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(01/12/09 5:00am)
For Chapel Hill psychic Millie Wallace business is booming.As the economy worsens more people line up to have their palms read and cards interpreted to anticipate their financial future. For some" the advice offered by stock brokers and investment bankers just isn't cutting it anymore.""We see things" Wallace said. Some accountants just guess at what kind of stock to invest in" but people come to psychics because we know.""Wallace gave a reading to one woman who was stuck working a mediocre job. The customer is now a doctor who drives a Lexus and rents out seven properties"" said the psychic. With what she calls her ""gift of God" Wallace believes her clients see results.She said she has seen a significant increase in financial questions from her regular client base in the last year and a half. And new clients are coming to Wallace for money tips. I guess you don't have to be a psychic to know that it's not a good time for stocks" said Helane Lipson, a Carrboro psychic. Though business hasn't significantly increased, Lipson said her steady stream of regulars asks for financial advice now more than ever.Raleigh phone psychic Rev. Su Windsong also gets a lot of money-related calls. She said about half the calls she has received on her new network are from people whose relationships have suffered as a result of the financial crisis.People are actually calling for relationship advice because their partner is very tired"" she said. They're wondering if it's them or if it's something in their partner's life.""Windsong was active on the phone about 7 percent of the time in November as the global financial crisis continued to worsen. Now she is active about 3 percent"" a decrease she attributes to a growing sense of calm. ""People are seeing that the sky didn't fall"" she said.But Robert Bushman, who teaches accounting at the Kenan-Flagler Business School, doesn't recommend seeking psychics' advice.I think psychics can be interesting and entertaining" Bushman said. But when it comes to my financial wellbeing" I think I would probably skip the psychic.""For sophisticated traders" predicting complex market shifts isn't all guesswork Bushman said.The best investment advice is to build a diversified investment portfolio he said.Windsong admitted many people who consult psychics do so in secret because while the service is accepted in society as entertainment it is not often considered a profession to be taken seriously.People who feel a loss of control over their lives may be attracted to the idea of going to someone they perceive as having more knowledge Windsong said. The banker and the broker are no longer seen as trustworthy she said.To help her customers regain financial security" Wallace advises against overspending.Lipson suggests investing in technology. ""It's going to swing wildly" but it'll get better" Lipson said. A little hope goes a long way.""Windsong said most people just want reassurance — a listener" a motivator" a cheerleader.""And I'm happy to provide that"" she said.Ultimately, the enigmatic nature of the profession guarantees a steady supply of skeptics.I would stick to the psychics for love life and other things"" Bushman said. But I don't really know. It's a mysterious world."" Top 5 questions people ask local psychic Millie Wallace- Will I reunite with my significant others?- Does my significant other love me?- Will my marriage last?- What field should I be in?- What is my future?Contact the Features Editor at features@unc.edu.
(12/02/08 5:00am)
As UNC works to maintain the diversity of its student body it is taking steps to recruit low-income students. Its efforts have put it in the middle of the pack compared with peer institutions.One indicator of a school's socioeconomic diversity is the percentage of students who receive federal Pell Grants a form of need-based financial aid.High percentages indicate that a large number of a school's students have significant financial need.In the 2007-08 school year 14.5 percent of UNC students received Pell Grants" up from 13.5 percent in 2006-07.""It's pretty constant"" said Shirley Ort, director of scholarships and student aid. I think we're doing very well.""Steve Farmer" director of undergraduate admissions" said UNC's Pell Grant rate lies ""in the middle"" compared to other renowned public universities.The University of Virginia's rate was 8 percent for 2006-07" while the University of California at Berkeley had 28 percent.Less selective institutions generally have higher Pell Grant percentages than more selective ones because low-income students are often less prepared for college said Barmak Nassirian" associate executive director of external relations at the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.""It shouldn't surprise anybody that children who come from more affluent families are more prepared for college" he said. Not because they're smarter" but because they've been better taken care of.""Despite UNC's 35 percent admission rate"" Nassirian said the University makes a ""very serious effort"" to reach out to low-income students.Herb Davis" associate director of undergraduate admissions said UNC has worked to increase socioeconomic diversity by recruiting through programs such as Camp Carolina and Project Uplift.The two programs bring high school students to UNC to experience firsthand what it offers. Project Uplift specifically tries to draw minority and low-income students to the University.The Carolina Advising Corps which places recent UNC graduates in underprivileged N.C. high schools as college advisers also aims to help low-income and under-represented students attend college.The advisers focus on counseling upperclassmen on post-secondary opportunities said Interim Program Coordinator Jennie Cox Bell.UNC also attracts low-income students with grant money scholarships and work-study through Carolina Covenant" which launched in 2004 to help students graduate debt-free.""There are capable kids in every school in North Carolina"" Farmer said. Our job is to try to cast the net as widely as we can and to find these great students wherever accidents of birth have placed them.""Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(11/17/08 5:00am)
Today's ailing economy has forced some colleges and universities to abandon their commitments to need-blind admissions.Tighter budgets are making certain schools consider students' financial need during the admissions process and reject some of them because they would require large aid packages.But UNC and most other large state schools have indicated they will continue to ignore financial need in their admissions.Because of strong state support UNC's need-blind admissions policy shows no signs of changing said Shirley Ort" director of scholarships and student aid.""It would be unthinkable here for us to change that"" Ort said. We start with a much stronger platform of government aid than a lot of other institutions.""Molly Broad" president of the American Council on Education and former UNC-system president" said the N.C. legislature has continued to adequately fund the University even as enrollment grows.""When added to the federal programs and federally guaranteed student loans" at the current time I think UNC can manage their way through the current situation" she said. I don't think it is going to be a serious problem at UNC.""Broad said current state budget cuts for UNC-system schools would not cause them to abandon their need-blind policy. UNC-system President Erskine Bowles has asked all schools in the UNC system to cut 5 percent with further cuts a possibility.Broad said the cutback was probably being managed by small" one-time actions such as freezes on travel and lab equipment replacement.Other state universities have also said they will remain need-blind regardless of the economy.Director of Media Relations Sandra Lanman from Rutgers University in New Brunswick N.J." said whether a student has applied for financial aid has ""absolutely no effect"" on the admissions decision. And Karen Fooks" director of student financial services at the University of Florida" said her university won't have to budge from its need-blind policy because it receives a large amount of federal money.""We don't ask the question"" ‘Can we afford them?'"" Fooks said. ""Just like pretty much every other state university that I'm aware of"" it's tough economic times — but that wouldn't be a driver in admissions decisions.""Ivy League schools with hefty endowments like Yale University and Harvard University also are continuing their need-blind policies.In January" Yale announced it would cut the average cost of attendance by more than 50 percent for students with financial need and increase the number of students receiving financial aid.Broad said school systems experiencing deeper cuts or smaller private colleges with weak endowments and few private gifts are at the highest risk for abandoning need-blind policies because they are lacking in state aid.One such school is Earlham College in Richmond" Ind. President Douglas Bennett said the college's board of trustees will discuss in February limiting its need-blind policy to only three-quarters of the class. The other 25 percent will be viewed through the lens of need-sensitivity or consideration of their need for financial aid.But Bennett said some colleges and universities have been struggling with financial aid for about 20 years — not just in the wake of the current economic crisis.""It's something we started well before this financial meltdown"" he said though he acknowledged that the economy has worsened the situation.But Bennett also said policies that incorporate need can be a good thing. Need-blind policies don't necessarily give low-income students a leg up because applicants with straight As and high SAT scores, who are most attractive to admissions officers, often don't come from low-income backgrounds, he said.It's easy to be need-blind if you aren't enrolling low-income students"" Bennett said. And that's what a lot of institutions are doing.""He said a need-sensitive policy would allow Earlham to fulfill two of its chief goals: to enroll more low and moderate-income students and to fully meet their need.Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(11/12/08 5:00am)
Edward Saleeby who served in World War II has attended military services for years as a way to honor his country.He made sure to attend the Veterans Day ceremony Tuesday at UNC" though he's still in the process of moving from Pennsylvania and hasn't even taken up residence at his new home in Chapel Hill.""I am honored and proud and pleased to be here"" he said.Saleeby, an N.C. State University alumnus who will turn 87 this week, served in the U.S. Army and handled communications between headquarters and Europe.The College of Arts and Sciences and the ROTC held the service outside Memorial Hall to pay tribute to Americans in uniform, past and present. Several dozen veterans, families and students attended the service, which included remarks from Capt. Stephen Matts, professor of naval science, Bruce Carney, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Capt. Charles M. Gibson, a UNC alumnus guest speaker.The ceremony, originally to be held in Gerrard Hall, was relocated because of the weekend fire. Matts said he was glad the service was held outside Memorial Hal because of its proximity to The Carolina Alumni Memorial in Memory of Those Lost in Military Service"" monument" which was dedicated in April 2007.In his speech" Gibson quoted former President Harry Truman: ""Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid.""And so he set the tone for the rest of the ceremony.Gibson expressed gratitude to past veterans and new volunteers.""Veterans Day is the day we recognize not only those that gave their lives in war" but those who wear uniform" he said.At the end of the ceremony, Gibson called upon veterans in attendance to stand when he named the particular war in which they had fought: World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm and other military deployments.As flags snapped in the quiet autumn air, the Servicemen's Hymns were played.Adam Kennedy, a senior peace, war and defense major and member of the Army ROTC, said Veterans Day was a fitting tribute to those who have served in the past.It's a chance for everyone to come out and recognize those veterans"" he said. It's for those that served.""Saleeby said he always has been willing and proud to take part in such ceremonies — just as proud as he was to serve.""I'd go again if I had to"" Saleeby said. I love this country.""Staff writer Hillary Rose Owens contributed reporting.Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(11/02/08 4:00am)
This week, students nostalgic for their youth will get a chance to relive the antics of high school spirit days.As part of Homecoming week, which begins today, students can take part in dress-up days"" where they are encouraged to dress according to a specific theme.Homecoming committee chairwoman Jessica King said attendance for events in past years has been low, and the Carolina Athletic Association is using initiatives such as the dress-up days to boost both student and alumni participation in the week's events.CAA representatives said the idea is to recreate the atmosphere of a high school spirit week.I think it's something in high school that people enjoyed" and I think it worked well" said Jordan Puckett, vice chairwoman of the Homecoming committee. I know I miss my high school dress-up days.""King said she wants to build up Homecoming as a stronger UNC tradition.""Carolina has so many traditions" and for whatever reason Homecoming has not been a strong one in the past" she said. King also said the committee placed more emphasis on publicity this year with posters in dorms and classroom buildings, Facebook events, business cards, listserv e-mails and word of mouth. She also said she thought the football team's success this season would have a positive effect on student involvement in Homecoming events.In partnership with the General Alumni Association, the committee is sponsoring several other events throughout the week, such as games and giveaways in the Pit and evening events at various locales.Evening events will tag-team with existing weekly events at local businesses. DJ Night"" at Pantana Bob's will become ""Homecoming DJ Night"" and ""Trivia Night"" at Spanky's will become ""Homecoming Trivia Night.""Several businesses" such as Chipotle Cluck-U Chicken McAlister's Deli Jimmy John's Maple View Farms and Caribou Coffee" will also volunteer refreshments for various events.""We've gotten a lot more participation from local sponsors" which is different from past years" King said.King said the highlight of the week will be Friday's True Blue Fanfare"" in the Smith Center" which will bring together alumni students and community members before a women's basketball game.Anita Walton manager of Homecoming and affinity reunions for the GAA said the association tried to increase alumni turnout as well by planning numerous events for them. More than 2"000 alumni have registered for events.""Alumni in general aren't used to having that much activity specifically planned for them on Homecoming weekend"" Walton said. It's a fairly new tradition."" Monday: Decades Day10 a.m. to 2 p.m." the Pit Football Toss – win a color- changing cup or Koozie Homecoming T-shirts on Sale - $10 long-sleeved Carolina blue or white 11:50 a.m. Wing-eating contest with football players 12:50 p.m. Loreleis performance8 p.m. Memorial Hall Gym Class Heroes concertTuesday: Rockstar Day10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Pit Popcorn and cotton candy – FREE for everyone Rock Band competition – all day for students win cups and Koozies Football Toss Homecoming T-shirts on sale 11:30 a.m. Red Bull Girls – FREE for everyone 12:15 p.m. Step Show by LUL 1 p.m. Rock Band with men's basketball team IFC Sponsored Greek Cookout: Big Frat Court Time TBA10 p.m. to 12 a.m. Pantana Bob's Homecoming DJ NightWednesday: Superhero Day10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Pit Four Square for Students Video Game Competition Football Toss King and Queen Voting Day7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Basketball Museum NightThursday: Tacky/Mismatch Day 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Pit Clothing drive for students Football toss Homecoming T-shirts on sale 11:30 a.m. Red Bull Girls – FREE for everyone 12:15 p.m. Clef Hangers performance 1 p.m. Musical chairs competition with cross country and tennis teams 7 p.m. Great Hall Student Union Brendan James concert 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. Spanky's Homecoming Trivia NightFriday: School Spirit Day10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Pit Football toss 10:50 a.m. and 1:50 p.m. Trivia competition with students 12:50 p.m. Trivia competition between athletes4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dean Dome concourses A and B True Blue FanfareSaturday Student tailgate party 3 hours prior to game Bell Tower lawn UNC vs. Georgia Tech Royalty Presentation halftimeContact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(10/21/08 4:00am)
Robert Spencer said he has received death threats and is often called an ""Islamophobe.""So Spencer" director of the Web site jihadwatch.org and author of eight books on jihad and Islam came to UNC on Monday to spread his message and clear up what he deems are some popular misconceptions of his views.His site is affiliated with the David Horowitz Freedom Center" a conservative foundation that advocates for the ""defunding"" of the national Muslim Students Association" saying it has a radical agenda.The lecture was co-sponsored by the College Republicans and the Committee for a Better Carolina who paid $3"000 to bring him to campus. About 40 students and community members attended.Spencer began his lecture with a brief history of the jihad movement. He said he was trying to raise awareness of the threat to freedom posed by violent jihad. But he emphasized that he was not trying to paint all Muslims as jihadists.""There are so many Muslims n this world who have no interest in this program"" he said. But there are still many who are jihadist.""Spencer cited the Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education as an example of how the U.S. has made inroads to racial equality"" and said jihadist supremacy ideals are undermining that progress.""We are at a point in the United States where this brotherhood is threatening to roll that all back"" Spencer said.After his talk, Spencer took questions.One audience member asked Spencer how his ideas differed from Islamophobia. He said his fear of jihad is not irrational; it is substantiated by jihadists who have explained their supremacist ideology on record. These people said that they are going to destroy Western civilization"" Spencer said. I like Western civilization.""Many at the lecture seemed impressed by Spencer's talk.Sophomore political science major Jason Sutton" a member of both the College Republicans and the Committee for a Better Carolina" said he thought Spencer was very knowledgeable.""I was impressed with not only his depth of knowledge but his breadth of knowledge"" he said.Joe Moss, visiting from Tampa, Fla., said Spencer is his hero.Although Spencer has seen negative reactions at other campuses from Muslim student groups, UNC's Muslim Student Association did not attend the event.Aisha Saad, the association's outreach chairwoman and former opinion editor for The Daily Tar Heel, said in an e-mail that the association chose not to take part in the Spencer lecture.We do not see it setting the stage for a productive discourse but rather falling into a circular discussion that perpetuates stigmatized and superficial conceptions of a diverse community"" Saad said.Despite critical reception of his ideas, Spencer said he will continue to speak his mind.I'm willing to take the heat for doing this"" he said. I'm willing to be called names and so on.""Contact the University Editorat udesk@unc.edu.
(10/09/08 4:00am)
Monday's minimum salary increase was a positive step employee leaders said.But some feel it was not enough and administrators said financial constraints could hinder future increases.The University raised the minimum annual salary for full-time employees by $4888 to $250 on Monday. The total amount used in the wage raise was $144000.Tommy Griffin chairman of the Employee Forum" said he thought the salary raise was a step in the right direction.""I'm just glad the chancellor found some money to help folks out"" he said.Griffin also said there remains a significant disparity between the average employee wage on campus, which he estimated to be about $35,000, and the cost of living in Orange County.I'll be honest with you" a living wage is a little bit more than $420 Griffin said. At today's prices" that's what everybody needs to make.""Brenda Malone" associate vice chancellor for human resources said the concept of living wage did not play a role in calculating the increase. Dick Mann vice chancellor for finance and administration" said he disagreed with Griffin's estimate.""A $42"000 living wage? That's nonsense" Mann said. My sense is that the state's minimum is well below what we're setting as a floor. I don't know where they got their number. We operate in relation to what the state numbers are."" The increase for UNC employees came mostly from a pool of money called the pay improvement fund.The fund was set aside several years ago to deal specifically with employee salary adjustments. In the past it has was used to augment employee salaries that had either fallen below the state minimum wage or were affected by a rising cost of living.""Certainly at this point we had the funds" and the chancellor thought that this was an appropriate use of the dollars and we made the decision to do it now" Malone said. Who knows what the budget looks like a year from now?"" Mike McFarland" director of University communications" said other sources of funding include state funds and money generated by faculty research. He added that individual departments would have to contribute their own funding.Griffin said Monday's wage increase is progress but still not enough to satisfy employees. ""When it gets to the point that they only have to work one job to survive — that's when it'll be enough"" Griffin said. Or when it gets to the point where they can afford to send their kids to UNC-Chapel Hill — that'll be about right.""But the Employee Forum's hopes for future wage increases seem unlikely in the face of financial constraints.""At this point" there are no immediate plans for future things" Mann said. A lot will depend on what's available. We're looking at a two-point budget cut.""Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(10/09/08 4:00am)
Chancellor Holden Thorp spoke to new Interfraternity Council members Wednesday"" delivering the message that he won't stand for hazing at UNC.""I want you guys to clean up your act"" Thorp said to the audience. I'm not afraid to take this on.""The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life began an anti-hazing campaign at the beginning of the semester targeted at Greek students.It was designed to educate students on how to report hazing and to teach the community that hazing is unacceptable at UNC.The University defines hazing as any physical or emotional injury done to an individual as part of an initiation process. Violation of hazing policies can result in a misdemeanor charge. Wednesday's program was the second hazing discussion IFC members have heard this semester. The first focused on UNC's hazing policies" while Wednesday's dealt with reforming any irresponsible fraternity behavior. Jennifer Levering assistant dean of students of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life" said the campaign is the most comprehensive hazing reform ever proposed at the University. ""I think that we've made some good strides on campus to combat hazing" she said. I wouldn't say it's a major problem on our campus but I think it's something that we need to constantly educate people on" because it does exist in some of our chapters.""Levering said the prevalence of hazing at UNC is often misconceived. She also said chapters are encouraged to show strong leadership to diffuse the often negative perception of Greek life.""It's not the majority of the chapters that are hazing"" Levering said. It's a small number that are negatively reflecting on the entire community.""David Neal" a first-year Kappa Sigma pledge" said he thought hazing was not a significant problem at UNC. ""We don't have to worry about it"" he said. I just don't really see it happening much on campus."" IFC Vice President of Special Events Michael Chomat" a member of Pi Lambda Phi fraternity" said he thought Thorp's talk was very effective.""It just shows the University's commitment to helping not only the IFC but individual fraternities" he said.Thorp said he is dedicated to helping Greek students reform their organizations. I think they know that the chancellor wants both the image and the substance of Greek life to improve" Thorp said. The objective is not to eliminate Greek life but to allow the positive aspects to continue to contribute to the campus.""Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(10/01/08 4:00am)
UNC is doing its part to preserve natural resources and reduce waste — but it could do better according to two recent sustainability reports.The Sustainable Endowments Institute released last week the College Sustainability Report Card a comprehensive report on campus sustainability initiatives.UNC scored a B+ an improvement from last year's B-. The University's grade puts it in the top 11 percent of the 300 universities on the report card for sustainability practices said Mark Orlowski executive director of the Sustainable Endowments Institute.Only 15 schools in the U.S. and Canada received an A- the highest grade given to any institution.Report cards were produced based on nine categories.UNC scored an A on administration food and recycling green building transportation and investment priorities.The University also received a B on climate change and energy and student involvement. UNC got a D on endowment transparency and was not evaluated on the ninth category shareholder engagement.Brian Cain UNC Sustainability Office's research and outreach manager" said he was pleased with UNC's score.Cain also said he thought UNC deserved a better grade on student involvement.""We've got a student body that's willing to put action behind words"" he said.A second report, submitted to the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment in September, focused on greenhouse gas emissions. As a signatory of the commitment in Jan. 2007, former Chancellor James Moeser pledged UNC would achieve climate neutrality, or no net emissions.Daniel Arneman, UNC's greenhouse gas emissions specialist, said he found that 90 percent of emissions come from supplying heat, cooling and electricity to buildings.The path to reduce emissions further is threefold, said Executive Director Lee Bodner of ecoAmerica, which helped to implement the commitment.First is reducing energy use in buildings primarily and transportation" second is switching to clean sources of power and third is buying carbon offsets to mitigate the emissions that you can't eliminate directly" Bodner said.And Cain said the campus will become even more sustainable once UNC's in-progress initiatives and projects come to fruition.Those projects include several new Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design buildings, which are characterized by environmental features, and an initiative that will treat waste water for nondrinking uses.Arneman said the results of the report also help to point UNC in the right direction.Now that we understand where the emissions are coming from" we can start to work on an action plan for achieving reduction" he said. You have to tailor the reduction strategy to the actual emissions reality for the campus.""Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(10/01/08 4:00am)
Micah Armstrong a 41-year-old evangelical fundamentalist better known as Brother Micah was assaulted Tuesday while preaching in the Pit according to police reports. Witnesses said the unidentified suspect took personally one of Armstrong's pronouncements" which are often provocative.""I was preaching the Bible" Armstrong said. He was challenging me basically on why bad things happen to innocent people and I implied that something had happened in his childhood. He shoved me once and I just stood. He shoved me again and I stood" and then he hit me across the face.""First-year C.J. Scott said he saw the incident from the steps of the Pit. ""He said" ‘You were probably raped when you were young' and the guy went up to him and pushed him and told him to apologize Scott said. And then he just stood there and the guy pushed him again" and then he slapped him. It was loud."" Armstrong" an occasional visitor to UNC speaks passionately against homosexuality evolution and hypocrisy among Christians. He often draws a large crowd of students who argue with him.Sophomore Alex Efird who was in the area when the incident occurred" said she thought Armstrong provoked the assault. ""He steps on people's toes"" she said. It's only natural for humans to get upset. Why would you call someone out on something so serious and so personal?""But some said both parties were out of line.""I don't think either of them was really in the right. Obviously the guy was victimized by the preacher" but I'm not a fan of violence first-year Abbey Herrmann said. Herrmann was also in the area but did not actually witness the assault.Armstrong said he will not press charges. I don't know where people get this idea that I go around suing people because I don't press charges" Armstrong said. I'm not out to get anything out of it.""Armstrong also said it is not unusual for students to get physical with him.But campus police said this was the only assault on Armstrong at UNC. ""We've had incidents with the Pit preacher but I don't recall anyone assaulting him"" Department of Public Safety Lt. Steve Thornton said.Despite Tuesday's incident, Armstrong said he will continue talking with UNC students.Today I happened to get assaulted" Armstrong said. But I love Chapel Hill because I think this is one of the most intelligent campuses. Chapel Hill is one of the more civil" thinking schools."" Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.