Newspapers / University of North Carolina … / Sept. 2, 2004, edition 1 / Page 10
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Page 10 The Blue Banner News September 2,200i New Highsmith opens after years of planning BY Chris Carreras Staff Reporter After almost years of planning and con struction, UNCA’s 1 lighsmith Union opens in time for the 2004 fall semester. “This is a building for students,” said Lloyd Weinberg, Coordinator for the Key Center for Service Learning, “1 think the students deserve it and I’m glad they got it.” With only a few minor delays, construc tion was completed on time and fulfdled the planning stafTs expectations. Many said that they were more than happy about the results of the new building. “In terms of our expectations we actu ally had them exceeded, we’ve been really pleased with the building,” said Kevan Frazier, the Director of the Highsmith Union project. “Everybody’s really worked to make that happen.” The only major delay in the construc tion of the new I lighsmith Union build ing occurred during the demolition of the old site. During the first few days of demo lition, the crews discovered asbestos in the ceiling of the building and needed to re move all the material before continuing on the project. “There was one significant delay on the front end. There was an unexpected layer of asbestos in the ceiling,” said Frazier. “It wasn’t a health hazard. It had just not been identified when they were doing the demo lition plan, so that added some time to the project we had.” Using special equipment, the crews re moved the asbestos during the night and managed to complete the construction and open the building on time, according to Frazier. “Our goal was to open for the fall of 2004 and we opened in the fall of 2004,” said Frazier. “We’ve never had anything like this in terms of scale on campus.” The Highsmith Union now houses many of the student offices which used to be scattered throughout campus. The I lighsmith Union also contains sev eral assembly rooms rang ing from 400 square feet to 4000 square feet. “The offices that moved here are the Career Center, the Center for Teaching and Learning, the multicultural student programs and all the student groups and organizations,” said Rick Brothy, Assistant Director of the Highsmith Union project. “The Key Cen- tet. Campus Life and Student Activities ate here and the cateting function has been moved here.” Students as well as the faculty members praise the functionality and centtalization the Highsmith Union btings to campus organizations. The layout of the building was designed so that these organizations can work with each other easily, streamlining [A y/'t li I ► ml TYLER breaux/photo editor The newly opened Highsmith is a grand gettaway for freshmen and returning students. The building boasts a game room, food court and convenien store. “Between the food court, the convenience store, the book store and the al coves (students) can hang out in, it is just a great place.” Lloyd Weinberg Coordinator for the Key Center for Service Learning communication between offices, making once complicated tasks easy and efficient, accotding to Frazier. “It makes it much more accessible to know that all the administrative offices you need to get to would be in the same spot on campus,” said Jennifer Marshall, senior math major. “It seems much better than the cafeteria offices.” Not only does the Highsmith feature many offices and businesses, it also has a variety of leisure and en- ________ tertainment sites as well. Wired for internet access, the building acts as a hub for student activity. “I want this place to be a hangout spot. I don’t want this to be just a place you go to study,” said Brothy. “You can study here if you want to, but you can also hang out, chat and play games.” As the new building gains popularity, the goal of it becoming a hangout spot for students and faculty becomes clearer Even after the first few weeks of operation, the building looks to change from a deserted structure to an active stu dent oriented center. “I just think that it’s wonderful that stu dents now have a place to go,” said TYLER breaux/photo editor The dining area in this post-modern student building creates a sophisticated, welcoming atmosphere. Weinberg. “Between the food court, the convenience store, the book store and the alcoves they can hang out in it is just a great place. I think it is a privilege for me to be here, for my office to be here.” The food court’s quality, variety and prices contribute to the feeling that this building will be a success in attracting stu dents and faculty. Serving dishes from sushi to skillets, as well as smoothies and coffees, the food court offers something for any one who needs a snack before their next class or after a hard day of work. “Thus far I have been to the little cafe thing, twice,” said Marshall. “I like the sushi and I like the smoothies. I like the prices on everything, and I think that the food court offers a lot of variety.” With leisure as the focus of the building it isn’t surprising to find that special atten tion goes to the planning of fun activities and events. With more and more students on campus the need for entertainment rises. The Highsmith meets this demand head- on giving students extra activities such as Highsmith After Dark. “Highsmith After Dark is an evening venture and the first time we did it ... we had laser tag, mini golf, movies, an oxygen bar and a dance party,” said Frazier. “We just wanted something in every room in the building. The next one is on September 17.” As the popularity of the Highsmith Union increases so will advertising for events. The Student Life looks to catch the attention of students and experiments with advertising techniques to get more people into the Highsmith Union building, ac cording to Frazier. “The goal has always been that a stu dent can just come over here,” said Frazier. There s always something going on over in Highsmith.” Voter registration becoming trendy among students rniinrl 1r»f rK/=* i l . i* • n i . . . . continued from page 1 around 16% ot the total voting popula tion in 2000. “I think both presidential candidates are anxious to get the youth vote this term, with so many undecided voters out there,” said Kenneth Betsalel, Chair and Associate pro fessor of political science. “If I was a young person. I’d be looking at both candidates to see which candidate ofiFers the best fu ture for them.” The Democratic and Republican Na tional Conventions will serve as a large source of the nation’s information on the major issues this election year. President Bush and Senator Kerry are both visiting as many of the areas with large numbers of undecided voters to try to influence the fi nal decision of the voters. “During the 1960’s and ‘70’s, it was mostly young people who drove the civil rights movement, drove the environment movement, drove the peace movement, drove the women’s movement, and what we need to do is make some of the issues that matter to people voting issues again,” said Senator Kerry during a visit to Boston University earlier this year. This year, many diflferent agencies and organizations attempt to reach out to younger voters. Everything from informa tional web sites to politically-based concerts aim to draw youth interest in politics be tween now and November. Locally, Pearl Jam and Death Cab for Cutie will perform in Asheville this October as a part of the MoveOn.org website’s support of Senator John Kerry. At a recent press conference on univer sity admissions policies. Bush said, “I think it ought to be based upon merit.” This was in response to questions of whether family legacy should be a considering factor in de termining admittance to a university. At some universities applicants receive special consideration if a family member attended that particular institution. “Well, in my case, I had to knock on a lot of doors to follow the old man’s foot steps,” said Bush. Youth voter turnout looks positive this fall. “In October 2003, 39% of 17-24 year olds said they were absolutely certain they will vote in 2004,” according to research by MTV s Rock the Vote organization. Close results in the last election encourage these organizations to seek the youth vote. I think young people are affected by tbe same issues that affect everybody, but the primary issue that faces young people today is economics. That is to say, will there be a job waiting for young people when they leave the university,” said Betsalel. Between private party advertisements and campaign messages sent out by the Re publican and Democrat parties, the air waves are full of varying messages to lure voters to the polls in No vember. Students need to take this information and decide which issues affect their lives and who will be the best candidate to re solve these issues. “I think student voting is important. Students make up a large part of the population. Granted, we’re in college now, but eventually we’re going to be grown-ups. We’re going to be in the business world. The decisions poli “I think student voting is important... The decisions politicians make, though they might not affect us now, are going to defi nitely affect us in the future.” Rhiannon O’Conner senior political science major ticians make, though they might not affect us now, are going to definitely affect us in the future. Its something really important to start doing, because in four years, the politician thats in is going to affect us,” said Rhiannon O’Conner, a senior politi cal science major. To be eligible to vote in the 2004 presi dential election you must be registered to vote by the appropriate deadline. Deadlines vary from state to state, but range from 13- 30 days prior to the election, according to the United States Election Assistance Com mission web site. The guidelines in North Carolina say an indi vidual must be registered at least 25 days prior to the election. Registration forms are available from local elec tion officials, and voter outreach groups. Those wishing to register, may also do so while applying for a driver’s license, and at offices providing pub lic assistance, state- funded programs for the disabled, and at armed forces offices. Additional registration opportunities may be found at public libraries, post offices, and unemploy ment offices, according to the EAC. Online registration opportunities to be come a registered voter are also available. Downloadable registration forms may be found at www.RockTheVote.org and at www.EAC.gov/register Tuition continued from pA Budget deficits for the state havi universities without funding for n academic programs, and thus “the I lature has been unable to award empli ees and faculty members in the 1 system salary increases,” said Spell,, The Board of Governors reducej recommended increase of $900 paj, state student, and $ 1800 per out-of-su student, over the next 3 years, to ori $225 for in-state and $600 for o^t^i state, with the total amount effective year, said Spellman. In addition to reducing the request amount, the board issued a directii delegating funds received from thei crease to three priority items before; lowing the remainder to he used for si ary increases, said Spellman. The Board of Governors directe UNCA to use the funds as such; first, i reduce the size of classes, measured j the average student/faculty ratio; seconj to increase the number of sections inut dergraduate courses; third, to hire mot full-time faculty members and decres the number of adjunct professors, ssi Spellman. 1 Once these priorities are met, il Board of Governors directed the unive sity to use the remaining funds to “ti other actions as appropriate,” sai Spellman. This final category could k elude a number of actions, including potential salary increase, but such an ia crease would be nominal if any, sai Spellman. UNC system schools made a simili request for funding three years prior, am money was granted to nearly ever school, said Spellman. UNCA wasdi only school in the system that did use this funding to increase salaries, bii instead used the money to fund Studen Life and co-curricular projects, sai Spellman. Chancellor Mullen began the tas force on tuition increase in the fall q 2003, as committees similar to th UNCA task force formed at most UN( system campuses, said Spellman. Freshmen continued from page le ;rat :o c ( me iA' :en :ica making us purchase equipment out o our own pockets to have more than oni Internet access, but since then, they re alized that they promised us Internet ac cess,” said Gibson. Other students chose to remain oi campus despite the lack of space. “I’m currently living in the apartmem in South Ridge,” said Valerie Thelen,; freshman political science major, ended up getting the den that was con verted into a bedroom. There’s not re ally a lot of space in there. It’s kind o an inconvenience to study there wii two other suitemates having to wal ' ^ through your room all the time. It b* really made it difficult to get a lot ot things done. Although the kitchen nice, it’s not really worth it.” Dining services had its own set of set vice problems before the freshman class arrived, according to Mike Nagofh general manager of dining services. Nagorka worked to speed up th amount of time that students spent the serving area over the summer bytest ing several different setups using visit ing groups as test subjects. “There were a couple of changes that were made, probably the most notabli was the silverware relocation, ssw Nagorka. “We tried different setups from what our standard setup was to year to the setup we have now. We fouh that we moved people from nine peopl a minute through the serving area to al most 14 people a minute with the cut rent arrangement. This proved to be a more functional arrangement.” Campus Police encountered its o'^ problems in providing parking spaces all students and faculty. Freshmen cat now park only in specific parking h'® and will receive tickets for parking resident student lots. Campus Polto designated two lots on Campus Dn'* and one lot off of W. T. Weaver Boule vard as parking lots for freshmen. Steve Lewis, director of Campus lice, spoke about the possibility of fe men not bringing their vehicles. L :on: ng Dol .nt if :or cat ih; act IRl th; shi Ibi aid ini I
University of North Carolina at Asheville Student Newspaper
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Sept. 2, 2004, edition 1
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