Maroon

              The Maroon VOL. 82, NO. 5 grwgrewgrew MAROON.LOYNO.EDU ŵgewgewg Fake-bearded lady eludes authorities By Katie Ide Assistant news editor and Abby Roberts Contributing writer Administrators are re-evaluating on-campus safety procedures in the wake of an armed robbery early Monday. Two Sodexho Dining Service employees told University Police and New Orleans Police Department officials that they took the cash drawers with $400 from the C-Store out through the St. Charles Room and to the kitchen area in the back of the Danna Center to lock up the money just after 12:30 a.m. The victims, Terry Richardson and Barbara Spincer, said a woman wearing a fake beard and mustache entered the kitchen area with a gun and tear gas and took the night deposits. She ordered the employees to lie on the floor, then sprayed them with the tear gas and escaped. The victims said they left through the rear of the Danna Center and reported the robbery to University Police. They described the suspect as a 5-foot-4 black woman, weighing about 110 pounds. In addition to the fake beard and mustache, she wore a blue windbreaker, blue pants, blue baseball hat, a blue bandana and black shoes, the employees said. Chris Cameron, director of Student Activities and the Danna Center, said that the C-Store and the mall near it are full of security cameras. He noted that, while he's not an expert, it appears that the person was waiting for her "window of opportunity," when there would be no cameras or other ways of catching her. Cameron said that the Danna Center staff is "rethinking its  cash-handling procedures," especially because employees tend to follow a routine when handling money in departments. He also said that at certain times of the year, cash flow increases in certain departments, which might call for extra vigilance. Cameron said administrators plan to "beef up security," including more cameras, and perhaps changing the safes to a "lock-box" system, in which cashiers and workers would not have access to safes, as is done in many conventional convenience stores. But the most important issue at hand, according to Cameron, is to maintain the safety of students and employees after normal business hours. In spite of the robbery, biology/Spanish senior Joanna Czaicki said she feels safe living on campus. Czaicki, who lived off campus last year, said she moved on campus because the presence of other people makes her feel more secure. The periodic incidents that happen on campus do not scare her, because they happen "pretty much everywhere," she said. A Losing Bet: Casinos, cops fight underage gamblers By Grace Wilson Staff writer State troopers warn that even one offense can bring jail time Drama communications sophomore Matthew Simmons knows there's 1 nothing fun about a J fake ID. He was issued ■ a summons for underage ■ gambling by the Louisiana ■ State Police after beinf 9 caught in Harrah'; H casino. * "Don't use fake IDs," Simmons said. "They arc B|| no good. It's a loi Kg cheaper to just wait." |jjf Simmons was lucky K£ to receive only a ticket II and a fine. ||1 "Casinos are going toH start making examples out of underaged gamblers to send a message," saidW||g| State Police  Saunders Craine, of  Casino Gaming Unit. "You  go to jail." Minors who use another person's valid ID to gain entry are also putting their accomplices at risk. Craine said that if caught, both parties face fines and jail time. "The biggest misnomer is that officers will just catch you and send you along your way," State Police officer Robert Hodges said. "The consequences are much greater." Casinos have a financial interest in keeping youngsters off the gaming floor. If a minor is found in the casino, the business may be looking at a fine of at least $10,000. "There has been an abundance of underaged gambling recently," State Police officer Tony Graffeo said. "University is just starting, and there are incoming freshmen. a r r a h ' s paid V two large fines, ■ ind they are ■ going to a zero 'tolerance policy when it comes to underaged gambling." When someone is carded at the casino, the first takes a picture of the front and the jfWback of the ID. Next, the placard is swiped to determine |Hthe true birth date and date. §11 There is an ultraviolet ■ light to check for hidden state ■ symbols on the ID. ■ Doormen also have a f reference book with pictures and descriptions of all international and U.S. ID cards. "If there are any discrepancies, I will not let you in," said Emile Ramirez, customer safety officer for Harrah's. "If I let you in here (Harrah's), and you're underaged, I can lose my job." The casino is not legally responsible when a minor uses another person's valid ID to gain entry. But when minors are able to walk in without being carded, SGA booksale money vanishes By Lindsay Hilton Contributing writer More than $3,500 goes missing from safe; no signs of forced entry Nearly $3,500 was stolen from the Student Government Association safe sometime between the evening of Sept. 10 and the following morning, the officials said. According to SGA president and management senior Bea Forlano, there was no forced entry into the safe or into the room where the safe was kept. "Both were locked and closed when we came in," Forlano said. "We didn't even realize that [the money] was gone." So far there are no suspects, but University Police and New Orleans Police Department officials are working together to investigate the matter. Capt. Roger Pinac of University Police has said that his department does not set any policies for other departments within the university, such as a lockdown procedure. He did not give any information about the pending investigation. Director of Student Activities Chris Cameron said that the typical protocol for handling SGA money has always been to deposit it daily, Janel Glynn, accounting senior and SGA director of finance, said that on the day of the theft, she had prepared the cash for the deposit, run the tapes and was ready to drop off the money, but it was after 4:30 p.m., which is when the bursar's office no longer accepts deposits. Glynn said she carried the cash to the SGA safe and secured it. She said she also had a coworker double-check to make sure that the safe was locked. That was the last anyone saw of the money. The first step in a case like this, Cameron said, is providing information to the police and letting them do their job. "Just because it looks like the university police aren't doing their job doesn't mean they're not," he said. Cameron also said that administrators were reassessing SHE WAS THERE STAFF PHOTO BY KATIE KENNEDY Margaret Kennedy, video photographer for Voice of America, reads over notes before her talk in Nunemaker Hall on the Iraq war coverage. See story, page 3 See THEFT, Page 3 See GAMBLING, Page 3 j|p!!jp^ [ af ' , »«DD•• "'• " "*" Music biz students produce RUSTY shows -page 9- LOG on. FWD OUT Extra Web content available at maroon.loyno.edu , «... ... . . ■ The Maroon will not appear next week because of mid-term examinations. Publication will resume Oct. 10. ewgrewgrwhb