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(05/27/10 1:18pm)
Explore the Ackland Art Museum's newest exhibit "Fortune Smiles: The Tyche Foundation Gift," which includes 51 pieces of artwork donated by former Ackland Director Charles Millard. The gift is said to be the most significant the Ackland has received since the museum's opening in 1958. The exhibit debuted Sunday afternoon and will be on display through August 29. Use the left-hand navigation bar below or hover over the map's points to view eight distinctive pieces and to hear commentary by the Ackland's Chief Curator Peter Nisbet about each piece. To learn more, visit www.ackland.org.
(05/18/10 10:12pm)
This interactive timeline depicts the events leading up to the Monday hearing of Demario Atwater.
(03/22/10 2:37am)
While studying abroad in Panama, Stuart Powell noticed that residents had to get water from a pump in the central part of town.Powell, a junior biology major, said this experience made him realize how he takes his access as a given.“We bathe in clean water every day, but there are some people that can’t drink clean water. I can easily go to a water fountain and get water for free,” he said. “We take it for granted, but it’s something that is a serious problem.”
(09/02/09 4:07am)
Senior Jill Watral returned home from the Duke Youth Programs, where she was a summer counselor, to find her sister wearing swimming goggles and rubber gloves, intent on not catching the H1N1 virus.For the next seven days, Watral communicated to people mostly from her second-story window, quarantined from the public because she had contracted what doctors believed was the virus more commonly known as swine flu.“I was so upset that I had to leave the kids, and I was just worried about what was going to happen,” Watral said. “I had a 100-degree fever.”Campus officials expect that, like Watral, UNC students will contract the H1N1 virus, said Mary Beth Koza, director of environment, health and safety at UNC.While most cases are mild, it is clear that the virus has already begun spreading. Koza said the University’s goal is to continue operating normally and that the situation is not being taken lightly.“There is actually a lot of discussion right now about academic issues,” she said. “We’re asking students to self-isolate.”Watral said the summer program where she worked was doing fine during its first week. But the camp director soon told the counselors that one of the children had to be quarantined because of the H1N1 virus.The virus began spreading through a dormitory where all of the kids stayed during the camp, living lifestyles much like that of typical college students.A few days later, Watral said she woke up from a nap, and something felt wrong. She felt achy and off. She had a scratchy throat, high fever and chills.The camp director sent her to the student health center. Doctors immediately put a mask on her because they were worried she had contracted the virus.After Watral described her symptoms to doctors, they diagnosed her with the virus and told her she did not need to be tested because so many children at her camp had contracted H1N1.“He said I had to be quarantined for at least a week,” she said. The doctors told her the symptoms would be gone within five days but she would have to stay out of contact for another two days to be safe.After she left camp for home, she said the symptoms got worse, but doctors prescribed Tamiflu to treat the virus. Her temperature exceeded 102 degrees.“That’s when I started feeling really bad,” she said, adding that she was glad her stomach was all right because she has a fear of vomiting. “My eyes were really hot. I had to put a cold compress on my head.”By the fourth day, Watral said her fever had subsided and she felt the worst was over. But she was still required to stay in her room. No one was allowed to touch her. Her mother couldn’t give her a hug.Reflecting on her illness, Watral said the H1N1 virus was no worse than the regular flu, which she has had before.“It’s not life or death. It’s just a few days of your life that’s going to suck,” she said. “I know a lot of people are very high-strung about classes and good grades, but if they miss a few days, it’s going to be OK.”Contact the Features Editor at features@unc.edu.
(07/01/09 4:00am)
Cornelius Kirschner a 62-year-old retiree walks around his Millhouse Road home. You can tell that he has put in a lot of work — he built the house himself in 1972. And what was once covered in brush is now a beautiful home. It's next to a pond and yard where he keeps bees ducks and geese.All the while traffic can be heard from Interstate 40 and from trucks traveling to and from the nearby Chapel Hill Town Operations Center which houses both the public works and transportation departments.Kirschner turns up his outdoor radio to drown out the noise. Then he points over a hill toward the back of his property" just past a set of rust red railroad tracks — just past where his 11 hens were just killed by a fox.He's signaling Orange County's new potential site for a waste transfer station. Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy suggested the site May 14 and it became a formal consideration after the June 16 Orange County Board of Commissioners meeting. ""This is just horrendous"" Kirschner said. It's way out of line. We've done enough for this community. They can put this somewhere else.""The smell of the waste is not what will bother Kirschner. The waste transfer station would be an indoor facility which would process and temporarily store solid waste.It's the noise. On top of I-40 and operations center traffic" nearly every waste collection vehicle in Orange County would travel to the station then larger vehicles would take the material away for disposal.The easiest route to the potential waste transfer station is right on the small" country Millhouse Road in front of Kirschner's home.""We all have private drives"" Kirschner said. This would just be one more thing that would create traffic.""The potential waste transfer station is still many stages away from being passed. For the station to be built" the Chapel Hill Town Council would have to offer up the Millhouse Road land to Orange County at their September meeting. At that time" the Orange County Board of Commissioners would vote on whether or not to use the land.""Not only were we not on the list" we were put number one on the list without any input at all" Kirschner said.He will not be allowed to have input on the Chapel Hill Town Council's decision to give the land to Orange County since he lives outside Chapel Hill.As county residents, none of Kirschner's neighbors will be able to have input either.We have no say in this issue"" he said. Just because it's the expedient thing to do does not mean it's kosher.""Chapel Hill town council member Mark Kleinschmidt said although the space has some attractive aspects — especially that it is already owned by the town — he thinks it is inappropriate to put the waste transfer station there.Foy did not respond in time for print to messages left at his office.""My concern is that the mayor's proposal that he made without the backing of his council at the very last minute caught the community off guard and undermined all of the work that the county commissioners have done to make this a transparent and open process"" Orange County commissioner Mike Nelson said.Even if the waste transfer station is approved for Millhouse Road, Kirschner said he will not leave his home of 37 years.I know every board and every nail and every mistake there is out here"" he said. This literally is in our backyard.""Contact the Features Editor at features@unc.edu.
(06/10/09 4:00am)
Due to a source error this story incorrectly stated when the Board of Trustees would vote for approval of a scooter parking regulation. The ordinance was voted on and unanimously approved in May. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for the error.When Barbara Ambros was in Japan she traveled mostly by scooter. She figured it would be an economical cheap way to make her 10-minute trip to UNC's campus.Ambros a religious studies professor now rides her Honda Metropolitan scooter to campus about four times a week. She parks her moped at a bike rack located just outside of Saunders Hall.While mopeds with engines larger than 50 cubic centimeters have to register as motorcycles a potential regulation which will go to the Board of Trustees for approval in July would require all motorized vehicles including Ambros' to register for parking spaces. Also no motorized vehicles would be allowed to operate on campus sidewalks.A moped is a motorized scooter that does not have to be registered as a vehicle in North Carolina because it has a motor smaller than 50 cubic centimeters no external shifting device and is incapable of exceeding 30 miles per hour.Parking officials have already started raising awareness of the potential regulation. Karen Jenkins-Cheek UNC parking services manager" stated in an e-mail that all motorized vehicles would have to register for motorcycle permits.""It doesn't make much sense to use my scooter in this case"" Ambros said. It's actually a considerable amount of money. It's almost half of what it costs to park a car as a faculty member.""This new regulation would require moped users to pay for parking rather than being able to chain up their vehicles at a bike rack location — even if the vehicle does require registration with the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles. Motorcycle permits cost $175 or about $50 if patrons also have car permits.Randy Young" spokesman for the Department of Public Safety" said the regulation was proposed to control the many different types of powered vehicles on campus.""There's a growing number of these types of vehicles"" he said. They have been found on bike racks displacing bicycles. They often create a safety hazard for pedestrians.""Young also said it is not anticipated motorcycle permits would be sold out if moped operators waited until the regulation passed.""To me it seems very counterproductive because the University is trying to reduce the car traffic on campus"" Ambros said. Less people will use scooters and more people will use cars.""She also said she thinks the moped regulation is a poor way to regulate campus traffic.""If their true intention is to prevent people from riding the scooters on the pathways and on the sidewalks"" what they should do is just basically issue tickets to people who ride around on the pathways.""Contact the Features Editor at features@unc.edu.
(05/20/09 4:00am)
For the past several months fliers have hung from the walls of Adam Bliss's local hookah bar. They asked customers to call senators and lobby for an amendment to an anti-smoking bill that would keep Hookah Bliss open.Bliss called the senators himself twice a day. He contacted hookah bars across the state to fight for an amendment. But after much effort his lobby has failed.The bill which was ratified May 13 by the N.C. General Assembly will prohibit smoking in all restaurants and bars. It was signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Bev Perdue" causing Bliss to have to close his doors in January since he serves both alcohol and tobacco products.""The state government didn't do anything to help me start this business"" Bliss said. Then the state comes along and basically wants to shut down my business without any compensation.""Legislation does allow for some tobacco-based businesses to stay open.The new law permits cigar bars and private clubs to continue operating. However" Bliss said it would not be possible to change his business to fit under either of these categories.A cigar bar is defined to make more than 25 percent of its profits from cigars" which Bliss does not serve. A private club is defined as a country club or organization linked with a nonprofit organization which does not provide food or lodging to a person who is not a member or member's guest.""This bill has basically protected the playground of the rich and elite"" he said, noting his confusion about why an amendment would be passed for a cigar bar but not a hookah bar. They are allowing the exact same types of businesses to operate.""Sen. Ellie Kinnaird" D-Orange who tried to write the amendment allowing hookah bars to continue operating" said she does not think the bill does its intended purpose.She also said the hookah bars were unable to get legislation passed because they had a smaller lobby than country clubs and cigar bars.""I'm hoping someday we will get a real" meaningful smoking ban which we don't have yet" Kinnaird said.Sen. William Purcell, D-Anson, said he thought the smoking ban was a good idea and knew that it would shut down some hookah bars.He said some hookah bars could qualify as cigar bars with some modifications, and the senate will work to get an amendment passed for the hookah bars to stay in business.I've never been to a hookah bar and I don't know all that they do"" Purcell said. But I'm not interested in closing anybody's business.""Both Kinnaird and Purcell voted in approval of the law.""I think it's a work in progress" Kinnaird said. Something is better than nothing" and that's the way democracy works.""Awaiting his uncertain future"" Bliss said he thinks the smoking ban is unnecessary.He said the legislature should not be able to decide what can be done inside an establishment when the activities are legal.""The bottom line is tobacco is still a legal product"" he said. Now they're telling certain people they can and certain people they can't.""Contact the Features Editorat features@unc.edu.
(04/14/09 4:00am)
FAYETTEVILLE —Emran Huda a UNC public health graduate student sat dressed in his Army camouflage among the nearly 4000 soldiers of North Carolina's 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team.He and the crowd were quiet and pensive as Gov. Bev Perdue and others addressed the soldiers. Many families stood outside in the rain because the coliseum was at maximum capacity. Others watched from a nearby overflow center with video screens.Huda along with the rest of the 30th Brigade awaited the end of his deployment ceremony Tuesday at the Cumberland County Coliseum Complex in Fayetteville. In the coming days" the UNC graduate and the rest of his division are set to be redeployed to Iraq.""Obviously there's a human amount of fear" but that's why we have all this training" Huda said.Huda first went to Iraq in 2003 and served as an infantry radio officer and rifleman.He heard of his current deployment in October 2007 when he had just begun his master's degree program at UNC. He immediately left school because he felt there would be too much going on for him to focus on his studies, he said. He now he serves as medical platoon leader and medical operations officer for the 1-252 division.As an officer, this deployment will be slightly different.I think of myself less and my soldiers first" Huda said. If I haven't eaten and they haven't eaten" they eat first.""Huda is responsible for making all of the tactical considerations for his team" which includes two treatment teams a physician a physician's assistant and a senior medic. He also trains Iraqi health professionals to care for their people independently.Though Huda and the rest of his battalion have been training for about four months" he said the hardest part about what he does is leaving his family.""I have a sense of adventure about it"" he said. But my family is feeling the absence of a son.""Huda's father" Shamsul Huda said it isn't an easy feeling to have his son leave. But since it will be the second time his son will be deployed" he is more prepared.""Once you get used to a difficult situation" it gets easier" Shamsul Huda said, adding the main thing his family does to support his son is to pray and encourage him. You cannot succumb or show weakness. In fact"" you have to do just the opposite.""Huda will leave with just two duffle bags"" a ""rucksack"" or large backpack"" a trunk and carry-on. He said he thinks his experience in Iraq will help with his education because his ultimate goal is to work on global health projects.""You can't take anything for granted"" Shamsul Huda said. I hope he'll be prepared to make other major decisions in his life and difficult ones.""Contact the Features Editor at features@unc.edu.
(01/16/09 5:00am)
Wynton Marsalis displayed an aptitude for music even at a young age diligently practicing the trumpet his father had given him.Sunday he will show Chapel Hill he has grown into one of the most illustrious jazz musicians of today boasting a Pulitzer Prize for music and nine Grammy Awards for either jazz or classical recordings.He and the rest of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra will perform to a sold-out Memorial Hall crowd" presented by Carolina Performing Arts.""It's sort of a jazz organization on par with opera companies and major symphony orchestras"" said Jim Ketch, director of jazz studies at UNC. It's nothing like jazz has ever seen.""Marsalis" a Louisiana native" is also known as an educator. He has created a national high school jazz competition known as ""Essentially Ellington"" and compiled hundreds of musical scores for jazz teachers around the country.Kara Larson" director of marketing and public relations at Carolina Performing Arts" said the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra also has a list of high profile players.""It's the kind of force that pulls the best"" she said.Marsalis, though sometimes criticized for not advancing jazz and playing to his contemporary peers, has a sound that Ketch said embodies the stylings he grew up listening to.In the 1960s, about the time Marsalis was born, there was John Coltrane, a jazz musician who Ketch said changed jazz forever.He said after Coltrane's music, few players looked back to early jazz musicians like Duke Ellington and Count Basie. They instead sought new forms of expression — avant-garde and fusion styles.But Marsalis is different.While many players today are technically proficient, Ketch said they do not have the originality of sound that early jazz musicians did.What Wynton is" is kind of a throwback to that" he said. Wynton has one foot in tradition and another foot in innovation.""For Sunday's concert"" Ketch said audiences can expect to hear the musical styles of Thelonious Monk interspersed with children's nursery songs and Marsalis' unique sound.""I don't know if we're going to hear ‘Twinkle" Twinkle Little Star' but it wouldn't surprise me if we did" he said.Accolades aside, Marsalis, today's unappointed front man of jazz, will do what he does best — play how his father showed him to play.This isn't a pickup band. This isn't a great artist who has hired a few side men"" Larson said. This is arguably one of the world's greatest institutions for jazz.""Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(01/12/09 5:00am)
Joanne Marshall didn't exercise often 12 years ago. But as she watched her mother become ill and less mobile each day" she realized she had to make a life change.Yoga was the change she needed. The School of Information and Library Science professor has been teaching yoga at UNC since 2001.She will be leading a class at noon today in the Ackland Art Museum as part of the semimonthly ""Yoga in the Galleries"" event.""We're the only museum to offer Yoga in the Galleries"" said Nic Brown, director of communications at the Ackland.Yoga in the Galleries is one of several public events that is part of the art museum's efforts to reach out to the community.The Ackland is a primary resource for education"" Brown said. The more experiences we can get outside of the Ackland itself the better.""""Lunch with 1"" is monthly event that brings in an expert to discuss a piece of art or music. ""Art after Dark"" allows attendees to buy drinks from a cash bar while exploring art galleries.Each program strategically takes place in the evening or during lunch when professionals would more likely be able to attend.""We've been trying over the past two years to expand our public programming" Brown said. If you were just to look at a calendar of programs for Ackland just for the spring" it's been exponentially larger.""But while programming has expanded"" the museum has quickly reached its capacity.""We've reached saturation relatively quickly"" Brown said.Brown said the museum hosts smaller events because of the museum's limited space, but is looking to host events elsewhere.For example, Brown said holding a large concert within the Ackland's 25,639 square feet, confined to small galleries, would prove difficult.He said the smaller events such as Yoga in the Galleries help promote public attendance for now.Marshall said the quaint experiences offered by the art museum are important. She also teaches yoga at Ramshead Recreation Center on Tuesday nights, and said the opportunity to do yoga in art gallery was a rare and captivating experience.I think there are people who are coming in that would not have come before"" she said. People seem to be very intrigued by the idea of doing yoga in an art gallery.""Marshall said her style of yoga" which focuses more on reflection" fits nicely with the atmosphere of the Buddha-filled art galleries.""The more important side of yoga to me is this more reflective" centering and calming side" she said. It's just a beautiful place to do this style of yoga.""
(12/03/08 5:00am)
For Carolina Union President Tom Allin" hosting a one-time Ben Folds Five reunion isn't what made 2008 successful.It was finger-painting in the Pit.""We put butcher paper out on the floor of the Pit" he said. People just started showing up and making art together in that early childhood" finger-painting kind of way.""Allin admitted hosting Ben Folds Five was exciting but said 2008 was a success because CUAB was able to unite the UNC community through a diversity of music" film and art.Total attendance at the nearly 200 events in 2008 was 48484.Of all 194 events 76 percent had fewer than 250 students participating. However" it was those tight-knit events that comprised 29 percent of the year's total attendance.""It's a sign of people being comfortable with one another"" Allin said. I feel like the board has done a wonderful job of graphing programs that appeal to a wide variety of students.""A Zumba session in Gerrard Hall"" a speech by ""Dark Knight"" producer Michael Uslan" The Cool Kids' performance — Allin said it all helped fulfill CUAB's goal of connecting students.Allin CUAB's music chairman last year said he previously focused on performances" but came to the realization this semester that programs like pumpkin carving and fortune telling should have his attention.""I feel oftentimes the heart of CUAB lies in the little programs"" he said. ""A lot of the programs that didn't get any press I feel were really some of the best.""CUAB music Chairwoman Adele Ricciardi said 2008 didn't start out as intended because of a lack of diversity in musical acts and program.But things were different in the fall when CUAB hosted experimental groups like Ted Leo next to popular acts like The Avett Brothers and Andrew Bird.""I think we've had a lot more luck with booking"" Ricciardi said. We've also had a clearer focus and clearer goals coming in to this semester.""Ricciardi said the group will still look to improve" as they make a conscious effort to book female performers in 2009 and host international music acts.Music continues to draw CUAB's largest attendance numbers but Allin said he said he hopes people will remember the 2008 events that united the UNC community" rather than simply those with large attendance numbers.""I hope some students leave thinking" ‘That was the year we were finger-painting in the Pit""" Allin said.Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(11/09/08 5:00am)
Concerns are mounting about the future of the UNC arts community as the national economy continues its downward spiral.""If you talk to anyone who manages a budget they'll tell you that they're worried"" said Emil Kang, UNC's Executive Director for the Arts. I'm included; we're worried.""According to the U.S. Department of Labor" the national unemployment rate has risen by 1.7 percent as 2.8 million jobs were lost in the past year. And in North Carolina the unemployment rate increased from 4.7 percent to 7 percent.With the decrease in jobs comes a decrease in disposable income" from which the arts community thrives.""The arts sector" like most sectors that are not financial markets were always lagging behind" Kang said. We are at the mercy of people's disposable income.""Because of the economy"" ticket sales and University endowment earnings are both expected to decrease though Carolina Performing Arts has yet to see any effects of the failing economy.Kang said the organization has generated $1.45 million this year compared to $1.1 million last year.""Unfortunately the arts are about six months behind"" he said. I think we are going to see a lot of worse news over the next couple of years.""Kang said the current economic state will be a factor in the planning of the organization's budget.""We're not immune to the economic impacts" but fortunately we've generated all or most of our revenue for this year" Kang said.Despite increased revenue for Kang's program, the economy has hurt the national arts community.Once-economically viable Broadway powerhouses like Hairspray"" and ""Legally Blonde"" announced October closing dates.But CPA and other local arts organizations could soon be impacted as UNC is expecting budget cuts as high as 5 percent" resulting in $25 million less than the University is currently receiving.CPA receives two-thirds of its funding from the Office of the Provost and one-third from tickets.Aaron Greenwald director of Duke Performances" said the economic crisis will prove to be a challenge for CPA because of its large size compared to the smaller Duke Performances.""You've got to feed it"" he said. Duke Performances is just an organization that requires less feeding.""Since Duke Performances receives all funding from the university" Greenwald said" they aren't currently worried about economic impacts.""We're playing with house money right now"" he said, adding that when funding runs out in four to five years, concerns for Duke Performances will arise.Greenwald said CPA is taking a risk by hosting more costly acts than Duke Performances, noting Duke's effort to keep tickets affordable.I have no doubt that the university and Emil" who's a phenomenal programmer and administrator will be able to surmount that" he said. But I can imagine that it keeps him up at night.""But Kang said decreasing the number of performances CPA hosts will not necessarily alleviate financial pressures.He said fewer acts brought to Memorial Hall limit earning power.""We can't really just turn off the spigot because it won't just shut off"" Kang said. I don't have a crystal ball. That doesn't mean that we're not going to be prudent and careful in our planning in the future.""Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(10/31/08 4:00am)
Tom Allin knew since this summer that The Avett Brothers were going to be this year's first Homecoming act.But the trio told the Carolina Union Activities Board president they would only come on one condition: The show had to be students only.Well they got their wish.Now Seth and Scott Avett along with their stand-up bassist Bob Crawford are set to take the Memorial Hall stage Sunday in front of 1432 UNC students. The Homecoming performance is a joint effort between CUAB" the Carolina Athletic Association and Student Congress.""This weekend feels like such a homecoming for us as well"" said Seth Avett, the band's guitarist. We're excited about doing a show for the students.""Allin said The Avett Brothers were chosen as the Homecoming act because of their ability to use their heartfelt"" meaningful songs to connect with audiences.""I've never seen a band give so much in every single concert that they play" Allin said.And Seth Avett said he doesn't expect the energy in this show to be any different from others.He said the band brings the same intensity to an intimate show as they do to a show at the largest venue they've ever played.Each night is different. Every single night has its own personality its own memories its own spontaneity" Seth Avett said. I'm sure this one will be no different.""The Avett Brothers are North Carolina natives" currently residing in Concord.Avett said living in a small town in North Carolina has created a stability that is reflected in the band's music.Their newest album" ""The Second Gleam"" was ranked 10th on the Billboard Top Independent Albums chart in August.Though they've gained national attention, the band has been playing at local venues like Cat's Cradle, The Cave and Local 506 for about eight years.The energy is just so on the forefront and so everywhere" Seth Avett said. As soon as you pull into town" you can just feel the energy.""Adele Ricciardi" CUAB music committee chairwoman" said the band helps contribute to the type of diversity CUAB wants to bring this year.""We at CUAB do music nonstop and we kind of look for artists that are upcoming"" she said.Allin said The Avett Brothers also have a better name recognition than last year's Homecoming act, Augustana.It's kind of a name that you can just say and people can list off a number of their songs" he said. They're a style of music that doesn't come to UNC often" so I was excited when they did.""Seth Avett said the excitement" energy and electricity that a group of college students brings is priceless.And because of this he said" the group is just as excited to come to Chapel Hill as UNC students are to see The Avett Brothers perform.""It's always a pleasure to be there"" Seth Avett said.There's anticipation on both sides.""
(10/14/08 4:00am)
Jim Ketch lectures students" plays jazz with them directs them and performs for them.Today he's just going to have lunch with them.Ketch along with his colleague Stephen Anderson from the UNC Department of Music and several students" will host ""Lunch with One: One Work of Art" One Expert" One Hour"" today at the Ackland Art Museum.It will be free for students after registering for a free membership to the museum.The program"" ""Jazz Takes a Leap: The Breakthrough Year of 1958"" is presented in conjunction with the museum's Circa 1958 exhibition, which explores art that emerged around the time of the museum's opening.Ketch said it was a period where jazz artists were looking for new avenues of expression.It's an interesting time in which there's sort of a culmination of two decades of really technical and virtuous advance of the music"" he said. It's kind of the advent of a whole new age of musical exploration.""Artists" who had previously played music based on set forms were looking for a more relaxed method of making music in the early 1960s" allowing them to improvise with greater flexibility.""If you think about the turbulent time of the 1960s" there was just a need to create different approaches to musical expression" Ketch said.Ketch and an ensemble will perform pieces that display this monumental shift from set form to free expression, using John Coltrane's fast-moving chords and Miles Davis' slow, cool music as examples.The lecture also will delve into the avant-garde movement, discussing the introduction of jazz without any rules or scales, and listening to the music of Ornette Coleman.The mobile jazz and the free jazz allowed us to realize that we could also draw from emotional expressive pallets rather than just harmonic" melodic and rhythmic palettes that had been previously used" Ketch said.Nic Brown, director of communications at the Ackland, said he was unsure about how many students would attend the lunch, as Fall Break officially starts a few hours later.Hopefully not everybody will have left for Fall Break yet"" Brown said.Despite the uncertainty of student attendance, the museum plans on hosting the lunch, using it to fulfil its duty of relating visual art to the entire campus.‘Lunch with One' is a way for us to bring people into the museum to have a connection in the museum other than just looking at art by yourself"" Brown said. It's important for us to incorporate the visual arts into the life of the whole University.""By getting the music department involved in the Circa 1958 series"" Brown said students are given a chance to explore more than just visual art at the Ackland.""It's a great chance to eat lunch in an art museum and hear from some of the best experts anywhere"" Brown said.ATTEND THE LUNCHTime: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. todayLocation: Ackland Art MuseumInfo: www.ackland.orgContact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(10/09/08 4:00am)
In high school Paarth Mehta had few opportunities to perform the traditional Indian dance he loves so much.But things have changed.Today Mehta is leading UNC's Tar Heel Raas Indian dance team to a nationwide Indian dance competition in Atlanta.Before Mehta came to UNC he said he rarely attended Navratri an Indian festival that celebrates the coming of the fall season.But once at UNC" he instantly came into a group of the same culture where he could dance and celebrate his heritage.""I felt like I knew I was doing something right"" he said.Mehta said he knows his team will be ready for competition this weekend, taking the values his traditional family has instilled to strive for success.It's become someone" do something make some money and that's your life" he said, adding that these values will fuel his energy on stage.The competition has three categories: Fusion, Bhangra and Raas Garba.Four teams will compete in each category and Tar Heel Raas will compete in the Raas Garba category against teams from Austin, Texas and Richmond, Va. and Atlanta.Raas Garba is the traditional dance of the Gujrat region of Western India.The dance differs from Bhangra, which comes from the nearby region of Punjab.There's a regional difference of course and then just the style is different as well"" Mehta said, noting how Raas Garba also uses music from Gujrat rather than Punjab.Most footwork performed by Bhangra dancers involves dancing by kicking their legs in front of their body, while Raas Garba steps are mostly done below the waist.But this weekend when Tar Heel Raas competes, there will be a small link between Raas Garba and Bhangra.Anish Thakkar, normally the UNC Bhangra Elite dohli, the person who provides a bongo-like drum beat, will be playing for Tar Heel Raas. He said playing is an abnormal display of friendship extended from the 12-year veteran group.This campus has so much talent" so much diversity that if we just shared everything it would be so much more enjoyable" he said.Many dancers said Tar Heel Raas gives them a chance to reconnect with their culture.Nirav Lackhani, a member of the group, said dancing allows him to connect with his roots as his parents are from Gujrat.It's actually a traditional dance where my parents are from in India"" he said.But the team isn't just limited to Indian dancers.Britton Baxley, the team's only white member, said being on the team is a great cultural experience.Even in the face of competition, this dance team has become more than just steps and performances for all involved.My core group of friends are these Raas Garba people"" Mehta said. It's become like my family in a sense.""Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(10/02/08 4:00am)
Learning piano when he was six years old UNC Jazz Band pianist Jake Higgins shared a Kawai grand piano with his mother. Now he's sharing a Steinway with professional jazz pianist Andy Laverne. Along with Higgins students and professionals will unite in performance at 7:30 p.m. today and 4 p.m. Friday in Hill Hall when the UNC Jazz Band performs with the visiting professional jazz pianist. Laverne who is famous for re-harmonizing old compositions will lead the group through four of his own works" including a rendition of Herbie Hancock's ""Watermelon Man.""Students also will play four pieces by other composers such as Thad Jones and George Gershwin.""It's really priceless having great artists come"" said UNC Jazz Band bassist Alex Van Gils. The whole program just kind of kicks up a notch every time one of these artists comes."" UNC jazz professor Jim Ketch" who directs the student ensemble said it's great to be able to bring an external influence into UNC's jazz program" and he hopes that students will be able to craft relationships with these artists. ""You get a little networking in"" he said.Because the music department is so small, and the jazz department is even smaller, Gils said these visits allow students to have a profound experience with artists. Members of the jazz band have even been able to have lunch with artists like Laverne, creating priceless interaction with professionals. Every musician has their different take on what music should be"" Higgins said. The way they look at things affects the way that we begin to look at things."" The UNC Jazz Band brings about two artists per semester to campus" but this is the first time Higgins said he can remember it being a pianist. Because of this" he said he hopes to gain influence from watching Laverne play and interacting with the band. ""I get to watch him play in the band that I play in" and I get to watch how he plays with people that I get to play with" Higgins said. I can try and emulate that."" Ketch said as a director"" he always learns as much as students do when artists visit. ""As soon as you feel like you know it all" you're in real trouble and I just don't have that feeling he said. Gils also said he is excited to absorb the personal playing experience offered by Laverne. A chance to play with people a level above you always pulls you up" Gils said. In some ways you never forget that even after they leave.""Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
(09/29/08 4:00am)
Durham resident Trish Christie used to visit Morehead Planetarium when she was a child.And Saturday afternoon she was able to give a similar experience to her daughter listening to evolution campfire stories and digging through fossils with 16-month-old Lila.The pair attended Morehead Planetarium's free family science day" ""It's Only Human!""" co-presented by the UNC Society of Anthropology Students and the Department of Biology. More than 100 parents and children who attended the event were able to look through the planetarium's exhibits and create their own cave paintings" among other activities.""It's really fun. They've enjoyed all the hands-on things"" Christie said. It gives us something to do that's not too expensive."" Senior Brent Chen" a Planetarium employee who made origami butterflies with attending families" said the best part of the experience was seeing the expression on the children's faces.""They're doing things that they wouldn't ordinarily have access to in their schools"" he said.Agreeing, Christie said schools have limited resources compared to UNC.All the artifacts and stuff — they can't get that at school really"" she said.And though Chen said sometimes young children had a difficult time understanding the topics discussed, such as evolution and the fossil record, he also said they still enjoy the activities.I think they take something away from it and it's a lot of fun doing it"" he said.Families also were able to attend 30-minute shows in Morehead Planetarium's NASA Digital Theater.Adam Miller, a UNC graduate who writes curricula for Morehead Planetarium's camps and events, put on several of Saturday's shows.Miller said it was great to teach children without having to worry about standardized tests, discipline problems or state-based curriculum. It's a real fun job" he said. As an educator" I can focus on what I want the kids to learn."" Saturday" his presentations showed how the eye's cone receptors become tired when looking at purple light and shut down which creates the appearance of green light.He also dimmed the lights and lit a Gummi Bear on fire to show how much energy it contained.Giving presentations to children is exciting and the best part of his day" Miller said.""It's always fun to see that sort of ‘wow' expression on their face.""Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(09/08/08 4:00am)
Even after a $22-million renovation Morrison Residence Hall remains one of six dormitories on campus containing potentially cancerous materials.Hinton James Avery Parker Morrison Ehringhaus and Craige residence halls all have asbestos-containing materials in their cinder block walls" which were used during their construction. Most were built in the 1960s.Officials said the asbestos present no immediate health risk.""It isn't a problem"" said Mary Beth Koza, director of environment, health and safety, adding that it just needs to be monitored and maintained.Koza said officials always attempt to remove asbestos during renovations. But at Morrison, where renovations were finished in 2007, officials decided against removing the asbestos-containing materials.Both Koza and Rick Bradley, assistant director for housing, said material was not removed during the renovations because it was beneath many layers of paint.Bradley said it would take extreme action to cause the asbestos to become airborne, such as puncturing or cracking the wall paint.Still, students were warned not to scrape the walls or tape posters to them using anything but 3M Scotch Removable Adhesive Putty.Residents of the six dormitories were warned in an e-mail Thursday from Janet Phillips, asbestos coordinator for the Department of Environment, Health and Safety, that there is asbestos in the wall coatings beneath several layers of paint.Asbestos is a small fiber once used to insulate and fire-proof buildings.Breathing in high levels of asbestos fibers can lead to lung cancer or other ailments, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA also states that small amounts of asbestos exposure does not usually lead to health problems. But airborne fibers can be inhaled and are more likely to be hazardous.Low levels of asbestos were also found in the floor tiles of Lewis and Stacy residence halls just before students moved in. Morrison resident Cole Anderson said he doesn't think much about the asbestos.I knew it was cancerous" but I figured if it was bad enough they wouldn't have us stay here" he said.Anderson also said he feels the asbestos is not dangerous enough to be removed.Bradley said Thursday's e-mail was intended to be mostly informational, not a warning about immediate health concerns.As long as the paint is in good condition there's no potential health hazard"" Bradley said. The intent of this (e-mail) is to really calm people's fears.""In the event of asbestos release"" Koza said her department is always available to take action.""We can come over" we can do some training we can give you an asbestos 101 awareness class" Koza said.Minor incidents, such as scrapes, would only require vacuuming the room and patching where the chip was created, Koza said.But in a more serious case, she said a certified contractor professionally trained to remove the asbestos would have to be employed.This is not a health risk to anyone that lives in these facilities"" Bradley said. The EHS folks would be quite active if it was the opposite of that. We would be required to do other things than notify people."" Have a concern about asbestos?Call UNC Environment" Health and Safety at 962-5507Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(09/04/08 4:00am)
One of UNC's largest dormitories has been vandalized to the point that all of its residents could be fined.During the past few weeks Morrison Residence Hall has reported damage to walls and ceilings stolen furniture and destroyed bulletin boards.Community Director Josh Alexander who was unable to comment on the situation because of University policy sent out an e-mail to residents Tuesday warning them that action would be taken if the vandalism continued.Kitchens floor lounges study rooms and game rooms will all be closed if the vandalism continues the e-mail states.Damages highlighted in Alexander's e-mail include a stolen housing department folding table damaged and removed ceiling tiles and a large hole punched into the wall of the game room.Rick Bradley assistant housing communications director said the cost to repair the vandalism will either be passed on to all Morrison residents or if caught to the individuals who were responsible.Ultimately he said costs are reflected in housing price increases.According to the housing department's community living standards policy cases where the individual responsible for vandalism cannot be identified will result in residents of the entire dorm floor wing or suite being held accountable.In most of these situations vandals are not turned in by themselves or other students though police reports are often filed" Bradley said.Sophomore resident Stefano Rivera said he was disappointed that his housing fees might be affected by the vandalism.""Most of us feel like since we're not the ones doing the vandalism" we shouldn't have to pay for certain people doing things that are wrong" he said.Rivera also said that he was surprised the vandalism began only a week and a half after school started.Most campus vandalism is random, and many cases involve alcohol, Bradley said. But it's impossible to know whether or not it was involved in the week's events.Sometimes there's a wave (of vandalism) in a particular building"" he said. It certainly makes the building less desirable and affects the residents that live there.""This isn't the first time Morrison has suffered from vandalism.Last year" a couch in Morrison's 10th floor lobby was vandalized. Each resident on the floor was billed $4.51 to their student account to repair the damages.While Bradley said the hole punched in the game room of Morrison was a more extreme level of vandalism he said the bulletin board destruction and other incidents are typical.Rivera living in a newly renovated eighth-floor super suite" said he hasn't noticed the vandalism other than in Alexander's e-mail.""I think (Morrison) is still fine"" he said. The vandalism hasn't been too extreme.""Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(08/29/08 4:00am)
The School of Information and Library Science can now boast the $10 million research portfolio of a world-renowned digital information group.
The Data Intensive Cyber Environments group, recently recruited from University of California-San Diego, collects and organizes large amounts of data and keeps it in the most recent and usable format for use.
DICE's past projects have included earthquake simulation and biomedical brain imaging, but their UNC undertakings will be more academically minded.
"We didn't bring the group here to operate in a similar environment, we brought them in to operate in the academic environment," said José-Marie Griffiths, dean of SILS.
DICE's new initiatives might include genome projects and digital libraries.
When DICE members came to visit UNC in March, Griffiths said, student interest was high.
"The whole atmosphere seemed to be very energetic," said Paul Tooby, community development coordinator for DICE.
Soon, office space was created, salaries were offered, and UNC was able to persuade the world-renowned group to become Tar Heels.
Four members of DICE will remain in San Diego working through a subcontract, but all others will move to North Carolina throughout the year.
"Much of the work at DICE is going to be multi-institutional," Griffiths said. "We felt it was actually going to be good for them."
And much of their work will be collaborative.
DICE will continue to work on old projects from the San Diego Supercomputer Center while taking on new academic initiatives at UNC.
"Our history is more coming from the science community," Tooby said. "This will open up more of the digital library kinds of collaborations."
But Tooby also said DICE was involved with the sharing of their collected information, creating data grids that allow people all over the world to share information in an organized manner.
Members of DICE that do move to North Carolina will be based in Chapel Hill's Renaissance Computing Institute, located on Europa Drive.
"We're excited to have this very well-respected, world-renowned group here," said Karen Green, spokeswoman for RENCI. "We look forward to some exciting collaborations with the DICE group and with SILS in general."
Griffiths said that three members of DICE already are at UNC and are becoming more familiar with the campus atmosphere while continuing to work on their previous projects.
The group is expected to take on their new digital creation projects soon, which Griffiths said will allow SILS to move quickly.
"That will allow us to raise our own sights and our own expectations of our own abilities," she said.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.