Harris resigns as AD, UNCA steady on course
By Dale McElrath
UNCA Athletic Director
Ed Harris announced his
resignation to take a
similar position at Mis
souri Western State Col
lege Friday, amid specula
tion the action signals a
"de-emphasization" of ath
letics at UNCA.
However, UNCA Chancellor
David Brown said the uni
versity *s move toward NCAA
CflANOEUOR BRONII
xeslgoatloa as WCA
as Ed Harris o^laing
director of atiLLetlCS* staff photo by Penny l^-amp
Division I status is
"steafy on course."
"We have a long-term
commitment to provide fi
nancial support for all
the sports programs,"
Brown said.
"I have done everything
in ny power to convince Ed
this is the wrong move,"
Brown continued. "But he
has decided to take the
position. We will be sorry
to see him go, but that
doesn't change our stand
on athletics."
Harris said he*s leaving
to search for "more pro
fessional challenges.
"tfy wife and I have
struggled with this deci
sion for several months,"
Harris said. "I*m at a
point in ny professional
life where it*s time for
challenges. I*d like to
test Boy skills in another
position." Continued on page 5
I
Serving the students of the University of North Carolina Asheville since 1982
Volume VI, Number I
Thursday, January 24,1985
UNCA figures leave fold
By Penny Kramp
One could call it the
winter of UNCA*s discon
tent.
As cold winds blasted
campus, a series of six
resignations from the
board of trustees, admin
istration, and faculty
rocked UNCA in January.
In a board of trustees
switchover Tomny Arnold,
chairman of the board of
trustees, stepped down
from the post he held
sinc6 1983. The board
unanimously voted Vice
Chairman James Ellis as
his replacement last
Thursday.
In addition to Director
of Athletics Ed Harris,
(see related story), UNCA
lost three more admini
strators .
Director of Institution
al Research Dennis Hengst-
ler. Director of Enroll
ment Kenneth Rice, and Di
rector of University Gra
phics Dean Hines relin
quished their jobs in or
der to accept more pr«nis-
ing positions.
On the faculty side. Dr.
Gene Rainey, professor of
political science, con
ceded his post as chairman
of the department to Dr.
Bob Farzanegan, professor
of political science.
There is no apparent
common denominator to the
sudden rash of resigna
tions .
"I think it is just the
case of people pursuing
private interests and not
a problem with the admin
istration," said Rainey.
Arnold, who led the
search committee for Chan
cellor Highsmith's re
placement, left because of
a state clause prohibiting
a person from serving as a
trustee / if his spouse is
an eiq>loye^ of the state.
Arnold's wife, Gene
vieve, began teaching a
developmental studies
class at UNCA this se
mester.
Arnold said there are no
hard feelings and he
wholeheartedly agrees with
the law. "It is fair. The
state is just trying to
avoid hiring people who
might take advantage of
the situation," said Ar
nold.
Arnold does not see the
resignation as an end to
his involvement with the
college.
"I*m not being let off
the hook. I plan to work
with the university on a
volunteer basis," said Ar
nold.
Leading the chancellor
search was the most re
warding experience of his
term because the trustees
had a very active role in
the decision, according to
Arnold.
"The trend of the trus
tees becoming more in
volved is very necessary
to iiq>rove the future of
the college," advised Ar
nold at the board' s meet
ing last Thursday.
Ellis, former director
of administration for the
Biltmore Co., has served
Continued on page 8
Staff hnoto by Sylvia Hawkins
FRUSTRATED STUDENTS baraved arctic—like weather, only
to discover classes cancaelled on Monday.
Big Chill strikes
Former Board Chairman Tommy
Arnold
Staff photo by Sylvia Hawkins
New Board Chairman James Ellis
Staff photo by Sylvia Hawkins
Dr. Dennis Hengstler
Staff photo by Sylvia Hawkins
By Donna Obrecht
A disc jockey surprised
Vice Chancellor Laurence
Dorr while driving to work
Monday morning when he
announced the cancellation
of UNCA classes.
The record breaking cold
weather hadn't been enough
to convince Dorr, who is
usually responsible for
that decision, to close
the university.
Because of what Dorr
called an "unfortunate
mix-up," Chancellor David
Brown made the decision
about 7:30 a.m. to cancel
day and evening classes.
"We had some confusion
Monday over who was re
sponsible," said Brown. "I
thought Vice-Chancellor
Dorr was out of town, but
I was mistaken."
"Coming from an environ
ment slightly to the
north, I first thought
classes should go on, but
I'm smart enough to know
to listen to people who've
been here longer," said
Brown.
"I received a single
Continued on paga 3