64 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(10/30/06 5:00am)
Within a few years, students might see some extra relief during final exam week.
Student government is advocating for an extension and better placement of reading days.
Student Body President James Allred said reading days - which are intended to be a break from classes and exams - can be scheduled more effectively so students can use at least a full day to study.
"Sometimes they say you get a Sunday to count as a reading day, but a lot of students have other things to do than study on Sundays," he said. "We'd like to see a legitimate break from the exam schedule."
This semester, the reading days fall on Thursday, Dec. 7 and Wednesday, Dec. 13.
In the spring, a Saturday will count as a reading day.
Allred said his administration is advocating a weekday or a Saturday to be protected as a reading day for students.
Each calendar year is planned two years in advance with the help of the student body president. This year's calendar was created by Matt Calabria, student body president for the 2004-05 school year.
Allred will plan the 2008-09 calendar, and student government's calendar committee will meet in January and February to plan the dates.
The academic affairs committee also is working to catalog reading day processes of other institutions within the Association of American Universities. The information will help guide arguments that have been introduced by student government.
"We want to make sure we protect the ideas of having reading days for students and that students have the time to process and review the material between the end of classes and the beginning of exams," Allred said.
Duke University and N.C. State University have adopted different forms of preparation for finals week.
N.C. State has what students call "dead week" during the last week of classes. The school's administration specifically asks that no exams or new assignments are given during the week, said Thomas Conway, dean of the Undergraduate Academic Program at N.C. State.
"Students can plan their time ahead of time to keep their study hours free to prepare for examinations," Conway said.
Duke's exams generally begin on a Monday, with one or two reading days on the calendar.
Reading days are scheduled for the Thursday and Friday of the week before exams begin, and sometimes they are split into half days when there are no exams during the week, said Sue Wasiolek, Duke's assistant vice president of student affairs and dean of students.
"Our general hope is to try to have Saturday and Sunday with two additional weekdays," Wasiolek said.
Allred said that most of the 60 AAU institutions try to set up an ideal reading schedule, and that he is pushing for UNC to follow suit.
"We are just trying to encourage Carolina to follow the best practices that have been set up by other AAU universities."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(10/17/06 4:00am)
Lying on sheets of large, white paper in the Pit on Monday, students made outlines of their bodies using colorful markers.
But the students weren't taking part in an art project. They were participating in Love Your Body Day, which aimed to promote positive body images.
Two student groups - Students Helping to Achieve Positive Esteem and Feminist Students United - manned tables from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help raise awareness about self-esteem issues.
The day is celebrated nationally on Thursday, but the groups planned the event for Monday because of Fall Break.
"The message - 'love your body' - is what made me come by," said Alanna Brock, a junior political science and communication studies major who stopped by the table.
"Body image is an important problem in a society where we are bombarded with images from the media of ideal bodies," she said.
SHAPE members said there are many factors that lead to negative self-esteem with regard to body image among college students.
"You get a lot of driven, motivated people who want to be in control, and that extends to their bodies," said senior Michele Crisafulli, president of SHAPE.
UNC's academic pressure was noted as one of the factors which could contribute to poor self-esteem among college students.
"People have a lot of issues when they come to college," said SHAPE member Erin Cloninger, a junior psychology major. "They may have been top of their class, and here everyone is competitive."
The social transition to college also is an important factor in how students view themselves, said SHAPE member Sara Simpson, a junior psychology major.
"Fitting in and finding your niche is hard, especially because it's a big university."
The table offered literature about healthy body image, the dangers of dieting and ways to love your body. Famous quotes with positive messages about self-acceptance and positive self-esteem also were available.
"We are making it public that there are different body types which are beautiful," said Liza Cassity, co-chairwoman of Feminist Students United and a junior psychology major.
The event was directed at both men and women, but those visiting the table were mostly women, event coordinators said.
"We got a couple of guys to hula hoop, but that's as far as we've gotten," Cassity said.
Crisafulli said there is a lack of male voice in her organization.
"SHAPE is pegged as a woman's organization, but it's not," she said. "We want more males involved."
The Pit table also offered a positive voice and helped provide dialogue in promoting cultural change, Crisafulli said.
"We just wanted to raise awareness and give people the opportunity to think about all the wonderful things our bodies can do and step back from the mirror and appreciate it all."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(10/10/06 4:00am)
New mothers can struggle with many things - finding time to sleep in between late-night sessions with their babies and balancing their new responsibilities are just a couple of challenges.
And for those who choose to breast-feed their newborns, finding the right location can present another one.
"I think (breast-feeding) should be such a natural thing to do, but it's often not seen that way," said Christy Meyers, a mother of two children, ages 9 and 5, who works at UNC's School of Nursing.
"There's a lot of talk and mixed messages," she said.
Meyers was attending a talk by Barbara Behrmann, author of "The Breast Feeding Cafe," hosted by the Carolina Women's Center. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Behrmann's book includes stories that reveal mothers' innate connections to breast feeding, as well as humorous anecdotes - including one of a woman breast-feeding in an all-male workplace.
Behrmann also spoke about breast-feeding in terms of social context.
"You hear about benefits of breast-feeding as health choices - immunal and developmental - but not about empowering mothers," Behrmann said to an audience of about 15 people.
A mother who encountered breast-feeding struggles, Behrmann said she thought it was necessary to provide a voice and support for women who are breast-feeding.
She said breast-feeding is an empowering action. The intimate connection between women and breast-feeding was one of Behrmann's two "hidden truths."
"And nursing mothers have chutzpah, and that's a good thing," she said.
The audience included a range of women such as lactation consultants and women involved with activist groups that believe nursing deserves dialogue.
"Breast-feeding is the most amazing gift you can give yourself," said Jennifer Riordan Newall, a mother of three who also is involved in many nonprofit organizations such as the Natural Mothering Forum.
"It's been proven to prevent illness and disease (in infants). Women shouldn't feel embarrassed."
Chimi Boyd, associate director of the Carolina Women's Center, said center officials thought it made sense to host Behrmann during the month centered on educating and celebrating breast health.
"Lately there's been discussion about breast-feeding, and we wanted to be able to contribute to that dialogue," she said.
When Student Body President James Allred campaigned for office, he said he hoped to add another lactation room on campus.
Sharita Gruberg, co-chairwoman of the women's affairs committee of student government, said that the group was investigating the possibility but that there are not yet concrete plans to add a lactation room.
UNC has three lactation rooms. The center's room can be accessed without an appointment.
"It's something you don't think about until you need it," Boyd said. "More (lactation rooms) would provide easier access to women."
"This month is about breast health and celebrating breasts. We shouldn't be ashamed to, we should embrace it."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(09/26/06 4:00am)
Lenoir Dining Hall now is accepting plastic from those hoping to fulfill their food needs.
Mainstreet Lenoir, the food court on the first floor of Lenoir, began accepting credit cards last week, and the cards accounted for about 10 percent of the total revenue earned.
Lenoir brings in between $75,000 and $95,000 per week, said Mike Freeman, director of auxiliary services.
"Anywhere from $7,500 to $9,500 was represented last week," he said, referring to credit card revenue.
The introduction of credit cards accompanies cash and One Cards as the third form of payment for dining hall customers.
University officials posted signs advertising the credit card option weeks before it began, Freeman said.
"I saw the little fliers up in Lenoir Dining Hall," said sophomore Samantha Shucavage, who was eating lunch at Lenoir on Monday.
UNC One Cards still are the leading method of payment, accounting for about 70 to 80 percent total sales.
But Freeman said he expects the percentage of credit cards used to increase because the cards are an easier way for more people to pay - including faculty and graduate students.
Tish Atwater, a cashier at Mainstreet, said that although the number of students dining has remained about the same, many are taking advantage of the new option.
"I think it's good because sometimes you forget your One Card." said sophomore Jennifer Sessoms, who was eating lunch with Shucavage.
"There are students off campus who do not use One Cards, and this is another convenient way for students to pay," Freeman said.
Students also have discovered other advantages to using credit cards.
"It's easier not to have to transfer money to your expense account," said Shucavage said. "It's convenient and I give it a thumbs up."
Students, including Tony Coggins, a sophomore English major, said they already have used credit cards to purchase a meal.
"I like it because I don't have a flex account and I don't keep cash on me," Coggins said.
Freeman said it's just another convenience for customers.
"If it's Friday and you got a few bucks on your pocket you might want to save that for a movie on Friday night."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.