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ASHLEY STEPHENSON
UNC Peeps
Must Unite
To Fight Cuts
The University is in dire straits.
I only wish I were talking
about the dynamic music group
that spawned such hits as “Money for
Nothing” (I Want My MTV) and “Walk
of Life.”
Late last week, the legislature’s Joint
Appropriations Subcommittee on
Education (read: Raleigh hooligans)
gave the word that our fine institution
would need to do a little belt tightening
in the name of budget cuts to the ugly
tune of $25 million - quite a hefty price
from our lawmakers who have long
promised to prioritize higher education.
I’m going to tell you why you should
give a damn.
The said cut could result in higher
tuition, less quality professors, more
barbecue-eating TAs, layoffs and salary
cuts.
A bad scene indeed, and one that
couldn’t come at a worse time. The
University was just getting back on sta
ble ground. In August 1999, the com
munity was reeling from the death of
Chancellor Michael Hooker. The
administrative ranks were shaky. In
place was an interim leader who could
only steer the flagship for so long.
Provost Dick Richardson was recover
ing from a heart attack and set to retire
in a year. The vice chancellor for
finance made plans to leave the post.
The schools of law and nursing were
welcoming new deans. The bond pack
age had stagnated in the legislature, and
a $6.8 million budget shortfall added to
the woes.
In the meantime, higher-ups were
trying to implement campus-changing
initiatives sucb as the Master Plan and
the Carolina Computing Initiative,
which had only existed on paper but
were now becoming realities.
We were on the road to recovery
with the Big Meese securely in place.
The bond passed in November, and
Student Union construction, Master
Plan blueprints and the computer ini
tiative were well under way. With a cut
of $25 million, UNC won’t just have to
tighten its belt - it’ll have to lose the belt
altogether.
And there’s a lot at stake. Our hon
chos are already spooked. Meese and
UNC-system President Molly Broad are
surprised and scared and a little pissed.
Faculty Council Chairwoman Sue
Estroff is worried that our professors
already are packing their bags and
potential faculty are writing UNC off.
Students are caught in the middle.
And I’m worried our voices will not be
enough. But with the big decision-mak
ers in North Carolina, money speaks
louder than words. And that’s where the
Meese comes in.
He needs to start tapping alumni for
their cash and their influence.
Upcoming meetings with the UNC
Board of Visitors and the Parents
Council are a good start. Meese needs
to continue to follow in the footsteps of
Hooker, who once embarked on a 100-
county tour of North Carolina to build
state support for the UNC system.
Hooker made it personal and told resi
dents why they should care.
Big names like Dean Smith and Bill
Friday also need to step up to the plate
and put the heat on - so should anybody
else whose name is on a UNC building.
The legislature’s timing is perfect and
not accidental. School’s almost out.
Exams are coming up. But that should
not deter students or students leaders
from mobilizing to fight this. A UNC-
Chapel Hill effort will not cut it.
Students from all system schools need
to get in the mix.
Because plenty is hanging in the bal
ance.
If lawmakers get their way, grumpy
TAs will teach your classes, not quality
professors. That course you wanted to
take might magically disappear from
the class directory. If your teachers
aren’t laid off, they might go searching
for greener pastures where their salaries
aren’t sliced. The great minds poised to
lecture in our classrooms could easily
turn their backs.
All this can be yours - if you can
afford the raised tuition.
UNC has long been heralded as a
university for the people. Now the peo
ple need to fight this one together.
If we yell loud enough, they just
might hear us.
Columnist Ashley Stephenson can be
reached at ashley2l@email.unc.edu.
Students Vow to Fight Budget Cuts
Bv Faith Ray
and Alex Kaplun
State & National Editors
As UNC-system officials prepare to
lobby the N.C. General Assembly to
prevent possible budget cuts, the UNC
Association of Student Governments has
made its own plans for appealing to the
legislature.
The ASG is sending state lawmakers a
memo, urging them to find solutions to the
state’s budget woes other than slicing $ 125
million out of the UNC-system budget
The Joint Appropriations
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No Chills at Area
Street Festival
By Ben Gullett
Staff Writer
Jon Hunt stood motionless among the throngs of people at
Sunday’s Apple Chill festival as they anxiously waited for him to
break his pose.
While standing for hours as a human statue was not the most
common way to celebrate Sunday’s Apple Chill festival, it was the
route taken by Hunt, who took up his act several years ago in
Europe. He stood mosdy motionless for more than an hour, mak
ing only small gestures of thanks to tippers. The 29th annual Apple
Chill, sponsored by the Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation
Department, drew revelers with arts and crafts booths, food, live
music and entertainment such as Hunt’s performance.
“I was broke in Ireland and wanted to go to a pub,” he said. “I
made about 12 bucks in 10 minutes.”
What started as a joke earned enough money for that evening’s
festivities and sparked an interest that has brought him across
Europe and the United States, eventually landing him in Chapel
Hill. ,
Other activists, artists and vendors also took advantage of the
festival’s high turnout.
Jeanie Amel worked at the the Christian Science Reading
See APPLE CHILL, Page 4
Officials Question Flying Club Actions
Bill Sawyer, president of
the Chapel Hill Flying Club,
did not believe Thursday's
incident was a big deal.
By Ginny Sciabbarrasi
City Editor
UNC officials are questioning a deci
sion made by the Chapel Hill Flying
Club to delay notifying proper authori
ties after a forced landing near the
Horace Williams Airport on Thursday.
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Carolina's Carla Overbeck heads the ball during the Courage's inaugural
game Saturday. Overbeck played on four undefeated UNC teams in college.
Subcommittee on Education formally
requested last week that UNC-system
officials find a way to cut 7 percent from
the University’s recurring budget.
At UNC, the cut would result in a
$25 million decrease in University
funds.
Budget cuts could mean a slashing of
1,800 UNC-system jobs, including 700
faculty positions, ASG delegates said.
ASG President Andrew Payne also
said legislators could increase tuition in
order to compensate for the loss of fund
ing.
In the memo, ASG delegates remind
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Pat Greenwell, a Flying Club board
member, and her passenger, Richard
Binkley, also a club member, made an
emergency landing at the end of the run
way after the engine of the single-engine
plane Greenwell was flying stopped.
The plane landed on UNC property,
making it fall under University jurisdic
tion.
The landing occurred around 5:30
p.m.
UNC and emergency officials were
not notified for another 2 1/2 hours.
“It took (Greenwell and Binkley)
about 30 to 45 minutes to walk back to
News
ed legislators of their constitutional duty
to “provide that the benefits of the
University of North Carolina and other
public institutions of higher education,
as far as practicable, be extended to the
people of the state free of expense."
Payne also suggested that student
leaders consider a gathering at the
General Assembly, similar to February’s
Students’ Day at the Capitol, to lobby
legislators on these issues.
Payne added that in this case, students
would have much more support than
they did during Students’ Day at the
Capitol, which focused mosdy on student
DTH/MIKE MESSIER
Katherine Thomason, 8, of Chapel Hill (above) scales a rock-climbing wall at
Sunday's Apple Chill festival. Hare Krishnas sing on McCorkle Place (top).
the airport,” said Flying Club President
Bill Sawyer. “They called me, and we
went out to the scene and then we called
the (Federal Aviation Administration)
and UNC officials.”
But Carolyn Elfland, the associate
vice chancellor for auxiliary services, a
position that oversees airport activities,
rebuked Sawyer for delaying the call to
University officials.
“If an accident occurs on University
property, we expect that the employee
on duty at the airport will immediately
be notified,” she wrote in a letter to
Sawyer.
Courage Loses Inaugural Game 1-0
The game, a homecoming for
many former UNC stars,
pitted the WUSA's Courage
against the Boston Breakers.
By Jamie Agin
Staff Writer
Fireworks fit up the sky above UNC’s
Fetzer Field in
celebration of
the inaugural
game for the
Women’s
United Soccer
I WUSA
Boston I
Carolina 0
Association’s Carolina Courage and
Boston Breakers.
But much to the disappointment of
the Courage and thousands of enthusi
astic fans, the action on the field was less
than explosive.
A crowd of 6,134 watched the
Breakers dominate the majority of
Saturday night’s contest
The Breakers ultimately hung on for
a 1-0 victory.
In the 14th minute of the first half,
Boston midfielder Maren Meinert, one
of two German nationals playing for the
Breakers, scored Boston’s first-ever goal,
taking a pass from 20 yards out on the
right wing from teammate Keri Raygor
and putting it by Courage goalkeeper
issues. “We have the faculty and staff on
our side who have a lot more resources,”
Payne said. “We are prepared to join
together.”
Payne urged student leaders to e-mail
their U.S. Congress representatives to
push for protection of low tuition and
adequate financial aid funding for UNC
system students.
Student leaders also met Friday with
UNC-system President Molly Broad to
discuss further lobbying efforts.
Broad once again emphasized the
See STUDENTS, Page 4
“If the incident occurs after hours and
no employee is on duty, we expect
Public Safety to be notified immediate
!y-”
“The situation (Thursday) night was
inexcusable.”
But Sawyer said the incident was
downplayed by the club because it was
just a landing and no injuries occurred.
“This is no big deal,” he said.
“This is not a crash. It’s never hap
pened before.”
The City Editor can be reached
at citydesk@unc.edu.
Bente Nordby.
After squandering several scoring
opportunities, the Courage’s best chance
to tie came in the 90th minute when a
shot by forward Silvana Burtini clanged
off the right post.
There was a scramble for possession
in front of the net before Boston finally
cleared the ball.
“There were some offensive opportu
nities with our team, but it’s a matter of
finishing,” Carolina coach Marcia
McDermott said.
“The first game is not going to be
anybody’s best game.”
In addition to being the regular sea
son opener for both teams, the game
served as a homecoming for many for
mer North Carolina players.
Returning to Chapel Hill for the
Breaker squad were Kristine Lilly (1989-
’92), Raygor (’9l-’94), Tracy Ducar (’9l
-and Robin Confer (’94-’97).
Meanwhile, the Courage sideline was
fined with nine former Tar Heels,
including McDermott, Carolina assis
tant coach Susan Ellis, 2000 NCAA
Final Four MVP Meredith Florance and
U.S. National Team Captain Carla
Overbeck.
Overbeck, who played four unde
feated seasons at North Carolina, found
herself in an unusual position after the
loss.
“It’s very frustrating," Overbeck said.
Monday, April 23, 2001
ASG Picks
Payne for
2nd Term
The Association of Student
Governments chose Andrew
Payne and running mate
Sonia Blanks as its leaders.
By Faith Ray
Assistant State & National Editor
RALEIGH - In an overwhelming
show of support Saturday, the UNC
Association of Student Governments
delegates re-elected Andrew Payne as
president
Payne’s running mate, and the new
vice president of the ASG, is Sonia
Blanks, who
served as student
body president at
Fayetteville State
University. “Thank
you for your sup
port,” N.C. State
University student
Payne said after
being elected. “I
appreciate the
opportunity to
represent the asso
ciation and the
students."
David Chesley,
a student at
Western Carolina
jgtffek
ASG President
Andrew Payne
said a focus of the
association would be
on becoming more
Internet-reliant
University and Veronica Hatton, UNC-
Pembroke student body president ran
against Payne and Blanks.
Payne said the ASG would be his
main priority because he will be taking
one class in the fall 2001 semester.
“The ASG will be my job working
with the General Assembly, the Board
of Governors and the students.”
Before the voting started, members
stood up to probe the candidates about
what changes they would make to the
organization. The focus of the associa
tion for the next school year will be
implementing a heavy reliance on the
Internet, Payne said.
He said he hopes the ASG Web site
will attract the interest of students and
legislators to the association.
But Payne said he was concerned
about the current image the ASG pro
jects, and said he would continue to re
establish the association’s creditability.
“Many think the state student associ
ation is not doing its job,” Payne said.
“The ASG is almost like a glorified
social club, and that concerns me.”
Payne also said he wanted to serve a
second term because he felt that he did
not get a full opportunity to serve the
ASG during his first term. Payne
replaced then-ASG President Cliff
Webster last September, who resigned
after being charged with larceny.
Chesley agreed the ASG is not cur
rendy producing desired results.
“We need to take the current (ASG)
constitution and throw it in the trash,”
Chesley said. “It’s useless. We need to
come up with anew one.”
Talk soon turned to the internal direc
tion the association will take for the new
school year. Payne said he is aiming to
establish an optional $1 student fee to
increase funding for the association.
“We have to get our name out,” he
said. “We have to get to a level where
(the ASG) does the job for the students
of North Carolina.”
See ELECTION, Page 4
“I don’t like to lose.”
But Breaker midfielder Lilly, who
played with Overbeck in 1989 and
helped UNC win four NCAA tides from
1989-1992, pointed out that Overbeck
wasn’t the only former Tar Heel with a
winning past.
“We all had a winning streak, and it
all had to end (for someone),” said Lilly.
She credited the Breaker victory with
a strong opening effort and bit of luck.
“The last 10 minutes, they were down
on our end, and in the first half we dom
inated,” Lilly said.
“We held on, and the post was on our
side.”
Despite the loss, Overbeck remained
enthusiastic regarding both her return to
Chapel Hill and the beginning of the
brand-new league.
“Asa professional athlete, it doesn’t
get any better than this,” she said.
“Although if we had won, it would’ve
been better.”
Carolina’s franchise - owned by
TimeWamer Cable - was originally
supposed to be in Orlando, but when
the deal fell through, the team ended up
in Chapel Hill.
“It’s always good to come back,” she
said. “It’s just exciting to get the league
on the way. It’s a good area for soccer.”
The Sports Editor can be reached at
sports@unc.edu.
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