November 14, 2008

Top STORIES

Annual crime reports released
By Sarah Wilson
Editor-in-chief

In a tally of campus crime so far this year, vandalism and damage to property ranked at the top of the list, at 22 incidents. This type of crime edged out last year’s winner, lost or stolen property, which dropped by almost half.

Meanwhile, police say they believe they’ve caught the perpetrator of a recent string of car burglaries. A male juvenile has been arrested and charged on several counts, according to Lamar Peacock, interim chief of campus police.

Out of the 129 incidents reported from January through October, about a third took place in parking areas, involved a vehicle or both. According to the report, incidents are concentrated at four locations on campus: Kincannon Hall and its parking lot, Callaway Hall and its lot, Hogarth Student Center/ and the cafeteria, and Goen Hall and its lot, all at nine incidents each. Chief Peacock said that the majority of car thefts resulted after students left their car doors unlocked.

LIFESTYLES

It was the big day. With about 110 hungry people waiting, the kitchen of the Trotter Convention Center had become a battlefield of disaster. Salad dressings and employees were missing in action, and ovens weren’t working right, leaving chicken undercooked. The first-time caterer, Celsie Staggers watched the Annual Columbus Main Street Meeting fall apart.

Today, she looks back and laughs. Hundreds of successful events later she remembers her husband’s encouragement that terrible day: “You can’t let one bad thing stop you.”

OPINION

God means many things to many people, and maybe nothing to some. But for those who believe in him, there is one thing most agree he isn’t: hate.

For better or for worse, Barack Obama is going to be our president. He is taking over the position in one of the most divided and tumultuous times in our history, and it is hoped that he will change things for the better. Whether one blames the Bush administration or not is irrelevant at this point. One president is about to be replaced by another; this is the tradition and the law of our land as it has been since George Washington. It’s a wonderful moment for our country, no matter what side of the political spectrum a person sits on. It’s important because we all should hope the new leader will do everything he can for the betterment of all.

CAMPUS

For those of you wishing you could shed your Muggle chains and soar in the skies like your favorite student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, take note. A group of magically-minded individuals is taking steps to create a collegiate Quidditch team on the W campus.

“I first saw this on MTVu,” Julie Roach, senior chemistry major said. “Middlebury University started a Quidditch team and the idea quickly spread throughout the collegiate community. I mentioned the idea to friends and they supported the notion of starting a Quidditch club on campus.”