Cassidy Cobbs

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Senate Debate Yields No Clear Winner

By Cassidy Cobbs | October 22

Political pundits say that Saturday's U.S. Senate debate between Democrat Erskine Bowles and Republican Elizabeth Dole featured more personal attacks than their first debate but that the candidates still focused on important campaign issues. Though parts of the debate were negative in tone, the two candidates did not attack each other as much as in individual television ads, said Brian Smith, a visiting political science professor at East Carolina University. Smith said that in fact, much of the tension between the two hopefuls centered on their ads.

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Merit Scholar Process Questioned

By Cassidy Cobbs | October 16

National Merit Scholar semifinalists take pride in the fact that their PSAT scores designate them as some of the top students in the United States. But the process used by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation might give students from certain states an advantage over their peers, according to a study recently conducted by Parents United for (Washington) D.C. Public Schools.

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Bowles, Dole Debate for 1st Time

By Cassidy Cobbs | October 15

RALEIGH -- U.S. Senate candidates Democrat Erskine Bowles and Republican Elizabeth Dole took part in a televised debate Monday that was their first, and likely last, debate before the Nov. 5 election.The question-and-answer format debate was taped Monday afternoon at Meredith College in Raleigh and aired on television stations across the state later that evening.

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BOG Outlines Trustee Selection

By Cassidy Cobbs | October 11

The UNC-system Board of Governors Committee on University Governance met Thursday to discuss the process they will use to select board of trustee members in 2003 for each of the UNC system's 16 campuses. The selection process, which will last from October to May 2003, begins with the assignment of committee members as liaisons to UNC-system schools. The BOG is responsible for choosing eight of each school's 13 BOT members, with four members being selected by the governor and the last one being the school's student body president.

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Community Colleges' Numbers Rise

By Cassidy Cobbs | October 2

Officials say increases in cost at four-year universities have contributed to inflated enrollment in community colleges. As tuition at four-year institutions goes up, more parents consider sending their children to a community college for the first two years of their college careers, said Martin Lancaster, president of the N.C. Community College System. The N.C. General Assembly approved as part of the state budget passed Sept. 20 an 8 percent tuition increase for in-state students enrolled at UNC-system schools and a 12 percent increase for out-of-state students.

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Stress Is Leading Cause of Bad Grades

By Cassidy Cobbs | September 26

Findings generated by the American College Health Association's ongoing survey indicate that stress is the leading cause of bad grades among college students. Other factors leading to poor grades -- including lack of sleep, illness and depression -- are stress-related as well, the report showed. Richard Heisterman, director of consultation services at the University of Virginia, said students at UVa. are experiencing higher levels of stress than in previous years. "There is an increased stress level on campus," Heisterman said. "We're seeing more acute-care types of issues."

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Homeland Security Act May Grant UNC Faculty $20 Million

By Cassidy Cobbs | September 17

UNC-Chapel Hill faculty could receive up to $20 million for research projects related to homeland security under a bill being considered by the U.S. Senate. The Homeland Security Act is stuck in the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs. The legislation passed the U.S. House on July 26. According to The Associated Press, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said the bill likely will pass the Senate before the Nov. 5 general election.