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(02/13/08 5:00am)
When Kristin Hill sent out an e-mail Tuesday encouraging her fellow Robertson Scholars to vote for her in UNC's election, some Duke students were invited to pick UNC's next student body president.
But the issue of whether Duke students - who spend one semester at UNC because they are Robertson Scholars - should be permitted to vote in UNC's election is one that the Board of Elections has never had to deal with before.
"In the past they have been allowed to vote," said Mitchell Capriglione, chairman of the elections board. "As long as you have a PID and Onyen, you are allowed to vote in any campus election."
But Title VI of the Student Code, outlining elections rules, stipulates that "all duly registered fee-paying students shall be eligible to vote in student government elections." It does not mention a PID or Onyen.
While Duke Robertson Scholars have a valid PID and Onyen, they pay student fees only at Duke, said Tony Brown, president of the Robertson Scholars Program.
In asking for votes, Hill violated no elections laws. She just sent the e-mail to solicit votes.
"I think if they're interested in what's going on, if they care, they'll vote," she said, noting that Duke Robertsons are interested in UNC's electoral process because it usually is more competitive than Duke's.
Because the Code doesn't explicitly exclude Robertson Scholars from voting, the interpretation of the Code - this year by Capriglione - allows Duke students to vote.
"I would argue that the interpretation in this case is definitely one of the chief reasons that the board has authority," said Jim Brewer, last year's elections board chairman.
Duke Student Government, which oversees elections, also has broached the topic of dual-registered students influencing results.
"We didn't really have a way to enforce (UNC Robertson Scholars) from not voting," said Paul Slattery, president of DSG. "The likelihood of them voting . was so small that we didn't do anything about it."
Brewer likened Robertsons to online students, who aren't on campus and don't pay fees, yet can vote.
"They have been here, they have a stake in Carolina, and they are going to be an alumni," he said.
Brewer also said the board should investigate the possibility of including a qualification - like the one that keeps off-campus students from voting for Residence Hall Association president - that would only allow Robertsons who are on campus or will be next semester to vote.
And Capriglione said it is a matter the board will investigate.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(02/12/08 5:00am)
They all want the same thing: to represent a mere 28,000 student voices.
But what separates each student body president candidate from the others is their personalities.
Kristin Hill, Logan Liles and J.J. Raynor each drafted multi-page documents laying out their visions for next year. And in comparing one to another and all to the past, it becomes apparent that none stray far from each other.
"Each president has not just their platform of initiatives, but they bring their personality and their approach to the role," said Margaret Jablonski, vice chancellor for student affairs, who works closely with the student body president.
With only a year to accomplish the goals they outlined in platforms, as well as serve the other needs of students and the University, presidents are forced to make the position their own.
After watching three past administrations, each of this year's candidates have their own ideas for how they will tackle some of the challenges.
"The only people who know what it's like to be student body president are the people who have done it before," said Matt Calabria, student body president in 2004-05.
Preparation, teamwork and collaboration are mentioned as some of the key elements to succeeding as a new student body president.
"We're going to come in, and we're going to know the ropes," Liles said, stressing the need to learn from previous failures and successes.
A self-professed "fighter," Raynor is confident that her preparation and past experiences will help her lead and advocate for the student body.
"My biggest asset is I can get done what needs to be done," she said.
All three candidates have acknowledged the merits of their large campaign staffs, a trend they said will carry over to their administrations.
Throughout the season, Hill emphasized the importance of putting together a team that can work together to accomplish goals.
"Basically you have to assemble a well-oiled machine," she said.
And that machine is what makes the wheels of the administration turn as the year goes on.
"The folks that the president is working with are the most crucial piece," said former SBP Seth Dearmin. "They're leaning on them to solve issues, to attend meetings and help them out."
Even with the best teamwork and preparation, the position can throw challenges at a president.
Being able to manage a schedule that "demands more of your time than a full-time job" and choosing which battles to fight are common issues, Dearmin said.
The issues the president chooses to stand up for and fight for boil down to what the president is most passionate about, Jablonski said.
But despite loss of sleep and the pressure endured during their terms, past presidents said their time in office, in the end, was rewarding.
"Every student body president comes to think of their year as a gift, an opportunity, that has to be utilized to the greatest extent possible," Calabria said.
So today, it's up to students to decide which candidate's vision aligns with their own.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(02/04/08 5:00am)
Throughout past student government administrations officers tackled many of the same issues.From tuition to minority and environmental affairs" commonly covered points are seen again and again.Many of those issues are also raised in this year's student body president candidate platforms as areas to be worked on - a sign that the position is characterized not by the goals of the president but by personality and drive.""The reason why these are always brought up - there's always more that can be done" candidate Logan Liles said. If the student body president doesn't spend time on tuition or making sure that students are getting the education they pay for" then they're missing the boat.""That philosophy is a main reason why the traditional platform points are included every year.In researching planks" many candidates consult with several campus groups or use former candidates' platforms as a basis for what they want to do in office.With candidates all talking to the same groups there is a finite number of issues and resolutions that are brought up which is why many planks are alike.Because there are so many similar goals" candidates have to work to stand out - something that requires a base of supporters.""I think you need a strong group of people around you who aren't afraid to take risks with you" candidate Kristin Hill said at the Young Democrat's forum Jan. 28.Candidate J.J. Raynor said part of the platform plank rollover is because issues do not get passed from president to president.When you do see something that's recurring in a platform a lot of the time it's just that these are things that need to be addressed" she said.Several candidates in the past have addressed the issue of revising the nondiscrimination policy. The policy has been criticized for being outdated and exclusive of certain groups on campus by candidates from the past two administrations.All three of this year's candidates also advocate for increased performing arts space, improvements to campus dining options and predictable tuition increases.They said it's key to know what is already in progress by the current administration so the next president can continue to work on those plans and finish them when possible.Any and everybody can have these laundry lists" which is what platforms are but the question is whether or not you can get it done" Liles said. Also the question is: Are you going to get them done in a manner that's going to directly benefit students?""Raynor said the amount of research that goes into creating a platform shows how much institutional knowledge a candidate has and how much planning was done.""I think it's more how comprehensive you make your approach"" she said. It's not enough to address the issues that come down the policy pipeline.""Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(01/31/08 5:00am)
Rachel Moss and Stephen Barber want to keep the wheels rolling and on track for the class of 2009.
"We're not trying to reinvent the wheel here if you will," Barber said. "We're really trying to keep a lot of the things that people like about their senior year but just trying to build on it and try to make things a little better."
In keeping with tradition, the senior class officer candidates are focusing their platform on giving back to next year's senior class. They divided their campaign into five main goals: spirit, social, service, success and seniors.
All told, the platform combines some new ideas, such as a freshman Big Buddy program, with the tried-and-true staples, such as bar nights.
The overall concept is to balance the informative role of senior class officers with the social directing role.
"We really want this to be the best of both worlds," Moss said.
The pair wants to continue the tradition of building a Habitat for Humanity house for a local family, an idea that began with the class of 2007.
"The only reason we've crafted the platform the way we have is these are things we would want to do," Barber said. "Even if we do get elected, we have to enjoy our senior year, too. . These are all things we feel like we've talked to people about and they seem to like a lot."
Having known each other for most of their college careers, Moss and Barber never officially decided to start a campaign for senior class. The two had been friends and sort of fell into the race together.
Those who know them said they balance and complement each other.
"With their plan of having not only a business aspect - of finding jobs for seniors - but also having the more recreational, fun side to it . I think that they are a good combination," said Derek Sykes, Black Student Movement president and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha.
Moss' experience lies in her role as treasurer of BSM for the past two years and as the campus representative for mtvU, a position that requires a focus on publicity.
"Just working the past couple months to get that on campus and to get the channel up and running has showed me the more administrative side of the University, which I think is going to be vital to our success," said the Creedmoor native.
Barber, of Hillsborough, is an active member of the Mu Zeta chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. He said this experience forced him into leadership positions, preparing him for possibly taking on a role such as senior class vice president.
While Moss is the organizer and planner, Sykes said, Barber is the people-person who will get out and talk to students.
In a race with two other candidate groups vying for the same position, Moss and Barber said they plan to inject energy and passion into their campaign and the next year, if elected.
"With positions like this, I think it really is about service for me and Stephen," Moss said. "We still want to be involved with the senior class even after everything's over.
"That just goes back to - we're really about this class no matter the outcome."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(01/22/08 5:00am)
Almost a year after the death of former UNC mascot Jason Ray, two New Jersey men have been arrested in connection with the car accident that killed him.
(01/10/08 5:00am)
Blue books and scantrons are no longer available for free at UNC Student Stores.
The store is charging 15 cents per blue book and 8 cents per scantron.
"I think that's a little ridiculous - especially with the tuition increases," freshman Meghan Cooper said, adding that students already pay for a lot of other necessities, such as textbooks.
"It's not that much, but it still seems unnecessary."
The move marks the first time the store has charged students for the testing materials since the early 1990s, said John Jones, director of Student Stores.
The store also will offer deals, such as seven blue books for $1, a savings of 5 cents, and seven scantrons for 50 cents, which saves students 6 cents.
"The individual cost to any one student should only be a few dollars every year," Jones said.
On average, students use more than 100,000 books and scantrons per year, which costs the store thousands of dollars, Jones said, adding that rising paper prices have added to increased costs.
With the semester just beginning, many students haven't heard about the new prices for testing materials, but those who had were surprised to find out they will have to pay.
"It's a shock for students," said Jonathan Barnes, a cashier at Student Stores. "There wasn't a formal announcement. There have just been signs," he said, referring to signs posted during final exams last semester that warned students to take just one book or scantron or the store might start charging.
While students have been receiving their testing materials for free, the store has been charging academic departments to order blue books and scantrons in bulk.
Jones said professors sometimes came into the store and tried to take large quantities of materials, which made it difficult for the store to keep enough in stock for students.
And though students are not required to write in blue books for their written exams, most professors encourage students to use them.
Many students said the new fees will be more of an inconvenience than anything.
"It's a waste of time because you have to go up and pay," sophomore Caroline Choe said. "I should've stocked up last semester."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(11/26/07 5:00am)
When World AIDS Week begins today, more than a dozen campus groups will come together to inform the student body of the deadly disease.
"I just was kind of looking for a project that would help Hillel show to the community that what we consider Jewish values are really human values," said Rachel Harper, chairman of the tzedek committee for N.C. Hillel.
"One thing that we saw that could bring us all together was AIDS work because AIDS doesn't discriminate," Harper said, explaining that "tzedek" basically means "to do the right thing."
Hillel is working with more than 10 other campus organizations, including the Campus Y, Campus Health Services and the UNC Center for AIDS Research, to sponsor World AIDS Week at UNC, bringing in speakers, as well as portions of the AIDS Memorial Quilt.
"It has people on it from every race and religious group that you could think of," Harper said.
Student government's public service action committee is one of the groups involved in planning a vigil as one of the week's events.
"AIDS is a very underrepresented cause, and if we raise awareness more, we can really spread the word and make a difference," said Theresa Schramm, a member of the committee.
As of 2005, there were 11,130 North Carolinians living with HIV and 8,418 affected by full-blown AIDS.
HIV can be transmitted through unprotected sex with an infected partner, transfusion of contaminated blood or shared unsterilized needles. Infected pregnant women also can pass HIV to their unborn children.
"One of our main focuses was to have programming that not only brought up background of the AIDS crisis, but to educate students," Harper said.
Not only are the groups working to educate people about the disease, but they also want to give students an opportunity to explore nonprofit health careers and opportunities.
Harper said she hopes the week will emphasize diversity while connecting students to people through a common issue.
Schramm also said she wants students to feel inspired to help out in the future.
"I just hope that we can affect people to realize how important the issue is and how much work we need in raising money and trying to affect the people that are affected by it," Schramm said.
"Although we may not all be infected with AIDS, we are all affected in a different way."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(11/12/07 5:00am)
With the Board of Trustees set to vote on tuition increases this week, student leaders are encouraging students to speak out in an educated manner.
Student Body President Eve Carson said that she knows students will have opinions about the increases but that she hopes they will approach the talks constructively.
"It's important that students are educated about how the tuition process works," Carson said. "We're not protesting tuition increases."
Tuition hikes have been a heated point of debate in years past, including the last round of increases, when former Student Body President James Allred rallied about 200 students to protest the move.
A group of students showed up at the morning board meeting with signs and costumes. Several addressed the board directly, decrying the increases.
Despite those efforts, the board overwhelmingly approved the increases, raising out-of-state undergraduate tuition by $1,250. Allred's was the only dissenting vote.
The problem with student protests, as Allred's administration learned, is that they rarely affect the administration's decision.
With tuition talks coming unexpectedly two months early this academic year, the Out-of-State Student Association and student government have had to work quickly to inform students of the impending Board of Trustees meetings Wednesday and Thursday.
"It definitely makes it more difficult to mobilize everyone," said Erica Rafferty, vice president of OSSA. "We're just getting new members."
The tuition and fee advisory task force has recommended a nonresident undergraduate tuition increase of between $1,000 to $1,500 and graduate tuition hikes of $800 to $1,500.
The full board will vote Thursday after hearing a recommendation from its audit and finance committee.
Carson is the only student representative on the Board of Trustees, and she said her role at this point in the talks is to encourage students to speak out.
She and Student Body Vice President Mike Tarrant said it will be important this year for students to be well-versed in their arguments against increases.
"We can't predict what students will do," Tarrant said. "But we encourage as many students to come out."
In past years, OSSA has organized a letter-writing campaign in an attempt to convince trustees to vote against increases, but Rafferty said the group won't have time this year to organize another campaign.
"I'm not sure how the Board of Trustees actually responds when they read our letters," she said. "But I think it's great that we can mobilize such a huge number. It just shows how OSSA can band together."
Carson said her vote will be contingent on the figures the trustees' audit and finance committee proposes out of the recommended ranges of increases.
The highest increases Tarrant said he wants to see for out-of-state undergraduate students is $1,250 - the amount tuition was raised last year.
And despite arguments from students last year that trustees already had their minds made up about tuition increases, Carson said she remains hopeful that this year they will consider outside opinions.
"The board will listen to students' arguments," she said. "We need to use this as the opportunity it is."
In the long run, though, Carson said student input will be most helpful in changing the tuition process by emphasizing predictability and a vision for the future.
"We're setting a foundation for future years," Carson said.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(10/29/07 4:00am)
With six months under their belts, Student Body President Eve Carson and her team are confident with the strides they have made since assuming office in April.
(10/25/07 4:00am)
As the flagship university in North Carolina's 16-university system, UNC has a responsibility to serve the people of the state.
And as the first public university, UNC prides itself on being the "University of the People" - a mission emphasized by Carolina Connects, an initiative through which Chancellor James Moeser and other University officials visit N.C. counties to reinforce UNC's relationship with the state.
"A leading public university is an engaged university. It is a university that always puts its state first," Moeser said in his 2004 State of the University address, soon after the program was launched.
Since then, Moeser has visited about three-fourths of the state's 100 counties, focusing on education, economic development and health initiatives. And though the program has expanded in its three years, Mike Smith, vice chancellor for public service and engagement, said a challenge for UNC is connecting with smaller communities.
This year UNC has emphasized globalization, setting international goals with a new Global Leadership Circle. But Moeser said the University can't forget its commitment to the home state.
"We didn't want people to have this image that Chapel Hill was kind of this elitist ivory tower," Moeser said earlier this week. "While we're becoming a global university, we haven't forgotten about service to the state."
Yet while Moeser is engaged in traveling throughout the state, his duties are to serve mostly as the representative of UNC projects.
"There is a public relations aspect to this program. The fact that Carolina's in town, the chancellor is here, so obviously this is a good way to communicate . that UNC's vitally interested and wants to be helpful to whatever the issues are in that local community."
Moeser, who laid the road map for the project, has been the face of Carolina Connects, representing UNC across the state. And when he steps down June 30, his successor will take the wheel, molding the program's future in his or her hands.
Starting the engine
While UNC always has maintained a commitment to the state, Moeser is one of the only UNC-system chancellors to take so much time to canvass the state.
"We made the decision intentionally to intensify our engagement with the state of North Carolina," Moeser said. "One - to demonstrate what we're already doing but also to ask the question of what could we be doing that we're not."
During the rest of the academic year, Moeser and his team plan to make 50 visits around the state, which is more than in past years.
Since the program's inception in 2004, Moeser's visits have taken him from Jackson County in the west all the way to Morehead City on the eastern coast. Having the chancellor make appearances helps highlight UNC's statewide connection.
"I'm not aware of any other campus where the chancellors have done a grand tour of campuses or counties throughout North Carolina," said Leslie Boney, associate vice president for economic development research, policy and planning for the UNC system.
Some schools are connecting to the state in other ways, but it's difficult for chancellors to get out and visit with state citizens personally.
"It's very unusual that a chancellor who has so many demands on his time would take such a huge amount of time," Smith said. "It sends a very strong message to the community that Carolina cares about what is going on."
On the road
Although the chancellor's visits focus on three main points, Smith said the point of Carolina Connects is to highlight many areas.
"There's not a very defined, ingrained focus because part of the focus is the breadth of the things Carolina is doing across the state."
Moeser's stops have included local high schools where he talks to students about college while touting the Carolina Covenant program, which ensures that low-income students can graduate debt-free.
The point is not to recruit students to UNC but instead to encourage higher education in general. Moeser said most of the schools he visits are in areas where attending college is not always the norm.
At a visit to KIPP Gaston College Preparatory School earlier this month, Moeser talked to middle and high school students who have made a commitment to attending college.
"He was really presenting a picture of how kids need to have a broad range of academic and outside interests to really be college-bound," said Caleb Dolan, one of KIPP's founders and the middle school principal. "It's something that we tell our kids a lot, but coming from another voice - and a voice that's had so much to do with higher education - was exciting."
Gaston County, where the school is located, is known for having a wide education and economic disparity as compared to the rest of the state. More than 70 percent of KIPP's students qualify for free lunch programs and come from an area where attending college isn't the norm.
"They don't come from a background where everyone goes to college. And now the person in charge of the college comes and says 'Yeah, you can do it,' - it's just the coolest thing," Smith said, noting that UNC doesn't measure success by the number of students who go to college.
Uncharted territory
While there are still areas of the state that have yet to see the chancellor, such as the western edge, Smith said the program's aim is not necessarily to make it to all 100 counties but to strengthen the ties UNC already has with specific counties.
"The focus was, 'Let's find good programs in communities where Carolina's making a difference,'" he said.
With his impending resignation, Moeser said he can't predict the future of the program but noted the importance of its continuing.
"The next chancellor needs to do something very similar," Smith said. "He or she needs to be willing to go . and listen to people in the state. Then it becomes more of a partnership; not only are we going out and listening, but we're responding."
And with the economic changes occurring in the state, Smith said being aware of UNC's surroundings is vital. "It's even more important than ever that the people of North Carolina understand that this chancellor and this university remain committed to them."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
Next: Faculty relations
(10/25/07 4:00am)
As the flagship university in North Carolina's 16-university system, UNC has a responsibility to serve the people of the state.
And as the first public university, UNC prides itself on being the "University of the People" - a mission emphasized by Carolina Connects, an initiative through which Chancellor James Moeser and other University officials visit N.C. counties to reinforce UNC's relationship with the state.
"A leading public university is an engaged university. It is a university that always puts its state first," Moeser said in his 2004 State of the University address, soon after the program was launched.
Since then, Moeser has visited about three-fourths of the state's 100 counties, focusing on education, economic development and health initiatives. And though the program has expanded in its three years, Mike Smith, vice chancellor for public service and engagement, said a challenge for UNC is connecting with smaller communities.
This year UNC has emphasized globalization, setting international goals with a new Global Leadership Circle. But Moeser said the University can't forget its commitment to the home state.
"We didn't want people to have this image that Chapel Hill was kind of this elitist ivory tower," Moeser said earlier this week. "While we're becoming a global university, we haven't forgotten about service to the state."
Yet while Moeser is engaged in traveling throughout the state, his duties are to serve mostly as the representative of UNC projects.
"There is a public relations aspect to this program. The fact that Carolina's in town, the chancellor is here, so obviously this is a good way to communicate . that UNC's vitally interested and wants to be helpful to whatever the issues are in that local community."
Moeser, who laid the road map for the project, has been the face of Carolina Connects, representing UNC across the state. And when he steps down June 30, his successor will take the wheel, molding the program's future in his or her hands.
Starting the engine
While UNC always has maintained a commitment to the state, Moeser is one of the only UNC-system chancellors to take so much time to canvass the state.
"We made the decision intentionally to intensify our engagement with the state of North Carolina," Moeser said. "One - to demonstrate what we're already doing but also to ask the question of what could we be doing that we're not."
During the rest of the academic year, Moeser and his team plan to make 50 visits around the state, which is more than in past years.
Since the program's inception in 2004, Moeser's visits have taken him from Jackson County in the west all the way to Morehead City on the eastern coast. Having the chancellor make appearances helps highlight UNC's statewide connection.
"I'm not aware of any other campus where the chancellors have done a grand tour of campuses or counties throughout North Carolina," said Leslie Boney, associate vice president for economic development research, policy and planning for the UNC system.
Some schools are connecting to the state in other ways, but it's difficult for chancellors to get out and visit with state citizens personally.
"It's very unusual that a chancellor who has so many demands on his time would take such a huge amount of time," Smith said. "It sends a very strong message to the community that Carolina cares about what is going on."
On the road
Although the chancellor's visits focus on three main points, Smith said the point of Carolina Connects is to highlight many areas.
"There's not a very defined, ingrained focus because part of the focus is the breadth of the things Carolina is doing across the state."
Moeser's stops have included local high schools where he talks to students about college while touting the Carolina Covenant program, which ensures that low-income students can graduate debt-free.
The point is not to recruit students to UNC but instead to encourage higher education in general. Moeser said most of the schools he visits are in areas where attending college is not always the norm.
At a visit to KIPP Gaston College Preparatory School earlier this month, Moeser talked to middle and high school students who have made a commitment to attending college.
"He was really presenting a picture of how kids need to have a broad range of academic and outside interests to really be college-bound," said Caleb Dolan, one of KIPP's founders and the middle school principal. "It's something that we tell our kids a lot, but coming from another voice - and a voice that's had so much to do with higher education - was exciting."
Gaston County, where the school is located, is known for having a wide education and economic disparity as compared to the rest of the state. More than 70 percent of KIPP's students qualify for free lunch programs and come from an area where attending college isn't the norm.
"They don't come from a background where everyone goes to college. And now the person in charge of the college comes and says 'Yeah, you can do it,' - it's just the coolest thing," Smith said, noting that UNC doesn't measure success by the number of students who go to college.
Uncharted territory
While there are still areas of the state that have yet to see the chancellor, such as the western edge, Smith said the program's aim is not necessarily to make it to all 100 counties but to strengthen the ties UNC already has with specific counties.
"The focus was, 'Let's find good programs in communities where Carolina's making a difference,'" he said.
With his impending resignation, Moeser said he can't predict the future of the program but noted the importance of its continuing.
"The next chancellor needs to do something very similar," Smith said. "He or she needs to be willing to go . and listen to people in the state. Then it becomes more of a partnership; not only are we going out and listening, but we're responding."
And with the economic changes occurring in the state, Smith said being aware of UNC's surroundings is vital. "It's even more important than ever that the people of North Carolina understand that this chancellor and this university remain committed to them."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
Next: Faculty relations
(10/12/07 4:00am)
On the University's 214th birthday, administrators will dedicate a flagship global education building that will serve as one of UNC's links beyond the limits of Chapel Hill.
Two-hundred fourteen years ago, the first cornerstone was laid on the Old East foundation, marking the first building for the nation's first public university.
And today the FedEx Global Education Center will formally become a part of UNC's campus to serve as a hub for all things international.
When the University began, people hardly traveled farther than the confines of the state.
Since then, the borders of North Carolina have become virtually limitless, allowing UNC students to explore the world around them while attempting to attract more international focus to the Tar Heel state.
And while UNC is making strides in defying borders, attracting the rest of the world to the Tar Heel state remains an ongoing project.
Launching a world campus
With a rapidly expanding global economy and marketplace, students and faculty are hard-pressed to keep up with everything going on in the corners of the world.
"Globalization is probably one of the biggest factors that has contributed to the current competitive environment that students find themselves graduating into," said Holden Thorp, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. "I think if students want to understand their circumstances - understanding internationalization is critical."
Kathryn Goforth, acting associate director for advising in the Study Abroad Office, said that no matter what the major, students should consider going abroad during their undergraduate careers.
"It's going to give you a totally different perspective than if you stay here in Chapel Hill," she said. "I think it makes our University degree have more depth to it."
But UNC's global initiative is not tied solely to students studying around the world. In conjunction with the University's mission of public service, there are international opportunities to lend a hand.
As part of the senior class campaign, the 2008 class will donate money to Carolina for Kibera, which works to fight poverty and combat health issues in Kenya.
The University's concern extends even as far as international health policies. Across UNC's medical schools there are programs in more than 50 countries.
Those international efforts, which span the curriculum and research efforts of faculty and students, will continue to be a major University focus as the years press on.
"I think when you look at what we're trying to do intellectually in describing the problems of the world and trying to inspire people to go figure out solutions to them - it's as important as any aspect of what we do," Thorp said.
Completing the package
With nearly all departments and schools on campus engaging in some sort of international work, UNC has launched itself into the global sphere - but has yet to find its niche.
Marjorie Crowell, assistant provost for international affairs, said international work has been going on for years. Now it's just on a different scale.
"There was never a centralized place . that could strategically connect the dots so the different parts of campus knew what was going on," Crowell said.
During the past several years more international opportunities for students have been available. Since 2002, offerings have increased from about 240 to 300 programs.
"It's a life-changing experience," Goforth said. "I know that sounds cliche, but it really, really is."
The Kenan-Flagler Business School has a flagship Global Learning Opportunities in Business Education program, which allows undergraduate business students to study in North America, Europe and Asia.
"When it's all said and done, that complete package is very unique," said Jeff Cannon, director of the BSBA program for Kenan-Flagler.
Bringing the focus home
While UNC strives to place students around the world, one of the main areas officials see as a pitfall to the University's globalization effort is in bringing the world to North Carolina.
With an undergraduate international student population that reaches just 1 percent of about 26,000 students, UNC continues to look for ways to entice students to campus while also working with the 82 percent government-mandated in-state student enrollment cap.
"I think it's a challenge, but I'd like to see an increase in the number of international undergrad students," Crowell said. "As a state university we set that cap, and we have to respect that, and so we have to figure ways to work with that."
And though UNC remains a competitive university in several areas, the campus continues to lag behind its peers when it comes to the number of undergraduate international students.
For example, the University of Virginia's international students make up 5 percent of the total undergraduate population, though its out-of-state enrollment cap is higher than UNC's.
And international students aren't the only commodity UNC is looking for. International faculty bring a different perspective to the University in how they approach their topics and disciplines.
"My impression is we don't do enough to attract talent from around the world," said Niklaus Steiner, director of the Center for Global Initiatives. "Higher education is increasingly globalized, and there's a global search for talent."
Thorp said it will be a challenge prioritizing issues to tackle in the coming years.
"I think it's pretty obvious that we would be kidding ourselves if we thought we could ignore this whole thing."
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(09/27/07 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In his seventh State of the University address Wednesday, Chancellor James Moeser declared the University to be in an "excellent state."
University progress
Moeser outlined several of the University's accomplishments from the past year. From the Carolina First Campaign breaking its goal of raising $2 billion to a $5 million gift to the Honors Program, he said the fundraising efforts on campus have been the largest in UNC's history.
The money donated during the past year will benefit many areas on campus and will keep UNC at the cutting edge of competition with its peer institutions.
Carolina North, the proposed multiuse satellite campus, is also an integral piece in the future of the University, Moeser said.
"Finally after years of study and conversation, we are ready to begin," he said. The Board of Trustees approved concept plans for the campus Wednesday.
This campus will place UNC firmly in the 21st century, he said.
Outside the realm of Chapel Hill, Moeser said the University must continue to stretch internationally. With as many global initiatives as UNC has, it's important to keep those going, he said.
"UNC must be a presence in the world so that North Carolina can compete in the world," Moeser said. "It's as simple as that."
Challenges ahead
Moeser outlined four main points that he said he thinks are going to be important to monitor.
(09/27/07 4:00am)
Chancellor James Moeser announced Wednesday that he will relinquish his position, effective June 30.
(09/10/07 4:00am)
UNC is moving closer to getting its records in the 21st century.
Several University departments have signed up to be preliminary test groups for a new payroll system that will go from paper to computers.
"It's a time and attendance system," said Jill Crowder, an employee member of the steering committee reviewing the system. "Currently we're on a scout's-honor system," she said of the manual tracking system that departments have been using for many years.
Kim Curtis, senior project manager for the time information management system project, said the new payroll system will streamline the current system and create less work for payroll and human-resources employees.
"The design of the system is really geared toward making it more efficient in helping managers plan for staffing needs," Curtis said. "Along the way, you get the benefit of that feeding into the payroll system automatically."
The preliminary test groups will represent about 500 employees on campus. Department employees will log their hours into a computer terminal using their Onyen and password.
"We built the system to emulate what the paper does," Curtis said, noting the elimination of human error that comes with sifting through piles of paperwork.
When the computer system was announced in the spring, some members of the Employee Forum voiced opposition because they thought it would give supervisors too much control.
Phase one of the program is set to be implemented by Oct. 15 in three areas including Information and Technology Services, the Department of Psychology and the Office of Arts and Sciences Information Services.
Departments that are not equipped to use computer terminals, such as the Department of Public Safety and the Facilities Services department, will be clocking their hours through badge terminals where employees will swipe their One Cards.
"The badge terminals are going to be used where employees wouldn't normally have access to a computer," Curtis said.
While the badge terminals have yet to be implemented, the system already has encountered glitches.
The scannable barcodes on employees' One Cards were misaligned, making them not compatible with the time-clocking stations. Last spring the University had to reprint about 1,500 cards, free of charge to employees.
Project officials have resolved the problem and plan to distribute new cards as employees go through system training.
UNC Hospitals already uses a similar program and has been on an electronic payroll for more than five years.
"There's a lot of people who are really excited over it," Curtis said. "I haven't had too much as far as negativity. . Overall I think everyone understands it's a very time-consuming process to run all the papers through."
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(08/30/07 4:00am)
Miles from the disaster area where Hurricane Katrina struck two years ago, images of the wreckage still resonate with the UNC community.
Students met in the Pit on Wednesday night, standing in silence to honor the efforts that have been made to rebuild an entire region.
With lit votive candles and purple ribbons representing the city of New Orleans, a group of almost 50 students watched in silence as pictures of the post-Katrina area rolled across a screen.
"If you'd asked me two years ago if we'd still be going at this intensity, I'd have said no," said senior Mary Small, of the outpouring of support in the Pit. "I'm really unbelievably encouraged this year."
Small is a member of Extended Disaster Relief, a campus organization that has made nine trips to the Gulf Coast region since the hurricane hit.
But at the same time, she noted that many students have forgotten the anniversary of the costliest natural disaster in the nation's history.
"I feel like it's one of those things that's a huge problem that everyone's moved on from," said sophomore Ashley Klein, adding that New Orleans still hasn't recovered entirely.
After spending six weeks in Louisiana this summer, Klein said she felt a real connection to the city and its people.
She said that she was encouraged by the number of people who turned out for the vigil but that she thought the whole Pit should have been filled.
"I mean, look at the number of people who turned up for the Pit breakup," she said.
For many UNC students the connection to the Gulf Coast region has been through disaster relief trips and sporadic news coverage.
"It's always hard to connect with issues that don't really affect you," said, sophomore Amy Zhang, a New Orleans native.
Though Zhang moved away from New Orleans before the hurricane hit, she said it will always be home to her.
She went back this past summer for an internship and still is trying to process the gravity of the situation.
"I do plan on going back more often," Zhang said. "When it comes to human condition like this, a human is a human, and you can't forget their condition."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(08/29/07 4:00am)
In a concerted effort to keep up with the University's sustainability efforts, Carolina North officials addressed environmentally conscious measures at a community meeting Tuesday.
The meeting marks the final community presentation before officials present the plans to UNC's Board of Trustees in late September.
Since the last presentation to the trustees in July, Jack Evans, executive director of the project, said there have been only minor refinements to the land-use plan.
Carolina North is UNC's proposed multiuse satellite campus slated to be constructed on a 900-acre tract of land, where Horace Williams Airport now sits. The complex will include research facilities, a transportation system and housing.
Waste and rainwater management are important issues to consider for a project the size of Carolina North, said John d'Epagnier of RK&K Engineers, who is involved in planning the satellite campus.
"We've taken to heart the University's stance that this will be a sustainable project," he said.
Water plans include reusing undrinkable water to irrigate fields, flush toilets and cool buildings. Officials also have proposed on-site wastewater treatment facilities.
Developers and engineers are talking with Orange Water and Sewer Authority and UNC's Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering about working in tandem to complete these green projects.
Because the complex will include labs, which are huge energy consumers, planners have had to look at different energy options.
Despite energy specialists' research into free resources, such as solar and wind energy, powering the entire development by these means is not entirely feasible, said Jerry Schuett of Affiliated Engineers Inc.
"The area we're in isn't conducive to capturing wind energy," he said.
Instead, a more viable option being proposed is the creation of a central energy plant that can cut down on energy wasted in transmission from station to station.
The energy and water options presented at the meeting will not all be implemented in phase one of construction, but officials want to build the infrastructure during preliminary phases to implement the projects at a later date, d'Epagnier said.
Following the trustees' next meeting in September, officials likely will hold one more meeting to brief community members, Evans said.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(08/27/07 4:00am)
In the 87 years since the 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote, females have made great strides.
Sunday was Women's Equality Day, and the Carolina Women's Center will celebrate the passage of the amendment today, coupling it with efforts to register female voters.
"Women have only had the right to vote quite recently," said Donna Bickford, director of the center. "(The day) is also a good way to draw attention to women's equality at the beginning of the semester."
Volunteers from the center will set up from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today in Polk Place with a representative from the Orange County Board of Elections to help facilitate voter registration.
"We haven't always had this equality, legally speaking," said Meghan Morris, co-chairwoman of Feminist Students United. "Just in general, it's not often recognized, and it's something that people could do a better job of recognizing."
Morris said that because of the relatively short time that women have been casting ballots, the registration drive is an empowering effort - for both men and women.
"We're encouraging people to vote - encourage people to register," said Barry Garner, director of elections in Orange County.
While the Board of Elections does not target specific demographics when conducting registration drives, Garner noted the importance of registering to vote.
"The right to vote is sacred - whether it's for women, men, minorities," he said. "It's something we should be aware of because a lot of our grandparents did not have that opportunity."
The day is celebrated annually on Aug. 26, and the effort to create a national day was begun in the early 1970s by former U.S. Rep. Bella Abzug.
Despite having previously celebrated the day, Bickford said this year's celebration will push more than just the theme of equality.
The celebration is also a continuation of the women's center's 10th anniversary, which Bickford said will be advertised with commemorative T-shirts and coffee mugs designed specifically for the anniversary.
She also said she thinks being out in Polk Place is a good way to promote upcoming events, such as the 10th anniversary keynote speaker, UNC alumna Wendy Gebauer Palladino, in September.
The day also serves as a time to celebrate the strides women have made toward equality during the past several decades.
"We're in an important historical moment where we've made a tremendous amount of progress," Bickford said. "Yet there's still a tremendous way to go."
She noted the persistence of the gender gap in the corporate world and Congress and continuing salary differences between men and women.
"You can see a real disproportion," she said. "We still do not have access to all the top echelons of power."
But there will be more than just a lesson in history, Bickford said.
"We see this as a time to celebrate the progress we've made and reinvigorate ourselves about the work we need to continue to do."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
IF?YOU?GO
Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today
Location: Polk Place
Info: womenscenter.unc.edu/events
(08/24/07 4:00am)
As students get into the groove of classes, many are also starting to search for moneymaking opportunities close to home.
And with a university as large as UNC, the problem is knowing where to look.
University Career Services is helping with the hunt by sponsoring a part-time job fair Thursday in the Great Hall of the Student Union.
"We have it a week after the first day of class so students have an opportunity to go to class for a week and see the types of time constraints they have," said Emily Strader, student-employment coordinator with career services.
She said the fair will bring in more than 50 businesses and organizations from both on and off campus.
Landing jobs on campus can be hard because there are 1,100 students employed with federal work-study, and they get first crack at campus jobs designated as work-study programs.
Jobs on campus that aren't work-study typically pay minimum wage, but students can work their way up to higher rates.
"The campus has a lot of opportunities for students, and much of it is taken up in work-study," Strader said. "The non-work-study jobs are pretty much at a premium."
Some of the largest independent employers of students on campus include the libraries, the Department of Housing and Residential Education and the Carolina Union.
"We really try to get (students) off campus because the pay is much higher," Strader said.
Studies that focus on students who hold jobs while at school have questioned the benefits of working while juggling course loads.
According to studies compiled by the University of Central Florida, one study found that students who worked between one and 15 hours per week had a slightly higher grade point average. But others indicated that employment has an adverse effect on academic performance.
Despite potential pitfalls, many students pursue employment during the semester, especially on campus.
"I don't have a car, so it's just a lot easier to get to," said Jesse Capehart, a cashier at Alpine Bagel Cafe.
Convenience isn't the only reason students choose not to stray from campus. Employer flexibility helps balance a job and academics.
"I think campus employers are also very respectful of class schedules and know that students are students first," personnel librarian Tiffany Allen said.
Senior Alana Tucker, student manager of The Daily Grind, said the on-campus coffee shop has a unique atmosphere. "It's like a family - and you can tell that from the outside."
The Daily Grind employs about 21 students between the main campus location and its new shop in the Global Education Center, owner Jane Brown said, adding that the coffee shop is looking to hire a few more in the next few weeks.
"I have such a great group of people to choose from, it makes it difficult to choose."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(08/23/07 4:00am)
It's the beginning of the end for the future graduates of 2008, and senior class officers are working to make it a memorable year.
This year's senior events will kick off today with a bar night at He's Not Here.
Senior Class President Ashley Shores and Vice President Veronica Mora have been working on formulating and implementing fundraising ideas throughout the summer.
"The main things we did were design the senior class shirt, which ended up being really successful," Shores said.
"For the senior class the shirts are a really big deal," she said, adding that the T-shirts are a big source of funding.
Class of 2008 shirts went on sale at Fall Fest, Shores said, noting that the shirts brought in about $6, 600 in one night. Shirts also will be sold tonight at He's Not.
At this point last year, senior class officers just had an outline of events they wanted to hold during the course of the semester, said Meg Petersen, 2006-07 senior class president.
Shores said she and Mora also have signed a contract with Habitat for Humanity to build a Class of 2008 house in Hillsborough.
Last year's class officers started the trend of building a Habitat house for a class service project. The projects are intended as an alternate way to bring seniors together.
Petersen said she and former Senior Class Vice President Eric Schmidt planned events to encourage participation in nonalcoholic activities.
And this year's seniors are following suit.
"We definitely want to incorporate as much of our class as possible," said Andy McNulty, chairman of the social committee. "We really want to hear from the senior class and not have it be the senior marshals putting on events."
To launch fundraising for the Habitat build, Shores said senior class officials have planned a benefit concert slated to be held in Memorial Hall sometime in November.
In addition to the already-scheduled bar nights, plans are in the works for other events, such as a field day Sept. 15. The event, which will be on Ehringhaus Field, will be "old-school" fun for all seniors.
In terms of planning for the whole year, Shores said she and Mora think that they are on track with their goals.
McNulty added that he hopes to bring a sense of unity to the class.
"I hope they take away a sense of togetherness and a sense of kinship with their class."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
IF?YOU?GO
Time: 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. today
Location: He's Not Here
Info: http://seniors.unc.edu