Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Aug. 24, 2004, edition 1 / Page 14
Part of Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
14 TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2004 Students stroll through Asia Alumni's gift prompts 7-week trip BY LINDA SHEN ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR Sophomore Julia Marden spent the night before the Fourth of July in Melaka, Malaysia’s night mar ket. Instead of fireworks, she was surrounded by vendors shouting from every stall along the brightly lit street. On her way, Marden and her friends were caught in a sud den, furious downpour —and began dancing in the rain. “We were all laughing so hard and dripping wet,” she said. “They wouldn’t let us back into the hotel.” Through a gift to the University, 1977 UNC graduate Alston Gardner provides 25 first-year students the opportunity to spend seven weeks exploring and learn ing about Southeast Asia through the Singapore Summer Immersion Program. The opportunity is unique because it is only open to first-year students and is all expenses paid. Brochures are mailed to all incom ing freshmen before fall semester, and the application process yields decisions in mid-March. “I found out (I was accepted) the day we left for spring break,” said Marden, a public policy major. The group left for Singapore at the end of May. | students ' we're glad you're hack! ! bring this coupon .!■ or your student id and receive one free rose* I compliments of botanica ; august 23 &24 ; 143 w.franklin st, I university square A v*... v 7 / ; . ; | Ibota n i c a | 'one? per person please LIGHTV6 A^ t> Unique jewelry and accessories Fabulous gifts and crafts ! W-V> ; -.,J6 Vfcfco'W'e- &><\cL ( Wml ,4' 4 ' \\ # j Ia fjjU oul j | for 2-o°/o off | I 0. 4 I V- - t % i' __ J Voted Best in the Triangle three years in a row! ■ .Chapel Hill I/I I . Fra-lklin ' t Durham: Streets afSouthpoint Gary Cary Towne Center Greensboro: Four Seasons [own Centre “It’s not only for Asian studies students,” said Dan Gold, assis tant director for Asia in the Study Abroad Office. The responsibilities of develop ing the program and managing its logistics fall on his shoulders —but he also gets to spend a week with the students in Singapore, oversee ing their progress. “That’s the fun part,” he said. Students involved with the Singapore Summer Immersion Program take in classes as well as culture. This summer’s participants took courses on the history of and contemporary issues in Southeast Asia. The aim of the program is' to expose students to life and culture in Asia. “This is something we find impacts all students’ lives,” Gold said. “Maybe having this experi ence will impact the rest of.their experience (at UNC).* * Although the program is only in its third year, it left an impression with this year’s participants. “I loved just walking around downtown Singapore at night,” said Meredith Gilliam, a sopho more majoring in chemistry and Asian studies. Students lived in apartments near the National University of Singapore and spent time interact ing with students there. “We kind A FRESH MARKETPLACE APPROACH TO ALL-INCLUSIVE DINING SI Off tunclior^Dinner expires 9/30/04 YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE HERE TO EAT HERE... COME CHECK OUT THE AGORA, GRANVILLE TOWERS’ FABULOUS DINING ROOM! $5 Wednesdays Return August 25th! THE AGORA AT GRANVILLE TOWERS University Square • 370-4599 www.granvilletowers.com HUHUIMi'= MlMit; .TSaKK-V - ism.ro>i r t.l tu j 'ft r, 3 ■ ( COURTESY OF MEREDITH GILLIAM Sophomore Julia Marden visits the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia as part of the Singapore Summer Immersion Program, a 7-week trip to Asia. of did their freshman orientation in one day,” Marden explained. Marden said the students were so interested in fostering under standing between their cultures that team-building exercises such as painting a picture while stand ing on someone else’s shoulders seemed less like something to laugh about. “We kind of fell into (their sin \SjJpiaß UNC's#l Bike Shops f Bikes starting at $199.99 i( Lifetime FREE maintenance when you buy any new bike from us t We will beat any competitor's price i( Great service and great prices H Full service shops T > FREE , ■ 1 U-Lock with f jA //TN any Wke purchase / | y \ (student ID required) Featuring bikes from XRdC. FRANKLIN STREET CYCLES THE CLEAN MACHINE 210 W. Franklin Street 104 W. Main Street Chapel Hill, NC Carrboro, NC FranklinStreetCycles.com TheCleanMachine.com 919-929-0213 919-967-5104 News cerity), too,” Marden explained. It’s a thought that Gilliam echoes. “You just felt like you’re part of the community,” she said. The Singapore Summer Immersion Program is well-named, if slightly misleading. While stu dents become intimately aware of life in Singapore, they are by no means limited to it. The seven-week trip included six weeks in Singapore and weekend visits to the neighboring island of Malaysia. The last week was spent in Thailand, where Marden and Gilliam saw an elephant farm. On Pulau Übin, an undeveloped island near the urban jungle of Singapore, visiting students were offered herbs from residents’ gar dens and were informed of their healing qualities. The similarities between Asia and the United States, however, were what Gilliam found most surprising. “We’re both moving in the same direction,” she said. “It was so exciting to be in that kind of environment.” Contact the Features Editor atfeatures @unc.edu. iTt ALL WE HAVE IN COMMON WITH THE < " a> PBKES frte-Jwvfff -r j mam nm-J TAX h tr*- \y~ —is;. \ PLEASE PAY CA3HIES HI I — L — ___ * CHECK OUT * Carrfioro Chapel Hill ★ nilD llElif* 929-3330 493-0904 *UUIf litW * i . 300 E. Main St. Hwy 54 & Farrington Rd. ★ MENU ITEMS ★ Dme-ln * Carry UUt * Delivery * Catering (next to the Arts Center) (by Falconbridge/Mardi Gras Bowl) WWW.AMftNTEHZZA.COM Officials seek to regain trust of young voters BY ERIN GIBSON ASSISTANT STATE & NATIONAL EDITOR On the edge of the 2004 elec tion, politicians are striving to gain the trust of young constituents and rack up the necessary votes that will land them in office. “Young voters are looking for honesty, integrity and ethics in the elected officials,” said N.C. Democratic Party Chair Barbara Allen. But some elected officials’ recent actions have fueled some voters’ arguments that politicians are not to be trusted. Republican Gov. John Rowland, of Connecticut, was forced to resign in June when people discov ered he was accepting illegal gifts from state contractors and aids. Even before Rowland’s resigna tion, North Carolina voters were discouraged, following October news of misappropriated federal funds in a non-profit organiza tion started by U.S. Rep Frank Ballance, D-N.C. “I don’t think I’d ever folly trust (politicians),” said Colby Day, a junior linguistics major. “There is a lot of power (in their positions), and people will do a lot for that.” UNC-Chapel Hill Young Democrats President Justin Guillory said he thinks that, for skeptical voters, the distrust stems from a lack of knowledge. Allen advises young voters to know what is going on and to do some reading on their own. UNC freshman Julia Billotte said she would trust the officials if she knew more about them. She said she plans to visit can didates’ Web sites before election time. “I think the majority of young voters are interested and want to learn about the issues,” Allen said. “There are plenty of politicians who are honest.” Young voters, when abreast of ySTOCK 11EXCHANGE Boutique Items r X§m Nanette Lepore Lilly Pulitzer :// \>\ Betsey Johnson L°* oEk . Xo* \ Tracy Reese i 5 \ Nicole Miller o \ BCBG sale All Items 50%/75% Off Retail 431 W. franklin Street, across from the Carolina Brewery 919-967-4035 (Thr Daily (Tar Hrrl the candidates and issues, often will focus on candidates’ platforms and personalities, Guillory said. And officials and candidates are striving to appeal to the young vot ers to gain their support because some think the presidential election is close enough that the youth vote could determ 1 the outcome. “The biggest thing an official could do to gain (youth) trust once in office is to do exactly as they said they would while campaigning,” said Bill Peaslee, N.C. Republican Party Chair. All young voters can be attracted to an official who is willing to meet and talk to them, Guillory said. “I think many young voters don’t know the elected officials,” he said. “If you don’t know the officials you are less likely to trust them.” Allen said she is proud of young voters because she thinks they have more integrity than other groups. But trust is a two-way street. “They need to remember that you can’t only trust yourself,” she said. “You have to put some trust in other people.” Officials can try to gain young voters’ trust, Guillory said, but the voters need to make an effort, too. “There is not enough interaction. Students should be more forceful in meeting (politicians).” He and Peaslee both said getting involved in a political party or cam paign is a good way to learn about the candidates and the issues. Both parties are working this fall with groups such as Young Democrats and College Republicans across the country to inform students and solicit votes. “We need to remember the importance of a person’s vote,” Allen said. “We want to get people out to vote and get confidence back in the system.” Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.etfu.
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Aug. 24, 2004, edition 1
14
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75