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(04/14/09 4:00am)
Because of the current economic crisis" this year's Springfest will have a more ""home-grown"" festival atmosphere.The April 25 end-of-year bash will have free food" moonbounces and performances from Vinyl Records UNC artists Apollo Lake Inferior and Lafcadio" as well as other local groups.""It's how the event was originally envisioned" as a festival" said event coordinator Alex Groneman.Student government's spring music festival committee partnered with Students for the Carolina Way to make the event happen, but they had to jump financial hurdles.While last year's Springfest boasted headliner Boyz II Men and cost more than $60,000, this year's production had to make due with much less — about $14,000. But despite the setbacks, coordinators remain optimistic.We had to make something out of nothing"" said Emily Motley, another event coordinator.Springfest depends on money apportioned from student government, the Carolina Union Activities Board and corporate sponsors. Coordinators cite the economy and budget cuts as the reason for sponsors' hesitancy to donate money. Motley described recent Springfests as a resurrection"" of a Carolina tradition. The event was held for the first time in 2007 since it was banned in the 1990s because of unmanageable crowds and excessive alcohol use. Former Student Body President Eve Carson made reinstating the event a major part of her platform"" and it was a huge success.""Last year it was surreal how much everyone was supportive" Motley said. But this year the University has been taking huge cuts" and we felt it would be fiscally irresponsible to drop that kind of money on one event.""Performer Andrew Rooney" better known as Apollo" said he doesn't mind the ""home grown"" atmosphere.""It's a good opportunity to reach out to a diverse crowd"" Rooney said. He describes his music as East Coast educated hip-hop.""""My goal is to have a balance between something that's entertaining and something that people take a message away from."" Motley encourages students to bring blankets"" spend time with friends and enjoy the blue skies. ""I think it'll be a good snapshot in time to look back and say ‘that band performed at school before they made it big"""" Motley said. ""It speaks more of us as a University."" Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(04/03/09 4:00am)
The tone of Project Dinah's ""Take Back the Night"" rally — a night of open conversation about sexual and domestic violence — changed throughout the night Thursday from somber to inspirational. ""We want people to be inspired and empowered and get people active about ending sexual assault and domestic violence against women"" said Project Dinah co-chairwoman Jessica Edens. Because of the weather, the annual event — which normally includes a rally on the steps of Wilson Library and a march across campus — adopted a more intimate setting in an upstairs room of the Student Union and drew a crowd of about 50 people.It's a deeply moving experience"" co-chairwoman Christine Andrews said of the event.Stars lined the wall, symbolizing rapes reported on UNC's campus.According to the group, women are four times more likely to be raped on a college campus.The night began with a relaxed atmosphere as attendants pinned on teal ribbons and made T-shirts protesting domestic abuse to display in the Union.But the tone changed as keynote speaker Tanisha Bagley began her story of survival of domestic violence. Bagley stressed that not speaking out empowers abusers, and though her audience listened in rapt silence it was clear that her message hit home.After escaping her brutally abusive marriage, Bagley wrote The Price of Love" a story of domestic violence and empowerment.I do it because I'm here Bagley said of telling her story to audiences. If you live another day" you can get past it."" Since her traumatic experience" Bagley has made a career of sharing her story with others. Proceeds from the novels go toward opening shelters for victims of abuse in North Carolina. Following Bagley's speech Project Dinah members read anonymous testimonies of abuse as a part of reflection and healing.The testimonies could be submitted in boxes around campus or posted on a special blog. Andrews lamented the need for the blog" but she congratulated submitters for their courage and strength in sharing their stories.Project Dinah is named after a biblical character who was raped but never mentioned again. ""Her name is symbolic of the silence"" said sophomore Amanda Curtiss. The organization co-sponsored the event I Love Female Orgasm"" and has partnered with other organizations on campus to prevent domestic violence.The event was supposed to be part of Women's Week" which took place last week but was rescheduled because of rain.Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(03/20/09 4:00am)
Former U.S. Treasurer Bay Buchanan spoke Thursday to a small but rapt audience about the pitfalls of lax immigration laws and a porous southern border.Forceful yet undoubtably educated and impassioned" Buchanan paced the floor from the onset of her hour-long castigation of illegal immigration and multiculturalism.""Anyone who says that immigration is a conservative issue is wrong"" the conservative Buchanan said. This is what we want: secure borders and the laws of the land enforced.""Linking increased gang activity" the decline of the education system and the loss of American culture to a permeable border with Mexico" Buchanan blamed Washington politicians and their ""gutless"" complacency for the deterioration of American society.""That's what happens when you don't do your job"" Buchanan said. We can't sit around and let Washington sell out our country.""Buchanan stressed that war in the Middle East shouldn't be the primary focus of the government because drug wars in Mexico will have an immense and direct effect on America.The Mexican government" Buchanan said is losing its battle against the drug lords" and the ""imminent collapse"" of its government will result in millions of refugees pouring across the border.""The greatest threat isn't Afghanistan. It's right here on our border"" Buchanan said.She also spoke out against the celebration of multiculturalism, which she described as different cultures retaining their identities instead of adopting American culture.The difference between the immigrants that founded the country is that they came to be Americans"" Buchanan said. They melted into the melting pot.""But Buchanan said current immigrants use the language barrier as a way to form their own subcultures instead of integrating into existing society.""When you celebrate diversity instead of union" you start pitting one against the other. It's not something you want to encourage" Buchanan said. Although fiercely conservative, Buchanan's lecture attracted a mix of students and community members from across the political spectrum. As a Republican minority" it's nice to come to a lecture that speaks on the Republican party viewpoints" sophomore Devin Miller said. Buchanan spoke on behalf of the UNC chapter of Youth for Western Civilization, a relatively new organization that tries to counter radical multiculturalism and defend American culture.We believe that radical leftism is dangerous to the cultures of the west"" said Riley Matheson, president of the organization. We care about the assault of our culture.""Buchanan concluded her lecture by stressing that the only way to be certain about a stance on an issue is to debate it"" even if that means being wrong or publicly attacked.""I've been called every name in the book"" said Buchanan, who has been called racist on multiple occasions because of her fierce stance on immigration.The sacred fire of liberty is in the hands of the American people"" Buchanan said, quoting former President George Washington. Learn the issues"" learn them. You have to speak out.""Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(02/06/09 5:00am)
A blend of humility humanity and economic savvy" Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus spoke to a capacity crowd Thursday on the value of business driven by compassion and a desire to make a difference in the world.""If we redesign the system piece by piece" we can create a different world" Yunus said.Yunus received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his work with the Grameen Bank on microfinance in Bangladesh. The bank specializes in giving small loans to the poor and has spread to multiple countries.Dressed in neutral colors with a paternal smile on his face, Yunus didn't look the part of world-renowned bank chief executive, and throughout his lecture he emphasized the difference between Grameen and the traditional banking industry. We looked at the conventional banks and what they do and then did the exact opposite"" he said.Traditional banks in Bangladesh loan to men, but 97 percent of Grameen loans are to women. Traditional banks require collateral and a credit check, but Grameen banks don't do those either.We're not interested in the past of the person" we're interested in their future" Yunus said.And Grameen's future might lie in North Carolina. While in the state, Yunus spoke to a group of financial institutions on implementing a system modeled after the Grameen Bank in the state.We have 9 percent unemployment and 20 percent of North Carolina families live below the poverty level"" said Jim Blaine, president of the State Employees Credit Union, who spoke with Yunus earlier this week. There's a great need for this service here.""In order for Grameen to come to the state" the banking commissioner will have to provide the company with a microfinance license" and Grameen will have to work with existing nonprofit systems in the state.""What's unknown is if a model from Bangladesh will be successful" Blaine said. But it can be done at a low cost" and it is a very good opportunity to help a lot of needy individuals.""It's a part of human nature to be selfish" but it is also equally human to be selfless Yunus said. Thus if people develop businesses on the basis of selflessness they will not be driven by profit but by desire to change the world" he said.""Yunus embodies change and how that change can happen on a grassroots level and impact millions of people"" said Fahmida Azad, president of Aasha, a campus organization that helps alleviate poverty in Bangladesh. Along with the Carolina Microfinance Initiative, the group was instrumental in bringing Yunus to UNC and generating interest in his speech.It was unbelievable"" said the initiative's coordinator, Ryan Leatham. We're all equal in his mind. He's just done amazing things with the opportunities that he's been given.""Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(02/05/09 5:00am)
A speech today by 2006 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Muhammad Yunus has attracted more interest than Koury Auditorium can hold.Yunus who received the award for his work alleviating poverty in developing countries will speak about the role of microfinance to achieve social justice.As of last week about 1"200 people had e-mailed organizers saying they wanted to hear the lecture. The auditorium holds fewer than 400 people.""Yunus is the biggest person we've had speak here in my four years"" said Ryan Leatham, general coordinator for the Carolina Microfinance Initiative.In 1976, Yunus, then a professor of economics at University of Chittagong in Bangladesh, began advocating the concept of microcredit — a system that provides small, collateral-free loans to the poor so that they can begin to pull themselves out of poverty.Yunus was one of the first people to advocate such a system, which has proven successful in developing countries across the world.Today, Yunus' concept has grown into the Grameen Bank, an internationally recognized microfinance bank with more than 7 million borrowers in 83,566 villages in Bangladesh. Intellectual capital and entrepreneurial ability exists everywhere" but it is opportunity that separates us" Leatham said. The success of Grameen, which means rural"" in Bangla"" has encouraged the creation of thousands of microfinance initiatives worldwide.""Yunus is charismatic" but humble" said Lisa Jones Christensen, a professor at the business school. He's an important example of someone fighting for social change."" The Nobel winner waived his honorarium" payment for his speech but the University purchased multiple copies of his new book" ""Creating a World without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism"" which will be available for signing after the lecture.Christensen said microfinance works because it's based on a system of self-reliance and trust. Loans typically are given to women, because they invest the money into the home and choose to spend it on children and clothes. Women have a 98 percent payback rate.It's not a hand out but a hand up"" Leatham said.Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(02/03/09 5:00am)
While studying abroad has the ability to impact students' lives students also have the power to negatively impact where they travel — a problem that the University is trying to address.The UNC Sustainability Office in conjunction with the Study Abroad Office" has created programs that encourage students to travel sustainably and become more environmentally and socially aware of their impact on environments abroad.""Living sustainably is a mind-shift"" said Brian Cain of the sustainability office. He stressed that traveling sustainably is not only the best option, but the only genuine way to experience a new country. If students fully immerse themselves in the environments of the countries they visit, Cain said, they take the first natural steps toward traveling sustainably.The University has more than 300 study abroad programs in more than 70 countries.Senior Lindsay Eanes came up with the idea for a sustainable travel brochure after returning to UNC from studying abroad in Samoa a year and a half ago. She said her experience abroad opened her eyes to the impact students' actions, even those as simple as traveling, have on the places they visit.I never experienced what it means until I went to Samoa"" Eanes said. Their entire country is dependent on sustainability and sustainable travel.""With the help of the sustainability office" Eanes created UNC's Sustainable Travel Guide. The guide advocates things like using mass transit while abroad or walking to a destination instead of catching a cab to reduce the ecological impact on a community.The guide also says frequenting local businesses and restaurants instead of franchises while abroad is another way for students to experience the culture and leave a positive impact on the environment.In addition to the guide the University has taken other measures to ensure sustainable travel.In 2007 the study abroad office began its Green Passport program. Since its creation" the program has expanded and is now included in the study abroad programs of other universities across the country. Green Passport is essentially a social network of environmentally conscious students.""The idea is to exchange information all over the world"" said study abroad adviser Rodney Vargas. Students in Thailand can see what another student is doing to protect the environment and how they are getting involved in the local community.""Vargas added that lifestyle changes at home can ease the transition to sustainable travel.Cain said he thinks students' intelligence can translate into making the world a more sustainable place.""We have some of the smartest students in the world"" he said. If we can make them some of the most sustainable too I think we would have an amazing pairing.""Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.