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(04/27/10 3:57am)
A small group of students, a faculty representative and two housekeepers met with Chancellor Holden Thorp on Monday in an attempt to conquer a host of perennial issues in one fell swoop.The group arrived at South Building armed with packets of research, several homemade posters and one clear goal: to get Thorp’s signature beside each of their 11 demands.The resolution requested immediate action on everything from graduate students’ compensation and housekeeping operations to undocumented students’ tuition and the contract for the Wendy’s slated for the Student Union.But Thorp, who was returning from meetings with legislators in Raleigh and arrived 20 minutes late, quickly indicated that he would act on the requests at his own pace.“I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear: I don’t come to a meeting like this with a list like this and agree to do that at the same meeting,” Thorp said.He flatly rejected three demands asking that he advocate:-For the N.C. General Assembly to repeal a 1959 statute that prohibits public entities from entering agreements with labor unions.-For all state schools to accept in-state tuition, rather than out-of-state tuition, for undocumented students.-For a larger temporary income tax surcharge on the state’s wealthiest individuals.“The governor doesn’t need me to tell her how to do her job,” Thorp said. “I’m not going to be able to help you with that. I’m not a politician.”Sophomore Laurel Ashton presented the request that all administrators’ salaries be capped at $150,000, about a third of Thorp’s current salary — a scenario he said was impossible if UNC wanted any chance of hiring leaders in the future.“Capping the administrative salaries isn’t going to happen. … We’ve got to make it appealing to be an administrator at UNC, especially right now,” Thorp said.Graduate student Heather Branstetter emphasized to Thorp the benefits of removing salary limits for graduate students and providing funding for graduate students for up to 12 semesters, two semesters more than the current limit for doctoral students.“It’s crucial that we don’t have talented graduate students going off to other graduate schools because they are better supported there,” she said.While he addressed several of the group’s demands, Thorp also had a request of his own: more time to research the other proposals. By the meeting’s end, both parties had reached a sort of harmony despite their disagreements.“This was definitely a better forum than a protest,” Thorp said following the meeting.Contact the University Editor at udesk@email.unc.edu.
(01/27/10 6:10am)
1:40 p.m. Jan. 27: Due to a reporting error, an earlier version of this interactive program included an incorrect platform for student body president candidate Nash Keune. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for the error.
(04/08/09 4:00am)
It was a party for all ages.School children and middle-aged men played hooky grandmothers showed up with grandchildren and students some of whom had just rolled out of bed met in the Smith Center on Tuesday to welcome home the 2009 national champions.UNC fans had been waiting to welcome their heroes home since Monday night when it became clear that one of the most accomplished men's basketball teams in school history would beat Michigan State to clinch a fifth NCAA title.And when the players coaches and staff finally arrived at about 2:45 p.m." the crowd erupted into a flurry of chants and cheers.""We're national champs"" senior forward Tyler Hansbrough said. It's the best feeling in the world.""Their introductions were filled with statistics and accomplishments"" but only one was on the forefront of everyone's mind.""We did it"" y'all!"" senior forward Danny Green said to the crowd of about 13""000. ""But the way that we did it — did you see how we did it?""The five scholarship seniors and coach Roy Williams took turns at the microphone" thanking one another and the fans.When they stumbled with their words like senior forward Mike Copeland who repeatedly said he was speechless" the crowd filled in the gaps with cheers.And Green danced one last time to a roaring crowd.""I think because the seniors wanted it so badly" everyone wanted it for them" said Yvonne Daugherty, who attended UNC during the '82 NCAA Championship win. So that's why people are still excited.""A jovial Chancellor Holden Thorp addressed the team"" expressing the crowd's sentiment.""On behalf of the University of North Carolina and by the power vested in me by the state of North Carolina"" he said, We love you.""The 89-72 score" still burning brightly on the Smith Center scoreboards" seemed to be a redemption for last year's 18-point loss to Kansas in the Final Four.""These boys have been fighting since they lost out last year"" said Jimmy Sessons, whose granddaughter graduated from UNC in December. This year"" they were not going to lose.""Fans and players repeatedly referenced Tuesday how the empty space in the rafters next to the 2005 national championship banner made everything look unbalanced.That problem can now be remedied.Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(02/24/09 5:00am)
Some retired UNC faculty are willing to give up fishing trips and free time to return to the classroom next year — even without pay.The UNC Retired Faculty Association approved a resolution at its Feb. 17 meeting offering to teach courses and perform other faculty duties such as grant-writing without compensation.They plan to bring their resolution to Chancellor Holden Thorp in the next couple of weeks as an attempt to mitigate the impact of potential budget cuts next year.Employee furloughs or layoffs" increased class sizes and reduced research capabilities have been named as possible consequences of a tighter budget next year.""The association does not want the quality of the University to be compromised" and doesn't want the educational experiences of the students to be sacrificed under the current economic conditions" said Andrew Dobelstein, president-elect of the association and former professor of social work.The association, formed in 1986, is a group of about 700 retired faculty that seeks ways to maintain meaningful connections to UNC.Dobelstein said involvement would be completely voluntary, and he wasn't sure how many retirees might be interested in returning.But he has heard mostly positive responses from retired faculty so far, he said.Professor Emeritus Thad Beyle, 74, is officially retired but continues to teach political science courses.He said that he would be glad to return next year for free just to help out.""The association includes faculty from almost every discipline" and many have remained involved with their areas of study during retirement" Dobelstein said.""Sure" they're not going to be as sharp as some of the new people coming out but it's not as if they're duds either" he said.While the proposal might sound like a win-win, Joe Templeton, chairman of the faculty, said the situation isn't as simple as inviting former professors back into the classroom.Before accepting any retired faculty, administrators would have to carefully review whether state and University guidelines would permit them to step into the same roles they did before, Templeton said.UNC also would have to consider how the move would be viewed by the University's accreditor, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which has strict guidelines about the effectiveness and qualifications of faculty.The Faculty Council has not discussed the proposal yet.If administrators approve the idea, the association will conduct a survey to match interested members with the positions that UNC needs.Dobelstein said he wasn't sure what Thorp and other administrators would think of the idea.The chancellor is really a very capable person" he said. If this is something that he can make use of he'll make use of it … If he just says ‘Thank you no thank you" that's his call.""Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(02/16/09 5:00am)
At least 706 students will have priority registration when they sign up for fall classes the priority registration advisory committee decided Friday.Those students — about 2.5 percent of the student body — were determined to have exceptional difficulties with class scheduling because of learning disabilities athletic practices or other significant time commitments.They will be allowed to register the same day as others in their class but at the earliest time slot.Eight committee members including two students" reviewed groups' applications for more than three hours and voted on each one.""What they're trying to determine to the best they can is"" does this individual have a more difficult time getting a viable schedule because they are involved in an activity?"" said University Registrar Alice Poehls"" committee chairwoman.The committee based decisions on a number of considerations:- The amount of time students would have available for classes;- Whether the students have required courses for their activity;- Whether the athletic team shares facilities;- Whether students have required study sessions;- And whether the athletic team will be competing during the fall.The committee also reviewed sample schedules for each group.""I make my decisions based on the information that's in front of me"" said junior David Bevevino, a committee member. If two groups that seem similar don't give me the same information"" I can't judge them the same way.""There is no numerical limit on how many students the committee can approve" but the policy recommends that no more than 25 percent of seats in a course should be available for priority registration. The eight groups that were not approved will have an opportunity to appeal to the committee on Friday.When groups appealed last year the committee did not reverse any decisions" Poehls said.""That's not meant to be a precedent"" she said.This is the committee's third semester determining which groups will receive priority registration. Before the committee was created, deans could recommend individual students for priority registration as part of an informal system.Professor Steve Reznick, who was chairman of the task force that created the policy, said that he was glad that priority registration is being addressed explicitly, but that changes still need to be made.What we have done is moved toward developing a policy that works"" Reznick said. We are very proud to be at a University that wants to do this right."" Groups approved for priority registration- Academic success program for students with LD/ADHD- Baseball- Basketball (men and women)- Cross country (men and women)- Field hockey- Football- Golf (men and women)- Lacrosse (men and women)- Rowing (varsity and novice)- Soccer (men and women)- Tennis (men and women)- Track and field (men and women)- Volleyball- Wrestling- Athletic training- Disability support services- Education - elementary- Robertson Scholars- Navy ROTC Groups not approved- Fencing (men and women)- Gymnastics- Softball- Swimming and diving (men and women)- Education — child development and family studies- Education — middle grades- Air Force ROTC- Army ROTCContact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(01/22/09 5:00am)
The Student Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday about whether the Board of Elections was justified in fining student body president candidate Matt Wohlford for campaign violations.The Court plans to release its decision today or Monday.Wohlford brought the case after the board issued his campaign a $40 fine on Oct. 5 for holding a meeting at the Campus Y and speaking to The Daily Tar Heel.Candidate Ashley Klein was also fined $40 for the same offenses. Her case heard by the court in November affirmed the elections board's ability to interpret elections law but also led to a 70 percent reduction of her fine.Although Klein and Wohlford's violations were the same the candidates' distinct arguments against the fines created two very different cases.While Klein challenged the board's authority to interpret laws Wohlford argued that the elections board did not follow the correct process in issuing his fine.The defense led by Val Tenyotkin vice chairman of the Board of Elections maintained that the process" although not a ""traditional investigation"" was done lawfully.When the alleged violations occurred, elections board Chairman Ryan Morgan was the board's only member — other members had not yet been hired.Because Wohlford admitted in a conversation with Morgan to having a meeting and speaking with The Daily Tar Heel, Morgan did not investigate further when the elections board was hired.There were five other members of the Board of Elections who did not get to see Matt. They heard it secondhand"" said Andrew Pham, who acted as counsel to Wohlford.When the full board met in closed session in October to determine his fine, Wohlford said he wasn't even aware the meeting was taking place and had no opportunity to defend himself.Morgan added that he thought the meeting was closed lawfully according to the Student Code. N.C. Open Meetings Law requires that government bodies cite one of nine specific reasons to legally close a meeting, which did not happen.Tenyotkin argued that the admission of holding the meeting and interviewing required no further investigation.No defense can be admitted against an admission" he said.The fine is irrelevant Tenyotkin said during the hearing. What matters is the precedent this sets: Can the chairman investigate alone" or can he not investigate alone?"" Tenyotkin said.The fine will be truly irrelevant if Wohlford is not officially certified as a candidate.As of Thursday night" Wohlford was short of the 800 signatures required to be listed on the ballot according to the Board of Elections.He said he will continue gathering the signatures he lacks until the 5 p.m. deadline today.Wohlford declined to comment on the hearing" saying that Tenyotkin warned him that an interview would be considered a violation of elections law.But Morgan said afterward that he was ""pretty optimistic"" that the court would rule in favor of the elections board.Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(11/20/08 5:00am)
Spray-painted phrases such as ""Go Pack"" we eat rams 4 lunch"" and profanities marred the brick paths near Rams Head Dining Hall on Thursday.The graffiti" presumably painted by N.C. State University students" follows years of pranks leading up to athletic face-offs and met a mixed response.""It wasn't terribly creative"" said Doug Dibbert, president of the General Alumni Association, as he read the markings. It seems to me there's a difference between vandalism and pranks that are not destruction of property.""The UNC Department of Public Safety was alerted to the incident around 7 a.m. and is investigating the crime" spokesman Randy Young said.Officers patrol campus each night but Young said he did not know what time the painting might have taken place. Any students with information should call public safety at 962-3951.UNC Building Services could not be reached to say how or when the graffiti will be removed. The paint remained on the paths Thursday evening.Early Wednesday morning 16 Carolina Fever members painted N.C. State's Free Expression Tunnel blue — which is legal.In February the Old Well was quickly repainted after it was splashed with red paint the day of a UNC-N.C. State basketball game.In 2005 the N.C. State logo was painted on the Bell Tower and other parts of campus" and the vandals were apprehended.Thursday's retaliation disappointed UNC senior Jade Verheije.""I think it's taking it too far" she said. It's just a game" really.""Sophomore Evan Watchempino" a transfer student from the University of California at Los Angeles said he barely noticed the words which blended in among the bricks.He said the latest prank paled in comparison to the UCLA-University of Southern California rivalry where students would pull fire alarms or spray pepper spray at games.N.C. State Senior Class President Adam Compton who comes from a seven-generation line of UNC graduates" called the vandalism childish.""It's disappointing that State students or whoever it was would stoop that low"" he said. Go put up fliers. Go do something else instead of doing something where someone else is going to have to clean up after you. It's kind of immature.""Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(11/18/08 5:00am)
A record-setting 1,828 students had signed up to dance at the 11th annual UNC Dance Marathon as of Monday morning — 50 percent more than last year.I knew it was completely possible" but I'm still thrilled" said Gabby Tucci, morale chairwoman for the marathon.Last year, 1,196 students signed up and raised more than $320,000, making Dance Marathon the University's largest student-led fundraiser.Dancer recruiters were out in full force last week, grabbing everyone they could to participate in the marathon, which gathers money for patients and families of the N.C. Children's Hospital in Chapel Hill.The months of fundraising culminate on Feb. 20 and 21 at Fetzer Gym, where students must dance — or at least stand — for 24 hours.Tucci said they used the same tactics to gather dancers as they have in past years, but to a greater degree.They were present daily in the Pit and made their cause known on South Campus, at Kenan-Flagler Business School and at intramural games, coaxing students into participating for the kids.""""They did a really good job of publicizing it this year and letting it be known how successful it is"" said first-year student Claire Bradley, who signed up to dance. Even before I came to school here I knew about it.""Although they still are accepting dancers" organizers now are focusing on planning and helping the dancers raise money.They suggest holding cookouts or spaghetti dinners begging grandparents or digging under couch cushions to gather money. Each dancer pledges to raise at least $100.To keep the excitement alive Dance Marathon organizers are planning to hold a dancer appreciation day Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Pit" which will include card-making for children at the hospital.""The dancers really want to be more connected to the cause"" Publicity Chairman Sam Lau said.For those who left their dancing shoes at home, Dance Marathon organizers will begin recruiting moralers and volunteers Jan. 12.Overall Coordinator Jenna Brooks said organizers are astounded by the number of students who have gotten involved, and anticipate many more will sign up to help.It says a lot about the students we have here"" Brooks said.
(09/17/08 4:00am)
Students are excited about the possibility of a Latina/o center at UNC but University administrators want to proceed more cautiously.More than 75 students and faculty attended a forum Tuesday night to discuss possibilities for the center.Despite their enthusiasm and past support from South Building current administrators have committed only to studying the idea.The center is one of two student recommendations included in the University's response to UNC Tomorrow which outlines how the UNC system can help meet the state's needs in the next 20 years.In April as administrators were preparing the University's response to UNC Tomorrow Chancellor Holden Thorp then-dean of the College of Arts and Sciences expressed reservations about the necessity of the center.In an e-mail sent to Vice Chancellor for Public Service and Engagement Mike Smith" Thorp explained his reasoning:""With the curriculum in Latin American Studies and the Center for the Americas" it's not clear what is missing" Thorp wrote. I'd hate to create the perception that we have a problem with Latino students when they're actually doing well.""Thorp added that students may have been trying to push the issue of undocumented Latinos" writing" ""I doubt we want to get into that.""But on Tuesday"" Thorp changed his tune.""The provost and I need to look at the proposal on its merits" with a fresh start and that's what we intend to do" Thorp said. The dean of the College of Arts and Sciences is different than the chancellor. I'm doing my new job now.""Thorp said he is no longer concerned that the center would unnecessarily bring the issue of undocumented students to the forefront. He also said he isn't concerned about the political statement it could make.Instead" he said he questioned only the center's feasibility.Smith who in April replied to Thorp's e-mail with support for including the students' recommendation" on Tuesday echoed Thorp's desire to further explore the idea.""The part that I'm not clear about is" are there gaps in the needs of those students on campus" and are we meeting those needs?"" Smith said. ""That's why we're going to do the study. I just don't know.""Thorp said he and Provost Bernadette Gray-Little will meet next week to discuss the center"" adding that more than one meeting will be necessary to make any decisions.""In a few weeks we should be able to say something definitive"" Thorp said. The center has been on some students' agendas for two years, when the idea developed in a Carolina Hispanic Association meeting.Since then, students have talked with professors and former Chancellor James Moeser to explore how the center could unify and expand on the programs already offered at UNC.The center's specifics — location, funding, mission — are not yet decided.In a spring 2008 meeting, Moeser described the center as the next logical step for the University in addressing Latino issues on campus"" said Ron Bilbao, a member of Chispa and the student advisory committee to the chancellor.The student advisory committee will meet with Thorp for the first time on Monday.The one thing that I can commit to you is that I'm going to study it very thoroughly"" Thorp said. And that's what it deserves.""Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(08/25/08 4:00am)
Students are working to create a Latina/o center on campus.
A task force soon to be formed will study ways to meet the needs of UNC's growing Latino student population, and many who are invested in Latino issues hope the task force's ultimate recommendation will favor the creation of a physical space for Latino students.
"It would make so much more sense in terms of organization and in terms of strength and planning to be able to have a central gathering place," said María DeGuzmán, director of Latina/o studies.
But for now, the center's blueprints are blank.
"We're actually trying to stay away from designing what the center actually is," said Ron Bilbao, a member of the Carolina Hispanic Association and the student advisory committee to the chancellor. "We're staying away from getting lost in the details."
The center, Bilbao envisions, would be a gathering place for existing Latino organizations. It also could house the Latina/o studies minor and focus on research.
The center could be set up within an existing building on campus, on Franklin Street or as a free-standing building, Bilbao said.
For some, the center would be more than just a meeting place.
"A center like that is a strong statement on the part of the University to say to the students, 'You really are a part of our mission and our University culture and you're not just a token minority,'" DeGuzmán said.
Creating a new center on campus isn't easy.
The first step was to talk with professors and students about the idea. Chispa began the process about two years ago.
"It's hard to talk to people about a new center," Bilbao said. "The first reaction is, 'Oh, not another center,' but there's a need. Our job as students is to prove that need and then to find a way for the University to fill that need."
Interested center creators also must prove that the center won't duplicate existing programs.
"If there is an interest of collecting or building up a film library, that would be a definite duplication of resources," said Lou Pérez, director of the Institute for the Study of the Americas, adding that he supported the idea.
Students attempted to prove that need to former Chancellor James Moeser this spring and met favorable response, Bilbao said.
He added that he thought Chancellor Holden Thorp would uphold Moeser's commitment, although he hasn't met with the new chancellor. The Board of Trustees also must approve new centers.
No time frame has been set for the center's creation, which might take several years.
Talks about a possible American Indian Center on campus began in 2004. The center was formally announced in September 2006, and now has space in Abernethy Hall.
The Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History was established in 1988. Plans for a freestanding building were approved in 1993, but the center did not open until August 2004.
Bilbao and others said they hope the Latina/o center won't take as long.
"I pledged to my peers freshman year that my goal was to work at the center my senior year," said Bilbao, a junior.
UNC's degree-seeking undergraduate Latino population has grown 327 percent in the last eight years.
When it comes to a Latina/o center, some say the sooner, the better.
"There's been kind of a lag in awareness of Latina/o populations in the United States," DeGuzmán said. "There are some real historical blinders. The faster we become aware and try to integrate, the better off we will be."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(08/19/08 4:00am)
More than 80 students from student government, Greek organizations, and ethnic and religious groups gathered to discuss diversity on campus and in their lives at Carolina United.
"It's a safe zone to talk about issues that are usually taboo," said Aivi Nguyen-cao, a senior biology and psychology major who attended the retreat.
The fourth annual retreat - held Aug. 10-14 at Chestnut Ridge Camp and Retreat Center in Efland - was publicized and planned by a group of 22 students, who also reviewed more than 200 applications from would-be participants.
The retreat included discussions on gender, race and sexual diversity, as well as a "no-talent" show and an impromptu dance party.
"They're doing a lot of intensive work in small groups, looking at the issues that divide them," said Virginia Carson, director of Campus Y.
"They're also looking at what, as students, they want to be when they get back to campus."
Throughout all of the activities, participants said they tried to connect across race and ethnic boundaries.
"When you look at the demographics of the University, it looks really diverse, but there isn't a lot of intermingling of the variety of groups on campus," said Thomas Edwards, a junior biology major.
While its goal always has been to build community amidst diversity, Carolina United has evolved over its short history.
The program began in 2005 as CollegeTown, a spin-off of the National Conference for Community and Justice's AnyTown program for high school students.
It was and is a joint effort among the UNC Division of Student Affairs, Diversity and Multicultural Affairs and the Parents Council.
That weekend-long pilot program had the same aim but functioned differently.
"It was billed so heavily as solely a diversity program that a lot of people who didn't think they had anything to learn didn't join," said UNC alumnus Matt Hendren, who helped develop Carolina United.
"It was too geared down, too watered down. Gearing the focus toward student leaders inherently changed the program."
So with the help of faculty, staff and administrators, Hendren and others changed the length and focus of the program, and Carolina United was born in 2006.
"It was probably a success because we got the buy-in from the right people," Hendren said.
Many participants still said they believe the program is a success.
"I feel like the Carolina United experience has been nothing short of amazing," said junior Amanda Pervine. "We can discuss issues and ideas and not worry about judgment."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(08/19/08 4:00am)
Nineteen recent UNC graduates are going back to high school.
They'll be part of the Carolina College Advising Corps, trained to help about 7,000 N.C. students from across the state tackle the college application beast.
They, too, feel pre-class jitters.
"There's definitely some anxiety about how I'm going to fit in," said CCAC adviser Pharen Bowman. "Meeting new teenagers is always a challenge because you never know how they're going to interact with you."
The advisers - three of whom are returning for a second year with the program - underwent a comprehensive six-week training session this summer to prepare for an influx of student questions.
They toured almost 20 college campuses, learned all about applications and navigated the financial aid process, which some advisers said was the most difficult part.
"You don't really want to mess up anybody's money," said CCAC adviser Dexter Robinson.
Several advisers said they felt poised to set up new programs in their two assigned schools after completing the training.
"One of the strong points about our training was they gave us so many ideas, but they were very honest to say that every community is going to be different," said CCAC adviser Rachel Brody.
Anything from workshops to parent nights to giveaways are welcome, as long as they are geared toward helping more low-income, minority and first-generation high school students attend college.
"The program allows you to be as creative as you want to be," Robinson said.
Throughout the training, advisers also considered how to be sensitive to the students and counselors with whom they'll work.
"I definitely don't want to go in with the mentality of, 'We're going in on a white horse to save the school,'" Bowman said.
But with an average student-to-guidance counselor ratio of 400 to one in North Carolina, the advisers likely will be welcomed with open arms.
"The CCAC advisers will ease the burden on guidance counselors," said Jennifer Cox Bell, CCAC interim program coordinator and assistant director of admissions.
"Also, by virtue of their youth, background and experiences, the CCAC advisers are uniquely positioned to connect with students."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(08/19/08 4:00am)
Retired UNC Hospitals pediatrician Dr. Melvin Levine, named in several child sexual abuse lawsuits in Massachusetts, now most likely faces scrutiny from the N.C. Medical Board.
In the last several months, some of Levine's former N.C. patients or patients' parents have approached Raleigh lawyer Elizabeth Kuniholm with allegations of wrongdoing.
"There's at least one recent allegation," Kuniholm said. "They range from the late '80s through the fairly recent past."
Levine has consistently denied the charges.
"These allegations have absolutely no merit whatsoever," said Alan Schneider, the Raleigh lawyer representing Levine. "Dr. Levine has made an enormous contribution to the well-being of children struggling in school. He has dedicated his entire life to helping children and saving families."
Kuniholm would not say how many had come forward, but said that not all have complained to the medical board.
The N.C. Medical Board does not release investigation information or even say whether an investigation is occurring.
But the board is aware of the allegations, said Jean Fisher Brinkley, director of public affairs for the board.
"Complaints are private under the law, so I can't confirm or deny whether complaints were made," Brinkley said.
An average investigation takes the board about three or four months and could include clinical office visits, examination of medical records and patient interviews, Brinkley said.
Of the about 1,200 complaints received annually by the board's complaint department, only about 1 percent result in public action.
Another 30 percent of cases result in private discipline, such as a confidential letter expressing concern and warning against similar future conduct.
"It's a slim minority that result in public action," Brinkley said. "A lot of times, there's no grounds for the board to act."
Levine, 68, retired from full-time work in 2006 but continued to see a few patients each month as an adjunct professor of pediatrics. He voluntarily suspended his medical license in April until the lawsuits conclude.
A graduate of Brown University, Levine also was a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford.
He specializes in child development and educational issues and has written several books. He also cofounded a nonprofit institute, All Kinds of Minds, to study learning differences among children.
Levine attended Harvard Medical School and worked at Children's Hospital Boston from 1971 to 1985.
The previous allegations spur from that time in Boston, during which seven former patients -some as young as 5 at the time of the alleged abuse - claim they were inappropriately touched by Levine during examinations.
The recent allegations taken to Kuniholm are the first made by N.C. patients.
Today, Levine continues to participate in public speaking engagements and share his knowledge, Schneider said.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(08/19/08 4:00am)
Due to a reporting error, this story incorrectly stated the meal plan price increases over the last five years. The average per-semester price has gone up $208, or about 25 percent, in the past five years.
Eating three square meals a day is getting pricier for students buying meal plans from Carolina Dining Services, but more and more students still are signing up.
Over the last five years, meal plan prices have increased an average of $208 per semester, or about 25 percent.
Prices are up an average of $98 since just last year.
(08/19/08 4:00am)
Conditions have improved for certain UNC journalism students assisting with the Beijing Olympics, their faculty chaperone said.
Seven of the more than 30 UNC students working in China from July 6 to Aug. 26 originally were asked to perform tasks such as stocking toilet paper, said professor C.A. Tuggle, who is accompanying the students.
Their jobs now include assisting visitors at a help desk and writing about lower-profile Olympic events.
"They're getting a lot more traffic at their help desk, as well as covering basketball practices," Tuggle wrote in an e-mail.
Other students, such as those gathering quotes from Olympic athletes and officials or writing for Chinese news outlets, said they have been pleased with their jobs all along.
Students in Tuggle's group have been told not to participate in interviews until their jobs conclude this weekend.
But Patrick O'Donnell, a second-year journalism master's student, said he has felt accepted by the Chinese.
O'Donnell is in another group from UNC helping to polish the English in articles by staff writers at www.china.org.cn, a Chinese news Web site.
"They've been very good to me and have even let me write about the crazy travel experiences I've had," O'Donnell said.
"What has really stood out has been the warmth of the people. I've been abroad a fair amount but nobody is as welcoming as the Chinese, especially if you speak a bit of the language."
While not working, UNC students have also been hiking the Great Wall, watching the men's 100 meter track final, taking photos with gold medalists and interacting with journalists from across the globe.
This is the first year that volunteers from outside the host country are working in the media department. UNC is one of eight universities worldwide whose students are assisting with Olympic coverage.
"There were some minor bumps in the road early on," Tuggle said. "But overall, our hosts have been outstanding. I believe now, more than ever, that the things that draw us together are much more important than the things that separate us."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(08/18/08 4:00am)
Orientation organizers created a new session this year to address campus safety issues, unveiling the separate presentation for the first class to come to UNC since former Student Body President Eve Carson's killing.
In the past, safety information presented to students was interwoven with other sessions on housing or the "Carolina Way."
This year, campus safety was presented in two distinct sessions, one for parents and one for students.
(08/18/08 4:00am)
Students glancing down South Road on Sunday night might have seen an inflatable slide, a balloon replica of the Old Well and enough free food to feed an army.
Less obvious were the dozen officers from the Department of Public Safety, charged with maintaining security at the traditionally tame Fall Fest.
"By and large, everyone behaves civilly," DPS Spokesman Randy Young said.
As of 10:30 p.m., there were no arrests or emergency calls.
Young said he cannot remember the last time there was an emergency at a Fall Fest, despite its drawing about 20,000 people each year. It is now in its 12th year.
Still, security officials were armed with a variety of tools this year to keep revelers safe.
UNC's mobile command center, a reclaimed P2P bus outfitted last year with television monitors, four phone lines and police radios, was on call all night.
"It's out there because it's emblematic of progressive measures we're taking in terms of law enforcement," Young said.
Orange County Emergency Medical Services and two fire trucks from the Chapel Hill Fire Department also were on site.
The fire department brought a bicycle team carrying medical equipment and small fire extinguishers.
"We use that in some large events that have a crowded location because it's so difficult to get large equipment through there," said Matt Lawrence, deputy fire chief and fire marshal.
The University also ensured emergency response routes within the crowded setup.
"We're required to keep an emergency lane open, so that's why the tables are only on one side of the road," said Jon Curtis, associate director for student activities and organizations.
Curtis said he has been involved in planning for all 12 Fall Fests.
The organizers also had to ensure that there is enough room to exit the School of Government parking deck, where many student groups set up informational booths.
The University also made sure to provide plenty of drinking water to prevent dehydration and had a misting tent available in case of extreme heat, Curtis said.
Despite taking extensive precautions, the event is not one of the year's biggest for the DPS.
UNC officers are also present on Franklin Street for Halloween and manage safety for basketball games.
Those events can draw more than three times as many participants as Fall Fest.
Last Halloween, Chapel Hill police arrested a man for allegedly assaulting an EMS responder, and at least four revelers were taken to the hospital for alcohol poisoning.
DPS joins nearly 400 officers from Chapel Hill and other nearby police departments to patrol Franklin Street on Halloween.
"In years past, (Fall Fest has) just been a situation where we monitor the progress and make sure the festivities remain civil," Young said.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(04/18/08 4:00am)
Ten student members of the Carolina Sweat-free Coalition spent Thursday night in the lobby of South Building protesting Chancellor James Moeser's refusal to accept the Designated Suppliers Program.
Armed with sleeping bags and pizza, the students - and the police officers watching them - were allowed to stay past the building's close.
The students said they plan to stay until Moeser adopts the DSP, a system that requires a university to buy 75 percent of its licensed apparel from factories that pay living wages and allow collective bargaining.
(04/16/08 4:00am)
Student Congress' finance committee named a vice chairman to help lead the largely rookie group and blazed easily through two more objectives at its first official meeting Tuesday.
After two members refused nominations for vice chairman, freshman Joe Levin-Manning was unanimously elected to the post. The freshman from Raleigh seeking a double major in peace, war and defense and public policy will serve alongside chairman Mike Morrill.
The vice chairman presides over meetings if the chairman cannot, records meeting minutes and takes roll.
"I originally ran for chair, so I'm excited to be vice chair," Levin-Manning said. "It's going to be a very awesome year."
And although Morrill said he doesn't yet know the members well, he expressed confidence that Levin-Manning will be a good fit.
"I have no reason to think he won't do a good job," Morrill said. "He obviously wants to take a big role in the finance committee, and I think vice-chair is a good place for him right now."
The committee also took care of some unfinished business from the 89th Student Congress, which concluded April 2.
The committee recommended passing bills awarding funds ranging from $20 to $1,100 to six student organizations.
The committee and Congress approved the appropriations bills once before, but they were not signed into effect by former Student Body Vice President Mike Tarrant, who needed to sign in lieu of former Student Body President Eve Carson.
When Tarrant's term ended and the bills remained unsigned, they were automatically vetoed.
"I think he just kind of forgot about the bills," Morrill said. "It was a chaotic time, so it's understandable."
Although funds already have been awarded to the six organizations, they must be reapproved and signed by Student Body President J.J. Raynor before becoming official.
The committee also reapproved Congress' annual budget of about $322,000.
The meeting concluded with a unanimous approval of reimbursements for 22 candidates who ran for student government positions.
The reimbursement totaled $1,730.88, with more than half of the money going toward the three candidates for student body president.
All candidates are reimbursed to a limit for money spent campaigning, a process that ensures that more affluent candidates don't have an advantage, Morrill said.
The committee next will meet in the fall.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(04/15/08 4:00am)
As the search for UNC's next chancellor enters the home stretch, one group of students is just beginning an ambitious task - putting into words the "Carolina Way."
The 14-member student advisory board to the chancellor search committee was created in October by former Student Body President Eve Carson. It was charged with relaying student input to the student body president - who serves directly on the search committee - and with defining once and for all what makes Carolina the place it is.
"I don't know if people realize just how special what we do here is and how engaged Carolina is compared to other campuses," said Student Body President J.J. Raynor, citing the more than 600 student organizations as proof.
The committee hopes to draft a two-page statement before the semester's end to share with the search committee and the new chancellor. It will express which University values are most important to students.
"It's just a big task," co-chairman Matt Hendren said. "It shouldn't take too long, but it needs to be well done and relevant."
To help make the statement applicable, Hendren said it would shy away from specifics and focus instead on the big picture.
"The idea is for it not to be specific, so that it can be flexible over time and so you capture the ethos, rather than individual names and programs," Hendren said.
The statement won't merely encapsulate what today's students value. It also will consider the University's past and could be used again in the future, Hendren said.
"We hope that it will continue to be used for incoming chancellors, Board of Trustees members, other administrators, faculty and students," he said.
The committee has met sporadically since its inception. The next meeting, planned for Wednesday night, will be its first this semester.
"We met a lot in the beginning, and there was some midnight oil burning," Hendren said.
Committee members busied themselves in October with crafting a 25-page document that detailed UNC programs that students love.
Each committee member was responsible for a certain section, but all wrote intending to share student thoughts before any candidates were cut in the chancellor search.
The committee also held two forums to allow students, faculty and staff to weigh in on the search.
But getting a complete picture of what students thought wasn't easy, said junior Josh Criscoe, who attended several committee meetings.
"A majority of students could care less about who the next chancellor is," Criscoe said. "But there are a good number of students that care about the issues and the voice that a new chancellor could bring."
So for now, the members of the student advisory committee, like the rest of the University, are waiting to see who the chancellor search committee will name in late April or early May.
"We're excited to have a new chancellor and just to see who it is and start acclimating them in this Carolina Way," Hendren said.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.