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lattg ®ar 38M Y2K Fears Prompt Better Systems Computer experts say the lack of nationwide Y2K problems comes from early and extensive preparations. By Jessica Chism and Kimberly Grabimer Staff Writers Intense preparations for the Year 2000 computer bug greatly enhanced the computer systems of universities across the country. Universities explored options to alle viate any potential difficulties during the rollover. Some hired additional staff specifical ly to focus on Y2K, while others pur chased updated hardware and software packages. The result was that the potentially dis astrous computer virus turned out to be more of a blessing than a burden for uni versities nationwide. Stephen Weiss, chairman of the UNC computer science department, said UNC did not experience any complica tions concerning Y2K. “Preparing for Y2K was kind of like a spring cleaning exercise,” he said. “It brought us more up-to-date. It was a use- SWEATSHOPS From Page 3 companies, allowing them to make per functory cleanups. But Pharis Harvey, director of the International labor Rights Fund, a group that belongs to the FLA, said companies that are part of the FLA are subjecting themselves to complete mon itoring. “(Companies) are finding that it is in their best interest to have stable rela tionships with factories," Harvey said. The FLA developed out of the Apparel Industry Partnership, a com Will Hii of CawHm illiill foil? Check all that apply... D Do you like getting involved in your university? n Are you interested in sharing your experiences with others? Cl Are you looking for leadership opportunities on campus? □ Would you like to make new friends? EH Do you enjoy helping people? EH Do you want to leave UNC knowing you made a difference? □ Do you love being a Tar Heel? □ Are you willing to help new students adjust to college? □ Do you want to make connections on campus? n Were you ever a freshman ? If you checked at least one of these, then you are a great candidate to liiojii aj liititij tiiiitlr/ For More Information: , • Check out the website at www.unc.edu/depts/orient • Call the Orientation office at 2-8521 or visit 311 Carr • Pick un an application from an Orientation Leader You've Seen the Rest, Now Join the Best! l| NO ENROLLMENT FEE |N3s sl7/MONTH | §D@K] BP WoiEifiW 4 5 j[: Call Now 960-9910 4 5 ? f d An affiliate of American Club Systems H3 FITNESS A Total Health & Fitness Club 4 J i►! 503 W. Main Street • Carrboro, NC *Some restrictions apply. ful exercise.” Scott Ridenour, computer facilities manager at Duke University, expressed similar sentiments about the Y2K situa tion. “We weren't too concerned with Y2K bug to begin with,” he said. “Basically we just made sure all of our operating systems were current.” Early recognition of the Y2K prob lem left many universities better pre pared to handle the much-anticipated rollover. The University of Michigan began researching the problem in the late 1980s. “We did exten sive amounts of preparation for Y2K, starting in late 1980s,” said Y2K Project Manager Gloria Hauck'Thiele. “We did a lot of “This complete analysis of the campus left us better prepared for any problems. ” Gloria Haick Thiele University of Michigan Y2K Project Manager testing and picked up most of the prob lems before the rollover. “This complete analysis of the cam pus left us better prepared for any prob lems.” As early as March 1998, UMich. began conducting campuswide aware mittee established by President Clinton early in 1996. The FLA’s board consists of six indus try representatives, including Levi Strauss, Nike and Reebok, as well as six public interest groups and one delegate representing the 132 universities that have signed on to the group, Harvey said. Roeper said WRC’s board would be established at the founding conference to be held in April. She said the consortium would have more international groups on its board and would give universities a more rep resentative voice than the FLA. While Harvey said he was continuing ness campaigns focusing on the univer sity community concerning Y2K, said Wanda Monroe, media relations spe cialist for the office of chief informations officer. The University of Texas at Austin also began early Y2K preparations. Officials started working on the Y2K issue after the state passed legislation for university state agencies to plan for the year 2000, said Bill Bard, director of telecommunication services at UT- Austin. “I think that we were fortunate,” he said. “This is some thing we envi sioned. A lot of things could have experienced prob lems but didn’t.” Officials decid ed not to hire any additional person nel but instead used existing staff and gave them different tasks in cor recting the school’s computer problems, Bard said. The consensus among many univer sities was that the financial investments of Y2K preparations reaped the future benefits. to urge students and the WRC into dis cussions with the FLA, the two groups do not seem able to see eye-to-eye. “Unfortunately there is a lot of mis communication that has created a level of suspicion in the student movement,” Harvey said. Pugatch said the differences between the two groups might be irreconcilable. “I don’t think the two systems can work together,” he said. “The contra dictions are too stark. One system is built around worker empowerment, and one isn’t.” The State & National Editor can be reached at stntdesk@unc.edu. Looking for Answers? % e p| : ' l A | T Jl A • .| E I. ; , It I BhT | •'• ,• |P| (HJPlanned Parenthood™ ||^°f and Durham Counties, Inc. Chapel Hill at 1765 Dobbins Drive 942-7762 Durham at 820 Broad Street 286-2872 Most Insurance Accepted • Special Student Rates • Evening and Saturday Hours News “Clearly 1 think the cost effect was a positive thing,” Bard said. “The amount of staff time probably ran into a cquple of million dollars." Thiele also said he believed that the preparations at UMich. were cost effec tive. “Cost analysis found that 90 percent of resources utilized in preparation had long-term gains,” Thiele said. “T herefore, only 10 percent of the expenditures were short-term.” Although the year 2000 is well under way, project leaders still explore the pos sibility of unique dates presenting prob lems. Thiele, along with other officials, con ducted tests to ensure that the leap year date, Feb. 29, would not create further complications with universities’ com puter systems. “I am confident that there should be no problems,” Thiele said. Duke University and UNC officials were also confident that the leap year would not present any problems what soever. “We are not concerned with the leap year at all,” Ridenour said. “We haven’t given it much thought." The State & National Editor can be reached at stntdesk@unc.edu. VIGIL From Page 3 row the focus of the vigil’s discussion, she said talk could center around hate crimes mentioned by the speakers. “We’re trying to make it a general topic,” she said. The vigil will end with a candle-light ing'ceremony accompanied by a moment of silence. Crespo said, “We’re trying to make a general statement on our own - remembering and reflecting.” The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu. Protests Continue After Diallo Verdict Associated Press NEW YORK - New demands for social justice, law enforcement reforms and a federal inquiry echoed from pul pits and city streets on Sunday in the aftermath of the acquittal of four police officers in the shooting death of Amadou Diallo. More than 1,000 people joined a peaceful prayer vigil outside the United Nations, where activist the Rev. A1 Sharpton hoped to bring the Diallo case to international attention. The shooting victim “could have been one of these ambassadors,” said Sharpton, who also said he was “calling for another jury to hear evidence” on the policies of New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. “Come November, the jury is going to render its decision,” he said, referring to Giuliani’s probable run for the U.S. Senate against first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton. Some in the crowd wore signs read ing: “Go ahead and shoot. I’m black so it must be justified.” In what was billed as a day of prayer, political leaders and activists joined Sharpton in criticizing the verdicts as inappropriate for a case in which police fired 41 bullets and hit the West African immigrant 19 times, only to discover afterward that he was completely unarmed. The four officers, acquitted of second degree murder and lesser charges by a Do you suffer from 0 cold sorest If so. then you may be just who we're looking for. We are conducting a paid ($350) research study of an investigational medication for the treatment and possible prevention of cold sore lesions. You must be 12 years of age or older (with parental consent if appropnate). and in good genera! health to participate. You do not need to have a cold sore now to qualify. £'„®i 1 If interested, please contact: Susan or Heather at 966-0129 ' - Ja* ‘ University of North Carolina Hospitals A Dining Tradition in Chapel Hill Silica 1943 AtuuuutcemetU & Claii (lincj, OmL&u! 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Sharpton’s National Action Network is investigating which companies con tribute money to the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, which helped finance the defense of the four officers in the case. loiter this week, Sharpton will release names of the companies and will ask cit izens to boycott the firms, said his spokeswoman, Rachel Noerdlinger At St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Auxiliary Bishopjames McCarthy, filling in for an ailing Cardinal John O’Connor, told parishioners Diallo’s death should cause people to “re-examine our own tenden cies toward violence, toward fear and perhaps toward prejudice - racial prej udice at that.” City Council Speaker Peter Vallone, speaking at Harlem’s Bethel AME church, said that to make sure Diallo’s death was not in vain, the police depart ment needed to continue to make “fun damental, meaningful change, so that people aren’t afraid thai the police are going to shoot them." Norman Siegel, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, told 200 parishioners at a Congregational church in Queens that the Diallo case was giving new impetus to his group’s proposals for police mis conduct reform. &atf#keller MONDAY SPECIAL ALL you CAN EAT spaghetti w/ salad, bread & tea $4.95 with valid ■ ■ UNC ID 157v4 E. Franklin (Down Amber Alley) 7
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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