UNC Paper Says Frat Admits Swiping Thousands of Copies

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Members of a fraternity admitted Wednesday that they had stolen about 10,000 copies of The Daily Tar Heel newspaper from boxes across the University of North Carolina campus, the paper said in a story posted on its Web site and sent to WRAL.

Joseph Schwartz, the newspaper's editor-in-chief, told WRAL that he had learned from a third party that members of Sigma Chi had admitted to the theft. The fraternity planned to make a public apology, Schwartz said. The paper's story said the campus' chapter of the fraternity had agreed to reimburse the paper and the paper had agreed not to press charges.

The top story in Wednesday's edition of the paper dealt with a student board finding Sigma Chi guilty of hazing charges and suspending the frat until 2009.

Chapter president Doug Dyer said earlier in the day that the fraternity planned to appeal. He and others affiliated with the fraternity had declined to comment on the newspaper theft, however.

"We have a great chapter with a great group of guys," Dyer said.

UNC students said they knew Sigma Chi was behind the theft long before the fraternity owned up to it.

"No one else would have a motive to steal the paper," student Jonathon Seibert said.

"I just heard that guys went around and took copies early this morning before anyone could read it," student Christine Conner said.

"Everywhere I've been, people have pointed to one source -- Sigma Chi," Schwartz said.