Newspapers / University of North Carolina … / Dec. 5, 2008, edition 1 / Page 1
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Cf^> ' *rs- university of north CAROLINA ASHEVILLE Xhe Blu e Banner Fndav. December 5, 2008 'vuu.tlu'blucbamuT.ncl \(il. !'•, Ksur 1 2 Campus considers free-speech wall PHOTOS BY KATII-. MURRAY- STAH- PHOTIHIRAITII.R Citv government officials allowed artists to paint murals under a downtown bridge to help stem the recent spread of graffiti in Asheville. UNC Asheville Student (iovern- ment Association hopes similar art and graffiti will cover the proposed free speech wall. Proponents of the wall wish to see it in a centralized location near llighsniith. Despite concerns raised after a recent incident at N.C. State, SGA moves ahead with plan for new pidylic forum Cassidy Culbertson STAFF WRITER CXULBER@UNCA.EDU A free speech graffiti wall might adorn the UNC Asheville campus soon, de spite recent controversy over such a forum at North Caro lina State University. "We’re banking on the good will of UNC A students to typ ically want to live in a good, coexisting environment,” said Courtney Galatioto, chair of the Student Government As sociation Aesthetics Commit tee. "I don't really see that being a problem, but it’s a good reason to sort of pause and go into this with a level head, to sort of see what can he done.” The Aesthetics committee, in conjunction with campus officials, is drawing up a pro posal concerning how much 'he wall might cost and where it Would be located. The committee wants the "'all to be near Highsmith Student Union and consid ers an existing wall between Highsmith and Mills Hall the ideal location, because centrally located and already exists. Galatioto, sophomore clas- and history student, re- erred to a group of students ^t N.C. State who wrote ra cial slurs and threats toward Harack Obama on the univer- S free speech wall. Hdie graffiti sparked con troversy, because it contained oeath threats. The Secret "tee investigated the case and etermined the writings posed to danger to the president- c cct. The issue still fuels de- Vandals strike school buildings Erica Grabon SIAr: WKIIPR EAGKABON@UNCA.EDU I urge scratch marks dcc- oiTitc ;i p:mc of ghiss look ing into room 104 itt I ligh- smith Student Union, one of maity ticts of \aiulalism that have occurred aroutul campus since the start ol the sctncstcr. "A U)t of the vaiulalism that has been rcportcil luis been vulgar words, differ- ettt people's nicknames like I'.R.I.D.i:., atul then you had the M.O.M.S. ami srttne were Just pictures." Detective Sergetitit H..I. Btiyne saiil. Baytie heads the vandtil- isni investigation. Accord ing to police reports nu merous ticts of tagging tire showing up. Glass in Highsmith Stu dent Union, (iovernors I bill and I'oinKlers Hall, tis well as il mirror in Highsmith need to be replacal due to the damage siisttiined from someotie earving into the ghiss. "I lousekeeping has looked for ilifferent ways to fix the glass without replac ing it since there tire kits you cati buy to fill in the scfiitches." Btiyne said. "Apparently il won’t work on big surface tireas so onee you add up the glass in the dorms and I lighsmith iilong with the mirrors in the bathroom in Highsmith, it’s gotten pretty ex|tensive.’’ ('iirrent estiniiites for lix- ,Si t I)AMA(;K 1>a(ii;2 I The murals located on either side it’s bate with organizations like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People urging the university to expel the students. “How do you censor a free speech wall?” Austin Mack, a freshman SGA senator, asked. “■We don’t want anybody to be in control of it. We don’t want it to be (SGA’s) wall.” Mack said if SGA or an other organization took con trol of the wall, whatever they decided to remove would be censorship. What happens at places PHOTOS BY KATIE MURRAY- .STAEI- mOKKlRAPIIE.R of the 1-26 overpass on Lexington Avenue were painted by a collection of local artists. Galatioto said. 44 We will probably wait to sub mit a final proposal at the be ginning of next semester to let stuff at N.C. State blow over. Courtney Galatioto Student Government Association Greensboro and Duke is that if people didn't like something, they’d spray paint over it. There are not, until recently, usually threats and extremely offensive things,” Being able to both write anything you want on the wall and have the student body - not an organization cover it up and replace it with something else makes it a free speech forum. Mack said. Nonetheless, the recent events at N.C. State gave SGA a rea son to pause and think about possible outcomes of such a public expression forum. “Technically, they said it Television viewing affects media bias Sarah Pardys OPINION EDITOR SAPARDYS@UNCA.FDU kepublicans and heavy television viewers likely perceive unfavorable bias in the news, according to research conducted by mass communication students at UNC Asheville Iasi Octo ber. "It was very interesting to see the responses of tele vision viewers in relation to their political beliefs," said .Susan Terry, 26. senior mass communication stu dent. "I was surprised at the results." Students conducted the 2008 Western North Caro lina Boll in the first two weeks of October on behalf of the Asheville Center for Social Research, tin on- campus organization, hrom an on-campus phone bank, development •"Hises community hopes, concerns. Features
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