14 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(05/27/09 4:00am)
When an anonymous donor first selected Bain & Company to look at UNC's finances some UNC employees were skeptical.The Massachusetts consulting agency had never worked with a university before.But after the company released its interim report and met with the Employee Forum on May 6" many are feeling more at ease.""They look at us a little bit differently than we look at ourselves"" said Dick Mann, vice chancellor for finance and administration. He noted that the company's outside perspective will be helpful when combined with the perspectives of those at UNC.I think they're refining our views"" Mann said.So far, Bain & Company has interviewed over 300 people on campus.Employee Forum Chairman Tommy Griffin said he no longer has any doubts about UNC's need for Bain & Company's assistance after meeting with representatives Jeff Dennen and Mark Finlan.Griffin said the firm pointed out the weaknesses in the University's levels of management.According to Bain & Company's interim report provided online, UNC's organizational structure runs 10 layers deep, with up to nine layers of management beneath the chancellor in some areas. This means that more than half of all managerial positions at UNC are only overseeing one to three employees.Griffin said Bain & Company even had recommendations for a more economical e-mail system at UNC.Brenda Denzler, vice chairwoman of the Employee Forum, said that the company's lack of experience with educational institutions was initially alarming to the Forum.As it turns out, although Bain & Company has not worked with universities, it has assisted more than 100 nonprofit groups.That brings them a little closer to having worked with organizations that are a little more similar to the University"" Denzler said.Another worry was the company's reputation as a turnaround company, often finding solutions in letting go of employees. But its representatives did not suggest firing employees.Instead, Bain & Company recommended more cost efficient ways of organizing classroom space.But some of the things Bain & Company has proposed might not work in the short term.These are the kinds of recommendations that will take 12"18 24 months to actually implement" Denzler said.She suggested creating a campuswide task force composed of staff, employees, faculty members and others who have a stake in the outcomes to make short-term changes.Denzler also proposed pulling people from the Kenan-Flagler Business School or the economics department to get involved.Mann said Bain & Company is still working on finishing the final report. He expects it to be revealed both to the Board of Trustees and the public in July.They've been responsive" Denzler said of Bain & Company. They haven't shied away. They haven't backed off. And they come to us and ask us for input" and we appreciate being listened to and considered in that way.""Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(04/17/08 4:00am)
Almost 70 students and nine faculty and staff were awarded Wednesday afternoon for their achievements this year at UNC.
In an awards ceremony in the Great Hall of the Student Union, the recipients shook Chancellor James Moeser's hand as part of a long tradition of recognizing exceptional leadership and scholarship.
"As you can tell by the great variety of awards presented today we have truly outstanding students, teachers and staff at Carolina. We are proud of each and every one of you," Moeser said in his opening remarks to the crowd of about 400 people.
Moeser also said the awards ceremony has grown since the University was established. He said that UNC's president used to call students to South Building where they would receive their awards.
Jon Curtis, associate director of activities and organizations and chairman of the awards committee, said that in the past 15 years, five different awards have been added to the ceremony.
Margaret Jablonski, vice chancellor for student affairs, said the awards are important because they allow a significant number of students to be honored in front of their family and peers.
"They honor both the outstanding academic and student activities achievements of our students," she said.
Jablonski said committees meet to decide who will win the various awards.
"Many of them have an approximately $500 monetary prize," Jablonski said, adding that some awards have monetary prizes while others do not because donors decide how recipients will be rewarded.
Students were recognized for their academic achievements as well as their involvement in student activities on campus.
"It's nice to receive the award but also to see some of my classmates up there," senior Matt Craig said, adding that the Department of Political Science notified him that he won the L. Richardson Preyer Award for Excellence in Political Science about a month ago.
"I guess in some ways it shows that hard work pays off," he said.
For senior Ian Bensberg, winning the Eben Alexander Prize in Greek was a competition.
He said he had to sign up for the contest and take a test to determine if he would win.
"I think it's reflective of how well the teachers in the classics department prepare you to read Greek on your own," he said.
Former Student Body President Eve Carson received the Irene F. Lee Award, which is presented to a female senior who shows outstanding leadership, character and scholarship.
A close friend of Carson's accepted the award in her place.
"Eve touched everyone at Carolina through her leadership, her service and her spirit. She will be dearly missed by us all," Jablonski said.
After the ceremony, Jablonski said she felt recognizing Carson's achievements created a special moment in the ceremony where Carson's service to the University could be honored and remembered.
And Moeser went on to say that all of the recipients should feel honored for their awards.
"I hope that you and your family members feel very proud for this recognition," he told all the award recipients. "You're part of a long tradition."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(04/10/08 4:00am)
If students don't know that UNC's Campus Health Services' building is named after singer James Taylor's father, that's probably not the only thing they don't know about Campus Health.
The James A. Taylor building has housed student health services for 28 years, and at a focus group Wednesday, some students realized it has been in need of a makeover.
Mary Covington, assistant vice chancellor for campus health, said that almost immediately after the building was completed in 1980, it became clear that the structure couldn't accommodate all that Campus Health wanted to provide.
(03/27/08 4:00am)
When a man on Franklin Street mocked the chants of students marching to support an end to sexual violence Wednesday
"Out of the halls, into the streets, we won't be raped, we won't be beat," shouted the students participating in Take Back the Night, the 11th annual march to raise awareness of sexual assault as part of the UNC Women's Week.
Michael Bronson, acting treasurer for Project Dinah, a women's safety and empowerment initiative at UNC, said he hopes he inspired the men who saw the march to take sexual assault more seriously.
(03/25/08 4:00am)
After facing scrutiny on its transparency last semester, the Student Bar Association responded to criticism from UNC's law community.
The two main issues with SBA's policies were the organization's refusal to provide copies of funding requests and its closure of meetings during private discussions that kept students from understanding its inner workings and knowing where the group's money was allocated.
The SBA is the student governing body for the UNC School of Law.
"The SBA decided that they needed to reform themselves and they did," said Michael Roessler, a third-year law student.
The group has opened access for all the law school community to its financial records and to its meetings, including its budget meeting.
President-elect Matt Modell ran with six others on a platform pushing more transparency within SBA.
"Whatever we can do to have more students aware of what we do and aware of how we do it is a good thing," said Stephen McIntyre, the next SBA secretary, who was one of the six who pushed for openness.
The issues with SBA's policies began last semester when Roessler, co-president of the American Constitution Society, only received $75 of the $400 he requested and was denied a copy of the request.
SBA now sends out a newsletter to inform students of its actions and the group's current issues.
But though SBA has come a long way, Modell said, there are still some issues that need to be addressed.
"There's always room for improvement, and we will be looking into those issues with the new SBA that was just elected," McIntyre said.
Although the group's meetings are now open to everyone, students have not been informed when meetings will be held or what issues the meetings will concern.
"If no one knows what is being discussed, why are they going to come?" Modell said. "I think you have to tell people what is going to happen at the meeting, not just that there is a meeting."
He also said he hopes to avoid the conflict of interest of SBA officers serving in leadership positions in other groups. These groups often request funding from SBA and therefore have a vote in determining how much money they receive.
To avoid this conflict, Modell suggested writing new bylaws that would not allow SBA officers to be leaders in other organizations.
Roessler said these platform points advocating openness were vital in the election.
"I think what we saw this semester was individuals who took up the banner of openness and accountability," he said. "They will continue the work that SBA has already begun this semester in making sure (it) is accessible and transparent."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(02/28/08 5:00am)
Dr. John Diggs, a black physician who completed his medical degree at the University of Buffalo, calls medical science his forte.
And Wednesday night in Peabody Hall, Diggs used more than just his forte to show students the negative effects of abortion. He drew from history and politics to support the pro-life position.
"If you say abortion is OK, you are saying it is OK to apply capital punishment to an innocent bystander," Diggs said.
During his talk, Diggs turned to eugenics to explain why black women only account for 13 percent of the population but are responsible for 35 percent of abortions.
Diggs said Margaret Sanger and other eugenicists held the belief that only people with the "proper genes" should be allowed to reproduce.
"The Negro project was an intentional design to convince black folks that they should voluntarily limit their production," Diggs said.
But the pro-choice group Our Bodies Ourselves claims black women's right to an abortion reflects the freedom they have struggled to gain for years.
Controversy surrounding the issue of abortion has grown recently, Diggs said. Vandalism on UNC's campus, specifically, shows how the topic can breed incivility, he said.
Early this week, the Pit cube that Carolina Students for Life, who hosted his speech, used to advertise Diggs' visit to UNC was vandalized with an abortion rights message.
"It just kind of all goes together with the fact that there is a definite pro-abortion bias," said Ashley Tyndall, president of Carolina Students for Life.
The heading of the cube originally read "Abortion is Racist," followed by details of Diggs' speech.
Tuesday morning, junior Jennifer Boone, a group member and employee at the Student Union, found graffiti painted over the original pro-life message saying, "No it's not, stupid."
"I appreciate this is a place where people who disagree can freely express that, but I think vandalizing someone's Pit cube is just kind of an immature way to go about it," Boone said.
Maureen Stutzman, a member of the executive board for UNC's chapter of Choice USA, said that unlike Carolina Students for Life, the pro-choice group has not been the subject of any vandalism.
"If you write something on the cube that other people might find offensive, I think you are more likely to be targeted, although it is extremely inappropriate as the campus should be a safe place for them to express their opinion," she said.
The recent act of vandalism against Carolina Students for Life is not the only one of its kind.
Last semester, Tyndall's tires were slashed and the group's storage unit was broken into and littered with hateful notes and expired condoms.
"We claim to want to have intelligent debate, but it seems like you only want to discuss it if other people agree with you," Tyndall said. "Other people are not willing to hear differing opinions on our campus."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(02/27/08 5:00am)
Dr. John Diggs a black physician who completed his medical degree at the University of Buffalo calls medical science his forte.And Wednesday night in Peabody Hall" Diggs used more than just his forte to show students the negative effects of abortion. He drew from history and politics to support the pro-life position.""If you say abortion is OK" you are saying it is OK to apply capital punishment to an innocent bystander" Diggs said.During his talk, Diggs turned to eugenics to explain why black women only account for 13 percent of the population but are responsible for 35 percent of abortions.Diggs said Margaret Sanger and other eugenicists held the belief that only people with the proper genes"" should be allowed to reproduce.""The Negro project was an intentional design to convince black folks that they should voluntarily limit their production"" Diggs said.But the pro-choice group Our Bodies Ourselves claims black women's right to an abortion reflects the freedom they have struggled to gain for years.Controversy surrounding the issue of abortion has grown recently, Diggs said. Vandalism on UNC's campus, specifically, shows how the topic can breed incivility, he said.Early this week, the Pit cube that Carolina Students for Life, who hosted his speech, used to advertise Diggs' visit to UNC was vandalized with an abortion rights message.It just kind of all goes together with the fact that there is a definite pro-abortion bias"" said Ashley Tyndall, president of Carolina Students for Life.The heading of the cube originally read Abortion is Racist"" followed by details of Diggs' speech.Tuesday morning, junior Jennifer Boone, a group member and employee at the Student Union, found graffiti painted over the original pro-life message saying, No it's not"" stupid.""""I appreciate this is a place where people who disagree can freely express that" but I think vandalizing someone's Pit cube is just kind of an immature way to go about it" Boone said.Maureen Stutzman, a member of the executive board for UNC's chapter of Choice USA, said that unlike Carolina Students for Life, the pro-choice group has not been the subject of any vandalism.If you write something on the cube that other people might find offensive" I think you are more likely to be targeted although it is extremely inappropriate as the campus should be a safe place for them to express their opinion" she said.The recent act of vandalism against Carolina Students for Life is not the only one of its kind.Last semester, Tyndall's tires were slashed and the group's storage unit was broken into and littered with hateful notes and expired condoms.We claim to want to have intelligent debate" but it seems like you only want to discuss it if other people agree with you" Tyndall said. Other people are not willing to hear differing opinions on our campus.""Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(02/26/08 5:00am)
Monday night in Memorial Hall, Sister Helen Prejean spoke to a crowd of 600 people, bringing her experience with death to life.
(02/22/08 5:00am)
Forty years ago, a man named Preston Dobbins and a small group of black students at UNC laid the foundation for the Black Student Movement, inspiring the growth of what is now the second-largest student organization on campus.
Boasting an annual membership of more than 400 students, BSM's array of committees allow the organization to hone in on specific issues pertaining to black students.
"As issues changed on Carolina's campus and the climate around Carolina changed, we developed other committees that answered the needs that we had," BSM Vice President Racine Peters said.
(02/22/08 5:00am)
Forty years ago a man named Preston Dobbins and a small group of black students at UNC laid the foundation for the Black Student Movement inspiring the growth of what is now the second-largest student organization on campus.Boasting an annual membership of more than 400 students" BSM's array of committees allow the organization to hone in on specific issues pertaining to black students.""As issues changed on Carolina's campus and the climate around Carolina changed" we developed other committees that answered the needs that we had" BSM Vice President Racine Peters said.Getting a feel for homeAfter 40 years, BSM has strengthened its internal focus with several committees to emphasize all aspects of student life.The Embrace and the Celebration of Black Womanhood committees focus on issues pertaining to black men and women.In today's society there is a big misrepresentation and a negative image of black males" not only within the UNC community but within the nation as well" said Jon Scott, co-chairman for Embrace.Scott pointed to tendency of the public to associate black males with crime as one of the misrepresentations Embrace tries to dispel.The committee's biggest project, Men's Week, will include forums discussing black politics and the black male image at UNC, while the CBW committee is working on a similar women's event.It offers a home for minority women" specifically since our campus is generally white" Co-Chairwoman Shannon Davis said of CBW.Both groups help members discuss identity and personal issues, but others stress the nuts and bolts of the organization.The Education Committee is what seeks to promote scholarships"" said Alysa Campbell, the committee's co-chairwoman. We are the driving force behind being students first.""The Special Projects and Parent Alumni Relations Committee plans and implements the BSM's major annual programs and special events" such as the 40th anniversary celebration which begins at noon Saturday.Connecting to campusBeyond just the internal workings of the group BSM members also aim to connect with the rest of campus.And by enhancing the relationship among students administrators and the Chapel Hill community" the Triple Alliance Committee gives back through service projects.""We pull service to all the different communities that we are a part of"" said Shannon Morrison, Triple Alliance's co-chairwoman.Triple Alliance Co-Chairwoman Anjail Ameen said the committee is involved in at least two programs a month, including Habitat for Humanity and PTA Thrift Shop.Students on the Cultural Diversity Committee work with other groups on campus, such as the Carolina Hispanic Association and the Carolina Indian Circle.The Cultural Diversity Committee is important to make sure that the minorities on campus get their opinions and voices heard and to show that we all support each other"" Co-Chairman Eric Smith said.With so many committees under the BSM umbrella, the group as a whole seeks to grow both on campus and within the local community.The BSM has historically been a haven for African-American students to discuss issues that are dear to us"" said Shanika Paylor, executive assistant for BSM. It serves as a source of cultural enrichment on campus.""Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(02/05/08 5:00am)
For Phi Gamma Delta fraternity" ringing in the new year and a new semester meant adapting to an environmentally sound lifestyle.The fraternity's energy-saving efforts make it the first fraternity or sorority on UNC's campus to go completely green.""We are not trying to change the world by going green" we just want to be responsible citizens in Chapel Hill and try to encourage others to do this too" said junior Penn Clarke, Phi Gamma Delta's president.The fraternity installed new shower heads that alter water pressure so less energy is wasted, and the amount of water used while showering is cut by 70 percent.The fraternity also switched to compact fluorescent light bulbs instead of regular incandescent bulbs to cut down on energy use. Members also placed blankets around water heaters to reduce energy loss by about 35 percent, Clarke said.If everybody joined in and did this" so much energy could be saved" he said.Becoming less wasteful in general, Clarke said, is also a big part of the fraternity's environmental consciousness.Members regularly take leftover food from meals to a homeless shelter to cut down on waste.These are not necessarily huge steps or great" incredible things but they are things we can try to do to make ourselves less wasteful" said junior Will Duckett, a member of Phi Gamma Delta's green committee.The green committee meets weekly to discuss new ways to raise money and implement environmental changeThis week the fraternity will begin a new recycling program to ensure that any disposed recyclables will be taken to a recycling center. Clarke also said members are working to get rid of all Styrofoam cups and replace them with recyclable cups at the house.I know people have tried this in the past"" said Matthew Putterman, president of Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity.They're leading by example. (It) is really cool that someone is finally stepping up and doing it.""Most of the changes Phi Gamma Delta made can be done with little money" Clarke said. But in the future and with more funds members said they hope to purchase energy-efficient appliances such as washers dryers and refrigerators to take the next step in energy conservation.The idea to turn the fraternity into a more environmentally friendly organization came about after a few members realized how much money could be saved in reducing energy loss.After getting support from the national organization" UNC's chapter elected a few members to its green committee.""It seems like whenever you hear about fraternities in the news" you hear about hazing or negative aspects" Clarke said. We wanted to change that.""In exploring changes" one of the difficulties the green committee has encountered Duckett said" has been trying to get people to change their behaviors.""It's not easy" but everyone sees we are trying to do something different" he said.Everyone's on board - it's just going to be a gradual process _- it doesn't happen overnight.""Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(01/31/08 5:00am)
Students and faculty joined forces with local officials Wednesday night to kick off this week's Focus the Nation events.
The precursor to the national symposiums that address global warming began with an "environmental social" in the Student Union Great Hall and featured a governmental panel later in the evening.
"The environmental social is something they try to do every year to try and get people together," said Jarrett Grimm, a coordinator for Focus the Nation at UNC.
Focus the Nation is a national organization that seeks to inform students and communities about global warming's effects on the environment.
During the social, which about 150 people attended, students were given the opportunity to meet state and local politicians, environmental faculty and other leaders from on and off campus.
Katharine Pelzer, another coordinator for the event, said student government's environmental affairs committee also helped plan the social.
Speakers at the governmental panel included Sierra Club President Robert Cox, Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton and N.C. Reps. Ty Harrell, Pricey Harrison and Ellie Kinnaird.
"A lot of college students, especially out of state or not in the Triangle area, have a tendency of living in a bubble," Grimm said. "The panel is a great way to realize what is going on in the community and what people in the local area are doing to lessen our impact on the environment."
The mayors of Chapel Hill and Carrboro declared Jan. 30 and Jan. 31 as "Climate Change Awareness Days."
Sophomore Shelley Stevens said the panel allowed students to hear about changes going on locally to address climate change.
"It was really informative about changes going on in Carrboro," she said.
A few years ago, the University and Chapel Hill formed a unique partnership - the world's first town-gown effort - to cut down on their carbon emissions. The goal is to get Chapel Hill's emissions reduced by 60 percent by 2050.
Cindy Spurlock, a graduate student in the Department of Communication Studies and the sole candidate for Graduate and Professional Student Federation president, also thought the speakers offered solutions that were "very inspirational and doable."
The first step, Grimm said, to kicking off Focus the Nation was to get into the serious and more meaty aspects of the event before today's nationwide teach-in.
The evening ended with a viewing of "The 2% Solution," a live Web cast about solutions to global warming and the unofficial launch of Focus the Nation at UNC.
"It doesn't matter if you've ever thought of the environment as an issue and if you're not involved at all," she said. "That's one thing I love about this whole initiative is that everyone can be a part of it."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(01/25/08 5:00am)
Chemistry professors and students said goodbye to the more than 80-year-old Venable Hall on Wednesday afternoon and now await the arrival of a new Venable Hall.
"This is an old building that should've been torn down a long time ago," chemistry professor David Lawrence said. "My colleagues certainly feel that this is a terrific thing that's going on."
Construction of the science building replacing Venable Hall is scheduled to begin in mid-March and should be completed by August 2010, said Peter Krawchyk, assistant director of Facilities Planning and Construction.
The initial stages of the Venable demolition began Saturday, he said.
Along with providing a home for the Marine Sciences Program, the new Venable building will offer a 400-seat lecture hall and a new science library.
The projected cost of the project is $123 million, roughly $10 million more than originally planned, Krawchyk said.
"It's changed because work was added," he said.
Krawchyk said project officials used most of the additional funding to provide room for faculty who came to the University after 2005.
Knocking down Venable Hall represents the last leg of the new Science Complex's construction, which began in 2001.
The Science Complex will be the largest construction project to date in UNC's history and will include high-technology laboratories and lecture halls for more sophisticated study and research.
"It's enabling UNC to bring in a lot of new faculty and really strengthen the science on campus," said Nancy Allbritton, a chemistry professor.
Larger and more modern teaching and research spaces will be available for the departments of chemistry, materials science, physics and astronomy, marine sciences and computer science.
The first phase of the project began with the opening of Chapman Hall and Caudill Laboratories, thus increasing the number of classrooms and providing more space for materials science programs.
Construction for Phase Two began in May 2006, said Eddie Short, associate director of construction management for UNC's Facilities Planning and Construction.
The second phase consists of renovating Kenan Laboratories, adding on to Sitterson Hall and knocking down Venable Hall to construct a new physical sciences building in its place.
"All the construction on campus is kind of a hindrance, but it's definitely necessary," sophomore Liza Rathbun said. "So it's worth it."
The extension to Sitterson Hall will provide additional space for the Department of Computer Science and should be finished by the end of May, Short said.
A neighborhood meeting with occupants of the surrounding buildings will be held Feb. 6, Krawchyk said.
Contact the University Editor at desk@unc.edu.
(01/15/08 5:00am)
After establishing a women's learning community at UNC last semester, the Department of Housing and Residential Education plans to provide the same program for male residents beginning in fall 2008.
Men at Carolina, a learning community specifically for men on campus, will be located on the third floor of Cobb Residence Hall and will house between 20 and 30 residents. Activities for M@C - as the community will be called - will include guest speakers, group discussions and field trips.
"The idea came from the women's program that was already in existence and the fact that men are graduating at a lower rate than females," said Tom Hamilton, Cobb community director.
One of the goals of M@C is to give men the opportunity to address issues of masculinity and to discuss what it means to be a man in society and at UNC, while forming friendships and honing leadership skills.
"We have had a number of students that have expressed interest," Hamilton said.
One of those students is junior Chris Williams, a member of the M@C advisory board and a resident adviser in Morrison Residence Hall.
"I thought the M@C was something the Carolina community really needs," Williams said.
Hamilton said the M@C board of advisers wants to provide opportunities for men to form a support system for other men on campus in terms of academic leadership.
"It connects them to academics, as well as leadership development and social life in that regard," said Dei Allard, an assistant director of the housing department.
The Women's Experiences, Learning and Leadership program only recently became a part of the Kenan Community and is the main inspiration for the planned men's learning community.
Jarrod Cruz, former Craige community director and a major proponent of M@C, handed the project over to Hamilton upon leaving the Craige community last semester.
Williams said the advisory board probably will begin recruiting men within the next few weeks.
"If you're a man and you're interested in facing issues that all men face together and you're interested in finding a community that addresses these issues, then I think the M@C is an excellent way to really immerse yourself."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.