Volume VII
The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
November 9, 1987
Federal Law Affects S&M
by Pets Eisenhauer
The United States Depart
ment of Labor has begun
strict enforcement of the
law which states that no per
son under the age of 18
may operate any state
vehicle carrying school chil
dren in North Carolina.
North Carolina student
drivers have previously been
exempt from this law. Due
to recent Increases in stu
dent driver accidents and
violations, however, state leg
islators agreed to enforce
this law beginning January 1.
The law has been effec
tive for several years in
many other states, where
most school bus drivers are
older, retired people. The
law will not only affect stu
dent drivers at NCSSM, but
also at all other North
Carolina public and private
schools. Additional drivers
will have to be found
throughout the state to
replace those who will not
be eighteen by the first of
the year.
The transportation system
at NCSSM relies almost en
tirely upon the twenty-five
students now certified to
operate the school’s ten vans
and two buses. As of Jan
uary 1 only four of these
twenty-five will be eligible
to continue driving.
There are about seventy-
five seniors, however, who
will be eighteen by January.
Ken Horne, Head of Safety
and Security at NCSSM,
strongly encourages these
seniors who have had a val
id North Carolina driver's
license for at least six
months and have had no
moving violations to become
bus drivers, To obtain a
bus driver’s certificate, one
must complete the two 1/2
day classes which will be
held November 17-18,
Student bus drivers at
NCSSM are often asked to
contribute their time to dif
ferent groups needing trans
portation, The mentorship
program which is entirely de
pendent on student drivers
may have to seek alternative
forms of transportation if
more student drivers cannot
be found. Drivers also
provide transportation for
class field trips, social ac
tivities, athletics, and all
other school events, including
convocation.
Gym Construction to Begin
Juniors Laugh and Learn
by Howard Wallace
A hapless junior roams
the halls of New Dorm, sear
ching for his room. Corridor
upon identical corridor be
comes a fiendish maze with
no escape. The student con
tinues his doomed trek until
he reaches a point of frustra
tion and screams. This is
but one of many segments
from 'Under Construction,’
an NCSSM video production.
Now in its third season,
'Under Construction’ was the
brainchild of Peggy Manring
and Rena Lindstrom.
'Under Construction’ was
originally conceived to pro
vide guidance that would nor
mally be given at home. It
achieves this by presenting
dilemmas that, while par
ticular to NCSSM, remain
common to most teenagers.-
The show follows a sitcom
format, revolving around
residential life at NCSSM.
Actors were chosen through
auditions held at the begin
ning of the year. Their
characters will develop
throughout the season and
foster a rapport with the
audience.
Despite faculty input,
'Under Construction’ is, for
the most part, a student
production. Key roles, such
as script coordinator and
production manager, are
filled by students. They are
granted a great deal of in
fluence in the production of
'Under Construction.’ Peggy
Manring, 'U.C.’s sponsor, has
been very pleased with the
student leadership, "1 admire
their energy, Influence, and
ability to get a job done,"
says Manring. Julia Eberle,
who provides technical sup
port, is satisfied as well;
"Some may say I’m easy to
please, but I’m very
pleased."
One season of 'Under
Construction’ consists of five
episodes which will be aired
on Durham cable as well as
viewed by students during
evening series. Its purpose is
to be a learning experience,
not only for those who par
ticipate in its production,
but also for those who
watch. -
by Hul Sun Kim
Standing solid among
the rubble and the dirt
when the dust finally clears
behind Bryan Center will
be the long awaited S8«M
gymnasium. According to
Mr, Jim McDuffie, Commu
nications Officer for
NCSSM, the plans for the
construction of the new
gym are well under way.
The state has approved
the $2.6 million contract for
the gym, which will take
up about 32,000 square feet
and consist partially of the
existing MFC building. It
will house a 600-seat central
gymnasium with courts for
basketball, volleyball, hand
ball, and racketball. Also to
be included are a training
room, a dance studio, gymnas
tic quipment, and classrooms.
Two of the three buildings
that will constitute the gym
nasium complex will be
connected by a glass-barrel
walkway. Eventually, a
swimming pool may be in
stalled behind the main build
ing.
A small but very per
turbing question remains;
When will the new gym be
completed? Another often
asked question is "Is the con
struction company building
the new gym the same one
that built the New Dorm?"
Though the school has estab
lished a contract with an ar
chitect, it has yet to close
the deal with a construction
contractor. McDuffie estimates
that it will take 18 months
"looking at it optimistically,"
and two years at the latest,
to finish the buildings. Per
haps the Class of 1990 will
be able to enjoy the fa
cilities; current S&M stu
dents will first see the new
gym at their five-year re
union.
Seniors Hoffman and Sullivan Plan AM Radio Station
by Eugene Yen
If all goes well, NCSSM
may have its own radio sta
tion soon, thanks to the ef
forts of Jeff Hoffman, Dr.
Litle, and Dr. Wilson, The
exact starting date of broad
cast is still uncertain because
the station still needs a
coupler, which is a device
that broadcasts the radio sig
nal through the wiring of
the school. The exact frequen
cy of the broadcast is also
undecided, but it will be
broadcast somewhere on the
AM band.
The bcatlon of the sta
tion has yet to be selected
among several possible loca
tions. one of which is the
old principal’s office in
Bryan. Right now, the sta
tion will be using borrowed
equipment, but a grant may
soon be approved which
will provide the appropriate
funds to buy new equip
ment.
The idea of a radio sta
tion was developed by Jeff
Hoffman last year. He talked
to his academic advisor. Dr.
Lutz, about it, and she told
him to discuss the idea
v/lth Dr. Litle. The station
was organized this year,
with Jeff as the general
manager. Jason Sullivan as
the chief technician, and Dr.
Wilson and Dr. Litle as spon
sors. DJs and other staff
members were selected
through applications.
There ate still spaces
available, so anyone inter
ested in being a part of
the radio station should talk
to Jeff Hoffman in person,
in ND 209,