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The University of North Carolina at Asheville
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i^olunie 27 Issue 13
April 23, 1998
New multimedia major receives funding
By Gene Zaleski
staff Writer
The University of North Carolina
Seneral Administration provided
Inal approval and funding for the
stablishment of a new multimedia
rts and sciences major at UNCA
n April 9. Multimedia classes will
e offered as early as next semester.
“Courses must first be approved
y the faculty senate and the aca-
emic policy committee, but stu-
ents can officially begin to take
classes towards the multimedia ma
jor in the fall semester,” said Asso
ciate Vice Chancellor for Academic
Affairs Tom Cochran.
The new multimedia program is
designed to prepare students for
careers in computer-based image,
sound, and text manipulation in
fields such as banking, entertain
ment, manufacturing, marketing
and public education.
“The student will be marketable
to any employer looking for more
of a multimedia approach to busi
ness,” said Cochran.
The UNC General Administra
tion provided the multimedia pro
gram with a guaranteed annual
funding level
of $126,000.
An additional
$204,756 was
allocated to the
program for
the 1997-98
year to cover
initial start-up
costs, such as
the purchase of
new equip
ment.
“The money must be spent by
Tom Cochran
June 15, because the purchase or
ders have to be in and the bills have
to be paid by June 30,” said
Cochran.
In future years, approximately
$40,000 will be spent annually on
equipment upgrades.
“We know that two years from
now different needs will come up in
the program,” said Cochran. “We
would like to be able to address
those needs when they come up.”
According to Mark West, associ
ate professor of mass communica
tions and director of the new mul
timedia arts and sciences major.
UNCA will hire a full-time faculty
member and part time secretary to
staff the new multimedia depart
ment.
“We want to hire a good teacher
interested in the humanities, with a
great deal of skill, both technical
and artistic,” said West.
Cochran said that over half of the
annual multimedia budget will be
used to cover personnel costs.
“Approximately $60,000 will be
for personnel, which will include
20 percent fringe benefits, so the on
going total for personnel will be
about $72,000 or $75,000,” said
Cochran. “Next fall a search will be
initiated for a faculty position and
we will hire them as soon as we
can.”
According to a report on the
UNCA multimedia program issued
by the UNC General Administra
tion, 18 students are projected to
enroll in the major in the first year.
Enrollment in the program is ex
pected to rise to 56 students by
2002, and level out at 70 students
by 2006.
The requirements for the multi-
See MAJOR on page 8
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PHOTO BY PRESTON GANNAWAY
George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars performed at the Asheville Civic Center on
April 17. Clinton and other members of the band smoked what appeared to be ciga
rettes and encouraged audience participation during the three-hour show.
Graduates limited to four
guests at rain location
2,300 seat Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
will be used as the alternate site
By Nicole Miller
staff Writer
The UNCA administration re
served the Thomas Wolfe Audito
rium at the Asheville Civic Center
as the rain location for the May 16
commencement ceremony.
If rain causes the ceremony to
move to the Civic Center site, each
graduate will be permitted to bring
four guests.
Students graduating in May have
expressed dissatisfaction with these
arrangements.
Graduating senior psychology
major Miranda Carpenter said, “I
think that the university would have
learned to plan in advance. They
should make sure that all graduat
ing students can invite everyone
they love.”
Associate Vice Chancellor for Aca
demic Affairs Tom Cochran said
that the administration originally
tried to reserve the main hall at the
Civic Center, which seats over 7,000
people. He said that the university
ultimately ended up reserving the
smallerThomas WolfeAuditorium,
which seats 2,300 people, due to a
miscommunication between
UNCA and Civic Center employ
ees.
Cochran said that he accepts re
sponsibility for the miscommuni
cation,
“I can’t blame anyone but myself.
It is my responsibility to see that the
arrangements are cared for, and this
year it didn’t get done,” Cochran
said.
After each year’s commencement,
administrators contact the Civic
Center to reserve a space for the
following year. Last year, UNCA
requested use of the main hall and
“I can’t blame any
one but myself. It Is
my responsibility
to see that the ar
rangements are
oared for, and this
year it didn’t get
done.”
- Associate Vice
Chancellorfor Aca
demic Affairs Tom
Cochran
thought that everything was okay,
said Cochran.
“I honestly thought we had been
successful in getting the main hall
as our site for this year,” Cochran
said.
The main hall was free for this
year’s commencement at the time
the university called to reserve it.
“The thing that is so distressing is
that the facility was available, it was
free,” said Cochran.
The Civic Center staff ultimately
booked the main hall for a health
fair, which will run the entire length
of the weekend.
Civic Center officials could not be
reached for comment yesterday.
Cochran said that several factors
may have contributed to the mis
communication. At the time that
UNCA requested the main hall,
the commencement date was not
definite.
He said that the university also
changed its calendar, and every
thing was moved back one week.
Cochran also said that the Civic
Center has undergone several
changes in personnel over the past
year, and that may have resulted in
some confusion or miscommuni
cation.
According to Cochran, the Tho
mas Wolfe Auditorium was last
year’s rain location for the gradua
tion ceremony, and the Civic Cen
ter personnel may have assumed
that UNCA wanted the same space
this year.
“1 was as irate as any of the stu
dents probably are that we don’t
have (the larger space),” said
Cochran. “I didn’t have any choice.
I didn’t have any other options.
There is literally no other facility in
the community that 1 am aware of
that is enclosed and holds 3,000
people.”
“1 feel that it was poor planning by
the university,” Carpenter said. “I
See RAIN on page 8
egislatois pledge support for Highsmith
By Amelia Morrison
staff Writer
The North Carolina Legislature will de-
; whether or not to fiand the proposed
.4 million renovation and expansion of
Highsmith University Center at its
^98 legislative session, which begins on
lay 11.
Legislators from the Asheville area said
ut they are backing the project, and ex-
sct that it will be approved and funded by
legislature.
Jo support the Highsmith Center fund-
g completely. I think it has an excellent
■snce of being approved,” said state Sen.
Clark of Weaverville. “UNCA has
somewhat shortchanged in having
'“jects funded over the last few years. The
gislators have not been focused on getting
nding.”
“It actually should have been done before
this,” said state Sen, Bob Carpenter of
Franklin.
“UNCA has not gotten its fair share of
building funds in the last few years,” said
state Sen. Jesse Ledbetter of Asheville. “It’s
the first priority I have for the university
system as far as building projects.”
The current Highsmith Center was con
structed in 1982, and designed to accom
modate a residential population of 400.
The residential population of UNCA will
rise to over 1,100 in 1999.
If fully funded, the Highsmith renova
tion project would include an expanded
bookstore, art gallery, computer lab, in
door child play area, university post office,
additional office space, and meeting rooms.
“We prioritize the most critical needs,
and the Highsmith Center is a critical
need,” said Carpenter. “This Highsmith
Center is on the top of the list,”
Representative Bill Ives agreed that the
project is of importance to the legislators
this year.
“I think it’s a high priority,” said Ives. “I
think it has a good chance at it this year.”
Carpenter said that there is bipartisan
support for the Highsmith project,
“There is not any dissension or flies in the
ointment,” said Carpenter.
Local legislators said that they will lobby
other senators and representatives for sup
port.
“All of us will have some influence, we
hope,” said Ledbetter.
Clark said that he has “talked with other
legislators already,” and Ives said that there
has been considerable talk about the project.
“Those of us from the mountains have
talked about it at great length,” said Ives.
Clark attributes the local legislator’s sup
port for the Highsmith project to Chancel
lor Patsy Reed’s efforts to educate local
See HIGHSMITH on page 8
PHOTO BY PRESTON GANNAWAY
Funding is being sought for the renovation and expansion of the
Highsmith Center. The roof over the bookstore currently leaks after it
rains, and a temporary tarp has been installed to protect the books.
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