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(04/21/11 2:44am)
What I’ve figured out over the past four years is that the knowledge you get in the classroom is just the beginning of your college education (I know it sounds cliché, but stick with me). College classes are good enough for sparking your interest in a subject, but it’s up to you to grab hold of an issue you learn about in class and run with it.
(04/04/11 9:36pm)
Wait … you thought the health care debate was over? Not quite. The Pit will soon be overtaken again by excited students waving petitions and campaign signs. That’s right — President Barack Obama confirmed Monday morning that he will be seeking re-election for 2012.
(03/21/11 11:34pm)
Boobs — we can all agree that they are pretty great.
(02/28/11 10:29pm)
We live in a world where “natural” and “organic” are growing trends.
(02/15/11 12:59am)
Even though Valentine’s Day has passed, it will take a few weeks for the corny “Will you be my Tar Heel” T-shirts to be removed from Student Stores and for the various events involving love to be painted over on cubes in the Pit.
(01/31/11 3:40am)
It may be true that Facebook is taking over the world — today, there are more than 500 million active Facebook users. T-Pain even got a Facebook tattoo recently.
(01/14/11 4:38am)
I am proposing a new holiday for Jan. 18: “Hug an Art Major Day.” The holiday will be aimed at showing art majors how much we appreciate them and need their work in our society.
(11/18/10 3:56am)
Thanksgiving. It’s a time to celebrate the day our ancestors made peace with the American Indians. So how do we celebrate it? Like we celebrate any other national holiday — with a huge meal.
(11/03/10 2:39am)
It’s that time of year again—the leaves are changing, it’s getting cold (kind of) and the holidays are slowly creeping closer.
(10/26/10 2:40am)
Pot, weed, dope, Mary Jane, Cannabis — marijuana goes by many names. But whatever you want to call it, it is a drug worthy of legalization — at least for medicinal purposes.
(10/11/10 2:33am)
Have you ever wondered why you’re so attracted to that person in your class that you’ve never even spoken to?
(09/23/10 2:16am)
Looking at the above caption with my name and major may make you wonder: What in the world is environmental health science?
In short, it’s the study of how toxins in the environment affect human health.
(09/10/10 4:24am)
Drugs. We all use them — whether recreationally or to treat medical problems. And the thing is, we use them too often.
(11/27/07 5:00am)
Student representatives for John Edwards, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama gathered at the Hanes Art Center on Monday night for a mock debate.
This is the first time in recent memory that the Young Democrats have staged a mock debate. About 70 people came to watch the senators' representatives discuss relevant topics.
The representatives debated five major issues: military engagement against Iran, health care reform, global warming reduction, economic issues and college tuition increases.
"Hearing what the candidates believe directly from their supporters is the best way to judge the merits of each candidate and to assess their message," said Vivek Chilukuri, UNC Young Democrats co-president.
Each candidate was allowed two minutes to answer each question, and then they were allowed one minute for rebuttal.
As in nationally televised candidate debates, there was a moderator who asked the representatives questions.
"Obama definitely has a lot of good points, but I like what Clinton said about diplomacy," said freshman Joe Levin-Manning, who is undecided about which Democratic candidate he will vote for in 2008.
Still, Levin-Manning said the debate helped him see how the different candidates felt about each issue.
Neither Obama nor Edwards supported the Iran resolution, and they brought up the fact that Clinton had supported it.
"When Sen. Clinton voted for the resolution, she was trying to target a terrorist organization that had notably been active in terrorism," said freshman Noel Bynum, who represented Clinton.
"Had we not pointed out this specific group and separated them from the Iranian government, there would have been more reason to go to war with Iran."
But sophomore Chris Sopher, who represented Obama, said his candidate did not support the Iran resolution because as history has proven with the war in Iraq, war is not the measure to take.
All three candidates proposed a national health care system.
Sophomore Sean Childers, who represented Edwards, said that while Clinton and Edwards have the same health care plan, Edwards came out with the plan eight months before Clinton did.
At the end of the debate, the audience was invited to ask the representatives questions. One question raised was how each candidate planned to fund their environmental campaign.
All three representatives answered that their candidates planned to increase taxes to fund environmental technology research.
"It will be a sacrifice to some degree now, but it is an investment into the future," Bynum said of Clinton's platform.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(11/20/07 5:00am)
For many, photographs typically chronicle happy moments in life.
But junior Ryan Jones has been using pictures to evoke sensitive and emotional memories in some UNC students.
He gave a presentation on "Gender Phototherapy" to an audience of about 20 students Monday as part of Transgender Awareness Week.
"We were looking for interesting programs for Transgender Awareness Week," said Catherine Adamson, co-chairwoman of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender-Straight Alliance. "I've heard of phototherapy, but Ryan's project is the first to deal with gender."
Jones got the idea for his presentation after he read an article on phototherapy in his English class.
The goal of the presentation was to investigate gender as a learned social construction and to see if phototherapy is an effective therapy method.
"Ryan's presentation makes visible something people don't really talk about but that many scholars are writing about," said Terri Phoenix, the director of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Center on campus. Phoenix helped Jones turn his original project into a presentation.
Phototherapy is a technique used to help individuals reflect on past experiences that might have impacted the way they define gender roles.
A therapist has the patient act out a role from a past situation while other participants act out the supporting roles. The therapist then photographs the scenes for the patient to review and reflect upon.
To complete his phototherapy project, Jones had 10 UNC students re-enact situations in which they were taught gender as children. He then asked them questions regarding gender and their reactions to the photos he took.
"Instead of focusing on gender stereotypes, I want people to remember that people are more human than male or female," Jones said.
The scenarios included one in which a male student re-enacted a time when he tried on his grandmothers' high heels and lipstick and was chastised by his father and grandfather.
"After looking at the photos, he realized that the experience really affected his life," Jones said.
Another depicted a female student who was raised as a boy in her home country of Pakistan until her family moved to America and raised her as a girl.
"She realized that the reason she accepted her role as a girl was that her mother didn't acknowledge her until she was a girl," Jones said.
To find the students for his presentation, Jones sent out 300 Facebook messages detailing the project. He then chose 10 students out of the respondents.
Jones said some of the students contacted could not think of specific instances of being affected by gender stereotyping.
But Jones said many students were able to think of experiences.
"(Gender) is not something that has been brought to most people's attention," junior Lisa Harley said. "As children, we are just coming into our gender."
Phoenix said gender, unlike sex, is not something that is predetermined at birth. Instead, it is something we are all taught through the media and gender norms.
"To really be transgressive, we need to blend the multiple gender stereotypes together and move society toward where everyone can be who they are." Phoenix said.
In the future, Jones said he hopes to give his presentation when he studies abroad in New Zealand.
"I love that they did this because a lot of people don't realize that gender stereotypes exist," sophomore Samantha Taylor said. "We can make way for change by realizing that they exist."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(11/19/07 5:00am)
Ifti Nasim, a queer Muslim poet, gave a poetry reading in Peabody Hall on Friday night that addressed his "taboo" experiences as a homosexual in Muslim culture.
Nasim said he has been shunned because of his homosexuality within the Muslim community as well as outside of it.
"I'm the first to break the taboo," said Nasim, who wore a black mink coat, black glittery scarf and black bowler hat.
Parul Sangwan, a sophomore member of Sangam, said the personal nature of the stories made them more powerful.
"I liked the emphasis he put on the fact that the weak are the ones that are targeted," she said. "Once you accept who you are, you truly achieve happiness."
About 30 people attended the reading hosted by Sangam and the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Straight Alliance in honor of Transgender Awareness Week, which ends Tuesday.
Nasim, who is from Chicago, gives readings all over the world and has spoken at numerous college campuses across the U.S. He said he likes to speak at college campuses in particular because he wants to educate young people on how not to be prejudiced.
At the reading, Nasim shared poems ranging from "Uncle," which describes an experience of child abuse to "My First Day in New York," which describes his experiences as a homosexual in America.
"I liked (the reading) because this isn't something that's discussed in the Indian culture," junior Nureena Faruqi said. "It was cool to see someone representing a group that isn't really talked about."
Nasim detailed the U.S. hospitality he found as a homosexual in "My First Day in New York."
A collection of Nasim's poems from 1980 to 2000 are published in "Myrmecophile."
Sophomore Eva Panjwani, who is a community coordinator for GLBTSA, helped plan the event.
Panjwani said that the event was originally only for Sangam members and that she was excited when Sangam asked GLBTSA to be involved in the planning.
"Even though Sangam and GLBTSA have different specific goals, both stand for human rights in general," Panjwani said.
Sangam's primary goal is to help promote awareness about South Asia and South Asian culture within the campus community. The primary goal of GLBTSA is to advocate and educate on issues affecting LGBTQ-identified people.
And Nasim's poetry reading helped enlighten the campus to the global issues with Muslim homosexuality, said junior Maggie Lundsgaard, a community coordinator for GLBTSA.
"It's good to know what's going on worldwide," she said.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(11/12/07 5:00am)
Although many UNC students were still in bed at 10 a.m. Saturday, 28 people gathered outside Woollen Gym for a day of outdoor activities.
The Outing Club hosted an Adventure Race that was open to everyone on the UNC campus.
The race was noncompetitive and was a "challenge by choice," meaning that participants were allowed to do as much or as little as they wanted, race coordinator Becky Carson said.
"I think that a lot of kids don't know about things there are to do outdoors here," said Johnny Carson, professor of pediatrics at UNC and Becky Carson's father. "When you come to college, it's a great time to get exposed to outdoor activities."
All of the proceeds, about $500, from the race were donated to the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The entry price was $15 per person in advance and $20 at the race. This is the first time the group held the race, but members said they are working on a standard protocol for future races.
"Cancer affects everybody in one way or another," Becky Carson said. "Whether you have had it yourself or know someone that has it or are at risk for it - it impacts us all."
The race began at Woollen Gym, where participants completed a trust activity in which they helped lift each other over a wall.
"The wall was a great way to start the day," UNC medical school student Gabriel Cade said. "It set the tone for what we would be doing later in the day."
Next, participants were given kayak lessons. Some participants said they learned how to "roll" the kayak, which is a method of flipping the kayak over in a controlled manner.
After kayaking, the group split in two, and half of the participants went to the Rams Head Recreation Center for a chance to climb the rock wall.
The participants were given advice on rock climbing from the Outing Club's two coaches, sophomore Jordan Treakle and senior Lauren Miller.
"It's about testing your limit," Treakle said. "Especially people who are new to these activities."
To end the day, the groups went to Polk Place and learned how to set up a tent.
"The race is a chance for people to try things they've never done," Miller said.
Many participants said they had fun with the series of activities.
"I liked the challenges and pseudo-danger I experience today," sophomore Mark Hemphill said. "I loved it, and I would do it every Saturday if I could."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(10/29/07 4:00am)
Students stretched beyond the borders of UNC's campus this weekend to bring public service to communities across the state, through the annual Students Reaching Towards Change conference.
More than 80 students attended the conference, which focuses on leadership roles in public service and activism and the issues driving social service today.
This year's theme was "Reaching Beyond Carolina."
"One of the main goals of the conference is to get students outside of their comfort zone and learn what community service is all about, specifically how they can serve the state," said junior Chris Belhorn, a STRETCH conference coordinator.
The conference offered students opportunities from among the 59 recognized service programs at UNC, including the Residence Hall Association and the APPLES service-learning program.
"The conference made me see all the leadership aspects of public service," sophomore Sarah Hatcher said.
"It was a really great opportunity to meet a lot of interesting people who care about public service and leadership."
The conference kicked off Friday night with a dinner and a keynote address from Mary Easley, North Carolina's first lady, who offered advice to students on their future careers and strategies for being effective leaders.
In her speech, Easley also emphasized the importance of public service.
Easley is involved in public service projects, such as the Military Child Education Coalition on the Living in the New Normal initiative - an outreach program for children whose parents serve in the N.C. National Guard.
"Students need to consider spending some part of their lives devoted to public service," Easley said. "It will be very rewarding for them."
Julian Bach, a sophomore from Durham Technical Community College who attended the STRETCH conference, said he enjoyed Easley's speech, especially some of the personal stories she shared.
"I came to the conference because I want to see a change, stand for something, make a difference and be around other people with ideas we can share," Bach said. "I'm starving for different ideas and opinions on things."
The Saturday portion included a race relations activity held by Ben Saypol from Campus Health Services.
At the STRETCH conference, students also participated in three workshops on topics including how to run an effective meeting in a student organization, immigration issues and leadership development.
During the workshop on leadership development, held by John Brodeur and Julie Chase from Carolina Leadership Development, students were asked to prioritize their values.
"I think the most important reason (for the workshop) is that we don't often spend enough time finding what's important to us," Brodeur said.
"Finding this allows us to do better public service and get to the foundation of why we serve."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(09/24/07 4:00am)
This fall, students studying abroad in London will be the first to attend classes in the newly renovated Winston House, located in the educational hub of Bedford Square.
Winston House consists of classrooms, a library, a student lounge and offices. It also has a flat where the faculty director lives.
"It's a wonderful opportunity to take classes with British faculty and to take part in the London experience," said Friederike Muehls, director of Honors Study Abroad.
The 5,000-square-foot house was purchased from the Aga Khan Foundation for about $3.5 million and was officially dedicated to UNC on May 21.
"UNC has had honors programs in London for 18 years," said Jim Leloudis, associate dean for the Honors Program at UNC, who led efforts to raise funds for the purchase. "Six years ago, it seemed that there would be advantages to having our own facility in London, so we looked for property and began private fundraising."
UNC does not own any dormitories or apartments to house its students in London. Students live in residential areas provided by their individual program of interest.
Muehls said the program takes students on excursions to the British Museum, the University of London Library, Stonehenge, Bath, Cambridge and Oxford.
Students must take one class taught by a UNC faculty member.
Students are given the opportunity to take classes with a number of British faculty members at Winston House. British professors teach a variety of courses ranging from to sciences to British politics.
The Honors Program in London is open to any UNC undergraduate student looking to study in London. Applicants should be at least sophomores and must have at least a 3.0 grade point average.
The price for the spring 2008 semester will be $15,103.
"Looking at nonexchange program options available to UNC students in London, we are $1,000 to $3,000 dollars cheaper," Leloudis said.
Junior Meaghan Jennison studied at the Winston House last spring while it was being renovated, and she described the program as an exceptional experience.
"My favorite class was 'Contemporary British Art' because each class was held at a different art museum in London."
The program will accept about 15 to 25 students for the spring semester. Applications for that semester are due Thursday.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(09/11/07 4:00am)
The Kenan-Flagler Business School maintained its high position on two magazines' rankings of the nation's best business schools.
The school was ranked fifth in the U.S. News & World Report. Forbes magazine ranked Kenan-Flagler 15th on its list of best business schools.
The U.S. News & World Report has ranked UNC in the top 10 business schools in the nation since 1995. The magazine uses a peer review system to calculate the rankings.
"The ranking in U.S. News & World is based on the high reputation that UNC has among deans around the country," said Allison Adams, the media relations director for Kenan-Flagler.
Forbes uses a return on investment formula to calculate rankings. The formula subtracts students' college tuition from their post-graduate compensation five years after graduating. It takes into consideration the benefit of receiving a business degree.
"We're proud of the ranking we received for the business schools," Adams said. "There are a lot of (ranking) programs, and it's important to look at the methodology each program uses."
U.S. News & World Report also ranked UNC's individual programs within the business school.
The marketing area was ranked fourth, and finance was ranked seventh. Both of these programs moved up one spot from last year.
The international business program also moved up five spaces from last year to 10th.
Robert Bushman, who teaches corporate governance and financial accounting at Kenan-Flagler, said potential students will be pleased that the undergraduate program ranked in the top 20.
The school's rankings are important for prospective students who can use the rankings to choose an undergraduate school, Bushman said.
This also is an opportunity for alumni to see the value of their degrees being promoted, Bushman said, noting the importance of the magazine's high ranking.
"UNC is a very complex place, and any ranking system is inadequate in capturing the school as a whole," Bushman said. "All we can do is do our best to deliver and try to take the feedback that we get from the ranking and see if we can fix things that are wrong with the system."
The releases come in the wake of backlash against school ranking systems, where more than 60 universities signed a petition calling for a boycott. The universities are calling for a reform in the ranking process.
Still, freshman Kyla King, who plans on majoring in business, said the rankings affected her decision to attend UNC.
"The more prestigious a business school is, the more likely it would be that I would apply to it," King said. "When my future employers see that UNC was ranked No. 5 in the nation, they will be impressed."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.