Blue
Banner
The Uniuersity of north Carolina at nsheuille
Uolume 32 Issue 1
nugustSI, 2000
Barley's Taproom &
Pizzeria offers a college
hangout
See page 4
Soccer and volleyball
assistant coaches hired in
the athletic department
See page 8
"Tickets, gerbils and a
nightlife," a reflection by
Liam Bryan
See page 2
500 freshmen
in 2000 class
Sachie Godwin
Staff Writer
Some students are concerned that,
with the largest freshmen class in
UNCA history, the school may not
be able to maintain the atmosphere
that attracts so many students while
trying to in
crease enroll
ment and diver
sity.
“The school is
growing too fast,
and it’s taking
away from the
quality of our
education,” said
Cicily Moore, a
junior environ
mental studies
major. “It’s a
good school,
and I know a lot
of people want
to be here. I can’t blame them for
that. I just hope (the school) makes
the right decisions. I don’t want
them to expand die campus any
more.”
UNCA has been named a “best
buy” among American colleges for
the seventh year in a row by the
Fiske Guide to Colleges. The Guide
says UNCA offers “rigorous aca-
PHOTO BY WALTER FYLER
Amy Quesinberry, Porscha
Yount, Amanda Bowman.
demies, small classes and a beauti
ful setting.”
“UNCA offers remarkable educa
tional opportunities at a relatively
modest cost,” according to the Fiske
Guide.
The first-year student class has
increased over the past five years. In
1995 there were 397 students; 455
in 1996; 473 in 1997; 480 in 1998;
460 in 1999 and
501 in 2000, as
of Aug. 21, ac
cording to the
Office of Insti
tutional Re
search.
“I came for the
curriculum. It
has a good repu-
tation,” said
Dexter Kelly, an
undeclared
freshman from
South
Mecklenburg
High School in
Charlotte. “Teachers seem to really
care about the students.”
Most freshmen came to UNCA
for the small classes and campus, as
well as the individual attention from
professors. Other reasons cited by
See INCREASE page 11
Diversiflcation
aim of position
Justin Wolf
Staff Writer
increased its
awareness this year
UNCA has
multicultural
by adding a new staff position that
focuses direcdy on diversity. Brenda
Greene, the first special assistant to
the chancellor for diversity and
multicultural affairs, has been asked
address
to
several of
these issues in
her first year
on campus.
“I see my
role as not
only being re
sponsible for
ethnic popu
lations, but
for interna
tional stu
dents, dis
abled, (the)
gay and les
bian popula
tion, and
non-tradi-
tional stu
dents and fac
ulty,” said
Greene. “My
door is open
to all areas of
diversity.”
Greene received a liberal arts edu
cation from Spellman College, and
received her master’s degree at
Xavier University, another liberal
arts institution. Her background,
along with several other factors,
attracted her to the UNCA cam
pus.
“The first thing I noticed on this
campus was the positive attitude of
the students and how friendly they
were to me, even if they didn t
know me,” said Greene. “The main
selling point, however, was the
chancellor’s message, and what he
is trying to get across to the stu
dents and to the community.”
Some students, along with Greene,
feel that diversity is present at
UNCA, but
from
“Coming
[ a small
town, I was
i nexperi-
enced in
dealing and
comm un i-
cating with a
diverse num-
berofpeople.
UNCA
opened my
eyes to new
cultures and
PHOTO BY ANTHONY GRECO
Brenda Green, special assistant
to the chancellor, recently as
sumed her new position.
interact
said
Moo
1998 gradu
ate and alum-
af
UNCA. “But
diversity can still be increased tre
mendously.”
“For a liberal arts university, there
is still a lack of cultural exposure.
Athletic director hired
z
PHOTO BY JUSTIN MECKES
Joni Comstock, athletic director, was hired by UNCA in
June.
wonderful athletic things happen
ing here at UNCA, as well as
academics.”
One of Comstock’s goals is to
increase awareness about UNCA
athletics for students and the com
munity.
‘We would like to develop a pro
gram that has even greater interest
on campus, and in the commu
nity, and one that the students
and community are proud of,”
said Comstock. “One of the pri
mary goals is to get the word out.
“I am very pleased to be joining
UNCA and the Asheville com
munity,” said Comstock. “I am
Annie Crandall
Staff Writer
Joni Comstock, former senior
associate athletic director at
Purdue University, recently be
came the athletic director at
UNCA and plans to develop a
program that would create stu
dent traditions.
“Overall, we would like to do
our part to connect with the stu
dents at UNCA and develop some
traditions that they take pride
in,” said Comstock. “There are
looking forward to having the
opportunity to work with a strong
staff and talented student ath
letes.”
The search for a new athletic
director began when Tom
Hunnicutt, former athletic direc
tor, retired on April 15, 2000.
“We have hired one of the top
athletic administrators in the
country to lead our athletic de
partment to another level, and
build on the fine job that
Hunnicutt did while he was here,”
said Mullen in a UNCA press
release.
“Hunnicutt has left the athletic
department poised for even greater
success, and I am honored to be
following him,” said Comstock.
Mike Gore, associate director of
athletics, said that it is too early to
tell how the players interact with
the new director.
“She has only been here for five
weeks, and she was hired over the
summer, but I think she has done
a great job meeting as many people
as possible. Comstock brings won
derfully fresh ideas,” said Gore.
With more than 20 years expe
rience, Comstock was chosen
from a pool of community lead
ers, campus leaders and alumni,
and went through what she said
was a very extensive search pro
cess.
Gore said that a 17-person com
mittee was selected to choose the
new director.
“Comstock was at the top of the
list throughout the whole pro
cess. She really improved the en
tire athletic department at
Purdue,” said Gore.
“We feel fortunate to have her
here. It’s always a little tough to
make the transition, but she has
done it more smoothly than I’ve
ever seen it done before,” said
Gore.
Phil Murphy, a search commit
tee member and local business
man, said he is pleased with the
selection.
“We had four strong candidates
in here to interview, but
Comstock clearly stood out as the
best of the four,” said Murphy.
“There is no question that she’ll
do a great job for UNCA.”
Comstock is a 1979 graduate of
Eastern Illinois University with a
degree in physical education and
health promotion. She earned
her master’s degree from Illinois
State in educational administra
tion in 1981.
She received her doctorate in
1987 from the University of Illi
nois, in administration of higher
education.
Comstock had been at Purdue
since 1989. She was an assistant
athletic director, where she di
rected seven women’s athletic pro
grams from 1989-1993. She was
then promoted to an associate
athletic director, and directed 13
programs and staffs.
In 1997, Comstock was pro
moted to senior associate athletic
director, where she took on an
increase of personnel plus the ad
ministration of the sports medi
cine program.
One of the things she said she is
most proud of is the victory of the
women’s basketball team over
DukeUniversity(62-45) and cap
turing the national champion
ship title for Purdue. Comstock
had hired the women’s team
coach, Carolyn Peck.
“We were able to raise academic
performance, athletic perfor
mance and the fundraising sup
port to the athletic department,”
said Comstock.
She served on the NCAA
women’s basketball selection
committee, and on the NCAA
Certification Steering Commit
tee in 1997-98.
See GREENE page 11
Highsmith undergoes facelift
$12.5 million still needed to complete construction
Kay Alton
Staff Writer
Highsmith Center’s new repairs and
renovation completed this spring and
summer only meet the immediate,
emergency needs, due to a lack of
state funding, according to a repre
sentative of Highsmith Center.
“The Chancellor and his vice chan
cellor group provided $100,000” to
replace a deteriorated and leaking
roof, ceiling tiles and flooring in the
public areas of the building, said
Sharyn McDonald Groh, director of
the Highsmith Center and student
activities.
The funds for the remaining reno
vations and addition to Highsmith
will be decided by N.C. voters in a
bond referendum on Nov. 7.
The $3.1 billion bond package in
cludes necessary funding for all pub
lic university campuses, with $50
million going to UNCA for projects
and renovations. Out of the $50
million, $9.4 million will go towards
the estimated $12.5 million
Highsmith project, according to a
UNCA Board of Trustees press re
lease.
PHOTO BY JUSTIN MECKES
A construction worker focuses on his work as part of the continuing Highsmith Center
renovations.
“If that money comes, if the bond
issue passes, (and) UNCA, along
with all the other (universities),
gets the money they’ve asked for,
then the major part of the renova
tion will start-probably within two
years,” said McDonald Groh.
“UNCA students can most help
by going to vote and calling fam
ily members and friends who live
in N.C. and asking them to vote
yes’ for the bond referendum
during the presidential election,
Nov; 7,” said McDonald Groh.
If the referendum fails, student fees
will have to be increased just to main
tain the present building in good
repair, according to McDonald Groh.
See CENTER page 11