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KAREY WUTKOWSKI
UNIVERISTY COLUMNIST
No more
‘Animal
House’
The Greek population is tired
of being discriminated
against, and damn it, it’s
not going to take it anymore.
After years of having to deal
with oppression in the form of fel
low classmates’ scorn and parents’
overbearing concerns, fraternities
are undergoing a perception
makeover, aiming to let people
know that they're more than just
beer bongs and weekend formals.
The perception makeover is
part of a bigger process to make
improvements that are intended
to show fraternities’ commitment
to academics. The changes
include moving the start of the
rush process until after Labor
Day, allowing the rushees to focus
on their classes for the first week,
and requiring all fraternity houses
to hold three open-house nights
to allow rushees to visit, creating
a more welcoming environment.
Leaders of both student-run
and official-run organizations
agree these changes are necessary
because the Greek population is
pretty low in the public’s esteem.
They say the membership num
bers have been decreasing in past
years, partly because parents don't
want to subsidize four years of
intoxication. The fraternities also
say they have to fight everyday to
combat the perceptions kids get
from movies and that MTV.
And Wyatt Dickson, president
of the Interfratemity Council,
essentially wishes Jim Belushi
was never born.
But the complaints seem overly
dramatic. It kind of gives you the
same feeling as when celebrities
complain about getting so much
attention and having to look
beautiful all the time. It evokes
little sympathy when they made
the choice to become a celebrity
and lead a life known to attract
others’ attention and scrutiny.
Once you get through all the
complaints that the houses are
suffering financial hardships
because of decreased member
ship, it seems that the fraternities'
core complaint is that they’re sick
and tired of being thought of as
popular partyers. Hard life, eh?
But ultimately, they do have a
point there is a perception
problem with fraternities at UNC,
partly because frat boys lead a
lifestyle that is an easy target.
Tbe Greek population has a
strong culture on campus
there’s an easily identifiable look
(the floppy hair, the polos and the
Rainbows), an endless onslaught
of rumors (of hazing, drug use
and STDs) and an exclusiveness
that has Greeks often only social
izing with other Greeks.
The culture makes it all the
easier for Daily Tar Heel cartoon
ists to mock Greek life and for
other students to snub anyone
with the typical Greek look.
It creates an us vs. them men
tality at UNC, building a tension
between the Greek and non-
Greek populations.
The Greek population consti
tutes only about 16 percent of the
undergraduate student body, but
somehow it makes itself seem like
a larger presence.
The Greek population has
somehow' ingrained itself so much
in the UNC community that it is
one of the first things that comes
to the minds of outsiders
countless times I have been asked
what sorority I’m in after telling
someone that I attend UNC.
Some of the tension comes
about because of the dominating
force and the exclusivity of the
fraternities and sororities on
campus. There’s a clear divide
between those who are Greek and
those who are not.
It’s respectable that Greek
leaders are taking efforts to
improve their image, but ulti
mately it’s not likely to achieve
much if they don’t address the
divide and tension that is such a
part of the campus community.
As long as the tension still
exists, people will always take pot
shots at Greeks, tagging them as
mindless partyers. And the repu
tation inevitably will filter out to
the outside, to the parents and
incoming students.
So until there is some
ingrained change in the UNC
social dynamic, the Greek popu
lation will have to persevere as a
discriminated people.
Contact Karey Wutkowski
at karey@etnail.unc.edu.
GPSF recounts past year’s successes
Achievements include TA stipends
BY RACHEL HODGES
STAFF WRITER
The Graduate and Professional
Student Federation released its
April Report last week detailing
the events of the last six months.
“This past year has been all
about relationships,” said former
GPSF President Branson Page.
“We stressed building relationships
with the administration, members
of the Senate and graduate stu
dents on various committees, and
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embers of Punto Cinco, sophomore Gerardo
Maradiaga (right) and alumnus Jorgo Gueurero
play at the Carolina Hispanic Association’s 12th
annual Noche Latina. Punto Cinco only plays for CHispA’s
largest event of the year. Other events included dancing.
Tepper taps Cabinet members
BY SARAH DERREBERRY
STAFF WRITER
While rain water-logged Chapel
Hill during the past week, the
Tepper administration also was
inundated —with Cabinet appli
cations.
More than 100 students applied
this year for the 22 committee
chairmanships and 16 executive
assistant positions available.
After the examination of appli
cations, Student Body President
Matt Tepper said he and his offi
cers interviewed many of the 101
applicants.
“You can’t tell that much from
an application,” he said. “But w'e
were able to combine the applica
Housekeepers’ union gathers
to discuss fairness strategy
BY MEGAN DAVIS
AND RACHEL HODGES
STAFF WRITERS*
As tensions between workers
and upper-level administrators in
the UNC Housekeeping Services
Department mount, local union
members and allies gathered
Saturday to develop their Workers
Fairness Campaign strategy for the
upcoming months.
The daylong meeting addressed
several overarching issues that are
the source of complaints against
housekeeping zone manager
Chuck Matheson, who was trans
ferred April 1 from a zone in which
he was accused of being disre
spectful and intimidating to staff.
When asked Friday for the
specifics of Matheson’s transfer,
Director of Housekeeping Bill
Burston would not comment.
Seven workers in his new zone
filed an official letter of complaint
to Chancellor James Moeser’s
office Thursday. The letter asked
University administration to curb
Matheson’s alleged tactics of intim
idation, including a claim that
Matheson breached employee con
fidentiality.
Matheson declined to comment
when reached Friday. “I feel like
I’ve been persecuted,” he said. In
past interviews with The Daily Tar
Heel, Matheson has denied any
allegations against him.
“What we want is either to gain
respect from him or get him out of
Top News
when it came time to make deci
sions, there was an atmosphere of
respect.”
In the report, Page said that he
is pleased with the work done dur
ing the past year and that he is con
fident his successor, GPSF
President Dan Herman, will be
able to build on the groundwork
that has been laid.
“It’s wonderful to have someone
entering office who has been work
ing with us all year long,” he said.
WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS
tions with interviews and really get
some great Cabinet members."
Tepper said certain qualities were
attractive in candidates he met with
throughout the interview' process.
“We really just looked for expe
rience, dedication, new ideas and.
of course, knowledge about the
University," he said. “We also tried
to look at how all the Cabinet
members would work together as a
team."
Junior Ankeet Shah, who was
selected as co-chairman of the
Minority Affairs Committee, said
he applied for a Cabinet position
because he hopes to make a lasting
impact on the University commu
nity.
here," said Cynthia Lowen, one of
the workers who signed the letter.
Marsha Tinnen, a member of
the N.C. Public Service Workers
Union UE Local 150, is one house
keeper who filed an earlier letter of
complaint with Moeser about
Matheson before his transfer. She
said she was not surprised that
issues concerning Matheson’s lead
ership tactics resurfaced in his new
zone.
Tinnen also said she is frustrated
with the administration’s decision
to transfer Matheson from a volatile
personnel situation only to place
him in charge of other workers
without solving the initial issues.
Laurie Charest, associate vice
chancellor for human resources,
and Carolyn Elfland, associate vice
chancellor for campus services,
could not be reached for comment.
The housekeeping department
reports to both of their offices, and
the two have been involved in
meetings with concerned house
keepers since December.
Moeser had not had a chance to
respond to the newest letter as of
Friday. But Lowen said Sunday
that she and the others who filed
the complaint have been contacted
by officials and assured that the
Office of Human Resources will be
in touch with them shortly.
Workers’ frustrations with
Matheson are only one of many
SEE HOUSEKEEPERS. PAGE 7
Page said he is most pleased
with the work regarding teaching
assistant stipends, creating good
relationships between students liv
ing off campus and community
members, raising financial aid for
graduate students and looking into
the grading system in the Graduate
School.
“I was very happy that we were
able to raise awareness with TA
stipends,” he said. “The increase in
financial aid was one of the big
things we did behind the scenes,
and I was pleased that we secured
the continuation of the Future
many bands, comedians and other cultural activities.
Participants also practiced Capoeira, a combination of danc
ing and martial arts native to Brazil. Prior to the festivities,
many dined on traditional Hispanic foods including tamales,
came mechaga, black beans and pupusa.
“We really just looked for experience,
dedication, new ideas and, of course,
knowledge about the University
MATT TEPPER, STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT
“I’m a senior this year,” he said.
“I want to leave Carolina feeling
like I’ve done something really
meaningful."
Shah emphasized cooperation
as one of his main goals for the
coming year.
"I’m very excited to work with
the Office of Minority Affairs to
promote diversity and hopefully to
set up programs with advisers for
Cirque brings unique talent
Circus combines
acrobatics, dance
BY ERIN SULLIVAN
STAFF WRITER
It’s not every day that a burly
man in silver pants comes to
Chapel Hill twirling giant cubes.
But last week, with the arrival of
Cirque Inc.’s “Dream It Live,” pret
ty much anything seemed possible.
For two nights, glittery acrobats
took over the Smith Center, giving
locals a taste of a different kind of
circus.
Like its big brother, Cirque du
Soleil, Cirque Inc. descends from a
French circus style that began in
the late 1800s under Jules Verne.
Animal-free and condensed to a
single stage, the performance
combines dance, acrobatics and
European artistry to capture its
audience’s imagination.
But in contrast to most other
companies, Cirque Inc. is U.S.-
based and bears an over-the-top
Broadway style that teeters toward
ridiculous.
With its performers decked out
in feathery headdresses and neon
spandex, it’s not surprising the
show was originally developed for
casino stages.
Even so, Cirque Inc.’s motley
crew didn’t fail to delight
Thursday night. With performers
hailing from Mongolia to the
Ukraine to Canada, a steady
Faculty Program for next year.”
Emily Williamson, Page’s chief of
staff, also cited the Future Faculty
Program— a weeklong program
for TAs to help them improve class
room skills such as grading prac
tices —as a major success.
“It’s a program created this last
year to develop graduate students
who teach undergraduate courses,
because knowledge of a subject
doesn’t make a person a teacher,”
Williamson said.
Page also said he is pleased that
GPSF worked to increase financial
aid for graduate students by col
DTH/SHILPI PAUL
minorities and (minority) focus
groups for freshmen,” he said.
Sophomore Bret Barden, who
was chosen as co-chairman of the
Public Service and Advocacy
Committee, also said he had a vest
ed interest in fostering communi
cation and cooperation.
“I think it would be great to pro-
SEE CABINET, PAGE 7
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111
DTH/MAUORY DAVIS
Bringing a veritable circus to the Smith Center, Cirque Inc.'s “Dream it
Live" included incredible acrobatics and European artistry.
stream of unique talent kept the
audience engaged for a full two
hours.
Set in a dream world of fantas
tic shapes and psychedelic colors,
three petite contortionists were the
first act to make jaws drop.
Swathed head to foot in multicol
ored bodysuits, they melted over
and into one another like dripping
candles, pausing occasionally for
the audience's applause.
Soon after came a wiry man and
shaky tower of chairs, which con
tinued to grow as he executed a
variety of handstands from its
MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2003
laborating with the Office of
Scholarships and Student Aid and
the Office of Institutional Research
to adjust their projected living
expenses.
Williamson said she also is
pleased the administration was
able to increase graduate student
involvement in campus decision
making.
Stephanie Schmitt, vice presi
dent for external affairs, said she is
proud of the administration’s work
on increasing awareness about
SEE APRIL REPORT, PAGE 7
House
picks 8
for seats
on BOG
Process happened
faster than usual
BY JENNIFER SAMUELS
ASSISTANT STATE & NATIONAL EDITOR
The N.C. House on Wednesday
swiftly elected eight new members
to the UNC-system Board of
Governors —but some said the
expedited process used this year
stifled communication between
candidates and legislators.
Five board members
Addison Bell, a Charlotte busi
nessman; Patsy Perry, a retired
educator from Durham; Gladys
Robinson, an executive from
Greensboro; Priscilla Taylor, a
foundation executive from Chapel
Hill; and Peter Keber, a Charlotte
banker were reappointed.
The new members are Leroy
Lail. a businessman from Hickory;
Brent Barringer, a Cary lawyer;
and Cary Owen of Asheville, who
served on the BOG from 1995-99.
The House approved the candi
dates in a 99-16 vote. The eight
appointees include four Democrats
and four Republicans. Keber was
the only Republican incumbent.
The board will focus in its
upcoming term on ensuring afford
able, quality education, Taylor said.
Keber, who said he is gratified
the House had the confidence to
re-elect him, added that he hopes
the BOG examines chancellor
salaries in its upcoming term.
“There are some very excellent
chancellors at our campuses,” he
said. “It’s going to be a real chal
lenge to keep them if we can't pay
them what they’re w'orth.”
Barringer said he will work to
improve the system’s role as the
state’s knowledge infrastructure.
Some of the new members said
changes to the election procedure
provided inadequate opportunity
to discuss ideas with legislators.
Owen, who ran for re-election
to the BOG in 1999 but lost, said it
is traditional for people wanting to
be on the board to have to run as if
SEE BOG, PAGE 7
summit.
Perhaps most impressive,
though, were the aerial acts that
appeared almost effortless. Using
only a silky blue sash suspended
from the ceiling, two acrobats
danced through the air like ethere
al spirits. Their graceful choreog
raphy masked the physical strain
of their performance, allowing
reality to give over to fantasy.
Given its theatricality, the show
might have fared even better at a
slightly more intimate venue. But
SEE CIRQUE, PAGE 7
3