Moeser will not label SUV attack

It's not up to UNC-Chapel Hill to declare last week's SUV attack on campus an act of terrorism, Chancellor James Moeser said Thursday, responding to criticism from some students.

"The fact is, this is not the university's call," Moeser said. "The U.S. attorney will determine whether or not this is an act of terrorism."

The chancellor spoke to reporters about last Friday's attack, in which a driver in a Jeep Cherokee sport utility vehicle barreled through a crowded campus plaza, injuring nine people.

Mohammed Taheri-azar, a 22-year-old UNC-CH graduate, has been charged with nine counts of attempted first-degree murder and nine counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury.

Taheri-azar told police that he meant to kill people to avenge the treatment of Muslims around the world.

The event shocked the campus and made national headlines. Earlier this week, a small group of conservative students protested the university administration's response at The Pit, where the attack occurred. They carried signs that said, "Call it what it is," and "Support love, condemn terror."

"The chancellor should be out here with us, to be frank," said Luke Farley, speaker of the Student Congress at UNC-CH, as he held a sign and an American flag.

Moeser said he understands students' feelings.

"I agree, this could feel like terrorism, especially if you're standing in front of a Jeep that's heading toward you trying to kill you," Moeser said. "As we have investigated this, we've come more and more to the conclusion that this was one individual acting alone in a criminal act."

Moeser said there had been no indication that Taheri-azar was dangerous or that he shouldn't have been admitted to the university. He was a good student. "He was totally a loner, introverted and into himself," Moeser said.

At the time of the attack, the chancellor was in Greensboro watching the UNC-CH women's basketball team in the ACC Tournament. He began to get e-mail messages and calls on his cell phone. He said he was briefed by campus police and student affairs administrators, then returned to campus after the game. He communicated with students and parents by e-mail messages.

Of the nine people hit by the SUV, none was admitted to the hospital.

On Thursday, university officials were considering adding more security posts to steer vehicles clear of pedestrian areas. These posts, called bollards, were in place when the attack occurred March 3 but not in the exact spot where the SUV entered the sidewalk area.

UNC-CH is installing posts there and might add others.

The campus will start to empty today as students leave for spring break. Moeser said he is more worried about the safety of students when they travel to the beach than when they're on campus.

"If there's a safe place in America, it's the University of North Carolina," he said.

When students return March 20, there will be a special celebration in The Pit organized by students. Seth Dearmin, student body president, said there will be a moment of silence, musical performances and an upbeat gathering. There also will be panel discussions and educational events later in the week.

"We're here to heal together and lean on each other," Dearmin said.

Moeser said the campus quickly recovered, with students making plans for spring break and excitement building about the men's ACC Tournament.

Monday's protest was evidence that The Pit was back to business as usual, Moeser said.

The chancellor said there is no point in people politicizing what was an unfortunate event.

"This is not a liberal/conservative issue," he said. "There are people out there who try to put everything in those categories. This defies that."