” Darby said. “You issue, said she uses her older get someone who will go to cousin’s ID. The student said the DMV and say, ‘I lost my she uses it for access more ID,’ and their friend will give than she uses it to drink unthem the money to pay to get derage. a new one.” “All my friends are already Underage individuals using turning 21, so I’d like to get another person’s ID present into the bars they can get unique challenges for law en- into,” she said. “It’s not so forcement. Unlike an altered much drinking. It’s just to get form of identification, which into where my friends go on is illegal to possess, possessing the weekends.” someone else’s driver’s license While the penalty for posis not illegal until you try to session of a fake ID is stiff, it present it as your own. can also create legal problems One Ole Miss junior, who requested to remain anony- See FAKE I.D, PAGE 4
Student-led kayak trip raises thousands for charities BY JOE SCOTT jwscott1.olemiss@gmail.com
The Board of Alderman adopted a proclamation recognizing Rob Treppendahl, Bowman Hitchens and Max Zoghbi for raising over $20,000 for Interfaith Compassion Ministries, in front a full court room. The three men raised this money by making a sponsored kayaking trip down the Mississippi River, from Lake Itsca, Minn., all the way to the river’s end in New Orleans. They called the initiative “A Wake In the Current.”
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The 2,300 mile long trip took up 61 days. Each day Treppendahl, Hitchens and Zoghbi would sleep outside. The trip was made to raise awareness of what homeless people go through. Treppendahl is a former student of the University of Mississippi and Hitchens is a current Ole Miss senior. Zoghbi is a graduate of Louisiana State University. Through their adventure, the three raised over $20,000 for Interfaith Compassion Ministries and over $19,000 for the Gardere School in Baton Rouge, which helps give under privileged children a quality education. Larry Ridgeway appeared on
Colonel Reb Political Action Committee aloud petitions P. 4
behalf of Ole Miss Chancellor Dan Jones to read a proclamation stating that this week will forever be known as “A Wake in the Current” week to honor their efforts. Governor Haley Barbour also sent a proclamation recognizing the men for their accomplishment, which was read by Dean of Students Sparky Reardon. The three accepted the proclamations before presenting the check to Interfaith Compassion Ministries at the meeting. “Oxford has been my second home.” Zoghbi said.”I want to thank everyone. To be a part of this community has been amazing. “Yeah we’re up here, but to be
QUINTON WINSTINE | The Daily Mississippian
Max Zoghbi, Bowman Hitchens and Rob Treppendahl pose for a picture with Assistant Director Ole Miss Outdoors Sharron Richardson, Dean of Students Sparky Reardon, Director of Ole Miss Outdoors Bill Kingery and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Larry Ridgeway after being presented a proclamation recognizing them for raising of over $20,000 for Interfaith Compassion Ministries.
clear, this isn’t about us. We’ve had a lot of prayers behind us, and we thank you.” All of the gear used on the
kayaking trip was donated by Ole Miss Outdoors, which plans on showing off the kayak for the rest of the students to see.
Sawyer shines in new role at safety
Springer leads Rebels in early going P. 5
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