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(02/09/09 5:00am)
In the dozens of pages of platforms compiled by this year's student body president candidates ideas have been thrown around that some administrators say just aren't realistic. Some of these plans while desirable would cost millions of dollars which administrators said isn't feasible at a time when the University might have to make cuts to its operating budget. Others are just not desirable or such a low priority that they are not likely to be accomplished. Most are out of the student body president's direct control and would require administrative help and University resources.While candidates have backed off of some these points after learning how much they would cost or the time frame involved in completing them many of them remain prominent — listed on campaign signs across campus and on online platforms.
(01/23/09 5:00am)
Junior Jasmin Jones secured the first endorsement of the Student Body President race Thursday night after a forum hosted by the Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies.The event kicked off the true start of campaign season which will feature a rigorous schedule of debates and forums to help students get to know the candidates before the Feb. 10 election.Jones beat out fellow candidates Michael Betts Ron Bilbao" Thomas Edwards and Ashley Klein to secure the group's nomination.""It's good to start off on a good leg"" she said after the announcement. It gives us hope for a strong campaign season.""The Di-Phi forum is traditionally the first of the season and kicks off the public portion of campaign season" where candidates can speak openly about their platforms and goals in dorms the Pit and forums.The group gave each candidate five minutes to introduce themselves and then had a question-and-answer session from the audience.In addition to being an opportunity to speak on their platforms" the Di-Phi forum also gave the candidates a chance to see the competition.""It's an opportunity to get to know each other more intimately" see what each other are all about" Betts said.While Di-Phi decided to back Jones, candidates will have numerous other opportunities to pitch themselves to student groups.Many organizations, including The Daily Tar Heel, the Black Student Movement, Young Democrats and even Bounce Magazine, will host their own forums in the coming weeks.With more than two weeks left until the election, the candidates said the forum gave them a chance to get comfortable with speaking in front of groups.I learned how to take a hard-hitting question"" Klein said, in reference to a question about her platform's economic feasibility.All the candidates said they are planning on reaching out to students through dormstorming and being in the Pit during the next few days. While the candidates said the forums are a good way to get their messages out, former Student Body President James Allred said the benefit of winning an endorsement is not necessarily the publicity associated with it.With some organizations" you gain access to their listserv and you may gain access to their top members as campaign staff" he said.He added that when he won the College Republicans and Young Democrats forums in 2006, both groups did ground work for him for the rest of his campaign.If you get a couple people excited about your platform" and then they come and work for you that can make all the difference" he said.But securing endorsements has never been a clear indicator of who is going to win a campaign. In 2005, Tom Jensen received more endorsements than any other candidate — including large groups like the Black Student Movement and Young Democrats — but received only a small percentage of the vote. Student Body President J.J. Raynor said the forums were never her favorite part of campaigning.For me"" forums were by far the most stressful part. I liked meeting people and talking one on one much better.""Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(01/16/09 5:00am)
Both sides claimed victory after the Student Supreme Court issued its ruling Thursday in a lawsuit pitting student body president candidate Ashley Klein against the Board of Elections.The board got a reaffirmation of its power to interpret the Student Code and an increase in its jurisdiction off campus. But some of the guidelines used to punish Klein for holding a campaign meeting on campus were thrown out" and her fine will have to be reassessed at a Sunday meeting.The case stems from a $40 fine levied on Klein for speaking with The Daily Tar Heel and holding campaign meetings in the Campus Y in August.Such actions were deemed ""public campaigning" which is prohibited before candidates officially declare candidacy. Private campaigning" however, is allowed.The first major provision of the court's decision upholds the board's authority to interpret the Student Code, which Klein challenged.It seems inconceivable in this context that the Congress would have the Board of Elections paralyzed and running for guidance every time it comes upon an ambiguity"" it reads.The decision also redefined and extended the board's jurisdiction to events off campus, which board Vice-chairman Val Tenyotkin said pleased the board. Tenyotkin said the board assumed its jurisdiction only included on-campus activities, so it could not punish any off-campus event.But the decision says the public/private distinction does not deal with the location of an action, but rather a combination of whether it was in the public view, how well-known it was and whether government resources were used.Under this interpretation, the board can fine candidates for an off-campus action, and on-campus actions are not necessarily public.For future elections and future boards" this decision will be nailed to the wall of the Board of Election's office" Tenyotkin said. It completely redefines what we can do and where we can do it.""Based on this interpretation" the court ruled that the board had misinterpreted the Code when it issued administrative rulings and fined Klein for holding a meeting in the Campus Y.The court upheld Klein's fine for speaking with The Daily Tar Heel.The court will hear another case against the board by Matt Wohlford another potential candidate next Thursday. He is also challenging a fine for public campaigning.Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(01/12/09 5:00am)
The Board of Elections has decided that candidate Facebook groups are permissible provided that they are secret. This decision which seemingly contradicts the Student Code has frustrated several campaigns and raised questions of how the board is handling the election.In December" at least eight candidates were discovered to have created ""secret"" Facebook groups" meaning they cannot be viewed unless a person is invited by one of the group's administrators.Title VI of the Student Code which deals with election law states" ""No campaign-related material" including web pages instant message profile links or icons and social network groups" shall be allowed on the web until a candidate's declaration of candidacy is filed with the BOE.""No candidates can declare candidacy until a meeting Tuesday.While these groups violate the wording of the Student Code" Board of Elections Chairman Ryan Morgan said these groups are no different from speaking privately with campaign workers which is legal any time of the year.But unlike private meetings these groups contain more than campaign staff. Several groups rotate through administrators so members can invite their friends. As a result" some groups have more than 500 members and invitations have reached thousands of students.Morgan said the board has created regulations in addition to those in the Student Code to balance out the way Facebook has impacted the election process.""We're changing some other things to balance it out"" Morgan said. We're being a little stricter on petition gathering this year.""The decision about private Facebook groups has bothered some campaigners"" and multiple campaigns have expressed frustration with the ambiguity of election laws the board is enforcing.""Collectively" multiple people on multiple campaigns have been disappointed with the way the board has performed said a campaign staff member who requested anonymity to avoid violating election rules. Specifically" the arbitrary application and interpretation of the rules.""It's clear that they have given very little thought into the impact of their decisions.""Last semester" the board fined two potential campaigns $40 each for holding meetings on campus and speaking with The Daily Tar Heel.The two fined campaigns filed suit against the board arguing that the board overstepped its authority and wrongly interpreted the code.In November the board warned one potential student body president candidate for creating a public Facebook group but issued no fine.Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(12/03/08 5:00am)
February's elections season could see at least eight students vying to be student body president.Juniors Ron Bilbao Thomas Edwards Jasmin Jones Ashley Klein Julia La Roche and Matt Wohlford and sophomores Michael Betts and Andrew Ashley expressed interest in running for the position at an optional candidates meeting held Tuesday by the Board of Elections.Board of Elections Vice Chairman Val Tenyotkin said he has heard of at least two more students who are interested in running for the office and said others could pop up between now and official campaign season.Last year only three students ran for the office. A total of 18 students attended the optional meeting which was open to potential candidates for all elected offices.Juniors Darius Barrow Courtney Brown and John Russell and sophomore Nicholas Varunok expressed interest in running for Carolina Athletic Association president which was uncontested last year.At the meeting Tenyotkin discussed common violations of election rules" such as publicly campaigning before the rules allow. He said people have often tried to stretch the rules in past elections and have gotten in trouble for it.""Creativity is what will get you in trouble"" he said.The elections board already has fined Wohlford and Klein for holding illegally public meetings and speaking with The Daily Tar Heel. They have appealed that decision to the Student Supreme Court.A mandatory campaign meeting will be held Jan. 13, where candidates will officially declare their candidacy and the elections board will make a formal presentation about the rules.After that meeting, candidates have one week to gather a specific number of signatures required for their office.A couple of people will be weeded out by the process of gathering signatures"" Tenyotkin said.To run for student body president, students must gather at least 800 signatures, which cannot be duplicated on other petitions for the same office. If 10 run, the 8,000 combined required signatures is more than the 6,625 students who voted last year.The last year to have so many candidates was 2004, when 10 declared candidacy at the January meeting. Eight passed the signature threshold.If students pass that requirement, they can openly speak about their campaigns starting Jan. 21. Election Day is Feb. 10.You win if you have a good message and it reaches enough people" Tenyotkin said. Do that and get the right groups to endorse you" and you'll win.""Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(11/23/08 5:00am)
Four months ago senior Aisha Saad stood atop the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal India and witnessed the aftermath of the 1984 chemical leak considered one of the world's worst environmental disasters.That moment was the capstone on a long journey for Saad which has taken her across the globe and opened her eyes to the pursuit of environmental justice.Next year that journey will take Saad to Oxford England.Saad an environmental health sciences and Spanish double major from Cary" is one of 32 Americans awarded Rhodes Scholarships this year.""I'm excited by the opportunity to diversify my educational path"" Saad said. The possibility for adventure that this presents is unbeatable.""The Rhodes Scholarship" which provides all expenses for two years of study at the University of Oxford and the option for a third is known as one of the world's most prestigious scholarships.Saad said she will use the scholarship to pursue a master's degree in nature society and environmental management at Oxford.She said she ultimately wants to pursue environmental law a passion that grew out of her interest in social justice she has pursued at UNC.On campus Saad serves as the outreach coordinator for the Muslim Students Association organizing events with other campus groups. Saad is a former opinion editor for The Daily Tar Heel.She is also a Morehead-Cain scholar and has also worked with the Interfaith Alliance" a campus organization that works between religious groups on common projects.""We're kind of building bridges across groups"" Saad said. The common denominator is social justice."" Saad said her Islamic faith has been a big part of shaping her life and academic interests.""It has been an integral part of my life"" Saad said. It is the ethical core of my life. The subtext of my motivations comes from vision for social justice and social dignity.""Those who have worked closely with Saad said her ability to work across diverse groups and unite campus groups has been a big strength.""People often talk about diversity and bringing different groups together" and Aisha has really lived that in a quiet but strong way" said Charles Lovelace, executive director of the Morehead-Cain Foundation.Saad said this ability to represent diverse viewpoints and bring new ideas to the discussion was a strength that came across in her interviews.I think I brought forth a really diverse perspective" Saad said. I have an unconventional background" and I think I was able to relate that in the interview process.""As a Morehead-Cain scholar" she has travelled and done research in Egypt India and South America through the scholarship.Born in Egypt Saad was almost ineligible for the scholarship" only learning that she was granted American citizenship a week before the application deadline.Saad is the 42nd UNC student to receive the scholarship and the seventh in as many years.""I think it speaks to the quality of the undergraduate education here"" Lovelace said. It's a tribute to the faculty that have supported her.""For Saad" faculty support came from law professor Donald Hornstein who taught Saad last year and is her honors thesis adviser. Her thesis focuses on environmental issues in the Nile River delta.He said her experience this past summer traveling to India and Egypt" and then back to Chapel Hill showcased Saad's ability to transcend borders to confront major issues.""She's a natural fit"" he said. She's really a citizen of the world.""Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(11/13/08 5:00am)
Two potential student body president candidates' challenge against fines by the Board of Elections could redefine the authority of the board and its role in elections.Arguments made by Ashley Klein a potential candidate in a Student Supreme Court hearing Wednesday focused on the authority of the Board of Elections to interpret election law.If the court rules in favor of Klein the board's ability to interpret the election law could be reduced to applying rulings by the court and explicit provisions spelled out by Student Congress.That would eliminate one of the board's primary roles: deciding which actions by candidates break election laws.Because the court must deliberate further and because members are law students and have exams soon Chief Justice Emma Hodson said the court might not be able to issue its decision until next semester.Klein and Matt Wohlford another potential candidate are challenging a ruling the Board of Elections made Oct. 6 which found both in violation of elections law for holding campaign meetings and making comments to The Daily Tar Heel. The board fined them $40 each.That fine is rooted in the board's interpretation of what constitutes public campaigning" which is what Klein is challenging with her case.Klein argued that the board does not have the authority to interpret the Student Code.""We're asking that you refine the Board of Elections' job"" Klein said to the court. They should administer decisions passed by yourselves and explicitly spelled out in the code.""The board argued that their administrative rulings are guidelines for the board to follow"" not interpretations of the code.""The BOE is left with a lot of undefined terms"" said Val Tenyotkin, vice chairman of the elections board. All of these things must be decided on a case-by-case basis.""Tenyotkin argued that the board is clarifying existing passages in the code that often cause confusion.He said regardless of the board's administrative ruling" Klein and Wohlford still broke election law" which states that public campaigning is against the code.""There's one reason why we're here today"" Tenyotkin said. Someone decided to run for student body president and failed to look up the rules.""The code defines private as ""anything not in the general view" not widely known" and not facilitated by University resources.""Whether Klein's meetings in the Campus Y at the beginning of the year violate the code is another question the court will have to answer.Following Klein's case" the Student Supreme Court held a pretrial hearing for Wohlford's case.Wohlford is challenging the procedure the board went through when making its decision to fine.As a result he asked to subpoena the entire board to be questioned by his campaign since the meeting was closed and there was no public record of what was discussed.The court agreed to review the minutes from the meeting and will make a decision about whether to subpoena the board at a later date.The court will not hear Wohlford's case until next semester.Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(10/22/08 4:00am)
Beginning today students can register online to receive tickets for the first three regular-season basketball games.Registration for the football game against N.C. State also begins today and all four distributions close Oct. 31.Despite large turnouts at forums regarding the policy last spring no major changes were made.For each game3000 students are randomly selected from those who sign up in an online lottery and are given two tickets.This year students who did not receive tickets can enter the game at tip-off through a standby line. Last year" students had to wait until four minutes into the game.Distributed tickets will still be broken down into five phases of arrival — 30-minute chunks beginning two and a half hours before tip-off.""We think this is the fairest and most random way to allocate tickets to all interested undergraduate and graduate students"" said Graham Boone, director of ticket distribution for the Carolina Athletic Association.The group evaluated the policy after last year's basketball season. CAA members spoke with officials in the ticket office and held two forums to solicit input from students.Boone said the response to last year's policy was mostly positive, which is why CAA decided to keep the policy this year.He said CAA considered shortening each phase so students would not have to show up so long before tip-off, but basketball coach Roy Williams said he likes having the seats filled while the team warms up.The major criticism of the system is that it offers casual"" fans the same opportunity as ""hard-core"" fans"" Boone said.""I think the way it works is kind of stupid"" said first-year student Jon Pipas. People who aren't that into the games still get to go.""Boone said to accommodate the ""hard-core"" fans" CAA is trying to promote the standby line" which he said was not publicized well last year.Senior Brian Woodard said he used the standby line last year for several games and always got in.""You might have to sit up higher" but you still get to go to the game" he said.Boone said the major failure of last year's system happened for the game against Duke University.Since fewer than 6,000 seniors registered for tickets, some underclassmen were entered into the lottery and got better seats.But Boone said they won't let that happen this year.Freshmen should not get phase one tickets to Duke"" he said. That was a mistake.""
(10/13/08 4:00am)
Shaniqua McClendon did not lie to Student Congress when she presented a Concepts of Colors funding request the ethics committee ruled Sunday.Congress also raised questions about how its finance committee scrutinizes requests and said better evaluation would have prevented the confusion.McClendon treasurer of the modeling troupe was called into question after Congress members heard that she told her business class she had taken advantage of the system.Last week Congress decided to launch an ethics investigation to clarify McClendon's story.The ethics committee decided that Concepts should resubmit its request next week to the finance committee. The original request was for $7535 which would come from student fees.The main question was whether the group's budget asked for more than was needed" which the committee deemed was an issue for the finance committee.But the ethics committee established that McClendon had been honest with Congress and had presented an exaggerated story in her class.""Clearly" if I had done this if I had been trying to get away with something I wouldn't have admitted it to a room of 30 or 40 people McClendon said in the meeting.Members of the ethics committee also thought a problem was that the finance committee did not thoroughly evaluate the request when it came to them.It's not the responsibility of the groups to find the lowest price" said representative Elizabeth Humphrey. I think the onus falls on the finance committee to better evaluate the request.""The recommendations the committee established included informing groups of what Congress examines in requests" increasing the transparency of the budget system and asking for more specific requests from groups.Meetings of the ethics committee traditionally are held to deal with Congress' internal issues.The Student Code states that the committee has the authority to investigate violations of the Honor Code by members of Congress" violations of Congress' ethics laws and violations of the N.C. Open Meetings Laws.But Congress has the authority to refer any bill through any committee — what it did in this instance.Speaker Tim Nichols said they wanted to send the bill through the ethics committee to clear up the validity of the request before sending it back to the finance committee.""This was an external situation we needed cleaned up"" he said. We thought the ethics committee would be the most appropriate to have these discrepancies cleared up.""Concepts of Colors will resubmit its request to the finance committee at the next committee meeting Tuesday.Congress members did say they would scrutinize closely Concepts' next funding request.Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(10/01/08 4:00am)
For the past two months Student Body President J.J. Raynor and Trustee John Ellison have been hearing ways to improve UNC from every corner of campus. The Employee Forum and science departments will weigh in today.The discussions are part of a comprehensive campus review through which the duo hopes to get input on what the major issues facing the University are.They are looking for three concrete ideas for how to address these problems and will present them to the board in May.Since August the two have met with more than 130 faculty members" staff and administrators to learn how to improve the school.""I'm not quite sure in hour terms how many hours I've put in"" Ellison said. But I've been on campus three or four days a week.""Raynor and Ellison both said they have noticed repeating themes in what they've heard"" and similar issues keep coming up.""Almost all of what we've heard has concentrated around enrollment growth" Raynor said. Of everything that has come up" most of the issues have touched on it.""The two will spend the spring semester examining the feasibility of implementing the three major projects they come up with.""Not only do we need good ideas" but we also need implementable ideas" Ellison said.When Raynor and Ellison meet with UNC community members, the two sit down and discuss the current state of the University and then hear what the other party has to say.Ellison said they try to focus on that person's experience.In each meeting" we try to focus on the areas that they are experts in Ellison said. But Ellison and Raynor said they were surprised by how discussions tended to be more Universitywide than specific to that person.I've been amazed at how little the response has to do with somebody's own self-interest" Ellison said. It's amazing how University-focused people are.""Raynor and Ellison said they will continue having meetings throughout October"" incorporating students into the discussion. The two will be holding forums in residence halls and meeting with specific student groups.The information-gathering stage will culminate in an open house Oct. 30 where the two will solicit information from all corners of campus.""I'm really excited about speaking with students"" Ellison said. Most of the creativity is going to come from them.""Raynor said the group has come across many issues that could be handled on a small scale — the English department needs more printer paper"" for example.Her cabinet is addressing many of these problems independent of her and Ellison.Raynor said people they've met with keep repeating how needed the project is.""It's weird"" Raynor said. It seems like this type of intensive review hasn't happened before.""Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(09/26/08 4:00am)
The Board of Trustees expressed concerns Thursday regarding the enrollment projection of 5000 more UNC-Chapel Hill students during the next decade.Increased enrollment could ultimately decrease the quality of a UNC education and the number of highly qualified students who enroll according to a presentation by the Art & Science Group" a higher-education consulting firm.Board members said the discussion should weigh the benefits of growth with the possible setbacks.Trustee Rusty Carter said the University might serve the state better by retaining quality and not growing.""I think we're going to have to push back and say we have a higher calling than adding 600 students a year" Carter said. Somebody the board maybe is going to have to stand up and say" ‘This doesn't work for Chapel Hill. This growth thing doesn't work.'""The presentation discussed the effect of enrollment growth on the number of accepted applicants who come to the University. Rick Hesel" a principal with Art & Science" said enrollment growth could cause the perception of UNC's student quality to drop.""If the perception of the quality of students slips" then enrollment declines drastically" he said.One way to prevent a decrease in quality is to increase the amount of money the school gives out in merit aid, Hesel said.Merit aid is the single most important tool in offsetting any negative impacts of growth"" Hesel said, noting that most highly ranked schools are giving more money to high-income students rather than low-income students.That moves away from a culture at Chapel Hill that's very admirable" but it's a competitive fact" he said.Trustee John Ellison chimed in to say that while he believed no one was outright rejecting the possibility of future growth, the presentation did offer an opportunity to further examine issues with legislators.This is an opportunity to refocus the debate on what would be best for North Carolina"" Ellison said. I think we are required to have that debate.""Other enrollment discussions at the meeting included the additional space that would be needed for growth. Presenters at the meeting said the University is short about 4 million more square feet to accommodate the increase.Trustees said the growth discussion strengthens the argument for Carolina North" the planned satellite-research campus that is likely to be a future home for the law school and other graduate programs.But the board said it would proceed with caution from this point" and view the growth discussion skeptically.""My eyes have been opened"" Carter said. And I'm very concerned about the potential pitfalls of this.""Contact the University Editorat udesk@unc.edu.
(09/12/08 4:00am)
After two months of wondering whether its students cheated on admissions exams the Kenan-Flagler Business School can relax. None of its students was implicated in an Internet cheating scandal that involved 84 business students across the country.The Graduate Management Admission Council announced the results of a two-month investigation Tuesday" cancelling the scores of students who had contributed material to the now-defunct Scoretop.com.The council did not cancel the scores of any students in the Kenan-Flagler Business School.""I would say that we are gratified that none of our students cheated"" said David Hofmann, dean of the school's Master of Business Administration program.GMAC brought a copyright infringement suit against the Web site for publishing live"" questions — questions that were still appearing in admissions tests.Scoretop charged for access to message boards where members could post test questions they had seen on the test.After a $2.3 million ruling in July" GMAC took over the company and began looking into which students either posted live questions on the Web site or said that they had seen the Web site's material on their tests.GMAC cancelled the scores of 12 test-takers who had contributed live material to the site and 72 students who had seen the material according to a press release.The names of the students involved were released to schools Monday and were compared to admissions data.Those who took the test and sent their scores to UNC had either been denied admission to the school or had not completed the application process Hofmann said.Chris Privett spokesman for Duke University's Fuqua School of Business" said no Duke students' standing changed as a result of the investigation either.But he said he wasn't surprised that a scandal like this happened.""In this era of the Internet" I don't think anybody should be surprised that people use this technology for cheating" Privett said.He added that, had there been any implications at Duke, they would have been handled through the school's honor system.Hofmann said the investigation gives the school the opportunity to examine how it handles academic honesty.It gives us a chance to reflect on our core values."" Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(09/10/08 4:00am)
The executive branch of student government is releasing its Summer Report today which will provide a look at the progress made on Student Body President J.J. Raynor's platform planks since she took office.Most of the administration's platform planks like creating an electronic academic advising system a campus wiki and student pick-a-prof system" have been planned and discussed but not yet completed.""J.J.'s goal was to be 50 percent done with platform by the end of summer"" said Todd Dalrymple, student body vice president. We're near our goal with work that needs to be done.""The 71-page report explains how some projects" such as establishing a dance minor and allowing juniors to participate in C-START a program where students plan and teach their own courses" have proved difficult to implement.The goal of a dance minor has shifted to finding more space for dancers to practice on campus — a goal which the administration called ""steps toward the minor.""""We've had nothing we've had to give up on completely"" Dalrymple said. We've just had to get creative with some things.""Raynor's administration also has created new bodies including an accessible education task force" a global university committee and a transfer student task force.The report has a much more conversational tone than past administrations' reports" including a section written in first person by officers and committee chairmen examining their work.""We think adding the administration's personality to the work is important" Dalrymple said. We want to establish the philosophy of the administration" and we think this helps us do that.""Raynor and Dalrymple performed the majority of the administration's work this summer while committees were out of town.The report also discusses how Raynor and Dalrymple will delegate many of the projects they worked on this summer to various committees.Student Body Secretary Andrew Daub said the administration tried to make the document accessible by breaking it down by committee.""If someone is interested in the environment" they can go directly to that section he said.Daub said the document's length is the result of how much material it had to cover.Let's be real we're all students and we don't read 70-page documents for pleasure Daub said. But it has to be comprehensive" so it can't be a short document.""The report will be posted on student government's Web site at studentorgs.unc.edu/studgov.Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(09/05/08 4:00am)
Some roles on campus require special experience and the Board of Elections chairman has traditionally been one of those roles.But lack of interest from the board caused student government to look elsewhere for this year's chairman.Sophomore Ryan Morgan who was appointed to head the board last spring" is the second consecutive sophomore chairman and took the position without previously serving on the board.""I think a new perspective is always good" Morgan said.Applications to serve on the board will be accepted until 5 p.m. today. Six to 10 members will be selected.The board is responsible for organizing and overseeing the elections process and enforcing sections of the election law in the Student Code.Most chairmen are selected from the board. Officials said they usually look within the board for applicants but received none in the spring.Honestly nobody from the board applied" said Todd Dalrymple, the student body vice president. Morgan said he applied without knowing that no board members had applied.Last year's elections board chairman, junior Mitchell Capriglione, said the job was a large responsibility and he didn't have time this year.I just wanted to spend a little more time on schoolwork"" he said. Matt Spivey, last year's vice chairman, also said other commitments kept him from seeking the position.Morgan successfully argued a case before the Student Supreme Court about election law last year as the campaign manager for a disqualified candidate. Capriglione said that demonstrates his knowledge of the Code.He's coming into the office with more knowledge of the Code than I had when I took office"" Capriglione said, who served as a first-year.But having someone come from outside the board with that kind of knowledge is an anomaly, he said.This is one of the first times" if not the first that the chairman has not been on the board before" Capriglione said.The Student Code states that Board of Elections chairmen should have at least one semester of experience on the board.But it allows Student Congress to approve an inexperienced chairman with a two-thirds majority.Morgan said he has spent the past week talking with potential student body president candidates to try to clarify sections of the Code.The talks are in response to several candidates holding large interest meetings, which could violate early campaigning restrictions, depending on the Code's interpretation.The first test for the board will likely be a special election held this fall since a Student Congress representative has relinquished her seat.Morgan said his goals for the year are to revise student election laws and to increase voter turnout, which was about 24 percent in the last student body elections.Jim Brewer, who served as chairman from 2006-07, said the position requires knowledge of elections procedures more than anything else.You have to know the code"" Brewer said. You can't just know 90 percent or some of the Code. You have to know 100 percent.""For this reason"" Brewer said that appointing from within the board should still be the preferred course of action since experience is an asset.""Nine-point-nine out of 10 years" I think they should be picking a chair who has been on the board before" Brewer said. But that's not to say that somebody who hasn't can't be great at the job.""Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(08/27/08 4:00am)
At least two potential student body president candidates have begun holding large meetings with students.
Though planning at this point in the year is common in student elections, the size and publicity of these meetings blurs the distinction between private and public campaigning.
Juniors Ashley Klein and Matt Wohlford held campaign interest meetings this week and said they are interested in pursuing the office.
Last weekend, Wohlford sent an e-mail to more than 50 students to solicit help. He had an interest meeting Tuesday night and has another scheduled for today.
Klein said she had a big turnout at a campaign staff meeting Monday, packing the Faculty Lounge of the Campus Y. She said she contacted students individually to invite them to the meeting.
"Candidates in the past have shown that we can have large meetings like this if we've contacted campaign workers on a one-to-one basis," Klein said.
The Board of Elections, which oversees student races, hasn't taken action against any candidate for holding similar meetings in at least the last three years.
The Student Code states that students may not publicly campaign until they declare candidacy at a mandatory meeting 28 days before the election. They also are not allowed to "publicly seek to further the interests of said candidacy" before that time.
Public campaigning includes using campaign materials, sending out listserv e-mails and speaking to groups, said Ryan Morgan, UNC Board of Elections chairman.
But the code also states that students may not be restricted from meeting privately to organize their campaign. Students also can declare their intentions to run in public and provide contact information for those interested in joining.
Private communication includes meeting one-on-one with students, Morgan said.
The line between public and private campaigning is sometimes difficult to define, even for the board.
"We're working on clarifying and cleaning up the Student Code," Morgan said. "There are a lot of nuances that make the process more difficult than it needs to be."
Wohlford said he spent time learning the campaign rules and is working hard to stay within the guidelines set by the board.
"I think the key is to always keep one eye on the rule book," Wohlford said. "It's important to always know if what you're doing is allowed."
Fall campaign planning is required to run a good race, past candidates say.
Former Student Body President James Allred, who served during the 2006-07 school year, said it might seem early for students to begin working on their campaigns, but they do it out of necessity.
"It really takes a full year to run an effective SBP campaign," he said. "It takes that long to figure out how things on campus work."
He added that he started planning his campaign during the spring of his sophomore year. That's also when current Student Body President J.J. Raynor said she decided to run.
Both Wohlford and Klein said they are taking this semester to figure out what their campaign issues should be, to learn about the University and to see if their campaign has a shot at winning.
"Right now, we're focusing on seeing if my candidacy is viable," Wohlford said. "We haven't done any sort of active campaigning yet."
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(08/22/08 4:00am)
Student Body President J.J. Raynor and Trustee John Ellison have begun a study aimed at solving enrollment growth, faculty retirement and recruitment problems.
Their report and recommendations are due to the Board of Trustees in May.
"We want to focus on the one to two things that this University can do to make it better tomorrow than it is today," Ellison said.
The project was born at former Chancellor James Moeser's going-away dinner, where he addressed the major problems the University was facing.
Roger Perry, chairman of the Board of Trustees, and Chancellor Holden Thorp charged Ellison and Raynor with soliciting input from the University community and compiling recommendations for how to improve UNC.
"We've pretty much left it to them to set their own process," Perry said. "We just want them to report in every now and then."
One of Raynor's hopes for the study is to establish a tuition predictability model for UNC, a major goal of Raynor and past student body presidents.
"Knowing what's going to happen in coming years with tuition is dependant on where we are and where we are going," Raynor said. "And this can help with knowing that."
Ellison and Raynor began the process by meeting with administrators almost all day Tuesday. They have meetings scheduled for next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday as well.
Right now they are focusing on the best way to solicit input, including designing a Web site and hosting open forums.
Raynor and Ellison said they want to have dates set for open forums by October.
She also said she wants to keep the project focused on those people who don't traditionally speak out.
"When you talk to the people in the know, you get the known answer," Raynor said. "But when you ask those people not in the know, you can be surprised."
Problems like enrollment growth, faculty retirement and recruitment have plagued the University for years. Both Moeser and Thorp identified them as being among their chief concerns.
"Basically, we're looking at the current position of the University, figuring out where we're strong, and then we're looking at how we can make that position better," Raynor said. "We want to take our strengths and use them to raise the University."
Raynor said that the project will take up a lot of her time this year but that she's confident her staff will be able to work on the administration's other responsibilities.
"I was told when I got into this that you can't be personally involved in all these projects," Raynor said.
"The president is responsible for handling the big things that come along. You've got a staff to get the little things done."
Ellison said the planning is meant to incorporate all the small problems into major initiatives.
"We really want to stay away from getting bogged down in the small things like 'I didn't get the class I wanted,'" Ellison said. "We want to focus on the big things."
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(08/19/08 4:00am)
Last month, the Board of Trustees literally sent the University's Carolina North plans back to the drawing board.
Since then, the Department of Facilities Planning and Construction has been changing the plans to fit the trustees' suggestions for a more creative design for the Innovation Center, the first building proposed for the satellite research campus.
The center is supposed to house collaborative projects between professors and the private sector.
When the plans were presented at the board's July 23 meeting, trustees said they thought the building's design was not creative enough to mark the entrance to the new campus.
"One of the trustees said he was looking for a little more 'wow,'" said Bruce Runberg, associate vice chancellor for facilities planning, who presented the center's plans.
Trustee Rusty Carter, who was one of the first to speak out about the center's designs, said he is not overly concerned with the design of the building but how the building will mesh with the rest of Carolina North.
"My anxiety is more about how this single design does or does not fit into the context of the campus," he said.
Since the meeting, planners have been working with Raleigh firm Flad Architects to make some alterations to the building's design to add more "wow."
Designers have changed the building's exterior veneer from a terra cotta material, a ceramic brownish-red finish, to a mostly brick exterior. They also removed the molding around the building's roof.
"I think the new elements, coupled together, will give the building a more formidable, handsome look," Runberg said.
The redesign shouldn't have any impact on the overall development of the new campus, said Jack Evans, executive director for Carolina North.
The University is waiting for a special zoning permit from the town of Chapel Hill before it can begin any construction.
Chapel Hill's planning board met Aug. 5 and recommended that the Chapel Hill Town Council approve the permit, which does not take architectural design into consideration, said Kendal Brown, a senior planner with the town.
But before it gets to the council, several other advisory boards must look over the project and add their input.
For example, the planning board suggested that UNC keep future transit and parking in mind while designing the center and proposed that it be built according to U.S. Green Building Council environmental standards.
"It's very rare that we don't approve something, but a lot of times we'll put additional stipulations on it," said Linda Gaines, a member of the bicycle and pedestrian board.
Evans said he hoped to obtain the special permit by October and break ground on the center in early 2009. He said he expects the building to be up and running by the third quarter of 2010.
"I don't see any reason why this creates any problems for our schedule," Evans said. "We're hoping that the refinement will be approved before the public hearing."
The trustees will review the altered plans at a special meeting Aug. 28.
Planners will also present more guidelines for Carolina North, including what construction materials will be used to build the rest of campus, in order to help the trustees envision how the center will fit in with the rest of the project.
Both Runberg and Carter said they hoped the plans would be approved, though they said they are willing to continue making changes if discussion called for it.
"Design is always an iterative process," Runberg said. "And that's exactly what this process has been."
Senior Writer Emily Stephenson contributed reporting.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(08/19/08 4:00am)
The closing of Old East and Old West residence halls marks a milestone that many students familiar with constant construction will be pleased to learn: the last major dorm renovation.
Until the Department of Housing and Residential Education makes its money back, at least.
After making renovations to Cobb, Morrison and Carmichael residence halls during the past few years, the renovation of Old East and Old West will be the department's last major project due to the department's budget shortfall.
(08/19/08 4:00am)
Last year, graduate student and teaching assistant David Ticehurst had a few students from his Astronomy 101 class over for dinner.
Ticehurst went out and got barbecue, and he and his students discussed the stars until late in the evening.
He thought it was such a good idea that now he is trying to secure funding so professors and TAs can host similar events without taking money out of their own pockets.
Ticehurst, who spent his undergraduate years at Williams College, a small liberal arts school in Massachusetts, said his former school has a similar program that helped shape his undergraduate experience.
"I think it's a really good idea," he said. "It gives the students a chance to see the real world outside of the classroom."
Ticehurst still needs funds for the program. Last year he sought $5,000 for the program from the Graduate and Professional Student Federation in addition to a matching contribution from the provost's office.
"It's like the University was just waiting for someone to come along with this idea," he said. "They are always talking about developing a more intellectual climate, and that's what this does."
He said he is planning on designing a Web site where instructors can submit proposals and share stories about programs.
He also wants to make a presentation in front of the Faculty Council to get them excited about the program, which initially evolved out of class discussions.
Having the students over for barbecue was something Ticehurst, who is a certified barbecue judge, had talked about with his students all semester, he said.
When it came time to host a pilot event, he thought that would be the perfect time to try it.
Michael Johnston, a sophomore who was in Ticehurst's astronomy lab, signed up to help Ticehurst after enjoying the first program.
"It was funny at first because you're seeing all of these faces you're used to seeing at 8 a.m. when nobody is awake," Johnston said. "It was awkward at first, but we found enough to keep the conversation going."
Johnston also said seeing the instructor outside of the classroom setting makes him or her more approachable.
"It makes it seem like you have some sort of connection to this person that's teaching you," Johnston said. "Instead of just seeing this giant brain at the front, you see a little more of a person."
Ticehurst said he also hopes to encourage interdepartmental interaction through the program by providing extra funding. His second event last year was a brunch in Coker Arboretum for two classes.
"I think it will be really successful," said Amanda Younger, a sophomore who was also in Ticehurst's class and is working with him on the project.
"If professors put ideas out there, students will probably want to do them."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(08/19/08 4:00am)
After more than two years of meetings, discussions and brainstorming, a new program for admissions applications will go live by next summer.
It will be the first implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning, the University's transition to a new integrated software system known as PeopleSoft.
ERP is moving out of the planning and designing phases and into implementation this year.
"We're still a year away from the admissions process being live," said Roger Patterson, the associate vice chancellor for finance and chairman of the ERP stakeholders committee. "But everybody is starting to get very excited."
In July, the project reached a major milestone, completing 50 percent of its workshops.
Workshops bring members of the campus together to discuss what needs they have and how the new software can meet these needs.
"The workshops are interesting," said Stephanie Szakal, associate vice chancellor for enterprise applications. "Sometimes they can be fun. Sometimes they can be pretty grueling."
But planning is coming to an end, and ERP administrators expect to have testing throughout the year.
Students applying for enrollment in 2010 will complete an online application through the new software.
"We want the implementation of the system to follow the life of a student," said Allison Legge, associate director of undergraduate admissions. "That is why we are starting with the admissions process."
Next will be the financial aid program, which is scheduled to appear in February 2010, and registration, which will be ready for the following fall semester, about the time students are accepted.
By fall 2010, the student systems, including course registration, should be entirely converted to PeopleSoft.
Once student information programs are converted, ERP will focus on internal management issues like human resources and finance.
Testing began this summer and is expected to continue all year.
The testing started with Information Technology Services technicians and will move to incorporating focus groups of students, faculty members, staff and administrators from across campus.
Patterson said that while the program is still in its basic form, he is excited about where it's heading.
"I equate it to building a house," Patterson said. "When you start, you see foundation and frame and that is exciting. That's where we are now. When you start bringing it along, though, you can see it coming together, and that is where we are going this year."
The hope for the project is to ease the difficulty of navigating UNC's multiple administrative departments and create a unified, manageable information system.
"This process has allowed us to rethink how the student brain works," Legge said. "It's almost a fresh start as far as software goes."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.