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omly (Ear MM Academic freedom debate brews UNIVERSITY CONTINUALLY STANDS AT HEART OF CONTROVERSY BY KATIE HOFFMANN STAFF WRITER An e-mail sent by a University lecturer on Feb. 6, 2004, had implications far beyond her class. When Elyse Ciystall sent the mes sage to her students chastising one of them for making anti-homosexual remarks, she wasn't intending to set off a federal investigation. But her message spurred fiery debates about academic freedom and First Amendment rights at UNC. When the federal investigation closed in September and the case faded from the spotlight, another tense debate'over academic free dom already had emerged to fill its place. “It goes to the very heart of why the if. ap I Hk Bun JL jut. -\ DTH FILE PHOTO President George W. Bush won his second term in the midst of distinct national divide. Pushing an aggressive agenda, the president is fighting to access a morally and politically split public. IN THE 2ND ROUND Leading a split nation, Bush juggles challenges BY STEPHEN MOORE STAFF WRITER George W. Bush narrowly defeat ed Democratic Sen. John Kerry in November, becoming only the 16th president to win a second term. Charged with uniting a nation transformed by terror and divided by politics, religion and education, Bush faces bitter conflicts over eco nomic ideals, court appointments and the ongoing Iraqi war. But the former Texas governor is capable of taking on such challenges and moving forward with an aggres sive agenda, said Allan Meltzer, a professor of political economy at Carnegie Mellon Business School. “You have to understand that, unlike many presidents, he is a real problem-solver,” Meltzer said. “He Zoning of Carolina North site The University and the Town Coundl have been battling over proposed zoning changes to the Horace Williams tract the site slated for UNCs satellite campus, Carolina North. - 01-2 f Acres SOURCE: TOWN OF CHAPEL HIU DTWFEILDING CAGE University was created,” Chancellor James Moeser said in an interview Thursday. “Teaching people how to carry on a political discourse with an atmosphere of mutual respect is essentia] to our mission.” Throughout a tense year, and under public scrutiny, administra tors have underscored the impor tance of academic freedom and diversity of viewpoints on campus. In November, students and fac ulty crowded into Wilson Library to protest the University’s acceptance of a donation to fund a Studies in Western Culture program. The John William Pope Foundation, a philanthropic orga nization, offered up to $26 million for the program, but some faculty and students opposed the dona wants to take on major problems and solve them.” During the past months, Bush has targeted more domestic issues, diversifying the focus from his first term, when terrorism and Iraq dominated American politics. At the top of his agenda is Social Security reform. Bush says his plan to put some money into private accounts will help ensure its longev ity, but detractors say it plays a dan gerous game with people’s money. “The big (issue) for the first term that was not addressed, primarily because of 9/11, was Social Security reform,” said David Crockett, a pro fessor of political science at Trinity University-San Antonio. SEE BUSH, PAGE 4 Town, gown wrangle over land BY RYAN C. TUCK CITY EDITOR The University and town have feuded in public ways in recent memory, cast ing a pall over relations characterized as healthy or exploitative depending on the official asked. The issue wasn’t as contentious this year as it was last year, when UNC unveiled its plans for Carolina North, its proposed 963-acre satellite campus and research park. Concerns about the development, as well as a high-profile public spat over the chiller plant and parking garage nowunder construction next to Cobb Residence Hall, dominated local headlines and played a key role in Ibwn Council elections. But, perhaps inevitably, the familiar concerns reared their head this week. Year in Review tion, arguing that the organization would exert undue influence. The foundation helps fund the John William Pope Center for Higher Education Policy, which has criticized the University’s women’s studies program, cultural diver sity requirement and controversial summer reading selections. Earlier this month, foundation officials denied UNC’s draft of the proposal for the new curriculum and asked for a list of professors who would be teaching the courses spurring further public discus sion. Administrators said the Popes’ requests are standard protocol for donations and maintain that the University will not accept any funds with strings attached. ELECTIONS 2004 Easley battles to balance budget BY INDIA AUTRY STAFF WRITER A financial crisis looms over Gov. Mike Easley’s second term. Since his January inauguration, the Democrat’s major task has been to craft a balanced budget, and the House approval of a lot tery bill has emerged as his great est victory, analysts say. North Carolina is about $1.3 bil lion dollars in the red, but Easley has dealt with debt every year in office, said Elaine Mejia, director of the N.C. Budget and Tax Center. “He’s been chasing shortfalls since the day he walked in the door.” If the lottery bill passes the Senate, it would be a legendary accomplishment for Easley, said John Hood, director of the John Locke Foundation, a conservative SEE EASLEY, PAGE 4 Council members and Chancellor James Moeser effectively agreed Monday to pursue anew zoning standard for the Horace Williams tract, the site of Carolina North, after months of discussion. The council also decided to temporar ily rezone a large portion of the tract to the more restrictive Office/Institutional -2 district —a move UNC officials ini tially opposed. Moeser, as promised in a letter dated April 21, dropped his protest after the town decided to pursue anew district. “Its very important that we work together so the plan is one that meets the goals of the University and also one that will be approved by the council,” said Tony Waldrop, University vice chancellor for research and economic development. In an attempt to bridge any gaps, “If the Popes try to manage what’s taught in the classroom, then we would not accept that funding,” Provost Robert Shelton said. “We’ll always be looking for more outside funds. The question is under what conditions will we accept those funds.” Debates about First Amendment rights also came to a head this school year when the Alpha lota Omega Christian fraternity filed a federal lawsuit against the University. The fraternity fought to reinstate its offi cial campus recognition, revoked when members would not sign UNCs nondiscrimination policy. The policy states that no cam pus organization can discriminate SEE FREEDOM, PAGE 4 DTH FILE PHOTO/LAURA MORTON N.C. Gov. Mike Easley has won a key victory with the House's approval of a lottery bill. Part of his reform effort lies on the Senate's shoulders. W&BBSKBBk % pjgiPPr 1 DTH FILE PHOTO Members of Alpha lota Omega Christian fraternity kicked off the year by announcing a lawsuit against UNC over the nondiscrimination policy. officials from both sides will sit down Wednesday to discuss how development the most persistent source of conflict might be handled in a way that will keep everyone satisfied. “Where campus activities come into contact with neighborhoods, that is where there is the greatest concern,” said Mayor Kevin Foy. The next great battle in town-gown relations lies on that border —and in the future of the University’s special zoning district, Office/Institutional-4. After a series of discussions with University officials, the 01-4 district was created in 2001 to allow more lenient standards for on-campus development. But that grace, for some, has been SEE ZONING, PAGE 4 FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2005 System fights against crunch BY EMMA BURGIN STATE & NATIONAL EDITOR Molly Broad and Brad Wilson have fought this year for increased student growth and against increased tuition. But the UNC-system president and Board of Governors chairman have little more than a year left as the heads of the system. And, as it begins the search for new leaders to fight for North Carolinians seeking higher edu cation, the university has fired the first warning shot to the state legislature: It has a breaking point. And legislators, with a 4 per cent proposed budget cut, friight be approaching it. : Playing politics Broad, who will retire in 2006 or as soon as her successor is found, said the UNC system won’t be able to keep up with its goals for growth if budget cuts persist. “To fail to accommodate that enrollment growth would be unprecedented,” she said last week during the system’s Board of Governors meeting. And the inability' to grow would symbolize a shift in the system’s focus, forced by an anemic econo my and cuts to the system budget totaling $23.4 million. A slowdown in enrollment growth is not a reality yet, but it very well could be if cuts persist. “It’s an option on the table,” Wilson said. “I hope we don’t have to do that.” The system has experienced record growth during the past four years, increasing enrollment by more than 6,000 students each year. Wilson said that if the budget is cut by as much as lawmakers are considering, resources could become scarce and the university classroom could sutFer. “It's not fair to continue to grow at the pace that we are and then not meet the demands of the stu dents,” he said. John Sanders, former director of the UNC-Chapel Hill Institute of Government and a former member of the BOG, said slowing enrollment growth seems logical if the legislature can’t afford to fund the larger student population. “Water the soup and feed the kids with the same amount of beans ... not by way of retaliation, but simply realizing the cost.” To prevent this during the 2005 legislative session, lobbying has taken on increased importance. System lobbyist Mark Fleming is in Raleigh almost every day the General Assembly is in ses sion, meeting with legislators and working with officials from other system schools to drive home the university’s message. “We allow them to participate in the discussions,” said Rep. Larry Bell, D-Sampson. “We were able to question them with some of their budget requests.” The system requested a $2.02 billion budget for the 2005-06 fis cal year and $2.05 billion for the 2006-07 fiscal year. Wilson also said he has found himself answering more questions and participating in more advo cacy as his term as chairman has SEE SYSTEM, PAGE 4 3
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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April 29, 2005, edition 1
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