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®he Sailu ®ar Heel M News/ f HBH 106 years of editorial freedom Serving the students and the University community since 1893 WTO Protesters Post Resolution at Town Hall By Jenny Stepp Staff Writer Chanting “Stop WTO!” nearly 100 students and community members gathered in front of the Chapel Hill Post Office on Tuesday night to condemn the World Trade Organization. The rally was organized in coordina tion with an international day of action against the WTO by mem bers of the Anti-WTO Organization, a group formed four weeks ago WTO Battle In Seattle Turns Violent See Page 7 by representatives from several UNC student organizations. The Geneva based WTO is meeting in Seattle this week with international delegates. “As Americans, we value so much the democratic elections of the people who represent us in government,” said sophomore Mary Bratsch, a member of the group. “The WTO can undermine those democratically elected bodies and the laws they make with a single stroke of the pen,” she said. The WTO, which was formed in 1995 and claims 135 member nations, is a group of nonelected men who make decisions on free trade. The organiza tion has the ability to override the democratic legislation of its member nations, including the United States. Several individuals from University organizations spoke, including junior Todd Pugatch, a member of Students for Economic Justice. He spoke to the group about sweatshops and the WTO’s role in maintaining economic disparities in the international arena. “They’re suf fering everyday because of the free- Law Targets Underage Drinkers A statute that goes into effect today carries harsher penalties for 19- and 20- year-olds who drink. By Deepika Narasimhan Staff Writer As of today, 19- and 20-year-old underage drinkers will have a harder time finding alcohol providers and escaping a permanent criminal record. Lawmakers hope to curb underage drinking with two more stringent alco hol laws going into effect throughout the state. The laws, approved by the N:C. General Assembly in July, increase punishments for 19- and 20- year-old underage drinkers and create new penalties for adults who provide alcohol to underage drinkers. Starting today, all underage drinkers can expect up to a S2OO fine and a crim inal record. Before, 19- and 20-year-olds faced only a noncriminal infraction and a $25 fine, said Jane Cousins, spokes woman for the Chapel Hill Police Department. The second law establishes a first offense penalty of no less than $250 and 25 hours of community sendee for adults who provide alcohol to anyone younger than 21. Repeat offenders will be punished with a minimum SSOO fine and 150 hours of community service. This law includes vendors, such as bars. Ajay Chaudhari, a bartender at Goodfellows, said he felt the punish ment fit the crime despite any use of fake identifications. “If it is a fake ID and the bartender was just careless, then by all means, the fine is fair,” he said. Additional provisions in the second law include an initial penalty of at least a SSOO fine and 25 hours of communi ty service for aiding and abetting an underage drinker. Repeat offenses are punishable by no less than a SI,OOO fine and 150 hours of community service. The first provision was sponsored by Rep. Joe Hackney, D-Orange, to close a loophole in state law that allowed 19- See LAWS, Page 8 One revolution is like one cocktail, it just gets you organized for the next. Will Rogers Ik m S iti r jV H * ' 4111181 DTH'KATHERINE EAKER Carrboro resident Seth Elliott, left, waits to join students and community members in a march from the post office to the Chapel Hill Town Hall to post a resolution against the World Trade Organization. According to the protesters, the WTO participates in "undemocratic practices and policies." trade rhetoric, and we’ve got to keep fighting that,” he said. After the speakers concluded, the group marched to Chapel Hill Town Hall, where they posted their resolution The Home State Advantage Leaders: N.C. Ties Will Help New UNC Chancellor By Lani Harac Staff Writer For many North Carolina leaders, a connection with the state is one of the most important qualities to consider when choosing a I The Search I new chancellor for UNC- Chapel Hill. As the University looks to replace the late Michael Hooker, state leaders have said the Chancellor Search Committee should weigh a vr Is On Part seven of a series on UNC's search for its next chancellor candidate’s familiarity with the state at least as much as his or her ability to get the job done. “It takes from three to five years for a stranger to get to understand the process - the daily procedures. That’s a big burden to put on someone,” said Bill Friday, UNC-system president from 1956 to 1986. Friday was N.C.- raised, and he has lived in Chapel Hill Faculty Seek to Shorten Semester Length By Matthew Smith Staff Writer Students griping that they start school too early, have to stay too long or have too little time to prepare for their final examinations might soon have an ally in the Educational Policy Committee. UNC Schedule Longer Than Other Schools See Page 7 Although no formal proposals or recommendations have been made, the committee is assessing the impacts of having the cur rent 150-day school year, nine more days than the 1996-97 calender term. The term length was increased in Wednesday, December 1, 1999 Volume 107, Issue 125 and chanted, “Just Say No to the WTO!” and “People Before Profits! Stop Picking Our Pockets!” The resolution calls for the Town Council of products manufactured in for the last 45 years. “There’s a strong feeling here now to find someone who appreciates the way the state works, who re-establish es the primacy of the University,” /ri\ IV \ - J / /\ \ Hi / \ \ / m \ x.r^ 1997-98 by former UNC-system President C. D. Spangler who argued that students needed extra time to learn. But informal evidence collected by the committee suggested that the length ened term was predominantly detri mental to nearly all aspects of University academics, said Boone Turchi, commit tee chairman and economics professor. “By and large, faculty I talk to think the length is really too long,” he said. “I would guess our semester is one of the largest.” He argued that because students start ed school in August, internship oppor tunities and summer jobs were limited or curtailed. Freshman business major Howie Tat said he lost his summer job because he had to leave for school so early. “I Burma, to officially condemn the WTO and urge the federal government to cease all negotiations with the organiza tion. The WTO issue hits especially close to home for Chapel Hill and Friday said. During his tenure as president, Friday appointed William Aycock (who served as chancellor from 1957 to 1966), J. Carlyle Citizen (1966- 1972), and N. Ferebee Taylor (1972- 1980) as UNC-CH chancellors. All were North Carolinians, and all were well-known with in the state. “I made those choices simply because I think that’s an important factor when deal ing with a public institution,” he said. “All things worked on a blueberry farm, and the peak season isn’t until mid-late August,” he said. “My employer thought it would be more efficient to just hire someone else for August since I had to leave so early, and I couldn’t find another job.” Turchi said the longer term had also affected the ability of University profes sors to be effective scholars, a serious loss at a research university. “From a professional point of view we have less time to devote to research," he said. “We have to attend conferences by missing classes. The situation is sub optimal.” The committee plans to make a formal recommendation by the end of the academic year, Turchi said. Student Body President Nic Heinke said he had also put the systemwide Carrboro residents because of town ordinances that ban the purchase coun try controlled by a military dictatorship, See MARCH, Page 8 being equal, I would go with a North Carolinian.” Paul Hardin, who served as chan cellor of the University from 1988 to 1995, said being familiar with the state helped him when he took the position. Hardin also grew up in North Carolina, although he lived out of state for some time. Because of his background, he said he knew at least half the people on the Board of Trustees when he became chancellor, which gave him a running start. “I left, but when I came back I felt right at home,” Hardin said. State leaders stressed that while administrative skills were important, N.C. ties could make the difference. C.D. Spangler, UNC-system presi dent from 1986 to 1998, was bom and raised in North Carolina and attended UNC-CH as an undergraduate. He said someone familiar with the state would have a better understanding of its her itage and traditions and would therefore be on See TIE, Page 8 issue before the Association of Student Governments. University Registrar David Lanier said that making up the school schedule became more difficult in longer years, with reading days squeezed in before exams. He said he would prefer a sched ule that allowed for variation from year to year. Turchi said the longer year had negatively affected exam schedules. “The exam period is so crushed. (In the spring) we have reading days after exams. Some exams are offered at 7 p.m. on Saturdays. Many students will have three exams in one day. That’s a horrible way to end a semester.” The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu. News/Features/Arts/Sports Business/Advertising 962-0245 962-1163 Chapel Hill, North Carolina © 1999 DTH Publishing Corp. All rights reserved. Police Call For Safety On Campus DPS Director Derek Poarch says Manning Drive is one of the main hazardous areas on campus for pedestrians. By Beth O'Brien Staff Writer With heightened campus concern about pedestrian safety, University offi cials have taken a step toward beefing up safety measures for pedestrians and motorists on campus. During a Tuesday meeting, University counsel Susan Ehringhaus and Director of Public Safety Derek Poarch were joined by members of the N.C. Department of Transportation to discuss preliminary measures to ensure pedestrian safety. The push for greater safety measures follows the death of Dr. Fusayoshi Matsukawa, a postdoctoral dental fel low who was struck by a car Nov. 4. Since August, there have been four on campus accidents between vehicles and pedestrians. Faculty, staff and students will cross the dangerous intersections and pedes trian accident sites on campus today at 12:15 p.m. to demand the installation of more safety devices such as traffic lights. Protesters will meet on the steps of the School of Dentistry, and from there will cross the Manning Drive crosswalk and follow a route across other trouble campus spots. The walk will conclude with a South Building rally. Poarch said Tuesday that he would like to form a small working group to present ideas to prevent further accidents. Poarch said no details had been finalized. “We warit to ensure that the tragedy that happened on campus this month won’t ever happen again,” Poarch said. Poarch cited South Road, Manning Drive and South Columbia Street as particularly high-risk areas. He also remarked on the campaign that Public Safety initiated in January and the improvements that have been made since the spring semester. Citations, squads situated for speed enforcement, and warning signs were all a part of the pedestrian safety cam paign. Poarch said the initial signs ask- See PEDESTRIANS, Page 8 Carolina, Speak Out! A weekly DTH online poll Where will you be for New Year's tve 2000? v wwvwunce du/dth to cast your vote. I Wednesday Keeping Tabs Probation Officer George Harrison patrols the northern portion of Orange County, keeping tabs on his charges and helping them to find their way back into society. Harrison deals with drug abuse and crimes such as breaking and entering, larceny and assault with intent to kill. See Page S. Tipping Off North Carolina's men’s basketball team opens its home season with No. 8 Michigan State tonight at 9 p.m. The Tar Heels are ranked second in the country after capturing the Maui Invitational tournament last week. See Page 13. Today’s Weather Sunny; Low 40s. Thursday: Sunny; High 50s.
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Dec. 1, 1999, edition 1
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