The Student Newspaper of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Volume XIV, Number 26
Charlotte, North Carolina
February 15, 1979
Student Body Elections
Jack Summerlin announces bid for presidency
By Nancy Davis
Jack Summerlin has announced
plans to run for student body presi
dent in the 1979 spring elections.
Summerlin, presently serving as chair
of Student Legislature, postponed in
forming the Carolina Journal until
Monday after rumors he had decided
to run began spreading last Friday.
He was to have made the announce
ment official in Tuesday's meeting of
the Student Legislature..
His decision came last week after
much thought, but when asked about
it last Friday said he had made up his
mind, but needed the weekend to talk
to "someone." Summerlin admitted
he had even given his support to
another presidential prospect.
After nominations for Student Le
gislature were closed in the Feb. 6
meeting and Summerlin's name was
not among the candidates, he said he
felt “a great sense of emptiness. It's
hard leaving something I lave and
respect." After serving as chairper
son for three years, Summerlin was
not aware nominations were to be
made in the meeting and he said he
had not gotten anyone to nominate
him.
Summerlin said many things were
involved in his decision to run. “I just
want to work to see things better.
That is the biggest push behind the
campaign." Sitting in the student
government conference room, he
paused for a minute before adding, "I
had to decide whether I want to stay
in government. When you dedicate
yourself, it’s very difficult to pull
out.”
Feeling legislature needs a change,
Summerlin explained his experience
would be the biggest plus for his cam
paign. Questioned if three years of ex
perience could constitute a campaign
based on change, Summerlin further 1
explained the office of president is dif
ferent in the executive branch "sort
of pulls things together into one par
ticular area."
Summerlin said he realized
legislature is “primarily a body of
transition.” However, he would like
to move in to stabilize the office and
give it the continuity it needs. “I
have learned a lot of lessons... I’ve
felt restricted as the chair of legis
lature. I can do more as president of
the student body.”
Last year, Summerlin led an unsuc
cessful bid for president. He was also
serving as chair of legislature having
been recently reelected. This year,
Summerlin will be free from any
political office and is looking forward
to it. “Last year, I wasn't aware of
the pressures and thought I could do
both ... it left its mark."
Jack Summerlin at Tuesday's Stu-
dent Legislature meeting.
Students Protest
Elimination of October break proposed
By Bill Peschel
A proposal to eliminate the four-
day weekend in October met with
strong protest in the Student Legisla
ture Tuesday.
Dean of Students Chuck Lynch, in
a brief speech before the legislators,
warned them of the Academic Calen
dar Commission's recommendation to
Chancellor E.K. Fretwell that the
four-day weekend in October be
eliminated. Lynch said the action was
taken “to lengthen the academic
calendar" and “to get in an equal
number of labs" per week. The com
mission's decision was unanimous
despite objections by Lynch and Dr.
Douglas M. Orr Jr., vice chancellor
for student affairs, Lynch asked the
legislature for their opinion of the
matter. He also informed them
Fretwell may make the final decision
on Monday.
By unanimous consent, the
legislature passed a motion “strongly
objecting" to elimination of the Oc
tober break. A copy of the motion has
been sent to the chancellor.
Lynch informed the body a subcom
mittee of the faculty/executive coun
cil is considering changing or remov
ing the break in classes between
12:30-2 p.m. on Tuesday and Thurs
day. Again, Lynch and Orr objected
to the idea. No action was taken by
the legislators. Five out of six clubs
applying for student fees received
what they had asked. The Political
Science Club's request was sent back
to the Finance Committee for further
discussion.
The Model United Nations, Com
muter Association, Associated Stu
dent Chapter-American Institute of
Architects, International Club and
Circle K were bailed out when the
legislature approved a reallocation of
student funds. Reallocation, although
not specifically defined in the Finan
cial Procedures Act, is a reassign
ment of money that reverted back to
Student Body Government last
December. A total of $3,698.84 was
available for allocation and each club
on Tuesday got an average of $170.
The Political Science Club ran into
trouble when legislator Don Turbyfill
objected to their request. He pointed
out the club did not submit a budget
last fall and believed they should not
be funded. Legislator Lynn Black
stated there was no specific mention
of reallocation in any law and the club
should get money. The legislature
sent the budget back to committee
(17-2-3). An attempt to reconsider the
budget failed.
The first three budgets voted upon
by the legislature ran into spirited
discussion as a member questioned a
portion of the budget. Each budget
passed a good margin, yet much time
was used up in debate until legislator
Black objected. “We've entrusted the
Finance Committee to ask these ques
tions you’re asking," she said. "I feel
some of these comments are
dilatory." Discussion ceased after
that and the rest of the rest of the
budgets were passed with little com
ment.
Junior Class President Joel Gilland
was elected chairman of the
legislature, defeating legislator Mark
Matheson. Seventeen votes were cast
for Gilland while five were for
legislator Matheson. The former
chairman, Jack Summerlin, swore in
Gilland and expressed his “deep ap
preciation" to the legislature. He call
ed his job a “rewarding experience as
(continued on page 2)