Bath} (Tar MM www. daily tarheel. com See the hours for the ITS Resource Center, which recently moved to the Undergraduate Library. Volume 110, Issue 62 University Endowment Stays Strong UNC relatively stable in uncertain markets By John Frank Assistant University Editor Mark Yusko has been on the edge of his seat for more than a year now. As UNC’s chief investment officer, han dling the school’s $1 billion endowment for student scholarships and faculty professor ships, a negative-growth year and a topsy turvy summer stock market have made him a little nervous. But with fiscal year 2001-02 reports in hand, Yusko can relax. While the overall market benchmarks dropped 10.4 percent, UNC pulled slightly better than even with a 0.03 percent gain. “We had a very strong performance com pared to the benchmark,” Yusko said. “We outperformed the market.” The earnings don’t seem significant, but Yusko claimed a victory compared to institu tions that lost substantial amounts of money. For instance, the University of California system lost $145 million of its $5.1 billion endowment on Enron investments when the energy-trading company went bankrupt this year. Yusko said that if UNC had invested most of its money in equity funds such as stocks, similar to what the UC system did, it would have lost as much as $l7O million. University investors had limited amounts of stock and bonds in Enron and the other two major companies to declare bankruptcy in recent months - World Com and Adelphia. Investors made up money lost in dimin ished bond values by buying into the bank rupt companies in the hopes that they will rebound higher after they come out of Chapter 11, Yusko said. Instead of investing most of the endow ment money in the stock market, the University believes in diversifying its funds among many different assets to reduce risk, officials said. The University’s endowment is split into 1,700 different accounts and is directed by more than 150 managers. “With diversification we always underper form the best but outperform the worst,” See INVESTING, Page 2 O.C. SAT Scores Drop 32 Points City schools see gains for minority students ByJon Dougherty City Editor The last academic year was one of both achievement arid frustration concerning SAT scores for school districts in Orange County. Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools saw a 45- point increase in the scores of black students, raising the average to 988. The increase has been called a major step forward in the district’s battle against the minority achievement gap. But just north of the southern Orange County district, Orange County Schools saw their over all scores decrease by 32 points, down from 1036 the year before. The drop follows a major increase in the 2000-01 school year, when the district saw a 42 point overall increase in scores. Orange High School Principal Jeff Dishmon said he can’t pinpoint the difference between this year and last. “Well, more students took the test this year, so that could have an effect,” he said. “But I really just don’t know.” Dishmon said Orange High School is tak ing steps to combat the problem. “We’re offering SAT remediation courses, open for all students,” he said. “The courses are voluntary, and we should be offering them See SAT, Page 2 The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter. Mark Twain Help Wanted The Daily Tar Heel is seeking staffers for the 2002-03 academic year. Pick up an application in Suite 104 of the Student Union. “It’s a culmination of a very long 10 days , and everyone’s excited about seeing who the new people are. ” Jay AnhoßN, Director of Greek Affairs jr ir v f|§y MF !■■■ i \ ym VwHW t fgji JpT&i. IjdyyJjKb J "*****k*~, .V^..M ' .MO):,; fr ‘ , m Tl * % P DTH/JOSHUA GREER A pledge celebrates with friends during Bid Day on Franklin Street on Wednesday afternoon. Police closed Franklin in anticipation of the 380 girls running to their sorority houses after getting their bids in front of South Building. Bids, Smiles, Sisterhood Bid Day saw 380 UNC girls find new homes and friends in 1 of 10 sororities By Eshanthi Ranasinghe Staff Writer Three hundred and eighty girls - screaming, crying, jumping, hugging - came barreling through campus at full speed at 6:25 p.m. Wednesday. Police officers and pedestrians remained motionless as the stampede crossed Franklin Street, where it split and filtered to the 10 soror ity houses awaiting their arrival. “I’m so psyched to be here,” one of the girls shouted as she ran to join her friends. It was Bid Day, the moment Panhellenic soror ity rushees were waiting for to find out which house they got into. Bidding is an emotional time for rushees and sorority members, said Jay Anhom, director of Greek affairs. “It’s a culmina tion of a very long 10 days, and everyone’s excit ed about seeing who the new people are,” he said. The girls gathered outside of South Building at about 6 p.m., trading in their original location of Gerrard Hall for fresh air and curious onlookers. The rushees whispered through announce ments and awards, waiting for the envelopes that would tell them which sorority they were in. “I’m Tenure Policies Prompt Lawsuit; Reviews By Emma Burgin Assistant State & National Editor All eyes are on the University of South Florida as a tenured professor suspected of terrorist ties fights a lawsuit filed by the university calling for his termination. Although not prompted by the USF controversy, UNC officials also are looking at matters of tenure. A task force was formed last year to examine the University’s tenure process and what it means to tenured professors. The USF Board of Trustees is suing Sami Al-Arian, a tenured computer science professor, for disrupting the university envi ronment by allegedly having ter rorist ties. The university, located in Tampa, Fla., put Al-Arian on paid leave after he appeared on Fox News’ “The O’Reilly Factor” shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The video captured Al- Arian shouting in Arabic what some officials believe to be anti- Israel sentiments. USF also has accused Al- Serving the students and the University community since 1893 Thursday, August 29, 2002 very enthusiastic at the moment,” said freshman Bronwyn Duffield. “I’ve waited 10 days for this.” Once the girls ripped open the envelopes, they took to the streets, screaming all the way down to Franklin Street, where their new sisters waited with house shirts, confetti and silly string. Amid the excitement, dozens of onlookers gath ered to watch the festivities, some by chance and many in eager anticipation. “It’s like an annual tra dition for Carolina fellas to come out here and line up the street to watch the pride of Carolina run through,” said junior Bradley Bennett Others, however, were not so receptive to the rushing. “It seems very childish to me - it’s over excessive,” said freshman Michael Causey. “It’s not the most diverse crowd to hang out with.” Recruitment for the houses began with the start of classes last week. Potential rushees were greeted at the Recruitment Kickoff, where rep resentatives from each of the sororities recited the cheers of each Panhellenic house on campus. The girls later visited each of the houses to meet the sisters and find out about their respec tive sororities, Anhom said. “The reason it’s so structured is so that they can see all the groups,” 1 \ CTO U \ A-A SOURCE: KACUI.TY COUNCIL Streak? Volleyball seeks 4th straight ACC title. See Page 9 A Anhom said. “Slowly but surely, the women and the houses narrow down their choices.” The night before Bid Day, the rushees make a list of their top three houses, which are later matched up with lists of preferred rushees sup plied by each of the sororities. Each girl who turns in a list with three choices is ensured mem bership to one of the sororities, Anhom said. “At Carolina we have guaranteed placement,” Anhom said. “If they make it to Bid Night and they list all three, they’re guaranteed a spot.” When rush began, 512 girls expressed interest in joining a house. After 10 days of events and meetings, 380 remained. But Anhom said the drop was due mainly to withdrawals made by students not able to pay the fees rather than being cut from the rush. For the girls who follow rush the whole way through, however, the decision can be life changing. “There’s so much pressure,” one rushee said, “and finally to get a good group of sisters... it’s the best experience of my life.” The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu. Arian of using university funds for terrorist activities. The lawsuit, filed with the Florida 13th Judicial Court in Tampa, includes a letter terminating Al-Arian’s employment. The lawsuit is aimed at deter mining whether firing Al-Arian is in violation of his First Amendment rights. Ruth Flower, director of media relations for the American Association of University Professors, said USF is not following general procedure for removing a tenured professor. “The tenure requirements work just fine,” Weather Today: T-Storms; H 81, L 66 Friday: Showers; H 83, L 65 Saturday: Cloudy; H 89, L 64 Flower said. “But this time, it was the process that didn’t work.” USF trustees asked USF President Judy Genshaft to sue Al- Arian, and she acted on their request without consulting other faculty members, Flower said, adding that a professor’s colleagues typically judge if there are grounds for firing. “We are trying to point out that this is exactly what tenure is sup posed to be against,” Flower said. “We were so surprised that a university would take a faculty member to court. “(The situation) is a terrible thing for academic freedom. If any professor now says any thing controversial, they’ll know See TENURE, Page 2 www.dailytarheel.com Campus To Host Sept. 11 Memorial Day will include a convocation and vigil Staff Report As the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks approaches, the University communi ty has finalized plans for an entire day of remembrance. In addition to a gathering in front of South Building, a comprehensive volunteer fair and candlelight vigil are among the events slated for Sept. 11. UNC officials have organized a noon con vocation in Polk Place, revisiting the site where more than 10,000 people came togeth er Sept. 12 in reflection and mourning. Organizers say the event will center on remembering the six UNC alumni who died in the two World Trade Center Towers. Chancellor James Moeser will address those attending the midday convocation, dur ing which the bell in South Building will toll for each of the six alumni. Throughout the afternoon, about 75 volun teer organizations from both the University and the surrounding community will partici pate in a volunteer fair. Sponsored by the Carolina Center for Public Service, the Public Service and Advocacy Committee of student government, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce and Volunteer Orange!, the fair also will be held in Polk Place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. UNC Health Care will hold a symposium on terrorism preparedness earlier in the day. Donald Trunkey, chairman of surgery at Oregon Health Sciences University, will give the keynote speech at the event, which begins at 7:30 a.m. in the Fourth Floor Clinic Auditorium of the Old Clinic. Later that evening, the UNC Campus Y is hosting an interfaith candlelight vigil in the Pit Featuring numerous student organizations’ music and poetry, the vigil will be held at 8 p.m. At last year’s gathering at Polk Place - held the day after the terrorist attacks - speakers included then-Student Body President Justin Young; Raj Panjabi, then-Campus Y co-pres ident; Richard Kohn, chairman of the cur riculum in peace, war and defense; Sue Kitchen, then-vice chancellor for student affairs; and Rev. Steve Stanley of Chapel of the Cross. v , m 1 ti jHpiSß'" HA • mg DTH FILE PHOTO Students and faculty gather on Polk Place on Sept. 12,2001, for a ceremony memorializing the Sept. 11 victims.