Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Sept. 29, 2005, edition 1 / Page 11
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She Sailg Sor Hrri SAW stages cleaning protest BY BRIAN HUDSON UNIVERSITY EDITOR About a dozen student activ ists stormed the lobby of South Building on Wednesday afternoon armed with an array of cleaning supplies. The demonstrators went through the motions of mopping, sweeping and vacuuming the lobby signi fying their effort to “clean up South Building,” they said. The students who were members of Student Action with Workers, an advocacy group for UNC employees shouted pro worker slogans throughout the first floor of the building and lobbied to speak with Chancellor James Moeser. “What we were trying to do today is get publicity and show the chancellor that we’re serious,” SAW member Mike Hachey, a junior international studies major, said after the protest. The demonstration interrupted a meeting between Moeser and two members of his cabinet. “Other than interrupting a meeting, I think people in South Building are accustomed to inter ruptions like that from time to time,” said Nancy Davis, associ School unites for Habitat BY RACHEL AIKEN STAFF WRITTER Several hundred Kenan-Flagler Business School students and facul ty members traded their textbooks for tools at the kickoff celebration for the Habitat for Humanity proj ect Monday afternoon. The event sought to bring vol unteers from all areas of the school to join in an effort to better the Orange County community. The project, which will run from Oct. 15 to Dec. 17, marks the first time a single department or school from UNC has taken on the sponsorship of an entire Habitat house. Susan Levy, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, said she was inspired to see the partnership between the busi ness school and the community service program. “This a wonderful develop ment for us,”,she said. “Not pnly Share your space, but live on your own. - - ii iit—winin i ■■ ——MM, M, If- r I ate vice chancellor for student relations, who was meeting with Moeser at the time. “And it was also very close to the lunch hour so it wasn’t terribly disruptive.” The activists presented Moeser with a seven-page letter of demands, among which was a request for the unionization of employees of Aramark Corp., UNC’s food services provider. Afterward, the group left South Building and chanted their way across campus toward Lenoir Dining Hall to “clean” the offices in the building’s basement. SAW members said the demon stration in Lenoir was directed at Derek Lochbaum, UNC’s director of trademarks and licensing. Before leaving, the demonstra tors presented him with the same letter of demands. From Lenoir, the group moved to the Pit where they continued to chant eliciting curious stares and bemused smiles from passersby. An onlooker applauded the group as it left the Pit and ended the demonstration, which lasted about 35 minutes. Davis said she thinks the University takes notice when stu dents have concerns. will it provide funding, but also deepen our partnership with the University.” Levy introduced the Shah fam ily for whom the business school will build a home at the event. Habitat for Humanity selected the Shah family from a pool of applicants based on need, willing ness to become partners in the pro gram and their ability to repay the no-interest mortgage. Asa Habitat family, the Shahs are expected to pay SI,OOO in clos ing costs as well as invest 325 hours of labor in the construction of their home and others’ homes. Habitat for Humanity provides a zero-interest mortgage of $67,500. The family will pay $350 a month to allow the organization to con tinue to construct houses for other area families. The business school has a com mitment of $30,000, half of the project’s total cost, in addition to News a w vHf - Jr* M B WJ m ■ BBLJHL— 'k. fe _j DTH/GILLIAN BOLSOVER SAW members Elan Keene (left), senior, and Faith Everett, junior, carry signs and march to South Building to clean Chancellor James Moeser's office. “I’m sure folks in the University administration will take a hard look at what they have to say,” Davis said, referring to the letters. The group also marched to South Building last year to rally for Lenoir workers. Sascha Bollag, a senior history the workforce. The project developed from a decadelong fundraising effort by business school members through the annual MBA golf tournament. They raised $20,000 at the event last spring, leaving the remaining SIO,OOO to be raised through other various fundraisers. Habitat for Humanity International was founded in 1976 and a chapter has existed at UNC for several years. UNC Habitat, which has more than 2,000 mem bers has built 18 houses in the area. Levy said she was optimistic about the possibility of an annual building project. “It is our hope that the Kenan- Flagler partnership will inspire other schools within the University to take this challenge.” Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu. WAL-MART Get everything for your dorm room at Walmart.com and still afford tuition. always low prices' Wabnarf.com major and a founder of the group, said SAW’s tactics are meant to bring attention to their cause. “We feel like it’s very visible and loud and in their face.” Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu. Group puts spotlight on changes BY KATHERINE HOLLANDER STAFF WRITER During the Odum Village light ing tour late Tuesday evening, stu dent and UNC officials showcased their progress at bringing light to a dark corner of campus. Representatives from various University departments includ ing energy services, housing and grounds, and student resident governors discussed lighting and safety issues as they walked around the undergraduate apartments. Steve Lofgren, assistant director of facilities planning, said the light ing and pathway needs changed when Odum Village switched from married-student housing to undergraduate apartments after Morrison Residence Hall closed for renovations. “We have a different set of clien tele now,” he said. “The undergrads are apt to be a lot more nocturnal in nature. They need the light and night-time safety.” All furnishings pictured are from Wal-Mart. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2005 Computerized format in works for MCAT BY KATIE O'NEAL STAFF WRITER Upcoming changes to the Medical College Admission Test will make the test easier to take and grade, officials say, but many pre med students are concerned it could negatively affect their grades. The Association of American Medical Colleges recently announced that the old pencil-and paper format of the MCAT soon will give way to a more advanced computer-based format. This shift, set to take place in 2007, will mark the first significant change in the MCAT in more than a decade, said Amjed Mustafa, MCAT program manager for Kaplan Inc. Mustafa.said switching to a computer-based format means stu dents can expect shorter test days and faster results. The MCAT, when administered in pencil-and-paper format, lasts about eight hours. Officials esti mate that the computer format will cut the test to five hours and say it also will provide a more controlled and secure testing environment. But a Kaplan survey showed that Taneisha Livingston, a sopho more chemistry major, said she is concerned about her safety, espe cially with the construction sur rounding the facilities. “This area is extremely dark, especially walking up from the hos pital,” she said. “It’s not ideal at all for walking by yourself, and some times I don’t have a choice.” Livingston said that while the majority of students in Odum Village say they didn’t want to live there originally, they are making an effort to improve the situation. “I’ve spoken with my student government representatives and the P2P system,” she said. “All of this construction has made it dif ficult to get buses to run up here.” Their residence is surrounded by five different construction sites. The Manning Drive steam plant and utility tunnel construc tion site in particular has forced residents to make their own paths through wooded areas to get to Maggg UMgM| 1 ——- j-lßi mm mamw JMfcflfc ” ' jlnf MIF r H| ' > M m ii Laptop *—• Hi iib S jSEI ggjjj 82 percent of people believe they will perform worse on the com puter format than on the paper format. Another Kaplan survey of 4,000 students revealed 80 percent of individuals have never taken a computer-based exam. That lack of familiarity with computer exams is one of the main points of anxiety for future test-tak ers, Mustafa said. Students’ list of concerns for the new exam include eye strain, computer-related dis tractions and all-too-common computer malfunctions, he said. Mustafa said the test will not be as uniform as before students will not take breaks at the same time or follow the same timeline as fellow test-takers. He said that could mean more distractions and anxiety. Jahan Taheri, a senior biol ogy student planning to take the MCAT, said he is worried about the switch. “Computers are really unreliable, and I would not want to trust a computer with something as important as my MCAT.” Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu. campus. Phil Mazarick, a representative of Electric Distribution Services, said that while they are going to address concerns quickly, they can not light unofficial areas. “If it’s an official pathway or walk way, I’ll take care of it,” he said. “But we won’t light someone’s shortcuts.” Ashley Sullivan, Odum Village student governor, said concerns such as unlit staircases, dark park ing lots and shadowed pathways finally are getting the attention they deserve. Lofgren said issues with certain pathways from the hospital area to Odum Village already have been addressed. “We’re trying to make sure these students Eire as comfortable as pos sible given their situation,” he said. “Lights have already been put in, and we plan to do a lot more.” Contact the University Editor ’’•at udesk@unc.edu. HP Laptop Bedding Storage 11
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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