Newspapers / The Daily Tar Heel. / Nov. 14, 1997, edition 1 / Page 1
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Gill? icttly ®ar Mtei p SMB 104 yean of editorial freedom Strung At awltna and At Untmity commumry ana 1593 fMM f. _ „ S gHH /Hk ; fIM : 1 DTH/MARC A. WHITE Former UNC-system President C.D. Spangler mingles with current system President Molly Broad and William Friday at a reception held Thursday. Award honors Spangler for impact on University BYVALERIE BREZINA ASSISTANT STATE & NATIONAL EDITOR Like a stalwart ship captain, C.D. Spangler Jr. guided the UNC system through the turbulent tides of education during his 11-year tenure. Thursday night, the UNC Board of Governors honored his dedication and leadership by presenting him with the system’s highest accolade the University Award. Spangler retired in July. During his tenure, he strived to remain focused on the interests of students. Remembering his roots, he strived to keep tuition low to ensure that every North Carolinian, regardless of eco nomic situation, could afford quality higher education. “My mother and father could not attend college because they could not afford to,” Spangler said. “No one should be excluded from education because of his or her parent’s financial situation.” Spangler said some people suggested that UNC-system officials raise tuition but that he never supported the propos al. “The quality of education we offer is high, and we could increase our tuition and still keep the classrooms fu11,... but this would be an error of judgment.” A video described how the Spangler family dedicated much of its wealth and time to improve the N.C. public school system. The family’s support and enthu siasm for N.C. schools extended far Officials, residents bring home anew outlook on growth ■ Officials, developers, business leaders and residents traveled to Ann Arbor, Mich., to learn about sustainable growth. BY HUGH PRESSLEY STAFF WRITER . After three days away, they’re back. I Officials and residents from Orange County traveled to Ann Arbor, Mich., on Monday to learn about the importance of sustainability and development issues affecting college towns. Representatives from both UNC and the University of Michigan attended the three-day conference, organized by the Public-Private Partnership of Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill Mayor Rosemary Waldorf said the goal of the conference was to give participants insight on how a similar college town dealt with issues that affect its community. “Most (participants) were interested in trying to understand more of what sustainability is,” she said. “Sustainability is a way of planning for the future of the town, starting with the assumption that (the residents) need to See ANN ARBOR, Page 4 No morality can be founded on authority, even if the authority were divine. A.J. Ayer beyond its own education. Russell Robinson 11, a longtime friend of the family, who led the tribute, said the award was important because it recognized the Spanglers’ dedication to service. “I truly believe what we are doing here is unique, by honoring the people who exemplify the very best in experi encing and supporting N.C. public edu cation,” he said. Spangler said he had great faith in the UNC system and that he thought it would continue to achieve new levels of success. “The challenge will be forever with us the challenge to make our weak stu dents strong and our strong students great,” he said. Throughout his presidency, Spangler stressed the UNC system’s positive eco nomic impact on the state. In his speech, he said he believed North Carolina would continue to grow and would become an educational and economic powerhouse. “I could always feel the positive effects of the 16 campuses and their graduates on the state,” he said. “I believe North Carolina will continue to make educational progress, just as it has made great economic progress.” Spangler concluded his acceptance speech by thanking supporters of him and his family. He reiterated his respect for the accomplishments of the UNC system. “UNC will continue to be the envy of the nation.” Journalism professor Jim Shumaker began teaching editorial writing at UNC in 1972. He is the inspiration of the comic strip 'Shoe' by Jeff Mac Nelly. If the ‘SHU’ fits BY KAITIJN GURNEY STAFF WRITER Although the University is represented by a Tar Heel, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication itself is represented by Town Council member LEE PAVAO said the trip was a way for everyone to learn about controlled development. the comic strip “Shoe.” This year marks the 20th anniversary of Jeff Mac Nelly’s comic strip named for journalism pro- fessor Jim Shumaker. Shumaker’s warm heart and gruff exterior are loved by both students and faculty, but the Friday, November 14,1997 Volume 105, Issue 111 Company pledges money to BCC ■ 360° Communications has pledged SIOO,OOO to the BCC building campaign. STAFF REPORT Chancellor Michael Hooker announced Thursday that 360’ Communications had pledged SIOO,OOO to the Sonja H. Stone Black Cultural Center building campaign. “They wanted to contribute to some worthwhile cause,” Hooker said. “This (project) is high on our list of priorities." The Board of Trustees has Local economy ranks among top in state ■ The unemployment rate for Orange County reached a 20-year low point in 1996. BY STEVE MRAZ CITY EDITOR Orange County has the fourth best economy out of North Carolina’s 100 counties, but it might not be the best place in the state to find affordable housing. The county moved up 11 spots from its 15th place ranking during the 1994- 95 fiscal year. According to figures presented Thursday during the sixth-annual State of the Local Economy Breakfast, the average cost for a house in the county between January and September 1997 was $198,600. More than 450 local business people and elected officials packed the Friday Center to view graphs, charts and ani mated images depicting several aspects of the economy. Ted Abernathy, director of the Orange County Economic Development Commission, who con ducted the 45-minute presentation, said the local economy was driven by busi nesses with fewer than 50 employees. According to statistics, county busi nesses with fewer than 50 employees grew 34 percent between 1990 and 1995, and businesses with more than 50 employees only grew 4 percent during the same period. But of the total annual wages paid in Orange County during 1995,46 percent came from the state government and, more specifically, from the University. “UNC is the predominate engine in our economy,” Abernathy said. From 1976 to 1996, the University’s student population has risen from 20,293 to 24,141. Jobs at the University ,j| "'^S •• _ i * k* | H^HH it’.. world can glimpse him in the guise of R Martin Shoemaker in Mac Nelly’s “Shoe.” Shumaker remembers when, in 1969, Mac Nelly came to him while he was editor of The Chapel Hill Weekly and said he wanted to try drawing editorial cartoons. back with a “rough,” which Shumaker said “improved the hell on my idea." “It ought to be against the law to have that ssL* announced that completing fund ing for the center is one of its top 10 priorities for the next two years. Alumni and friends of the BCC as well as outside corporations have pledged $3.5 mil lion to the build ing campaign. Chapel Hill developer Sally Brown has been actively involved Chancellor MICHAEL HOOKER said the donation was essential to the BCC building campaign. Livin' large and paying for it The Orange County Economic Development Commission presented 1995 statistics on the state of the local economy Thursday morning. Manufacturing —— —\ Local government Orange County was ranked as having the fourth best economy in North Carolina during fiscal year 1995-96, up from 15th in 1994-95. Average home sale priees in Orange County servlce A " others January-September 1997 P| 300.000 jf| Existing homes State government/ 250.000 mm ® NeWhomeS employment security mmm COMMISSION Of N.C 200 000 Cost of living trends: 1988 to 1996 ■■■■ lio ’ r— iHH Chapel Hill^X* 100000 ,oo - , , Raleigh-Ourtiam 50000 90 __ *IOO 0 * the U.S. average _ 0 " gg , , , ...... .... , source triangle multiple listing sgkvice 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 SOURCE ACCRA SURVEYS. GREATER RALEIGH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SOURCE: ORANGE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMBSION DTH/lAKEZARNEGAR have grown from 6,732 to 8,883 during the same period. Since the second quarter of 1995, total wages have failed to keep up with inflation, Abernathy said. “This year the wages have not grown with the rate of inflation,” he said. “We don’t have an explanation.” Chapel Hill’s cost of living for 1996 came in 14.5 points higher than the national average of 100. “The 114.5 is probably due to the housing costs and some of the utility costs in the area,” Abernathy said. On the brighter side, the unemploy ment rate in the county hit a 20-year low last year at 1.7 percent, 2.6 percent lower than the state rate for the same period, “He was absolutely incred ible, I thought,” Shumaker said. Mac Nelly would take Shumaker’s sketch and come in raising funds for the new building. “I think (the donation) is a big help,” Brown said. “It’s a sizeable and very generous donation. It gives great momentum to the project.” “Other people will take notice of this donation and wonder what is so special about this project,” Brown said. “Hopefully when they take a closer look, they’ll give too.” Dennis Foster, president and chief executive officer of 360‘ Communications in Chicago presented the gift to Hooker along with James White, president of 360’ Long Distance in the Research Triangle Park. Abernathy said. Retail sales in the area have increased three-fold since last year. “Sales have increased to 7.4 percent, up from 2.4 percent last year,” Abernathy said as a computer anima tion showed a bar graph of this year’s retail sales gobble up last year’s sub par retail sales. Chapel Hill accounted for 62 percent of the retail sales. Canboro made up 14 percent, and Hillsborough and the rest of the county split the remaining 24 per cent. Chapel Hill Mayor Rosemary Waldorf said the presentation proved that no critically weak sector damaged the local economy. “It’s good to see proof of a strong, stable economy,” she said. “Small busi kind of talent,” Shumaker said. Mac Nelly later won three Pulitzer Prizes for his editorial cartoons. In 1977 “Shoe” appeared. The comic strip features a flock of birds starring Purple Martin Shoemaker, the cynical editor of the Treetops Tattler Tribune who smokes cigars and wears ragged tennis shoes. “I don’t see the connection, though others do,” Shumaker said. “Although he does wear ragged tennis shoes, and when I was the edi- See SHUMAKER, Page 4 News/Features/Am/Sports: 962-0245 Business/Advertising: 962-1163 Chapel Hill, North Carolina C 1997 DTH Publishing Carp. All rights reserved. “Our support of this center is an extension of our commitment to the growth and strength of the community,” Foster stated in a press release. “By con tributing to this campaign, 360’ is invest ing in tomorrow’s work force and con tinued vitality of our business in North Carolina.” Hooker stated in a press release that he felt the support of 360’ Communications was essential to the new facility, “not only to make the new building a reality but to strengthen the university-corporate partnership that will make the center a leading commu- See DONATION, Page 4 nesses are growing. Unemployment is low. The only thing that scares me is while the supply of expensive homes in the county is on the increase, the supply of affordable homes, as a stock, contin ues to nose dive.” The goal of the county was to make sure every aspect of the economy had the attention it deserved, said Bill Crowther, chairman of the Orange County Board of Commissioners. “Orange County prides itself on diversity and looking into diversity in economic development,” he said. “We’re trying to cover all our bases, but if you have a base out there we don’t know about, let us know. We are in this for life, the life of our community." INSIDE Technology 101 Western Carolina University officials say their new computer requirement should benefit students in the future. Page 4 Feeling lucky? Anew casino opened on the N.C. Cherokee Reservation on Thursday to an over-capacity crowd. Page 5 You’ll pay for this! m Some UNC departments feel pressured to make students pay for the pages they print from computers in their labs. Page 2 Today's weather Mostly cloudy; low 50s Weekend Partly cloudy: low 50s
Nov. 14, 1997, edition 1
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