This spring, UNCW students Jessica Faulkner and Christen Naujoks were murdered by fellow students who lied on their admissions applications about their past criminal history. For the most part, the University community remained unaware of these students’ past criminal activities until they had committed murder.

 Currently, there is no mandatory criminal background check on incoming students in place at UNCW. UNCW, as well as other UNC campuses, rely on the honor system to evaluate the criminal history of applicants. This means that it is up to the applicant to state on their application if they have committed a crime.

In the aftermath of the murders of Faulkner and Naujoks, it has been suggested that the UNC system begin to conduct mandatory criminal background checks on all incoming students. Those who support this plan hope that it will decrease the chances of violence and murder on UNC campuses.

 There are some opponents to the idea of doing criminal background checks on all incoming students to the UNC system. Thomas Conway, a vice provost at N.C. State University, believes that it would be virtually impossible to conduct background checks on all incoming students to UNC campuses.

“What we’d probably end up doing is bogging down the system well beyond what the public would tolerate in terms of our admissions processes,” Conway said.

 Curtis Dixon, who is accused of murdering Faulkner in early May, failed to state on his admissions application that he had plead guilty to a charge of misdemeanor larceny in 2000. Dixon also did not state that he was enrolled in two other UNC institutions prior to applying for admission to UNCW. Dixon had been previously enrolled in UNC-Charlotte and the N.C. School of the Arts.

 John Peck, who was accused of murdering ex-girlfriend Naujoks in early June, lied on his admissions application as well. Peck did not state on his application that he had plead guilty to two felony charges and one misdemeanor charge of rape against an ex-girlfriend in 2001. Peck was initially charged with first-degree rape in the case. As punishment for his crimes, Peck was sentenced to 30 days in jail and placed on three years probation. He was also ordered to attend anger-management classes. After learning that Peck lied on his admission application about his past criminal convictions, UNCW suspended Peck effective May 27, 2004.

 According to police reports, Peck was violent and mentally unstable, resulting in Naujoks’ obtaining a protective order against Peck shortly before her death. Naujoks was assisted by the UNCW Police Department with concerns about personal safety. Naujoks’ mother also expressed concerns for her daughter’s safety to police.

“Christen explained that she had received harassing phone calls at her residence and John Peck had threatened to commit suicide,” said UNCW Chief of Police David Donaldson.  “Since her residence was located beyond the jurisdiction of the UNCW Police Department, she was encouraged to contact the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Department to file a report. She was also encouraged to save any messages she received and informed of the options of obtaining warrants and a protective order.”

 After the deaths of Faulkner and Naujoks, campus violence prevention task forces were put in place at UNCW and other UNC institutions.