11 —m^m—^-m ■ I -^■JV- James Madison Uniwasity MONDAY JANUARY 25,1993 \JOL 70, NO. 29 Dorms may get electronic lock system by Colleen Farrell contributing writer A $500,000 electronic security system that would lock dorms 24 hours a day is being planned for JMU's residence halls, according to the director of Office of Residence Life. Jim McConncl said JMU plans to implement a 24- hour electronic locking system in some dorms next fall if the budget for the system is approved by the administration and provided for in the university's budget. If the budget isn't approved, McConnel said the money may have to be allocated from reserve funds that the university sets aside for various needs, and that getting the money depends on what other requests have been made. The system would lock all entrances to residence halls, and card readers would be installed at the main door of each building. Students would still have access to their individual rooms with keys. Residents could unlock the main doors by sliding their JAC cards through the reader and punching in a personal CRAIG NEWMAN/THE BREEZE identification number, McConnel said. The initial reader hookup for the system would Caution cost $3,000 per hall. Plus, many doors need replacing, and depending on those, the additional Harrisonburg resident Frank P. Hurst was charged with failure to obey a traffic costs then range from $ 1,000 to $3,000 per door. signaller Friday after his vehicle was struck by an oncoming train at the railroad Many students have complained about the locks on the front doors are easily and frequently broken. crossing on Grace Street near Y-lot. Apparently he disregarded the railroad employee cautioning him to stop and continued across the tracks. LOCKS page 2 INSIDE Anti-death penalty group explores I Slimming down for spring break options for abolishing law in Virginia Be aware of quick-fix diets and crash workout by Shauna Miller reported. programs/11 staff writer About 20 VASK members and volunteers, including an implementer of the Listen Project in Get the picture A new strategy to abolish the state death penalty North Carolina, were on hand to discuss immediate See what's by 1998 was discussed by the abolitionist group implementation of the Rural Southern Voice for happening in gallery Virginians Against State Killing on Saturday In the Peace Listening Project that would change the way art at JMU/14 Warren Campus Center, Tidewater Room. legislators reflect public opinion in their voting "The penalty is merely a symbol of the fight patterns. Dukes smash against crime," University of Virginia sophomore To put the Listening Project, currenUy used in Derek Baxter said during the informal roundtable Louisiana, Tennessee and North Carolina, into the Spiders discussion. "There is always the possibility of action, death penalty activists take questionnaires to The JMU men's basketball team moved to legislative change because of that." state officials that ask them about their concerns on 5-0 in the CAA with a 90-70 win over The group hopes their growing numbers will the death penalty. Richmond/21 activate a more vocal public response to Virginia's The questionnaire is also used to identify the capital punishment legislation. views of community leaders. Those leaders against INDEX A 1989 poll conducted by Virginia the penalty are asked to write their legislators. Campus 3 Arts 14 Commonwealth University showed that 27 percent VASK members think that the show of concern World 7 Sports 21 of Virginians were in favor of the electric chair. will encourage the General Assembly to pass a bill FocusOn 11 Humor 25 But the other 73 percent rarely acted to show their that would create a subcommittee to review capital Opinion 12 Classifieds 27 opposition as they searched for alternatives, the poll VASKpag«2 |> • 2 -THE BREEZE MONDAY, JANUARY 25,1993 Locks CONTINUED/rom page I While researching the viability of card access." because they don't want to use their McConnel said broken locks is one of installing electronic security systems If a student loses the card, and keys." the main reasons behind a new at JMU, McConnel found that the subsequently access to the dorm room Allison Fraser, a freshman Hillside system. University of Delaware and the and meals, McConnel said he would resident, is looking forward to the new McConnel said that ORL would University of Richmond have like to set up temporary cards that system. "I think the electronic system like to implement the electronic card electronic locking systems. would allow students access to their will benefit us more because it will be system to a few residence halls next Bethany Raymond, area building until a new card is made. less of an inconvenience." year. If implemented next year, most coordinator of residence halls at JMU freshmen had mixed reactions Some students said next year's freshmen residence halls will be Richmond, said many students said about the proposed system. freshmen will be at an advantage, locked electronically including Eagle, they feel they are being locked in their "Although some students are despite the inconvenience. White, Weaver, Garber, Dingledine, dorms. content with the locks," Amy Zeafla, "I'm sorry they didn't do this Huffmar, Hillside, McGraw-Long and "As with any change, there will be president of Inter-Hall Council, said, sooner," said Michele Julian, a Wine-Puce halls, he said. If people against it," Raymond said, "but "many have complained that they're a sophomore who has never lived in a successful, the electronic locks will in a few years, students won't even waste of money because they're so 24-hour locked dorm, "I would have eventually be installed in all dorms. realize that at one time there was no easy to break. Students break the locks felt a lot safer living on campus." VASK COHTIHUED from page 1 penalty." Colvin attended the VASK meeting after taking an interest in case trial and appeals procedures. decisions. "I learned about the Public opinion concerning the death injustice involved in death penally penalty before the introduction of cases and wanted to be involved in its bills that would expand the types of abolition." death-eligible murders and replace the Rebecca Edwards, a graduate electric chair with lethal injection student at UVa, said the direct contact could also be helpful, VASK member with legislators is the strongest point Meg West said. of the project. "Our focus is very "We were told that if at least three legislative," she said. "We feel like constituents write to a legislator about three to five years is a reasonable time the death penalty, the legislator takes to put an end to the death penalty note," West said. "Can you imagine if because it will give us the chance to a lot of people wrote?" let legislators know that most of the Grant thinks the tactic has potential public is not in favor of it." in Virginia. "The Listening Project Bridgewater resident Stanley Wine has been used regionally, nationally said his letter writing to death row and internationally. No matter where inmates showed that public service the project is used, leaders are options might work. "These inmates encouraged to interact with their could have training. Their letters show constituents in a manner that is rarely that they are still very much human. used and that is what makes it Some of them have kids. I don't know effective." why prisons can't be made more VASK spokesman Henry Heller is productive so that they can give back confident that the project will to the people they've hurt." strengthen the group's effort to Heller said that last week's Virginia abolish the death penalty. execution of the nation's first acutely "We're being optimistic, and we disabled inmate indicated a weak know it's not going to be overnight," point in legislation. the Nelson County resident said. "This man received several appeals "The project makes it possible for but the governor decided to go ahead us to keep the discussion going with the execution because he thought between the legislators and the people. he was a threat to society," Heller It shows them that we are willing to said. "The man was no threat to hear what they have to say on the society by any means. He couldn't issue, and at the same time it allows us hang up a phone after talking to some to influence their final stand if they relatives." are not strongly supportive of the "Many people are not pleased with death penalty." the inconsistency of the 21-day rule JMU junior Tia Colvin agreed that used in the Roger Coleman case, and JOSHUA SEELY/THE BREEZE the project could influence bill we need to act now through the From left, Henry Heller, one of the founding members of VASK, passage "by informing the general Listening Project to make sure that no participated in the anti-death penalty workshop last weekend at public and legislators about the death more innocent people are killed." JMU with volunteer Terry McCaffrey. "To the press alone, chequered as it is with abuses, the world is indebted for all the triumphs which have been gained by reason and humanity over error and oppression." James Madison Rutted 19Z2 Jams MrfonLHwasy cciUor Christy Mumford managing-editor Gavto Cohen news editor Kate McFadden artseditor Dorma Ragsdale photo editor Mfce Heffner business manager Travs Anderson news editor Michael Keatts asst arts editor Vlnce Rhodes asst. photo editor Ryan Ketchum asst. business manager Lee Ray focus on editor Heather E.