Stye iailij (Ear Heel
Interaction
Vital for
Tolerance
Well, the first week of classes is
behind us, and the semester
is in full swing.
By now, many students are even offi
cially enrolled in all their classes. To
those of you who aren’t, keep working
on it If a little schedule-juggling doesn’t
get you in, most
professors will
admit you after a
little flattery.
Meanwhile,
another sign that
the school year is
truly under way
is today’s kickoff
of the Sonja H.
Stone Black
Cultural Center
Awareness
Week.
GEOFF WESSEL
UNIVERSITY
COLUMNIST
The BCC is holding several events to
publicize its role on campus and recruit
new students. See the article on this page
for details on the week’s events.
In addition to presenting facts about
the programs, groups and facilities of
the existing BCC, the Awareness Week
also will include information about the
freestanding building now under con
struction on South Road. The building
is the result of a long-term fund-raising
campaign, culminating in the chancel
lor’s decision to use part of the largest
single alumni donation in UNC histo
ry to fund construction.
That decision is a perfect example
of the University’s commitment to
diversity. But while the intent of that
commitment is undeniably good, its
implementation is sometimes shaky.
For instance, the University requires
that students fulfill a cultural diversity
perspective for graduation. The require
ment clearly illustrates the administra
tion’s desire to ensure all students take
away a greater appreciation of other cul
tures along with their degree.
But in practice, a kid who spent his
whole life in rural North Carolina can
take a class on life in rural North
Carolina and satisfy that perspective.
A black student can satisfy it with
African and Afro-American Studies
40. How diverse is that, really?
And the very examples I just used
highlight a larger problem. When
UNC talks about “diversity,” all too
often what is really being discussed is
“a good mix of black and white.”
Sometimes someone will remember
something about Muslims or
Hispanics - whereas a truly diverse
group of people ought to include a
mix of not only races, but also of ages,
genders, political ideologies, nationali
ties, sexual orientations, religions,
areas of study, economic backgrounds,
tastes in music and more.
But attempting to create a truly
diverse experience for students poses
two main problems.
First, there’s really not a whole lot
the University administration can do
to encourage contact among people
who differ in all those ways. The
admissions office already does a fairly
decent job of admitting a truly diverse
crowd - that’s what being “the
University of the people” is all about.
This year’s huge freshman class is the
most varied in University history. Now
that they’re all on campus, it’s up to
the students themselves to interact.
The good news is that in most cases,
they will: with people living on their
hall, taking their classes, joining their
clubs.
In fact, most students should
already be well on their way to
embracing diversity by the time they
first arrive on campus.
And as for those students who refuse
to accept diversity socially, how likely is
it that anyone can force them to do so
with programs like the perspective
requirement? Unlikely, if you ask me.
The second problem with a com
mitment to teaching students about
diversity is that it would be close to
impossible to show every UNC stu
dent the entire spectrum of human
diversity, simply because it’s such a
huge range. The number of perspec
tives, Such-and-such Cultural Centers,
programs and lectures would capsize
the whole University.
All that being said, I would still urge
you to check out the BCC Awareness
Week events. Because despite my practi
cal objections, acknowledgement and
acceptance of diversity is still an impor
tant lesson.
Whether you personally are black or
riot, take some time to learn about that
particular segment of our society.
Understanding other races, cultures and
so on makes us more compassionate,
better able to fit in in a diverse work
place after we graduate, more accepting
of other cultures when we encounter
them, more ready to appreciate the best
things that culture has to offer.
Plus, there’s free food. That alone
should be enough to get you out of bed.
Columnist Geoff Wessel can be
reached at vroomsplat@hotmail.com.
PETA Seeks End to University Lake Fishing
University Lake, which UNC
built in 1932, rents out
boats and fishing supplies
to Orange County residents.
By Kellie Dixon
City Editor
His green fishing rod shines in the
sunlight as 8-year-old Pablo Willink
reels in a crappie - the young fisher
man’s fust catch of the day at University
Lake.
The lake, located in Carrboro, has
recendy gained the attention of People
for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
On Aug. 15, PETA sent a letter to
officials at Orange Water and Sewer
Authority asking them to ban recre
ational fishing at the lake.
“It’s mosdy an educational cam-
A. JPy
DTH/KIMBERLY CRAVEN
Freshmen Thomas Whittington (left) and Nirav Vora (right) avoid studying by playing pool in the Union Underground on Sunday
night. Whittington ana Vora went to high school together in Charlotte but first became friends when they came to UNC.
Vora won the game, but Whittington promised there would be a rematch.
College Programs Urge
Professor Retirement
By Michael McKnight
Staff Writer
Incentives to encourage faculty mem
bers to seek early retirement are becom
ing increasingly popular among
American colleges and universities,
according to a survey conducted last
year by the American Association of
University Professors.
The “Survey of Changes in Faculty
Retirement Policy” included 608 higher
education institutions nationwide with
more than 75 full-time faculty members.
Of the institutions surveyed, 46.2 per
cent reported the implementation of one
or more incentive programs to encour
age faculty members to retire before
reaching the age of 70.
Ronald Ehrenberg, chairman of the
BCC Awareness Week
This week, the Sonja H. Stone Black Cultural Center is hosting
a series of events to generate student interest in its programs.
All the programs occur in the Sonja H. Stone Sladt Cultural Center
Monday, Aug. 27
KICKOFF
12:00 BCC Video
12:30 Open Htmftteei die New Dtatoi art Staff
Tuesday, Aug. 28
1130 BCC Video/BCC Ambassadors • *
12:00 Meet frie Mew Director
1.00 Hekitna Reading list Interest Meeting
1:30 Sauti Mpya Interest Meeting
4:00 Slack Graduate Student Open House
Wednesday, Aug. 29
12:00 Around the Circle Interest Meeting
1:00 BCC Video/BCC Ambassadors
1:30 K 97.5 Salute to Higher Education
3:30 Communiversily Youth Programs Interest Meetmg
(Union 205) ,
Thursday, Aug. 3®
1:00 BCC Video/BCC Ambassadors
1:30 Cross-Cultural Communications Institute Interest Meeting
2:30 Communiversity Youth Programs Interest Meeting
(Union 205)
Friday. Aug. 31
12:00 BCC Video
12:30 Sauti Mpya interest Meeting
1:00 Freshman Open House/MovieslPta Party
paign,” said Daniel Shannon, fishing
campaign coordinator for PETA. “We’re
trying to get the word out to people that
they should reconsider this.
“People consider this a very benign
activity and there’s this misconception
that fish don’t feel pain,” Shannon
added. “Fish, like any other animal, pos
sess the biological and neurological
capacity to feel pain.”
University Lake, which UNC built in
1932, is now operated by OWASA on a
long-term lease with the University. The
facility is open from March to
November for recreational fishing and
boating.
The lake rents out boats and supplies
to residents of all ages.
On the dock, Jack Griffith loads up a
rented boat with bait and provisions.
Griffith clasps the green and white life
vests onto his 6-year-old son, Nick, and
then onto 7-year-old lan.
BILLIARD BREAK
professor association’s Committee on
Retirement, which administered the
study, said the survey was conducted
because faculty retirement programs are
currendy a hot topic in higher education.
“Many faculty members who were
hired in the 50s and 60s are coming up
on retirement ages,” he said. “Many
institutions wanted to find out the rele
vant practices currently in existence in
American colleges and universities.”
Ehrenberg said universities usually use
the incentive programs so they can hire
younger, more diverse faculty members.
“There’s a lot of reasons why universities
would like to see turnover in their facul
ties,” he said. “A lot of times they have a
newer and fresher perspective on things.”
See RETIREMENT, Page 7
BCC Awareness Week Begins Today
The week's events will include
videos, open houses, interest
meetings and time to interact
with the center's new director.
By Meredith Nicholson
Staff Writer
The Sonja H. Stone Black Cultural Center
kicks off its awareness week today to provide
students with opportunities to learn about the
BCC and its upcoming activities.
Although students are encouraged to visit
the BCC at any time, officials hope this week’s
events will attract new students on campus and
those who know little about the organization.
“Students tend to be a little hesitant to just
stop by,” said Lorie Clark, BCC information
and communications specialist. “This week is a
chance for them to just drop in, grab some food
and hang out”
All the events will take place at the BCC’s
offices in the front of the Student Union.
Each day will include a showing of a BCC
video that discusses the center and its activities
during the last year and a half. The video also
News
“Today we decided to come out here
to fish,” lan Griffith said, excitedly.
“We enjoy fishing,” Jack Griffith
added. “I’m sure they’re people that per
haps don’t. For these guys it’s a great
chance for us to get together. I work
everyday so this is a great opportunity.”
Greg Feller, spokesman for OWASA,
said the lake exists to benefit residents.
“We’re a public nonprofit water
resource agency,” he said.
“Recreation is something we provide.
We don’t operate it like a private busi
ness would.”
Feller said the plant’s board of direc
tors was informed of PETA’s request at
its most recent meeting. He said the
board will most likely address the mat
ter at an upcoming meeting.
“There was no discussion about how
to respond,” Feller said. “It was just sim-
See PETA, Page 7
School Funds Focus of Hearing
By Stephanie Furr
Staff Writer
A public hearing scheduled for tonight
will provide an opportunity to address
concerns raised by some school officials
about funding priorities in Orange
County’s upcoming bond referendum.
The Orange County Board of
Commissioners will hold the public
hearing at 7 p.m. tonight at the
Hillsborough courthouse.
Of the $75 million bond referendum,
$47 million has been earmarked for edu
cational needs in the Chapel Hill-
Carrboro City and Orange County
school districts.
But not all officials agree about how
to divvy resources between the two
school systems should the Nov. 6 refer
endum pass.
Commissioner Alice Gordon said she
has reservations about the referendum’s
bbmJajUSJi
* r *''
DTH/KARA ARNDT
Taking advantage of the nice weather, lan Griffith, 7, (far right) and his
brother Nick, 6, go fishing at University Lake with their father, Jack.
provision for the
construction of a
new Orange
County middle
school without
also providing for
anew high school
in Chapel Hill-
Carrboro Schools.
The bond pack
age designates $lB
million for anew
Orange County
middle school and
sl3 million apiece
for construction of
two Chapel Hill-
Carrboro elementary schools.
But there is no provision for anew high
school in Chapel Hill - an omission that
Gordon said was a poor use of resources.
“The plan the fommissioners have on
right now is to build three schools and
addresses some of the common misconceptions
in the University community about the center
and highlights the BCC’s collaboration with
faculty and students.
The awareness week also will give students
the opportunity to formally meet Joseph
Jordan, the new BCC director.
Jordan took the helm Aug. 13, leaving his job
at Adanta’s Auburn Avenue Research Library
to replace interim director Harry Amana.
Although the BCC begins its open house with
the video at noon today, the week officially kicks
off at 2 p.m. with an interest meeting for the
Cross-Cultural Communications Institute, a BCC
project “Everything we do is intended to cross
whatever boundaries exist” Jordan said. “This
group gives us a chance to explore why these
boundaries exist. Communication gives us access
to the boundaries to expel and eliminate them.”
Tuesday’s events include interest meetings
for the Hekima Reading List and Sauti Mpya,
an annual literary magazine.
The Hekima Reading List is an informal book
club that meets to read and discuss a list of books
determined by members in early fall. Sauti Mpya
is produced by the BCC to offer students oppor
tunities in working on magazine production.
Tuesday's events will culminate with a black
Monday, August 27, 2001
Vinroot Makes
3rd Attempt at
Statewide Office
Richard Vinroot is the only Republican who
has declared his intention to run to fill the
Senate seat left vacant by Sen. Jesse Helms.
By Alex Kaplun
State & National Editor
Former Morehead Scholar and UNC basketball player
Richard Vinroot is hoping the third time is the charm in his
bid for a statewide office.
Last Thursday, Vinroot, a former
Charlotte mayor, announced that he will
run for the U.S. Senate. Vinroot’s |
announcement came just one day after
long-time U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms
announced that he would not seek a
sixth term in 2002.
So far, Vinroot is the only Republican to
announce his intention to seek the vacant
seat.
Vinroot has run twice for statewide
office in North Carolina and has lost both
times. In 1996, Vinroot lost the Republican
gubernatorial primary to Robin Hayes.
Four years later Vinroot lost a close elec
tion for governor to Democrat Mike
Easley.
But Vinroot said his two losses will not hinder his senator-
See VINROOT, Page 7
| \ A
ignore the fourth,” Gordon said.
She said existing high schools and
middle schools in both systems should
share facilities until the need for new
building is more pressing.
But Richard Kennedy, a member of
the Orange County School Board, said
Gordon’s plans do not take into account
reasonable classroom sizes, which he
thinks are essential for a good education.
“All the options and opportunities
that they have in Chapel Hdl we have
given up on for one thing, and that is
small classroom sizes,” Kennedy said.
“We have waited in line fair and square,
and now she’s treating the folks in
Chapel Hill like their problems are
greater than ours."
But Chapel Hill-Carrboro School
officials also think their needs are getting
minimalized. Some officials are ques-
See SCHOOLS, Page 7
Commissioner
Alice Gordon
says a provision for
anew Chapel Hill-
Carrboro high school
should be made.
graduate student open house at 4 p.m.
Food for Tuesday’s events will be donated by
Durham’s The Know Bookstore, which is the
first black bookstore in North Carolina.
James Jackson of The Know Bookstore said
the store’s staff feels it is important to be
involved in this week’s activities because the
store has a good relationship with the BCC.
An interest meeting for the Communiversity
Youth Programs will be held at 3:30 p.m. on
Wednesday in Union 205. A second interest
meeting for the programs, which aim to link col
lege students with community youth, will be held
at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday at the same location.
Jordan called this program a “legacy of Dr.
Stone and her sense and sensibilities of social
responsibilities."
“This is a chance for students to get involved
in community work, especially to work with
children and young people,” Jordan said.
On Wednesday, Salute to Higher Education
-a radio program on Raleigh’s K 97.5 - will be
broadcasting from the BCC starting at 1:30
p.m. The week’s events culminate at 1 p.m.
Fridav with a pizza party for freshmen.
The University Editor can be reached at
udesk@unc.edu.
3
Republican
Richard Vinroot
doesn't feel that his
previous losses will
hinder his Senate
campaign.