By: Members of a fraternity admitted stealing more than 10,000 copies of the student newspaper at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Wednesday, newspaper officials said.
The lead story in The Daily Tar Heel detailed the recent campus suspension until 2009 of the Sigma Chi fraternity, which was found guilty of hazing violations by the university's Greek Judicial Board. The papers, about half of the 20,000 printed, were stolen from about 50 racks on and around campus, said Joseph Schwartz, the paper's editor in chief.
"Our papers are usually out by 7 a.m., but by 7:45 we noticed the papers weren't there. At that point we knew something had gone awry," Schwartz said. "We had our suspicions."
Several fraternity members came forward after the paper posted a notice on its Web site that it would pursue criminal charges. One copy of the newspaper is free, but a disclaimer inside states that additional copies cost 25 cents a piece.
"They didn't realize that their actions weren't only irrational and immoral, but also criminal," Schwartz said.
The fraternity chapter's president and vice president apologized to editors Wednesday and spoke with the paper's reporters, he said.
The fraternity also agreed to pay the newspaper "a four-figure settlement for restitution," Schwartz said, declining to be more specific. "We were able to reach an agreement was mutually beneficial."
The newspaper will not press criminal charges.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here