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COLIN SUTKER
CITY COLUMNIST
Challenges
stay during
summer
As the summer comes into
full bloom, Chapel Hill
soon will descend into a
hibernation.
Soon “the Hill” will feel almost
vacated with the absence of stu
dents.
But business will go on.
For the Chapel Hill Town
Council, members will be facing
elections in the fall.
In addition, the constraints a
sluggish economy has imposed
on their budget will hit hard dur
ing the summer.
It was last year that state gov
ernment ran into trouble by
retaining tax receipts that were
meant for municipalities to shore
up their own budget shortfalls.
With economic forecasts call
ing for little improvement in the
next five years, the town possibly
could be cutting more into
municipal services.
The Town Council also is fac
ing a drop in Franklin Street
business viability not good for
an already-declining market.
With newly developed shop
ping centers such as New Hope
Commons and the Streets at ,
Southpoint and with the renova
tions of University Mall, there is
increasing need to revamp
Franklin Street.
The Downtown Commission,
charged with this task, has done
some work. But its calls for a
facelift of shops have yet to be
heeded.
Also taking effect over the
summer is the ban on nighttime
panhandling in Chapel Hill.
While the ordinance was
imposed for safety reasons, the
first months will be indicative of
whether this ban is merely lip
service to problems that need
serious attention.
In education, the Chapel Hill-
Carrboro City Schools will have
to continue expanding facilities
to match increasing growth.
While elementary and middle
school plans lie on the table, the
big issue will be dealing with the
criticism of the new high school,
proposed to be built on the Rock
Haven Road site.
During the preliminary hear
ings, many residents came for
ward and expressed their dissat
isfaction with the proposed site.
But with local high schools
reaching 110 percent capacity,
decisions must be made to head
off even bigger enrollment prob
lems.
Another key issue on the city
schools’ plate will be the possible
option to merge Chapel Hill-
Carrboro City’ Schools and
Orange County Schools into one
working organization.
What the board must deliber
ate is whether a merger would
still maintain the progressive
education system that is highly
regarded nationwide.
And as always, minority stu
dent achievement gap issues raise
feelings of resentment among
local minorities, most recently in
a Youth Creating Change forum.
Each year the Minority
Student Achievement Report is
released, there is an incredible
discrepancy in test scores
between white and minority stu
dents. It has been an issue for the
past 15 years or so, since the
report was first released, and it
will continue to be one.
While minorities are strug
gling for academic quality in the
classroom, the Northside neigh
borhood, where a large part of
the town’s minorities reside, will
try to preserve its community
from students who occupy cheap
duplex housing.
The neighborhood’s zoning
ordinance concerning duplex
housing could greatly affect the
availability of affordable off-cam
pus housing.
So if you’re staying in town this
summer, working a job or taking
classes, the town still will oper
ate. While we vacation there is
still a town to be run.
And there is still fun to be had.
Bars still stay open late. Cosmic
Cantina is still the choice of late
night revelers. Concerts on
Sunday mornings still take place
at the Weaver Street Market.
To those returning next year, a
caveat: The town you left in the
spring might have transformed
when you return.
Contact Colin Sutlcer
at cosu@email.unc.edu.
Outstanding students, faculty honored
BY SARAH DERREBERRY
STAFF WRITER
In the wood-paneled Alumni
Hall, students, parents, adminis
trators and faculty participated
Tuesday in an event Chancellor
nui imp James Moeser
ONUNE referred to as
View a list of “one of the great
all students occasions for the
who received Carolina family.”
Chancellor's Three profes-
Awards. sors and six
graduate teach
ing assistants received Student
Undergraduate Teaching Awards,
and 66 students were recognized
with academic Chancellor’s Awards.
Teaching awards are bestowed
by students. The monetary prizes,
$5,000 for professors and SI,OOO
for teaching assistants, are funded
by student activity fees.
Recipient and English Professor
DTH FILE PHOTO
Despite a longstanding tradition, the Commencement Committee is considering not allowing students onto the field at
Kenan Stadium during graduation ceremonies this year. Students were allowed to walk across the field last year.
Construction may prevent
graduation field gathering
BY AUSTIN MORRIS
STAFF WRITER
Graduating seniors might not be
invited onto the field at Kenan
Stadium after this year’s
Commencement exercises, as has
been the tradition in years past.
The Commencement Committee
is considering not inviting graduates
onto the field because of construction
on the Ramshead parking deck and
concerns for attendees with mobili
ty problems, said Bernadette Gray-
Little, University executive associate
provost and Commencement
Committee chairwoman.
Gray-Little said construction on
the Ramshead deck will complicate
normal pedestrian flow into and out
of the stadium’s entrances and pose
mobility problems.
“In the past, students have been
invited onto the field following
Commencement exercises,” Gray-
Officials comb campus for poorly lit corridors
BY JOE SAUNDERS
STAFF WRITER
University officials and a repre
sentative from student government
took a lighting tour Tuesday night
to identify areas on campus that
are not well-lit at night and that
pose safety risks.
The tour is held twice a year
once each semester.
Phil Mazarick, an engineering
technician at UNC Electric
Systems, organized the tour and
planned this year’s route.
He said he focused this year’s
tour on areas frequented by stu
dents.
“I’m concentrating on the
undergraduate area and where
people cut through to get to
Franklin Street at night,” Mazarick
said.
In addition to Mazarick, only
five other people attended this
year’s tour: University Police Chief
Top News
Thomas Stumpf said student initi
ation and funding take on special
significance for those selected.
“It means a lot to be chosen by
students for their perception of
good teaching,” Stumpf said.
Chancellor’s Awards recognize
student excellence in academics
and student activities.
Students nominated their peers
for the majority of the awards. Asa
result, most were surprised when
they learned of their selection.
David Chapman, a senior recip
ient of the Walter S. Spearman
Award, was no exception. “I was
very surprised when I received a
letter... saying I had won,” he said.
“I found out that someone I nom
inated also nominated me.”
Along with students’ surprise
came their pleasure at recognition
for their work.
Carl Fisher received the Edward
Little said. “This year they may not
be invited onto the field ... because
of construction issues on the east
side of the stadium.”
Jennifer Rine, director of
University events and a member of
the Commencement Committee,
gave a different reason for not allow
ing graduates on the grass. Rine
pointed out that guests whose
mobility’ is limited are seated on the
field and driven off the field in golf
carts and therefore might be grid
locked by student congestion.
“There is going to be congestion
no matter what they do,” Rine
added.
Paymon Rouhanifard, senior class
president and committee member,
said that although he wanted this
year’s graduating class to have the
chance to walk on the field, he since
has become convinced that keeping
the graduates off the field is the best
Derek Poarch; Tim Saunders of
University police; Wayne Sink of
UNC Energy Services; interim
General Counsel Glenn George;
and junior Mary Hauser, co-chair
woman of student government’s
Student Services Committee.
Mazarick said that he would
have preferred to have more input
and participation from the student
body but that the scheduling of this
semester’s tour conflicted with
many students’ heavy schedules.
“This late (in the semester) we
don’t get the students to partici
pate that we would like to,” he said.
Beginning at South Building,
participants walked through
North Campus and down to South
Road.
They identified several lights on
campus that either are burned out
or obstructed by objects such as
tree limbs.
They also pointed out other
McGowan Hedgpeth Award, which
is presented by Alpha Epsilon Delta.
The International Premedical
Honor Society’s award honors out
standing service on campus and in
the community through the society.
“I was president of Alpha
Epsilon Delta this year, and it was a
real goal of mine to look more to
the outside community and provide
service while trying to take a more
active role on campus,” said Fisher.
Katie Lilley, recipient of the
Undergraduate Prize in Art History,
also found her award gratifying. “Art
history has always been a passion of
mine. It’s special to be acknowl
edged for my work,” said Lilley.
In addition to the pleasure of
recognition, humility also charac
terized the awards ceremony.
John Hobach received both the
SEE AWARDS, PAGE 9
solution.
“I pushed for us on the field, but
I became resigned to the fact that
this is the best way and there is no
other way around it,” he said.
Gray-Little, w’ho believes the
committee will decide not to invite
seniors onto the field, said a decision
will be made May 5, at the commit
tee’s last meeting.
The recommendation then will be
sent to Chancellor James Moeser for
final approval, Gray-Little said.
But some seniors said they are
upset about the possibility of being
banned from the traditional romp
on the field after Commencement.
“It just doesn’t make sense not to
let us go down to the field,” said
graduating senior Dave Margolis.
“I’ve been to a couple of graduations
in the past, and it always seemed like
SEE GRADUATION. PAGE 9
areas on campus that are not illu
minated sufficiently.
One of the areas complained
about most by students is the walk
way between Davis Library and
Lenoir Dining Hall.
Mazarick said that there is no
place to install a street lamp there
but that lights attached directly to
Lenoir’s exterior could brighten the
area.
He said problems with lights
penetrating the wall of Lenoir pre
vented them from being installed
previously, but he said the problem
should be resolved soon.
Other areas walkers noticed
included the parking lot by
Caldwell Hall and the front of the
Undergraduate Library at night,
after its interior lights have been
turned off.
Mazarick said the large amount
SEE LIGHTING, PAGE 9
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2003
mll bIjHR ‘I
DTH/IUCAS HAMMONDS
Senior Germanic languages major Megan Youmans accepts the Ernest
H. Abernethy Prize in Student Publication Work at Tuesday's ceremony.
Governments
may lose cash
meant to aid
fight on terror
Orange County could lose
$55,000 in federcd grants
BY JOHN FRANK
CITY EDITOR
A change of priorities in the federal government’s
recent budget discussions could mean the loss of
thousands of dollars already designated for local
emergency preparedness, Dan Jones, Chapel Hill’s fire
chief, said Tuesday.
Local governments nationwide were slated to
receive federal funding for domestic terrorism pre
paredness programs in the wake of the terrorist
attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
But Jones said Tuesday that some of the money to
fund those grants has started to disappear.
“The Washington (D.C.) establishment made lots of
promises to local governments ... that have just not
materialized,” Jones said at a community forum at
Chapel Hill Town Hall sponsored by WCHL and The
Peoples Channel.
“Some of the program’s money is now being shift
ed, Jones said. "And some departments started with
preparations under the assumption that the money
was coming.”
The Triangle expected multiple grants that would
pay for disaster-response training and emergency
equipment to cope with any possible biological or
chemical attacks.
SEE FEDERAL MONEY, PAGE 9
Tepper’s e-mail
urges students
to dispute hikes
BY ELIZABETH DANIELS
STAFF WRITER
Student Body President Matt Tepper sent an e-mail
to the student body Monday night encouraging stu
dents to e-mail comments to their state senators
about how a 5 percent tuition increase would affect
them personally.
The N.C. House included the tuition increase last
w’eek in its version of the state budget, and the bill
now is set to be deliberated by the Senate.
In his e-mail, Tepper provided a link that allows
students to select their home county and type a per
sonal message or submit a provided statement. With
the Senate set to consider the budget this week, any
messages will be received before a vote is taken.
As of Tiiesdav afternoon, more than 500 UNC stu
dents had responded to the e-mail, sending a letter to
state senators in response to the pending tuition
increase, Tepper said. “Different lobbyists that had
worked in the (N.C.) General Assembly before sug
gested this approach to me,” Tepper said. “It gives peo-
SEE TEPPER, PAGE 9
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Sr
DTH/JOANIE TOBIN
Wayne Sink, engineering manager for Energy Services, marks a lamppost
on his map during the lighting tour that is hosted every semester.
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