VOLUME 112, ISSUE 12 UNC proposes development changes UNC NEWS SERVICES/JUSTIN SMITH Director of Facilities Planning Anna Wu discusses UNC's second development plan modification application, submitted to the Town Council on Monday. Hike vote unlikely to be delayed BOG members say Earley budget won't affect plans BY KAVITA PILLAI STAFF WRITER As the two-month debate on tuition increases draws to a close, members of the UNC-system Board of Governors expressed doubt Monday that higher education needs can be met any other way. BOG members, who are scheduled to vote on the tuition hikes Friday, indicated in interviews that they will do whatever is necessary to maintain and improve the caliber of state universities, even if that means approving the tuition increase pro posals of individual campuses. “I’m concerned that the pace of erosion of qual ity within the university is at an unacceptable level,” BOG chairman Brad Wilson said. “The only means by which the BOG can address issues like ever-increasing class size and ever-fewer sections of core classes is to consider campus-based tuition requests.” The Friday vote would take place despite a call from the UNC-system Association of Student Governments to delay the vote until after Gov. Mike Easley can make his budget proposal. Wilson said a delay is unnecessary and expressed doubt that the budget will allow for significant increas es in higher education funding. “While the state budget might see some large improvement, it’s not going to be large enough to make a dramatic difference in the decision we SEE BOG, PAGE 5 N.C. senator advocates tuition hikes BY LAURA YOUNGS ASSISTANT STATE & NATIONAL EDITOR Support for UNC-system campus-based tuition increases received a boost last week from a key N.C. legislator, but some still warn that the increases could have a negative impact on students. In a letter to members of the UNC-system Board of Governors, Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight, D- Dare, threw his support behind the proposed increases. The let ter stated that in North Carolina’s tough economic times, the quality of education cannot be compromised. “Our campuses have a long tradition of offering a high quality education at an afford able cost,” Basnight stated in the letter. “But to ensure success for N.C. Sen. Marc Basnight emphasized the quality of N.C. universities. all students, we must continue to pair affordabili ty with quality.” BOG members are scheduled to vote Friday on campus-initiated increases for the 16 UNC-system schools. They also are set to vote on proposals for a systemwide increase. Should the measures pass, the proposals will move to the N.C. General Assembly for final consideration. SEE BASNIGHT, PAGE 5 INSIDE K-9 COP The UNC Department of Public Safety adds a canine unit to provide extra safety at large events PAGE 3 Serving the students and the University community since 1893 9lrr lath} ®ar Hrrl jH BH 1| JE jb. ■ X ?*I t t * - * a - **'. l j V Jp* % '*$SSbM < OTSggB I j| I w-v .*>* 3NMkJ| ** #p ** r ' J| I Hp Daniel Wallace, author of the novel Big Fish, recently made into a movie, signs a copy of his book Monday night at Panzanella restaurant in Carrboro after speaking at the Orange County Literacy Council fund-raiser. A UNC alumnus, Wallace at one time worked as the assistant director for the OCLC Deal to bring Dells to masses BY KELLI BORBET STAFF WRITER The Dell University Program is now offering a Dell desktop com puter and printer for less than SSOO to all employees or students at any higher education institution in North Carolina. The UNC Employee Forum Computer Initiative worked with Dell to provide a basic, affordable and functional computer system for workers and students in col leges in North Carolina, said Ernie Patterson, a forum delegate and network systems manager in the Department of Biology. The basic desktop package being offered for $499 includes a com puter with CD-ROM, a 40GB hard drive, a 17-inch monitor and a printer that also serves as a scanner and a copier. The computer also includes built-in ethemet and modem ports. The modem also can be used as a fax machine. Several software pro grams are also available, including a basic version of Microsoft Office and Windows XP, Microsoft’s latest operating system. A basic laptop also is being offered without a printer for about $875. Patterson said the forum’s long term goal is to keep providing the www.dailytaiheel.com MOVE COMES DESPITE TOWN REQUEST TO WAIT FOR MORE TALKS ON ZONING BY EMMA BIIRGIN CITY EDITOR The University submitted an application Monday to Chapel Hill for approval of as much as $145 million in modifications to its development plan despite the town’s request that UNC halt all applications until the two entities ironed out disagreements over zoning. UNC delivered its application after Mayor Kevin Foy and the Chapel Hill Town Council asked earlier this month for a pause in devel opment to discuss Office/Institutional-4 zon ing. “We did take a serious look at that request,” said Nancy Suttenfield, UNC vice chancellor for finance and administration. “But it’s neither fiscally responsible nor practical.” The University’s six requested changes are in an 01-4 zoning district, so the University must submit special impact reports along “We want to make sure that people are getting the best computers for the money” KATHERINE GRAVES, UNC EMPLOYEE FORUM VICE CHAIRWOMAN desktop for SSOO and one day to have a laptop available for SBOO. “We wanted to give people an opportunity to buy a computer that couldn’t really afford one with the most modern technology,” Patterson said. A majority of University employ ees who responded to a survey said they believed that they realistically would be able to purchase a com puter that costs about SSOO, he said. The forum sent a proposal to three different computer vendors and only Dell responded with a basic beginning package. “We are willing to still take offers from other vendors,” Patterson said. “Dell was just the only one that responded with a proposed package.” Katherine Graves, vice chair woman of the forum, said the pack age offered by Dell will be reviewed in six months to see if any revisions need to be made. “We want to make sure that peo ple are getting the best computers for the money,” Graves said. “It is m with its application. The modifications include relocating a planned 10,000-ton chiller plant and 600 parking spaces from the Science Complex to the Bell Tower parking lot across South Road. University officials also asked for a 130,000-square-foot addition to the N.C. Clinical Cancer Center and a 28,000-square foot addition to Fetzer Gym that will provide office and clinical space for student athletes. Town Manager Cal Horton said his staff has not determined whether the application is complete, so the 90-day review period required by 01-4 regulations has yet to begin. Complaints from residents about the impact of 01-4’s expedited review process prompted the council to request the halt to development plan changes. But Suttenfield said some of the projects JOHN HANCOCK and helped place illiterate adults with volunteer tutors. The OCLC was founded in 1984 with the mission of eliminating adult illiter acy in Orange County. Its services include free tutoring in read ing and family reading workshops. Aided by Smart Start funds, these workshops encourage parents to read to their children. just such an advantage to have your own personal computer.” Patterson said that although the computers are being offered at lower prices, he doesn’t think there will be any competition with the IBM computers contracted for the Carolina Computing Initiative. “The CCI computers are very high tech and powerful machines,” Patterson said. “The Dell comput ers will provide just a basic com puter for people who couldn’t nor mally afford one.” In a press release, Employee Forum Chairman Tommy Griffin stated that in today’s society people without regular computer access are at a tremendous disadvantage when it comes to accessing infor mation and learning new job skills. “Our hope at the UNC Employee Forum is that this initiative will help level the playing field for the people who need it most, not just here at Carolina, but around the state.” Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu. SPORTS CLEAN SWEEP Defending national champion Florida beats the Tar Heels for the Gators' 28th consecutive win PAGE 9 TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2004 are “extremely time-sensitive,” and delays could have a domino effect on projects already approved by the town. “Each project is related in some way to the others,” she said. Suttenfield said that UNC officials would like to see all projects approved within the 90 days allotted by 01-4 but that they are willing to take more time with changes that might draw intense community interest. University officials also cited funding as a justification for ignoring the town’s request. “Most of the projects are funded by public money,” Suttenfield said. “We are held accountable by the taxpayers to make respon sible use of the funds the public gives to us.” “All the money goes to projects in fixed amounts. Any delay leaves actually less dol lars for completed projects.” The University submitted revised impact reports Monday for factors such as traffic, noise and stormwater usage. Suttenfield said these studies come at a cost to development SEE CHANGES, PAGE 5 ‘ UNC student in Madrid reacts to bomb attacks BY NIKKI WERKING ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR The trains and stations along Madrid’s commuter rail lines overflowed with people Friday, two days after 10 backpack bombs exploded on a busy section of the lines, killing about 200 people. Sandy Sulzer, a UNC sophomore studying in Madrid this semester, couldn’t move in the sea of people. Admission to the rail lines was free for the day to allow mourning for the victims of Europe’s deadliest terrorist attack since the 1988 bombing of a Pan American Airlines jetliner over Lockerbie, Scotland. “People absolutely packed the stations,” she said. “When you finally did get to the train, you couldn’t get on. The cars were absolutely crammed full of people. People had their faces pressed against the glass.” On that same day, two major vigils were held in Madrid. At noon Friday, Sulzer said, people poured into the streets for 15 minutes of silence. At 7 p.m., 2.5 million people gathered again in the streets, halting traffic even on the city’s outer highways. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” Sulzer said. When the explosions first occurred Wednesday morning, the magnitude of the event didn’t hit Sulzer. When she heard the first accounts of die bombing on her way to her internship that morning 30 people were dead and officials were estimating a SEE MADRID, PAGE 5 WEATHER TODAY Rain, H 58, L 37 WEDNESDAY Partly cloudy, H 57, L 36 THURSDAY Sunny, H 64, L 51 DTH/NANCY DONALDSON Mb