VOLUME 112, ISSUE 28
Local leaders push for gay rights
CARRBORO SENDS PLAN FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGES TO STATE
BY SHANNAN BOWEN
ASSISTANT CITY EDITOR
Carrboro Mayor Mike Nelson
knows his proposal to roll back
portions of the federal Defense of
Marriage Act might face some
opposition in the N.C. General
Assembly, but he expects it to stim
ulate further interest in the rights
of same-sex couples in the state.
The Carrboro Board of
Aldermen acted on Nelson’s pro
posal Hiesday night, voting unan
imously to send the request to the
General Assembly’s Orange County
delegation at an April 19 legislative
breakfast.
The proposal, which is similar to
one presented March 22 by Chapel
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DTH PHOTOS/ANDREW SYNOWIEZ
UNC women interview for the October Playboy magazine spread “Girls of the ACC." Below: Makeup artist Chelo (left) and photographer Kim Mizuno leaf through paperwork.
READY TO BARE IT ALL
‘Girls of the ACC’hopefuls vie for spot in Playboy issue
BY LINDA SHEN
STAFF WRITER
Monday afternoon, the mys
tique surrounding Playboy’s “Girls
of the ACC” spread was stripped
away.
The glittering veil of plush
rooms, low light and naked women
in stiletto heels sauntering toward
a casting couch was discarded.
Nobody was wearing a smoking
jacket.
Instead, the Playboy suite at the
Sheraton Chapel Hill Hotel was
DTH/JUSTIN SMITH
Matt Calabria speaks at his inauguration for student
body president Tuesday night as MattTepper listens.
INSIDE
A FAMILY AFFAIR
UNC Hospitals works to create a home
away from home for families PAGE 3
Serving the students and the University community since 1893
01ir latlu oar Mrri
Hill Town Council member Mark
Kleinschmidt requests that same
sex couples who obtain a marriage
license in another state receive the
same benefits and treatment as
heterosexual married couples in
North Carolina.
The Chapel Hill council will vote
on Kleinschmidt’s petition April
14. If it passes, the council also will
add the request to its list of priori
ties for the state legislature to con
sider when it convenes May 10.
The act, signed into law in 1996
by President Clinton, defines mar
riage as a legal union between a
man and a woman and specifies
that states do not have to recognize
a marriage of same-sex partners
filled with natural light and the
glow from two flickering scented
candles. In the background, CNN
was muted, spooling out the latest
headlines as people sprawled along
red couches, discussing organic
foods and lounging in wait.
The agitated shrill of a cell
phone, vibrating in circles on a
nearby desk, sparked a flurry of
activity. While hair and makeup
artist Chelo fielded calls from local
media and curious applicants, pho
' tographer Kim Mizuno took pre
New student leaders take the torch
BY ALICE DOLSON
STAFF WRITER
Outgoing student leaders reflected
on the past year and new leaders enthu
siastically outlined their goals for the
future at Monday’s inauguration of the
2004-05 student government officers.
Student Body President Matt Calabria
said he thinks one of the biggest issues
facing student government next year wifi
be extensive construction on campus,
including the Rams Head Center,
Carolina North, the Sonya Haynes Stone
Center for Black Culture and History
and apartment-style communities.
He also reaffirmed his commitment
to keeping the University affordable,
defending academic freedom and
encouraging communication between
his administration and students.
“A successful student government
INSIDE '
LIVING AND LEARNING
University program provides a unique
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obtained in a different state.
“(DOMA) prohibits us from
treating all our employees equally,”
Nelson said.
Nelson, the first openly gay
mayor in the state, has been in a
relationship with Kleinschmidt for
several years. Nelson said a same
sex couple with a valid marriage
license from Canada or another
state could not receive the same
benefits as other employees in town.
The state requires the evidence
of relation by marriage or blood for
the purposes of hospital visitation,
inheritance laws, insurance cover
age and other benefits. By law,
same-sex couples married in anoth
er state cannot receive the same
THE NAKED TRUTH
liminary photos of the afternoon’s
first applicant in her two-piece
swimsuit.
Sounds of laughter and a click
ing camera shutter drifted from
behind the half-closed door and
mingled with Chelo’s voice.
When the interviewee reemerged
in jeans, hefting her tote bag, the
devil in Mizuno made him tell her
not to bother waiting for a callback:
She’d been accepted on the spot.
SEE PLAYBOY, PAGE 5
m
rights as other married couples.
Though the requests submitted
by both Kleinschmidt and Nelson
have garnered support-from some
legislators, Nelson said, he thinks
the bill will not pass easily.
Nelson said his request will add
to the debate about same-sex mar
riage and open dialogue about gay
rights, locally. “The important
thing is to raise the issue,” he said.
Sen. Elbe Kinnaird, D-Orange,
said she fully supports changing the
state’s use of DOMA but stressed
that the requests will face opposi
tion in the General Assembly.
“As you can see, it’s not going to
SEE PROPOSAL, PAGE 5
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must be utterly connected with admin
istration and students,” Calabria said.
“Since students don’t usually come to
student government, student govern
ment must go to students.”
In addition, Calabria emphasized his
ability to deal with controversial issues.
“Although there are times for both, I
prefer the negotiation table to the
bullhorn,” he said.
Members of the outgoing administra
tion said they are proud of how they were
able to come together to face unexpect
ed issues such as tuition increases. “The
bottom line is we’ll be remembered for
our actions, not our words,” said outgo
ing Student Body President Matt Tepper.
Other student leaders highlighted
major issues the University will face
during their terms.
Student Attorney General Carolina
SPORTS
KEEPS ON PLAYING
Third baseman Sammy Hewitt stays in the
game despite myriad challenges PAGE 3
State might not
follow locals’ lead
BY ADJOA ADOFO
STAFF WRITER
As the towns of Chapel Hill and
Carrboro headline a fight for same
sex rights in North Carolina, most
doubt the rest of the state will join
in on what is now a national
debate.
“North Carolina is not the most
progressive state,” said Joe
Herzenberg, former Chapel Hill
Town Council member and co
founder of Equality North
Carolina, an advocacy group for
Chavez said she will focus on the grow
ing national problem of hazing and take
measures to prevent it at UNC. She
attributed hazing problems to “a lack of
education, not malice.”
Jovian Irvin and Becca Frucht, sen
ior class president and vice president,
said they plan to foster unity within the
senior class.
All incoming officers focused on
their experiences in previous leadership
roles and how they will translate this
experience into a successful term.
Some outgoing leaders wished they
could stay longer, but most were willing
to pass on their responsibilities to their
“We’re lucky this is a one
year term,” Tepper said.
Other inaugurated leaders were
Alexa Kleysteuber, student body vice
president; Tre Jones, student body chief
WEATHER
TODAY Mostly sunny, H 77, L 51
THURSDAY Thunderstorms, H 72, L 51
FRIDAY Mostly sunny, H 73, L 42
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2004
the lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender community.
As the first openly gay elected
official in the state, Herzenberg
has paid close attention to the state
of gay rights in North Carolina for
more than a decade.
“I think what they are doing in
Chapel Hill and Carrboro is great,”
Herzenberg said. “At least we are
starting somewhere.”
Eight years ago, North Carolina
SEE STATE, PAGE 5
Campus
speech,
rapport
debated
BY AMY KINGSLEY
STAFF WRITER
A federal investigation of a UNC class
room has provoked debate about the
extent of academic freedom on the
University’s campus, forcing students
and faculty to examine the conflict
between free speech and a respectful
classroom atmosphere.
In February, English Instructor Elyse
Crystall sent an e-mail to her English 22
class, chastising a student for his anti
homosexual comments, labeling him a
“heterosexist” in “a perfect example of
privilege.”
Supporters of Crystall said she exer
cised her prerogative to shape the nature
of the class discussion and protect stu
dents who might feel threatened.
Opponents said that she suppressed the
speech of a student who disagreed with
her point of view.
“I believe in freedom of speech,” said
Bart Ehrman, chairman of the
Department of Religious Studies. “I think
it is a very fine line that we walk. Does it
mean that people are allowed to say hurt
ful things that might provoke violence?”
Some students said the nature of the
classroom environment demands limits
to speech. “The classroom is not neces
sarily a free-speech zone,” said Trevor
Hoppe, co-chairman of the Gay, Lesbian,
Bisexual, TVansgender-Straight Alliance.
“There are certain rules. It is not the
same as the Pit.”
But other students said that the
speech did not cross the line into threat
ening language, and the professor’s
actions merely reflected a desire to
silence one opinion.
Some students allege that the incident
is another example of liberal bias that they
say can result in grade discrimination or
personal attacks. But department heads
have reported very few formal complaints
of discrimination based on viewpoint.
Until recently, students could post com-
SEE DEBATE, PAGE 5
of staff; Bernard Holloway, student body
secretary; Natalie Russell, student body
treasurer; Jennifer Bushman, Graduate
and Professional Student Federation
president; Colin Scott, Residence Hall
Association president; William Keith,
Carolina Athletic Association president;
Craig Schauer, chairman of the
undergraduate Honor Court; and mem
bers of the 86th Student Congress.
Outgoing Congress Speaker Will
DuPont urged the newly inaugurated to
remember their responsibilities. “One of
the things that makes this campus spe
cial is the esteem and respect bestowed
on student governance,” he said. “No one
expects you to be infallible, but we do
expect you to try your best.”
Contact the University Editor
at udesk@unc.edu.
O