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(01/19/07 5:00am)
About a dozen jobs in the Department of Housing and Residential Education will be discontinued next semester.
Housing officials have decided to eliminate the office manager position to increase efficiency.
The responsibilities of office managers will be divided between office assistants and community coordinators, who will be dubbed community managers. The increase in responsibility will occur "in tandem with an increase in salary level," said Larry Hicks, director of housing and residential education.
Because community managers will hold more responsibility in the future, the job, which now is held mostly by graduate students but occasionally by undergraduates, will be limited to graduate students.
The new community managers also will be given some of the responsibilities of community directors, master's-level professionals who live in the communities.
"The intent is mainly to provide better support for community director staff so they can give better focus to resident advisers who can give greater focus to communities," Hicks said.
The office manager is responsible for overseeing the staff of office assistants, handling their schedules and time sheets and being a resource if they have questions.
While about a dozen jobs will be eliminated, Hicks said that rising wages will increase the amount his department spends on student salaries.
The department pays about $1.3 million a year to the 400 to 500 students it employs. Next year the amount paid to students will increase by about $200,000.
Hicks said taking away the office manager position should not discourage students from working in housing.
"If they are good staff then we hope to keep them," he said, adding that the housing department has one of the largest student salary budgets on campus.
Hicks said the changes will improve the services provided to community residents.
"What services have been provided will move forward, but we're going to augment some other things that need to be added," he said. "Our ultimate goal is to make sure that the student-rent dollar is efficiently utilized."
Eliminating the office manager is part of the department's aim to improve the efficiency of its operations, Hicks said.
Such organizational changes are not unusual for the housing department. Hicks said changes have been made every year since he has been at UNC.
"We are constantly looking at what works well and what we need to modify and change," he said.
"We've got other things that we are incubating in terms of how we bring better focus to our vision of student learning."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(01/12/07 5:00am)
About 20 students from the School of Law spent a week of their winter holiday doing pro bono work in New Orleans, providing free legal service to low-income residents.
The trip to the Gulf Coast was organized with the New Orleans Pro Bono Project, a nonprofit group that links lawyers with volunteers.
It marked the third time that UNC law students have traveled to post-Katrina New Orleans as part of the UNC Law Winter/Spring Break Pro Bono Project, said Jessica Luong, a second-year law student who serves as special trips coordinator on the law school's Pro Bono Board.
Law students also traveled to New Orleans in December 2005 and March 2006.
The most recent trip, during which students worked from Dec. 18-22, gave students the opportunity to volunteer with local lawyers working on criminal and civil cases.
Law student Mindy Nunez helped interview prisoners to determine whether they were competent to stand trial.
"Public defenders have so many clients and not enough time," she said. "They are playing catch-up from what happened during Katrina."
Luong said civil lawyers need just as much assistance.
Because records were destroyed in the storm, lawyers must help clients prove ownership of property and replace marriage, birth and death records. Additionally, the divorce rate has increased in the city.
For this reason, Luong said rebuilding the legal system is as important as restoring the physical structure.
"In essence, if you are trying to help someone rebuild their life, it's great to help them have a house in which to live," she said. "But you also have to help them establish ownership of that house."
The Pro Bono Program at the law school has been operational for about 10 years. About half of the students at the school participate in pro bono work throughout the year, and almost 80 students volunteered in North Carolina and in their hometowns during the Winter Break.
"Sitting in class is fine, but I've generally found most of my learning takes place outside the classroom," law student John Derrick said.
Students and administrators said the pro bono work is a valuable experience.
"They see what they are learning about actually get applied to people who really need those services," said Sylvia Novinsky, dean for student affairs at the law school.
Derrick said volunteering in New Orleans was beneficial.
"Getting down there and seeing things firsthand and then having the privilege of doing something about it - I would definitely recommend this experience to others."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(11/28/06 5:00am)
Ami Vitale photographed the conflict in Kosovo in the late 1990s. She took photos of a post-civil-war village in western Africa. She spent the majority of four years photographing Kashmir, the disputed region between India and Pakistan.
A UNC alumna, Vitale will speak about her experiences as a photojournalist at 7:30 p.m. today in the Carroll Hall auditorium.
Her visit is sponsored by the University's chapter of the National Press Photographers Association. She was the 2003 recipient of the national organization's magazine photographer of the year award.
Vitale will show photographs from pivotal points in her career and share the stories behind the images.
After graduating from the University, Vitale interned with USA Today and the Associated Press. She worked as a photo editor for about five years.
Vitale said her career as an international photographer took off when she moved to central Europe.
"I moved to the Czech Republic at the end of 1997 and got a job at a small business paper there," she said. Since she had friends living in Kosovo, Vitale said she became interested in photographing the conflict there.
"It became a very personal story for me because a lot of the people there were my friends," she said.
When she first began photographing the conflict, it had not gained international attention.
"It kind of exploded in the media after that," Vitale said.
She said it is important to tell stories that aren't covered by mainstream media.
Vitale said she thinks it is also important for students to take advantage of opportunities to participate in international journalism projects. She acts as a photo editor for several projects sponsored by the journalism school.
"We do international projects with universities around the world," said Rich Beckman, professor of journalism. The school recently had a group of students working in Peru.
"One of the goals of the project is to allow students the opportunity to take what they've learned in the classroom and apply it in the field," Beckman said. "It's a great cultural learning experience as well as journalistic learning experience."
Vitale said she has enjoyed her work with the school's overseas ventures.
"I'm always kind of stunned by the quality of work that the students can produce," she said. "I feel like I get more out of them than I can contribute."
This will be her first speech at the University. "I've been trying to get her for a long time," journalism professor Pat Davison said.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(11/16/06 5:00am)
Following last week's elections, six of the seven N.C. Supreme Court justices not only represent the people of North Carolina but also UNC's School of Law.
Incumbents Patricia Timmons-Goodson and Mark Martin and former N.C. Court of Appeals judge Robin Hudson won associate justice positions on the court. Sarah Parker secured an eight-year term as chief justice.
All four are law school alumni.
Paul Newby and Robert Edmunds, two of the three justices not up for re-election this year, also received law degrees from the school.
Timmons-Goodson said the success of the six alumni will boost the reputation of the law school.
"Of course it says that we have a very fine law school," she said. "It also says that it's preparing leaders for North Carolina."
Timmons-Goodson said this also might encourage current law students to pursue careers serving the state.
"One of the things I believe it does for the law school is that current students will get an idea of what is possible for them upon the completion of their law studies," she said. "People want to remain at home and serve their state."
Another school alumna Susan Owens was re-elected to Washington state's Supreme Court.
Matt Marvin, director of communications at the law school, said the success of these alumni reflects the quality of the school.
"Part of being a great public law school, which UNC is, is producing grads that go on to produce great service to the community," Marvin said.
And this is not the first time that the law school has seen its alumni elected to leadership roles. Law school professor William Marshall said the school has produced many prominent state leaders.
"I think that traditionally many of the leaders of the state of North Carolina have graduated from this law school," he said.
Marshall noted that the school also has produced successful national leaders, such as former U.S. senator and vice presidential candidate John Edwards, who was a 1977 graduate.
The newly elected justices said their law school experiences prepared them to be state leaders.
"That education prepared me extremely well to serve the people of North Carolina," Timmons-Goodson said. Her opponent, Eric Levinson, was also a UNC law school alumnus.
Hudson said the law school provides its students with ample opportunities to learn about serving the state through internships.
"The law school has really been very active," she said.
Though the justices said their law school experiences prepared them for their successful law careers, Marvin said the school can't take full credit.
"It's certainly something that we're very proud of, and we would like to take some ownership of that as the University," he said. "But of course you can't underestimate the individual."
Owens said she attributes much of her success as a Supreme Court justice to her post-graduate experiences practicing law.
"Only academic preparation would not prepare anyone to be a justice," she said.
Marshall said the students graduate well-qualified for their positions, and their accomplishments reflect well on the school.
"Whenever graduates do well it sheds positive light on the institutions from which they graduated."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(11/14/06 5:00am)
Matt Craig grinned as Beth-Ann Kutchma, program officer for the University Center for International Studies, handed him a 12-by-18 inch print of his photo "Puros Cubanos" during the UCIS International Photography Contest award reception Monday.
Craig, a junior political science major, took the photo in Havana, Cuba. His work was one of 13 winners of the sixth annual photography contest displayed in the Union gallery.
The contest, which is part of UCIS's International Education Week, is open to UNC students, faculty, staff and alumni.
For this year's installment, more than 360 photographs were submitted by 138 people. Thirteen winners and 35 honorable mentions were selected.
"Anyone can show what they have been doing internationally," said senior Kevin Murphy, a UCIS program assistant.
Photographs must convey some sort of cross-cultural experience and either inspire viewers to investigate the subject of the photo or teach them something about the culture or site of the photo, Kutchma said.
"It should make us want to visit that place," she said. "The goal is to help show Carolina students that you can really get a global education here at Carolina."
Contributed photographs came from various countries including Cuba, Japan, Syria and Tibet.
Craig's winning photograph is of a section of Havana nicknamed "Old Havana," the oldest part of the city.
"It preserves a lot of Spanish legacy and a lot of old Cuba," Craig said about the district. "It is an encounter of two different worlds."
Craig, who spent four months studying abroad in Cuba, said the photo shows only a glimpse into what the country is like.
"That's only part of the reality," he said.
Graduate student Linda Quiquivix shot a vibrant photo of Syrian headscarves and sunglasses and said she was surprised to see so much color in the Middle East.
"The media feeds us these images of pure oppression," she said.
Winning photos were incorporated into a calendar that UCIS will begin selling in about a month, Kutchma said.
She said winners also receive a print of their photograph mounted on felt and copies of the calendar.
All of the photographs submitted will be on display in the UCIS office, Murphy said.
Kutchma said many of the photographs will be used as part of the center's K-12 International Outreach Program. This program helps educators across North Carolina incorporate cultural learning in the classroom.
"The main point is to see that you can be in North Carolina and still experience the world through this photography and through other students' experiences," Kutchma said.
Though she said the number of submissions has gone up each year since the contest was conceived, Kutchma encourages students and staff who travel to contribute their photographs next year.
"Our submission pool has increased dramatically every year for this competition," she said. "I would like to see our submission pool increase again next year."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(10/26/06 4:00am)
Graduate student Deb Risisky said she thinks amazing studies are happening at the University, including looking at snowfall, drinking and prison construction.
"There are a lot of students doing a lot of quality research," said Risisky, a student at the School of Public Health.
Risisky, whose research assists in providing legal training to clinicians, received an Impact Award from the graduate school for her work on mandatory reporting of statutory rape in North Carolina.
Sponsored by the Graduate Education Advancement Board, Impact Awards recognize graduate students who have conducted research that specifically helps the state.
Past recipients of Impact Awards have researched topics such as the link between drinking and depression, snowfall in the Appalachian Mountains and prison construction as an economic development option.
"(The awards) were created by the advisory board of the graduate school because our advisory board looked around and noticed that graduate students aren't sitting in a lab all day," said Deborah Makemson, communications writer for the graduate school.
The board decided to reward students who research topics pertaining to and benefiting North Carolina, Makemson said.
Sociology graduate student Bob Faris won an Impact Award in 2006 for his research on school bullying.
"It's a serious social problem," Faris said. "Ultimately it is hoped that this research can improve intervention efforts in North Carolina."
Although students from any field may apply, as of last academic year, awards are divided into categories of health and social services, education and economic development.
Applications for the 2007 awards are due Friday.
Makemson said applications have increased since the first awards were presented in 2004, and she cited two reasons for the increase.
"Word of the awards is starting to get out to departments," she said. "I think that the students are talking among themselves about this award."
Makemson said the high quality of research also contributed to the increase in award recipients.
"The quality of research in applications was remarkable," Makemson said. "We actually had a great number of students whose research was so significant."
Award recipients receive a cash prize that has increased in value each year. It is $1,000 this year.
Winners also are recognized at the Graduate School's annual recognition event and serve as graduate student ambassadors.
Although he said he has not yet had the opportunity to speak, Faris said ambassadors meet with community groups across the state to present their research.
"My understanding is that I'll be asked to go and represent the University and talk about my research," he said.
Risisky said she thinks the opportunity to share research outside the University is one of the most important benefits of the Impact Awards.
"There is a lot of talent on this campus," she said. "It's a really good thing to have people see that."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(10/17/06 4:00am)
Members of the University community were invited Monday to voice their concerns about local public transportation options.
Representatives from transit services such as the Triangle Transit Authority, Chapel Hill Transit and Zipcar were on hand to hear complaints and present improvement plans.
Local buses, campus parking and alternative transportation services in the Triangle area were discussed.
Officials said they intend to get feedback on transportation services provided by the University and surrounding organizations.
"We want to maintain the dialogue between the University community and ourselves," said Randy Young, spokesman for the Department of Public Safety. "I think the underlying goal in all of this is to facilitate accessibility for the University."
Stephen Spade, director of Chapel Hill Transit, said his transit system plans to focus on improving services and accommodating an increased demand for buses.
"This really is about getting input from you," Spade told the about 25 attendees at the forum.
Chapel Hill Transit officials said they plan to ensure that buses are running on time, handle overcrowding, build five new shelters and improve the transit guide.
"You'll be able to stand at those shelters and there will be real-time information," Spade said. Chapel Hill Transit has purchased 16 new buses that will begin running in July 2007.
Spade said that 14 bus shelters will be equipped to show up-to-date bus information such as those provided in airports. Several already are up at locations including the park and ride lots.
Amy Armbruster, representative of the Triangle Transit Authority, shared information about Web resources that are valuable transportation planning tools.
GoTriangle.org provides door-to-door trip planning, sharetheridenc.com helps commuters locate convenient car pools and van pools, and at ridetta.org commuters can register for Emergency Ride Home - which provides rides home to commuters stranded in emergencies.
Another resource is redefinetravel.org - a site designed by students to plan long road trips.
Some audience members expressed concerns about lost parking space because of construction, the unreliability of regional bus services and inconvenient bus schedules.
"We are very interested in hearing from our riders," Armbruster said.
Claire Kane, University transportation demand manager, said she encourages transit users to share their criticisms.
"It really does make a difference if you communicate and communicate in detail."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(10/17/06 4:00am)
Freshman Trevor Brothers said he was discouraged when he learned UNC does not offer an undergraduate neuroscience degree.
But after meeting with a work-study adviser and attending a research information session, Brothers is one step closer to his dream job: He now collects neuroscience data as a lab assistant.
"Originally my only job was working around the lab, cleaning up," Brothers said.
He found the position in the neuroscience department and said that down the road he hopes to build artificial limbs for amputees.
Students such as Brothers are part of an increasing push by the University to promote undergraduate research opportunities.
The office of undergraduate research, which was created in 1999, allows students to explore research options both in and out of the classroom.
The office is searching for a new associate director in hopes of increasing such offerings and opportunities, said Patricia Pukkila, director of the office of undergraduate research.
"(The office) helps connect students to the University's research mission," Pukkila said.
The associate director will help lead a "Making Critical Connections" program, part of the University's Quality Enhancement Plan. The plan was implemented with the new general education curriculum to improve student learning in a targeted area.
Student opportunities extend beyond fields such as neuroscience.
"Throughout the chemistry department we have close to a hundred undergraduates working in different labs," said Holden Thorp, chairman of the department of chemistry.
Jeannie Loeb, director for undergraduate research in psychology, said most professors are willing to involve interested students in research.
"(Professors) are always interested in collaborating with people who are just as interested," she said. "One day (those students) will be their colleagues."
Evelyne Huber, chairwoman of the political science department, said she has supervised several honors thesis projects. Seniors writing honors theses conduct research on a topic of their choice.
Students also can learn about research in a course called "Special Topics: Modes of Inquiry."
The office's Web site also includes a database of opportunities, advice from faculty and opportunities to obtain financial support.
The old-fashioned method of asking professors about their research also is recommended.
"(Students) just need to find a professor that's willing to take them into their lab," Thorp said. "Do that by going door to door."
Officials said the benefits of participating in research projects as an undergraduate extend into future endeavors.
"For those that are going on to chemistry grad school, that's probably the most important thing that grad schools look at," Thorp said.
Huber said it is important to learn research techniques that students can use in the workplace.
"You learn to think in terms of how - if you have an idea about something, to find out if that idea holds up."
Pukkila said she wants all students to get involved with research.
"It's a research University. You might as well get your money's worth."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(09/26/06 4:00am)
"HIV doesn't have a face."
Sarahmona Przybyla, a counselor at Counseling and Wellness Services, said she wants students to know that the stereotypes about HIV no longer apply.
The virus doesn't affect only urban dwellers, and young people are not immune, said Przybyla, who works with Carolina Health Education Counselors for Sexuality,
The demographics of those affected by HIV are changing, and Przybyla said counselors want students to be aware that they are at risk.
She said that in the state of North Carolina there have been close to 160 cases of college students infected with HIV in the past five years.
Przybyla said counselors are determined to educate students about the risk of HIV on campus and to make it easier for them to be tested for the virus.
To ensure that students have basic knowledge about HIV, its transmission and how to protect themselves, the service provides a three-step testing and counseling session.
Students can make appointments anonymously to receive a free blood test or, for $22, an oral HIV test.
Przybyla said the next step is acquiring knowledge about what HIV is and how it is transmitted.
The third step is to work with a counselor to create a risk-reduction plan that gives students guidance about how to protect themselves from HIV exposure.
These plans can include the use of condoms or reducing the number of sexual partners.
"The whole point of that is the client-centered counseling model," Przybyla said. "We are helping people to assess their own risk."
Between 600 and 800 students participate in this testing and counseling each year. In an attempt to reach the rest of the UNC community, CHECS counselors hold free HIV testing events three times a year.
These events, held in the Student Recreation Center, offer free oral tests which are open to students, faculty, staff and the community.
"It is a way to go to students and make it easier for them," Przybyla said. "Students said it was important to them."
Students said they appreciate that UNC offers testing and counseling free of charge.
"They provide support and discussion on a very taboo topic," said sophomore Lindsey Dvorak.
In the past as many as 250 people were tested at the outreach events. Some arrived alone, others with friends.
Students can contact Counseling and Wellness Services to set up testing appointments. On Dec. 1, World AIDS Day, an outreach-based testing event will be held in the SRC.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.