TECHNICIAN
tuesday april
13 2010
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
Hillsborough construction nears completion Phase one of the Hillsborough Street Renovation Project slated to be completed by September 2010. Chelsey Franci Staff Writer
Construction on Hillsborough Street, which has been in progress since May 2009, has seen some improvement with much of the equipment gone from the areas closest to campus. According to the City of Raleigh, Sept. will constitute the completion of phase one of the Hillsborough construction project. The street will undergo three more phases of construction, each set to accomplish something different for the area. While phase one has been bothersome, most students believe it worthwhile. The purpose of phase one was to solve safety concerns and help improve the economy along Hillsborough Street. Raven Duncan, a freshman in art and design, said, “The construction is annoying, like really annoying, but you kind of just get used to it.” Sonni Wilson, a sophomore in arts applications, said she tries not to pay attention to the construction and avoid Hillsborough Street. Many students have other reasons to go to the street, such as finding food, entertainment, or shopping. “I try to stay oblivious to the con-
KIMBERLY ROCHESTER/TECHNICIAN
Kelly Price, a senior in psychology, tries to stay out of construction workers’ way walking down Hillsborough Street Monday, April 12, 2010. “I’m more indifferent than most people. I don’t mind the noise or the walking”, Price said. “I take back roads and usually avoid Hillsborough. The road will be nice when it’s done.”
struction,” Wilson said. “It seems to be never-ending and I don’t really understand what the overall goal is. It’s really inconvenient because we aren’t able to go to the restaurants we really liked over there, mainly because of bad parking.”
This week, construction crews are re-laying the bricks on the side of the street opposite campus. Katie Poole, an employee at The Alley, said things were starting to get better along Hillsborough. “There is definitely going to be a
FTC mandates clear-cut credit reports com, Experian has begun charging $1 for the credit reports, saying “due to federally imposed restrictions, it is no longer feasible for us to provide you with free Experian Credit Reports”, according to their Web site. Arth Pandya “It does appear the credit bureau Staff Writer is one step ahead of the regulators,” New legislation from the Federal Detweiler said. “Because this is such Trade Commission took effect April a profitable industry, I’m sure that the 2 requiring companies marketing free companies themselves are already at credit reports to add additional warn- work to find new creative ways to get ing labels on their advertisements for consumers to pay for their information.” supposedly “free” offers. Detweiler said the most important Web sites must now prominently state a free credit report is available thing is that consumers are able to from annualcreditreport.com or by find the correct source for their free phone at 877-322-8228. The same re- credit report. “[Consumers] have to understand quirement for TV and radio ads goes that there is only one source for their into effect Sept. 1. According to Gerri Detweiler, per- truly free credit report each year, and sonal finance advisor for credit.com, that’s annualcreditreport.com,” she consumers were mislead into monthly said. “If you have to put in a credit fees for credit monitoring and other or debit card number to get the credit services for which many had no inten- report, then you’re probably using a trial service.” tion of signing up. People would go to a search engine According to Frank Dorman, a and type in ‘free spokesman for c r e d it r e p o r t ,’ the FTC, the thinking they were commission going to the annuwill be “carealcreditreport.com fully monitorWeb site, Detweii ng i ndust r y ler said, when in practices for fact they would be compliance of lead to another site the rule.” and end up payGeorge said ing for something the FTC has they thought they begun a camshould have gotten paign to bring for free. awareness to Gerri Detweiler, personal finance “Consumers consumers. advisor for credit.com thought that they “ We h a v e were getting a truinitiated a conly free credit report, when they were sumer education campaign to educate really just trying out a paid service,” consumers about annualcreditreport. she said. com,” George said. The regulation is an effort to crack Detweiler said, however, creditdown on misleading advertisements. monitoring services can be valuable According to Tiffany George, an at- in certain cases. torney in the FTC Division of Privacy “If you want to monitor your credit and Identity Protection, the FTC has report, then it’s fine to sign to a service taken action in the past to address con- that will let you do that, as long as you fusion in this area. know that’s what you’re paying for,” The FTC previously sued Experian, Detweiler said. the credit data company that operates According to Detweiler, it can be freecreditreport.com, in 2005 and useful for students to subscribe to a 2007 on charges of misleading con- credit monitoring service to be alertsumers. The company paid a total of ed about any potential problems with $1.25 million to settle the two sets of their credit. charges. “Students are often moving a lot, However, rather than including dis- and they are one of most heavily tarclosures about annualcreditreport. geted groups for identity theft,” she
CARD Act, FTC requires full disclosure of services from creditreporting agencies.
“Students are often moving a lot, and they are one of most heavily targeted groups for identity theft.”
NC STATE BOOKSTORES
noticeable improvement,” she said. “We are already getting comments and hearing compliments about how much better it all looks.” Throughout phase one of the Hillsborough Street Renovation Project, the construction has been a common
conversation topic throughout Raleigh and especially on N.C. State’s campus. Much of the talk has been about how difficult it was to reach the businesses located there. “We are already seeing an improvement [in our business],” Poole said. “We intend to continue to see an improvement. Hopefully, once construction is done, people will come from downtown and access will be easier.” Other students find the method of construction to be irritating and believe it does not make sense. Because of this, they do not believe the first phase of construction will ever really be over. “I don’t think they’re almost done, especially when something new always seems to come up,” Duncan said. “They are always hacking up the road, so all the way down Hillsborough Street it’s bumpy. The only smooth part right now is the circle.” The roundabout at the intersection of Hillsborough Street and Pullen Road seems to have been accepted. The fences surrounding the circle make it difficult on foot, but is an improvement for vehicular traffic. “The traffic circle has made the intersection easier [to navigate],” Duncan said. “We don’t have to wait all day or a light to change and so far I haven’t heard anyone complaining about it.”
BLACK FINESSE
PROTECT YOUR CREDIT: •
The only source to get a truly free credit report is annualcreditreport. com or by calling 877-322-8228
•
If you are asked for a credit or debit card number for the report, it is probably either a trial or feecharging service
SOURCE: TIFFANY GEORGE, ATTORNEY IN THE FTC DIVISION OF PRIVACY AND IDENTITY PROTECTION
DIVISION OF PRIVACY AND IDENTITY PROTECTION ENFORCES: •
Section Five of the FTC Act, which prohibits unfair or deceptive acts or practices.
•
The Fair Credit Reporting Act, which ensures the accuracy and privacy of information kept by credit bureaus and gives consumers the right to know what information these entities are distributing
•
The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which requires financial institutions to ensure the security and confidentiality of customer information. SOURCE: FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
said. “There are times when it makes sense.” The new rule is one of the changes instituted by the Credit Card Act of 2009. Under the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act , no one under the age of 21 will be approved for a credit card offer unless a parent, guardian, or spouse is willing to co-sign, or the young adult shows proof of sufficient income to cover the credit obligation. Detweiler said consumers can definitely breathe a little bit easier now, however there are still many people who are struggling with very high interest rates and payments on their credit cards. With new legislation making it harder for students to get credit, at least on their own, Detweiler said she believes credit card companies will adapt their marketing strategy. “They are probably going to start marketing to parents more often now,” she said.
$10
CHRISTI OGU/TECHNICIAN
Members of Black Finesse Modeling Troupe perform “Watch and Learn,” hosted by Tre McQueen and Christina Moss, at the Spring Modeling Showcase for the Pan-Afrikan Festival in Stewart Theatre on Monday, April 12, 2010. The performance included hip-hop dancing, step dancing, and skits by guest performers. Overall, the organization aims to promote more positive depictions of African-Americans on campus and continues to remain in existence ever since its founding May 25, 1994 at North Carolina State University.
insidetechnician University releases campus guide for mobile phones See page 5.
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All proceeds benefit the NC State Student Government Kay Yow Memorial
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