TkEi
Stentorian
VOLUME XXVIIII ISSUE TWO
The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
stcntorian@ncssm.edu
(XTOBER 2(X)7
An Introduction to Entrepreneurship
NCSSM AND UNC-CHAPEL HILL COOPERATE TO PRESENT STUDENTS WITH NEW OPPORTUNITY
By Laura Chao
An exciting new opportunity is available for NCSSM
students entering the fall trimester. Through the coop
eration of UNC-Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business
School and NCSSM’s Academic Programs, a new course
“Introduction to Entrepreneurship” (ECON 325) is avail
able for juniors and seniors interested in tapping into their
own entrepreneurial ability.
The introductory course is designed to replicate the
activities of real-life entrepreneurs in the launch stage of a
new endeavor. Randy Myer, an entrepreneurial professor at
UNC-Chapel Hill, will come one night per week to instruct
NCSSM students on the entrepreneurship process, and pro
mote innovative applications through simulated activities
based upon successful precedents.
“There is a mandate from Erskine Bowles to expand this
idea of entrepreneurship withinthe university system and to all
North Carolina schools,” said Tom Clayton, Director of Aca
demic Programs, “1 do believe that we are the first connection
between the university system and North CarcJlina secondary
schools. We are definitely part of the first wave.”
NCSSM students enrolled in the night course will be
placed in teams to evaluate a new idea and determine the
demand their product, or service, generates. The course aims
to provide students a general understanding of innovation and
how to acquire funding for launching a new venture as welt
as cultivate the ability to recognize competitive opportunity.
NCSSM students in the course will learn to evaluate their own
entrepreneurial traits and skills through the creation their own
commercial venture. Students who generate an innovative,
feasible concept may even have the opportunity to bring
their idea to realization through Carolina Entrepreneurial
Initiative’s Launching the Venture Program.
“The Launch program [and the new course] is aimed
to encourage more activity, like the pursuits of the founders
of Motricity [from NCSSM], among students and young
entrepreneurs,” said Clayton.
The Launch program is a joint initiative within UNC
which consists of lectures, workshops, lab sessions, and
professional coaching that aim to help aspiring teams of
entrepreneurs develop business plans and launch tactic. The
program has already helped launch more than 20 successful,
real ventures and will be open to all NCSSM faculty, staff,
and students this fall.
“1 think [Introduction to Entrepreneurship] will be an
incredible class and I’m really looking forward to it,” said
senior Morgan Skiperdene, “This presents a lot of possibilities
and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
This new connection between NCSSM and UNC-Chapel
Hill has much to offer and will remain a continuing venture
for succeeding classes of students. Perhaps, one day, this
program will beget a Fortune 500 concept. The possibilities
are endless, and NCSSM students are the innovators - leading
the way and accepting the greater challenge.
Ongoing School Security Changes
By Edina Wang
Many students have noticed the intercoms and paging system around campus or have
heard it being tested on Friday of the recent extended. These new developments were
installed this summer and are part of a currently two-phase plan for security updates.
The security changes seen at school this year are a continuation of an earlier project
of upgrading to electronic access doors that occurred six years ago. Before the
electronic access system, students used ID cards that had a computer chip in ^
the card. “The problem was that they easily cracked or broke,” said Harry
Tucker, Director of Campus Resources and Security. “To replace, it
cost $8.00 a piece while the fob is $4.00 a piece.
As a continuation of an earlier project, part of the present
plans include combining the currently two-part electronic access
system to just one system. “It is a matter of the older secu
rity system, basically like computers, can become outdated,”
Chancellor Gerald Boarman said.
Events that may have raised security questions on NC
SSM campus and other school campuses only proved to
be an additional impetus for increased security. “Out
of every tragedy, something good happens. Virginia
Tech wasn’t the reason, but it didn’t hurt our cause,”
Tucker said. “Ever since I’ve been here. I’ve wanted a pag
ing system.”
The new intercom and paging system is only the first phase of the
security changes and will be finished by mid-November. Tucker said that there is no
intention to use intercoms and the paging system for anything other than emergencies
such as weather-related or neighborhood-related emergencies.
The new public address system is also an extension to the siren, which is located on
the top of the ETC. According to Tucker, the siren is loud enough to be heard as far as
Northgate Mall. However, the siren cannot notify the school exactly what is occurring,
so people may not understand what is going on. “Currently, we don’t have a way for you
to immediately contact security,” Boarman said. “Right now it is a one-way system.”
Intercoms are going to be in all classrooms and the paging system in all hallways.
The intercom and paging system will allow for two-way communication between security
and people in the classrooms. “Let’s say we have a tornado come through. Even though
we may have a siren, you need to know it is an emergency. We will be able to give you
directions on what to do,” Boarman said.
Forlhesecondphaseoftheproject,themaininstallmentwillbecameras. Cameraswillbe
placed at every entrance leading to the exterior. A Pan Tilt Zoom Camera will be able to cover
the entire parking lot. These cameras will serve as an investigative tool. “Cameras will show
who did what, when they did it and what door they went through,” Tucker said.
Also part of the second phase, a minimum of six and a maximum of 10 blue light
emergency telephones will be placed strategically all over
campus, so that students may call at any given time. The
second phase will begin in mid-December to early
January and should be finished by the end of school year.
Additionally, Hunt dormitory will have sprinklers, as it
is the only dorm that currently does not have sprinklers. This
installment will be completed by end of summer. “All of our dorms will
be rated well in terms of fire safety,” Boarman said.
Phase one of the project will cost $500,000 and phase two will cost
$450,000, making the entire project nearly one million dollars. “It is not
a lot of money if one person is lost or hurt. My position is safety first,
regardless of the cost,” Boarman said. . .
“Our system is designed to add things to it,” Tucker added. Lobby
Guard, a visitor tracking system, may be a future addition to
Bryan Desk. Costing about $4,000-$5,000, this addition
will complement what the school already has. Visitors will
have their driver’s license scanned, their pictures taken and
a visitor’s pass printed out that will track the visitor.
“I look for-ward to seeing these safety measures implemented and insuring that
the students will have a safe place to attain an education,” said senior Nicole Negbenebor,
a member of the Personal Safety Branch of the Safety Task Force, which proposes ways
of providing the optimal safe environment for the NCSSM community.
“We are on the cutting edge for technology on the system. Hopefully others will
use us as a model,” Tucker said.
Tucker suggested that perhaps one day, to eliminate the need of a key and decrease
theft, students at NCSSM can even fob into their rooms like people can swipe cards
into hotel rooms.
Meet the Candidates
Mini-term
page 2
page 5
Senior Spotlights
page 6-7