North Carolina Newspapers

©?p SaiUj Oar UM STATE 6 NATION Former adviser to Hunt nabs VP post in UNC system The UNC system named Wayne McDevitt as its new vice president for university affairs Friday. It also named Cynthia Lawson, who will report to McDevitt, the new vice president for communication and strategy development. Both appointments met with quick approval from the Board of Governors and will take effect March 1. McDevitt, a native North Carolinian, has served for the last three years as associate vice chan cellor for administration, finance and external affairs at UNC- Asheville, his alma mater. He also has served as chief of staff and a senior adviser to for mer Gov. Jim Hunt, as well as secretary of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Joni Worthington, associate vice president for communications, said a combination of experience with in the university system and state government makes McDevitt an excellent choice for the top univer sity affairs post. The department is responsible for the system’s lobbying efforts, public relations and economic development. .Lawson has served as execu tive director of communications at Texas A&M University and held similar positions at the University of Arkansas and Eastern Michigan University. Addressing the BOG on Friday, UNC-system President Molly Broad said the two new hires are a perfect fit for the university affairs department. CiMPIS BRIEFS Window at Science Center broken in by thrown rock A window in the door of the Science Center at Morehead Planetarium was broken Thursday by a thrown rock, and the value of the property damages is SIOO, according to University 7 police reports. There are no suspects in the case. $2,500 goes missing after vending machine break-ins Money was stolen from four vend ing machines in the Student Union that were forced open Thursday, University police reports state. Police estimate that the total value in damages is $2,500, accord ing to reports. There now are no suspects, but the case is under fur ther investigation. Cm? BRIEFS Citizens can apply to help at county rape crisis center The Orange County Rape Crisis Center is accepting applications for its spring training class. The center is seeking volunteers to offer their time to answer its 24- hour crisis/response line and to present educational programs. Spanish speakers and individu als with daytime and weekday availability are strongly encour aged to apply. Training begins in mid-February. Deadline for applications is Jan. 31. Applications can be obtained from the center’s Web site at http://www. ocrcc.org. Battle Park, James Taylor star in museum's exhibits The Chapel Hill Museum has new and featured exhibitions now on display. “Battle Park: A Natural Space in Four Seasons” began Nov. 18 and will run until Feb. 27- Through photographic and collage imagery, Chapel Hill pho tographer Tama Hochbaum docu ments the landscape found in the University’s Battle Park. The museum also now features “Carolina in My Mind: The James Taylor Story.” The exhibit includes the Chapel Hill artist’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame award, his Grammy award for Hourglass, photographs and materials from his early life. CALENDAR Wednesday The orientation meeting for Student Congress’ annual budget process will be held at 7 p.m. in 100 Hamilton Hall. Any student organization requesting funding during the annual budget is required to have a representative attend the meeting to review the budget process. Thursday The Daily Tar Heel will hold a meeting at 5:30 p.m. for those interested in joining the newspaper’s staff. Anyone enrolled as a student at UNC is welcome to attend. The location of the meeting is still pending; check this space tomorrow for more information, or e-mail ccoletta@email.unc.edu. From staff reports. UNC responds to health care survey Meetings are meant to elicit feedback BY CATHERINE ROBBS STAFF WRITER In response to widespread dis satisfaction, a UNC-system task force is developing an alternative health care plan to alleviate cost burdens for employees. Although the amount of funding for the new plan will not increase, the task force is looking at new “Everythingfrom the beans to the process of making the drink is important. If you cut comers, it severely affects the quality.” reuben ayres, barista ■ * ' w mSb?' \ jBl ’ WifSV T bni M E jßjiifeSlsrf.- if w ■rrj jggj§g|| v t* -j- DTH/JULIAIEBETKIN Barista Reuben Ayres serves Cassie Gavin, a second-year law student at the University, a hot drink at Caffe Driade on Monday afternoon. The shop recently won a national award from the Specialty Coffee Association of America for the fourth time and has been open for nine years. LOCAL CAFES STIR UP SUCCESS Driade, Open Eye win national awards BY LIZ STANLEY STAFF WRITER Something interesting must be brewing in the mind of Scott Conary. The co-owner of Caffe Driade and Open Eye Cafe recently won accolades when his shops’ relaxed atmosphere, one-on-one customer service and specialty coffee helped them garner two of only 30 TOPS awards given nationally for coffee excel lence. The Specialty Coffee Association of America, described by Conary as “the gov erning body of coffee in the U. 5.,” created the TOPS award to recognize those who are the best at brewing specialty coffee. It was the fourth time that both Caffe Driade, located near Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen Inc. at 1215 E. Franklin St., and Open Eye Eateries to donate to tsunami relief BY TED STRONG ASSISTANT CITY EDITOR In the wake of the tsunami that rocked parts of southeast Asia and Africa last month, local businesses are launching efforts to send aid. Fourteen Triangle restaurants are donating 20 percent of their proceeds Wednesday to Direct Relief International’s tsunami relief effort. Four establishments in Chapel Hill Elaine’s on Franklin at 454 W. Franklin St., Pazzo at 700 Market St., Lantern Restaurant at 423 W. Franklin St. and Foster’s Market at 750 Airport Road are participating in the effort. “It’s such a huge tragedy that not just donations from nations is enough, but it’s important that every individual within those nations donates to the cause as well,” said Aubrey Zinaich, man ager of Elaine’s on Franklin. The event was largely organized by Matthew Beason, general man ager and part owner of Pop’s in Durham, after a suggestion from co-owner John Vandergrift. “What we’ve seen in Asia and Africa has been so overwhelming that I think all of the restaurants that are involved decided they real ly wanted to get involved,” Beason said. Top News ways to use the money in order to better serve employees. To this end, the group is con sidering offering multiple plans with different trade-offs, allowing employees to choose whichever plan fits them best. Because employees are offered only one insurance-plan option, lack of choice is a prevalent con- Cafe, located near The Speakeasy at Tyler’s at 100 E. Main St. in Carrboro, have won the distinction. “For us, quality comes first whether it is the product, the environment or the service,” Conary said. “We are passionate about what we do.” Although both cafes focus on providing the same quality to customers, each has its own distinct environment. A laid-back and comfortable space that has been a part of the town for six years, Open Eye Cafe is sometimes referred to by locals as “the living room of Carrboro.” Conary, a Carrboro resident, said the cafe reflects his desire to create a coffee shop that reflects the quaintness of the town and the community’s closeness. In comparison, customers at Caffe Driade say its European style and architecture, out door seating, gardens and eclectic collection of art immediately set it apart from other coffee shops. At Caffe Driade on Monday, “quality” was He said he selected Direct Relief as the recipient of the group’s money because of its relatively low overhead. “Direct Relief was a smaller group, and their administrative fees et cetera, et cetera are basically nothing,” Beason said. “It’s exactly what they call it —a direct relief.” Annie Maxwell, chief of staff of Direct Relief, explained that the organization uses its annual cash budget about $3 million to get about SIOO million in supplies to places where they are needed. Another group contributing to the cause consists of 30 local veterinary hospitals and animal boarding facilities. The group includes the Carrboro Plaza Veterinary Clinic, the Cat Hospital of Durham and Chapel Hill and The Animal Hospital of Carrboro Inc., and was organized by Philip McHugh, hospital direc tor at Park Veterinary Hospital in Durham. Each firm will contribute 5 per cent of its gross proceeds to char ity Friday. Rather than centralizing the donations, each hospital will give to the charity of its choice. “It w as just so wonderful that Park put this all together, and we SEE RELIEF, PAGE 4 cern, said Kitty McCollum, the UNC system's associate vice presi dent for human resources and uni versity benefits officer. The task force is conducting community meetings at all sys tem schools to allow employees the chance to weigh in on the issue. Focus groups also have been planned throughout the system to receive feedback on different options for the pilot plan. “The purpose (of these meetings) given by multiple customers as a reason for why they choose Driade over other coffee shops. Reuben Ayres, a barista, said people seem to come because they love the coffee. “With coffee, everything from the beans to the process of making the drink is impor tant,” he said. “If you cut comers, it severely affects the quality.” Some attribute Caffe Driade’s staying power to its ability to distinguish itself from other coffee shops that have come and gone along Franklin Street. The shop is more than nine years old. “The coffee drinks here are easily the best in town,” customer Hillary Little said. “And there is a great vibe that you can’t get at Starbucks or Caribou.” Customer service at the independently owned Driade is more personal. The barista greets regular customers by their names and knows their orders. SEE COFFEE, PAGE 4 Student relishes return from Iraq BY SARAH SCHWARZ STAFF WRITER Emran Huda is still in what he calls the “salvation” stage of coming home; up next is readjustment. Huda returned to the United States on Dec. 29 after nine months in Iraq with the N.C. National Guard and is ready to rebuild his life as a civilian and a UNC student. “It’s both a blessing and a chal lenge,” he said about coming home. It’s been dramatic and tearful to see his father and friends once again. Home for Huda is southeastern Pennsylvania, where he grew up with the hope of attending West Point Military Academy. Huda’s time in the military and in Iraq proved to be rife with both positive and negative experiences, all of which he’s eager to share with UNC students. “Mostly, students don’t have a sense of ownership of the war,” Huda said. He is among the few UNC students who took time off from school to serve in the military, and he said that often, students only see one side of the situation. Although Huda did survive difficult experi ences in Iraq, he said the more humanitarian missions he partici pated in are not often covered by the media. A first-generation American, Huda was raised Muslim, and it was not until after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11,2001, that Huda realized anyone might take issue with his beliefs. TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2005 is to explain to employees what we are doing and why and to make sure that we understand what they want,” said Leslie Winner, general counsel for the UNC system. University employees receive the same health insurance plan that covers all state employees. A pilot plan would be an alternative to this program, which covers more than 500,000 North Carolinians. “We are working with a consul tant to look at health insurance plan 1 - . Vt- / u * I }.) COURTESY OF EMRAN HUDA Emran Huda, a UNC student who returned to the United States after spending nine months in Iraq, rides a donkey while talking to local Iraqis. “I had always thought that my religion didn’t matter it’s just what I believe,” he said. In the Army world, however, where political cor rectness is a foreign concept, Huda said he faced prejudice often. “Luckily, I had tons of friends that were always keeping an eye on me. I just had to take the threats seriously.” His family encouraged him to follow orders and be a soldier first and foremost. In fact, Huda said, the transition to Iraq was nothing in comparison to the Southern culture shock he experienced. designs that might provide a better level of coverage for university fac ulty and staff” said Laurie Charest, associate vice chancellor of human resources at UNC-Chapel Hill and a member of UNC-CH’s committee. Committee members also said they wanted to develop a plan that encourages preventative health care rather than simply reacting to health issues when they occur. SEE HEALTH CARE, PAGE 4 Workers call for hikes in salaries Groups say talk is key to efforts BY KATIE HOFFMANN STAFF WRITER About 60 University employees cut out the middle man by express ing their concerns about several issues, including wages and bene fits, directly to UNC administrators Friday during a retreat sponsored by the Employee Forum. During the informal meeting, which was part of a daylong annu al event aimed at breaking down boundaries between administrators and UNC staff, staff advocated for living wages for all UNC workers. Workers demanded change, say ing that the number of employees who earn less than a living wage is far too high. “We want to be the leading public university, but we’re doing it off the backs of the work ers,” said groundskeeper David Brannigan. “People used to come here for the pay and benefits. Now they leave because of the pay and ben efits.” Many also said they have had to work more hours because receSt budget cuts have caused the University to be understaffed. “From (poor wages) stems every thing else. All our problems are linked back to poverty,” Brannigan said. Another major problem that employees cited was a lack of ade quate health care. Employees said they contrib ute about $468 a month to pro vide health care for their families through the state health care plan. Several workers at the forum who make less than $20,000 a year said this is unfeasible for families earning minimal salaries. “There are families on this cam pus that are going without health care and are going to the doctor only when absolutely necessary,” said Charles Brink, an electrician at Facilities Services. Several workers said they take on second jobs to obtain adequate health care. Provost Robert Shelton, one SEE FORUM, PAGE 4 “While all the other soldiers were fascinated with the Iraqi culture, I was interested in the Southern cul ture.” While in Iraq, Huda met fel low UNC student Jason Barber. Originally from Australia, Barber previously served in the army and joined in North Caroling to reclaim the same sense of cama raderie he first found in Australia —a feeling locals call “mateship.” “It’s been great. It’s good to be home and back with family and friends and know that our part is SEE SOLDIER, PAGE 4 3