Rachel Clarke

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UNC Community Members Debate Changes to TPAC

By Rachel Clarke | May 1

Members of the UNC community met Tuesday to discuss the reinvention of the Transportation and Parking Advisory Committee after its purpose was questioned following difficulties in balancing the Department of Public Safety's budget this year. Nancy Suttenfield, vice chancellor for finance and administration, who has final decision on any changes to TPAC, said she hopes to revamp the committee and appoint new members within the next 30 days so they can start meeting over the summer.

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Grad Student Health Insurance Costs to Rise

By Rachel Clarke | April 24

UNC graduate students who are enrolled in the University health insurance plan will face an increase in the plan's cost next year, but campus officials say the amount is much smaller than national increases in health care. Nationwide, health care costs are expected to rise by an average of 17 percent next year. But the Student Health Advisory Board approved a plan Monday with only an 8.3 percent increase, down from a 32 percent proposed increase, said board member Mike Poock, assistant dean of the Graduate School.

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LGBT Community, Allies Join Forces

By Rachel Clarke | April 23

When Trevor Hoppe came to UNC in August, he found a thriving lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community -- but one that he said was not truly diverse. But during the last few months, Hoppe said, that has changed because an unprecedented number of straight students have joined the LGBT community in its fight for equal rights.

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Finances Factor Into Race for Office

By Rachel Clarke | April 3

Running for a student government office takes time and commitment -- and it can also take several hundred dollars. While some candidates say major expenditures are an unavoidable aspect of any campaign, others fear the necessity of money might skew the results to favor wealthy candidates. According to the Student Code, student body and Graduate and Professional Student Federation president candidates can spend $500 campaigning and an additional $250 if they reach a runoff. Board of Elections Chairwoman Emily Margolis said the standards are usually pushed to the limit.

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Architects Present Renovation Ideas For Arts Common on North Campus

By Rachel Clarke | March 27

The architects designing the fine arts portion of the University's Master Plan presented possible North Campus renovation ideas to the Arts Common Planning Committee on Tuesday. Architects Duncan Hazard and Peter Mullan from the firm Polshek Partnership gave the 24-member committee an overview of potential changes on the northwest corner of campus known as the Arts Common. Committee members include students, local merchants and faculty from the Department of Art, the Department of Music and the Communication Studies Department.

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Spillman Named to Succeed Newcomb as Attorney General

By Rachel Clarke | March 20

Undergraduates at UNC have a new student attorney general who is already taking over many of the daily chores associated with the job, although she is awaiting official approval. Junior Amanda Spillman, who is currently managing associate attorney general, was chosen March 8 to succeed Attorney General Brad Newcomb, Newcomb said. "I am still technically the student attorney general, but I gave her the keys to my office, and she and I are consulting on everything," said Newcomb. "She's pretty much doing the job now."

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Administrators Hear Facts About DPS

By Rachel Clarke | February 20

At Tuesday's weekly vice chancellor's meeting, administrators heard an informational presentation about the Department of Public Safety's predicted $2 million budget shortfall -- instead of the formal revenue recommendations they were originally scheduled to hear. The Transportation and Parking Advisory Committee voted on recommendations last week that identified new strategies to raise revenue starting in the 2002-03 fiscal year. Revenue recommendations from the Feb. 13 meeting included charging for night parking on campus and increasing the cost of daytime parking permits.

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SBP Candidates Explain Goals for UNC Curriculum

By Rachel Clarke | February 6

Next year's student body president will have a unique chance to influence UNC's General College curriculum, which is under review for the first time in 20 years. Laurie McNeil, a physics professor and chairwoman of the curriculum review steering committee, said several subcommittees are making recommendations to the steering committee. "We're advancing quite rapidly," McNeil said of the review process, which began in fall 2000. The steering committee will compile a final list of recommendations this semester, which will be voted on by the Faculty Council in the fall.

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Officials Discuss Plans for North Campus Halls

By Rachel Clarke | January 30

Department of Housing and Residential Education officials said Tuesday that three North Campus residence halls are in the first stages of becoming more accommodating and accessible to students. Students and staff discussed the possible future of Kenan, Alderman and McIver residence halls at a presentation Tuesday by the architects in charge of renovating those halls. "This is a concept discussion," said Christopher Payne, director of housing and residential education, at the meeting, which was held in Kenan. "The purpose of this session is to get ideas out there."

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Elders Encourages Students to Pursue Public Service

By Rachel Clarke | January 23

Former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders called upon UNC students to use their educations to solve America's social problems when she spoke Tuesday night in Memorial Hall. Elders, the first black and second female surgeon general, who served in the position from 1993-94, delivered the keynote address for UNC's Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration Week. "You have a lot of things that have got to be accomplished," Elders told the nearly full auditorium. "You're here to build bridges over rivers of ignorance."