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(03/17/10 3:08am)
1.5.0., the newest restaurant at Lenoir Mainstreet, is known for advertising the farms its products come from and how the food being served each day was grown or raised.
“We can source it all the way to the ground,” said Bill Cunningham, resident district manager for Carolina Dining Services.
The reason why is reflected in the restaurant’s name. Those numbers represent the 150-mile radius that serves as Carolina Dining Services’ definition for what is considered local food.
CDS has worked hard to make 1.5.0. a successful venture by finding farmers and distributors for executive chef Paul Basciano to work with to keep the food that’s served local and sustainable.
“The growth in this market has been tremendous,” said Matt Tunnell, who represents FreshPoint, a fresh produce distributor that works with UNC. “In the last five years, it’s probably grown 100 percent, probably more than that.”
Tunnell worked previously as a food service marketing specialist for the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Demand for local and organic food makes up at least 15 percent of FreshPoint’s business.
“We’re responding to demand from the market,” Tunnell said.
A 2008 survey conducted by the National Restaurant Association showed that the No. 1 trend among chefs was using local produce.
According to the association’s research, 89 percent of fine-dining operators served locally sourced items, and nine in 10 believed demand for locally sourced items would grow in the future.
“Compared to organic, there is a lot more demand for local. Local food is seen as more sustainable, and it keeps money in the state and in the community,” Tunnell said.
Average weekly purchases for local, organic or sustainable food for Carolina Dining Services since January has totaled about $18,200, but that number could fluctuate based on the time of year.
When UNC places an order with Eastern Carolina Organics, an organic farm produce distributor roughly 20 miles from campus, many items are still in the fields. The produce is received, quality-checked and stored, going to customers within 1 to 2 days after arrival.
“Seasonality affects local food purchasing, and these numbers only reflect from January to March, so during spring semester, that average will increase,” said RJ LaPorte, marketing coordinator for Carolina Dining Services.
“Paul Basciano has had a challenge with seasonality, but it’s been interesting — he’s been able to create a new menu, tapping into his skills as a chef to find new and interesting things to do.”
(03/04/10 3:55am)
“The Crazies,” a remake of George Romero’s 1973 zombie flick, does basically what you’d expect it to — but it does it well.
(03/04/10 3:55am)
“The Crazies,” a remake of George Romero’s 1973 zombie flick, does basically what you’d expect it to — but it does it well.
(02/24/10 5:00am)
Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
That proved to be the theme of Tuesday’s public forum hosted by The Parr Center for Ethics, but the subject was not military dictators or monarchical tyranny.
It was the United States food industry.
A panel of experts at the forum, titled, “How Should We Eat? Policy and Ethics,” covered a wide variety of issues — everything from animal welfare, world hunger and genetic engineering to local food, personal health and farmer exploitation.
But what dominated the discussion was the overwhelming corporate influence on America’s food system and the ethical dilemma presented by these political and economic complexities.
“We wanted to focus on the interaction of food and ethics. We want people to think about food from a more academic and philosophical angle and to understand the multifaceted nature of this issue,” said Adam Sherwood, a member of the student group Fair, Local, Organic Food, which helped promote the event.
The discussion comes at a time when the move toward organic, local or sustainable food is gaining momentum, said Nancy Creamer, Director for the Center for Environmental Farming Systems at N.C. State University.
“Right now, people are seeing the connection with food from a lot of angles,” Creamer said.
Charles Thompson, curriculum and education director for the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University, quoted Martin Luther King Jr. in his declaration in support of “noncooperation with evil.” He urged the audience to oppose systems that exploit people.
The panelists also asked audience members to find ways to make an impact.
“Supply and demand. The food industry is consumer-driven,” said Glen Almond, professor of pig health and production at N.C. State University.
The concept of the value of personal decisions on the economic direction of food production was discussed extensively by panelists.
“This is an ethical dilemma. None of us is omniscient and none of us is all-powerful, but I think we have to recognize our ability to vote with our food dollar. That is extremely powerful,” said Scott Marlow, farm sustainability program director for the Rural Advancement Foundation International.
The discussion comes in light of national announcements from the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division and the Department of Agriculture regarding competition issues facing the agriculture industry.
The Justice Department and Department of Agriculture have announced a proposed joint effort to hold workshops for farmers, ranchers and consumer groups on these problems.
Additionally, the Monsanto Company, one of the agricultural corporations discussed at the forum, announced in January that the Justice Department had formally requested information on its seed business as part of an investigation into anti-competitive practices.
“The message was very positive,” sophomore Matt Jernigan said of the event. “This movement has started to reach a lot more people, and this panel made it relatable at a more personal level.”
Tuesday’s panel has framed the discussion for another public forum, “How Should We Eat as Students?” which will take place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Manning Hall, room 209. Thursday’s forum will focus on students’ role in the food system and will be co-sponsored by student groups.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(02/22/10 4:12am)
Being international is no longer good enough.UNC is going global.Effective July 1, the International and Area Studies major will be renamed Global Studies, have more courses that qualify for the major and receive roughly an extra $60,000 to $80,000 annually from the University.A new lecturer position is also being hired for the next school year that will help students find internships.The extra money will support the new faculty position, additional funding for events and a budget for faculty development, said Andy Reynolds, chairman of the International and Area Studies curriculum.The new major will replace the quickly growing International and Area Studies major. The major has grown from about 300 students in 2001 to more than 700 in 2009, Reynolds said. There are currently 749 declared International and Area Studies majors.Changing the curriculum will let students count more courses toward their major and reflects the school’s continued push toward more international initiatives.“The name change reflects the whole trend of the University,” Reynolds said. “Global Studies is a new, emerging field. It’s more current.”There are two main reasons UNC decided in favor of the name change, Reynolds said. The first is that it would recognize UNC as a leader in a new field, because there are few universities of the size and caliber of UNC that have Global Studies programs. “It’s about being a part of the discussion of what this field becomes,” Reynolds said.The second reason for the change is that it will allow the curriculum to properly accept courses that are relevant to the major.“International Studies simply didn’t allow us to run the type of major we wanted,” Reynolds said.With the curriculum being expanded to incorporate courses with “global relevance,” such as those involving North America or relating to pre-1850 history, students have the option of counting a wider range of classes toward their degree.“If you were studying Africa, shouldn’t you also be studying the issues that caused African colonization and shaped that continent?” Reynolds said. “Students need to have a grasp for what happened in previous centuries as well.”Courses such as those in the religious studies or classics departments, which weren’t counted toward the international studies major, could also be used to connect global studies to other disciplines, Reynolds said.Students will be able to petition courses to count toward their major.Despite its growth, the Curriculum in Global Studies is not seeking to become a full academic department. This is due to the multidisciplinary nature of the program and faculty members that hold appointments in other areas of the College of Arts and Sciences.Reynolds said he hopes offering the global studies major will keep UNC ahead of the curve, making it a leader in the field.Global studies programs are becoming increasingly popular across the country. Universities that already have programs include University of California at Los Angeles, University of Tennessee at Knoxville and the University of Minnesota.“I think the fact that students have been so interested in this curriculum has led UNC to want to continue encouraging internationalization on campus,” said Jonathan Hartlyn, senior associate dean for social sciences and international programs for the College of Arts and Sciences.Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(02/18/10 3:58am)
“Valentine’s Day,” the new movie by director Garry Marshall, markets the kind of chocolate-box love that ultimately makes you want to gag.
(02/10/10 6:12am)
Correction (Feb. 11 12:51 a.m.): Due to a reporting error, this story incorrectly stated that the senior class officers help select the class gift. Seniors actually can donate to any part of the University as part of the senior campaign. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for this error.The number “1” was crucial for juniors Liz Deane and Justin Tyler on Tuesday night. Standing in Carroll Hall room 111, they found out they received 1,111 votes in the election for 2011 senior class officers.And that isn’t even mentioning their first-place finish.With a platform balancing social activities with service opportunities, Deane and Tyler beamed with excitement as Board of Elections Chairman Peter Gillooly announced the results.Three pairs of candidates ran for senior class officers this election season. Runners-up Tyler Aiken and Justin Webb received 433 votes, and Sean Ryan Kiernan and Elizabeth Monier received 287 votes. The election included only juniors entering their senior year at the University. “We’re really happy for Liz and Justin,” Kiernan said. “We all talked before, and they ran a great campaign, and we’re still interested in being involved.”Webb, who was part of the second place duo, echoed Kiernan’s resolve to continue participating. “Liz and Justin were a tough team to beat,” he said. “We talked earlier and said that no matter who wins, we still want to be kept involved. I’d be glad to be part of their team next year.”Deane said she was excited not only to be senior class president but for another reason, as well. “We’re so excited … to sleep!” she said. “This needed to be over,” Deane said with a sigh of relief.The first thing on the agenda for the newly elected senior class officers will be the appointment of marshals in about a month, Deane said.“Our biggest thing is reaching out to as many people as we possibly can. That’s our top priority,” Tyler said.Deane and Tyler’s platform includes a number of ways to fulfill that goal, such as creating a seniors-only advisory committee to Chancellor Holden Thorp and extending social events beyond bar nights. In addition to bar nights, the two said they plan to include senior trivia nights and senior outdoor movie nights. The two also intend to distribute a weekly senior class newsletter. In addition to their responsibility for selecting senior marshals, the senior class president and vice president are tasked with the role of promoting class unity and representing the senior class in building ties with the University and alumni. The responsibilities for senior class officers include a number of duties, such as serving as the official marshals at University Day and commencement days. They also can donate to any part of the University as part of the senior campaign and promote connections with the University after graduation. Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(02/03/10 4:33am)
Student Congress is handing out hundreds of thousands of dollars during the next month, but there are only a few days left until the deadline for student groups to apply.The finance committee of Student Congress goes through an annual budget process, in which roughly $385,000 in student fees are given to fund student organizations.The deadline to apply for funding through the annual budget process is 5 p.m. Friday.While there is also an ongoing appropriations process throughout the academic year that distributes some money, about 80 percent of the money distributed by Congress is allocated in the annual budget. Large and recurring expenditures — such as speakers and concerts — are best accommodated through this process, members of Congress said.“Some people we fund all the way through, and sometimes we cut it down,” said Russell Martin, finance committee vice chairman. “We do also deny some requests. The groups that are most organized and get to finance committee first tend to get more money.”Here’s a quick look at how your organization gets a piece of the pie.Eligibility Your group must be a recognized UNC student organization with a certified organizational treasurer who has successfully passed the treasurer’s test, which makes sure you understand the rules for funding. The deadline for the test is Feb. 12. Contact student government office manager Tiera Parker at tlparker@email.unc.edu to arrange to take it.What Congress won’t fund Congress won’t provide funds for food and drinks for social events, advertisements, donations, firearms (except rental), alcohol or tobacco. Congress is also unlikely to fund off-campus events, membership dues or travel to competitions.Submitting a request A good funding request will be specific, detailed and reasonable. Commonly approved requests include speaker fees, flyers and printing expenses. Submit your request online at congress.unc.edu/money.Finance committee hearing The next step is to appear before the finance committee between Feb. 12 and 14. Each group is assigned a 15-minute window during which it has to be present but will have no more than 2 minutes to present a request. Be ready to explain each dollar amount specifically and talk about why you need the money.Student Congress hearing Once the finance committee has amended or passed on your request, you must appear before Student Congress between Feb. 26 to 28. You might decide to appeal the finance committee’s recommendation. The final stage Student Congress has the final say in passing funding requests. Once the student body president signs the budget bill, money will be deposited in the organization’s account with the Student Activities Fund Office. Groups will spend money up front and be reimbursed by the office.Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(01/26/10 5:51am)
Barack Obama wants to make it easier for students to get federal college aid from Uncle Sam.
The president’s administration is working on simplifying the sometimes onerous Free Application for Federal Student Aid, the form that qualifies students for grants, loans and other forms of college aid.
The form — filled out by 34,994 UNC students for the 2009-10 school year — has been cut in half for this year’s applicants, down to four pages from eight. It could be whittled down even further during the next two years.
“They’re talking about taking the FAFSA down to just a handful of questions, maybe only five questions, to determine eligibility,” said Phil Asbury, deputy director of the UNC Office of Scholarships and Student Aid.
Most financial aid offices require that students use the FAFSA to apply for aid, but the form’s complicated nature often discourages students from doing so.
“Tax return data and income information can be a problem for people,” Asbury said.
The form, designed to determine federal aid, is also used by states and colleges to determine their own funding programs, including the Carolina Covenant and other need-based aid programs.
The president’s administration has argued that cutting the length of the form could encourage more students to apply for aid in the face of rising tuition costs.
Asbury said that while most of the more dramatic proposals for altering the form are not finalized, they could have a significant impact on the nature of the application.
“Every year the FAFSA is tweaked and revised,” Asbury said. “But the FAFSA simplification push may have a more significant impact on application numbers if the length of the form has been a deterrent.”
The form, which can be printed and filled out or completed online, consists of four sections and a variety of questions that include income tax information.
“What’s great about the FAFSA now is that online it skips questions that students don’t need to answer, which helps save a lot of confusion and time,” said Tabatha Turner, senior associate director of the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid. “Anything that can be done to break down barriers to access to student aid is a good thing.”
But others say these changes are not enough. A study group convened by the College Board, a nonprofit group that provides testing and other admissions services, has argued for doing away with the FAFSA and restructuring the entire federal aid system.
Freshman Ellen McNeill, who filled out the FAFSA when she applied last year, said it could benefit from simplification.
“As for the process of filling out the form, it was tedious but straightforward,” she said.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(12/01/09 5:43am)
The brave students who were planning on camping out in the Student Union to reserve campus meeting rooms next semester can put their sleeping bags away.The Student Union room reservation process will now be entirely online, allowing any of the approximately 600 recognized student groups on campus to register for space to hold large events across campus.The change will replace a policy that required students to show up in person, driving some students to camp overnight at the beginning of the semester to reserve spaces months ahead of time.
(11/17/09 4:26am)
University administrators plan to build an $8 million pedestrian bridge over South Road.Don’t agree? Let UNC officials know during a student input session tonight, hosted by the executive branch of student government.
(11/04/09 4:58am)
They tried pagers. They tried cell phones. Now, something a little more hip.Employees of Interpreter Services at UNC Hospitals are using the iPod touch to receive work requests and communicate among themselves.Thanks to the upgrade, they’re saving money and increasing efficiency in the process.“From day one, it’s been awesome,” said lead interpreter Juan Reyes-Alonso, who helped initiate the dispatch system switch from cell phones to iPod touches.When Reyes-Alonso first started working at UNC Hospitals seven years ago, interpreter requests were dealt with through pagers.“The pager system created a lot of issues,” said Shane Rogers, director of Interpreter Services at UNC Hospitals. These issues included an inability to prioritize cases and multiple interpreters responding to one call.“It had gotten to the point where there was almost in-fighting,” Rogers said.Next came cell phones.“It was better, but the thing is that cell phone signals are not so great sometimes, and service tended to be unreliable,” Reyes-Alonso said.The new dispatch system using online requests and the iPod touch has helped make Interpreter Services more efficient.“It’s helping our staff to manage interpreter requests, and it allows our doctors to prioritize more easily,” Rogers said. UNC Hospitals employ about 26 interpreters who process more than 65,000 requests per year to facilitate communication between Spanish-speaking patients and hospital employees.“With the iPod touch, we’re using the campus Wi-Fi network instead of cell phone networks, so money is being saved because we aren’t paying for cell phone coverage,” said Hans Wynholds, the CEO of ServiceHub Corporation.ServiceHub is the software company that helped UNC Hospitals switch from pagers to cell phones, and has now made it possible to move to the iPod touch.The hospitals are renting each iPod for $15 a month for two years.“We’re now saving $10 a month per device compared to when we used cell phones,” Rogers said.Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas has made a similar switch. Boston Medical Center and Duke University Hospital are also considering the switch, Wynholds said.Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(11/02/09 5:20am)
Last year, winners in the annual UNC Dance Marathon Homecoming Golf Classic went home with a trophy and a few free rounds of golf.This year’s trophy could be a brand new Porsche Boxster — a $47,000 or more car.Players who get a hole-in-one on the 179-yard hole 17 during Friday’s tournament can go home with the new ride.Thanks to title sponsorships from Pascal Architects and the Azby Fund, the tournament has been able to expand its publicity and come up with new incentives for players through prizes and giveaways.“The golf tournament has really expanded this year,” said Dance Marathon publicity chairwoman Kate Gillam. “We have a number of good sponsorships and other giveaways that are going to provide a base for future expansion.“I’m actually playing myself,” she added. “Personally, I am excited for the possibility of winning a Porsche.”The golf tournament is part of Dance Marathon’s year-long fundraising efforts for N.C. Children’s Hospital that culminate in a 24-hour dance event.The tournament is geared toward alumni as a way to reach people other than students on Homecoming weekend.But the teams have also been composed of students, members of the UNC club golf team, doctors from UNC Hospitals, parents, golf course residents and fraternity members.This will be the second year the tournament will feature the Greek Golf Challenge, a competition between fraternities.Last year, there were four teams, and Delta Kappa Epsilon went home with the trophy.“We are hoping the Greek Golf Challenge will become more and more developed as we provide more motivation and incentives,” said Nicki Drawbridge, Dance Marathon’s alumni outreach chairwoman. Drawbridge has been in charge of organizing this year’s tournament.“The fraternity members who played last year had a lot of fun, and hopefully they will continue to encourage their younger brothers to continue to get involved.”The registration fee is $100, but students can register for $75. While the original deadline has passed, the tournament is still accepting golfers.Organizers are aiming to have 72 participants, and participants can sign up as individuals or as teams.The event will be held at The Preserve at Jordan Lake Golf Club, just south of Chapel Hill.“They have been a steady partner for the past four years,” Drawbridge said.“The course is absolutely beautiful, and they run a really great golf tournament.”Anyone interested in observing the golf tournament is also welcome to attend, Gillam said.Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.