u>ljr Daily (Jar Herl Runoff Pulls 300 Fewer Voters More than 3,000 voters hit the polls in Tuesday's runoff, only a small drop from the general elections last week. Bv Denise Scott Staff Writer A runoff for the student body presi dency has almost become tradition at UNC, with 15 of the past 18 elections resulting in runoffs. While 3,763 students turned out for last week’s election, 3,392 students returned to the polls Tuesday. Past runoff elections have continual ly brought in less voters, sometimes los ing up to 2,000 students. The 1995 election was an exception to the trend, with 200 more students voting in the runoff than in the actual election. Catherine Yates, chairwoman of the Elections Board, said the usual decrease in turnout was the result of several issues. “After weeks of campaigning, stu dents are sick and tired of hearing about elections,” Yates said. “By the time the runoff occurs some students have lost interest.” Yates said because this year’s runoff was not as well publicized as the origi- — #1 ' Next DTH Editor The Daily Tar Heel is seeking students to serve on the panel that will choose the editor of the DTH for the 2000-2001 school year. Applications for the seven at-large positions on the DTH Editor Selection Board are available at the DTH Office, the Carolina Union info desk kiosk. Applicants must be available for an orientation meeting from 5-6 pm Wednesday, April 5 and from approximately B:3oam-4pm Saturday, April 8 to conduct interviews and make the selection. All students may apply for at-large positions except current DTH news staff members. If you have any questions about the process, please contact Rob Nelson (962-4086, rnelson@email.unc.edu) or Janet Gallagher-Cassel (962-0520, jgcassel@email.unc.edu). / "* x. I \ S 1 I I I What is the Summer of Chai! j Where in the world is the ChaiMobile? i ' • ! The ChaiMobile is coming soon to a campus near you. And the Summer of Chai i i could be one of the greatest summer opportunities of your life! Check out 1 http://www.chaitime/collg/summerfor more information and be ready to i seek fame i I Star in a real-life version of The Young and the Desi, an on-line soap opera 1 l find a career i i Earn money and gain experience as a member of the Chaitime Intern Team 1 meet cool people Live rent-free with your co-stars in the Chaitime House l g have an adventure 1 l Take trips, host chats, be a part of an Internet start-up ! chaitimegcom I SUMMER OPPORTUNITY ----- I I For more information, check out 1 I http://www.chaitime.com/collg/summer I Between February 21 to April 17, Tanmay and Dennis will be let loose from the Chaitime office and hit the road in the Chaimobile. From Canada to Florida, from Connecticut to CaSfornia, they will interview college students who want to join the Summer of Chai. Those who are selected will join the Summer of Chai Internet Team from June 12 to August 12 at the Chaitime House in downtown Philadelphia.. Anyone 18 or older is eligible, regardless of gender, race, or ethnicity. Check the Chaitime website at http:// w ww.chai time/col Ig/summer for a list of scheduled ChaiMobile stops. „ I Sponsored by: I l | pnvMr.DrMAxa-'V.avn m m presto! isuzu | * Go farther. I I I A Record of Runoffs An increasing number of candidates has led to frequent runoffs for student body president Elections Votes Runoff Votes 1995 3,709 3,918 1996 3,489 No Runoff 1997 3,097 No Runoff 1998 4,210 3,145 1999 3,663 2,912 2000 3,763 3,392 DTH/TIAV RICHARDS nal election, students might not have realized when the vote was scheduled. Yates said the lack of publicity stemmed from the Elections Board’s time constraints. She said the tight schedule would not allow for further efforts to rally voter support. In addition, an expensive elections banner was stolen last week. The Board purchased the banner hoping to draw more voters. Yates said the banner could not be replaced, possibly resulting in lower voter turnout. However, she said the decrease in voters should not cause students to question the results. The validity of the runoff results are equal to those of the first election, Yates said. “For the most part, the students who voted last Tuesday are going to vote again,” Yates said. Elections Board Vice Chairwoman Marissa Downs said runoff elections were usually not as representative of the student body’s opinion. But she said the runoff did give the voters an important second chance to voice their opinions. “I think it is a good process because it gives the students the maximum opportunity to make their vote count,” Downs said. “In a runoff, students who voted for other candidates are given another chance to choose their leader.” The runoff election allows one can didate to receive the mandate of the vot ers. The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu. Hit Mii of feoiiii Stiiiit ¥@l? x / Check all that apply... D Do you like getting involved in your university? Cl Are you interested in sharing your experiences with others? Q Are you looking for leadership opportunities on campus? Q Would you like to make new friends? O Do you enjoy helping people? □ Do you want to leave UNC knowing you made a difference? O Do you love being a Tar Heel? □ Are you willing to help new students adjust to college? 1~1 Do you want to make connections on campus? Q Were you ever a freshman? If you checked at least one of these, then you are a great candidate to tan ai iljtiijj tojiiili For More Information: • Check out the website at wwvv.unc.edu/dept/orient • Call the Orientation office at 2-8521 or visit 311 Carr • Pick un an application from an Orientation Leader News U.S. Education Official Visits Durham School Associated Press DURHAM - U.S. Education Secretary Richard Riley said Tuesday that teachers must become better-paid, year-round employees if U.S. education is to shed its outdated ways and make the strides everyone wants. “We have an old agrarian schedule, an outdated factory model and an anti quated wage system,” Riley said during his seventh annual address on the state of American education. Riley’s final address as secretary was made before students, elected officials and educators at Southern High School, a low-performing public school that has turned itself around. Spanish teacher Alesha McCauley from Triton High School in Harnett County said she liked everything Riley said, especially the 12-month contracts. She was among the hundreds of specta tors, who included educators from across the state. “I think we could pour more effort into really digging into our subject and our students,” McCauley said. Teachers in North Carolina already have 10-month contracts, which many states don’t have. State Board of SPRING DDE A If joiiii This is your chance to have the BEST SPRING BREAK EVER!! A Donate five (5) consecutive times to receive Ist ticket and receive a ticket on each consecutive donation after. A Donate eight (8) times in the four (4) week period and you will have four (4) chances to win. A All donors are eligible. A Only actual donations will qualify. If you can not donate -FOR ANY REASON- it will not count as a donation. This includes lab values out of range or any medical disqualification. ma&hnin A Starts: Monday, February 14, 2000 A Drawing: Friday, Marc h 10, 2000 at 4pm BBBP A Two (2) winners of iiiioi© will be awarded. Os// or stop by' marking validated Sera-Tec i * www.citysearch.com/RDU/SeraTec 109 1/2 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill • 942-0251 • M-TH 10-6; F 10-4 Wednesday, February 23, 2000 Education Chairman Phil Kirk said the 12-month contract was a good idea that would have to be implemented gradu ally and only for teachers who volun teer. “Vouchers drain funds from public education and they divert us from the real challenge of lifting up all of our chil dren,” he said. “Vouchers are a mis take." 7