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(The Daily ®ar Hvri JP 9B 105 yean of editorial freedom Serving the students and the University community since 1893 Dramatic arts get $1 million gift ■ A top priority of the endowment is maintenance of anew studio theater. BY ANDREW MEEHAN STAFF WRITER The Department of Dramatic Art will have an extra $50,000 to spend each year thanks to a $1 million endowment from a local philanthropist. The late Frank H. Kenan willed the money to the University. In his will, he stipulated that his wife, Betty Kenan, decide which department should receive the endowment, said Pam O’Connor, marketing director for dramatic arts. The $1 million gift by Betty Kenan, who has supported the Play Makers Repertory Company for years, is the largest donation in the department’s his Eyes on the PRIZE Steve England has spent his life fighting against racial oppression. He recently focused on reforming Chapel Hill’s public works system. BYTRISHALDABB ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR Jimmy used to go over to Steve England’s house to play. At age 7, the boys saw each other nearly every day. But England was never invited to Jimmy’s house. “He was white and would sneak over to play with me because his par ents didn’t allow him to play with black children,” recalls England, who, near ly 40 years later, still feels the pain of such blatant displays of racism. “I couldn’t believe that people would dislike us because we were of a dif ferent race,” he said. “To this day it is still hard for me to comprehend Officials look into accurate nature of drug-abuse problems at colleges ■ They observed that the number of drug violations might not reflect drug problems. EMILY CRAMER STAFF WRITER While national trends show an increase in drug abuse on college campuses, officials at UNC-sys tem schools say the system does not face as large a problem. The Board of Governors released a report this month that cited an escalation in reported drug vio lations on each campus except UNC-Chapel Hill. But officials have said the number of violations is not a good indicator of the problem. Matt Sullivan, coordinator of substance-abuse programs at UNC-CH, said drug abuse wasn’t as prevalent as many people think, but that any instances of abuse are problematic. “What we are seeing is that there are a lot of stu dents who believe there is more drug use than there actually is,” he said. “However, alcohol use is the first problem, fol lowed by marijuana, and there have been a few instances of cocaine and hallucinogen use.” In order to obtain a more in-depth analysis of the degree of illegal substance abuse on college campuses, drug enforcement agents have adminis tered a voluntary comprehensive survey by the Core Institute. Sullivan explained the significance of the survey, which will be administered to 950 to 1,000 ran domly selected students by mail in mid-March of tory. The endowment, announced Monday, will produce about $50,000 per year for dramatic arts through interest accrued on the original $1 million investment, said Milly Barranger, chair woman of dramatic art. Cecilia Moore, development director for the drama department, said the funds are in the UNC-Chapel Hill Foundation, which has about a 5 per cent payout annually. “The endowment makes sure that there is a stable source of income for the department,” Barr anger said. The top priority of the endowment, which has been collecting interest since May, is the the maintenance of a brand new 285-seat studio theater, Barranger said. The drama department plans for stu dents and teachers to use die Elizabeth Price Kenan Studio Theater for teaching sessions and student productions, DTH FILE PHOTO Steve England, spokesman for the Black Public Works Association, speaks out against prejudice and discrimination in the work place. Surviving Struggle A monthlong series spotlighting the achievements of contemporary black leaders. whether people can’t understand or they just don’t care to understand the problems we face.” Though he works in the traffic division of Public Works, England also dedicates much of his time to the Black Public Works Association. As spokesman for the association, he chairs meet ings and takes the lead in coordinating presenta tions, marches and rallies. “The group does some work in the communi- “ Thirty-one percent of students now use marijuana regularly as compared to 24 percent three to four years ago.” VICKY BIUHNICX Director of substance-abuse education at UNC-A this year. He said results obtained at UNC-CH in recent years have indicated minimal problems. “The Core survey is an instrument used across the country to measure student alcohol and drug use, attitudes surrounding use, and consequences and behaviors surrounding drug use on campus and then compare them to other campuses like ours,” he said. “We tend to be on the lowest side of the problem. The northeastern schools, partic ularly the Ivy League universities, tend to have higher drug and alcohol use.” Vicky Brunnick, director of substance abuse education at UNC-Asheville, said illegal substance use was on the incline throughout the country. She cited marijuana as the most prevalent drug abused. “The trend has gone up nationally. Thirty-one percent of students now use marijuana regularly as compared to 24 percent three to four years ago,” she said. She explained that drug-awareness efforts are inversely proportional. While working to curb the use of a certain drug, other drug problems can grow. “When we start putting our efforts into edu- See DRUGS, Page 4 / never been in no situation where havin’ money made it any worse. Clinton Jones Tuesday, February 24,1998 Volume 106, Issue 2 “The endowment makes sure that there is a stable source of income for the department.” Mil IV Ulllitß Chairwoman of Dramatic Art Barranger said. The theater was named after Elizabeth Price Kenan because of a pre vious $500,000 donation by Frank Kenan. “(Betty Kenan) hopes to see student written plays performed there," O’Connor said. The studio theater will be inside the Center for Dramatic Art, which is under construction next to the Paul Green Theatre. ty fighting for the working and civil rights of city employees,” England said. “Our basic goal is to bring fairness into the workplace and get rid of discrimination and prejudice in hiring, promoting and training.” Along with Lonnie Degrassenreidt and Gregory Thomas, England helped found the See ENGLAND, Page 4 SWINGING THE DAY AWAY m* £ . .... "*** DTH/ANDRIA CHENG Amanda McClements, a sophomore journalism and French major from Durham, enjoyed the sun on the second-floor porch of the Kappa Delta sorority house last week. The center will bring together all the offices, classrooms, rehearsal, perfor mance spaces and costume and set stor age areas of the drama department that are scattered across campus, Barranger said. Among Betty Kenan’s fund-raising efforts is the annual Play Makers Ball, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in November and is the primary fund-rais er for the drama department, O’Connor said. The ball is held around Nov. 1 and follows a different theme every year. It also honors an individual from the entertainment world who is connected toUNC. The most recent ball honored actor Jack Palance. O’Connor said Kenan helps the drama department in developing net works and gaining income in the com munity. “She is a well-connected woman.” Police look for suspect in campus check thefts ■ Police officials expect a composite sketch of their main suspect in a few days. STAFF REPORT University Police are asking people to keep their checkbooks secure and then eyes out for a man suspected of stealing checks on a regular basis. Lt. Mark Mclntyre said Monday that police are working to release a picture of Michael Wayne Moses, a 48-year-old black man suspected of walking into open offices, stealing checks and writing them to himself. Moses, who is 6 feet 4 inches tall and 230 pounds, has no current address, although his last one was in Raleigh, Mclntyre said. A string of reports that checks were stolen in buildings around UNC Hospitals alerted police to the problem. Checks have been stolen out of Fordham Hall, the Old Clinic building, the Burnett-Womack Building and the Friday Center. “He sticks around the hospital area,” Mclntyre said. So far, reports show that Moses had More groups at UNC may strain funds ■ The number of student groups has increased from 226 to 368 since 1980. BY MARISSA DOWNS STAFF WRITER The increase in the number of stu dent organizations could be a testament to more student activity and interest in campus life. But the increase hasn’t been matched with an increase in student fees, making many groups hard-pressed to find the financial support they need. This year alone, 88 organizations requested a total of $434,000 from stu dent fees. But Student Congress only had $196,320 to allocate. Amar Athwal, chairman of the Finance Committee of Student Congress, said a student fee increase See GROUPS, Page 4 News/Features/Arts/Sports: 962-0245 Business/ Advertising 962-1163 Chapei Hill, North Csroinu C 1998 DTH Pubhshing Cotp, All rights reserved. obtained almost $2,000 through the checks. But reports about check thefts are still flowing in and the final data hasn’t been compiled, Mclntyre said. Mclntyre said Moses had an “exten sive criminal history” of stealing checks and had been charged before with forg ing checks written to himself, crimes called forgery and uttering. He has served time in jail before as well, Mclntyre said. In prior cases that led to convictions, Moses was known to steal checks from the backs of check books so that the owner wouldn’t notice them missing for a while, Mclntyre said. But he said Moses was not suspected to be armed and dangerous, especially since he had avoided face-to-face con frontations with those he stole from. “He’s basically, I guess you could say, pretty cowardly,” Mclntyre said. “He comes to campus roughly about once a week and steals.” Mclntyre encouraged everyone on campus to leave their offices locked and their belongings secure. Anyone who has information about Moses and/or his whereabouts should call the police at 962-8100. Rise and fall In the past years, the amount of student fees has not increased proportionally to the number of groups requesting funds. tF 1996-97 1997-98 199699 j__T 199697 1997-98 199699 ■Subject to approval by dte Sudan body president SOURCE-STUDENT CONGRESS ARCHIVES INSIDE Jazz it up Visiting jazz musicians will perform in the 1998 Carolina Jazz Festival this week. Check out Thursday's Diversion's for more coverage. Page 5 ♦ ‘To be or not to be' Lab! Theatre's production of 'Hamlet' takes a risk by performing Shakespeare's classic with a twist. For a full review of ’Hamlet,' see Page 6 9# Project approved Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house rebuilding could begin by May now that the Historic District Commission has accepted the plans. Page 4 e Today's weather
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