September 23,1999
The Banner
Perspectives
Student
Government
Association
Volunteer for the right reasons
Here it is, another SGA ar
ticle, and I bet you’re all bust-
: the seams to sit down
and read it. Relax, take a deep
breath, and jump right in.
^ :t me start off by telling
you what I was going to write
about. SGA had a retreat last
weekend in Hendersonville
with a very notable turnout
from UNCA’s staff and ad
ministration.
There were many pertinent
By Wiley Cash
issues discussed over the course
of the day, and I could write
them all, butyoualreadyknow
what they are.
If you guess DIVERSITY,
then you win, nothing. You
just prove that you realize
UNCA’s lack of it.
Another topic discussed was
UNCA’s need for ties with
the community, a.k.a. com
munity service and philan-.
thropy.
I must admit that these are
two issues that have plagued
my conscience in the last few
months. We’ve talked about
them, studied them, held fo
rums to share ideas. But guess
what, they are still problems.
But guess what? They always
So the true question is not:
“What can you do about di
versity and volunteerism?”
Instead, it should be: “Do you
truly desire to take a stand for
diversity and the community,
realizing that you are going to
bust your ass with very little
noticeable result or praise from
your peers?”
Chancellor James Mullen
said something at the retreat
on Sept. 18 that made a huge
impression on me. In refer
ence to all the studies on our
lack of diversity, he remarked.
How many blood samples
do you have to give before you
realize you’re sick?”
We need to stop feeling
proud for discussing prob
lems, and we need to start
sweating and get them solved.
But do it for the right rea
sons, and also realize that rea-
give you any concrete answers
to fight for diversity or to im
prove the community.
I have my own, and you have
to find yours. This is where
the story comes in.
Once there was a young boy
who was a prince. He lived in a
beautiful Idngdom with riches
and power, and thought of him
self as a good person who would
help others in need.
One afternoon, he was walk
ing through the forest when
suddenly, a vision appeared
amongst the trees. The Holy
Grail floated before him, sur
rounded by a ring of fire and
bright light. Immediately, the
prince realized what he was
seeing, and ideas of riches and
fame filled his mind.
He could actually be the one
to possess the Holy Grail.
Licking his lips in anticipa
tion, he reached into the light
to retrieve the Grail, only to
be burned by the flames. With
fame and fortune still firmly
in mind, the prince reached
again, only to be scalded more
severely.
He tried several more times,
only to find the flames too
strong and the light too bright.
Eventually, the vision faded,
and the prince was left alone
in the forest.
Years later, the young prince
grew into a bitter, old king.-
Everyday he thought of the
Grail and longed to feel his
fingers grip the gold chalice.
He was tired and worn.
Years of disappointment sat
heavy on his brow, and his
people did not respect such a
decrepit, feeble man. He
stayed in his castle all day and
looked out over his kingdom,
and at night, he laid in bed
trying to pinpoint where his
life had gone wrong.
One day, a simple man won
dered into the castle gates. He
was a traveler and stopped for
a night in the kingdom.
He made his way into the
king’s chambers and ap
proached the throne, only to
find a weak, old man, instead
of a proud and powerful king.
The simple man approached
the throne, and being simple,
knelt out of respect.
“Sire,” the simple man said,
“you look tired and worn.
Please let me help you.”
The king, who was used to
being ignored and mocked, was
surprised that anyone spoke to
him, much less out of concern.
The king, realizing for the
first time how thirsty he was,
answered, “Well, yes. Yes, canv
you please bring me some *
water? I am so very thirsty.”
The simple man approached
the throne with a cup, and the '
king took a long drink from
the cool water.
Suddenly, the cup felt heavy
and the king looked down, j
only to realize he was holding
the Holy Grail.
The king looked up at the ^
simple man in amazement and ^
asked, “How did you find me?
How did you know?”
“All I knew,” the simple man ‘
replied, “was that you were i
thirsty.” ^
Wiley Cash is the president of
SGA L
Letter to the Editor
Clarification
Dear Editor,
The following is to clarify some
information in the “Letters to the
Editor” in the September 9, 1999
of The Banner about the cre-
[ of the Chancellor’s Staff Ad
visory Committee (CSAC). The
following is a brief timeline as to
the most recent events that lead to
the creation of CSAC:
June 11, 1997
Foririer Chancellor Patsy Reed met
with staff in Owen Conference
Center to announce the change in
the official hours of operation of
the university from 4:30 p.m. to 5
July 18, 1997
Molly Broad was elected as Pre
dent of the UNC system.
July 22, 1997
Reed called a meeting of the e:
ployees of the quarter. At this me
ing Mike Small, Judy Dillard, Me-
- Kssa Acker, Steve Honeycutt, Elise
Henshaw, Linda Franklin, and
Betty Ponder were asked to draft
by-laws for a representative staff
group.
February 16, 1998
Reed and the by-laws committee
met via teleconference with Betsy
Bunting, attorney at the UNC Gen
eral Administration, to discuss the
by-laws.
May 1, 1998
CSAC was announced t6 the cam
pus, and input from staflFmembers
was solicited.
June 30, 1998
Reed called the first meeting of the
elected representatives of CSAC.
CSAC owes its existence to many
people who have been suggesting
that a group of this nature be cre
ated for years.
UNCA was about the eighth cam
pus in the UNC system to create a
representative group of staff mem
bers. Thanks to President Broad,
all 16 campuses are now required to
have a group similar to UNCA’s
CSAC.
In the following issue of The Ban
ner (September 16, 1999), there
were a few things mentioned that
need to be clarified from the article
“Mullen meets with CSAC.”
The article states, “The most pend
ing issue was the salary policy, which
dealt with pay raises for the staff
and faculty.” We were suggesting
an in-range salary policy for
UNCA’s over 300 staff employees,
not the faculty.
The article states “Smith says the
committee has also helped to in
crease enrollment,” and, “Smith said
one of their suggestions was a 24-
hour public safety staff person, as
well as more programs that pro
mote diversity on campus.”
The admissions office is respon
sible for recruiting students. CSAC
was asked by Reed to review a list
provided by the vice chancellors
and make recommendations based
on an increase in expected enroll-
We did endorse both the fund
ing for public safety and the office
of diversity and multicultural re
lations.
The article also mentions the
employee summer picnic and the
dunking booth fundraiser. While
Maggie Smith and I did partici
pate in the dunking booth, we
would again like to thank Eric
lovacchini, vice chancellor for stu
dent affairs; Steve Baxley, director
of facilities management; and Tom
Goddard, assistant director of fa
cilities management for their par
ticipation. In fact, Steve Baxley
raised the most money for the
CSAC student scholarship fund.
Steve Honeycutt
Chair
Maggie Smith
Vice Chair
Elise Henshaw
Secretary
Chancellor’s Staff Advisory
Committee
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Editorial Board
Amelia Burnette
Emma Jones
Meghan Cummings
Andrew Pearson
Travis Barker
Krystel Lucas
Matt Hunt
Zach Dill
Editor-in-Chief
News Editor
Features Editor
Sports Editor
Photo Editor
Copy Editor
Online Editor
Asst. Online Editor
Staflf
Jessica Ball, Martha Ball, Holly Beveridge,
Christine Cooke, Breandan Dezendorf Mark Ebert,
Jason Graham, Phoebe Hicks, Ryan Hunter, Sarah Lacy,
Johanna Luks, Brett Muhlan, Amanda Qsteeiiv
Naomi Richard, Tripp Shelton, Sarah Wilkins,
Megan Wood
Managers
Rebecca Cook
Greg Sessoms
Business Manager
Circulation Manager
Columnists
Liam Bryan, ?Wiley Cash,
David Marshall, Andrew Thomasson
Mark West, faculty advisor
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