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(12/03/09 3:20am)
The UNC system has signed on with a local company that allows universities to order supplies online and through a centralized system that helps them save money.The e-procurement company SciQuest will become the business standard for most of the 16 UNC system universities, but not necessarily N.C. State University and UNC-Chapel Hill.The two universities already have their own system for ordering supplies and are unsure whether they’ll benefit from switching to SciQuest.The SciQuest e-procurement software provides customers with a catalog of vendors for classroom, laboratory, and office supplies.Roger Patterson, associate vice chancellor for finance at UNC-CH, said the University has had an ordering program, known as PeopleSoft, for the last several years. PeopleSoft has its own e-procurement option, though the school has not yet implemented it.Stephen Wiehe, the CEO of SciQuest, said his product improves on the traditional procurement methods and the software currently used by most UNC-system schools because it makes ordering easier, more eco-friendly and more attuned to local business.“If a university worker needs to buy a computer, which is the best contract to buy under? It’s based on all types of criteria,” Wiehe said. “We show the differences in all vendors, contractors, and suppliers.”SciQuest allows the user configure their search keywords to support local, minority/disadvantaged, state-contracted, or preferred vendors, Wiehe said. The order is sent directly to the supplier electronically, eliminating third party involvement and cutting down on paper use and pollution from gas and emissions.According to a study conducted at UNC-CH by efficiency consultants Bain & Company, the annual savings from an e-procurement method such as SciQuest could run between $40 million and $45 million.The University will meet with SciQuest in the next two weeks to consider their product. There are several criteria Patterson said he is looking for.“Does SciQuest deliver a functionality PeopleSoft does not? What price do they charge?” Patterson said.“We want the best prices we can get our campus. There are just variances in whether SciQuest is the right vendor to use for that.”This is not SciQuest’s first partnership with an academic institution. Wiehe said they currently service 104 colleges and universities including University of Virginia, University of Pennsylvania and Yale University.Jeff Davies, chief of staff for the UNC-system General Administration, said the software most schools use is not strong enough for increasing demands, and needs to be replaced by something more efficient. SciQuest will be able to fill this niche, Davies said.Campuses will begin to use SciQuest before next school year, some right after Jan. 1, 2010. There is a four to five-month implementation process.“In our mind, this is a way to capitalize on the strength of our system in negotiating contracts that will give us the best prices for all campuses,” Davies said.Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
(11/20/09 4:53am)
With the departure of N.C. Senate Majority Leader Sen. Tony Rand, D-Cumberland, a vacancy will open in the N.C. General Assembly that could have a significant impact on the UNC system.Rand, who has served in the legislature since 1982, has repeatedly made the UNC system a top priority. He said he hopes his departure will not affect the legislature’s relationship with the UNC system. Rand announced his departure earlier this month. “It’s been North Carolina’s tradition to protect the university, and to value education and enlightenment,” Rand said. “Having a world-class education available right here is what has separated us from the rest of the South.”Anita Watkins, vice president of government relations for the UNC system, stressed Rand’s accomplishments for higher education in the state.“Sen. Rand has had a profound impact on the university. He recognizes how integral the university system is to our state’s current and future success,” Watkins said.Dwayne Pinkney, assistant vice chancellor for finance and administration at UNC-Chapel Hill, listed UNC-CH accomplishments that he said Rand helped make possible — among them groundbreaking cancer research and a biomedical center.He also helped ensure that the University received larger budgets in the face of enrollment growth.“Rand has his hand in any of the major legislative accomplishments of the last 10 to 15 years,” he said.N.C. Sen. Marc Basnight, D-Dare, pointed out Rand’s personal ties to UNC-CH. “Tony Rand has had a greater influence on UNC-Chapel Hill than anyone who has ever lived, outside of William Davie and the founders who created the school,” Basnight said in a statement.Schorr Johnson, Basnight’s communication director, said in an e-mail that in Rand’s years in the Senate, Rand helped double the UNC-system budget, procure $500 million for building expansion in 2008 and create the N.C. Research Campus in Kannapolis. He was also the muscle behind the $3.1 billion schools bond in 2000, which has generated 88,000 state jobs, Johnson said.With Rand gone, there is both speculation and uncertainty about who will assume his role and carry the academic torch between the legislature and the UNC system.“That’s the issue — I don’t know who will stand in his place as far as having that kind of influence,” said N.C. Sen. Tony Foriest, D-Alamance.Pinkney said he hopes the newly appointed senate majority leader, Sen. Martin Nesbitt Jr., D-Buncombe, will continue in Rand’s legacy and preside over tough economic times with special attention to the system’s needs.UNC-system Chief of Staff Jeff Davies said it’s simply too soon to tell who will step up on the system’s behalf. It will become clearer once the legislature completes the upcoming term’s agenda in February or March.“I hope the legislature will continue to support it in same vein and spirit. It should certainly be one of the primary focuses of state resources,” Rand said. Basnight said he sees no immediate substitute for what Rand has meant to the UNC system.“The best Carolina ever gave is found in Tony Rand and we have no replacement. None.”Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
(10/21/09 4:56am)
Bluetooth devices, iPhone’s and all things cellular were in use as about 15 doctors and medical students called around the community to rouse support for President Barack Obama’s health care reform.
(10/19/09 3:07am)
By Ross MaloneyStaff WriterNorth Carolina’s private colleges and universities across the board have seen steep declines in financial contributions in the last year.All 36 private college institutions in the state have seen a decrease in those contributions, known as endowments, since 2008, said Hope Williams, president of N.C. Independent Colleges and Universities.Because they are not funded by state tax money, private universities depend more on endowments than UNC-system schools, Williams said.An endowment is a permanent source of income for the university. Money contributed to the university over the years gets invested and then makes returns.“Universities are having to make strategic budget decisions,” she said. “Some cut personnel and other items within budget. At the same time, they’re trying to find additional funds and reallocate funds for financial aid.”Duke University Michael Schoenfeld, vice president for public affairs and government relations at Duke University, said Duke’s endowment dropped about 24 percent over the 2009 fiscal year, from $6.1 billion to $4.6 billion. He said it’s the single largest annual drop the university has ever seen.“It’s unique, historic, and what we hope to be a onetime occurrence,” he said. In the last 10 years, Duke’s endowment has seen an average 10.1 percent increase each year, even with 2009 factored in.“Spending from the endowment makes up about 15 to 17 percent of your overall budget, so if that part of your budget declines for the next couple years, you will have to look at reduction and expenses, as well as opportunities for different revenues,” Schoenfeld said.Meredith CollegeMelyssa Allen, news director at Meredith College’s department of marketing, said the school experienced a 20 percent decrease in its endowment since June 2008. Meredith typically spends 5 percent of its endowment funds on its annual budget.But the school has a working strategy for riding out the budget cuts, she said — increasing class sizes.“It was determined that the ideal average class size for Meredith is 20 students. Currently, our average class size is 17, so we have some flexibility in increasing class sizes without comprising the quality of the academic experience Meredith offers,” she said. Davidson CollegeStacey Schmeidel, director of college communications, said Davidson reported a 25 percent loss in endowment funds from $550 million in 2008. The school operates on tuition, gifts and padding from the endowment.“We knew ... people would give less gifts, the stock market would put pressure on the endowment and make students and families who pay tuition feel more constricted,” Schmeidel said.Unlike other schools, Davidson has not laid anyone off, although they have implemented an ongoing hiring freeze, Schmeidel said.The university has cautioned against unnecessary trips and travel, which has saved the school tens of thousands of dollars, she said. They also launched green initiatives to save money in the long term. “We’ve done a lot of budget planning that assumes things were going to be tight for a long time to come. If it gets better, that’s great. If it doesn’t, we feel like we’re well positioned for the years ahead.”Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
(10/13/09 3:03am)
Two state legislators are drafting a bill that would keep undocumented immigrants out of N.C. community colleges — only a month after they regained the right to enroll.N.C. Rep. Wil Neumann, R-Gaston, and N.C. Rep. Pearl Burris-Floyd, R-Cleveland, have recruited 52 other Republicans to support the bill and are hoping to gather Democrats too.“We need to get to the magic 61,” Burris-Floyd said, referring to the need for a majority in the 120-member House.If they gather enough support, the bill will be introduced in May 2010, at the outset of a new session.The legislation is a response to the N.C. State Board of Community Colleges’ recent decision to allow undocumented immigrants to enroll in the N.C. community college system.The catch is that the immigrants must be U.S. high school graduates and pay out-of-state tuition, and they cannot displace residents.Undocumented immigrants were first allowed to enroll in 2007. The policy continued until May 2008, when the state board enacted another ban.The state board approved last month allowing undocumented immigrants to enroll once again. But the revised policy crafted by the community colleges will take six to 12 months to implement. Neumann said he thinks it is inappropriate to grant community education to those here illegally.“This is a cost I don’t think is fair for our citizens to incur, especially in an economic downturn,” he said.For Burris-Floyd, the problem is that undocumented immigrants have an opportunity for higher education that many Americans don’t because they can’t afford tuition. “This is not against legal immigrants, just illegals,” she said. “If anyone should get it, it should be an American.” The legislation is a rewrite of a previous bill a few sessions ago with the same goal, Neumann said. “As the only case where we’re not mandated to do something by federal law or Supreme Court jurisprudence, my constituents tell me they’ve had enough,” Neumann said.Neumann and Burris-Floyd said they expect formidable opposition from Democrats.Megen George, director of marketing and external affairs for the N.C. community college system, said the state board follows mandates of the N.C. General Assembly, and if Neumann and Burris-Floyd are successful, they will have to stop accepting undocumented immigrants’ enrollment. Burris-Floyd said the community college debate reflects a larger social problem.“Nowhere else can anything illegal be allowed to stand. They know they’re illegal,” she said. “This is a slippery slope detrimental to the American way of life.”Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
(10/07/09 4:20am)
The N.C. Community College System is backing the UNC Board of Governors’ plan to encourage students to pursue two years of community college before transferring to four-year universities.Administrators at N.C. community colleges said an increasing number of students are enrolling with the goal of transferring to UNC-system schools, showing that the board’s plan of accepting better prepared students is already in motion. Anyone earning an associate’s degree in the arts and sciences at a community college is eligible for transfer, said Elizabeth Spragins, program coordinator for the community college system. Many UNC students have taken advantage of this eligibility.“Over one fourth — 26.6 percent — of those enrolling in the College of Arts and Sciences this year came from state community colleges,” said Ashley Memory, senior assistant director of admissions at UNC-Chapel Hill. Thomas Gould, associate dean of university transfer at Durham Technical Community College, said there are 1,500 students enrolled in the transfer track. “Each year we have 250 to 300 students transfer to four-years,” he said, citing UNC-CH, N.C. Central University, N.C. State University and private institutions such as Meredith College and Duke University as top destinations.Durham Tech alumni who transfer have an average cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, Gould said.“Strikingly, our transfer students actually perform better at the universities as juniors and seniors than native students who began their academic careers there as freshmen,” he said. The higher GPA seen in most transfer students falls in line with the UNC-system Board of Governors’ announcement last month that universities need to admit better-prepared students in order to receive more funding. The board is changing their funding formula so that schools are no longer rewarded simply for enrolling more students, but for high graduation and retention rates as well.Many community colleges are now partnering with UNC-system schools to facilitate transfers. Joanne Ceres, Pitt Community College’s director of enrollment management, said Pitt feeds into East Carolina University and absorbs many who were not accepted to their first choice.Some, such as ECU junior Ryan High, initially chose Pitt for financial reasons, but has since realized that he might not have been ready for a university as a freshman.Pitt better prepared him for college academics and gave him time to get an idea of where he’s headed after school, he said.“I knew I was going to transfer when I first got to Pitt,” High said. “I just figured I could save some money in the long run. And I really hadn’t decided on my major yet.”Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
(09/21/09 3:38am)
The U.S. Census Bureau found earlier this month that 17 percent of North Carolinians are currently without health insurance.Supporters of health reform on a national and university level say this finding backs their position.Adam Linker, a health policy analyst with the N.C. Justice Center, said that the state’s uninsured rates are higher than the national average of 15 percent partially because of high rates of joblessness.“People get health care through their employers, and we’re facing one of the fastest-growing unemployment rates in the country,” Linker said. Several reforms both at the state and federal level now aim to reduce that percentage and provide affordable coverage to a wider community. This includes President Barack Obama’s proposed health care reform, which Linker said will cover up to 97 percent of the N.C. population.College-age students are one demographic directly affected by the stipulations of Obama’s reform plans — expanding the cutoff age for dependents from 22 to 26.“Part of the idea of the reform is to give subsidies to those who can’t afford insurance, like college grads,” Linker said.“This will also allow people to stay on their parents’ insurance longer as a dependent, providing a little more flexibility for students as well.”Because current undergraduates might not be able to find a job straight out of school, they are less likely to have health insurance coverage when they graduate.While the UNC system is unable to help with post-graduation coverage, it is trying to lower the current rate of uninsured students — 16 percent in 2007, according to Pam Silberman, president of the N.C. Institute of Medicine.The UNC-system policy making body, the Board of Governors, recently approved requiring students to have insurance by fall 2010. “This new policy will make it more affordable because they’re buying in bulk for everyone, and it wouldn’t exclude students based on preexisting conditions,” Silberman said.Silberman said those who cannot afford insurance themselves will be covered under financial aid packages.The high rate of people without insurance is problematic because an uninsured nation leads to an unhealthy society, Silberman said.“When people lack coverage, they don’t go in to get care. They’re sicker. People are diagnosed with late-stage cancer rather than early-stage cancer and die prematurely,” Silberman said.“Not to mention, off-care expenses is one of the primary causes of bankruptcy in U.S., whether you don’t have coverage or you have inadequate coverage.”Linker said all tax-payers share the communal burden and cost of emergencies with the uninsured.“We have to keep in mind the cost we all pay when those without coverage go to the hospital for care or treatment,” Linker said.“The best way to reduce costs is to get nearly everyone covered.”Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
(09/16/09 1:48am)
PBS’s “Roadtrip Nation” will make a pit stop at UNC-Chapel Hill on Friday, Oct. 16.The show, beginning its sixth season, is including UNC-CH on its fall tour along with other East Coast universities. The premise of the series is to inspire college-age students to pursue their passions and talents.“As a generation, we need to need to get back to focusing on individuality. Self-construction rather than mass production,” the show’s online manifesto proclaims. Central also is the notion of weeding out what they refer to as “the noise.”“‘The noise’ is friends, family members and society that act as pressures to conform to a certain set path,” said Lauren Ho, the show’s national events director.Ho is one of the eight roadies who will be coming to North Carolina.She said the main mission of the tour is to provide outreach, inspire and mobilize America’s college youth. “Face-to-face interactions with our target audience (college-aged students) is our greatest reach to encourage students to check out our Web site, apply for road trips and help us spread the word,” Ho said.This recruiting aspect of the tour is the main way Roadtrip Nation gets new roadies and more campuses involved.In its previous five seasons, Roadtrip Nation has covered all four corners of the United States and has extended itself internationally to six continents — in countries such as Uganda, Australia, New Zealand and England — through its Independent Roadtrip Grant Program.The roadies themselves share certain similarities, though the selection process varies each year. All roadies are early- to mid-20s and are often alumni from previous seasons.The fall roadies are from The University of California at Davis, The University of California at Irvine, Montana State University, Northland College, Miami University (Ohio), and The University of Georgia.They have majored in communication, journalism, English, studio art, economics and marketing, among others.Four roadies will be coming to UNC.More information — along with pictures, videos and the rest of the manifesto — is available at the show’s Web site, www.roadtripnation.com.
(09/11/09 5:08am)
Today is the eighth anniversary of Sept. 11, yet the commemorative events and public reflection of the past eight years are largely absent.On the first anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks, there was a campus vigil attended by thousands of students, multiple memorial ceremonies and commemorative structures and artwork. In 2006, five years after the tragedy, there was a memorial service held on campus, a silent 5K run and thousands of small American flags placed on the lower quad.This year, the flags are in place and the silent 5K happened at 6:30 a.m., but the University will otherwise carry on with its normal Friday routine.How does society move on from a national tragedy of such magnitude?The increasingly short American memory, declining media coverage due to a lack of audience interest and the rapid cycle of current events turnover all cause national tragedies to fade from the public consciousness, said Michael Welsh, a history professor at University of Northern Colorado.“Just because we have more access to information and connections, we don’t (necessarily) have a longer memory,” Welsh said. Sept. 11 has become less politically relevant, contributing to the tragedy’s drift into the national background. “How much of 9/11’s memory is a function of our real desire to keep it alive and how much was our leaders’ desires to keep the ideas alive?” Welsh asked.Sept. 11 is viscerally tied to former President George W. Bush. It’s hard to associate it with the current administration, he said.“We’re a nation that always looks to the future. It’s hard to make people turn back, especially when it’s troubling.”While society has begun to detach from the trauma of Sept. 11, the emotional impact it had makes it hard to forget even today, said Donald Shaw, a journalism professor at UNC.“Any major event like that, people are struck by it. I can remember everything I was doing when JFK was killed and when the Challenger went down. It’s the same with 9/11. Who I was with, where I was walking, how I learned about it. It was a blow,” Shaw said.Its far-reaching impact is also a factor in its continued presence in the American narrative, he said.“People from this area died in the World Trade Centers. I ask kids in my class if they knew anyone who died, and usually it’s a connection or two off,” Shaw said.But Shaw said society is right to take a few steps back .“Humanity must move on. We have to pick and choose commemorations and celebrations or all our days would be consumed by them,” he said.“Even if the town doesn’t officially recognize an event, citizens individually still do. It doesn’t mean the event isn’t important.” Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
(09/03/09 5:04am)
The national heath care debate came to UNC on Wednesday as supporters and opposers of President Barack Obama’s came to aggressively promote their sides.U.S. Rep. David Price, D-N.C., spoke at the forum hosted by the UNC Young Democrats regarding realities and rumors of the proposed changes in health care legislation. Price seemed intent on making sure the audience left with an accurate understanding of the reforms, despite interruptions that sometimes escalated to heckling.About 140 students and townspeople filled a Wilson Library room to hear Price spell out the legislation they said they were going to pay for. The audience had an insatiable appetite for discussing the issue and it gave input with emphatic applause and detailed questions.“Why is it my responsibility to pay for 10 to 12 million uninsured undocumented workers?” one audience member asked. “Why are there no cross-state policy options under the current system?” asked Jason Sutton, a junior political science major and a member of UNC College Republicans.“Why is there no public option for Congress? Are they too good for their own reform?” another audience member asked.Wednesday’s intimate atmosphere mimicked the “town hall” meetings politicians have been conducting with constituents since summer.“It gives students the chance to engage Congressman Price directly and for him to see how important the reform issue is to our generation,” said Justin Rosenthal, Young Democrats co-president. Price called access to basic health care a fundamental human right, lumping it in with staples like food and shelter. He said that he understands the anger that the reforms prompt and that despite concerns, the private sector will remain protected.“We don’t want to replace the market, but rather correct it, as one often has to,” he said. The main steps to doing this are universal coverage and eliminating insurance discrimination, he said.Audience concerns also included supervision of Medicare, repeated visits to hospitals, potential increases to the national debt and effects on future doctors.Chapel Hill residents Jerry and Lynn Gschwind, 63, were there to oppose the public option. They called it a “bureaucratic nightmare.” Lynn, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Britain, said the government- directed health care system there does not work.“Everybody wants everybody to have coverage,” she said. “We just believe in free enterprise.” Price said the dialogue succeeded in narrowing disagreement. “There were questions raised I want to investigate further myself, and I’d encourage everyone to continue engaging in civil debate,” he said.Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
(09/01/09 4:46am)
Two UNC alumnae have been hired to help distribute federal stimulus money to the state’s rural counties.They will be working for Dempsey Benton, director of the Office of Economic Recovery and Investment, responsible for distributing federal stimulus funds.The appointments follow summer internships with local governments helping them determine how best to use their resources.Charessa Sawyer and Alison Gillette were two of the nine students selected by the Carolina Economic Recovery Corps, which helped N.C. cities craft their budgets and assess their obstacles.Making progress happenAfter earning a master’s degree from the UNC School of Social Work in May, Sawyer was assigned to work with the Mid-East Commission in Washington, N.C.Sawyer helped the local government with strategic planning, searching and applying for federal grants and growth strategies.“I wanted to go see how we could help them out as people, especially when they didn’t have the staff power in place,” Sawyer said.Some towns she worked with had fewer than 300 residents and had not applied for stimulus money. “It was impactful to see the communities enhanced in whatever way possible,” she said.“It brought me a lot of awareness to the struggles of small town government where it’s very hard to obtain grants.”After her internship, Sawyer was hired by Benton to work in Raleigh.Martin County Commissioner Brenda Turner worked with Sawyer. She enthusiastically endorsed Sawyer’s work.“I’ve never met someone so innovative and energetic,” Turner said. “She was both knowledgeable and respectful.”The two worked with Mid-East together, preserving historical landmarks in Williamston.“I was sorry to lose her. I fought to keep her here with us,” Turner said.Rediscovering her prioritiesGillette applied to the program in Rutherfordton after graduating in May with a master’s degree in city and regional planning. She worked with a regional council of the Isothermal Planning and Development Commission.Gillette said she worked in four counties — Rutherford, Polk, McDowell and Cleveland — and helped acquire $100,000 to fund renovation for poor homes in need of repair.Gillette said she realized how much she took for granted.“Basic things like waterline repairs, moving off septic tanks, getting broadband — the fact that I have wireless at my house is wild.”Gillette also has been hired by Benton’s department to continue her work in western North Carolina for the next six months.Results from the housing repair grant shows that Gillette helped acquire close to a million dollars in federal funding to help more houses in need of repair. “Alison was very professional and flexible,” said Teresa Spires, grant services manager for Isothermal.“She did a great job. I think she learned a lot from it.”Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
(11/20/08 5:00am)
The UNC-system Board of Governors made campus safety the No. 1 fiscal priority in the 2009-11 budget it approved Friday.What it did not specify is how each university must spend the money they receive.""I'm not going to go in and tell the campuses they have to do stuff a certain way"" said Brent Herron, UNC-system's new associate vice president of safety and emergency operation.The board requested more than $14 million to fund safety improvements. The money will fund new technology, mental health programs and increased law enforcement personnel.Our first priority was campus safety" and I think we made great strides in that last year but we've got a ways to go said UNC-system President Erskine Bowles at the board's meeting Friday.The legislature will decide next year how much to allot in the budget for campus safety.Herron said he will work with each school to decide how much money they need to ensure security.Herron has visited the majority of UNC-system campuses since taking office in September.My impression is that most are doing a very good job of addressing security needs Herron said. Our area to improve on however" is overall education … making people more aware of their surroundings and their resources they can utilize.""Herron said most important to him is identifying threats early enough to prevent problems and to do this mostly through better assessments and a system that directs students in need toward psychological services. Funding for security technology is next in importance" Herron said. Campuses systemwide are working on developing ways to assess and subdue threats.UNC-Greensboro police Chief James Herring said his school is investing in counseling services and installing PA systems in classrooms and dorms" but he is worried that the tight budget will affect the quality of their operations.""Right now we're sort of in limbo"" Herring said.Will public safety be exempt from budget cuts? I just don't know.""The UNC-system schools will not receive equal safety funding" said Jeff McCracken" director of public safety at UNC-Chapel Hill.UNC-CH will likely receive less than its neighboring universities.""Different schools have requested different things and will receive different amounts"" McCracken said, explaining that they didn't ask for any additional funds for the next fiscal year.He said they didn't ask for more money because they were already up to par on safety standards.Do I think safety's the number one expenditure because there's a problem with safety? No"" he said.Do I think it's number one because it should always be a concern on the back of our minds? Yes.""Herron said recent events have put safety in the spotlight"" but it has always been a top priority and will remain so.""I'll be honest with you. I think safety should be the number one issue on the budget. For now and for the future.""Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
(11/05/08 5:00am)
Despite Republican B.J. Lawson's success at attracting attention to his candidacy for North Carolina's 4th Congressional District long-term Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. David Price D-N.C. will retain his seat.Price's final margin of victory was almost 27 percentage points" according to unofficial tallies — not surprising for the incumbent now elected to his 11th term in the House.""It's a nice vote of confidence; it's part of a larger victory for others: like (Kay) Hagan" Obama of course hopefully" Price said shortly before 10 p.m.In his concession speech, Lawson said he would continue to fight for reform.This isn't a battle that's going to be won overnight"" he said. So many people today look at Washington and know something's wrong.""Supporters at Lawson's election watch party acknowledged that it was a difficult year to run as a Republican.Lawson fought hard for publicity throughout the campaign. Even Price's supporters were impressed.""He definitely won the battle of the signs. He has more signs in his district than any other opponent of David's ever"" said Price's wife, Lisa.He's still got his work cut out after tonight taking those signs down.""However"" Price's experience proved key.""He is just now hitting his stride"" said Pat Spearman, the treasurer of the Price campaign.What a lot of people don't realize is you have to serve in Congress for a long time to be able to move legislation through successfully.""Daniel Wilkes" a 2008 UNC graduate who attended the N.C. Democratic Party election watch party" also said Price's years in Congress are a plus.""Price has been a great representative in Congress for years. He'll be able to provide better leadership and press his progressive agenda in a Democratic Congress.""The candidates' philosophies were fundamentally different in several areas" especially interpretation of the U.S. Constitution and economic policy.During the campaign" Lawson stressed his firm belief in interpreting the Constitution as it is written — a belief which Price said will limit the federal government from providing essential services.Lisa Price said Lawson's campaign was ineffective and overly negative.""They made a lot of personal attacks on David"" calling him a liar and other inappropriate ways to campaign.""Price said his priorities for his next term include executing the financial rescue plan" enacting another stimulus package and working on other important issues such as education health care and infrastructure reform.During the campaign" the two candidates presented different economic plans.Lawson favored deregulating the banking system and opposed the recently passed $700 billion bailout plan.Bob Whitehurst from Wake Forest approved of Lawson's candidacy.""I think at the very least we'll put some pressure on David Price to listen to his constituents.""Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
(10/21/08 4:00am)
Rural North Carolinians are finding it harder to fuel their cars or put food on the table bringing big city concerns to small town addresses.In Watauga County which includes Boone and Appalachian State University" independent gas stations — the majority of gas stations in the area — depend on leftovers from larger companies.""They have to rely on shipments that are not scheduled or guaranteed"" said Marshall Ashcraft, community relations director for Watauga County Schools.When there's a shortage"" it hurts us a lot more than them.""Toni Floyd" transportation director for Watauga County Schools" said she encourages wise and thrifty choices on choosing when to travel.""If you need something from the store" you pick it up on your way home instead of coming back out she said. Personally my family has cut down on eating out" and has tried to watch for more sales.""She said she thinks rural gas prices are not only undesirable but unjust.""Gas is always higher here than anywhere else"" Floyd said. The excuse we've always been told is that it costs more to bring it up the mountain. But I don't think it costs a whole 20 cents more.""At the other end of the state" in eastern North Carolina Bertie County is also suffering from high energy costs.Collins Cooper Bertie County Chamber of Commerce executive director said the county has implemented several changes to cope with higher gas prices including a no-idling policy for company vehicles.There is no mass transit in the county or plans to build any because the population is not large enough to support it" Cooper said.Cooper said that food prices also have shot up and that the unemployed are no longer out looking for work because of the gas use it entails.""I just think it's bad for a rural area" Cooper said. We're already economically deprived" and this just lowers the buying power.""Bob Bamberg" executive director of the Allegheny County Chamber of Commerce" said he sees the economic crisis as a tightrope walk for his county's financial psyche.""We lost a lot of manufacturing jobs around 2000" and we still haven't recovered from that" he said. There were a lot of people laid off who are still scrimping. But I think this does make things even harder.""Bamberg added that people aren't necessarily asking for help when they need it.""While there are resources here and there are people willing to support others"" there is also a greater resistance to accepting help because of smaller town dynamics where everyone knows each other."" Bamberg said.He said he has already noticed less weekend tourism" a slump in the housing market" fewer people making weekend trips into town and a dramatic increase in the price of basic groceries like vegetables and milk.""People are standing pat"" holding off on purchases they don't have to make until they see what happens.""Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
(10/21/08 4:00am)
Rural North Carolinians are finding it harder to fuel their cars or put food on the table bringing big-city concerns to small-town addresses.In Watauga County which includes Boone and Appalachian State University" independent gas stations — the majority of gas stations in the area — depend on leftovers from larger companies.""They have to rely on shipments that are not scheduled or guaranteed"" said Marshall Ashcraft, community relations director for Watauga County Schools.When there's a shortage"" it hurts us a lot more than them.""Toni Floyd" transportation director for Watauga County Schools" said she encourages wise and thrifty choices on choosing when to travel.""If you need something from the store" you pick it up on your way home instead of coming back out she said. Personally my family has cut down on eating out" and have tried to watch for more sales.""She said she thinks rural gas prices are not only undesirable but unjust.""Gas is always higher here than anywhere else"" Floyd said. The excuse we've always been told is that it costs more to bring it up the mountain. But I don't think it costs a whole 20 cents more.""At the other end of the state in eastern North Carolina" Bertie County is also suffering from the high energy costs.Bertie County Chamber of Commerce executive director Collins Cooper said the town has implemented several changes to cope with higher gas prices including a no-idling policy for company vehicles.There is no mass transit in the county or plans to build any because the population is not large enough to support it" Cooper said.Cooper said that food prices also have shot up and the unemployed are no longer out looking for work because of the gas use it entails.""I just think it's bad for a rural area" Cooper said. We're already economically deprived" and this just lowers the buying power.""Bob Bamberg" executive director of Allegheny County Chamber of Commerce" said he sees the economic crisis as a tight-rope walk for his county's financial psyche.""We lost a lot of manufacturing jobs around 2000" and we still haven't recovered from that" he said. There were a lot of people laid off who are still scrimping. But I think this does make things even harder.""Bamberg added that people aren't necessarily asking for help when they need it.He said he has already noticed less weekend tourism"" fewer people making weekend trips into town and a dramatic increase in the price of basic groceries like milk.""People are standing pat" holding off on purchases they don't have to make" until they see what happens.""Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
(10/08/08 4:00am)
Amidst an increasingly contagious trend of ‘he-said he-said' the Obama and McCain campaigns are now riddled with an illness of misrepresenting each other's health care plans.Last Thursday at the vice presidential debate Democratic candidate Joe Biden and Republican candidate Sarah Palin each took swings at the opposite party's health care proposals.Tuesday's presidential debate showcased similar rhetorical tactics leaving some voters confused as to what the actual facts are.UNC journalism professor Leroy Towns said most voters end up with a more general idea of detailed issues because it's hard to keep people engaged when it comes to such minute policy distinctions.Towns also said TV advertising is the most important outlet for voters to learn about candidates" which limits a voter's ability to comprehend policy specifics.""People care a lot about health care"" Towns said. It's just hard to derive meaningful substance from such short sound bytes.""During Tuesday's debate" Republican presidential candidate John McCain claimed that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's plan would mandate citizens to purchase health coverage or they would face a federal tax. According to Obama's health care proposal that claim is not true.As stated in press statements Obama's health care plan includes a tax on businesses who refuse to provide affordable" adequate health care to their employees — not taxes on the citizens themselves.""There's no mandate involved"" Obama said Tuesday night.Similarly, the Obama campaign said McCain's promise to give $5,000 in tax credit back to voters is invalid, claiming that it won't actually reach them.It would go directly to your insurance company"" Obama said in a rally at Asheville High School on Sunday.Some experts said that, after cutting out the rhetoric and focusing on the financial objectives, they are skeptical about both proposals.UNC health policy professor Jonathan Oberlander, who was recently interviewed for a New York Times article on Obama's health plan, said he sees the plan as being no more cost-effective than McCain's.I don't think either plan has a very compelling strategy to control costs"" Oberlander said in an interview. Obama's plan does give specific numbers and would be more beneficial to the uninsured.""But he said he thinks Obama's health plan still doesn't stand a good chance of being enacted if he becomes president.""Let's put it in true Tar Heel terms: it's more of a half-court shot than a layup" Oberlander said.The Democrats need 60 Senate seats to block a filibuster over it" and it's doubtful they'll reach that.""Here" the elephants in the room are not Republicans" but rather legal procedures and protocol.Oberlander said McCain's idea of saving from cutting Medicare and Medicaid is equally unconvincing.Towns said the main thing he looks at is how health care relates to the economy. He said he thinks it is the sole issue that will define this election.""The economy has changed the dynamics of the whole race" Towns said. And during hard economic times" it becomes even harder to pay for health care.""Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
(10/05/08 4:00am)
The state of the economy isn't just affecting those on Wall Street and Capitol Hill. The Chapel Hill community is also feeling the squeeze.Many factors — gas prices drops in the stock market and subprime lending among others — are just a fraction of a downward spiral toward a recession" which Heidi Shierholz of the Economic Policy Institute said is afoot.""When gas prices go up" it directly erodes living conditions of the middle to lower income class invoking mass insecurity among consumers Shierholz said.It's not clear how we'll be affected by the crisis. We've never seen anything like this in our lifetimes" only read about it.""UNC social psychology professor Melanie Green predicted that Chapel Hill residents will respond to the crisis similarly to the rest of the country.""A lot of what's happened is out of people's control"" and certainly this alone could lead to feelings of helplessness or anxiety.""Local businesses and students are already apprehensive and anticipating the need to cut back.Phyllis Maultsby" who owns Light Years jewelry store on Franklin Street" said sales have not been hindered greatly so far.""We saw our biggest slowdown in revenue when gas went over $4 a gallon."" Maultsby said.As for social psyche"" she said she feels the news is at fault for any public panic.""The news is so negative that it's scary for people. It's all about the bad news" and thus it perpetuates itself" she said.Nearby on Rosemary Street, Expressions tobacco store owner John Long said he wasn't sure if anyone could solve the fiasco.The less they spend" the less we make the less taxes we pay the more taxes fall off the less they can spend next time" Long said.He said that although Expressions' sales are not as high as he'd like, they haven't completely flat-lined. Long's co-worker Drew Kirk said that his parents work in trucking and that gas prices have caused them to raise their rates. Weekly sales have dropped by 94 percent.It brings us back to the days of the Depression" Kirk said.Students around campus have been affected in different ways by the crisis.I've been forced to keep an eye on buying drinks at games or concert tickets since prices shot up said first-year Adam Buckholz.Junior Maggie West said she's also cutting corners.I grocery shop more and eat out less. I only drive when I absolutely need to and I make sure it's with other people she said.Sophomore Anna Feagan said her biggest concern is what happens Nov. 4.The best candidate in times like these is one who looks out for the middle class Feagan said.UNC finance professor Robert Connolly rejects the idea that the economy has turned sour overnight.The genesis of the problems now goes a long way back and belongs to both sides of Capitol Hill" he said.John Quinterno, research associate with the N.C. Justice Center, said bolstering economic activity will prevent the crisis from snowballing.That may mean injecting money into the economy"" he said, referencing the financial bailout plan making its way through both sides of Congress.The question that no one can come to a consensus on is, Where do people go now?""Shierholz and Quinterno said the government should go into deficit spending; Maultsby and Feagan said people should go to the polls; and Long said anyone left should go to ‘Expressions" for the 75 percent off clearance sale.Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
(09/17/08 4:00am)
Even in an election year professors can state their political views in the classroom but they generally agree that doing so should advance not stifle" open debate.UNC political science department Chairwoman Evelyne Huber said there is no official policy on incorporating professors' political views into the classroom.""I'm pretty sure most do"" Huber said. So long as the students are able to assume that doing so has no impact on grading.""Huber said that when professors disclose their personal politics"" it promotes intellectual inquiry and presents an opportunity for active debate with their students.UNC political science professor Thad Beyle said he makes his views clear at the start of every semester because honesty facilitates more open discussion.""The ratio of Democrats to Republicans to Independents is always comparable enough that there is never one prevailing mindset"" Beyle said, explaining that the mix promotes balanced dialogue.Still, some professors choose to leave their partisan leanings at the door.UNC journalism professor Leroy Towns said he doesn't disclose his opinions in class, but assumes most students can deduce his views.I think the students are pretty sharp as it is"" he said. They can determine for themselves where their professor leans.""Towns" a former Republican campaigns manager" said that he's still undecided in this presidential election and that his primary objective is to encourage active political participation.""Students are paying more attention to the political world now because of the election"" Towns said. I make a point that all political philosophies are welcome in my room.""The American Association of University Professors says it's alright for professors to state their views in class" said Nicole Byrd" government relations associate for the organization.""We have never advocated that professors pretend to take the position of neutrality in politics"" she said, adding that professors should create a zone of comfort before advertising their own views. (We) stress that professors teach how to think" not what to think Byrd said. Truthfully if you don't bring it into the real world you are doing students a disservice" she said.No matter how intense it gets, class discussion should only be censored when personal attacks on the students emerge, Huber said.It becomes a personal question rather than an academic one. Very often students want to know their professors are human beings and have opinions"" too.""Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.