See page 6
Volume 31 Issue 3
See page 4 I
February 17, 2000
Recent childcare survey makes progress
riiffifffi/
A recent survey resulted in pro- childcare, and do it in a meaningful For a significant number of (stu-
losals to solve UNCA’s childcare way. I’m committed to really do dents), childcare is a priority,” said
lilemma, according to the chancel- that.” Mullen. “I think we have an obliga-
Based on the results of the Dec. tion, in a way that is fiscally ac-
PHOTO ^Y'jAfe£5Wt3RAHAM
I Kaplan, professor of mathematics, holds his son, Abe, 13 months, during an exam review for one of his
By Davon Heath
staff Writer
“I don’t want somebody to drop
out of college because they can’t
deal with childcare needs,” said
Chancelor James Mullen. “We’re
going to address the issue of
1999 childcare survey, there are
126 people with an immediate need
for childcare, and 249 people who
have expressed an interest in the
try to help people
it of their experience
Students face pos
sible $575 fee increase
2 2,000-
$1816
1,800 —
1,600 —
$154^
^ 1,400—
$1341^'^
1,200-
$1152^a---'--*'^
c
$1124_—
J 1,000-
cn
l‘98-’99 l‘99-’00 l‘00-’01 l‘01-’02 l‘02-’03 l‘03-’04
Year of increase (by academic calendar)
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY EMMA JONES
By Kathryn Krouse
Staff Writer
Raising funds to compensate for
this year’s flooding could increase
student fees by $575, according
to a recent UNC system proposal.
“I don’t think they should make
students pay more money (since)
we already pay enough money as
it is,” said Megan Fazekas, an
undeclared freshman.
The statewide proposal would
raise $750 million for building
construction. However, over $6
billion is needed to complete all
the projects needed for N.C. pub
lic universities, according to Tom
Byers, special assistant to the chan
cellor.
The fee increase, if accepted,
will begin in the fall semester of
2000-2001, according to Eric
lovacchini, vice chancellor for stu
dent affairs.
The three year plari, asks for a
$100 increase the first year, $200
in the second, and another $275
in the third year, totaling an over
all increase of $575, according to
Byers.
“Whether (the proposal) will
come out of the legislature in that
form is still unknown,” said Byers.
After the flood in eastern N.C.
last fall, a large amount of money
went to flood relief and recon
struction from the state budget,
according to Byers.
With the state having to deal
with cleanup from the flood, “it
would not be possible to take care
of all university building needs
through tax-generated revenues,”
said Byers in an e-mail. “Hence,
the plan (is) i?to have students,
through fees, bear part of the cost,
(with) the taxpayers picking up
the other part.
Chances for the proposal to go
through depend on votes from
the UNC Board of Governors
and a planned 50-50 match from
taxpayers, according to
lovacchini.
The money collected by the fee
increase will go to a larger state
fund, according to lovacchini.
The money will then be distrib
uted to universities based on need
and size, according to Byers.
The fee increase, if approved,
will not necessarily decrease after
three years, according to Byers.
The increase most likely will sus
tain until the state reaches the
amount of fiinds needed.
“Theoretically, that fee goes away
someday,” said lovacchini, “I be
lieve it will take longer than three
years. The fees are to be phased in
over three years, but will remain
(for) around 20 years.”
“I feel it’s not a bad increase, but
I wish they wouldn’t,” said John
Haynes, an undeclared freshman.
See FEE page 8
countable,
make the i
For short-term solutions to
UNCA’s childcare needs, the
childcare committe proposed: de
veloping a relationship with Bun
combe County Child Care Referral
Services, a YWCA-administered
preschool program for three-to-five
year-old children, a student gov
ernment-sponsored Babysitter’s
Club, a collaboration with the city’s
newly opened Little Bear Childcare
Center, and evening programs for
children.
Ideally, this package would be
implemented by next fall, certainly
by this time next year, according to
Mullen.
said Mullen. “I don’t want to be
sitting here in a couple years having
this same conversation. I (would
not) have done my job.
“I intend to move the short-term
solutions along into the planning
process, getting dollar figures at
tached to them,” said Mullen.
The long-term recommendations
made by the childcare committee
include appointing an administra
tive designee to run the childcare
program and the ultimate solution
is an on-campus childcare facility,
according to the committe’s report.
There will also be continuing con
sultation with nearby child and fam
ily centers, as well as, the pursuing
of funding opportunities, accord
ing to the report.
“The long-term ultimate goal is to
have a place on this campus as a
childcare facility. That’s going to
take some time,” said Mullen.
“These (temporary) solutions can
have a real, positive impact while
we’re headed towards the ultimate
solution.”
With the short-term proposals,
therfe will not be a huge budget
Outlay; according to Mullen.
“I don’t see anything in the
committee’s report that requires an
increase in (student) fees,” said
Mullen. “I want to move forward,
and I don’t think we need to do it in
a way that would require a new
fee.”
“It would certainly help parents
trying to further their education,
yet I don’t know if it’s the other
students responsibility to pay for
it,” said Marilyn Anderson, sopho
more sociology major.
The committee and the chancel
lor are in agreement that a childcare
designee is needed as an important
component in getting these pro
grams going. According to Mullen,
he is anticipating naming som
for that position within the
few months.
“1 think what we have to do is:
small (and) try to get as much £
nomics and co-chair of the UNCA
childcare committee.
“This chancellor, more than any
other, understands that meeting the
childcare concerns is key to meet
ing his goals of diversity and help
ing people stay in school,” said
Bumgarner.
Other schools such as Appalachian
State University, Asheville-Bun-
combe Technical Community Col
lege and the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill have
childcare services, according to
Bumgarner. Childcare is provided
at many universities nationwide.
“I think the fact that (the chancel
lor) has young kids makes him un
derstand the demand as well as the
need of a working family,” said
Bumgarner.
Childcare is a significant need that
has been demonstrated for a long
time, according to Mullen.
“I have two children, and I have
struggled with childcare the entire
time I’ve been at UNCA,” said
Meredith Tassin, a senior account
ing major. “Lots of times people
have to bring kids (to class). It’s
disturbing.”
The short-term proposals outlined
by the childcare committee will not
meet all the needs for all the chil
dren immediately, according to
Maggie Smith, recreation depart
ment and childcare committee
member. This is a way to start
fulfilling the need.
“I know a couple (of) people that
don’t think they can go to college
because they have a child,” said
Steve Stelzer, a sophomore busi
ness management major. “Anything
that will help the kids here, I’m all
for it. Anything we can do to help
somebody at school.”
The Student Government Asso
ciation, along with the childcare
committee, are sponsoring a
Babysitter’s Club, according to
Jennifer Fuller, a senior sociology
major and member of the childcare
See PROPOSAL page 8
“Part of the problem that we have can. Part of that is to try to institute
here is that we have an issue that has the whole package of options,” said
taken too long to get addressed,” Sarah Bumgarner, professor of eco-
UNCA celebrates
Black History Month
By Alison Watson
staff Writer
Black History Month at UNCA is
attempting to bring the cultural
accomplishments and contributions
of African-Americans to attention,
according to a representative of the
celebration.
“Black History Month is impor
tant in that it raises the level of
awareness to people as a whole,”
said Octavia Wright, coordinator
of multicultural student programs.
“Diversity issues impact everyone.
Black History Month is not just for
blacks.”
The celebration is filled with work
shops and events open to everyone
on campus and in the community.
The events lined up have been spon
sored and created by the multi
cultural student programs and many
other student and departmental
organizations.
Students “should take advantage
of the opportunity to learn about”
black history, said Wright. “This is
eye opening information. Challenge
yourself”
See HISTORY page f
PHOTO BY WALTER FYLER
Sonji Anderson, a performer, celebrates Black History
Month.