Poison overcrowding relief proposes The Daily Tar HeelFriday, January 20, 19893 Academic Accolades By KAREN DUNN Staff Writer ; Gov. Jim Martin sent a $75 million proposal to state legislators Wednes day for major reforms to alleviate severe overcrowding in North Carol ina's prisons. ; The proposal will also settle the ;lawsuit filed against the Department ;of Correction by the inmates of 49 ;state prisons. In the suit, the inmates ;qiiestioned the constitutionality of ;their crowded living conditions. ; "The problem we have here is that 2,000 more people went to prison in 1988 than in 1987," said Sam Wilson, chairman of the N.C. Parole Com jmission. "People are coming in with '.longer sentences, so there are less people meeting parole. There were 1,045 fewer people eligible for parole in 1988 than in 1987," he said. ; The proposal, called the Prison Emergency Act, has four major points. The first asks the General Assembly to agree to terms that will settle the prisoners' class action lawsuit filed in the summer of 1985. The settlement, reached on Dec. 20 of last year, calls for the availability of 50 square feet of living space per inmate in the 49 prisons named in the suit. This additional space plus an improvement in ventilation and clothing must be provided by July of 1994. The second point involves con struction as part of the settlement. A sum of $48.5 million over the next two fiscal years will provide enough space for 608 higher-security medium custody beds in addition to the 200 minimum custody beds proposed by Martin. The third point proposes alterna tive supervisory methods to divert offenders who under previous con ditions may have gone to prison. "The expansion of the electronic house arrest program to 12 more communities will link the offenders of non-violent crimes who still need supervision to telephone lines through computer technology," said David Guth, spokesman for the N.C. Department of Correction. "It helps monitor the person who would otherwise be in prison, giving them a last chance." Another aspect of the third point diverts potential prisoners through a system of intensive probation. "An offender will be in touch with a probation officer five or six times a day rather than once or twice a week," Guth said. The fourth and final point of the proposal calls for the extension of prison capacity. A cap of 18,000 would be allowed when enough people are not eligible for parole, although the proposal calls for an increase in the normal cap to 17,640. The settlement of the lawsuit has been long-awaited, and the Depart ment of Correction is pleased with Martin's proposal. "We want to fix the entire system to end the cycle of litigation," Guth said. Martin is fairly confident that the proposal will pass in both houses of the state legislature. "The governor thinks there's a good chance that it will pass in the House and Senate. He has high hopes for it this time," said Tim Pittman, press secretary to the governor. If the General Assembly passes the proposal and provides the necessary funds, implementation of the new program could begin this year, Pittman said. a Gillian Cell, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, has been re-elected to a three-year term on the board of directors of the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences. The council is a national association of 300 insti tutions designed to sustain the arts and sciences as a leading influence in American higher education and serves as a forum for idea and information exchange. D Judith Wegner, professor of law, has been appointed to a second term on the Association of American Law Schools Accredi tation Committee and named to chair the committee in 1989. a The Committee on Faculty Research and Study Leaves selected 34 assistant professors at UNC as 1989 Junior Faculty Development Awards winners. The $3,000 awards support research or scholarly work for non-tenured faculty members. The recipients are Michael Aitken, Melanie Archer, Peter Bearman, Deborah Bialeschki, Jennifer Conrad, Noel Greis, Elizabeth Crais, Ann Erickson, Michael Folio, Deborah Franks, Lorna Harris, Marilyn Hartman, Maureane Hoffman, Siddugari Kalachandra, Laura Kalfayan, Cathy Klech, Mark Koruda, Ste phen Leonard, Stuart Macdonald, George Maryniuk, Judith Meece, Jane Millen, Dexter Morris, Donald Nonini, Mary Pardo, Charles Paull, Delia Pollock, Jan Prins, Joseph Rubino, Regina Sherard, Kevin Stewart, Nancy Thompson, Ann Wadsworth and Joanne Waghorne. Community responds to Ronald McDonald House fund-raiseirs By JESSICA LANN1NQ Staff Writer With a massive fund-raising push made at the end of last year and help from the state McDonald's Children's Services Advisory Board, the Ronald McDonald House in Chapel Hill has been able to raise more than $100,000. Dick Broom, public relations volunteer for the house, said the local chapter raised $67,373 from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 1988. Those funds were then matched by a $50,000 contribu tion from the advisory board. : Money raised for the house will cover part of its operating costs, estimated at $150,000, and the money given by the advisory board will help pay the $300,000 mortgage on the house, Broom said. The local money was raised through two major fund-raising projects. The organization contacted previous contributors, thanked them for their past contributions and asked them to give again. The local group also published a cookbook called "Tar Heels Cooking for Ronald's Kids," featuring recipes contributed by former UNC athletes and other University officials. Approximately 1,200 books were sold, raising $13,860 over the three month period, Broom said. The book is still available for $13.95 and is sold at the Ronald McDonald House, Johnny T-Shirt, the Country Store and Kitchenworks in University Mall, Pace in the Glen Lennox shopping center and the Merrill Lynch Realty Office. The cookbook was Tar Heel announcer Woody Durham's idea, Broom said. The book is divided into sections for salads, appetizers, breads, desserts and other recipes. House manager Barbara Palmer said she was pleased the fund-raiser was a success and the advisory board matched the funds the local group raised. "They always make an extra effort to make the new houses mortgage free," she said. "They like to see the new houses get on their feet." Palmer said she was surprised at how important small contributions are. "We got tremendous support from the physicians and medical faculty at the hospital," she said. "It really adds up." Broom said remaining operating funds will be raised through frequent fund-raisers such as auctions, mara thons, T-shirt sales, bake sales and contributions from individuals and businesses. Broom said he was not sure if the advisory board would match funds again this year. The advisory board is made up of McDonald's restaurant representa tives who decide how to distribute money given to them or raised on a state level. "Some companies give money without designating one of the houses in the state, and the restaurants have fund-raisers of their own," Broom said. "The advisory board decides how money will be distributed rea sonably and equitably, sometimes using it as an incentive for the houses to have their own fund-raisers (as in this case)." The Ronald McDonald House provides families of seriously ill children, and sometimes the child, a place to stay while the child receives treatment at North Carolina Memor ial Hospital. Since the house opened last May, families from 73 of the 100 counties in North Carolina and from seven other states have stayed in the house, and 307 people have been helped, Broom said. "It's a place to stay, not just a hotel or motel," Broom said. The house gives families a chance to be with people in a similar situation, he said. Staying at the house is cheaper than paying for a hotel or hospital room, Broom said. Families can stay at the house for $8 per bed per night. Before the house was built, families camped out in cars, slept in chairs at the hospital or skipped meals to save money, Broom said. Palmer said about 50 percent of those who stay at the house can afford to pay the cost, some can only pay part of the fee, and many cannot pay at all. Broom said he felt the house was doing well and that the need for the house has existed for years. "People say, 4I dont know how we got along without the house,' " he said. Chapel Hill housing prices push living costs above average By TRACY LAWSON Staff Writer With housing costs leading the way, a national chamber of com merce study shows the cost of living in Chapel Hill is slightly higher than the nationwide average. According to the American Chamber of Commerce Researchers Association's (ACCRA) 1988 third quarter cost of living index, living costs in Chapel Hill are 11.2 percent higher than costs elsewhere. Sherri Powell, ACCRA rea searcher for the Chapel Hill Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, said the numbers in the index repre sent living costs for mid management standards. j ' - ' Enrollment "Examples of jobs that make up the midmanagement standards are partners in CPA firms, some small business owners and some tenured university faculty members," Powell said. The cost of living index is based on six components. In Chapel Hill, five of the six components rank above the national average. But the cost of housing is the highest of these figures, ranking 39.5 percent above the national average. Tina Vaughn, director of housing and community development for the town of Chapel Hill, said, "One of the reasons the cost of housing is so high in Chapel Hill is because there are so many retirees moving into the from pegs 1 area. Most of these retirees have money to spend and come from the North where the cost of living is extremely high, Vaughn said. "As a result the cost of houses here may be cheap in comparison to where they came from, and therefore they demand to build more expensive houses," she said. June Foushee of Foushee Realty said the Research Triangle Park and area universities drive up housing costs in the area, but she said people usually are not apprehensive about moving here because of the high cost of living. "However for the first time I have talked to some retirees who have decided not to retire here because the cost of living is begining to catch up with that of the North," Foushee said. Building contractor Jon Harder gave other reasons why the cost of housing is so high land costs in Chapel Hill are high and development costs are even higher. "The sewer and water fees are also high in this area because of money pledged to the bond issue to pay for the Cane Creek project," Harder said. "In other areas there is a tax subsidy to help pay costs for sewer and water." Besides the high cost of housing, the index also shows the following results for Chapel Hill: a The cost for transportation is 10.9 percent above the national average. n The cost, for health care is 5.5 percent above the national average. B The cost for miscellaneous goods and services is 3.9 percent above the national average. B The cost for grocery items is 0.8 percent above the national average. B The cost of utilities is 5 percent below the national average. black students, Dawson said. Also, Poole said, during the time UNC's. percentages were increasing, overall black enrollment went down nationally, making the increase more significant. . . Poole said the system will not work toward any specific percentage but will continue to push for an increase. "We're still working towards a more realistic percentage based on the number of students," he said. According to the 1988 Minority and Female Presence Report, released in November by the Affir mative Action Office, the number of enrolled black undergraduates at UNC-CH was 8.8 percent, short of the 10 percent goal that has been a target throughout the decade. $1.00 Off Any Sandwich & Soft Drink Between 2 & 5 p.m. Weekdays Only 111 E. MAIN ST. CARRBORO N.C Sun-Wed 11 am-11 pm Thurs-Sat 11 am-1 am .1 wv 14 H lit? ii (i back to school S L E OM SEUCTED ITEMS oMf Bread N Butter fe) A surprising Cards University Square Chapel Hill 967-8935 D30IS SflEaE. TRETOIN white light blue royal blue pink yellow leather white Reebok In stock items only Noralnchecks expires 12889 133 W. Franklin St. University Square Sat10am-6pm lUO Open: M-F 10 am-7 pm VISA. Move in by March 1, Receive one month's free rent? Because all things are not created equal. Jacuzzi and exercise facilities Lighted tennis courts Distinctive, luxurious floor plans Two gorgeous clubhouses, complete with two pools Vaulted ceilings, fireplaces, miniblinds, bay windows Location! Two miles from UNC and Memorial Hospital, 17 miles from RTP and Duke 601 Jones Ferry Rd., Hyw 54 Bypass, Carrboro (919)967-0955 Open 7 days a week . - 1 ; v i fou Apartments Developed and Managed by Charter Properties, Inc. SPD2DMG BRZMl S9 fROM Campu! ours1 7 kys6 nigh from34900 mi CALL TOLL FREE 1-800- 6-BWlA 7DAYS6NIGHTS BOUND TRIP AIR OR Sf A FARC FROM MIAMI OR FT LAUDERDALE POUND TRIP HOTEL TRANSFERS (SAVt tZO) BEACH OR NEAR BEACH ACCOMMODATIONS ALL TAXES. TIPS J. GRATUITIES FOR YOUR HOTEL STAY (SAVt $50) COMPLIMENTARY DRINKS I DISCOUNTS AT RESTAURANTS rtt INTRODUCTORY COCKTAIL PARTIES FREE ADMISSION INTO EXCITING NIGHTCLUBS (utudW $10 - $IS) FREE ADMISSION INT0GREAT LOCAL SHOWS (ulually $10 - $30) F Rl I SCURA AND SNORKLING LESSONS 40 OFF ON DIVES (INCLUDES CQUlPMENTKSAVt 150) AND MUCH, MUCH MORE E? D D 0 D D D Q Q D D Q D I J3 ej t"i E3 f E3 ES E3 ES ti fi p 53 psj ci EZ3 ETJ Faa7 Gnnri T.nnlr Grerrf u in '89! Enjoy our Aerobics, Nautilus & Freeweights for a quality workout! Xv VJ Q 0 D Q Q D D ORANGE CGUNTV ANIMAL CONTROL 1 989 DOG & CAT LICENSING Due by January 31, 1989 For animals licensed in 1 987 & 1 988 CATCH our lowest prices in 5 years! Professionals Students 1 year 295.00 245.00 3 months 120.00 99.00 6 weeks 66.00 60.00 Bring in this coupon for one FREE workout! Largest Aerobics Rooms and Freeweight Space in the Triangle! n Professional and Certified Instructors! J? 933-9249 vv. main 01 Carrboro, NC D D D D Q IhiLMiSIYIuil Cou1vApr 0 All Dogs & Cats must be: Over 4 months of age Current on rabies vaccination Applications Found At: Orange County Veterinary Offices Animal Control Offices Orange County Animal Shelter Spay-Neuter Programs Available: For information about animal licensing or spay-neuter programs call: HILLSBOROUGH: 732-8181, DURHAM: 688-7331 MEBANE: 227-2032 CHAPEL HILLCARRBORO 942-4168 or 967-9251 Ncw residents & new animal owners must license their pets within 30 days. FAILURE TO LICENSE CAN RESULT IN A $25 FINE.

Page Text

This is the computer-generated OCR text representation of this newspaper page. It may be empty, if no text could be automatically recognized. This data is also available in Plain Text and XML formats.

Return to page view