Initially a featureless black barricade, a tribute surrounding the flagpole on Polk Place became cluttered Wednesday with painted handprints and messages such as "Let us not respond to hate with hate." The centerpiece of the tribute was an eight-foot black wall meant to serve as a memorial for the victims of last week's terrorist attacks.
Read More »University Wednesday, Sept. 19 An employee at Lenoir Dining Hall was charged with simple physical assault against her manager at 8:55 a.m. Reports state that the incident occurred after the assailant was informed that her hours were being reduced and involved the employee pushing her manager in the face. An IBM laptop computer was stolen from Morrison Residence Hall at about 9:30 p.m. Reports state that the owner of the laptop, a UNC student, vacated the unlocked room for a half hour, during which the theft occurred.
Read More »I love fall -- breezy days when jeans and long-sleeved T-shirts feel just right -- hiking, throwing around a football, those September and October afternoons where the light pours down in beams and makes everything glow. Friday made me think that fall would come soon, and I felt really happy in that muted sort of way that any good news has been lately. I almost felt guilty. Why should changing seasons really merit any attention in the wake of Tuesday's devastation?
Read More »A standing room only crowd showed up at Town Hall on Wednesday night to voice its support -- or its concern -- for UNC's Development Plan. The Chapel Hill Town Council will vote on the plan Oct. 3. If it is approved, UNC will be able to implement the first phase of its Master Plan. The Development Plan is an eight-year plan that details how UNC's growth will affect the town, and it contains aspects of the University's Master Plan, which charts campus growth for the next 50 years.
Read More »The Glass House2 Stars There's nothing like the adrenaline rush and lingering chill of an exciting and suspenseful movie. Unfortunately, the so-called thriller "The Glass House" inspires no screams of terror, no cold touch of fear -- not even a slight shiver. One might have high hopes for the first movie attempt by director Daniel Sackheim, one of the producers of the television series "The X-Files." But all expectations are disappointed. He should have stuck to science fiction.
Read More »A high-ranking Russian politician who has been fighting for years to bridge the gap between socialism and democracy in modern Russian thought spoke on campus Wednesday. Kostantin Alekseyevitch Titov, governor of the Russian province Samara Oblast, and a delegation of advisers came to campus as participants in the International Visitor Program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of State and the Russian government.
Read More »Ghost World4 Stars I used to worry that some people never really recover from adolescence. After seeing "Ghost World," I realize I'm not alone in this opinion. A new film by Terry Zwigoff and Daniel Clowes, "Ghost World" explores the fierce friendship between two war-wounded high school graduates, Enid (Thora Birch) and Becky (Scarlett Johansson). Enid and Becky bond over their mutual awkwardness and disgust at almost everyone around them.
Read More »The Silos Go! Rehearsal Studios Today 9 p.m. The idea that there are completely unobserved yet nonetheless beautiful things surrounding us is the backing philosophy, as well as the title inspiration, for The Silos most recent LP, Laser Beam Next Door. "Most of us go through life looking through some kind of a haze -- we wear blinders," said Walter Salas-Humara, the band's lead vocalist, lyricist and guitarist.
Read More »Some volunteers and staff at the Orange County American Red Cross say the chapter could be in danger of closing because of low donations and recent staff cutbacks. The recent terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania have contributed to the local resource shortage, Red Cross officials said.
Read More »Strapping on an oxygen tank, Chapel Hill fireman David Park demonstrated the use of a newly purchased breathing apparatus Wednesday in front of a crowd of more than 20 people, including U.S. Rep. David Price, D-N.C. The apparatus was made possible after Fire Captain Caprice Mellon requested a grant last spring for financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The agency responded to Mellon's petition, granting $183,375 in federal funds -- the second largest grant statewide, second only to Apex's $315,000.
Read More »TO THE EDITOR: A fellow businessman (and veteran) in town, Scott Maitland, decided to show the size of his patriotism last week by displaying a sign on the corner of Franklin and Columbia Streets that read: "God Bless America -- Woe to Our Enemies." Thus emphasizing, one, love of his country and two, disdain for inhuman, ignorant, murderous zealots -- an honorable and honest indication of the pulse of America considering the horrible events of Sept. 11.
Read More »TO THE EDITOR: Tim Dunkin's Sept. 19 letter concerning a recent campus flier, "A Frank Word About Islam," points out that the flier contains direct quotations from the Koran which are violent in nature. He goes on to state that these are "quotations which any true Muslim is bound to abide by as commandments from Allah." But this point of view is simplistic at best. The Bible also is replete with violent imagery and statements -- statements that could lead someone to believe that Jews and Christians alike are violent.
Read More »TO THE EDITOR: For the past week, I have been greatly saddened by the events that have taken place. Today, however, I am disgusted. After eating lunch, I saw there was a large crowd gathered in the Pit. Because I was curious, I walked over. What I saw there both saddened and infuriated me.
Read More »Chapel Hill Mayor Rosemary Waldorf convinced town officials Wednesday to give local businesses some leeway in hanging patriotic signs after last week's terrorist attacks. Waldorf's request came just days after Top of the Hill, located at 100 E. Franklin St., was forced by town officials to remove a sign that read "God Bless America, Woe to Our Enemies." The size of the banner violated a town ordinance that limits the size of hanging business signs to six square feet or less.
Read More »After a three-month debate, the state budget might finally be nearing completion. On Wednesday, members from both the House and the Senate agreed to send the tax package proposal -- which the Senate passed Tuesday -- to a conference committee. The committee consists of legislative leaders from both chambers. The Senate's $1 billion tax package could be large enough to fill a fiscal hole in the budget and could end debate about how to increase state revenue.
Read More »Acoustic Syndicate Cat's Cradle Friday, Sept. 14 3 Stars When they amble on stage, it's immediately obvious the members of the Acoustic Syndicate are regular guys, not rock stars. They're homegrown. And they're not all that acoustic either, filling Cat's Cradle with equal parts electric and acoustic. The N.C. band's specialty is progressive bluegrass with hints of roots, jazz, reggae and funk. A handful of jam bands cover similar territory, though sounding less truly Southern than the Syndicate.
Read More »GREENVILLE -- The North Carolina volleyball team defeated East Carolina 3-0 on Tuesday night at Williams Arena. The Tar Heels won by scores of 30-23, 30-26 and 30-16. The Tar Heels (6-3) were led by junior outside hitter Laura Greene, who recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 11 kills and 11 digs. Greene also tallied four service aces on the night. Molly Pyles and Holly Strauss each recorded eight kills for the Tar Heels with Pyles also recording six digs and Strauss totaling four digs and three block assists. Malaika Underwood led UNC in assists with 22.
Read More »Local businesses reported normal sales last weekend, despite the cancellation of UNC's first home football game and the onset of what some officials say is a slump in the economy. Carolina Family Weekend kept local businesses hopping, and Robert Humphreys, executive director of the Chapel Hill Downtown Commission, said a few business owners mentioned they were pleased with Saturday's sales. "There wasn't a lot going on in the morning, which was probably related to the game, but after lunch things really picked up," Humphreys said.
Read More »In his first two appearances, North Carolina backup quarterback Darian Durant provided the Tar Heels with a spark to help move the offense. Although Durant couldn't produce the same spark against Texas, the redshirt freshman has impressed UNC coach John Bunting and offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill enough that Durant's entrance into the second half of Saturday's game against Florida State is already planned.
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