UNIVERSITY OF NORFU f’AROLINA ASUKVILLE
Blue Banner
compcled by SaixJy LaCorte arxl Gina Ooutbat
Showcasing the new
fall season, see page 6.
I (lliI>I nil
Controversy over Intramural
suspensions discussed,
see page
10.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
WWW
.unca.edu/hanncr
THUR. 7;^ .')9 FRI. 75 53 SAT. 75 19 SUN. 75 19
\bl. 17, IssiK' 7
THE
NEWS
IN BMEF
INVESTIGATIVE REPORT
WORLD
New building underfunded
Law enforcement
i trains to handle
i illegal aliens
By Ben Smith
Managing Editor
i
Local law enforcers will soon
begin training in the deportation
'1 of illegal immigrants under a new
'!' partnership with the federal gov
ernment. The program provides
technical assistance and advice to
officers in North Carolina’s 100
counties regarding deportation.
Critics of the plan said it wastes
taxpayer dollars, while law
I enforcement said it prevents crim-
I inals from being reintroduced into
the community.
I Woodfin limits
water use due to
dry conditions
Woodfin implemented mandato
ry water restrictions Tuesday pro
hibiting non-essential water use.
Seven other towns placed restric
tions on water usage earlier in the
season due to the prolonged
drought.
More than half of of the counties
in North Carolina are listed in the
“exceptional drought” category,
the most severe category listed in
the U.S. system of drought.
Construction
begins on
Pisgah House
Workers break ground today on
Pisgah House, the chancellor’s
new two-story, 6,253 square-foot
residence.
The building, placed on a 50-
acre lot in the experimental forest,
will serve dual roles as Anne
Ponder’s home and as a facility for
future chancellors to host official
meetings.
The house will take 16 months to
build and administration expects
the project to be completed in 2009
and to cost more than $1.5 million.
COMPILED BY Aaron Dahlstrom & Brian Gallager
As the January completion date
for the Zeis Science and
Multimedia Building approaches,
the University has increased its
fund-raising and lobbying efforts
in order to furnish and outfit the
building with science equipment.
The additional equipment, not
included under the current con
tracts, will cost between $3 and 6
million.
“The University does not have
enough money to completely out
fit all of the laboratories in the
building so more than likely we
will move our offices into the
new building before we move
into the teaching laboratories,”
said Keith E. Krumpe, chair of
the chemistry department.
“That’s at least our plan right
now as the University tries to
acquire funds to finish off the
building.”
The equipment includes heat
hoods and lab facilities for under
graduate research.
To raise the funds, administra
tion has lobbied the federal gov
ernment and requested $100,000,
which is awaiting finalization as
part of the federal budget.
“What we’ve done is submitted
a request for federal appropria
tions request for equipment for
the science building,” said Jesse
Ray, special assistant to the
Chancellor who represents the
University’s federal relations.
“That’s included in the fiscal ’08
budget that has been passed by
the House and by the Senate.”
To bolster the $3 million dona
tion by Steve and Frosene Zeis in
April 2005, the University has
reached out to donors to raise
more funds for the project.
Currently, the Alumni and
Development office is finalizing
several donations, according to
Bill Massey, vice chancellor of
alumni and development.
“fm approaching it as if 100
percent of the money we need
has to be fundraised,” Massey
said. “We have just started. I
think there probably are several
hundreds of thousands of dollars
worth of funds that will be com
mitted in the next couple of
months.”
One project fronted by the
Office of Alumni Development
to increase donations promises to
I ..A~" ... w
China calls on
UJS.todeny
honoring
Dalai Lama
By Mark MauiiiiT
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BElJlNC'i —China lashed out
Tuesday at I’resident Bush's White
Hou.se meeting with the Dalai
l.ama. arguing that it would seri
ously damage relations between
the two nations, and called on the
U.S. to cancel plans to iionor the
famous Tibetan figure with a,
Congressional (Jold Medal. '
“We solemnly demand that thc^
U.S. cancel the extremely wrong "f
arrangements," Chinese Foreign
Minister Yang Jiechi told reporters
before tlie meeting. “It seriously
violates the norm of international
relations and seriously wounded
the feelings of the Chinese people
and interfered with China's inter
nal affairs."
The Dalai Lama, recipient of the
1989 Nobel I’eace I’rizc, has been
based in India since llecing his
homeland during a failed uprising
against Chinese rule in 1959.
China has condemned him as a
“splittist” intent on undermining
Chinese sovereignty by working
for the independence ol Tibet. The
Dalai Lama says he is only seeking
to expand autonomy, not establish
The White House dismissed
China’s concerns, saying the presi
dent has had private meetings wilhj
many religious leaders, including
the pope. r.
“The president believes that pco- i
pic all over the world should be
able to express their religion and
practice their religion in freedom.
And that’s why the president wants
to meet with him,” press secretary
Dana Perino said. “Fie believes he
should be honored as a great spir-
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Workers continue construction on the Zeis Building, UNC Asheville’s new science building, which
should reach completion this January. The university continues to push fundraising to turnish the
building and outfit it with science equipment. Between three and six million dollars must be raised.
name areas of the building after
donors. Everything from labs to
classrooms to common rooms, is
available to be named, according
to Kathy Whately, interim
provost.
“We have a list of spaces that
people can donate and have
named after them,” Whately said.
“Every room in the building is a
potential name and opportunity.
The board of trustees approves
all naming opportunities.”
The building will contain the
multimedia arts and science,
biology and chemistry depart
ments. Professors will begin
moving into their offices when
the building construction is com
pleted in January. As soon as next
semester, Zeis will host non-lab
oratory classes. Until funding
comes for completion of the lab
oratory facilities, biology and
chemistry students and faculty
will jump between Zeis and
Rhoadcs-Robinson buildings.
“You’d need a crystal ball to
SEF. Zeis page 21
In recognition of China’s objec
tions, however, the Bush adminis
tration did not release photographs
of Tuesday’s White House meet
ing: “We in no way want to stir the
pot and make China feel that we
are, you know, poking a stick in
their eye,” F’erino said.
Liu Jianchao, a foreign ministry
spokesman, said Tuesday that hon
oring the Dalai Lama would “seri
ously damage China-U.S. rela
tions,” although he did not specify
how. He added that the U.S. shouldi
“correct its mistakes and cancel
relevant arrangements."
Students challenge administration over cigarette ban
__ t jjH .-CMOWBNI
By Jon Waiczak
Staff Writer
]
Following a controversial decision banning the
sale of cigarettes on campus, the transition to
smoke-free residence halls will begin in Fall
2008, leaving the possibility UNC Asheville will
become a completely smoke-free campus.
“I have been asked to chair a committee of stu
dents, faculty and staff to examine our current
policies and make recommendations for possible
changes,” said Bill Haggard, vice chancellor for
student affairs. “That committee has not yet
begun its work.”
The decision over the summer to permanently
ban the sale of cigarettes in Rocky’s Convenience
Store drew criticism from many students, said
Carrie Jordan, senior history student and Student
Government Association executive for internal
affairs.
“The convenience store should exist for con
venience and not as a form of political activism,
Jordan said.
The ban went into effect on July 1, according to
Haggard, who said the campus community s
reaction has so far been supportive.
“I believe that the university making money off
of the sale of cigarettes is inconsistent with the
University’s value of health and wellness.
Haggard said.
The administration did not properly consult
with the student body before deciding on the ban,
uccording Jensel Garcia, junior music and for
eign languages student.
I do not think it was appropriate for the admin
istration to make this decision without consulting
m
the Student Government Association or students
directly,” Garcia said.
Many are questioning the timing of the deci
sion, Jordan said.
“The decisions of the administration in regard
to cigarette sales on campus were officially and
conveniently made over the summer months
when the majority of the student body was vaca
tioning,” Jordan said. “One would question as to
the way this was officially made during such a
time and why the student body was not involved
1 the process of making this decision.”
Most college students across the United States
support measures limiting tobacco on campus,
according to a 2003 survey from the Harvard
School of Public Health and Massachusetts
General Hospital.
The survey found more than three-quarters or
responding students supported banning smoking
in all campus buildings, including dormitories
and dining halls. More than half the students who
currently live in dormitories where smoking was
permitted expressed a preference for smoke-free
housing. , -in
The survey also found more than 70 percent
supported a ban on marketing and sponsorship by
the tobacco industry for on-campus events; 60
percent supported a ban on tobacco sales, and 51
percent approved of a smoking ban in on-campus
bars.
The job of the administration is to balance the
needs of all students, not just select groups,
Garcia said.
SEE Cigarettes page 21
Clint LATiiiNGMOiist - Stait Piiot(x;raphf.r
Drew Morris and Grant Waters, senior psychology students, take a cigarette break on the steps of Ramsey
Library. While most college students said they would like to see limited tobacco use on cam])us, according
to surveys, some UNC Asheville students said banning smoking from campus would limit many students in
an unfair way. University administration made the decision to stop selling cigarettes in Rocky’s
f^nnvpnipnrp .NtTirp over the summer, citim? their desire for a healthier campus as the main reas
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Convenience Store over the summer, citing their desire for a healthier campus as the main reason.
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