^HJNCW toda
news from UNO by the sea
Vol. 2, No. 1
September, 1983
Wilmington Benefits When UNCW Hosts Special Olympics
UNCW doesn’t have to wait four years between
Olympics. Every year since 1973, in the spring and
the fall, the Special Olympics for the mentally
handicapped are held, sponsored by the Wil
mington Parks and Recreation Department. For
the past two years, the Special Olympics of Wil
mington have been held on the UNCW campus.
Syvaughn White, a recreation specialist with
Wilmington Parks and Recreation and the coor
dinator for New Hanover County Special Olympics,
says, "It was the best thing I ever did when I
moved the games to UNCW. The students and
everyone else on campus have been very suppor
tive of our efforts.”
UNCW students help with the games in all sorts
of capacities. Many become trainers for those who
will later compete in the games. Marty Hernandez,
a senior majoring in therapeutic recreation, has
been a trainer for the basketball event held in the
fall. Her job required her to go to two elementary
schools each week for six weeks, where she taught
the Olympics hopefuls everything they needed to
know about basketball and the event. "It is very
rewarding,” says Marty. "I feel like I’m on top of
the world when I teach these kids.”
Some Special Olympians train harder and longer
than others. Such as Ashley Smith, age 10, and
Elaine Walker, 13, who swam their way to the in
ternational Special Olympics, sponsored by the
Kennedy Foundation in Baton Rouge, Louisiana,
July 11-15, by winning in the Wilmington Olym
pics and placing in the state competition in
Greensboro in May. Elaine came back to Wil
mington with two bronze medals for third place,
and a ^een ribbon for fifth. Ashley also garnered
two bronze medals, plus a silver medal for second
place in one event. "The girls did super,” said
White. "The level of competition was so keen, but
both Ashley and Elaine swam superbly.”
"Not everybody can win,” says White, "but these
kids know that. We don’t push them toward com
petition, but they definitely have a will to win. And
they have fun at the same time.”
This spring, the track and field events were held
near Brooks Field on the UNCW campus. Even the
Seahawk mascot was there. UNCW students from
several departments—recreation, education,
psychology, sociology, and more—helped with the
events or acted as clowns to cheer on the athletes.
A Special Olympian does her best in the frisbee toss
as her coach watches intently.
UNCW students watch and cheer as Special Olympian twirls her hula hoop.
Hula hooping, frisbee tossing, running, jumping-
all this and more, all in an atmosphere of "do your
best and have fun doing it.”
There are shades of UNCW in all parts of the
Special Olympics progi-am in Wilmington. Dr.
Charles Lewis, chairman of the department of
health, physical education and recreation, is the
1983-84 president of the New Hanover County
Special Olympics Advisory Board. Dr. Tom Skalko,
assistant professor in the HPER department, is on
the program and games committee. And students
act as volunteers for the Special Olympics both
before and during the games.
Dr. Skalko has been involved with Special Olym
pics "almost as long as I can remember; really
since the early ’70s.” He has been active with the
Wilmington games since he arrived two years ago.
"We gear the Olympics towards providing a nor
malized experience for these kids,” says Skalko.
"Our primary emphasis is on participation and in
volvement. But the athletes also learn motor skills
as well as social skills such as cooperation, team
work and controlling their temper. The Special
Olympics is not just a sport or a game. It is a total
learning experience for everyone involved,” con
tinued Skalko. The Special Olympics is "really a
community effort, and it’s good for UNCW, the
community, the participants, and all those
students who volunteer to help,” Skalko
emphasized.
Joe Ferguson, a UNCW commercial recreation
major who has been active in Special Olympics for
some time, says, "If I could have every day like
the day of the Olympics, it’d be great!” The senior’s
enthusiasm shows even when he’s simply talking
about the subject. "I never knew what Special
Olympics were until I saw a sign for a meeting and
decided to try it. I was hooked! It’s more than
enjoyable—it’s great. I love it!” According to Joe,
"Everyone should be involved in Special Olympics
at least one time in their lives.”
Tom Skalko probably summed it up best for all
those involved when he said, "I am a believer in
Special Olympics!”
A helping hand at the Special Olympics makes
everyone involved feel good!
1983-84 Budget Request
Reflects Increase In Services
What does it take to operate the academic pro
grams at the University of North Carolina at
Wilmington? Budgetwise, about $18.5 million for
the fiscal year 1983-84. That is the amount ad
ministrators at the UNCW campus requested from
the UNC board of governors. Of that amount, $15.3
million will be state-appropriated; the remain
ing $3.2 million will come through tuition and
other academic fees.
Included in the $18.5 million is a substantial
"change” budget to increase services on the cam
pus. According to Dr. Jairy C. Hunter, Jr., vice
chancellor for business affairs and development,
the funds from this change budget are targeted for
two major new projects at UNCW. The first is the
acquisition of a "super-mini” computer system and
software for academic and administrative pro
grams. This new system will include two large
mini computers, one for academic programs and
one for administrative programs. There also will
be terminals set up in many of the academic and
administrative offices, so that personnel can access
the computer without having to move away from
the area. Says Dr. John M. Anderson, director of
computer and information systems, "This is a giant
step into the modern world of computer technology
for UNCW.” The main improvement over the cur
rent system, which will be phased out, is the
elimination of the use of punched cards, which are
not nearly as efficient as terminals used with a
mini computer. "We will have an interactive capa
bility,” says Anderson, "that will enable users—
faculty, staff and students—to have access to the
computer. It’s a great improvement over punched
cards.” The two mini computers and several of the
terminals and some of the software should be on
campus by late spring or early summer of 1984.
The second major project to be funded with the
proposed change budget is a new telephone system
for the UNCW campus. Installation of this new
phone system is set for some time this fiscal year;
bids are being sought at this time. The new system
will provide data transmission as well as voice
transmission. The data transmission can be used
with the new computer system currently being
See BUDGET, page 2.