Excellence Through Truth and Dedication ”
vniume L I. Number 26
Inside
This
Issue..
www.theseahawk.ora
March 29.2000
Survty lays!
University
backs off after
sophomore
survey comes
under fire by
students / 3
Hiroshi
luoyoiiii
Japan
native's
artwork on
display at
Randall
Library/ 13
TridL «d fidd actioB
UNCW runners and leapers
race into tournament/19
Campus News..
3
Local/State......
University
8
OP/ED..........
Classifieds
11
A & E
The Scene
14
Sports.,
Bicycles and cars: safety issues questioned
by MELISSA FARQUHAR
Staff Writer
The one-mile radius issue has forced many students to
use means of alternative transportation on campus. While
this change has helped to alleviate some traffic and parking
problems on campus, many students who choose to bike to
school have been the victims of vehicular accidents, lead
ing some students to believe that the university does not
provide a safe means for bicyclists to travel on campus.
Senior Claus Kyhn Hansen was recently hit by a red
Dodge Neon while bicycling on campus. The driver clipped
him and kept driving, leaving Hansen on the side of the road,
near the Warwick Center.
The thing is, this isn’t the first time something like this
has happened,” Hansen said. In the three years that Hansen
has been riding his bicycle on campus, he said he’s been
repeatedly yelled at and cut off by drivers on campus.
“All of the roads are bad.” Hansen said. “There aren't
enough bike lanes’
Among the many rules not observed by bicyclist is not
walking their bikes over cross walks on campus.
Senior James Cooper of Students and Community for Al
ternative Transportation (SCAT) agrees.
“UNCW has an incomplete bicycle lane network." he said.
“They only have marked bike lanes on one side of the road.
This is dangerous because cyclists are supposed to ride with
the flow of traffic, but by having only one lane on a road,
some cyclists ride into traffic also, which causes a bottleneck.”
Along with the problem of limited bike lanes. Hansen said
many drivers and cyclists do not understand road rules.
Hansen recommend,s a campus wide effort to make drivers
and cyclists more aware of laws. In addition to the problem
of cyclists riding on the wrong side of the road. Hansen doesn't
think any drivers on campus recognize bicycle signals.
“There is a problem out there concerning bikes and cars,"
said Lt. David Donaldson of the UNCW police department
(UNCWPD). "There is a large quantity of traffic, and there is
ignorance, that is, a lack of understanding, about what bikes
have to do and what pedestrians have to do."
Bicycles have been considered vehicles under North Caro
lina law since 1937 and bicyclists are granted the same rights
as motor vehicle drivers.
Since implementing the one-mile radius policy last fall, the
university has seen a rise in the number of students utilizing
alternative transportation. Vice Chancellor of Business Affairs
Dick Scott said that the university is continuing to improve
the bike paths throughout campus, and there has been a big
push to get people to use the Seahawk Shuttle
According to Scott, the university has just recently been
approved for a joint grant with the North Carolina Depart
ment of Transportation (DOT), which will create a bike path
from the center of campus to the beach. The university is
currently waiting for a contract now that funding has been
approved.
“The project will be implemented in the summer and will
be ready in the fall,” Scott said.
The university is also looking into other ways to aid cy
clists on campus. A committee was established by the Stu
See BICYCLE, page 5
Students protest Disney presence on campus
by THOMAS M. RUYLE
Editor-In-Chief
A small group of students staged a protest last Thursday
at Morton Hall as the Walt Disney Company held an intern
ship recruiting session there. Five members of RE.A.C.E.
(People for Education and Active Commitment to Equality)
handed literature to the internship prospects detailing labor
injustices committed by Disney in Haiti.
The group, led by sophomore Adrien Lopez, stood out
side the doors of Bryan Auditorium attempting to dissuade
students from attending the information session, speaking
of various injustices said to be committed by Disney.
Shortly before the presentation, the group was confronted
by members of Career Services and a Disney representa
tive. A short discussion ensued regarding the students’ right
to voice their opinion.
After Lopez cited a clause in the Student Handbook that
allows groups of 50 or less to peacefully demonstrate, the
two sides reached an agreement quickly. RE.A.C.E would
be allowed access to the auditorium until the program be
gan, and were welcome to stay, as long as there were no
Several students protested at Morton hall (iuring a
Disney internship recruiting program last Thursday.
disruptions. Several members of the group chanted “Halt
Walt!” and “Hit the road, Disney!” at the doors of the audito
rium until the program began.
A university police officer arrived on the scene for several
minutes during the demonstration as a security precaution.
See DISNEY, page 5
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