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Thursday, February 25, 2010
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Volume 95 | Issue 23
Cloudy 54° / 40°
Crime falls for 3rd straight year BY MORGAN WALKER AND BRIANNE TOLJ Senior Staff Writer and Contributing Writer
Crime rates in Denton have dropped for the third consecutive year despite of rough economic times, the Denton Police Department said. T here a re t wo pr i me reasons why crime rates are down, Denton Police Chief Roy Minter said. “We’re becoming more accurate and timely in terms of where crimes are occurring and when they’re occurring,” he said. The cit y posted information on Feb. 15 using t he FBI’s nat iona l crime tracking process, which separates crime data into seven categories called the Major Index Crimes: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft. A cha r t show i ng t he number of each crime is also on the Web site. Minter added t hat t he department is using datadriven information to get officers to the scene of the crime sooner. Another factor contributing to the lower crime rates is the community engagement. “T he c om mu n it y h a s been of great assistance to us in providing information regarding crime activity and even calling us about crimes in progress,” Minter said. The Police Department has encouraged a dialogue with the community, which has helped the department address crime-related issues, he said. “Given the number of people in a relatively small area, crimes are pretty low,” said Ed Reynolds, deputy chief of t he UNT Police Department. On campus, crime rates in dorms have remained low, many housing staff members, said. Di rector of housi ng Elisabeth “Betsy” Warren said most of the thefts in the halls are “crimes of opportunity.” UNT reported 67 t hef t
ntdaily.com
The Student Newspaper of the University of North Texas
Denton Crime Stats 2008:
Aggravated assault - 171 cases reported Robbery - 89 reported Violent crime - 326 reported Vehicle burglary - 824 reported
2009:
Aggravated assault - 137 cases reported Robbery - 81 reported Violent crime - 292 reported Vehicle burglary - 788 reported crimes so far in the school yea r, less t ha n t he 101 reported at this time last year, but still a prevalent problem on campus. “People sometimes forget to lock their doors because they trust each other in a small community,” Warren said. Last semester there were about 20 theft-related events repor ted i n t he dor m s, “which isn’t a lot with 5,500 students,” Warren said. The most common stolen items are laptops but occasionally jewelry and credit cards are stolen. Warren suggested that all students lock their doors, especially bathroom doors between those who share bathrooms. A new line of stickers for students to place on their doors as a reminder to keep them locked will be distributed at the beginning of Ma rch, Stephen Ha r per, assistant hall director at Kerr Hall, said. Harper has worked in Kerr Hall for more than two years and said things remain pretty steady. “There are always times when it gets heated in a game of pool or ping pong but other than that there haven’t been any problems,” Harper said.
PHOTO BY MARTINA TREVINO/PHOTOGRAPHER
Eric Orman, a theatre arts sophomore, and Lindsey Hall, a theatre arts senior, rehearse a scene from “Two Rooms,” a drama by Lee Blessings. The dance and theatre department’s production is directed by student Chris Barr and will run from Friday to Sunday in the Radio, TV, Film & Performing Arts Building Studio Theatre.
Play showcases student work BY CHRISTINA MLYNSKI
Play Info
Chris Barr and according to the North Texas Dance and Theater Web site. “I always thought that the government would pay for people to get out and do whatever is necessary, but the play introduces the government using the hostage to manipulate the public,” said Lindsey Hall, a theater arts junior playing the role of Lanie. However, the play is not to be interpreted as the government trying to corrupt hostage intakes. “My focus has never been to bring down the government.” Barr said. “I’ve never been that type of person.” Instead, Barr said he wants the viewers to understand the relationship among the characters. The play brings realization of the subject of war to those who have not experienced it and can only relate to what is available through the media. It is a different approach with a more raw reaction, Barr said. “It’s hard for me to imagine that kind of grief, so it’s made me more aware of the pain of
not knowing where the closest person you are to in the world is,” Hall said. “It has made it more real.” The play is student-directed, acted, designed and stagemanaged. It also balances technique and directorial elements. The show runs on the support of a small budget, said Amanda Breaz, box office and promotions manager. “Generally, our Lab Series Student Productions sell out, so I’m expecting sold-out shows,” Breaz said. “Buy the tickets in advance.” For further questions regarding the show, contact Amanda Breaz at 940-565-2428.
as marijuana in a lower amount, the repercussions aren’t going to be as bad as if you had controlled substances,” McGuinness said. “If you’re dealing drugs on campus, we have expelled people for that.” Reynolds said that criminal charges could range from misdemeanors to felonies. Students don’t understand the consequences of criminal charges related to drug use, said Jim Quinn of the rehabilitation, social work and addictions department said. “Once a person that cannot afford a private attorney gets tied up in the legal system, it really PHOTO COURTESY OF MCT rips their life, and I think that’s Drugs can now be modified to resemble everyday items such as children’s vitamins, fake soda in cans and faux cleaning the one thing that students don’t products. UNT has seen a spike in drug-related problems on campus, including in the dorms. really recognize,” he said. “If they get a felony conviction, they’re “I would say we have an screwed, and the enormity of there has been a noticeable pres- students because they can find increase in everything,” she that and the fact that it never goes them at home, said Reynolds. ence of prescription drugs. away. That’s something that needs “Now it’s in almost everybody’s said. “Here in the last five to 10 A student caught in the dorms to be taken very seriously.” years, we’ve seen more prescrip- medicine cabinet, so we see more Michael, a UNT student who with drugs will be banned from tion drugs then we’ve previously and more of that,” he said. McGuinness says that the living in the dorms and possibly requested that his last name be seen,” Reynolds said. withheld, said that the repercusDrugs such as Vicodin and spike in drug use isn’t limited to expelled from the school. “If it’s a low-level drug, such sions are too severe. Xanax are easily available to prescription drugs.
“I knew that the punishment was going to be a lot more than what my roommate and I deserved,” Michael said. He went through the discipl i na r y system w it h t he Center for Students Rights and Responsibilities when marijuana was found in his dorm room. “It seemed like I had tried to rape somebody or something,” he said. “It was just such a huge deal for something that wasn’t affecting my academic progress at all.” Reynolds, McGuinness and Quinn said that education and counseling were necessary to help students understand the consequences of drug use. Michael said educating the administrators is also necessary. “There were a very select few individuals that decided the rest of your academic career and those individuals are not well informed enough by a variety of resources to really make those decisions,” Michael said.
See UNT on Page 2
Staff Writer
With controversial topics, a determined cast and crew, and the hope that viewers will relate to the themes, Lee Blessing’s production, “Two Rooms,” aspires to bring an infinite range of emotions to the audience, said Chris Barr, the director and theatre arts senior. The theatre and dance department will perform “Two Rooms” on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in the Radio, TV, Film & Performing Arts Building’s Studio Theatre. The play focuses on obstacles faced by people dealing having someone they know held hostage. “Emotionally, a lot of people have experienced certain things in their life, and if there’s any way that I can help put things into perspective, I will,” said Eric Orman, a theatre arts sophomore. “The character I play, Michael, experiences a lot of pain, but in all the hurt he is able to find light and happiness in the world.” The play will also illustrate the reverse side of the situation,
portraying the obstacles faced by the person who is being held captive, Barr and Orman said. Barr was presented with the task of retelling Blessing’s play in a way that would live up to the meaning it has given to many viewers. “It’s such a powerful play. It’s me holding myself to such high standards,” he said. “I want the audience to go away understanding the relationships and take away the feelings of each character.” “Two Rooms” was written by Lee Blessing in response to the hostage events that took place in Lebanon in 1988. The story takes place over a three-year time span, and the setting is divided between Michael Wells, an American held hostage by Arab terrorists, and Michael’s home office where a reporter is metaphorically holding his wife, Lanie, hostage. The message presented throughout the play is showing people the truths behind what happens in hostage situations regarding the reactions of the government and media, said
Price: $5 General Admission Location: Studio Theatre Purchasing: Tickets will be on sale the day of the show and the box office opens one hour before the show for ticket sales
UNT sees increased drug use, arrests on campus BY TIM MONZINGO Contributing Writer
The Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities and the UNT Police Department have reported an increase in the number of students in possession of illegal substances on campus. Thirty-four students received disciplinary action from the center from August 2008 to May 2009. So far this school year, 43 students have been referred to the center for drug related offenses. The police report similar results, with 54 student arrests for illegal narcotics for the 2007-2008 school year to 67 for the 2008-2009 school year. So far there are 24 for the 2009-2010 school year. “[Drug use] has been on the rise this year,” said Maureen McGuinness, the vice president for Student Development. “A lot of times students come to college to experiment, whether it’s with alcohol or drugs or behavior they really haven’t been involved with before.” Ed Reynolds, deputy chief of the UNT Police Department, said that