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The University and Towns
In Brief
Former UNC Standout
To Visit Local YMCA
Hubert Davis, former UNC basket
ball star, will be in Chapel Hill today
and will speak to local children about
his summer basketball camp.
He will meet with fifth- and sixth
graders at the Chapel Hill-Carrboro
YMCA at 980 Airport Road.
, Davis will also visit local schools to
discuss his basketball camp. He will
start today with a visit to McDougle
Middle School. The camp is a three-day
camp that will take place this summer,
for more information, call the YMCA
gt 942-5156.
Neighbors Collecting
Goods for Fire Victims
Neighbors of the people whose
homes were destroyed by Monday’s lire
at Foxcroft Apartments are trying to col
lect money and food for the families
and students involved. Boxes will be
available at the desk at the Student
Union. For more information, call
Devan Myers at 942-3954.
Annual Unity Games
To Take Place Friday
Student government, the Black
Student Movement, the Residence Hall
Association and the Carolina Athletic
Association will join forces to host the
second annual Unity Games on Friday.
The event is a multicultural field day
that uses sports activities as a means to
unite different races from around cam
pus. Various organizations formed the
games last year in an effort to give
members of the Carolina community a
chance to interact with diverse groups
in a fun manner.
The afternoon will include games,
food and free T-shirts. Festivities will
take place on Ehringhaus fields from
*3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday.
Museum to Showcase
Students’ Artwork
The Ackland Art Museum will fea
ture new work from nine emerging
artists beginning April 30 and running
through May 28. The exhibit, titled
“New Currents in Contemporary Art,”
is an exhibition by candidates for a mas
ter’s degree in fine arts from Carolina.
The museum is open from 10 a.m. to
5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays,
and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.
Admission is free. For more informa
tion, call 966-5736 or visit the museum’s
Web site at www.ackland.org.
Studio I to Premiere
‘Waiting for Godot’
Studio 1, the student drama compa
ny, will present Samuel Beckett’s
“Waiting for Godot” in the Center for
Dramatic Art next week.
Student members of Studio 1 direct
ed, designed and performed the play.
Beckett’s play focuses on postwar
human condition. Performances will be
at 4 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. May 1 and at 5
f.m. May 2. Tickets are free for
lay Maker Repertory Cos. subscribers
and drama Privilege Card Holders and
cost $3 for everyone else. For more
information, call 962-PIAY.
UNC Faculty to Deliver
3 Lectures During May
Dr. Wayne Christiansen, professor of
physics and astronomy, will speak on
Earth From a Cosmic
Perspective” at 7:30 p.m. May 2 at the
Chapel Hill Senior Center.
* Norm Loewenthal, continuing edu
ction director, will discuss “Lifelong
at UNC” at 1:30 p.m. May 2
aj Binkley Baptist Church.
I * James Coggins, associate professor
;atd chair of the computer science
;department, will discuss “Is There
Virtual in Virtual Reality?" at 1:30 p.m.
May 9 at Binkley Baptist Church.
> l For more information, call Sandy
■Roberts at 962-1993.
Pastor Garners Honors
For Volunteer Work
* * The Women’s Center has given its
4 jird annual Woman of Courage Award
!t$ Carrie Bolton of Pittsboro.
♦ Bolton is a pastor at Alston Chapel
United Holy Church and a volunteer
jf rector of the Mary Neal Child Care
Renter. She will receive recognition at
jail awards ceremony at A Gathering of
;Women from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. May 6.
1 The Woman of Courage Award is
intended to recognize a woman who has
■served as an example of strength and
courage for women in our community.
1; For more information, call the
IVydmen’s Center at 968-4610.
From Staff Reports
Town, UNC Explore Fare-Free Busing Options
Bv Envonam Kpeglo
Staff Writer
Before local and UNC officials could
explore transit options for the area
Wednesday, they had to rectify their
own parking dilemmas.
After struggling to find parking
spaces in the overcrowded town lot,
University officials met at Carrboro
Town Hall with representatives from the
Carrboro Board of Aldermen and the
Chapel Hill Town Council to discuss
funding possibilities for shared transit
goals, focusing on fare-free busing.
TEACHING OUTS f e §M
fillip , i
UTH/KATHERINE FAKER
Political science Professor Donna Lefebvre, far left, listens as freshman Valencia Butler expresses her opinion. The students met
with Lefebvre at Ehringhaus Residence Hall to discuss segregation on campus and possible solutions for racial tensions.
Creative Teachers Bridge Student Gap
By Mark Thomas
Staff Writer
When students leave college, the professors
they remember most are those who have found
a way to connect with them beyond the con
straints of the lecture hall.
But at UNC, where classes of more than 200
students are commonplace, the relationship
between teacher and student can be difficult to
create and sustain.
With this thought in tow, an increasing num
ber of professors at UNC are stepping out from
behind the podium and taking a proactive stance
in creating a rapport with their students.
From meeting outside of the classroom to uti
lizing alternative teaching methods, a number of
Vinroot Shifts to Right
In 2nd Bid for Governor
Throughout this week, The Doily Tor Heel
will profile the top five candidates in the
N.C. gubernatorial race. Primaries are slat
ed for May 2.
By Gavin Off
Staff Writer
A former UNC class president who
played varsity basketball under the
guidance of Dean Smith is again trying
his hand at the game of state politics.
Republican gubernatorial candidate
Richard Vinroot,
a former
Morehead Scholar
and mayor of
Charlotte from
1991 to 1995, is
preparing his sec
ond attempt to
move into the
N.C. governor’s
mansion, after
STATE
having run unsuccessfully for the
Republication nomination in 1996.
UNC-Charlotte political science
Professor Ted Arrington said the 1996
loss prompted Vinroot to abandon his
moderate Republican roots.
But Chris Neeley, Vinroot’s cam
paign manager, said Vinroot was con
sistent in his political activities. He said
Vinroot wanted to reprioritize the state’s
goals and weaken the control govern
As the deadline approaches for the
towns to adopt their budgets, local offi
cials are scrambling to find a way to allot
tax money for transit improvements.
Participants at the summit decided on
a joint task force to fully explore a pro
posal that would allow UNC students
and possibly all residents to ride on all
Chapel Hill and Carrboro routes with
out fees.
Chapel Hill Transportation Board
Chairman Ken Robinson said the board
was not completely supportive of the
fare-free service.
“Our investigation shows that trans
faculty members are attempting to enhance the
educational experience at UNC by strengthen
ing the vital link between teacher and student.
Political science Professor Donna Lefebvre
believes that creating an environment in which
students are comfortable communicating their
thoughts and opinions is key in cultivating the
bond between herself and her students.
Lefebvre says this approach also enriches stu
dents’ learning experience.
Taking students on field trips to the court
house or prison and meeting outside of class for
lunch are several of the vehicles she has used to
achieve this goal.
Lefebvre says creating a disarming learning
environment translates into a heightened college
experience for her students, and they seem to
ment exercised on people’s lives.
“He wants to contain the growth of
government in North Carolina,” Neeley
said. “He wants to implement a tax
payer protection act to limit government
spending.”
Neeley said Vinroot believed in
putting money toward road and high
way improvement and public educa
tion. He said Vinroot wanted teachers to
be paid according to performance, not
tenure. “He wants to create competition
in N.C. public schools,” Neely said.
Arrington said Vinroot’s history as
Charlotte mayor suggested he was a
moderate Republican. But he said
Vinroot was campaigning as a staunch
conservative. “(As mayor), he was not
shy about spending public money for
public good," he said. “Asa candidate,
he’s been meanspirited and at times
down-right ugly -very unlike the
Richard Vinroot that was mayor.”
Arrington said this sudden switch
damaged Vinroot’s credibility. “We
don’t know who Richard Vinroot is any
more,” he said. “Who knows what kind
of governor he will be?"
But Neely said Vinroot proved his
conservatism as mayor when he
reduced Charlotte's crime rate by 17
percent, saving taxpayers sl9 million.
Colleagues said Vinroot’s legal career
See VINROOT, Page 4
News
portation fees are the least important
factor to both riders and nonriders," he
said. “There is no guarantee that free
fares will increase ridership."
Robinson added that the transporta
tion board did not object to the propos
al, but other service improvements
needed funding.
“We want to focus on extending the
operation times and expanding routes,"
he said.
Alderman Diana McDuffee, howev
er, said the fare-free proposal was worth
considering.
“I am in favor of the fare-free plan,”
agree.
“From the first class, she established a bond
between all of the students in my class,” said
Tyler Hitch, a sophomore from Chicago who
was enrolled in Lefebvre’s Ethics, Law and
Morality class last fall.
“She created an atmosphere of complete com
fort for us. Without a doubt, I learned and
retained more in her class than any other 1 have
ever taken. She is incredible.”
Inside the classroom, Lefebvre loosens the
traditionally restrictive reins on typical class
room etiquette. “We bring food to class,” she
said. “I think it promotes a more comfortable
environment and a sense of community devel-
See INNOVATIONS, Page 4
Colleges Raise Admissions Bar
By Lam Harac
Staff Writer
As the number of high school seniors
that apply to college increases, top
ranked schools are finding a need to be
even more selective in their admissions
processes.
But officials at Harvard University,
Cornell University and University of
Pennsylvania say it’s not just sheer num-
bers driving the
changes; the cal
iber of applicants
has also
improved.
And the UNC
system is no
stranger to the
trend.
Campus
Connection
This month, the Board of Governors
approved a proposal requiring high school
seniors to take two yean of a foreign lan
guage and an additional year of high-level
math. Some officials view the action as an
attempt to keep up with rising admission
standards across the country.
Marla McGrath Lewis, director of
undergraduate admissions for Harvard,
said 90 percent of this past year’s appli
cant pool qualified for acceptance. In
past years, that number was closer to 70
to 80 percent.
“The excellence of the applicant pool
(was) stronger than we’ve ever seen,”
Lewis said. “It was a very difficult year
to make admissions decisions.”
Applicants for the 1999-00 entering
she said. “The fares are, in some ways,
a deterrent for student riders, and I think
this plan should be implemented even if
it has to happen in stages.”
Carolyn Elfland, associate vice chan
cellor for auxiliary services, said the
University shared transit goals with the
towns and was willing to help fund other
improvements.
“We want service improvements as
well as free fares for students,” she said.
“The bill is just too high for the school to
afford without help.”
When several aldermen and Town
Council members voiced concerns
Faculty Juggle
Multiple Roles
In University's
Race for Future
By Katy Nelson
Staff Writer
It was the race the late Chancellor Michael
Hooker promised he would run.
And his successor, James Moeser, has wasted
no time in picking up the baton.
But while the administrators in South Building fly
by on the track carrying their ambitious vision of
UNC as the best public university in America, the
professors bear the weight of reality on their backs.
With this vision of UNC in mind, faculty at the
University juggle teaching and research while
human constraints, such as time, press down on
them.
To survive as a tenured faculty member at
UNC in the 21st century, professors will contin
ue to wear their many hats, a reflection of the
complexity of the University’s mission.
To receive tenure, promotions and raises, fac
ulty must maintain a productive research pro
gram that pleases departmental chairmen who
keep a constant eye on the department’s rankings.
Risa Palm, dean of the College of Arts and
Sciences, said faculty members should ideally
spend 40 percent of their rime teaching, 40 per
cent of their time researching and the remaining
20 percent of their time in service to the
University, community and beyond.
But some professors say achieving that sched
ule is easier said than done and that the require
ments of the job are equal to ajob and a half.
“It’s just really hard. I frantically work every
moment I can,” said English Professor Jane
Danielewicz, who is in her sixth year of teaching
and eligible for tenure this year.
In addition to her full workweek of teaching,
preparing for classes and serving on various com
mittees, Danielewicz spends Sundays in her office
working on her research projects.
Psychology Professor Steven Reznick com
pared the juggling act between teaching and
research to circus clowns who spin plates bal
anced on multiple poles, adding as many as pos
sible before they all come tumbling down.
“That balancing act is something we must con
tinue to monitor,” said Reznick, who does much
of his research during school breaks.
History Professor Joel Williamson said he
worked seven days a week year-round, spacing
his work out during the day.
Williamson said most individuals, however,
were like him - genuinely interested in the syn-
See PROFESSORS, Page 4
class exceeded 18,000 for the 1,650
spaces available, she said. That meant
only about 11 percent of candidates
were accepted. “This isn't the first tough
year we’ve had, but this one really took
the cake,” Lewis said.
Cornell and Penn experienced simi
lar situations this past year.
Don Saleh, dean of admissions and
financial aid. said 3,180 students were
enrolled in 1999-00, out of 20,000 appli
cants. He said 80 to 85 percent of those
fell into the “admissible” category.
“We end up with more qualified
applicants, and we are admitting a
smaller number of them,” he said.
At Penn, “the situation is one where
we’ve seen a huge increase in applica
tions,” said Dean of Admissions Lee
Stetson.
This past year saw 19,000 applica
tions arrive in the office for an entering
class of 2,300.
“We have to look very carefully at all
the discriminating factors,” Stetson said.
Because all the applicants are academ
ically outstanding, officials have to look
beyond academic ability to what the stu
dents can proride outside the classroom.
Although the surge in applicants has
been attributed by experts, at least in
part, to the “boomlet" population,
school officials said higher visibility of
their campuses also played a role.
“Several things happened. High
school students and parents are realizing
more and more the value of attending a
selective, prestigious institution,” Saleh
Thursday, April 27, 2000
about raising taxes for a program that
would not totally benefit their residents,
Elfland argued that many UNC students
were residents of the towns.
“Students that live off-campus pay
taxes either on property or through
rent,” Elfland said. “We are not three
separate entities and we need to work in
partnership.”
Flicka Bateman, a Town Council
member, said she was supportive of the
free-fare proposal.
“We ought to go ahead and institute
See TRANSIT, Page 4
said.
“On top of that, we have done more
in terms of recruiting."
He said the university had actively
recruited at both the national and inter
national level, increasing the base of
applications the school received.
"Lewis said Harvard had also pursued
students.
“We’ve done a very aggressive job in
recruiting students who might be good
matches for us,” she said. “We’ve also
been helped in that by a number of
things.”
She said the information available to
students, especially through the Internet,
made it easier for prospective students
to determine whether Harvard was a
good match.
Factors at Penn included more
recruitment and travel by the school in
the past few years, more national and
international attention and more atten
tion devoted to the college admissions
process in general, Stetson said.
“Penn’s visibility has risen consider
ably in the last 20 years,” he said.
Understandably, most selective uni
versities are pleased with this turn of
events, although it means more students
will receive disappointing letters by
mail. “It’s a challenge to be in this posi
tion, but it’s obviously one you want to
be in,” Stetson said. “People still recog
nize you by who you say no to.”
The State & National Editor can be
reached at stntdesk@unc.edu.
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