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Live updates from Daily Tar Heel reporters at election parties across the state:
Students in Chapel Hill for the summer might be out of luck when it comes to finding a job if they didn't have one coming into the summer.Along with an 0.8 percentage point jump in the town's unemployment rate in May from 4.5 percent to 5.3 percent" many businesses are turning away students looking for work.""It's always hard to find jobs in the college age bracket during the summer"" said UNC junior Kate Matthews.Matthews, who works at UNC Student Stores and worked there during the spring semester, said she didn't know of any new students who were hired for the summer.One possibility is that businesses aren't willing to invest in temporary workers who will leave at the end of the summer, said Adam Klein, vice president of economic development for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce.Hengyun Wang, a UNC junior who works for the UNC Student Union, said the Union was hiring students for the summer because they were readily available and the training was less rigorous.It's not very favorable to train people in the summer" but union training isn't as strong during the summer" he said.Mia Drabick, a UNC junior who works at Alpine Bagel Cafe, said she was just happy to have a job.I know I'm lucky getting my six hours or so a week here"" she said.Some of my friends have been trying really hard to find jobs and I have lucked out in the ones I've found for the summer.""It's especially hard for students to find jobs this summer due to increased competition from people who have recently graduated or lost their jobs as well"" Klein said.""You have some people with master's degrees applying to be waiters and waitresses when you might have only had undergrads"" Klein said.But there doesn't seem to be a definitive reason for the jump in unemployment, said Brad Broadwell, director of Orange County Economic Development Commission.The unemployment rate for the county rose by nearly a full percentage point in May, from 5.8 percent to 6.7 percent.As a market factor" there is nothing that has happened that dramatically from April to May to have an almost one percentage point bump" he said.Klein said it was a result of state- and national-level economic problems finally reaching the area. The unemployment rate for the Triangle area, where many Orange County residents work, rose to 6.5 percent in May. Broadwell said economic conditions in the area probably won't improve for some time.I don't see any factors that mitigate the unemployment rate right now"" he said.Students should feel lucky they are making any money.""Contact the State & National Editor at stnt@unc.edu.
North Carolina State University is facing a potential 18 percent budget cut short-staffed manned with interim leaders and its gaze focused away from its own budget woes.N.C. State Chancellor James Oblinger and Mary Easley are just the latest casualties in a scandal that has diverted the university's attention from looming budget cuts.Student government leaders and administrators will now have to work harder with the new administration of Interim Chancellor Jim Woodward who was the chancellor of UNC-Charlotte for 16 years and Interim Provost Warwick Arden to keep the welfare of students at the forefront of the university's attention said Greg Doucette" president of the UNC Association of Student Governments.""Student government and NC State leaders are gonna have to work extra hard to make sure the budget and tuition are front and center with these distractions"" he said.The distractions came in the form of Easley's now-terminated five-year contract worth $850,000 and former N.C. State Provost Larry Nielsen's six-month paid leave at a provost's salary of $300,000.Easley, after being called to resign by several officials including UNC-system President Erskine Bowles, cited N.C. State's contractual obligation to her and refused to resign. Records also showed that Oblinger cut a deal to increase the severance package for Nielsen the day before he resigned.The board was left with no other option but to have Oblinger resign and eliminate Easley's contract, said N.C. State Student Body President Jim Ceresnak.The whole controversy has been hemorrhaging" and we needed to stop the hemorrhaging" he said.The issues regarding Easley, Oblinger, Nielsen and former N.C. State Board of Trustees Chairman McQueen Campbell also did a fair amount of damage to the university's reputation, he said.But the damage wasn't permanent, and the university wouldn't have any significant issues focusing on its budget problems, he said.There's a lot of excitement that we do have a great opportunity here"" he said. The issue of the budget was also too pervasive, and the cuts too severe, to be ignored in light of the Easley controversy, said Michael Smith, dean of the UNC School of Government.These people" like Woodward Erskine and others are impressive multi-taskers and we just don't have the luxury of focusing on one or two issues" he said.And since the controversy began, the board had been making some smart decisions — particularly in selecting Jordan as interim provost — said John Dornan, executive director of Public School Forum, a political think tank based in Raleigh.You really can blame the provost and the chancellor for not considering the conflict of interest that they and (Easley) were in" he said.If there's a lesson to be learned here" it's that e-mail never goes away.""Contact the State & National Editor at stnt@unc.edu
Despite an economic recession and rising gas prices the state Senate has decided to eliminate a proposed cut to the state's gas tax.The senate approved a bill that would eliminate a 2-cent cut to the state's gas tax Monday leaving the state's gas tax at about 29.9 cents to the gallon.The N.C. motor fuel tax rate is fixed at 17.5 cents plus 3.5 cents or 7 percent of the wholesale gas price. The tax was scheduled to fall to 27.9 cents on July 1.The state had to use the additional funds to provide funding for road maintenance repair and construction said Sen. Ellie Kinnaird D-Orange.There was not much discussion when it went to the Senate floor for a vote" she said.""I'm pretty sure I voted for it" but I would have to check to make sure" Kinnaird said.As of Tuesday, gas prices were roughly $2.22 in the Chapel Hill area. Prices have gone up by 9.4 percent from a month ago, when they were about $2.03.Gas prices hit a record high in July last year, when the national average was about $4.11 a gallon. The rise in gas prices corresponded with an increase in the price of a barrel of crude oil, which reached about $147 a barrel that same month.Though the price of a barrel of crude oil has fallen to around $59 a barrel as of Tuesday — a drop of almost 60 percent — it has steadily risen for the past month.It's still too early to tell whether eliminating the proposed gas tax cut will have an impact on Chapel Hill's economic situation, said Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Officer Adam Klein.But some residents are already concerned that the Senate's resilience against a gas tax cut will have a negative impact on their already tight wallets.If they don't control it now" it'll be the same as last summer — people are gonna stop spending and they're gonna wanna do without" said Fred Ivey, an employee at the Exxon station on 1710 E. Franklin St.Ivey said he expected gas prices to rise to about the same level as they were last summer —although it would be a slower space.Americans in general don't care what the price of gas is — people still need gas and people are gonna skip out and other stuff to pay for it" he said.Kinnaird said the price probably wouldn't get that high this summer.I think everyone suspects if not agrees that they manipulated the price to go up to $4" she said.She said that Chapel Hill residents would have to bite the bullet, and that the Senate had to choose a balance between moderating gas prices and keeping the roads well maintained.People have to balance whether they want their roads repaired and whether they're willing to get more roads" and whether they want to pay more for gas she said.We need the gas tax to pay for road repairs — if it goes too low" we simply can't.""Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
Unemployment reached record highs in the state during the past few months as the recession continues to take its toll on North Carolina.The economic climate has been frustrating for seniors who are trying to find jobs after they graduate said Tim Stiles" associate director of University Career Services.""I think people get a better appreciation for how difficult it really is out there when they start looking"" he said. I'm having to work with some students weekly to pump them up.""Unemployment hit 10.8 percent in March. A year ago" the unemployment rate was only 5.7 percent.North Carolina's current rate is the fifth highest in the country.Because of this Stiles said more graduating seniors are leaving North Carolina to find work elsewhere in the Southeast.Stiles said there are some bright spots in the job market. The federal government for example is still hiring people. And computer science pharmacy and education are still healthy job industries" he said.But investment banks and other parts of the financial sector are struggling to hire recent graduates.""The big ones are definitely on hold"" Stiles said, and they're the ones who hire big critical masses of college students.""Stiles and other counselors at University Career Services have encouraged students to look for alternatives and to get other work experience for one or two years before trying to land their ideal job.Jeni Margules" a senior biology major is going to Colorado in September to work for AmeriCorps" a nationwide service organization.""The point of the program is to experience poverty"" Margules said, adding that she'll be working in a family health clinic. She said she thinks the senior class is split into three different groups. One group has jobs, the second group is going to graduate school and the third group is still looking.It's been nerve-wracking for everyone" but I think everyone's settled in to what they want to do she said.Stiles said he wants seniors to know that University Career Services is available for them free of charge up to six months after graduation.We want to equip them with some skills and build momentum" he said. A full-time search can be frustrating.""The reality of the job market's condition is setting in for many seniors"" Stiles said.""It's nice to have someone to pump you up"" Stiles said. Our fulfillment comes from helping other people.""Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT
HILLSBOROUGH — Stephanie Ennis and her husband can only pay for their electricity and their car this month. They can't pay their rent"" and they're borrowing money from family to pay for food.""We don't even live week to week anymore"" Ennis said. We live day to day.""Ennis"43 was laid off in April 2008 from her full-time job in a call center for Aetna" a health insurance provider.""I wake up in the morning and think" ‘I can't believe this happened"'"" the Efland resident said. ""We hardly have anything.""Ennis is one of many Orange County residents searching for a full-time job in a state where unemployment has almost doubled in the past year.According to numbers released Thursday" Orange County's unemployment rate rose to 5.8 percent in January up from 3.4 percent a year earlier.While statewide unemployment has continued to rise the unemployment rate in Orange County is the lowest in the state. Durham and Wake counties follow Orange with the next lowest rates in the state — 7.3 percent and 7.4 percent respectively.Larry Parker spokesman for the Employment Security Commission of North Carolina attributes the low rates to the area's big state employers — the education system and the hospitals" which have increased their numbers of employees by about 5.8 percent in the past year.""I think that has helped keep things at bay for at least for a little while" Parker said. Because of the diversity here" it's going to hit us last.""Ennis said she has been coming to the Employment Security Commission office in Hillsborough three times a week since she was laid off in April. ""This is not a happy place"" she said.About six weeks ago she received a part-time job from Tar Heel Temps, doing research 20 hours a week.Ennis received a degree in social sciences from Campbell University. She also served in the Marine Corps for nine years. Being a vet — it doesn't matter"" she said. I don't know why I can't get hired.""She said she has applied to more than 300 jobs since getting laid off last year.""I feel like I'm going into this pool of people and getting lost"" she said. I can't get any luck.""Job losses in the manufacturing" construction and retail industries have driven the drop in the state's employment Parker said" adding that the negative effects of job losses in those industries have started to creep into Orange County.Almost three quarters of N.C. counties have unemployment rates higher than 10 percent.Ennis has felt the effects for a year.""It's really bad"" she said. I don't know what we're going to do.""Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
As a result of the financial meltdown two Charlotte-based banks are pulling back their hiring of college graduates this year.Bank of America Corp. and Wachovia Corp. typically hire between 10 and 15 students for 20 to 25 positions said Tim Stiles associate director and business administration career advisor for University Career Services.This year however those numbers are expected to decrease.Bank of America came to campus recruiting for about eight to nine positions this fall" Stiles said.""Like other financial services firms" we are not immune to the present economic climate said spokeswoman for Bank of America Nicole Nastacie in an e-mail. In light of the economic environment" we will continue to evaluate and make the appropriate hiring decisions based on the business needs.""Wachovia" which was recently acquired by Wells Fargo will not be hiring at all due to a company-wide hiring freeze.Wachovia cancelled many of its second-round interviews with students in the fall and several interns did not receive job offers" Stiles said.""We're going to wait and see how the deck gets shuffled after the merger"" Stiles said.On Jan. 1, Bank of America completed its acquisition of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. As a result, the company expects to cut 30,000 to 35,000 positions during the next three years, leaving little room for entry-level students to start.While Bank of America expects to cut its workforce, Wachovia is just trying to remain in business.This deal enables us to keep Wachovia intact and preserve the value of an integrated company without government support"" said Wachovia President and Chief Executive Robert Steel in a release.Wachovia was more exposed to the housing market, which is one of the reasons it fared worse than other financial institutions, said Paolo Fulghieri, a finance professor in the Kenan-Flagler Business School.In the early 2000s, inflated housing prices allowed homebuyers to take out home equity loans. Many lenders also eased their lending standards, which allowed unqualified homebuyers to take out loans that they couldn't repay.When homeowners began defaulting on loans and the housing bubble popped, it created a chain reaction of collapses in the economy.The best way to describe it is a really dry forest" Fulghieri said. There was a lot of dry wood in the economy" and the housing collapse was the spark.""Stiles said he does not want students to get discouraged.""There are still jobs coming in for college students"" he said. It just may not be the job of their dreams. There are jobs out there if you're willing to compromise.""We're not giving up on people if they don't give up on us.""Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
The battle against undocumented immigrants in North Carolina was quieter in 2008 left up to law enforcement more than to politicians as other issues such as the economy took precedent.Meanwhile law enforcement has managed to continue and even increase deportation.A program that allows local law enforcement to act with the authority of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials called 287(g) has put more than 3100 N.C. undocumented immigrants through deportation proceedings since January 2007" according to The (Raleigh) News & Observer.""There's definitely a tangible sense of fear in the community right now with law enforcement" particularly because North Carolina has been one of the leaders in the 287(g) program" Irene Godinez, advocacy director for El Pueblo, a Raleigh-based Latino advocacy group, said in September.The 287(g) program, a pet project of outgoing U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., is also supported by her successor, N.C. Sen. Kay Hagan, D-Guilford.Yet the subject of illegal immigration, a controversial political issue in 2006, was barely on the radar of the 2008 elections.The economy has really pushed everything else to the back burner"" said Tom Jensen, communications director of Raleigh-based Public Policy Polling.If the election had been last year, immigration would have been a much larger issue, he said.When President-elect Barack Obama voiced support of illegal minors to attend N.C. community colleges during a Greensboro rally in late September, his remarks didn't create a lasting stir.The question surrounding undocumented immigrants' access to N.C. community colleges was one of the only immigrant-related issues to come up in this year's political campaigns.Governor-elect Bev Perdue, a Democrat, upset some of her more progressive supporters when she supported a ban on undocumented immigrants' admission to the N.C. Community College System at a board of trustees meeting in August, at least until a study of the issue was complete.Perdue later weakened her stance in one of the last gubernatorial debates of the election season, calling on immigration reform from the top down.If Congress can just tell us what the rules are" then we'll play by the rules" she said.One group of students is still concerned that when the N.C. General Assembly returns to session in January, the door to community colleges for undocumented immigrants will remain shut.The statewide Coalition for College Access met for the first time in September and is organizing groups on every UNC-system college campus to garner enough support to fight for college access for undocumented immigrants in the legislature.(Perdue) pushed to close this door"" said UNC journalism professor Paul Cuadros, who spoke at the group's first statewide meeting. She's not going to go back on her policy decision. Who's going to open these doors? The students.""But Mauricio Castro" an organizer for the N.C. Latino Coalition" said his organization hopes that new leadership both on the state and federal level will help further comprehensive immigration reform.""We want to deal in realities" not assumptions. We need to correct and clarify misconceptions" Castro said.My experience tells me we need to start with the very basics before we approach the big issues.""Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
On the first day of 2008 North Carolina was in the middle of the worst drought in the state's history. Sixty-seven counties were slated in the most severe level of dryness.This drought which has been affecting the state since early 2007 created a swath of dry counties starting in the west and sweeping through the middle of the state leaving the east in lower — but still serious — drought conditions.Many counties imposed water restrictions which ranged from voluntary efforts to mandatory restrictions like lawn irrigation and car washing.UNC-Chapel Hill contributed to those efforts in Orange County by encouraging reduced water use in the residence halls fixing leaks across campus and installing special water-saving appliances.In mid-August 18 counties were still suffering from severe drought. This number has been steadily decreasing" partially because of the remnants of tropical storms that affected the state.The problem was that those storm-caused rains didn't touch the mountains.""Some of the western counties are going into their third year of drought" which is very unusual" said Ryan Boyles, director of the State Climate Office.They haven't had the recovery in their groundwater and streams and reservoirs.""Boyles said that water management varies by county and community" since most of that responsibility is left to local governments" but that most counties had taken a more aggressive stance on water conservation.He added that people generally have become more conscious about water use and are still saving under voluntary restrictions.""People got used to using less water"" he said. They've decided they don't need as much.""As of Nov. 25" only 11 counties are in the most severe category of drought. Chapel Hill and Carrboro reservoirs are at 86 percent of their capacities.Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
The UNC-system Association of Student Governments will spend its last meeting of the fall semester this weekend preparing for one of next semester's biggest projects.The association which is comprised of student leaders from all the UNC-system schools is trying to revamp the Advocacy Corps a program intended to involve students in lobbying the state government on relevant issues such as tuition.Each school will appoint two students to the corps. However the program is having difficulty recruiting participants. As of Thursday only four schools had submitted any applications.Chazz Clevinger who leads the committee in charge of the program" said the low level of response is due to deadlines placed on the campuses — they were supposed to turn in at least six applications for spots on the corps by Nov. 7. ""Time constraints are the number one thing I'm up against right now"" Clevinger said.The legislative and public affairs committee of the association is continuing to recruit members from each school, he said.Greg Doucette, the ASG president, said the problem is partially one of recruitment efforts and partially one of a lack of resources.A lot of universities aren't in a position to reach out to the students collectively"" he said. We can't paint everything with a one-size-fits-all approach.""Clevinger echoed that sentiment" saying that he and the committee were working with schools and being flexible to help make sure they are all represented in the corps.Because of the time crunch and because of how few students have applied" Clevinger said there will be a motion in the committee this weekend to pass the responsibility of choosing applicants on to the student body presidents.""Although this process isn't as ideal as we would like" it's the best we could come up with in three weeks time" Clevinger said.He said the most important thing is full representation, which means that some universities might have to directly appoint members to the corps.We will provide a customized plan for each campus to make sure they are fully represented in the corps"" he said.David Mofford, Appalachian State University student body president, said students at the university were very enthusiastic about the corps ,and he had several applicants.I think it's going to be an organization that puts a face to the UNC system"" he said.In the past the corps has not been as successful as it could be, Doucette said.Clevinger said that to avoid repeating past problems — such as disrespect toward legislators or uninformed participants — they will host an extensive training session Dec. 12 and 13.The association is organizing a trip for the corps to Washington, D.C. in early January and a students' day in Raleigh on March 17.Mofford also said he thinks the corps is a good opportunity for the schools to work together for a common cause.There seems to be a lot of cooperation between the schools this year in ASG.""Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
RALEIGH — A group of about 50 black students protested as the N.C. State University Student Senate passed a resolution Wednesday calling for community service" diversity education and counseling for the students who wrote racist threats to President-elect Barack Obama on campus.The protestors said the resolution was not harsh enough. They support suspension or expulsion for the students — consequences that were recommended in the original resolution last week.""I don't feel like the slap on the hand of making them do community service will change their lives in any way"" said junior Genesis Atkins, who carried a laminated poster with the names of more than 600 students who supported harsher punishment.The resolution — which passed 48-to-1 with three abstentions — was hotly discussed. Maritza Adonis, the single naysayer, said that while the slurs did not personally offend her, she was voting to represent the students.Students elected me here to represent them. That's why I voted no"" she said. I'm embarrassed to be a Wolfpack senator.""Adonis said she felt that many senators were pressured to vote a certain way" and that they did not stand for the voice of the students. She said she talked to students on campus" who mentioned feeling unsafe as a result of the racist comments on the free expression tunnel.""It's hard to be standing for the right thing"" she said.Some senators called on the students crowded in the back of the room to offer their opinions, which overwhelmingly supported harsher punishment.Atkins said the majority of the 600 signatures on the petition for stronger consequences were from white students. Many black students have become nonchalant because they don't think their opinions have weight, she said.They don't feel like their voices are heard. And tonight they weren't"" she said.Senate President Pro Tem Kelli Rogers said that prior to the meeting, the resolution went through an extensive discussion process with students and faculty to ensure all opinions were heard.However, Adonis said university officials are scared to heed demands for harsher punishment because the university is afraid of being sued.I challenge the administration to get up" stop being scared and do the fighting" she said.Greg Doucette, student senate president, said that despite some senators' condemnation of their colleagues, he was glad to see the student body and the senators so involved in the issue.I think this is the most engaged I've seen the student body on any of the issues we've dealt with"" he said.Sarah Lindh, a senator who supported the resolution, said she thought it was well-researched and well-written.I think this was a perfect example of the legislative process in action"" she said.Atkins, however, said she felt misrepresented by the senators.I was disappointed that they were elected"" she said. They voted against the students.""Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
Due to a reporting error in this article Phyllis Horns' title was incorrect. She is the interim vice chancellor for health sciences at East Carolina University. State health care officials say proposed budget increases aren't enough to alleviate the growing health care crisis.UNC-system medical schools say addressing both the shortage of professionals and the costs of patients' unpaid medical bills is necessary to fulfill a mandate of serving the state's low-income population.Health care officials requested more than two times the funds proposed by the UNC-system Board of Governors last week and they're bracing for the N.C. General Assembly to grant them even less.The 2009-11 budget increase approved by the board listed health care as its second-to-last funding priority out of 10. Campus safety was the number one priority and it's possible the health schools could receive no increases in funding.East Carolina University's Brody School of Medicine serves more than 20000 low-income patients a year. The school asked for $5 million" but the BOG cut it to $2 million.""I would certainly hope that the General Assembly look at the entire budget request and look at what is needed" particularly in the time of a financial shortfall" said Phyllis Horns, interim dean for the Brody School of Medicine.Maintaining the health of our citizenry — there's hardly anything more important.""Both UNC Health Care and the Brody School provide free health care to anyone in need. They're struggling to meet the needs of a growing number of low-income patients.""The volume of the care being provided is well beyond what was originally anticipated — beyond what this medical school can continue to do and still maintain its financial viability"" Horns said.Increasing access to health care for rural regions is one of the needs identified by the UNC Tomorrow Commission Report, released last year as a mandate for how the UNC system can better serve the state.That need might be put on the back burner for awhile.Karen McCall, a spokeswoman for UNC Health Care, said that UNC Physicians and Associates, a group that provides free health care, is preparing for less funding.We desperately need the program to be funded" but everybody is very realistic in looking at all the competing programs that we're submitting" McCall said. It's going to be a tough budget year.""At N.C. Central University" the department of nursing is trying to ease the shortage by allowing second-degree students to graduate in 16 months instead of two years.Lorna Harris chairwoman of the nursing department" said she hopes the program will get enough funding to start in January — they still need funds to fill the program's positions.""I believe that in (the legislature's) deliberation" providing additional health care providers will be a key factor for them" Harris said.Without the right funding, North Carolinians in need of health care could end up without it.We very much would not like to need to turn away any patients" Horns said.If we're not able to get support from the state to provide the care" I think we will have … to figure out how we take care of those who cannot afford to pay for medical care.""Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
RALEIGH — More than 1400 people braved Saturday afternoon's rainstorm to take part in what organizers said was the largest rally for gay rights in state history.The rally held simultaneously in seven other N.C. cities and in all 50 states protested Proposition 8" an amendment to California's constitution passed Nov. 4 that banned same-sex marriage.The rally was held in front of the Halifax Mall and was followed by a short march around downtown Raleigh.Participants marched with signs and chanted slogans in support of same-sex marriage.""No longer will we ask for permission to love or permission to marry. It is our time to ask for equal marriage rights"" said Chapel Hil resident Tom Greene, an organizer of the event. This is the new civil rights movement.""The Supreme Court of California ruled earlier this year that same-sex marriage was legal in the state"" but Proposition 8 will override that.The passing of Proposition 8 and numerous other same-sex marriage bans throughout the country has ignited a debate in the N.C. LGBT community on how aggressively to pursue same-sex marriage rights in the state.Gay rights advocacy group Equality North Carolina thinks anti-discrimination and anti-bullying legislation is likely to pass before same-sex marriage is legalized.""I think (same-sex) marriage is a few years away in places like North Carolina"" said Ian Palmquist, executive director of Equality North Carolina.I think we will see progress in basic issues like hate crime legislation at the state level first"" and we intend to focus on those issues first.""But other activists" galvanized by President-elect Barack Obama's nationwide and N.C. victories don't want to wait to press state legislators on gay marriage.They want to push for gay marriage within the next decade" ""picking up"" those issues on the way" said Durham resident Will Elliott" one of the organizers of the event.""I think we've got to go for gay marriage. There's no reason not to set our bar that high" Elliott said. If we say it'll be 20 years out to get gay marriage it will be 20 years out" or maybe we'll never even get there.""Participants on Saturday expressed a similar sentiment"" saying that North Carolina turning blue indicates the state might be ready to accept same-sex marriage.""I want us to go for the gold "" said Rita Hernandez, a Raleigh resident who carried a sign saying, I can't believe we're still protesting this …"".""I worry that" as a movement we don't push for enough quickly enough" she said.With constitutional bans in Florida and Arkansas passed Nov. 4, North Carolina is now the only state in the Southeast without a ban.Palmquist attributed that to North Carolina's unique amendment process, which requires that the legislature propose all amendments and then put them up to a vote by the people.Elliott said the same kind of grassroots movement that helped elect Obama next needs to mobilize in support of gay rights legislation.This is the new face of what the gay and lesbian equal rights movement is going to be"" Elliott said. Any group involved in legislative action is going to need to adapt and harness this new energy and power.""Contact the State & National Desk at stntdesk@unc.edu.
The UNC-system Board of Governors convened Thursday for its monthly meeting.Following a policy discussion on partnerships between the UNC system and N.C. Community College System the board committees met. Below are the highlights from the day.Partnering with community colleges:N.C. Community College System President Scott Ralls had his first formal meeting with the full board Thursday.Both systems are making it a priority to improve collaboration between institutions" and UNC-system President Erskine Bowles pledged to fight for the community college system as much as for his own.The following are Ralls' top priorities:- Focus training on emerging and ""recession-proof"" industries such as aerospace and aviation" health care and technology;- Focus on college completion especially among low-income students;- Simplify educational transitions among high schools community colleges and universities by streamlining standards between high schools and community colleges and expanding transfer programs;- Pay community college instructors at the national average;- Improve communication between university and community college faculty.Report on medical graduates:Dr. Thomas Bacon program director of the Area Health Centers Education program gave a presentation to the Committee on Educational Planning Policies and Programs on the need for more graduates from N.C. medical schools to pursue primary care.- Only 10.9 of UNC-Chapel Hill's primary care physicians are in rural areas.- Only 30 percent of 2001 medical graduates from UNC-Chapel Hill were practicing in North Carolina as of 2006.- Bacon said schools should create tracks for under-served rural or primary care physicians.Accountability as a priority:The audit committee discussed an update on the Finance Transformation Project which aims to standardize the policies and processes of accountability and internal auditing at all system campuses.They also decided to attempt to amend the 2009-11 budget priorities to make accountability the No. 4 priority instead of No. 10.- The project will work mostly with financial aid and general accounting departments because they are most at risk for misappropriations.- New standards developed for contracts and grants are being tested.- The new policies will be required of campuses by April 2009 and the first reports from campuses will be due July 2009. Senior Writers Lindsey Naylor and Brendan Brown contributed reporting.Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
From the president all the way down to state legislators the N.C. Democratic and Republican parties are hoping to sweep today's election.Through voter turnout induced by the presidential election and straight ticket voting" the two parties are hoping that this election will bring lower-ballot races into a larger victory party.""The presidential race helps everyone" especially in turnout" said Kerra Bolton, spokeswoman for the N.C. Democratic Party. She added that a cohesive Democratic ticket could help just as much.This election is about the economy" and Democrats have a better plan for the economy Bolton said.But the other side of the aisle is touting the exact same advantage.I think that when our candidates share similar messages that helps said N.C. Republican Party spokesman Brent Woodcox.A lot of our candidates are stressing small business job creation" the economy — how we can get people back on the road to prosperity.""During most election cycles" candidates for lower offices are often ignored because voters don't know enough about them but the campaigns are making sure to coordinate efforts to get those uniform messages across to undecided voters.Since low-ballot races have fewer campaign volunteers" information on straight-ticket voting and party voter guides play an important role in ensuring a coattails effect.""Folks who are in charge of the field effort out there make sure that they're pushing … the importance of straight party ticket voting and down-ballot voting"" said Alina Johnson, campaign manager for Josh Stein, N.C. Senate Democratic candidate for Wake County.They've done a really good job with that at the presidential level.""Johnson said that the campaign for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama is making this year's election a little bit different when it comes to the state's political dynamics.""North Carolina traditionally votes Democrat (on the) state level down from presidential Republican. This year is different in that the presidential race has generated a lot of excitement among … newly registered Democrats"" she said.The dichotomy between state and federal party preferences in North Carolina is also affecting the strategy of the Republican party.With a Democrat-dominated N.C. General Assembly, the GOP is trying to bring in a wave of Republican legislators with a Republican governor or senator victory.When you have an anti-incumbent mood and a desire for new leadership" I think that helps our Republican candidates because they have been in the minority for several years" Woodcox said.He referenced Charlotte Mayor and Republican candidate for governor Pat McCrory, as someone who could bring lower-ballot Republicans into office on a campaign for change.In Forsyth County, U.S. Rep. Mel Watt, D-N.C., has held his seat for 16 years.However, Forsyth County Republicans are hoping that the voter turnout for Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain will help Watt's challenger Ty Cobb get elected.With the turnouts for McCain and the Republican Party … he does have a chance" said Forsyth County GOP Chairman Bill Miller.The state party has organized statewide with Victory '08 and McCain — both are working very closely together with not only the state party but all the way down the line to the local counties" he said.Only Election Day will tell whose coattails will have the greatest effect, but for Bolton, the answer is clear.We haven't seen the same kind of enthusiasm with the McCain ticket as we've seen with Obama" or the diversity of enthusiasm" she said.There's an enthusiasm gap.""Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
From the president all the way down to state legislators the N.C. Democratic and Republican parties are hoping to sweep today's election.Through voter turnout induced by the presidential election and straight ticket voting" the two parties are hoping that this election will bring lower-ballot races into a larger victory party.""The presidential race helps everyone" especially in turnout" said Kerra Bolton, spokeswoman for the N.C. Democratic Party. She added that a cohesive Democratic ticket could help just as much.This election is about the economy" and Democrats have a better plan for the economy Bolton said.But the other side of the aisle is touting the exact same advantage.I think that when our candidates share similar messages that helps said N.C. Republican Party spokesman Brent Woodcox.A lot of our candidates are stressing small business job creation" the economy — how we can get people back on the road to prosperity.""During most election cycles" candidates for lower offices are often ignored because voters don't know enough about them but the campaigns are making sure to coordinate efforts to get those uniform messages across to undecided voters.Since low-ballot races have fewer campaign volunteers" information on straight-ticket voting and party voter guides play an important role in ensuring a coattails effect.""Folks who are in charge of the field effort out there make sure that they're pushing … the importance of straight party ticket voting and down-ballot voting"" said Alina Johnson, campaign manager for Josh Stein, N.C. Senate Democratic candidate for Wake County.They've done a really good job with that at the presidential level.""Johnson said that the campaign for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama is making this year's election a little bit different when it comes to the state's political dynamics.""North Carolina traditionally votes Democrat (on the) state level down from presidential Republican. This year is different in that the presidential race has generated a lot of excitement among … newly registered Democrats"" she said.The dichotomy between state and federal party preferences in North Carolina is also affecting the strategy of the Republican party.With a Democrat-dominated N.C. General Assembly, the GOP is trying to bring in a wave of Republican legislators with a Republican governor or senator victory.When you have an anti-incumbent mood and a desire for new leadership" I think that helps our Republican candidates because they have been in the minority for several years" Woodcox said.He referenced Charlotte Mayor and Republican candidate for governor Pat McCrory, as someone who could bring lower-ballot Republicans into office on a campaign for change.In Forsyth County, U.S. Rep. Mel Watt, D-N.C., has held his seat for 16 years.However, Forsyth County Republicans are hoping that the voter turnout for Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain will help Watt's challenger Ty Cobb get elected.With the turnouts for McCain and the Republican Party … he does have a chance" said Forsyth County GOP Chairman Bill Miller.The state party has organized statewide with Victory '08 and McCain — both are working very closely together with not only the state party but all the way down the line to the local counties" he said.Only Election Day will tell whose coattails will have the greatest effect, but for Bolton, the answer is clear.We haven't seen the same kind of enthusiasm with the McCain ticket as we've seen with Obama" or the diversity of enthusiasm" she said.There's an enthusiasm gap.""Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
UNC-system President Erskine Bowles said that the UNC-system Association of Student Governments should not have gotten involved in tuition discussions as early as it did.The group comprised of student leaders from across the state passed a tuition resolution last weekend but its results will remain shelved until early next year.The ASG funded by a $1 fee from every student enrolled in a UNC-system school outlined student-requested percent increases on tuition for each university at its monthly meeting last weekend.The UNC-system Board of Governors informally requested ASG's input following discussion of a tuition freeze at its October meeting.However in an e-mail Tuesday to BOG Chairwoman Hannah Gage" Bowles said he didn't think the BOG should have asked for the ASG's opinion until after tuition request numbers had come in from all the universities. ""That's not the way I think business should be done"" he stated in the e-mail. This University has an orderly process on tuition decisions. I've worked hard to instill this process.""Multiple attempts to contact UNC General Administration were unsuccessful.Leroy Lail" chairman of the BOG budget and finance committee" said the BOG decided to defer the October tuition discussions until individual universities' task forces finish gathering material.""It's not too soon"" he said of the ASG resolution. We decided to wait until we'd had the opportunity to evaluate all the data.""The process will be finished in February. Bowles will then make a formal recommendation to the BOG.Lail said the ASG resolution would still be taken into account when the BOG starts to deliberate.""We like to hear from the students" we really do" he said.ASG President Greg Doucette, who is N.C. State University's Senate President, said that although he understands Bowles's concern, he is glad the association addressed the issue early.His concern was that we're making our decision prior to getting all the facts"" Doucette said of Bowles's reaction. What I conveyed to him was that whether or not students can afford the increase is independent of whether increases are justified and needed.""UNC-Greensboro's delegation voted for a tuition cap different from the one their student body president had lobbied for on the school's tuition task force" whose decision on tuition wasn't final at the time.At the ASG meeting UNC-G passed a 2 percent increase cap rather than the 6.5 percent cap their university recommended" UNC-G Student Body President Michael Tuso said.""They knew that that was going to be on the table" Tuso said. For our specific purposes" the delegation used the 2 percent as a symbolic representation.""Bowles" in the e-mail to Gage" cited that discrepancy as an example of why ASG may have acted too soon. ""I don't think it can be classified as a failure if the association is advocating for what the students want" Tuso said.Doucette said the association was simply fulfilling its duty to represent UNC-system students. I stand by my opinion to the board to the President and to anyone in the association that our product is valid" he said.I have little doubt that what they see now would have been they would have seen had we adopted this in January.""Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
In Mama Dip's back room"" Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory made sure no one misunderstood his opponent.""(Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue) says one thing in Charlotte and another thing somewhere else"" he said about his Democratic opponent.I give the same message no matter where I am.""Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton introduced McCrory on Wednesday at a supporters' breakfast"" emphasizing that he is a Democrat endorsing a Republican.""I've been impressed by the way he's stood up for good government in North Carolina"" Chilton said.Chilton accused the state government of being corrupt and power-hungry, and pointed to McCrory as a leader who could change that.Democrats" Republicans and unaffiliateds agree on one thing: The government should not be run for somebody's personal property but for the taxpayers here in North Carolina" Chilton said.In the final days of a campaign that has been neck-and-neck — Perdue leads McCrory 47 to 44 in an Oct. 25 to 26 poll by Raleigh's Public Policy Polling — McCrory criticized the negative and distorted"" ads of the Perdue campaign.""These last few days I'm going to run a positive" grassroots campaign" he said, explaining that he doesn't have the corporate and party machine money to run negative television ads across the state the way Perdue has.He also accused Perdue of being a part of a party machine in Raleigh.The state government is run by a power elite behind closed doors. They never get out of the beltline in Raleigh"" McCrory said.Supporters of all ages, some proudly displaying I voted"" stickers"" shouted ""leadership"" as McCrory promised to lead an ethical government that would be proactive across party lines.""There's not a Republican or Democratic way to fill a pothole"" McCrory said. I've always found a bipartisan coalition to make things happen.""Charlotte residents have seen McCrory reach across the aisle as the Republican mayor of a city with a Democratic city council.""If you look at his record" he has just gotten things done. There are a whole lot more Democrats in Charlotte but in the midst of a Democratic-dominated city council there's been bipartisan support" said UNC Students for Pat McCrory member, first-year John Harris.Additionally, McCrory has clinched the endorsements of most of the major state newspapers, which typically endorse Democrats. The Daily Tar Heel also endorsed McCrory on Monday.McCrory said that his seven terms as mayor of a Democratic city and his commitment to government ethics have attracted liberal support for his candidacy.I've been courting Independents"" Republicans and Democrats since the beginning. That's how I've been elected mayor seven times.""Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
Despite limited involvement in a statewide student leader organization UNC-Chapel Hill Student Body President J.J. Raynor plans to implement reforms.However others in the association are reluctant to embrace recommendations from a school they don't think has made a full commitment to the organization.UNC-CH's participation in the UNC-system Association of Student Governments made up of student delegations from every UNC-system school has been sporadic and Raynor has appointed a permanent delegate in her place. The reforms are needed to address prevalent underperformance in the association" she said.""If we're going to be a part of ASG" we might as well make it work. And if it's not going to work well" it's back to the drawing board.""Raynor and her permanent delegate" Logan Liles have been working on their reform agenda since Liles' appointment at the beginning of the school year.ASG President Greg Doucette has backed off of his initial promises of reform Raynor said and she hopes to get them rolling with support from other student body presidents. Unilateral efforts have failed in the past" she said.""It has only been really after the last couple of meetings that we realized we would have to push that ourselves" she said.Doucette said that Raynor hasn't presented her ideas to him and that there is other work to be done.There are certain pressing issues like tuition which the (Board of Governors) has asked us to address" he said. I'm not going to shove the important policy issues of the day in order to address the whim of someone who doesn't even attend my meetings."" Tim Ernst" UNC-Charlotte student body president" said neither Liles nor Raynor have approached him with their plans.""I'd be interested to see what kind of reforms she would want to impose"" he said. I haven't seen her at any of the meetings.""If ASG doesn't make changes" UNC-CH might withdraw Raynor said" adding that some association members have made it difficult for UNC-CH to participate effectively.""We're hopeful that once ASG gets over the fact that we're sending an official delegate" we can get back to conversations about how to make it more effective" she said.It has been really hard for Chapel Hill to take part in the meetings with the atmosphere what it is right now.""ASG might find UNC-CH's withdrawal a relief"" Ernst said.""I think it would be good riddance" he said. Given UNC-CH's limited participation" any drastic action by them wouldn't be taken seriously.""Additionally" ASG is trying to reform itself Doucette said. It hired a consultant this summer to analyze its weaknesses.UNC-CH student Jonathan Tugman a former Daily Tar Heel associate opinion editor also offered consulting services to Doucette as part of a business class project.Tugman one of Raynor's executive assistants decided Monday to scrap the project" which was unrelated to his student government duties. Appalachian State University Student Body President David Mofford said Raynor's fixes might not go over well in the association.""I don't see them approving someone that just swoops in who we haven't seen since July"" he said. For her to send (Liles) and say this is what I want to do … it would mean a lot more if she came herself.""And a UNC-CH withdrawal won't have much of an impact"" Mofford said.""In all honesty"" it's like they've already withdrawn. … We're going to be OK if they pull out.""Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.