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See Seor'I'S 8
Volume 45, Issue 6
October 5, 2006
SMVARA
Rocks out
For Global
AIDS
°AOE
6
THE BLUE
ECHO MAKES
A COMEBACK
PACE
7
MEN’S
SOCCER
RRST
CONFERENCE
WIN
Students, faculty and staff gather
' at forum to discuss the presence
or absence of diversity
By Caity Pelliccia
Staff Writer
America
changes
torture law
University Ambassador Tiffanie
Tatum said in three years with the
program, she never gave a tour of
the university to an African-
American, raising the prominent,
yet controversial, issue of diversi
ty on campus.
“Being an African-American
student on UNC Asheville’s cam
pus has opened my eyes a lot over
the past three years,” said Tatum,
senior mass communication stu
dent. “We are moving backward
in history. Schools are no longer
99
By Anna Lee
Staff Writer
Critics say a new law passed by
Congress last week allows the
president to legalize torture and the
use of evidence obtained through
controversial interrogation of
enemy combatants.
“There is nothing complicated
about a lighted cigarette to the
scrotum,” said Mark Gibney, polit
ical science professor, in response
to a claim that the bill was compli
cated.
The law affirms the United
States’ definition of torture as an
act which causes the victim to
almost reach the point of death or
the failure of a bodily organ,
according to Gibney. By this defi
nition, a lighted cigarette to the
scrotum, would not be torture.
“Waterboarding, one of the more
SEE Torture page 21
Schools are no longer
becoming desegregated, but
more of going back to being
segregated.
Tiffanie Tatum
University Ambassador
becoming desegregated but more
of going back to being segregated
schools.”
The minority population at
UNC Asheville has not risen
above 10 percent since 1996,
according to information provided
by the university.
The Student Government
Association, alongside a number
of other student organizations,
hosted a diversity forum in
Rhodes-Robinson Hall last Friday
to educate students on the “Blue
Book.” This book, established by
students and faculty in 2000,
addresses issues concerning diver
sity and creates a plan calling for
inunediate action.
The forum began with a moment
of reflection. Garrett Male, a rep
resentative of Equal Access who
is in a wheelchair, could not attend
because the venue was not acces
sible for handicapped audience
members.
“As a student organization
charged with raising disability
awareness, we feel it that actively
participating in tonight’s discus
sion, in an inaccessible location,
would directly contradict our mis
sion,” Male said in his letter read
by student Grace Silvia.
Flyers to publicize the event
posted by Jason Tuell, junior liter
ature student and SGA senator,
stirred up controversy, according
to Time Laughlin, senior econom
ics student and SGA commuter
senator.
“The flyers insinuated blatantly
that the administration was lying,”
Laughlin, said. “It’s essential that
we, as a student body, represent
the entire group. We have to foster
a positive relationship with the
administration.”
However, some students said
they disagree with the compliant
approach.
“I think the flyers sound out a
really direct and important mes
sage,” said Sarah Young, junior
political science student and
member of the Student Diversity
Alliance. “Sending out a strong
Abby Kent - Staff Photographer
Don Locke, diversity and multicultural affairs director, and Mark Gibney, political science pro
fessor, continue to discuss issues after the diversity forum Thursday.
the
message was necessary.
Some administrators said
flyers were not appropriate.
“I was invited less than 36 hours
beforehand,” said Chancellor
Anne Ponder. “No one showed me
the flyer. The implications of the
way the host chose to promote the
event might not have kept me
away, but I would certainly have
found it offensive.”
Don Locke, director of diversity
and multicultural affairs, said the
flyer confused him.
“I don’t know what they mean,”
Locke said. “Anne Ponder came
here just a year ago, and 1 don’t
believe we have committed to
anything on which we have not
delivered.”
Trilce Marquez, Hispanic senior
sociology student, said there was
SEE Diversity page 21
Nation tunes in as Candidates bat
tle for the seat to represent WNC
By Brett Albers
Copy Editor
With mid-term elections drawing
near, a close race between incum
bent Charles Taylor and challenger
Heath Shuler for North Carolina’s
11th Congressional District brings
forth issues directly pertaining to
UNC Asheville,
such as educa
tion funding.
Charles Taylor,
member of the
Republican
Party and repre
sentative for
North Carolina’s
11th District
since 1991, vies
to return to
Charles Taylor
Abby Kent - Staff Photographer
A student looks through an informational brochure available in the health center about a new
vaccine that prevents almost 100 percent of cases of human papilloma virus.
HPV vaccine to protect thousands
By Courtney Metz
Staff Writer
The Food and Drug
Administration approved a new
Vaccine that shows nearly 100
percent effectiveness in prevent
ing the human papilloma virus
(HPV), a sexually transmitted dis
ease that can lead to cervical can
cer in women.
“I’m especially glad to see it for
niy daughter’s generation,” said
Kelley Wolfe, adjunct instructor
in the health and wellness depart
ment. “Anything that can reduce
our risk of cancer is a good thing
for us. I’d like to see it to be
made more affordable and more
widespread, but I think it will be
over time.”
The FDA approved the HPV
vaccine, Gardasil, in June, after
six months of testing. It requires
a series of three shots over six
months and each shot costs $120
without insurance, according to
the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention.
“The prices should come
down,” said Michelle Barbeau,
freshman literature student. “If
something can prevent a disease
that can potentially kill you, then
all measures should be taken to
prevent that disease, and it should
be available to anyone who wants
it.”
Studies conducted on more than
^ HPV PAGE 3 I
Washington and continue to serve
the district.
Heath Shuler, the Democratic
candidate, intends to bring a new
face to the district as he competes
for Taylor’s long-held'position as
the representative for Western
North Carolina.
New to politics, Shuler is best
known for his three-season career
as former NFL quarterback for the
Washington Redskins. After retir
ing, he became a real estate
investor in Knoxville, Tenn., and
began to pursue a political career
after returning to Waynesville,
N.C.
“He’s young and vivacious,”
said Lucretia Young, Shuler cam
paign campus coordinator. “He’s
not a novice, but he has a clean
start and a clean record. I think our
district really needs to start with a
clean slate, politically.”
Media stations across the nation
are covering the race between
Shuler and Taylor. It’s considered
to be one of the closest congres
sional contests of the season,
according to a USA Today report.
Shuler matches Taylor in polls
and in fundraising, according to
Young.
“He’s done a good job of keep
ing with Taylor in fundraising for
the campaign,” Young said.
“That’s what sets him apart from
previous candidates who have
faced Taylor.”
Some feel electing Shuler now
will disrupt the progress Taylor has
made as chairman of the House
Appropriations Committee.
“Usually when you’re mid
stream and you' want to switch
horses, you want to hop onto the
better one,” said John Noor, cam
pus coordinator for the Taylor
campaign. “I don’t necessarily feel
that Shuler is the best one.”
Taylor’s role on the
Appropriations Committee is cru
cial for continuing positive fund
ing for our district, according to
Noor.
‘To give up all the opportunities
we have with funding, resources
and benefits with Charles Taylor
for someone who will start at the
back of the pack if elected is detri
mental,” Noor said. ‘To trade up
for Shuler, who will lose the abili
ty for our district to get resources
and funding, just isn’t a good
choice.”
One of Shuler’s main issues
involves finding sources for finan
cial aid so the
door can remain
open for anyone
to go to college,
according to
Shuler’s cam
paign Web site.
“Shuler has
kids,” Young
said. “So he-
understands the
importance of
making sure a
quality education
anyone who wants it
Taylor has a strong
■ I leath Shuler
is available to
record of
providing funding for education in
Western North Carolina, a part of
the state that is generally ignored
concerning funding for education.
“Taylor’s devotion to education
in Western North Carolina is his
strongest asset,” Noor said.
“Education is the way that we are
going to pull Western North
Carolina out of the place we’re in
now. It’s going to be through edu
cating the citizens of this part of
the state and giving them the tools
to come up with creative solutions
that will solve a number of other
SEE Candidates page 21
••