VOLUME 112, ISSUE 87
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H eS !r en y,° hn F ' / enne r y (second from nght) ,ooks over a crowd of students at University Day in 1961 while University President William Friday and Governor Terry Sanford
(third and fourth from right) and Chancellor William Aycock (right) stand by. Though he mentioned foreign policy, Kennedy spoke at length about education and the University.
REFLECTIONS
OF A STORIED PAST
BY KIRSTEN VALLE SENIOR WRITER
Before UNC emerged as a leading national uni
versity, before students reveled in game-day
victories or spring afternoons on Polk Place,
even before the Davie Poplar presided over
North Campus with its cement-filled promise that the
University would stand forever, founders established
an institution with a lofty goal: to serve the people of
North Carolina.
More than two centuries after the first University
building’s cornerstone was placed, UNC still sets aside a
day to remember its mission and to mark its founding.
The University Day tradition began Oct. 12,1877,
when Governor Zebulon B. Vance declared the anni
versary of laying the cornerstone a college holiday.
University days have served as convocations for
new chancellors and as opportunities for students to
hear notable speakers, including U.S. presidents.
At the 1961 celebration, President John F. Kennedy
addressed 32,000 in Kenan Stadium, noting educational
contributions the University had made to the state.
“I ask you to give to the service of our country the
critical faculties which society has helped develop in
you here,” Kennedy told students. “I ask you to decide,
as Goethe put it, whether you will be an anvil or a
hammer; whether you will give the world in which
you were reared and educated the broadest possible
SEE HISTORY, PAGE 4
Til miss the children, the women, the individuals here ...
(and) the ability to prevent fear in people’s hearts.” hector perez, outgoing director
Director of El Centro Latino leaves post
BY EMILY VASQUEZ
STAFF WRITER
After two years dedicated to serving
the area’s Hispanic community at the
nonprofit El Centro Latino in Carrboro,
Executive Director Hector Perez will leave
his position Friday.
“I’ll miss the children, the women, the
individuals here,” Perez said. “All those
things the ability to prevent fear in
people’s hearts, to give people the oppor
tunity to succeed.”
When he came to El Centro in October
2002, Perez said he envisioned at least a
four- to five-year stint with the agency.
But he said he’s accomplished his goals for
El Centro’s financial security and struc
tural strength faster than he expected.
“It’s time to move on to new challeng
es,” Perez said.
Perez’s decision also comes in light of
his son’s plans to move on to law school.
Nathan Perez, a senior at the University,
ONLINE
Group says state needs to improve its roads
Check out photos from past UNC sporting events
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Serving the stuxknts and the University community since 1893
ohr Satin oar Heel
UNC marks 211 years
BY RACHEL BROCK
STAFF WRITER
Several members of the University
community will follow in the footsteps of
their predecessors today as they gather to
celebrate UNC’s 211th birthday.
Officials laid the cornerstone for Old
East on Oct. 12,1793, marking the birth
of public higher education in the nation.
And, faculty, staff and students will
honor the University’s history during the
annual University Day convocation at 11
a.m. today in Hill Hall auditorium.
“(This day) reaffirms the notion of pub
lic education and the role the University
plays in the state and in the nation,” said
Steve Allred, executive associate provost
and chairman of the University Day com
mittee.
Classes are cancelled from 9:30 a.m. to
12:30 p.m. today.
Jim Johnson, the William Rand
Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor of
management and director of the Urban
will graduate in
December. He recent
ly received his LSAT
scores and learned
that he is in a position
to apply to out-of-state
schools he had not
previously considered,
Perez said.
Nathan’s upcoming
transition contrib
uted in part to Perez’s
decision to embrace
change. He wants to
ensure that he can sup-
i
El Centro
Director
Hector Perez
seeks to give
his son security.
port his son as much as possible, he said.
For Perez, whose family fled Cuba in
1962 when he was 5 years old, the oppor
tunities available for his son are over
whelming.
“My father was an illiterate farmworker,”
Perez said. “The thought of my son elevat
ing himself so far it’s hard to grasp.”
INSIDE
A BUNCH OF HOTAIR
Pundit says nation's pollution
problems aren't that bad PAGE 5
www.dthonline.com
OCTOBER 12,1961
Perez said he plans to maintain his res
idence in Raleigh. He’ll likely move into
the private sector, but he said he does not
have any definite plans.
Perez’s departure was a surprise to
El Centro’s board of directors, although
board President Mauricio Castro said
he understands that such transitions are
common in nonprofit work.
“He’s performed tremendously well,”
Castro said. “I am happy for him because
he has done a great job at El Centro, and
also because he’s moving on in his profes
sional life.”
The board has already begun a search
for anew executive director and will inter
view applicants in coming weeks. Castro
said he has confidence in the agency’s
future.
“The organization is there, people know
what we are all about, and we play an
SEE PEREZ, PAGE 4
1 jQHKHHV
Investment Strategies Center, will pres
ent the keynote address during today’s
ceremony.
Each year, the convocation ceremony
features a keynote speaker, usually drawn
from the faculty. However, more promi
nent names, such as John F. Kennedy in
1961 and Bill Clinton in 1993, have made
addresses in the past.
“I think this is an exciting event every
year, and it attests to the accomplishments
of the University,” Johnson said.
Johnson, also co-director of the Center
for Sustainable Enterprise, said he will
discuss the changing demography in
today’s public universities.
He said he also will stress the need for
higher education institutions to be more
entrepreneurial in educating students.
Johnson heads the Durham Scholars
Program, which helps provide college
access to disadvantaged youth. He is
SEE FESTIVITIES, PAGE 4
INSIDE
DRAGGING THEIR HEELS
Group hosts colorful, rollicking show inside
the Great Hall to benefit GLBTSA PAGE 2
THROUGHOUT
THE YEARS
October 12, 1877:
UNC celebrates the
first University Day on
the anniversary of the
laying of its first
cornerstone
October 12.1961:
President John F.
Kennedy delivers a
keynote address to
32,000 listeners at
Kenan Stadium
October 12,1993:
President Bill Clinton
speaks to a large
crowd as part of UNC’s
celebration of the
University's bicentennial
October 12, 2000:
University Day serves
as the convocation
ceremony for UNC's
new chancellor,
James Moeser
PAGING MR. WILSON
PpF *
DTH/LIRYS CULUNAN
Sophomore Will Rush (right) studies in Wilson Library on Monday
afternoon. The library is celebrating its 75th anniversary today. UNC
group Friends of the Library has planned a celebration for Oct. 21.
The programs planned include tours of UNC’s special collections, an
exhibit opening and talk by University Librarian Emeritus Joe Hewitt.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2004
Tar Heel
players
cited for
drug use
3 sophomores suspended
for marijuana possession
BY JACOB KARABELL
SPORTS EDITOR
Three North Carolina football players were sus
pended indefinitely from the team Monday after
University police cited them for simple possession
of marijuana.
Wide receiver Adarius Bowman, linebacker Fred
Sparkman and defensive tackle Isaiah Thomas will
not participate in any team activities until further
notice.
The citations are under investigation by
University police.
“The young men involved will not play until
Director of Athletics Dick Baddour and I determine
otherwise,” UNC coach John Bunting said in a state
ment Monday. “It is important to note that all three
student-athletes deny their involvement with these
charges, and we are looking into that at this time.”
According to University police reports, $ stu
dent on the first floor of Connor Residence Hall
brought the smell of marijuana to the attention of
a resident assistant Sunday evening. The RA con-
SEE SUSPENSIONS, PAGE 4
ANALYSIS
Parties try
to tiptoe
past draft
BY INDIA AUTRY
STAFF WRITER
Congress shook its head at bills proposing the
start of a military draft last week, but politicians
say partisan bickering might be dodging the real
issues at hand.
Republicans called for a vote Oct. 5 on a
Democratic proposal for a draft in order to show
their opposition to the idea, said House Majority
Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas.
He said Democrats were using the bill to sup
port the theory that Republicans would institute a
draft if President Bush were to be voted back into
office Nov. 2.
“We took a look around and found that the only
plan to bring back the military draft secret or
not was the Democrats’,” DeLay said at the time.
“So we’ll vote on it this week and see just who sup
ports the volunteer military and see who is practic
ing the dishonest politics of fear.”
The issue has become key on the campaign trail,
with Democratic candidate Sen. John Kerry sug
gesting that Bush would reinstitute the draft if he
were elected to a second term.
But it was Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel of
New York who put forth the draft bill early last year
to encourage civic duty in middle- and upper-class
SEE DRAFT, PAGE 4
WEATHER
TODAY Mostly sunny, H 74, L 50
WEDNESDAY Scattered storms, H 68, L 54
THURSDAY Partly cloudy, H 70, L 49
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