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(10/01/09 4:18am)
Members of UNC’s provost search committee have spent weeks getting input from campus administrators. Now they’re ready to act.The selection process will ramp up in coming weeks as committee members begin narrowing the pool of applicants.And while UNC has seen a string of high-level administrators selected from within its own ranks, most of the applicants from this search are from outside the University.The position opened in June, when Provost Bernadette Gray-Little left to become chancellor of the University of Kansas.Whoever becomes the next provost, UNC’s chief academic officer, will directly oversee the University’s deans and some vice chancellors. The new provost will work with the chancellor to determine academic policy and lead the University’s review of its academic plan.Although the candidate pool is mostly external, search committee chairman Shelton Earp said he thought the number of internal candidates was about right.“There is a whole universe of people outside the University,” Earp said. “There are only so many internal candidates to draw from.”In the next few weeks, Earp will work with R. William Funk & Associates consulting firm to weed out the weakest candidates.“We have people who have never worked with a university administration,” Earp said. “This is an important phase because it wouldn’t necessarily be a good use of the entire committee’s time to look through every applicant.”Earp told the search committee that after removing 10 to 20 “inappropriate” candidates from the current pool, about 40 would remain. Although the committee has begun its work, UNC is still accepting applications, he said.The committee has held multiple meetings in the past month to solicit opinions from administrators about what sort of person the next provost should be.For the most part, deans and vice chancellors who met with the committee said they want to see a provost with a strong personality who can communicate well and make tough decisions.Several administrators also said successful candidates would need experience at a large, preferably public, university.“People who are comfortable in a private university are just different from those who are comfortable in a public university,” Kristen Swanson, dean of the School of Nursing, said to the committee.School of Government Dean Mike Smith told the committee that any new provost would need to at least understand the interactions between the school and the N.C. General Assembly in Raleigh.“It is important that the provost appreciates the role of a state university for their state,” he said. “The provost is the academic face of the University and can’t be seen as someone who ‘doesn’t get it.’”Overall, most administrators and committee members stressed how difficult the job of provost can be.“Personal qualities are important, but how difficult this job is — that’s what really stands out,” Earp said.Staff writer Tim Longest contributed reporting.Contact the University editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(08/25/09 4:39am)
In the wake of a report that said the University’s administration is too complicated and deep, Chancellor Holden Thorp has already begun flattening the organizational tree.Brenda Malone, the associate vice chancellor for human resources since August 2007, will now serve as the vice chancellor for human resources.The minor title change reflects the more important change of human resources becoming its own department. Formerly, that division was under the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration.Thorp said the change would give him more exposure to employee concerns in high-level discussions.“We want employees to feel like they have a voice at the table when we discuss major University policy,” Thorp said.Malone said Thorp has always been a ready ear when it comes to exploring issues surrounding employees, even before the change.“He is very focused on the employees and the needs of employees and that is one of the things that is wonderful about working with him,” she said. “He has always been supportive of the things we want to do.”Malone cited the chancellor’s announcement in October of an almost $5,000 increase to the minimum employee salary as a sign of his commitment to staff.She said one of her primary goals in the office will be making sure that employees have input into the implementation of the report by Bain & Company.Part of those recommendations included looking at the best method of delivering human resources services to employees.“We have right now a very decentralized approach,” she said. “We are going to try to refine it and make it a little more efficient how we do it. Right now we deal with a lot of people.”Malone said working to address the Bain report would require cooperation with the campus community and the employee forum.“This is going to be a long process,” she said. But she said she was confident about moving forward. “I will tell you that wherever I show up I do have a perspective. I will be another voice.”
(08/25/09 4:39am)
Karen Gil, a member of the University’s psychology department for 14 years, begins her tenure as the new Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences this fall.
(08/25/09 2:00am)
On the surface, Granville Towers looks exactly the same as it has in the past.But this year, the residence falls under UNC police jurisdiction, and its resident advisers are hired through the Department of Housing and Residential Education rather than Granville Towers.Some residents said the changes might compromise Granville’s reputation of having an off-campus atmosphere.“I haven’t noticed a difference yet, but things still may change — it’s impossible to say,” sophomore Sam Kritchevsky said. “It wouldn’t surprise me, but I’m not a part of the typical Granville culture, so I haven’t noticed.”Granville is set apart from the University not only by its physical location, which is off West Franklin Street, but also through its own parking lot, swimming pool and dining hall.Only Granville’s RAs and community directors are currently hired through the University, said Rick Bradley, assistant director for housing.Other services, such as housekeeping, are still operated independently.Bradley said there are no differences between the responsibilities of previous years’ Granville RAs and those hired by housing.But hiring RAs for Granville means housing had to search for more students willing to work for a community.Bradley said the change created no additional hiring difficulties for housing overall.“The pool was larger than it had ever been because we had Granville Towers coming in,” Bradley said. “Sometimes you have people quit for whatever reason, so you open up hiring again for a short period of time. This year was no exception.”Granville was placed entirely under UNC police jurisdiction in May, following an agreement with the town of Chapel Hill.Previously, that area was under the jurisdiction of Chapel Hill Police.In the past, Granville has hired its own security staff to patrol the towers and parking lot through Guardsmark Security.UNC police jurisdiction did not extend to University Square because it is a retail area, officials said.The changes in police jurisdiction and housing staff are part of the UNC-Chapel Hill Foundation’s $45.75 million purchase of Granville and the nearby University Square.Two of the towers are nine stories, and the third is eight stories. The buildings house more than 1,300 residents.Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(08/25/09 1:10am)
Scattered around Student Stores are signs proclaiming where their earnings go — scholarships. But this year, the earnings might be lower.
(08/23/09 7:34pm)
As students return to campus, University officials are preparing for a possible H1N1 flu outbreak.Officials sent out new guidelines to students and staff in a mass e-mail Wednesday and have been working on a pandemic readiness plan for the campus.The plan consists of four levels, with the highest calling for the University to shut down — an unlikely scenario as of yet.Right now the University is at level one, which signifies a low level of risk for the community.“The reason we are still saying it is minimal hazard to students, faculty and staff is because the illness is not very bad yet,” said Mary Beth Koza, director of environment, health and safety at UNC. “If you look at the virus from 1918, it killed a lot of people, but this virus is not that type.”University administrators have acknowledged that some students are going to contract the flu, and they are prepared to deal with that.Koza said students who suspect they might have the flu should avoid classes and the dining halls. If possible, students should return home for the duration of their illness, she said.“This is a communicable disease,” she said. “We have told students what to do if you are missing classes.”The University decides how to direct their response based on meeting with a pandemic team, contacting local health offices and working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Officials said the biggest concerns will arise once most students get back to campus and begin interacting.“A kid goes to class and infects people around him, and then they then infect others, and then it becomes 10 and 20 people,” said David Weber, director of the department of occupational health. “You could come up with a possibility that a third of a class or a third of a dorm becomes sick.”Weber said vaccines for the regular seasonal flu would be widely available to students by the end of August.Vaccines for the H1N1 virus should arrive in mid-October and will be available based on CDC guidelines for populations especially at risk.Some students said they aren’t as concerned about swine flu as the University is.“I appreciate the University’s concern, but I feel like all these e-mails might be overreacting,” said junior psychology major Luke Somers. “Still, I’m going to get my vaccine like everybody else.”But Weber said the University’s concern is appropriate because the flu could have a higher attack rate than usual or mutate to a more virulent strain.“We don’t know what will happen exactly,” Weber said. “There are no hard and fast rules here, but there are contingencies all along the way.”Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(11/25/08 5:00am)
Students playing football in McIver Residence Hall broke a fire sprinkler head Monday afternoon causing flooding and water damage to the first and second floors.The second floor — where the sprinkler was broken — suffered damage to the hallways. Water pooled on the carpeted floors there and leaked down into first-floor residences and the main parlor which have hardwood floors. Water also leaked into the electrical system" which had to be restarted.""It leaked down into the community director apartment and two student rooms on the first floor"" said Rick Bradley, assistant director for housing. Other than that"" there doesn't appear to be any significant damage.""Plans were made to relocate students whose rooms were affected" but Bradley said only students who specifically asked to be removed would be given alternative lodging. They would likely be moved to other dorms in the Kenan community.Students were told that clothes might be wet and water might be in the closets said sophomore Ashlee Conti a first-floor resident.The student who threw the football at the sprinkler would have to pay for the damage caused to the residence hall Bradley said. No estimate for cleanup costs has been made" but one should be finalized by today.""If you hit one of those things and it pops out of the ceiling" then water will come out and it did" Bradley said.Fire alarms sounded at 3 p.m., and the fire department came soon afterward. Residents were forced to evacuate for at least an hour while workers removed the water and assessed the damage.Have you seen water gushing out of pipes?"" said sophomore Josh Miles. ""That's what it looked like.""About 25 residents chose to wait outside in the light rain or play Twister in the Kenan Residence Hall parlor — disrupting some students preparing for final exams.""I was just about to do my first studying of the month" when we heard the fire alarm go off" said sophomore McIver resident Phi Nicholson. We figured that was a good time to leave.""Kenan Community is the only one with hardwood floors" and Bradley said housing officials would assess any long-term damage as cleanup progressed. McIver was renovated four years ago. The hall was brought up to current fire safety and accessibility standards. The bathrooms were redone and new windows and furniture were put in. New air conditioning plumbing and electrical systems also were installed and the walls floors and ceilings were refinished. Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(11/20/08 5:00am)
Sixteen Carolina Fever members crept into the N.C. State University free expression tunnel early Wednesday morning and painted it Carolina blue.""We got all the walls" the ceiling the railings everything" said Tyler Singleton, chairman of Carolina Fever's game day affairs committee, who organized the painting. We took up half the wall painting just ‘Courtesy of Carolina Fever.'"" Singleton said painting the tunnel three days before the kickoff of the football game between the two schools was only a part of this year's ramped-up rivalry that will culminate in Fever's Friday night Old Well watch. At the watch"" Singleton said students will protect the Old Well. It was vandalized in February with a splash of bright red paint before a UNC-N.C. State basketball game.""That was completely uncalled for" Singleton said. The free expression tunnel is meant to be painted but the Old Well is an iconic" sacred figure.""The free expression tunnel was painted early to avoid the Ram Roast"" an event since 2005 similar to the Old Well watch.""It's funny this happened" because we were going to have the Ram Roast tomorrow where we protect the tunnel" said Morgan Donnelly, chairwoman of N.C. State's campus community committee. I think Carolina finally caught on to that.""The Ram Roast also includes a pig pickin' and pep rally. Singleton said that by painting the tunnel with phrases such as ""University of National Champions — bass fishing doesn't count"" and images of the Old Well, he hoped to get Fever's name out and keep the rivalry alive.One of my themes this year is legal vandalism" to get Fever's name out there and get people pumped up" Singleton said, though he would not say what he had planned for the rest of the year.N.C. State Senior Class President Adam Compton said that he viewed the pranks between schools as healthy rivalry, but that painting the tunnel was frustrating because payback is difficult.There's not much you can do about it" it's all in good fun" he said. It's hard because we can't do anything back at Carolina without breaking the law.""But Compton said the disparaging messages" which were mostly painted over by the time he went through the tunnel at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday" wouldn't determine the outcome of Saturday's game.""I guess the only thing we can say about it is we'll see you on the field"" he said.Donnelly, a junior, agreed.We don't get mad"" she said. We get even.""Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(11/13/08 5:00am)
Officers Tased a student multiple times in front of Hinton James Residence Hall after he resisted police Tuesday night said five students who witnessed his arrest.The student first-year Frank Fraboni18" was ""acting strangely"" and found to be under the influence of drugs"" the police report states.Student witnesses said police Tased Fraboni after he made attempts to get away and otherwise resist arrest.He was taken to UNC Hospitals and released Wednesday. He will have to appear before the Honor Court.""It looked like a movie. They finally got him down and Tasered him"" first-year Kaylee Baker said. I was genuinely scared. He was screaming.""Fraboni said he was Tased three times"" at least once on the chest.Department of Public Safety spokesman Randy Young said officers Tased him after trying lesser uses of force.""It's going to be a well-trained officer's discretion in the field as to what's the best option for the suspect being apprehended"" Young said. This was used as a resort to prevent injury to the suspect.""Campus police were called after Fraboni approached first-year Rachel Hamlin as she went to retrieve her laundry. Hamlin said Fraboni was standing outside the laundry room door and was not wearing a shirt.""I thought he was drunk"" Hamlin said. He put his arm around me and I didn't know him at all. He was just really incredibly out of it.""Hamlin took Fraboni to the resident adviser on duty in the Hinton James lobby"" who then called the police after Fraboni could not give his name and left the building.First-year R.J. Yost said Fraboni kept trying to get away from officers and was yelling incomprehensibly.""They finished putting cuffs on him and then he kept trying to get away so they Tased him to get him to stop"" Yost said. Then he looked like he was trying to get away again so they Tased him again.""First-year Ben Buck also saw the Tasing.""They were just having him do the ‘put your hands behind your back and be unthreatening' thing" and he wasn't doing it" Buck said.The police report did not mention that Fraboni was Tased. Young said any use of force"" reports in the case would be internal within DPS.Police officials review any use of force" Young said.Staff Writer Gabby Pinto contributed reporting. Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(09/26/08 4:00am)
The Board of Trustees expressed concerns Thursday regarding the enrollment projection of 5000 more UNC-Chapel Hill students during the next decade.Increased enrollment could ultimately decrease the quality of a UNC education and the number of highly qualified students who enroll according to a presentation by the Art & Science Group" a higher-education consulting firm.Board members said the discussion should weigh the benefits of growth with the possible setbacks.Trustee Rusty Carter said the University might serve the state better by retaining quality and not growing.""I think we're going to have to push back and say we have a higher calling than adding 600 students a year" Carter said. Somebody the board maybe is going to have to stand up and say" ‘This doesn't work for Chapel Hill. This growth thing doesn't work.'""The presentation discussed the effect of enrollment growth on the number of accepted applicants who come to the University. Rick Hesel" a principal with Art & Science" said enrollment growth could cause the perception of UNC's student quality to drop.""If the perception of the quality of students slips" then enrollment declines drastically" he said.One way to prevent a decrease in quality is to increase the amount of money the school gives out in merit aid, Hesel said.Merit aid is the single most important tool in offsetting any negative impacts of growth"" Hesel said, noting that most highly ranked schools are giving more money to high-income students rather than low-income students.That moves away from a culture at Chapel Hill that's very admirable" but it's a competitive fact" he said.Trustee John Ellison chimed in to say that while he believed no one was outright rejecting the possibility of future growth, the presentation did offer an opportunity to further examine issues with legislators.This is an opportunity to refocus the debate on what would be best for North Carolina"" Ellison said. I think we are required to have that debate.""Other enrollment discussions at the meeting included the additional space that would be needed for growth. Presenters at the meeting said the University is short about 4 million more square feet to accommodate the increase.Trustees said the growth discussion strengthens the argument for Carolina North" the planned satellite-research campus that is likely to be a future home for the law school and other graduate programs.But the board said it would proceed with caution from this point" and view the growth discussion skeptically.""My eyes have been opened"" Carter said. And I'm very concerned about the potential pitfalls of this.""Contact the University Editorat udesk@unc.edu.
(09/12/08 4:00am)
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(09/03/08 4:00am)
The search is under way for the next dean of the School of Nursing.The committee charged with finding the new dean met for the first time last week with nursing school faculty to discuss the search and selection process.It was my attempt to inform the faculty as to how the process would play out and what their role as a faculty would be"" said Bob Blouin, dean of the School of Pharmacy and chairman of the search committee. I expressed to them my desire for transparency" with the understanding that there will be times when privacy is necessary" he said.Linda Cronenwett, who has served as dean for almost 10 years, announced last spring that she would not seek another five-year term in the position.It is both her hope and a goal of the search committee to have a new dean take office by July 1.I think 10 years is the right amount of time for an individual to lead a school" because it gives you time to make progress and have a good team in place" Cronenwett said. And I'm of the age when one would expect to not be seeking another term.""Cronenwett said her biggest accomplishments in her decade of leading the school have been increasing its size and scope.During her tenure" the School of Nursing almost doubled its physical size with a $20 million addition completed in 2005.Student enrollment and incoming class diversity has also been continuously growing Cronenwett said. She said 24 percent of undergraduate enrollments in the past three years have been non-white students.But despite improving facilities and student enrollment" Cronenwett and Blouin both emphasized that the new dean would face challenges with retaining and adding faculty.""There will be considerable turnover during the next decade as the baby-boomers retire" Cronenwett said. Our average age is very high in this school" and we're looking at a large number of retirements.""Blouin also said the search committee would look for a candidate who could interact with the state's pressing need for more manpower in the nursing field.And for some" like clinical professor and search committee member Shielda Rodgers" the main challenge for a new dean deals with both consistency and change.""Another area will be how to continue to strive for excellence in our mission involving research" education and service Rodgers said. But any time you're losing someone who's been there for 10 years the faculty is anxious" just because you have that unknown and you don't know what's next.""Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(08/29/08 4:00am)
For the planners and designers charged with envisioning Carolina North's first impression, the third time was the charm.
Despite some reservations, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously Thursday to adopt a design for the Innovation Center, the first building proposed for the satellite research campus.
Trustees had criticized and rejected designs in January and July, expressing concerns that the building lacked impact and would not allow enough creative flexibility for Carolina North.
The new building plan integrates brick masonry and trees around lab and office space.
(08/28/08 4:00am)
12: 45 p.m. Thursday - The Board of Trustees voted unanimously today to adopt a design for the Innovation Center, the first building proposed for UNC's satellite research campus, Carolina North.
Trustees rejected the original design in July, expressing concerns that the building lacked impact and would not allow enough creative flexibility for Carolina North.
The new building design incorporates masonry and landscape features that mix traditional and innovative elements, according to Anna Wu, the director of facilities planning who presented at the meeting.
Trustees commented that the new design showed significant progress compared to previous plans for the building.
See Friday's Daily Tar Heel for the full story.
(08/20/08 4:00am)
Three members of Christian evangelical groups were forced to leave the Pit shortly after noon Tuesday, in accordance with a new University policy restricting the number of groups that can use the Pit at one time.
"The Pit is a reservable space for student and faculty groups," Carolina Union Director Don Luse said.
"If no one complains, we do not have a problem. The whole campus is a free speech area, but this is a reserved space for student activities."
Gina Archer, campus pastor for Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship, told Union officials that PinPoint Evangelism members were being bothersome after a speaker from the group asked for Chi Alpha's assistance and sponsorship.
"They asked if they could represent us and we declined," Archer said. "They didn't like that, but we don't agree with what they preach."
Union officials presented the evangelists from PinPoint and Open Air Outreach with a paper copy of a new policy that allows only two groups to reserve and use the Pit between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The policy was developed in July, according to a notice from the Office of Events Management.
"Last year, we could be there if one of three sections were unreserved," said Jesse Morrell of Open Air Outreach, which partners with PinPoint. "The new policy divides the Pit in half, and so they told us to leave."
An officer from the UNC Department of Public Safety arrived to ask the three evangelists to leave the Pit after repeated requests by Union staff.
And although the evangelical groups argued with the officer for several minutes, they eventually relocated just a few yards from the Pit, by Lenoir Dining Hall.
"I know they are trying to get you to censor free speech," PinPoint evangelist John McGlone said to the officer, gesturing at Luse and other Union employees. "But we're just trying to share the gospel here."
Both ministries had returned to the Pit by 3 p.m., after the two student groups had left.
The situation resembled events leading up to the ban of long-time Pit preacher Gary Birdsong in March 2007.
Birdsong, who is banned from speaking in the Pit until March 2009, was asked to leave after a student group complained that he was imposing on their reserved Pit space.
After being asked by officers to relocate, Birdsong refused and was escorted off campus.
Birdsong now frequents the stone wall around Polk Place or the brick area between Davis Library and the Student Union.
Officers also escorted members of Soulwinners Ministries International off campus last fall when arguments between students and evangelists became heated.
Soulwinners preached aggressively against homosexuality and premarital sex.
They were permitted back on campus the next day.
Morrell said he will continue his ministry with an awareness of the Union's new policy.
"That's always been the law," Morrell said. "If it's reserved we have to move.
"We hope if just one group is in the Pit we can still be there, but those are still untested waters this year."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(04/22/08 4:00am)
One of UNC's associate vice chancellors for student affairs could have the opportunity to return to his home state after nearly eight years at UNC - because another university has solicited him for a job.
A press release last week announced Christopher Payne as one of five finalists for the vice chancellor of student affairs position at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Payne said he was contacted for the vice chancellor search, which began early this semester, after being nominated as a potential candidate.
"I really wasn't looking for the position, but I became aware of the position because someone nominated me," he said.
"Once that occurred, the search chair sent me a note indicating that I had been nominated, attached a position description and asked for my further consideration."
If Payne gets the job, he would be the fourth administrator to leave since September, when Chancellor James Moeser announced his decision to step down, possibly signaling a larger change in UNC's leadership.
At UNC, Payne makes $146,086 a year. CU-Boulder Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Ron Stump - whom Payne would replace - makes $186,423 per year, about $40,000 more.
Bronson Hilliard, a CU-Boulder spokesman, said the vice chancellor of student affairs is one of four vice chancellor positions, making it part of the campus's core leadership.
"This is a very large job that encompasses housing, admissions and every aspect of student life on campus," he said. "We're looking for someone who's very visionary but also a great organizer - which can be a tall order in higher education."
Associate Provost for Academic Initiatives Carol Tresolini said that she had not yet heard Payne was a finalist but she added that she was excited to hear that news.
"He has a leadership style that is low-key and very effective, and he was very wonderful to work with," she said.
Payne said the position at CU-Boulder has some similarities to his job with UNC's Division of Student Affairs, where he has worked directly with departments spanning the scope of student life.
One similarity to UNC that Payne said he found particularly attractive was CU-Boulder's tradition of shared governance with its students.
Hilliard also noted the importance of student voices at CU-Boulder, where three students are serving on the search committee.
That committee should make its recommendation by late May.
Finalists will visit the campus for interviews in the next three weeks. Payne's visit is April 29.
The new vice chancellor will start work about July 1.
Payne said if he is not chosen for the position, he will continue to work at UNC.
"As I indicated, I wasn't really looking for any change," Payne said. "I enjoy UNC; our family lives here and enjoys the community, so I definitely would continue on as long as UNC would have me."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(03/26/08 4:00am)
In the past few weeks, online message boards have exploded with comments regarding the killing of Student Body President Eve Carson.
And when suspects were apprehended about a week after her death, derogatory and racist remarks about the two black men charged with murder in the incident and black males in general began to appear on Web sites such as JuicyCampus.com.
"I was made aware of the comments on JuicyCampus.com when some students brought it to my attention," said Archie Ervin, associate provost for diversity and multicultural affairs. "I have talked to more than 20 students about these comments, and I can tell you that they're very hurtful."
The abundance of comments raises the issue of where to draw the line in regulating hateful speech.
The offensive speech was not itself grounds for University action, though there is a concern about finding potentially threatening speech, Ervin said.
"Threatening speech is actionable," he said. "The University would not tolerate threatening speech to other members of the community. Hateful, hurtful speech is distinct from threats of physical harm or danger."
Ervin said Chancellor James Moeser's address at Carson's memorial service was intentionally focused on being inclusive and drawing the community together.
And some students, such as sophomore Hannah Kirby, think people should be held accountable for their words - even online.
"People make mean comments online because they don't have to have facts, and they won't be held accountable," Kirby said. "People hang nooses and think they're exercising free speech, but they need to be educated about the difference."
Some universities are considering a ban on sites such as JuicyCampus.com, and a few New Jersey lawmakers are calling for an investigation into these online gossip sites.
While the University is taking a more hands-off approach with nonthreatening speech on these Web sites, publishers tend to regulate their own Web sites.
Journalism professor Ryan Thornburg said that USA Today monitors its online comments and that The Washington Post has disabled comments in the past, often to maintain a civil discussion atmosphere.
The Daily Tar Heel temporarily disabled comments on the Carson stories on its Web site in response to racist and offensive statements and to prevent the need for monitoring during Spring Break.
Personal blogs hosted by sites like wordpress.com, where creating a blog takes nothing but a few minutes and an e-mail address, also joined the fray of commentary.
"In most cases the publisher isn't legally responsible for specific comments," Thornburg said.
And although Thornburg said he thinks anonymous online comments have the potential to enhance a person's negative qualities, he thinks nothing about the Internet makes a person inherently more racist or offensive.
"What you saw (after Carson's death) was an incredible outpouring of support, sympathy and catharsis along with the bad stuff," he said.
"I'm not sure how you have one without the other."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(03/20/08 4:00am)
Shaniqua McClendon is already making concrete plans to lead the Black Student Movement next year.
It's not that she's overconfident, it's just that she's probably going to win - considering the race for BSM president is uncontested.
She and a few other executive candidates presented their ideas for next year Wednesday night to about 25 of the nearly 400-member group.
Although BSM President Derek Sykes said the forum usually includes debate with candidates, this year's races for president, vice president and treasurer are uncontested.
And because no candidate applied to be secretary, that position will be filled by appointment.
Chief among the candidates' concerns is improving attendance and member unity.
"One of our main issues all the time is attendance," McClendon said. "One of the biggest criticisms that I hear from my peers is that the Black Student Movement doesn't always move."
McClendon said that targeting members and having social events was a main goal in improving participation, morale and activism - a philosophy shared by vice presidential candidate Alysa Campbell.
All candidates spoke of the importance of budgeting wisely next year, following funding cuts by Student Congress. The requested $30,230 was cut basically in half, to $14,070.
BSM received about $18,000 this year, which included special funds for its 40th anniversary.
"Our budget has been cut drastically," treasurer candidate Timothy Hughes said. "We're going to decide which events have the most impact, and then use the money we have to keep our legacy, while also doing new things."
Although each race is uncontested, BSM general members will vote Monday to elect next year's officers. Sykes said there are never more than a few candidates for each position.
"Our application requires a lot of a dedication so that might deter some people. You have to have a minimum number of signatures," he said.
McClendon and Campbell do not have prior experience in BSM's executive council. Both said they decided to apply because no one else seemed eager to come forward.
"I don't know what clicked in me, but something did when I saw no one else stepping up," McClendon said. "This is a good chance for me to grow. BSM is pretty much my life right now."
In the coming months, Sykes said the current council will transfer information and experience to the group's new leaders.
"I'm not really too afraid of their capacity to lead, but I'll be here to help them with everything for the first few months," he said.
"By then, they'll be great leaders."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(02/28/08 5:00am)
The Student Supreme Court held two pretrial hearings Wednesday night, each related to the Feb. 12 student body general election.
Chief Justice Matt Liles heard cases regarding a disputed disqualification by the Board of Elections and a challenge to the referendum that increased the student safety and security fee by 25 cents.
Liles explained that pretrial hearings are to establish facts of the case and determine the trial procedure.
The longest hearing of the evening involved Speaker of Congress Tyler Younts questioning the validity of the safety and security fee increase. That case will likely be brought to the full court before Spring Break.
Younts brought a complaint against the student safety and security committee and its chairwoman, Simone Chaffiotte. He said e-mails were sent to the committee's listserv that advocated supporting the fee increase, violating the Student Code.
Title VI of the Code states e-mail messages from student government listservs cannot be used to advocate for or against referendums.
Although the referendum passed by a vote of 71 percent, Younts said he thinks that ignoring the rules compromises the integrity of the referendum process.
"Everyone who played by the rules didn't have the same opportunity to influence the outcome of this election," he said. "If I knew the rules weren't going to be enforced, then I would have used my listserv to do this kind of thing."
But in a Feb. 6 letter to the editor in The Daily Tar Heel, Younts urged students to vote against the fee, saying it was unnecessary and unjustified.
Congress Rep. Val Tenyotkin and Student Body Treasurer Jordan Myers filed a motion to dismiss the case, stating that Younts did not comply with several stipulations listed in the Student Code.
Younts took his complaint directly to the Student Supreme Court when he should have first filed with the Board of Elections, Tenyotkin said.
The full court will decide on the motion to dismiss. If that motion fails, then the trial will proceed.
"I'm not going to rule on any of the issues of law tonight," Liles said.
In the first hearing of the evening, Liles issued a summary judgement after five minutes. That case involved freshman Congress candidate Joshua Siddens, who was disqualified by the elections board.
Siddens will take the seat of incumbent Rep. Colton Mathews.
"We had disqualified Joshua because I thought he held an appointed position with the Attorney General's office, and that was not the case," said Mitchell Capriglione, chairman of the elections board.
"I'm just glad we got this wrapped up relatively quickly and got the right guy in Congress."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(02/28/08 5:00am)
The Student Supreme Court held two pretrial hearings Wednesday night each related to the Feb. 12 student body general election.Chief Justice Matt Liles heard cases regarding a disputed disqualification by the Board of Elections and a challenge to the referendum that increased the student safety and security fee by 25 cents.Liles explained that pretrial hearings are to establish facts of the case and determine the trial procedure.The longest hearing of the evening involved Speaker of Congress Tyler Younts questioning the validity of the safety and security fee increase. That case will likely be brought to the full court before Spring Break.Younts brought a complaint against the student safety and security committee and its chairwoman Simone Chaffiotte. He said e-mails were sent to the committee's listserv that advocated supporting the fee increase violating the Student Code.Title VI of the Code states e-mail messages from student government listservs cannot be used to advocate for or against referendums.Although the referendum passed by a vote of 71 percent" Younts said he thinks that ignoring the rules compromises the integrity of the referendum process.""Everyone who played by the rules didn't have the same opportunity to influence the outcome of this election" he said. If I knew the rules weren't going to be enforced" then I would have used my listserv to do this kind of thing.""But in a Feb. 6 letter to the editor in The Daily Tar Heel" Younts urged students to vote against the fee saying it was unnecessary and unjustified.Congress Rep. Val Tenyotkin and Student Body Treasurer Jordan Myers filed a motion to dismiss the case stating that Younts did not comply with several stipulations listed in the Student Code.Younts took his complaint directly to the Student Supreme Court when he should have first filed with the Board of Elections Tenyotkin said.The full court will decide on the motion to dismiss. If that motion fails" then the trial will proceed.""I'm not going to rule on any of the issues of law tonight"" Liles said.In the first hearing of the evening, Liles issued a summary judgement after five minutes. That case involved freshman Congress candidate Joshua Siddens, who was disqualified by the elections board.Siddens will take the seat of incumbent Rep. Colton Mathews.We had disqualified Joshua because I thought he held an appointed position with the Attorney General's office" and that was not the case" said Mitchell Capriglione, chairman of the elections board.I'm just glad we got this wrapped up relatively quickly and got the right guy in Congress.""Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.