VOLUME 113, ISSUE 97 Miers removes name from table BUSH NOW FORCED TO REDO JUSTICE NOMINATION PROCESS BY KRISTIN PRATT STAFF WRITER U.S. Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers turned in a letter of withdrawal to President Bush on Thursday morning, citing the issue of executive privilege. But experts said her withdrawal was not unexpected as the flurry of Dearmin pushes to please students Attempts to aid several groups BY STEPHANIE NEWTON STAFF WRITER Value-laden terms are tricky for politicians. Faced with the responsibility of putting action to the intangible nature of “student organization rela tions,” as stated in Tuesday’s October Report, Student Body President Seth Dearmin relies on delegation. “It has to be understood that I’m not the person sitting back doing every single one of these things,” Dearmin said. Having no qualms with being used primarily as a resource rather than an enactor, Dearmin remains confident that the students’ col- Monday: 1 Dearmin made any progress on his town-related platform points? lective voice on issues such as the accessibility of academic advising will be heard. “Conveying a frustration is start ing a dialogue,” said Mark Laabs, Dearmin’s chief of staff. Away from academics, Dearmin also touted a utopian platform which sought to “catalyze a culture of the arts at Carolina, comparable in strength to our sports culture.” The opening of Memorial Hall, student performances through Carolina Performs and the student arts forum are all ways in which the ideal has gained substance and form. “It’s the hardest platform point to tangibly complete,” said Molly Stapleton, chairwoman of the stu dent government arts advocacy com mittee. “But it’s the most successful platform point we’ve completed.” In attending the forum’s monthly meetings and hosting the Carolina Performs event, Dearmin is putting a noticeable amount of energy into the endeavor while also keeping due distance, Stapleton said. “We’re just trying to establish where we stand in student govern ment and set a mold for where we would like to be in the future,” she said. “That’s really something more for our committee to work on than Seth.” Other student leaders, however, say they need more direction. “So far this semester we haven’t seen any strong initiatives or attempts to communicate with our organization or (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) stu dents, faculty and staff” said Tommy Rimbach, co-chairman of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Transgender- Straight Alliance. In his platform, Dearmin promised SEE DEARMIN, PAGE 4 Online I dailytarheel.com YOU'RE MOCKING ME Seventh graders put on a mock trial in a Hillsborough school FIRED UP Eighteen N.C. firefighters set to receive $1.9 million in federal grants TEACH HERE Gov. Mike Easley's plans to address teaching shortages with pay raises Serving the students and the University community since 1893 ohr latht oar Heel criticism from conservatives and interest groups, which they said was surprising, increased. “I don’t think anyone was shocked,” said Trent England, a legal policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. “You know, there was widespread speculation that was growing that ■ *'* * Hb & sSter 'Mb|3h HB j>*. a .^ll *Af tfij DTH/RICKY LEUNG After combing through some fresh produce at the farmers' market at the Rams Head plaza, freshman Laura Kurtz stops to examine some pails of sunflowers Thursday afternoon. Kurtz was one of many students who attended this inaugural event. MARKET PRODUCES FRESH FARE Rams Head plaza hosts first flower, vegetable sale BY KATHRYN ROWLAND STAFF WRITER A healthy dose of sunshine and free samples contributed to a fall atmo sphere Thursday for the first-ever farmers’ market on campus. From 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Rams Head plaza was transformed into a tabled array of fresh fruits and vegetables, hot apple cider and pumpkin pies. Easy recipe fliers featur ing each item on sale also were available. “There’s something for everyone,” said Jen Ketterly, the nutrition and fitness coor dinator at the Center for Healthy Student WHY DID YOU VOTE? “In local elections you have a better chance of getting your voice heard.” Vote early at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center through Nov. 5, Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. arts I page 2 MUSIC IN THE AIR Members of the music department gear up for their first performance in Memorial Hall since its expansive renovation. www.dailytarheeLconi this process would end in with drawal.” In her letter, Miers states, “Protection of the prerogatives of the Executive Branch and continued pursuit of my confirmation are in tension. I have decided that seeking my confirmation should yield.” England said criticism Miers was receiving from all sides of the aisle, and from Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., about keeping executive branch doc uments confidential and privileged, motivated her decision. Katie Huffman Sophomore, History I Bfj&- “Myfriend’s morn is running for alderman, so I promised her I’d vote.” Jesse Choper, a professor of public law at the University of Califomia-Berkeley, said he sees her withdrawal as an accumulation of various disapproval and the privacy issue. But he added that he does not believe executive privilege was the defining issue. “(President Bush) gained nothing out of this at all,” he said. “This was not a strong nomination to begin with.” SEE MIERS, PAGE 4 Behaviors. The center collaborated with Carolina Dining Services and stu dent government to promote the event. Ketterly said the market was designed as a fun way to motivate students to eat more healthy foods as part of the Healthy Campus 2010 national campaign. To make it easier for students to buy items, payment options included cash, flex and expense dollars. Freshman Caroline McMillan used her One Card to purchase fresh bread and a pumpkin pie. Candidates mull downtown Thomas Engelman Senior, Political Science Carrboro faces future questions BY MEGHAN DAVIS ASSISTANT CITY EDITOR Carrboro is not a big place. With about 17,000 residents spread through a few dozen square miles, Carrboro doesn’t have a lot of room to work with. And most agree a small area needs a downtown designed to scale accessible at street-level, walkable, full of life. When the next mayor and Board of Aldermen are elected Nov. 8, debate will continue on the best approach to keep Carrboro’s down- university | page 4 A COMMON CAUSE Members of the Muslim Students Association are joined by other students in a fast-a-thon to raise both funds and awareness. Harriet Miers withdrew her name for justice, citing executive privilege. “It’s nice because it’s not really coming out of my pocket,” she said. “I think (the market is) really cute. It helps get you in the mood for fall.” Ketterly said one fun feature was the pumpkin-carving kits on sale to students. Anyone can bring a carved pumpkin to Chase Dining Hall at Rams Head by Oct. 31, and the most creative carver will win a new bike, sponsored by CDS. Student Body President Seth Dearmin said he was excited to see one of his platform ideas come SEE MARKET, PAGE 4 . | MUNICIPAL Issue Spotlight WIRELESS IN CHAPEL HILL Monday: What candidates are touting for a wireless plan downtown and beyond town viable but unpretentious. The town has several documents guiding future development the Vision 2020 plan calls for doubling commercial space downtown, and the New Vision plan stresses human-scale, mixed-use areas. Meeting both aesthetic and commercial goals could prove to be an integral balancing act for the aldermen in the coming years. Carrboro’s history as a free-spir ited village around the comer from sports | page 9 DOWN. SET. EAT. Local restaurants see a rise in calls for delivery food during Tar Heel football away games and notice an increase in dining out after victories. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2005 Leaders mum on speaker selection Decision still rests in Moeser s hands BY iENNY RUBY ASSISTANT UNIVERSITY EDITOR The selection for the 2006 spring Commencement speaker continues to be a mystery. Although recommendations were sent to Chancellor James Moeser this summer, no word has been released whether any invitation has been accepted or even extended. “We’re not ready to make an announcement yet,” said Executive Associate Provost Steve Allred, who is chairman of the Commencement speaker advisory committee. The committee composed of four faculty and four students has been working since last semester soliciting information and discussing potential candidates. And Allred said between eight and 10 recommendations were submitted to Moeser. “I’m confident we’ll have a decision ready to announce by the end of the semester,” he said. But Senior Class President Bobby Whisnant said the chosen speaker might not be anyone from the com mittee’s list. “Honestly, if the Chancellor doesn’t like anyone on the list, then it doesn’t matter how many people we submit,” Whisnant said. “Ultimately, it is his decision.” Last year’s speaker, Rev. Peter Gomes was not the committee’s top recommendation, Allred said. “(He) gave the best Commencement speech we’ve had in years,” he said. The selection of Gomes was released in early September, shortly after the announcement for the 2004 December Commencement speaker. And when Whisnant told The Daily Tar Heel on Sept. 27 that Etta Pisano would be this year’s December Commencement speaker, many expected the release of a spring speaker’s name shortly thereafter. “I know a lot of students are getting antsy,” Whisnant said. But despite the sealed lips of the administration, committee members said they are not worried. “We’re in great shape,” Student Body President Seth Dearmin said. “I would be remiss to say this is a bad situation.” Committee members discussed potential candidates from a wide array of specialties including arts, enter tainment, science and literature. The Commencement speaker receives an honorary degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and is expected to SEE SPEAKER , PAGE 4 the University makes the thought of dictating exactly what can go downtown seem overwrought to many in the town. “The diversity of this downtown came about without (businesses’) requirement to go through a very long, complicated approval pro cess,” said James Carnahan, chair man of the town’s planning board. Katrina Ryan, an alderman candidate, said the town needs to think hard about what should happen next in downtown. “We definitely don’t want a Wal- Mart, but we do need a place to buy basic necessities,” Ryan said. In keeping with the desire to SEE DOWNTOWN, PAGE 4 weather i?*-. Partly Cloudy H 57, L 33 index police log 2 calendar 2 crossword 6 sports 9 edit 10