VOLUME 113, ISSUE 5
Hate
crime
sparks
action
Students, officials
to respond in Pit
Editor’s Note: It is The Daily Tar
Heel’s policy not to run the names
ofvictims of crimes unless they
have direct influence on the news.
BY ERIN ZUREICK
STAFF WRITER
As the UNC junior who was the
victim of a reported hate crime
recovers from Friday’s assault, the
community is seeking to mend a
shattered sense of security.
News of the assault that occurred
on East Franklin
Street early
Friday morning
trickled through
the community
Monday, shock
ing students and
officials.
“It totally
disgusts me,”
said Blakely
Whilden, co
president of
TODAY
There will be
a speak-out
event at 6 p.m.
in the Pit,
followed by
a march to
Franklin Street
and a moment
of silence.
UNC Young Democrats. “If it can
happen in Chapel Hill it can hap
pen anywhere.”
No witnesses have come for
ward in the case, and officials are
encouraging anyone with informa
tion to contact Chapel Hill police
or Crime Stoppers.
The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual,
Transgender-Straight Alliance and
Amnesty International are hosting
a speak-out event tonight, where
members of the community can
sign a petition against the exclu
sion of sexual orientation from N.C.
statutes on hate crimes. A candlelit
march down Franklin Street will
conclude with a moment of silence
SEE RESPONSE, PAGE 4
UNC wont drop tuition requests
BY MEGAN MCSWAIN
ASSISTANT STATE & NATIONAL EDITOR
Gov. Mike Easley is backing an
in-state tuition freeze in his bud
get proposal, bolstering a decision
made by the UNC system’s govern
ing body in February.
But campus officials across the
state are still searching for a solu
tion to their financial needs.
No one is sure where the need
ed revenue will come from, but
many speculate that the Board
of Governors will be receptive to
campus-based tuition increases for
nonresident students and graduate
students.
“I think that the campuses put
forth tuition proposals in good faith
that they would be considered by the
board,” said Jeff Davies, vice presi
dent of finance for the UNC system.
“There is one school that has with
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DTH/BRANDON MAYNARD
Metal benches are just one of many examples of public art in Chapel Hill.
Part of the new town operations center will be devoted to public art works.
INSIDE
SOUTHERN CULTURE
Indian clothing store at Carr Mill Mall brings a taste
of Asia to the streets of downtown Carrboro PAGE 9
Serving the students and the University community since 1893
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VwP4lB
V aguar Wright performs at the Great
Hall in the Student Union on Monday
night. Wright, who was inspired by
musicians like Marvin Gaye and Earth,
Wind and Fire, blends hip-hop and soul
music. Her first group, Philly Blunts,
performed together for four years. Soon
drawn its requests, but only one.”
UNC-Chapel Hill will not drop
its proposal to the BOG for out-of
state and graduate tuition hikes,
but University officials plan to
honor the in-state freeze and not
ask for resident increases, said
Provost Robert Shelton.
The University’s tuition increase
requests stemmed from a proposal
by the campus T\iition Task Force.
In November, the task force
reported that UNC-CH needs an
additional $5.4 million to $5.6
million in tuition revenue.
The money was set to go to four
major areas: a larger commitment
to need-based aid, increasing teach
ing assistant stipends, a merit-based
salary increase for existing faculty
and a decrease in class size.
Since the University will not pur
sue an increase in resident under-
www.dthonline.com
FUNK-SOUL SISTER
after, Wright began working toward a
solo career and became a part of The
Roots’ family collective. The singer, who
compares herself to a modern Etta James
with atwist of Mary J. Blige, named her debut
album Denials Delusions and Decisions.
For the complete story, see page 9.
IL *** ,yl
UNC-CH Provost
Robert Shelton
said University
officials plan
to stand behind
their request for
nonresident and
graduate hikes.
graduate tuition, receiving enough
funding to accomplish all four of
those goals will be difficult if not
impossible, said Judith Wegner,
chairwoman of the faculty.
“Given the amount, they Won’t
be able to address (decreasing
class size) at all,” she said.
N.C. Sen. Tony Rand, D-
Cumberland, said the legislature
understands the necessity to
retain faculty.
“I know we’re all doing what we
Town to go ahead
with building plan
BY STEPHANIE JORDAN
SENIOR WRITER
After an hourlong discussion
Monday night, the Chapel Hill Town
Council voted to allow its design con
sultants to move ahead with plans
for anew town operations center.
“The most prudent action for
the council is to move forward,”
said Town Manager Cal Horton.
“We would not get good bids if
the council doesn’t proceed with
certainty.”
The center, which will be located
on Millhouse Road, is set to be the
DTH/RICKY LEUNG
can so that we make sure we give
Chapel Hill the money they need
to keep the faculty,” said Rand, the
Senate majority leader.
The Board of Governors will
discuss nonresident and graduate
student tuition increases during
the March 17 meeting of its budget
and finance committee.
BOG Chairman Brad Wilson
said that while he is unsure of what
will take place at that meeting,
nonresident tuition is less likely
to receive the same treatment as
in-state costs.
“I have not had any expressions
of opposition (to nonresident
increases),” he said. “It wouldn’t
surprise me if out-of-state (tuition)
is ... approved in some amount at
all the schools,” he added.
SEE BUDGET, PAGE 4
home of Chapel Hill’s public works
and housing and transportation
departments.
Some members of the council’s
budget review advisory committee
had proposed delaying the project
as a way to put off the financial
impact of construction, estimated
at $44.1 million.
Much of the discussion centered
on the fact that the town’s budget
situation is particularly tight this
year —and will be made tighter
SEE CENTER, PAGE 4
SPORTS
BACK IN THE SADDLE
As football team begins spring practice, senior is the
likely front-runner at quarterback position PAGE 11
Fraternity,
University
at impasse
UNC AND ALPHA IOTA OMEGA
CAN’T REACH A COMPROMISE
BY KATHERINE EVANS
STAFF WRITER
It’s back to the drawing board for lawyers
involved in Alpha lota Omega fraternity’s
ongoing lawsuit against the University.
Ideological differences between the two camps
proved to be irreconcilable Monday, the deadline
for both parties to submit a consent decree to
clarify UNC’s nondiscrimination policy.
UNC lawyers balked on amending the policy
—a requirement for student organizations that
members of the Christian fraternity refuse to sign
while AlO’s lawyers demanded its revision.
“We were far apart in coming to an agree
ment,” said Jordan Lorence, an attorney with
the Alliance Defense Fund, a religious-rights
group defending the fraternity.
U.S. District Court Judge Frank Bullock Jr.
said during the Feb. 16 hearing that if UNC and
the fraternity could not come to a consensus, he
would issue a ruling in the case. He said Monday
that he would not comment on ongoing cases.
Experts said the two sides’ inability to reach an
agreement could bring about a messier outcome
in the case. “I think generally on these issues,
working them out before they get to court is
much preferred,” said Kermit Hall, a legal histo
rian and expert in constitutional law.
In lieu of an agreement, each side sent Bullock
its proposal for consensus and a letter explain
ing why a compromise could not be reached.
Although University lawyers and represen-
SEE AIO, PAGE 4
L|l
Di •. fH
. BUM
DTH/WHITNEY SHEFTE
Chapel Hill Planning Director Roger Waldon speaks Monday night at
Town Hall. After 21 years with the town, Waldon will step down June 1.
Waldon plans
to resign post
Planning director to leave June 1
BY RYAN C. TUCK
CITY EDITOR
After seeing hundreds of devel
opments go from permit applica
tions to construction sites, Chapel
Hill Planning Director Roger
Waldon announced Monday that
June 1 will mark the last day of
his 21-year stint with the town.
“He has built an incredible
legacy of not only confidence
but respect,” said Roger Perry,
president of East West Partners
Management Cos. Inc., who has
worked with Waldon on sev
eral developments including
Meadowmont, off N.C. 54.
“He’s fiercely defensive of the
town’s interests, and yet he’s
extraordinarily fair and outright
about what you can expect.”
After weighing his decision
for some time, Waldon made the
announcement at the planning
department’s weekly meeting.
“I’ve enjoyed my work with
the town,” Waldon said. “It’s been
thoroughly interesting and chal
lenging. There was always some
thing new to do.”
Waldon’s next position will be
WEATHER
TODAY Partly cloudy, H 46, L 26
WEDNESDAY Sunny, H 44, L 24
THURSDAY Sunny, H 43, L 23
TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2005
UNC IN COURT
UNC revokes AlO's
status as an official
student organization.
The Alliance Defense Fund
files suit against UNC,
claiming its policies violate
the First Amendment.
UNC files a motion
to dismiss the case,
claiming student
conduct rules do not
infringe those rights.
ADF files a motion for
a preliminary injunction
that would in effect
reinstate AlO’s status.
The two sides appear.in
a Greensboro courtroom
and are told to hammer
out a nondiscrimination
policy they can agree on.
Both sides submit
letters explaining their
failure to compromise.
that of a private planning consul
tant in the Chapel Hill office of
Clarion Associates, a national plan
ning consulting practice.
Because the planning depart
ment heads such integral town
undertakings as examining land
use and development applications
and setting and regulating zoning
standards, Waldons departure will
be felt first in Town Hall.
“He’s been an important
member of the staff,” said Town
Manager Cal Horton, who has
worked with Waldon since 1989.
“He’s almost been to more (Town
Council) meetings than I have.”
Waldon was a permanent fix
ture at council meetings during
his career, taking the almost
weekly role of advising the coun
cil on potential developments.
“I’m going to miss the daily
interactions with people like Cal,”
Waldon said.
Horton said he will miss
Waldon’s familiar face around the
office. “We’re like the basketball
players who can do passes behind
SEE WALDON, PAGE 4