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(08/30/06 4:00am)
Registration for the first online ticket distribution is closed, and students should begin to hear today whether they'll receive tickets.
Officials said most problems encountered so far have been minor - an online link sent out via an informational e-mail originally was incorrect, and some students who enrolled late had difficulties.
More than 6,000 students had registered for general admission football tickets to the Sept. 9 Virginia Tech game as of Tuesday afternoon, said Clint Gwaltney, director of ticket operations.
A total of 12,000 student tickets are available for the game, which is serving as a trial run for basketball distributions.
Selected students will have until midnight Friday to confirm their attendance. They can reserve as many as two tickets.
The temporary nature of ticket policies is one of the biggest obstacles facing distributions, athletic officials said.
Before the bracelet system was introduced, students camped out for tickets. Officials said when the switch was made to bracelets, similar complaints were heard.
"We need to come up with a policy that stands the test of time," said Steve Kirschner, associate athletic director for communications. "We want to get the most fans in the seats the easiest way possible."
Athletics Director Dick Baddour said it's important for every student to have a chance at a ticket. "Another concern of ours was that all students have access," he said.
And students shouldn't assume fans will be any less enthusiastic because tickets are obtained online, said Winston Crisp, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs.
Waiting in line Saturday morning wasn't possible for many, Crisp said.
"Don't think for a minute that those folks aren't going to be just as rabid.".
The online method also will be used for the Nov. 18 N.C. State football game. Students have until 5 p.m. Oct. 28 to sign up for the lottery.
Carolina Athletic Association President Rachel High said many of the questions she's fielded dealt with locating the initial link on the athletic department's Web site.
Senior Bishop Byerly said he navigated through the process without any troubles. He said it's too early to pass a verdict about the system's effectiveness.
Freshman Zachary Fields, of Norlina, said the lottery could have been better-advertised. "I know a lot of people heard about it, but I don't think everyone did," he said.
High said CAA sent out an informational e-mail and posted fliers around campus and downtown to get the word out.
If any tickets remain, students will be able to present their One Cards on game day at Kenan Stadium to claim seats on a first-come, first-serve basis, Gwaltney said.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(08/29/06 4:00am)
A recent surge in bicycle thefts on campus has prompted University officials to urge students to take extra precautions.
Eleven bicycles have been stolen on campus since Aug. 1, said Randy Young, spokesman for the Department of Public Safety. No particular area has been targeted, he said.
"Right now we've got a lot of activity on campus, and certainly there are a lot of new faces on campus," Young said.
During June and July only five bicycles were stolen, he said.
The number of thefts this month also has spiked in comparison to previous summer months.
In both August 2003 and August 2004, two bicycle thefts were reported, according to public safety records. Last August the department only received one report of a stolen bicycle.
But Young said it's difficult to pinpoint why theft has risen.
"Certainly there are more bicycles on campus now than there might have been when the campus population was lower," he said. "But it may be coincidence, or it may be isolated incidents."
Senior Neyla Amaya said that last year the back wheel of her bicycle was stolen, requiring her to purchase a pricey replacement.
"A lot of people are not aware the wheels pop off," Amaya said.
"Now I lock up my back wheel and frame to the post in case someone tries to do it again."
UNC has 181 locations with bicycle racks - some of which contain multiple racks. In all there are 2,700 bicycle spots.
Students still will find creative locations to stow their bicycles - sometimes resorting to chaining them to trees or even railings, though those are not recommended locations.
Young said the department holds information sessions for first-year students during orientation to try to get the word out about crime prevention. The department also has a larceny reduction unit that works to decrease campus thefts and increase student awareness.
"We want to make sure (students are) aware that it's occurring," Young said.
"The emphasis is to relay the information . that we're not immune to crime and that folks should take precautions."
Students are required to register their bicycles at the department's main South Campus building or visit the public safety's Web site.
The registration is free. Last year 450 bicycles were registered, Young said.
Junior Josh Anspaugh lives off campus and said he likes to ride his bicycle to campus for the convenience and exercise.
As he unlocked his bicycle in front of Lenoir Dining Hall on Monday, Anspaugh commented that he's careful about securing his bicycle. He said he always makes sure to lock it in a visible location - a result of having his bicycle stolen as a child.
"I've locked it up ever since."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(08/28/06 4:00am)
Faculty salary increases gained this summer could end up padding students' wallets when tuition talks resume this fall.
Some University officials have speculated that it will be more difficult to levy hefty tuition hikes this year as a result of a 6-percent increase in faculty salaries approved by the N.C. legislature.
"I think we will want to be circumspect about what we recommend this year given the generosity of the state and to encourage the state to continue to do what they're doing," Chancellor James Moeser said earlier this month.
UNC officials have justified past increases by pointing to a need to improve faculty salaries - saying the additional funds help retain and recruit high-quality faculty.
Trustees last year approved a $250 tuition increase for in-state students and a $1,100 hike for out-of-state students - roping in $4 million for faculty salaries.
Student Body President James Allred, who serves as an ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees, said UNC must weigh its options.
"We have to be very careful this year because the state was very generous," Allred said.
He said if UNC officials submit drastic tuition increases to the state, there could be a backlash.
"It could look as if the University wasn't grateful for the support of the state and was instead being very greedy," he said.
Moeser also said it's important to recognize that state funds came through this year.
"The expectation will be that our tuition increases will, if anything, will be moderate, not large, given the generosity of the General Assembly," he said.
But Allred said if tuition rates are frozen this year, it could damage faculty salary gains.
"The question we have to ask is, what's a reasonable balance between meeting our University needs and faculty needs and upholding promises to students."
Sophomore Alison Savignano, co-chairwoman of the political committee for the Out-of-State Student Association, said the organization will try to assert its position early in the process.
"We want to establish more of a presence at the Board of Governors and Board of Trustees meetings," she said. "We're going to really focus on getting to them early and getting our point across."
The tuition advisory task force will first meet Sept. 5. The group reports to Moeser on tuition policy.
"We'll need to look very carefully at the tuition and fees level and consider the rates of increase for in-state and out-of-state students," said Provost Bernadette Gray-Little, who will co-chair the task force with Allred.
She said the task force won't know what its options are until it receives tuition guidelines from UNC-system President Erskine Bowles. His proposal, set to be presented Sept. 7, will provide a framework for a four-year tuition process.
Bowles' proposal will set yearly maximum tuition increases at each system campus for the next four years. Requests that don't exceed a set limit would be automatically approved.
Predictability will be a buzzword during talks, Allred said.
UNC trustees passed a resolution in January calling for long-term planning, and the task force will work to draft a tentative proposal for long-term increases. "It's an issue of keeping promises," Allred said.
Savignano said students will try to hold officials to their word. "We know that tuition increases are inevitable, but our focus is on making sure they're fair to us."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(08/24/06 4:00am)
Stephen Meyers began his first day of class Wednesday afternoon in a small basement room in Mitchell Hall.
Meyers wasn't taking notes - he was leading an advanced geology course, the second he has taught at UNC.
"It's all new right now," he said.
Amid the hustle and bustle of the semester's start, first-year students aren't the only ones adjusting to UNC. Professors such as Meyers are faced with learning the ins and outs as they try to plan their first courses.
Meyers was a teaching assistant in graduate school and led a UNC course last spring, but he said he's still trying to find his comfort zone with teaching.
"It's different when you're actually organizing a course," he said.
One of about 40 new tenure-track faculty members in the College of Arts and Sciences, Meyers received his Ph.D from Northwestern University and then spent several years at Yale University conducting post-doctoral research.
He said he was attracted to the University partly because of an attractive start-up package he was offered - including a $300,000 X-ray fluorescence care-scanner to help him conduct research.
Meyers said UNC's investment in his research made him confident that he had the University's support.
"It was an offer I couldn't refuse," he said.
Dennis Mumby, chairman of the department of communication studies, said UNC must put together competitive job packages if it hopes to attract top professors.
"We're competing against other major public and private universities," he said. "We have to offer resources that allow them to get their research done."
He said University officials seek faculty members they think can become leaders in their fields.
"We're looking for somebody with a lot of potential, somebody who is going to augment the offerings we currently have. . someone who is able to teach a variety of classes - undergraduate and graduate," Mumby said.
Tenure-track faculty have a total of six years to earn tenure.
Assistant faculty members are reviewed internally by their individual departments after three years. If reappointed, a more encompassing review is conducted during their sixth year.
Those who earn tenure are promoted to the post of associate professor.
As for Meyers, he said he hopes to help create a more vibrant scientific community while at UNC by excelling in both teaching and research.
During the upcoming spring semester he'll be faced with teaching his first large lecture class - earth system history. Once professors reach their third semester at UNC, they are required to teach an introductory course.
Meyers said he hopes to hone his teaching ability this semester to make sure he'll be up to the challenge.
"I want to have the ability to really engage in dialogues with individual students."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(08/23/06 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Chemistry students who thought they were done with the narrow corridors of Venable Hall should think again.
Officials had hoped to begin classes today in Chapman Hall, but construction delays have forced classes to shift back into the department of chemistry's old home.
A total of 71 chemistry class sections are affected - many of which are laboratory classes, said Megan Keefe, who works in the scheduling department of the registrar.
Located between Carroll and Venable halls, the building has three classrooms. Rooms affected are:
(08/23/06 4:00am)
As a third-grader, Todd Boyette toured the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center during a school field trip - his first visit to a college campus.
Years later as director of the center, Boyette has a more permanent address at UNC.
The center, which attracts about 130,000 visitors per year - many of them schoolchildren - serves as an important public face for the University, officials say.
But delays to planned renovations for the center have left some worried about the impression visitors take away from their trips to the East Franklin Street building.
Prospective students begin tours of UNC on the steps of the planetarium, and many students across the state are introduced to the University on field trips such as Boyette's.
And while the center continues to attract a steady stream of visitors each year, the 57-year-old building is beginning to show signs of aging.
"The building's never had significant renovations," said Karen Kornegay, the center's public relations manager. "Understandably there is some wear and tear."
Plans to renovate the building were introduced in 2004, but funds for the makeover still are needed.
During July's Board of Trustees meeting, one member, Tim Burnett, called the state of the planetarium an embarrassment, and said officials should move plans along more quickly.
Design plans call for a new entryway and a complete overhaul of the building.
The center will apply for planning grants and visit other science centers in order to develop a more detailed plan this year for the interior of the building, Boyette said.
He said his wish list includes a digital projection screen, flexible exhibit space for interactive presentations and a dedicated entrance.
The project is listed as sixth on the University's priority list. The estimated cost is $35 million.
Bruce Runberg, assistant vice chancellor for facilities planning and construction, said the University will ask for $4.5 million for the project from the N.C. General Assembly when it reconvenes this winter.
In the meantime, the planetarium is doing its best to serve the public and fulfill its mission with the resources it has, Boyette said.
Trips to the center can be particularly important for rural students who might not be aware of the possibilities of a college education, he said.
"We want to show them it's not something that's for other people," he said. "It's for everyone."
Boyette added that the center is trying to come up with models to teach science that include a greater emphasis on interactive activities and multimedia presentations.
"We want to make it personal," he said.
These types of presentations are the ones that will leave a lasting impression, Kornegay said.
"It's a great way to learn science basics because it presents it in a fun and entertaining environment," she said.
"It engages folks on a lot different levels."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(08/23/06 4:00am)
University officials have laid the ground work for Carolina North for more than three years and have been working to push forward plans for UNC's proposed satellite campus.
(08/22/06 4:00am)
More changes are on the way this fall for students who seek medical attention on campus.
During the past year, campus health services were reshaped, and now officials are moving to implement policy adjustments.
A shift in operating hours this fall will allow more students to receive treatment during peak hours, and officials also hope to increase student-outreach efforts.
After-hours services will be shortened - the mid-campus building now will close at 8 p.m. Monday through Friday - though weekend hours will remain the same.
"For many people the service won't change as far as a day-to-day basis," said Mary Covington, who is serving as the first assistant vice chancellor for campus health services.
During the fall and spring semesters, only 135 students used the service between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m., prompting the change, said Christopher Payne, associate vice chancellor for student affairs.
The number of staff will be concentrated during peak hours to accommodate student demand during the busy afternoon hours.
"We think this is a reasonable approach that will end up serving the students better," Covington said.
The hour switch means space probably will be tight, and officials must find creative ways to avoid crunches, Payne said. Providers sharing examination rooms and offices could be one solution.
Officials are engaged in conversations to determine feasible options for expansion.
Students who require medical attention when the building is closed can call HealthLink and receive treatment advice . If a student is advised to go to the emergency room the University will reimburse a students for up to $500 after insurance is filed.
Health officials will receive a list of students who called the service the previous day so they can check up on sick students.
Students who call during regular hours will be steered to see one health provider instead of many to add more personal attention.
"We don't want to give people the impression we're just running people through," Covington said.
Campus outreach efforts will be bumped up in locations such as residence halls and Greek housing. A satellite office will be located in the Student Recreation Center, and students can choose from programs such as fitness consultation and stress management.
UNC officials announced in December that student health, counseling and health outreach services would be combined into Campus Health Services. The changes were sparked by a review of student health operations last year by the American College Health Association.
Covington's role was created in an effort to increase communication about student health. She will serve as a member of the provost's executive committee.
Other changes include a merger between Counseling and Psychological Services and the Center for Healthy Student Behavior - now known as Counseling and Wellness Services.
Kathy Hotelling will head the services. Her appointment was announced in June.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(08/22/06 4:00am)
The paint has just begun to dry on the new walls of Chapman Hall.
Nestled between Carroll and Venable halls, the new physical sciences building soon will house lecture halls and labs. Coupled with nearby Caudill Labs, which is nearly complete, the buildings are part of UNC's planned science complex.
And the two projects, which are seeing the finishing touches, are part of the largest construction boom in University history.
Summer of bulldozers
Campus officials said the summer's flurry of activity was probably the largest push the construction blitz has seen.
(08/22/06 4:00am)
A lot has changed since Provost Bernadette Gray-Little arrived in Chapel Hill in 1971 to teach psychology.
The campus has gone through six chancellors since then and has added enough buildings to puzzle many returning alumni.
In those 35 years, Gray-Little not only has seen the campus community evolve - she's also helped play an active role in its development.
"When I came here first as a faculty member I had no aspirations to be in administration," Gray-Little said. "It was a gradual process."
(04/28/06 4:00am)
The campus community was jarred in February when two students crashed through the window of their residence hall, killing one and sending the other to the hospital with critical injuries.
Sophomore Keith Shawn Smith and freshman Tyler Downey were racing down the third-floor hallway of Stacy Residence Hall about 12:20 a.m. Feb. 24 when they broke through the window - falling more than 30 feet.
Smith, a resident assistant in Stacy, died of blunt force injuries at UNC Hospitals within hours. Downey suffered several injuries and was hospitalized for a week.
Although the fall was determined to be an accident, the campus community struggled to pick up the pieces and to explain how such an accident could happen - especially when drugs or alcohol were not involved.
Stacy was renovated during the 1994-95 school year. Windows in the building were made of fire-resistant, double-paned, "security-wired" glass, Lisa Katz, director of UNC's news services, said in February.
The type of window is designed to withstand a fire but not to guard against accidents such as the fall. UNC officials have maintained that little could have been done to prevent the accident.
For many, the randomness of the incident underscored the fact that students are not completely safe at school, even when tucked away in dorms.
Sheila Hrdlicka, assistant director for Carolina parent programs, said the office does its best to assuage parents' fears. She said campus safety is one of the major concerns for many UNC parents.
"Parents ask about (safety). They wonder what's going on, things like that," Hrdlicka said.
"Overall, they think the University is doing a good job."
Parents can sign up to receive newsletters via e-mail at parents.unc.edu.
Information is tailored to individual graduating classes and includes updates about ongoing campus concerns such as the Stacy accident, she noted.
The road to recovery for those close to Smith will be bumpy, said Bert Williams, whose 19-year-old son Harper died late December 2004 in a car crash in Wilmington during his Winter Break from UNC.
He said accidents, while tragic, will occur on college campuses.
"As much as we want this not to happen, it's going to happen, and you just hope it's as infrequent as possible," he said in February.
The grieving process takes time, and parents should let the dust settle before attempting to move on, Bert Williams said.
"You learn to deal with it. It never goes away," he said.
"You take something the size of the world or a universe, and you reduce it to the size of a rock, and you carry it with you the rest of your life. But it does get to be manageable."
A memorial service was held to honor Smith in Greensboro about a week after the accident.
Friends and family remembered Smith as a driven and compassionate young man.
A list, written by Smith in 2005, was found in Stacy outlining his goals for sophomore year. It included making the dean's list, finding patience and hitting the gym three days a week.
The motto of the list - "keep it movin'" - has helped define Smith's legacy.
A candlelit vigil held on campus soon after the memorial service drew a crowd of more than 400 observers dressed in red. Students, as well as family and friends from Greensboro, attended.
Sekou Sidibe, Smith's freshman-year roommate and high school friend, also established the Keith Shawn Smith Memorial Fund to help the family overcome any costs incurred from funeral or medical expenses.
Any additional money raised will go toward a scholarship in Smith's name.
Downey, a 19-year-old freshman, remains in Asheville recovering from his injuries.
He withdrew from UNC for the semester and will return in the fall.
Although Downey sustained numerous injuries, he required no major surgery - though physical therapy is needed.
Managing Editor Joseph R. Schwartz contributed to this report.
Contact the News Editor at udesk@unc.edu
(04/28/06 4:00am)
Campus construction continues to march on at unprecedented pace.
Green fences and orange cones have dominated the University's landscape all year, and at times construction has consumed the very heart of campus.
"We're at the peak right now," said Bruce Runberg, assistant vice chancellor for facilities construction and planning.
After a year that will be marked by the completion of several major projects, administrators maintain a forward-facing vision - though the road ahead might be bumpy.
"Things are going along rather nicely," Runberg said. "But that's not to say we don't have problems or challenges."
Memorial Hall and Cobb Residence Hall saw completion this year, and a slew of projects are set to wrap up during the fall semester - including Science Complex Phase I, the Global Education Center and the renovation of Student Stores.
Ram Village apartments will offer students a new housing option this fall on South Campus, and the University's parking crunch also is expected to ease thanks to several projects underway.
The opening of a parking deck near the Global Education Center, as well as the North East Chiller and Jackson Circle parking decks will provide an additional 1,369 spots to the campus.
"I think it will have some impact," said Randy Young, spokesman for the Department of Public Safety.
As the build-out continues, escalating labor and construction materials costs have caused cancellations and delays to several projects.
Construction on phase I of the new music building - part of the proposed Arts Common - will begin in the fall, but an underground parking deck was cancelled in October.
Other parts of the project, such as a concert hall, face certain delays.
UNC Health Care was forced to commit to an additional $17.8 million in March to finance rising construction costs at its N.C. Cancer Hospital.
Reserves were tapped so the hospital's design wouldn't be compromised, Chancellor James Moeser said last week.
"That's a project where . what we asked for just wasn't enough to build what we designed," he said.
He said the University was able to set aside extra funds at the outset of the capital improvements project - lessening the blow felt by recent cost increases.
"I feel confident we will finish without making cuts in the projects or running out of funds," he said.
Construction materials such as steel and concrete have been in high demand, particularly in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Runberg said price escalations have been as much as 20 percent during the past two years, though they have leveled off recently.
"Each project has been a little different."
Fewer contractors also have submitted contract bids, he added. The University previously would receive six to eight bids per project.
"The marketplace is saturated," Runberg said. "Today we are lucky if we get two to three."
Guided by the University's Master Plan, the flurry of construction projects has been a hallmark of Moeser's tenure. By 2008 the development plan will be more than halfway complete.
The large-scale construction blitz largely has been made possible by the UNC-system higher education bond passed in 2000 by N.C. voters, the largest in U.S. history.
The capital program is slated to cost about $1.8 billion, - with $515 million coming from the higher education bond.
"Right now we have about 94 percent of those funds obligated with only a few projects left for which we need to get contracts," Runberg said.
The University will lobby the N.C. General Assembly during its upcoming short session for additional funds.
Runberg said the University will focus on gaining financial support for two high priority projects in its 2005-07 budget - construction on the Genetic Medicine Building and additions to the dental school.
Officials are compiling the 2007-09 budget, which will be due to the assembly this summer.
The budget will request about $700 million for 30 projects, Runberg said.
The University will rely on the budget process for funds, and another bond referendum likely isn't in the near future, he added.
"The higher education bond program was a one-time miracle event in terms of funding."
Contact the News Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(03/27/06 5:00am)
More than three weeks have passed since alumnus Mohammad Taheri-Azar drove a Jeep through the Pit, sending six to the hospital and enveloping the campus psyche.
And the community still is trying to find the right way to respond to the incident.
To show solidarity with the Muslim community, students and faculty will gather tonight for a candlelight vigil to support communities which have been marginalized by prejudice and hatred.
The vigil, which will be held at 7 p.m. on the steps of Wilson Library, has been in the works for several weeks, said senior Elizabeth Matteson, one of the organizers.
The event is not sponsored by one specific group but is a collaboration of independent students.
"My immediate response was fear of backlash against the Muslim students," she said. "We want to stand up for them in a way that really hasn't been done yet."
Faculty members and students will speak at the event, and Indonesian music will be played, she said.
Matteson said the organizers also circulated a statement of faculty and staff support for the "Vigilance Against Hate" event. So far, about 30 signatures have been collected, she said.
"We're really hoping to have 1,000 people out there," she said.
The vigil will be the fourth event responding to the March 3 attack on the popular campus gathering spot. Students gathered on March 6 to call upon University administrators and the media to label the incident an act of terrorism.
Two other events were held last week - a student government-led effort to "reclaim" the Pit and a panel event Wednesday that sought to dispel myths about Islam.
Matteson said the vigil isn't being held in response to any of the previous events.
"It's not . a reactionary thing at all," she said.
"The media attention is really an opportunity for us to speak to a larger audience about how frustrated we have been . at the fear and hate in the political climate since 9/11."
She said many voices should be recognized in the debate, adding that the vigil should be a starting point for conversations on campus.
"We don't expect that everyone should agree on what the response should be," she said.
"The point is for the vigil to be a space of coming together on common grounds and looking beyond political disagreements."
Student Body President Seth Dearmin said the campus community doesn't necessarily need one unifying event as long as each one provokes discussion.
"We don't need to have vigils every week," Dearmin said. "Programs that are more of a discussion or panels will go a long way to foster dialogue."
Taiyyaba Qureshi, outreach co-coordinator for the Muslim Students Association, said there is a place for a variety of events both small and large.
"I think that it's fine if there are many smaller one," said Qureshi, who is scheduled to speak tonight. "There also needs to be one that steps away from the particular issues and aims at bringing us all together."
Dearmin said Monday's vigil is the product of a collaborative effort and should foster a continued dialogue.
"There's been really great communication so far, hopefully we can keep that up."
Contact the News Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(03/24/06 5:00am)
University administrators announced Wednesday that professor Madeline Levine will serve as the interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, effective July 1.
"Out of all the very qualified people we had, we decided to go to Madeline first, and we're very fortunate she accepted," said departing Provost Robert Shelton.
Levine, Kenan professor of Slavic literatures, has worked at the University since 1974.
She will assume the position when dean Bernadette Gray-Little replaces Shelton, who is leaving to become the president of the University of Arizona-Tucson.
Shelton said he spoke with administrators and faculty to garner suggestions about the interim post. Levine is a person the faculty respects and someone who will work well with University administrators and leaders, he said.
Levine said that she was surprised and honored to be approached to fill the post, and that she is looking forward to the opportunity.
"This seemed like a very appealing and challenging way to continue to serve the University," she said.
As interim dean, Levine will be responsible for everything from academic advising to fundraising while a committee conducts a national search for a new dean.
Levine said she will not run to fill the vacancy permanently.
Officials also announced Wednesday that Linda Dykstra, dean of the Graduate School, will serve as chairwoman of that search committee.
Dykstra said she hopes to select members of the search committee within the next month. She said members will meet this summer to get a grasp of the qualities required of a new dean and to draft a national advertisement for the search.
Candidates for the position likely will not be interviewed on campus until the fall semester, she said.
"We'll certainly look for someone who has a well-articulated vision for the future of undergraduate and graduate students," she said. "We'll look for them to have an understanding of Carolina's position as a leading institute of research."
Dykstra said she has worked with Levine on several committees and is confident that she will be a capable leader.
"She's a careful listener - a quick study," Dykstra said. "I know she'll be open to learning more about the intricacies of the operation."
Levine said she will begin to meet with Gray-Little and senior associate deans within the college to help ease the transition.
She said her experiences, which include working as chairwoman of the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures and serving on various campuswide committees, will help her manage the college until the position is filled.
And Dykstra noted that Levine will have all of the college's resources at her disposal and the opportunity to foster new goals and initiatives during her tenure.
"The interim dean must be given the opportunity to be innovative. A year is a long time," she said.
"This University is not going to sit still."
Levine said she did not have any specific plans at this juncture.
Contact the News Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(03/20/06 5:00am)
Five students were tapped by Student Body President-elect James Allred last week to fill the top positions in his administration.
Junior Brian Phelps was chosen as vice president; sophomore Clay Schossow was named secretary; junior Anisa Mohanty was selected as treasurer; junior Doug Weiss was picked as senior adviser; and sophomore Christie Cunningham was named chief of staff.
"They have varying levels of experience," Allred said. "They absolutely have the experience necessary to serve the student body next year."
The selections differ from choices in the past. Rising seniors traditionally fill the spots because rising juniors who are members of the officer corps are ineligible to run for student body president.
Departing Student Body President Seth Dearmin's officer corps consists of five seniors. His predecessor, Matt Calabria, had four seniors and one sophomore in top posts.
Allred said the younger classes will help bring in fresh ideas, as well as help create a smooth transition once his tenure is complete.
"It's always good to have some continuity in the office," he said. "They'll be able to . offer that veteran perspective."
A selection committee comprising student government officials reviewed applications and conducted interviews, completing its work March 9. Allred then chose from a list of recommendations.
Allred declined to release the names of the other applicants, but said one application each was received for secretary and senior adviser; three were received for chief of staff and vice president; and four were received for secretary.
"I chose to take the No. 1 recommended person by the committee for each of the positions," he said.
Cunningham, Mohanty and Phelps were members of Allred's campaign staff, while Weiss and Schossow have had limited contact with him until now.
Weiss ran unsuccessfully for senior class president, and Schossow is a member of The Daily Tar Heel's advertising staff.
Phelps, Mohanty and Schossow will appear before the rules and judiciary committee of Student Congress on Tuesday. The full Congress will meet March 28, and a two-thirds majority vote will be needed before they can take office along with Allred on April 4.
Phelps, who previously served as co-chairman of the academic affairs committee and executive assistant to current vice president Adrian Johnston, said he would like to help set policy and streamline the external appointment process.
"I want to make it easier for more students to get involved . and make it more efficient," he said.
Mohanty, chairwoman of Congress' finance committee, said she hopes to create records of the student fee process to help guide future treasurers "so students can see what the arguments were for or against in the past."
Schossow, co-chairman of Campus Y's Big Buddy committee, said he plans to be active with the Cabinet and committees, as well as to help publicize student government successes. "I think it would really help to get our accomplishments out there."
After losing the senior class election, Weiss said he wanted to remain active with a large number of student organizations.
"I really felt that this position . allows me to be in touch with the whole student population," he said.
Cunningham has worked on the attorney general staff as a counsel and a managing associate. She stated in an e-mail Sunday night that she hopes to help ensure Allred's platform is fulfilled.
Allred said the new officers will meet tonight to prepare and "to make sure that everyone has a very clear picture of what they're going to be responsible for."
Contact the News Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(02/17/06 5:00am)
A fire broke out at a University chilled-water facility Thursday afternoon, sending black smoke billowing across a Carolina-blue sky but doing little to disrupt campus services.
The blaze began shortly before 4 p.m. in an external tower of the North Chiller Plant, which is located next to the Student Health Service building.
The Chapel Hill Fire Department sent three engines, a ladder truck and 22 firefighters to the scene, according to a University press release. The flames had diminished by 4:30 p.m., and the blaze was under control just after 5 p.m.
All employees were accounted for after the incident, said Randy Young, spokesman for the Department of Public Safety.
The fire department still isn't sure what started the blaze and will continue its investigation today.
The North Chiller Plant is one of three chiller plants that supply chilled water for air conditioning to University facilities. It is the oldest chiller facility on campus.
Jim McAdam, manager of chilled-water systems for UNC, said the fire was confined to two of the six cells on one of the plant's towers.
The tower was inoperative and wouldn't have gone back online until April or May, he added.
"We have a lot of excess capacity this time of year, so we didn't need it," McAdam said.
He said the North Chiller Plant alone provides more than 10,000 tons of cooling capacity - "tons" in this case being a unit to measure refrigeration, not weight.
The tower that burned provided about a third of that tonnage - a significant amount, but not enough to disrupt service on a day when all other chiller plants ran normally, and the peak demand for campus cooling was between 6,000 and 7,000 tons.
As dark clouds stretched across campus Thursday, a crowd of onlookers rushed to the scene from all around.
Freshman Brad Lockwood said he was walking by the Bell Tower about 4 p.m. with freshman Jordan Fieldstein when they saw the smoke.
"When we got over here, there was no one," Lockwood said.
He said the fire department and police arrived on the scene within five minutes.
"You could see the woodwork around the chiller was on fire," Fieldstein said. "It was spreading and growing."
Police taped off the area around the plant, which trapped more than 50 cars in the Bell Tower parking lot. Buildings surrounding the plant were evacuated on a voluntary basis, and Student Health Service continued to operate on a normal schedule.
Ray Dubose, director of campus energy services, said the biggest concern about the fire is getting the North Chiller Plant back up to speed by this summer.
Workers will be at the plant today to talk with McAdam about how quickly - and how cheaply - UNC can get the plant running at full capacity. Dubose said he thinks University workers will get things under control.
"This is their job, and they have a lot of expertise in doing this," he said. "So I have no concerns that we'll be able to resolve this."
Assistant University Editor Stephanie Newton contributed to this article.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(02/13/06 5:00am)
Finding a parking spot on campus requires ingenuity, resourcefulness and a healthy sprinkling of luck.
Drivers often circle parking lots for what can seem like an eternity only to be thwarted by another driver.
Fewer permits are available to students this year as construction projects eliminate parking spaces in blocks, forcing drivers to be creative when they search for spaces during peak hours.
And for every person who evades the scrutinizing eye of a patrolling officer, there is someone who hasn't been so lucky.
Hundreds of citations can be issued each day, and drivers can rack up fines if they aren't careful.
About $900,000 worth of parking tickets - from about 34,000 individual citations - was issued in 2005, according to records collected through early December by the UNC-Chapel Hill Department of Public Safety.
The fines ranged from $5 to $110, and February registered as the peak month with 4,042 citations distributed.
Central areas of campus such as South Road, Stadium Drive and Davis Drive seem to be magnets for violations.
Those areas, along with Cobb lot and the parking lot in front of the Raleigh Street ATMs, accounted for almost 20 percent of all fines.
Violations ranging from parking without a permit to parking in a fire lane occur every day, and drivers are punished with tough fines or by having their vehicles towed.
Open-access lots are more prone to fines, said Randy Young, spokesman for the Department of Public Safety.
"Gates deter a certain amount of illegal parking just because of the fact they're not allowed entry to begin with," he said.
There are 12,761 parking spots on campus that require a permit - out of almost 19,000 spaces total, Young said.
This year about 600 spaces were lost to the ongoing campus construction crunch, tempting more drivers to risk fines just to find a place to leave their car.
Next year could see some relief when the Jackson Circle and Northeast Chiller Plant parking decks open, Young said.
Though the number of parking tickets issued might seem excessive to some, the University isn't making a profit from any of them, noted Carolyn Elfland, associate vice chancellor for campus services.
"The reason we have parking fines is . because we want to keep the spaces available for the people with permits," she said.
Officers have some discretion when deciding whether to issue a ticket, Young said. For example, if a parking spot is not clearly marked, an officer could be more lenient.
But repeat offenders are less likely to gain a reprieve.
"(People) with over five citations in a year or a balance of more than $250 . can be immobilized or towed," Young said.
To dispute a citation, a driver must submit a written appeal to DPS within 10 days. A $10 fee is charged to challenge a citation after that window of time closes.
As of early December, $521,000 of fines issued in 2005 had been paid, Young said.
In 2003 and 2004 the department issued citations totaling about $2.7 million-about $1.5 million of which were paid.
Unpaid fines eventually are turned over from DPS to NCO Financial Systems, a collection firm that charges a percentage of the fines it collects as a fee.
Although parking fines can seem harsh, Elfland said, funding enforcement costs more than the amount the University is permitted to keep. UNC-CH only can retain 10 percent of the money it pulls in from issuing fines.
The remaining portion is turned over to the N.C. Office of State Budget and Management and is distributed throughout the state public school system.
UNC-CH previously was allowed to keep all the fines it collected until the N.C. Supreme Court ruled in July that parking fines on UNC-system campuses belong to public schools.
Elfland said University officials had hoped to use the money to fund one of the parking decks.
With the loss of revenue, the number of parking spaces the decks can accommodate has to be cut down.
The Craige Parking Deck now will hold 700 spaces instead of 1,600 spaces, she said.
The University has not yet turned over any of the money it put aside and is waiting for a final determination of how much money it owes.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(02/10/06 5:00am)
To initiate much-needed change at the University, Lauren Anderson wants graduate and professional students to take account of their own interests and needs.
Anderson, one of two candidates for president of the Graduate and Professional Student Federation, said a comprehensive survey of graduate students is needed if students hope to impact the policies that affect them.
She said hard numbers are needed so graduate students can pinpoint their needs.
"I've learned that the administration of the University wants to hear from the students," said Anderson, who serves as GPSF treasurer. "More statistics are needed . so when we talk policy with administrators, we have numbers to back us up."
A fourth-year graduate student who is studying neurobiology, Anderson has worked with the Division of Student Affairs, as well as with the UNC Association of Student Governments.
She said she wanted to run for office because she thinks she can be a successful advocate for graduate students.
"I am very hands-on, very action-oriented," said Anderson, a Chapel Hill native. "I don't want people complaining about the same things year after year."
A University audit is another proposal Anderson advocates. Students must know exactly how their money is being spent, she said.
"The University is a business - you've got to come at it from a numbers perspective," she said. "We can't sacrifice the education we're getting."
Improved child care for graduate students also should be explored - including a possible on-campus day care, Anderson said.
GPSF President Mike Brady said Anderson's outgoing personality is one of her assets.
"She has a very strong willingness to get out and meet graduate students," he said.
Anderson will have to research proposals thoroughly before bargaining with University administrators if she wants to be successful, he said.
"I think anyone in this position is going to have to be a good negotiator."
At Tuesday night's GPSF Senate forum Anderson garnered her first endorsement - making her and her opponent, P.J. Lusk, even at one apiece.
Ashley Brown, GPSF vice president of internal affairs, said Anderson received the endorsement because of her experience within the organization and her connections with UNC administrators and student leaders.
"She really sees what the graduate student issues are and how they're separate from undergraduates," she said.
Brown added that Anderson will be better able to recruit graduate students to fill her executive board because of her ties in the University.
"She has a better resource pool," Brown said.
Anderson spent her undergraduate years at Johns Hopkins University - a private institution - and said UNC is more willing to listen to student opinions.
"It's interesting for me to see that the students here have such a voice, and it's underutilized," she said.
Anderson stressed that she will maximize graduate student input.
"I'm a leader's leader," she said. "I know what needs to be done."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(01/30/06 5:00am)
When new students arrive at UNC in August, they will sit down to discuss Jhumpa Lahari's "The Namesake" - marking the first time a work of fiction has been chosen by the University's summer reading selection committee.
The novel follows the path of an Indian immigrant family as they adjust to life in the United States. Lahiri details the life of the family's son, Gogol, as he deals with life as a first-generation American. As he grows up, Gogol becomes increasingly embarrassed about his name and, in an act of independence, changes it when he goes to college.
Gogol's search for identity is a theme students will relate to, said sophomore Matt Pagett, a member of the committee.
"It talks about his experience living in two different worlds," Pagett said. "We think it will resonate very well with students here."
Freshman Annalee Bloomfield, another member of the committee, said the novel is a powerful account of the tensions within a family.
"I think that the book is really about growing up and growing into independence and looking into how you were raised versus the life you would choose for yourself," she said.
The nine-member selection committee began with more than 200 suggestions. "The Bookseller of Kabul" by Asne Seierstad and "We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed With Our Families" by Philip Gourevitch were among the finalists, said Joe Templeton, a UNC professor and the chairman of the committee.
He said the committee looked for a book that would be stimulating, easy to read and relevant.
The summer reading program was a recommendation of a 1997 faculty task force organized by then-Chancellor Michael Hooker.
Now in its eighth year, the program asks all incoming freshman and transfers to read a book during the summer and to participate in small group discussions.
Past selections have been a source of controversy on campus.
In 2002 five people, including three UNC students, filed a lawsuit in response to the selection of "Approaching the Qur'
(01/24/06 5:00am)
After junior Jordan Selleck's resignation Sunday night as chairman of the College Republicans, new leadership already is in place and looking to infuse new energy into the group.
Sophomore Amanda Zalaquett stepped in to serve out the remainder of Selleck's term and led her first meeting as interim chairwoman Monday night.
About 40 of the group's 200 dues-paying members attended - sans Selleck, who said he was unable to make the meeting due to a busy workload.
The group currently is in the middle of a blitz to back conservative students who are campaigning for Student Congress seats in the Feb. 14 campuswide election.
Congress Speaker Luke Farley, a member of the organization, spoke at the meeting, and said he would like to see interest in the campus legislative body invigorated.
"I think there's been a general apathy about Student Congress lately," he said.
"We have a diversity of opinion. That's why it's important to get a lot of voices."
Zalaquett, who previously served as the group's executive director, said she would like to see a balance of ideas as well as more fiscally conservative policies in Congress.
"There's a lot of spending for organizations that don't affect a lot of people on campus," she said.
Seven students who are running for Congress seats also attended the meeting.
Sophomore Layne Powers, who is running in District 2 - which represents Middle Campus dorms - said she wants to see increased political diversity at UNC.
"I think it's important to get more conservative representation in Congress and more conservative representation on campus in general," she said.
Zalaquett said increased participation and membership are other goals for her term.
She said she is eager to lead the group through the rest of the term, which she said will end when the group chooses new leadership in March.
Farley said he thinks Zalaquett's transition will be a smooth one.
"I'm very pleased," he said. "I think she has a really good vision for the organization."
Selleck, who spent one-and-a-half terms leading the organization, said the time was right for him to step down.
In his decision he cited a need to focus more on academic work and to get a job.
"I enjoyed it tremendously and learned a lot of skills in terms of running an organization and leadership skills."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.