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(11/21/06 5:00am)
The University has been lagging behind its peer institutions during the past five years when it comes to national academy membership.
Officials noted that fact during last week's Board of Trustee's meeting when they presented members with an annual report comparing UNC to its peers in a number of areas.
The report, which used the number of faculty members elected to national academies as one such benchmark, reflected this trend.
Chairman of the Faculty Joe Templeton said he thinks the discrepancy can be explained by UNC's lack of an engineering school, as well as its hiring practices.
"I think if you look at these peer institutions, you'll find that a lot of them do have an engineering school,"
he said.
Out of the 10 peer institutions used for comparison - including the University of California at Los Angeles and the University of Virginia - every school has an engineering program.
The National Academies comprise the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council.
Faculty must be elected by academy members to earn such a distinction. The National Academy of Sciences, the largest of the three, has 2,000 members.
Templeton said UNC has fewer members than its peers because it has younger faculty and does not recruit those at the tail of their career who already hold such honors.
"There are two ways to have faculty on national academies," he said. "One is to wait until they're elected and then hire them.
Well-endowed private schools, often take that route, he said.
UNC favors a different approach.
"You can hire young people with tremendous promise and potential, nurture them and then counter-recruit them like hell when other universities come calling," said Templeton, former chairman of the chemistry department.
He noted that the department has five faculty members who began their careers at UNC and are members of national academies.
Physics and Astronomy Chairwoman Laurie McNeil also noted the importance of promising young faculty.
"We don't have any (elected faculty) right now, but we do have some people in this department who will be in the future," she said. "We have some rising young stars."
Executive Associate Provost Steve Allred said he thinks UNC must support faculty research to foster young talent.
"We need to continue to support the research of faculty and give them the means to excel, and this will increase their chances of being selected," he said.
Once faculty are elected, the task becomes keeping them, said Holden Thorp, chairman of the chemistry department.
"We try to make sure they have the resources they need to be successful and that we're compensating them competitively," he said. "It's also important that they're part of a department that's moving forward."
Templeton said election to these academies requires the faculty member to have dramatically impacted his or her field.
"In the sciences, election to a national academy is realistically the highest goal that faculty can set for their careers," he said. "There are Nobel Prizes, but that's really it."
"These are faculty who are making a difference not only at UNC, but also nationally and internationally. We need these towers of excellence."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(11/14/06 5:00am)
A recent E. coli outbreak might have infected only seven students and two community members, but its impact has affected the eating habits of countless more students.
Several students said they are hesitant to return to McAlister's Deli, which is being investigated by the Orange County Health Department as a possible source of the outbreak.
"I think it's very serious," said Mordechai DeLuca, a junior from Charlotte majoring in political science and history. "Everyone I've talked to on campus said they'll never go there again."
But Donna King, the health department's public information director, said the outbreak might not be the result of unsafe practices.
"This particular situation could happen to any restaurant at any time," said King, who said it can be difficult to trace the source of foods purchased by restaurants and then served to customers.
She said the health department is conducting food history surveys to identify the outbreak's source.
Other students said they were hesitant to return to the deli but would after time passes.
"I think I will return there, but it might be a little time before I go back," said Walker Howson, a graduate student in the School of Information and Library Science, who hasn't been back to McAlister's since learning about the outbreak. "It's a little unappetizing."
Mary Covington, associate vice chancellor for campus health services, said she thinks UNC's efforts to be transparent have resulted in a low number of calls from parents.
"We've tried to keep them in the loop," she said. "The informational e-mail we sent out also went to the Parents Office to distribute."
Covington said the University dealt with a similar situation in 2004 when the health department linked a norovirus outbreak to the salad bar at Top of Lenoir.
Mike Freeman, director of auxiliary services, said he noticed a slight decrease in students dining at Top of Lenoir immediately after the outbreak.
"There was a change for maybe a day or two but nothing really huge," he said.
Freeman said that the incident sparked minor changes, such as the addition of hand-sanitizer dispensers, but that food preparation processes remained largely the same.
"We were a little bit more watchful, but it's not that the food was prepared wrong," said Freeman. "There were a lot of people who ate there who didn't get sick."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(10/24/06 4:00am)
The day after news spread that football head coach John Bunting's time is up, Monday morning quarterbacks were out in full force.
Many students and alumni who weighed in Monday supported the decision and said it shouldn't come as a surprise, while others questioned both the need for the move and its timing.
"I just knew it was coming," said Emily Faircloth, a sophomore from Wake Forest majoring in health policy and administration.
"He's a coach for the ACC, so he has to win games," she said. "If he doesn't, he's going to get fired."
Bunting, 25-42 at UNC as head coach, has led his players to only one win this season against Division I-AA Furman.
Faircloth, who regularly attends football games with her family, said this season has not been as enjoyable for her as years past.
"If we're losing really badly by halftime, we usually go back out and tailgate," she said with a laugh.
Alumnus Bill Jordan, a member of the executive committee of the Rams Club, said he's been a Bunting supporter but that the coach didn't get the needed results.
"He had not done what he wanted to do and what we wanted him to do," he said. "We need to go in a different direction."
Some agreed but questioned why the direction needs to be traveled now.
Hollie Edwards, a junior biology major from Raleigh, said she wished Bunting had been fired either before the season's start or upon its completion.
"In terms of the players and students, it's kind of like we've already given up," said Edwards, who finds it harder to sit through games this year.
"Now, we're just waiting for the season to end," she added. "I feel like we might not try as hard as we could have."
Others said Bunting couldn't leave soon enough.
"I think it's about time he left," said Nathan Powell, a sophomore psychology major from Raleigh, when told of the decision.
"In the long run it'll be a good decision - just maybe not for the rest of the season," he said. "But we probably weren't going to do well the rest of the season anyway."
Chris Menjivar, a senior political science major from Long Island, N.Y., also said he is glad to see Bunting go.
"It's a good thing," he said. "The direction of the program has been going down, and he hasn't had a winning season since his first year.
"You've gotta do what's best for the program."
But alumnus Ted Kerner, who graduated from the School of Medicine in 1985 and attended UNC as an undergraduate, said there's more to a successful football team than a winning record.
"I support the program regardless of the win-loss record," he said. "I think it's unfortunate when the success of a program is measured only by the number of wins."
Though some have questioned why Bunting's performance is poor enough to warrant firing yet good enough to allow him to complete the season, Jordan doesn't think the lame duck status will have an impact.
"I hope it'll be a positive effect," he said. "I don't think it's possible for the team to be any more lackluster than they were the last three games."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(10/17/06 4:00am)
Students who are still unsure if they really want to be in that 9 a.m. section of "Introduction to Economics" have until 5 p.m. today to decide.
This year's deadline is two weeks later than previous semesters, and University officials said numerous factors influenced the decision to move the drop deadline to eight weeks into the semester from six weeks.
Bobbi Owen, senior associate dean for undergraduate education, said she hopes students now will be able to make better-informed decisions on whether to drop a course.
"I hope that students can make better decisions by having more information about their progress in all of their courses," Owen said.
Owen said she realizes students often do not have enough grades, if any, to make an informed decision about dropping a course after just more than a third of the 16-week sememster.
"Six weeks in, not many faculty have given exams, much less turned them back graded," she said.
Barbara Stenross, assistant dean for academic advising, said students often wait to find out their test grades before coming to academic advising to drop a course.
"There's always an increase toward the end of the drop period because students are waiting to get grades back," Stenross said.
Stenross said numerous advisers will hold walk-in hours today to assist students who wish to drop a course.
Despite the delayed deadline, Owen said she does not expect the two-week extension to significantly increase the number of drops.
"I'll be really surprised if there are more overall drops this year than a year ago," she said. "Students still need 12 hours a semester."
Numerous students said Monday that they were pleased with the new deadline.
"I think it's great," said Sarah Norris, a junior biology major from Wilson.
"The six weeks are good if you have a grade in the class, but it's really hard if there's only a midterm and a final," she said. "If you get a bad grade on the midterm, you can't drop it."
Lauren Bruton, a junior psychology major from Rocky Mount, said she is considering taking advantage of the new drop deadline.
Bruton said she is considering dropping her APPLES Service-Learning course because she is unsure whether she will be able to complete the required service hours.
APPLES is a service-learning program that introduces students to service opportunities in the surrounding community as well as offers classes.
"I have to get 30 hours, and it's already halfway through the semester," she said.
Undergraduate and graduate students who wish to take a class pass/D+/D/fail also must submit those declarations by 5 p.m. today.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(09/19/06 4:00am)
Alpine Bagel isn't the only place inside the Student Union with lines anymore.
The temporary closing of the Wachovia in the Josephus A. Daniels Building, which also houses Student Stores, has displaced both the bank's ATM and its representatives. An ATM now serves students inside the Pit-level doors of the Student Union.
Wachovia officials said the branch is slated to reopen in January in time for the beginning of the spring semester.
Officials said the branch's Aug. 29th closure was a result of the construction plan for Student Stores.
"The final phase of construction was to work on the main level of the bookstore, and as a result we had to close the branch," said Temple Richardson, Wachovia's campus card relationship manager.
Richardson said Wachovia officials don't plan any major changes for the reopening.
"It will resemble what was there before, but we're going to try to utilize the space better," she said.
"There might be some new fixtures," she added, "but the ATM will be there, and there will be a banker."
To assist students until the reopening, Wachovia officials remain available for students' banking needs.
"The representatives have temporarily relocated to the One Card office," Richardson said.
Students can seek assistance there from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday for general banking concerns.
The One Card office is located on the lower level of Student Stores off of South Road.
"We're trying to be as convenient as we can for students who want to link their One Card to their Wachovia account," she said.
Students waiting to use the ATM during the noon rush expressed mixed reactions to the relocation.
Crystal Essex, a junior from Marion, Ala., majoring in information science and communication studies, said the branch's closure forced her to change her banking habits.
"It's a little inconvenient because I used to go there for deposits and withdrawals and credit-card issues," she said. "Now, I'll go up to Franklin Street."
Others waiting to withdraw money Monday said the lines seemed about the same as when the ATM was located in the Pit.
"I think it's definitely less convenient because you have to go inside," said Kendra Wiggins, a junior English major from Chocowinity.
"It seems like the lines are longer because there's less space, but I think they've been about the same."
Tia Willoughby, a 2004 graduate who was on campus visiting a friend, said she had no problem with the ATM's new location.
"It seemed easy enough to find, and it seems like the lines are about the same as it used to be when they were out there."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(09/12/06 4:00am)
The John William Pope Foundation's announcement Thursday that it will donate $2.3 million to the University ended two years of controversy regarding faculty control of curriculum changes.
The foundation will give $100,000 per year to UNC's football program from a $2 million endowment. An additional $100,000 a year for three years will fund fellowship opportunities for undergraduates studying Western cultures.
The announcement came after a struggle that saw faculty come together to oppose the donation process and the Pope Foundation throw out revised proposals. The foundation funds the Pope Center for Higher Education Policy, a conservative policy think tank.
Andrew Perrin, professor of sociology and a leading opponent of the Western studies curriculum, said he considers the foundation's decision a victory for the faculty.
"We managed to protect the curriculum," Perrin said.
Perrin said he believes losing money originally earmarked for academics was worth maintaining faculty control.
"The best outcome would have been to receive money for the University to pursue honest, intellectual goals," he said. "The Pope Center made it clear they weren't interested in that.
Art Pope, head of the Pope Foundation, could not be reached for comment.
Faculty chairman Joe Templeton said he does not think the negotiations will have any impact on future donations. "When I was chair of the chemistry department, most of the donations reflected decades of work," he said.
Perrin said he hopes the foundation's decision will send a message to potential donors. "We welcome donations from anyone who wants to support an intellectually honest curriculum and wants to maintain the honesty and the integrity of the University," he said.
Scott Ragland, director of development communications, said the foundation's donation still greatly benefits UNC's development goals.
The foundation's gift counts toward the Carolina First campaign's ultimate goal of $2 billion, he said.
The offerings in Western studies also will provide funding for 10 students to conduct summer research and five students to study abroad. The gift will fund a visiting scholar with expertise in Western studies several times each year.
The announcement came less than a month after the death of John Pope, a former University trustee and philanthropist for and the foundation's namesake. Pope donated almost $468,000 to UNC during the past two decades, excluding athletic donations.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(08/29/06 4:00am)
Aylim Castro already has earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University, but she spent the last few weeks learning an entirely new curriculum.
Castro, a new adviser for the General College who will work with first-year students, said the advisers' training prepared them well for meeting with freshmen facing new undergraduate course requirements.
"It's been crazy, but everyone on the staff is extremely capable and is doing their best," she said.
Castro is one of five new advisers hired this summer to work with first-year students, said Carolyn Cannon, associate dean of academic services.
"Our new staff has been trained in the new curriculum, and that is the only curriculum they have been trained in," she said.
She said new advisers shadowed senior advisers last week to see the kinds of questions students might have.
"They will continue their training for the rest of the year," said Cannon.
The General College and College of Arts and Sciences now fields 57 advisers.
Student government officials said that the additions will help improve students' experiences but that further changes still are needed.
Adding advisers is just the first step, Student Body President James Allred said. "We're still well below what our ideal situation would be."
Students' past concerns prompted Allred to promise changes during his campaign. He said a task force will convene this fall to explore issues related to advising.
"We want to explore what exactly an adviser needs to do," he said. "Students can then have an idea of what to expect when they go into Steele Building."
He also said he hopes to continue to work with University officials to introduce long-term changes and secure additional funding for advising services.
Shannon Miller, a freshman from Raleigh, said she thought the increased staff did little to alleviate the beginning semester rush.
"It was pretty crowded when I went," she said. "It might help to offer more opinions."
Sophomore Kieran Windley, a communication studies major, also said the new advisers could offer a better range of feedback.
"I think it could help with a better variety of more choices," she said. "And so you don't get stuck with just one adviser."
Several upperclassmen said they also think changes are necessary.
Senior Faye Santacroce, an exercise and sport science major, said more meeting time with advisers would benefit students.
"I mean, a five-minute discussion - is that really advising?" she asked.
Santacroce said the current system forces students to take control of their interactions with advisers. "You have to seek out advice, and you have to be proactive."
Matt Jackson, a senior history major from Mount Olive, said he had a mixed experience with advising when he was a freshman.
"It's been kind of hit-or-miss, especially my first year," he said.
But Jackson said he saw improvements when he was assigned a departmental adviser.
"Since I declared a major it's been a lot better."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(08/22/06 4:00am)
Nothing makes freshmen trade South Campus for South Road like the lure of free food.
A mix of musical acts, raffles, games and, yes, free samples, drew waves of students to the annual Fall Fest celebration Sunday night.
For both incoming and returning students, the festivities provided an opportunity to explore the array of organizations and activities available to the University community.
More than 200 student organizations recruited members and distributed handouts from 9 p.m. until 2 a.m., said Jon Curtis, assistant director for student activities and organizations.
Freshmen and upperclassmen said they hoped the evening would help them become more involved.
"It's great because rather than inviting you to interest meetings that you may not have time for, you just get to scan through and get a taste of everything," said Jason Gonzalez, a freshman from Gastonia studying philosophy and biology.
"It's a great way to jump-start my freshman year," he added.
Michael Smith, who performed with the Marching Tar Heels, also said Fall Fest was beneficial.
"I'm a freshman, so the best part is just that everyone is here," he said. "I've never seen this many people in one place before. It's a great way to find out about all the different clubs and organizations."
The evening was a chance for local businesses to showcase their offerings to new potential customers.
"I think it's a great opportunity for incoming freshmen to experience Panera," said Kristen DeMeglio, Panera Bread's catering coordinator. "It's a chance for us to get our name out there, especially since we're off campus."
She said Panera had students' needs in mind when deciding what to offer at Fall Fest. "We have lots of coupons - we know what it's like to be a poor college student."
Ira Simon, director of food and vending services, echoed the importance of reaching out to students.
"Carolina Dining Services, as well as other vendors, like Aramark and Pepsi and Alpine Bagel, are all here because it's a great opportunity to give back to students and also to market to students," he said.
Simon said dining services passed out 3,600 barbecue sandwiches and 5,000 water bottles.
Relay For Life was another organization enticing students with handouts. "We gave away all of our T-shirts, but we've still got hats, candies, all kinds of stuff," said Emily Bagley, Relay's event co-chairwoman.
"The response has been great so far," Bagley said, noting that between 300 and 400 students joined the group's listserv by the close of Fall Fest.
Curtis said the event continues to be a success year after year. "I think it's just an amazing, rockin' event," he said.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(04/27/06 4:00am)
Students who obsess about the birth dates on their drivers licenses were asked Tuesday to consider one of the card's less prominent features.
Members of a campus organization called Life Takes Guts urged students to think about the small red hearts - found on North Carolina drivers licenses - that designate the carriers as organ donors.
In honor of National Donate Life Month, the group signed up more than 260 student donors in the Pit.
Lynda Yang, president-elect of Life Takes Guts, said event organizers aimed to increase student commitment to organ donation and to clear up donating misconceptions.
"Having it on your license isn't enough in North Carolina," Yang said. "You have to sign an organ donor card, and you should tell your family."
If a person doesn't have a donor card but has a license indicating that preference, consent from kin is still necessary, said Leesha Austin, community relations coordinator for Carolina Donor Services.
"We never want a family to be in a situation where they've just lost a loved one and don't know their wishes," she added.
Austin said students can take steps to ensure their donor status.
"We encourage people to do three things," she said. "No. 1, put the heart on your drivers license. No. 2, sign and carry the donor card. It's legally accepted in all 50 states. We encourage people to carry it behind their license. No. 3, tell your family."
Organizers said that organ donation can be a hard topic to address but that students are often more willing than others to discuss it.
"They're so open-minded," Austin said.
Yang said continually increasing the number of registered donors is important because more than 90,000 Americans need organs.
Junior Roshni Chengappa said she signed up because of the number of patients waiting for organs.
"So many people are in need of transplants," she said. "I think it's important that people take the time to fill out cards."
Other students said their decision to participate was influenced by the group's prominent location.
"I heard that just having a heart on my license isn't enough," said senior Derek Lundberg. "It's so convenient here in the Pit, so I decided to come over and sign up."
Austin said she hopes the event raised students' awareness about the importance of organ donation.
"We're just encouraging everybody to get the facts, make an informed decision and share their wishes with their family," she said.
Contact the News Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(04/25/06 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>UNC faculty once again are criticizing the University for its connections to the John William Pope Foundation and are urging the administration to sever ties with the conservative policy think tank.
A resolution to reject the foundation's funding for a Western culture curriculum was presented to the faculty Friday by Andrew Perrin, a professor of sociology.
Faculty members have raised concerns that the involvement of the organization, which funds the Pope Center for Higher Education Policy, could threaten the University's autonomy.
"I hope the University stops negotiations with the Pope Foundation," Perrin said. "These negotiations are already suspect enough that they ought to be dropped."
"We're obviously not against funding," he continued. "But funding and outside institutions should not be dictating curriculum."
The resolution objects to a modified proposal released Friday from the College of Arts and Sciences, which requests about $5 million in funding during the next six years for undergraduate classes and opportunities to study Western cultures.
The money would fund undergraduate summer fellowships, as well as study abroad programs.
The foundation considered a proposal in April 2005 to fund a minor in Western culture studies but found it too incomplete to accept.
The foundation's head, Art Pope, said he received a copy of the proposal but did not yet have a comment.
Despite the changes, Perrin said he still did not approve of the proposal.
"My sense is that it doesn't make a whole lot of a difference," he said. "It's still an attempt by the Pope Foundation to interject a political standpoint into undergraduate teaching, and that's inappropriate."
Faculty members have criticized the University administration for not being responsive to their concerns about the foundation.
Judith Wegner, departing chairwoman of the faculty, said the resolution goes too far in its criticism of the administration.
"I think parts of it are slightly incorrect," said Wegner, who noted that a date to vote on the resolution has not been set. "I think it's slightly insulting to the chancellor, provost and the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences."
In response to concerns about the initial proposal, a faculty task force worked to develop guidelines on donation and curriculum development.
But Perrin said he did not see the guidelines, which call for a faculty appeals process, implemented in the new proposal.
"It hasn't affected it," he said. "In particular, when the funder is as suspect as the Pope Foundation is, we need to make sure that the process is faculty-initiated and faculty-driven - and that's not happening."
But Wegner said the guidelines were not finalized before the proposal's creation. "The complaint here is that a proposal submitted in February did not adhere to guidelines submitted in April," she said.
Despite faculty members' concerns with the proposal, administrators say outside funding is essential to University growth.
"Faculty should always be free to develop ideas," said Steve Allred, executive associate provost. "If those ideas need outside funding, then we should seek that funding."
He added that concern about outside funding is a natural part of the process.
"There are people who don't like having Wachovia's name in the Dean Dome," Allred said.
"What's important is that the faculty here decide the curriculum, the courses they're going to teach," he said. "This was a faculty-generated proposal."
UNC faculty v. Pope Foundation, Part II
What is the Pope Foundation? The organization that funds the Pope Center for Higher Education Policy, a conservative think tank that has an office on Franklin Street and has been critical of some University faculty and courses.
Why is the foundation controversial?
The group has been openly critical of many of the University's policy decisions, decrying them as liberal.
What does the "Studies in Western Cultures" proposal entail?
The new proposal, submitted by the College of Arts and Sciences last week, would fund the expansion of Western cultures programs already in existence - such as first-year seminars, study abroad programs and undergraduate research fellowships.
Totals requested for each program in the proposal:
(04/20/06 4:00am)
Students lined up Wednesday in front of Wilson Library to take aim at members of the Greek community - but Greeks say they had an aim of their own.
Pi Lambda Phi member Tom Lilly said he braved the waters of Greek Week's "Dunk a Greek" booth to help bridge the divide between fraternity and sorority members and unaffiliated students.
"It helps break down barriers because a lot of times, Greeks are considered to be arrogant, and we put ourselves on a pedestal above everyone else," he said.
"We want to show that we are just like any other college kids," he added. "We like to have fun."
Lilly also cited support of a good cause as a reason for his participation.
The event raised more than $130, organizers said Wednesday afternoon.
Anyone who wanted to take a shot at a Greek was asked for a donation. All of the proceeds from this and other Greek Week events benefit the Student Health Action Coalition - a student-run organization that provides free
health and social services to the local community.
SHAC runs a free clinic Wednesday nights at the Carrboro Health Center on Lloyd Street.
"All of the proceeds go to SHAC, which provides medical care to disadvantaged members of the community," Lilly said.
Upcoming Greek Week events include a restaurant night tonight on Franklin Street and a cookout Saturday at Fraternity Court.
Organizers said they hoped the booth's Polk Place location helped raise awareness of their efforts.
"I think the point is really just to have the booth in a prominent place so that everyone can see where the money is going," said Megan Shaw, a graduate assistant in the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life.
Gus Wilde, a Pi Lambda Phi member who volunteered to be dunked, said benefiting SHAC was one of the reasons that he agreed to participate.
"First of all, it was supposed to be warm today," he said. "Second, it's for a good cause. I like giving back as much as I can, and this is one way to do that."
Student Attorney General Candace Debnam, a member of Alpha Delta Pi, said she hoped the booth would remind the greater University community of the positive aspects of Greek life.
"People forget that people involved in Greek organizations are also leaders on campus," said Debnam, who was dunked several times.
"I think by it being a public space and it being open to everyone, it helps to raise awareness," she added. "There's more to Greek life than just parties."
Lilly, who sat in the booth for almost 90 minutes, said he thought the dunking booth revealed Greeks' commitment to service. "We try to benefit the community just like any other part of campus," he said.
But not all who took part in the dunking booth had such lofty goals.
Rishi Kumar, a sophomore member of Pi Lambda Phi, took aim at Lilly, his fraternity brother.
"I don't really like the look of his face," he said with a laugh.
Contact the News Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(04/18/06 4:00am)
When it comes to knowledge of the University's fraternities and sororities, many nonaffiliated students find themselves saying, "It's all Greek to me."
Organizers of Greek Week, which kicked off Monday, said they hope to raise awareness of the positive aspects of Greek life.
"It's really hard to know that people think things that aren't true," said Alyssa Mackenzie, co-director of Greek Week and a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma. "I really hate the stereotype that we're self-absorbed, because it's not true."
(04/13/06 4:00am)
For many University students, the Passover seder at N.C. Hillel was too good to pass up.
About 250 students and community members gathered at Hillel's annual Passover seder Wednesday evening to celebrate the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.
Numerous rituals compose the seder, including readings from the Haggadah. The name of the text means "the telling" and describes the Exodus story.
"For me, it's just a great congregation and community," said Leia Charnin, a junior from Charlotte. "It's kind of the place to be in Chapel Hill for Passover."
Brooks Jaffa, a freshman from Charlotte, found himself at Hillel for the sense of community that he grown up with.
"I've always had fond memories of the seder growing up, and I can't go home this year," he said.
Ricky Green, a freshman from Durham who attends UNC-Greensboro, drove to Hillel's seder with several other Greensboro students. "I didn't have anywhere else to go," he said.
"Out of every other holiday, Passover is my favorite," he added. "I just love the symbolism that goes with it."
Passover is the most widely observed ritual by Jews, said Or Mars, executive director of Hillel.
"If people don't do anything the rest of the year, there's a good chance they'll go to a seder," he said.
Mars said the seder is essentially a learning experience.
"The whole idea of the seder is not so much to know it as it is to be taught it," he added.
Part of the seder's teaching is exemplified by the Four Questions, one of the first rituals of the evening.
Usually asked by a child, the questions yield responses that explain how the evening's rituals make it different from all other nights.
Starting on Passover, Jews also face dietary restrictions: They cannot eat bread products with leavening in them for eight days and instead eat matzoh.
"The thinking behind it is that as the Israelites were being chased, they didn't have enough time to let their bread rise," Mars said.
The restriction can pose a problem for students, who said they often have to get creative with their meal plans.
"It's going to be harder to follow at school where we have a cafeteria, which doesn't adhere to these rules," said Alison Linas, a freshman from Richmond, Va.
Rachel Goldhaber, a freshman from Raleigh, also said the rules will be difficult to follow.
"We're freshmen," she said emphatically. "All you eat is really carbohydrates - and you can't have bread or pizza."
Mars reminded those in attendance of other obligations as well.
"At this time, as we celebrate our freedom, it means nothing if we don't help other people's freedom," he said.
"As Jews, we have not only a moral obligation, but a historic obligation."
Contact the News Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(04/10/06 4:00am)
It's been nine months and counting, but students and faculty at the School of Law still don't know when new leadership will be in place.
The school has been without a permanent dean since Gene Nichol stepped down July 1 to become the president of the College of William and Mary, and it soon will be without its interim dean.
And the law school isn't the only academic division at UNC that is stuck in transition.
The School of Journalism and Mass Communication recently named Jean Folkerts as dean - ending a 16-month search process - and the Department of Romance Languages is searching for a permanent leader.
Schools and departments without a permanent director can lose an important source of vision and planning, as well as fundraising capabilities, officials say.
"When you have a dean leave, inevitably there will be a drop off (in fundraising)," said Faculty Chairwoman Judith Wegner, a professor of law and Daily Tar Heel guest columnist. "The folks who plan events might hold off the splashy events until a new dean is named."
"It's just the nature of the process," she added.
"I think if you don't have a dean for more than a year, it can be bad," departing Provost Robert Shelton said. "However, it depends on the individual. For instance, (interim journalism Dean) Tom Bowers had been the senior associate for 20-plus years."
Students in the law school also cited the importance of a dean in maintaining long-term vision.
"No interim is going to put a long-term project into place, but no project that Dean Nichol put into place has been stopped," said Jacqlene Nance, president of the Student Bar Association and a third-year law student.
"We actually have a pretty good interim dean, but we need a dean for morale."
Shelton, who ultimately selects the University's academic leaders, noted the importance of a knowledgeable interim dean to maintain focus during the transition period.
"For an interim dean, they have to know enough about the priorities of the school to represent it well and to be effective fundraisers," he said.
"It all depends on how well they know the programs of the school."
Faculty from the law school and romance languages said the knowledge and experience of their respective interims has enabled them to continue to hire quality faculty.
"Our acting dean has been excellent, and we've had several good hires," Wegner said of Gail Agrawal, who will leave July 1 to become dean of Kansas University's law school.
Erika Lindemann, the interim chairwoman of the Department of Romance Languages, echoed Wegner's sentiment.
"Since March of 2003, we have hired five faculty members," she said. "We have hired 28 fixed-term lecturers. Hiring has gone on the same as it would with a permanent chair."
Shelton also stressed that the lack of a permanent dean should not greatly affect a school's ability to attract quality faculty.
"It's important to separate the administrative and academic aspects of a school," he said. "By and large, faculty come because of the reputation of the faculty."
Shelton said his own experiences at several universities support that theory. "I came because I knew the colleagues I wanted to work with, not the administration."
Contact the News Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(04/10/06 4:00am)
Joseph Schwartz has worn many hats at The Daily Tar Heel, and he's about to try a new one on for size.
Schwartz, a former University, City and State & National editor, was selected Saturday to serve as the 140th editor in chief of the DTH.
An 11-member committee of community members and DTH staff representatives chose Schwartz, DTH managing editor and a junior journalism major, after more than four hours of deliberation.
Committee member Amy Fuschino said the decision between Chapel Hill native Schwartz and Kavita Pillai, DTH State & National Editor, was not an easy one.
"We were all like, 'Either one of these people is going to do a good job - we just have to pick one,'" said Fuschino, advertising manager for the DTH.
Pablo Friedmann, a Student Congress representative and committee member, echoed the sentiment.
"We just had two amazingly well-qualified candidates," he said. "Whenever you have two highly capable individuals, it's going to make it a difficult decision."
Schwartz, who plans to update the newspaper's online version, said he hopes to keep the DTH up to date with technology.
"The biggest thing that I stressed to (the committee) was bringing the DTH up to the 21st century," he said. "I stressed continuing our tradition but doing that with a modern scope."
Schwartz praised Pillai's presentation to the committee and her work at the newspaper.
"I know she'll be a strong presence in the newsroom next year," he said.
One of Pillai's largest platform points was advocating for greater objectivity in the newspaper's coverage and written copy.
David Lewis, a member of the DTH board of directors and a committee member, said he was impressed with Schwartz's vision for the newspaper.
"He had a lot of criticisms of the paper and ideas about what to do," Lewis said. "He has a solid picture of where the paper can go."
DTH editor Ryan Tuck said he was confident in Schwartz's ability to serve as editor in chief. "I have every confidence that Joe will make a great editor and make people forget about me soon."
Fuschino said Schwartz's work as managing editor stood out to the committee.
"He had so much experience, and he had kind of a holistic view of the paper," she said.
Friedmann said the committee responded positively to the specific nature of Schwartz's platform.
"He just has so many amazing, small-step ideas for how to make the paper more accessible and more interesting to read," he said.
Schwartz, who said he hopes to make the paper more accessible to readers and to restructure each Thursday's "Diversions" section, said he was eager to begin work on his plans for next year.
"It's really exciting and kind of overwhelming right now," he said Saturday.
"I'm probably going to celebrate tonight, and then I know I've got to start cracking for next year."
Contact the News Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(03/30/06 5:00am)
Sometimes laughter really can be the best medicine.
Campus celebrities and students alike put their comedic skills to the test for charity at Wednesday evening's "The Gong Show," a reincarnation of the 1970s hit TV show.
All of the proceeds of the event, which about 80 people attended in the Great Hall, will go to benefit Kanyenyeva Orphan Care Ministries in Malawi.
"For a show that's about booing people, it had a really positive attitude," said Paul North, founder of Malawi Food Crisis Awareness, a project of co-sponsor Nourish International.
Contestants had five minutes to amuse the audience - or face the shame of the gong.
Senior class president- and vice president-elect Meg Petersen and Eric Schmidt were among the notable participants at the show, which also was sponsored by CHiPs improv group and the General Alumni Association.
"I'm not really too nervous because we're doing a little performance, not really improv," said Petersen, who performed an interpretative dance with Schmidt to Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart."
The overall winner, Andrew Burr, performed a series of impersonations, including several characters from "Lord of the Rings."
"I wasn't really sure what I was gonna do when I got up there," said Burr, a sophomore biology major from California.
"I only signed up a couple of days ago. But I thought I could have some fun, and I figured I could help some people," he said.
The evening's goal was to raise money as well as awareness, North said. "The only thing that seems to be consistent about the food crises in Africa is that they get worse each year."
The ministry, which aims to aid those affected by the food crisis, is a "community-based project in the central region of Malawi that has a dual purpose," North said. "It provides immediate food aid and the funds for a sustainable community garden."
"What's important about the garden is that it's owned by the community," added North, who estimated that the event raised between $300 and $400.
The idea for the show came when C.C. Pearce, a CHiPs member, saw a gong show in London.
"I heard about what Paul was doing, and I thought, 'What about a gong show?' kind of kidding but not really," said Pearce, a junior from Winston-Salem majoring in business and Spanish.
Pearce said he copied several elements of Wednesday's show from the London version, including playing Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" whenever a contestant was gonged off the stage.
One audience member said she came not only for the event but also for the organization it benefits.
"First of all, it's a really good cause," said Cristina Garcia, a 2005 UNC graduate.
"I've seen CHiPs before, and I really like their shows," she said. "I'm actually in an improv class right now. This is something that I just wanted to support and enjoy."
Despite the situation in Malawi, North said, the event could serve as a source of hope for the future.
"There is hope due to our spirit of compassion - not charity, but compassion."
Contact the News Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(03/28/06 5:00am)
Sometimes it takes a little silence to get people talking.
Members of the University community gathered Monday evening near the steps of Wilson Library to quietly reflect and hear speakers discuss the Muslim community.
About 100 to 125 people attended the peace vigil, titled "Vigilance Against Hate," said senior Franklin Horn, an event organizer.
Monday's vigil was planned by "a group of friends who were frustrated and decided to do something about it," said Helen Dombalis, who planned the event with Horn and seniors Elizabeth Matteson and Stacey Craig.
Matteson said she decided to organize the event to address fears raised when Mohammed Taheri-Azar drove a Jeep through the Pit on March 3, citing a desire to "avenge Muslim deaths around the world."
"My roommate and I were talking, and our initial reaction was, 'there's going to be a backlash against the Muslim community,'" she said. "We were scared of what that would look like."
Taiyyaba Qureshi, outreach co-coordinator for the Muslim Students Association, applauded the group's efforts.
"It's a wonderful thing that they've done, trying to end stereotypes and overcome common misconceptions," said Qureshi, who spoke at the event.
Other speakers included Carl Ernst, a religious studies professor, who told the crowd that "texts do not tell people what to do.
"People read books and act and are responsible for their own actions."
Ernst said he participated to make a statement about community.
"Even if an individual has committed an act of violence, we will not allow suspicions and fears to divide us," he said after the vigil.
The evening also featured Indonesian music and an opportunity for attendees to discuss the Pit incident with their neighbors.
Matteson said numerous MSA members expressed interest in the vigil proposal.
"They wanted people from the larger campus community to stand up for them and to show that we stand in peace and solidarity with them," Matteson said.
Monday's vigil was the fourth in a series of events focusing on Muslim student relations. An appeal to label the Pit incident "terrorism," as well as last week's "reclaiming" of the Pit and a forum on Muslim relations, all have responded to Taheri-Azar's actions.
"We are not passing judgment on whether the incident can be considered an act of terrorism," said Dombalis, who noted that the organizers hoped to reach out to all marginalized communities.
Matteson said she hopes Monday's event will have a lasting effect.
"I'd really like to start facilitating some dialogue on these issues and to inspire people to talk about issues that they're normally scared to talk about," she said.
One student said she came to the vigil to send a community message.
"I just think it's really important to show the world and our community that we're stronger than this," said sophomore Ashley Kroetsch.
"We're not going to let hate overcome us."
Contact the News Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(03/23/06 5:00am)
Misinformation breeds mistrust.
Panelists explored that theme as they responded to questions about Muslim culture during Wednesday night's discussion titled "Ignorance is Not Bliss: An Educated Approach to Respecting Muslim Culture."
About 40 people attended the event in Murphey 116.
The forum, which focused on Muslim campus relations, was sponsored by numerous student groups, including Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority Inc., Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity Inc., Psi Sigma Phi Multicultural Fraternity Inc., and Embrace, a committee of the Black Student Movement.
The goal of the evening was "just to foster dialogue," said Dena
(02/28/06 5:00am)
"If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" isn't exactly typical Polk Place reading material.
But Laura Joffe Numeroff's popular children's book was one of several stories read to first-graders Monday to kick off the Campus Y's third annual Children's Rights Week.
Teach for America and the N.C. Child Advocacy Institute teamed up to sponsor this year's series of events.
About a dozen people gathered on Polk Place at 10 a.m. for the Children's Rights Week Book Drive kickoff.
(02/23/06 5:00am)
Knowledge knows no boundaries - at least not in the Institute for the Arts and Humanities. And that mantra will not be affected as the program changes hands.
John McGowan, professor of English and comparative literature, will take over July 1 as director of the multidisciplinary institute.
Ruel Tyson Jr., who has served as the institute's director since its inception in 1987, will step down from the head post but will remain on the faculty as a professor of religious studies.
The idea for the institute was Tyson's, said Bernadette Gray-Little, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. "He's a person who's interested in trying to find a setting and find the resources to help professors with teaching and research," she said.
"He's someone who our faculty greatly value," added Gray-Little, who will become provost this summer.
McGowan echoed the sentiment.
"I'd like to call myself (Tyson's) most devoted disciple, but he has so many that I can't say I'm the most," he said.
Based in the College of Arts and Sciences, the institute aims to aid teaching and research efforts by bringing together faculty and scholars from diverse disciplines through fellowships, seminars and workshops.
"The goal of the institute is to encourage interdisciplinary and collaborative work," McGowan said.
Specific programs in the institute include the Faculty Fellows Program, which brings together faculty from diverse disciplines and aims to recruit quality faculty to the college.
Recent speakers brought to campus include U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky and Anna Deavere Smith, a noted actress, playwright and professor.
Since the institute's creation, more than 300 faculty members have participated in the institute's fellowships. Tyson also oversaw the program's move to Hyde Hall when the building opened in 2002.
Gray-Little said McGowan, the institute's associate director, surpasses the position's expectations.
"First of all, he is a highly respected scholar," she said. "He's very familiar with the programs, and he has a great interest in interdisciplinary programs."
"The position requires someone who does not recognize rigid boundaries between disciplines," Gray-Little added.
McGowan said he hopes to build on his predecessor's work to promote the role of the institute within the University community. He cited more work with the student body as a primary goal.
He said that he also plans to have a central theme for the institute each semester and that he is looking forward to further integrating University disciplines.
He said collaboration among departments such as anthropology, history and literature could help faculty see their own subjects from a different perspective.
"The institute is really the intellectual crossroads of the campus."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.