ffiljr Bailij (Ear Mrri
CORRECTION
Due to an editing error, a cap
tion accompanying the Page 3
article, “‘Science gu/ to visit cam
pus” misstates the date of Bill Nye’s
visit.
He will speak April 27, as the
article states. The Daily Tar Heel
apologizes for the error.
CAMPUS BRIEFS
Chispa to hold rally against
federal immigration bill
The Carolina Hispanic
Association is hosting a rally to
bring awareness about bills brought
to the U.S. Congress affecting ille
gal immigrants.
The bill calls for all illegal immi
grants to be considered felons and
for the construction of a 700-mile
wall to separate the U.S. from
Mexico.
The rally will be held from 10
a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Pit today and
Monday. Sangam and the Muslin
Students Association also will par
ticipate in the demonstration.
CITY BRIEFS
County experiencing an
increase in brush fires
Seven members of the Carrboro
Fire Department spent about an
hour early Thursday morning put
ting out a quarter-acre brush fire
close to Merritt Mill Road near the
exit ramp from the N.C. 54 Bypass,
said fire Capt. Walter Mills.
There were 130 fires in brush
and woods between Jan. 1 and
April 1, more than double the num
ber from the same period in 2005,
said Orange County Fire Marshal
Mike Tapp.
His office has stopped issuing
bum permits until moisture arrives.
Chapel Hill assistant fire marshall
Johnny Parker said that due to recent
dry conditions, residents need to be
exceptional careful with fire.
STATE B NATION
Senate close to finalizing
immigration legislature
WASHINGTON - Senate
Republicans and Democrats closed
in on a last-minute compromise
Thursday on legislation opening
the way to legal status and even
tual citizenship for many of the 11
million illegal immigrants living in
the United States.
As outlined, it would provide for
enhanced border security, regulate
the future flow of immigrants into
the country and offer legalized sta
tus to the millions of men, women
and children in the country unlaw
fully.
The compromise would require
illegal immigrants who have been
in the U.S. between two years and
five years to return to their home
country briefly, then re-enter as
temporary workers. Illegal immi
grants here longer than five years
would not be required to return
home; those in the country less
than two years would be required
to leave without assurances of
returning.
Katrina coverage and 'South
Park' win Peabody Awards
ATLANTA Two Gulf Coast
stations that stayed on the air
throughout Hurricane Katrina won
Peabody Awards on Wednesday,
while CNN and NBC were also
honored for their coverage of the
deadly storm.
Comedy Central’s irreverent
comedy “South Park” also picked
up an award, its first, as did FOX’s
medical drama “House” and ABC’s
“Boston Legal.”
The George Foster Peabody
awards, for broadcasting excellence
in both news and entertainment, are
given annually by the University of
Georgia. Thirty-two awards will be
handed out at the ceremony May 5,
which will be hosted by two-time
recipient Jon Stewart.
Libby testimony says Bush,
Cheney OK'd press leaks
WASHINGTON - President
Bush and Vice President Dick
Cheney authorized Lewis Libby,
Cheney’s former chief of staff, to
launch a counterattack against
administration critics on Iraq by
leaking intelligence information
to reporters, according to court
papers citing Libby’s testimony in
the CIA leak case.
In a court filing, Special Counsel
Patrick Fitzgerald stopped short of
accusing Cheney of authorizing his
chief of staff to leak the CIA iden
tity of Valerie Plame.
Fitzgerald quoted Libby as say
ing he was authorized to tell New
York Times reporter Judith Miller
that Iraq was “vigorously trying to
procure” uranium. Fitzgerald said
Libby told him it “was the only
time he recalled in his government
experience when he disclosed a
document to a reporter that was
effectively declassified by virtue of
the president’s authorization that it
be disclosed.”
—From staff and wire reports
Women’s center taps director
BY KATE SULLIVAN
STAFF WRITER
After several months of searching,
the Carolina Women’s Center has
chosen someone to take its reins.
Donna Bickford, a women’s
studies professor at the University
of Rhode Island, was announced as
the new director in early March.
“Dr. Bickford and her applica
tion spoke of her passion for wom
en’s issues,” said Lynn Blanchard
director of the Carolina Center for
Public Service and search commit
tee chairwoman.
Bickford’s hiring, which will take
effect June 12, marks the first full
time director for the center in its
almost 10-year existence.
Diane Kjervik was the first to
hold the title of “director” after its
inception under Marsha Collins.
Kjervik served as director while
splitting her time between the cen
ter and the School of Nursing, where
she remains a faculty member.
‘7 think it’s great that were all brainstorming, and I hope that
something will be put into action.” ashley leblanc, FRESHMAN
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DTH/LARRY BAUM
Sophomore Nick Neptune (right) presents a plan his section of the audience designed to promote increased fitness and healthy eating
Thursday at CNN's "Fit Nation" program in Rams Head Recreation Center as senior medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta looks on.
WEIGHING FITNESS
CNN program brings obesity-awareness campaign to campus
BY BRETT STURM
STAFF WRITER
Basketballs were pushed aside Thursday as
CNN took to the Rams Head Fitness Center
court for a town hall-style discussion on the
growing problem of obesity in America.
CNN senior medical correspondent Dr.
Sanjay Gupta led “Fit Nation” to UNC, the fifth
stop on a nationwide tour that will conclude at
the University of Texas at Austin on April 20.
The campaign’s purpose is to encourage
college students to seek new ways of tackling
the nation’s obesity epidemic.
“We come to you today mainly because
we need your help,” Gupta said to the crowd
of about 150 students. “Not enough is being
done to help curtail this epidemic.”
The show aired live on CNN Pipeline, the
network’s on-demand broadband video ser
vice. The discussions also will appear in seg
ments on CNN’s “House Call with Dr. Sanjay
Gupta,” which airs Saturday and Sunday
mornings at 8:30 a.m. EST on CNN.
Gupta was flanked by a panel of experts
Stallings to lead
Union in ’O6-07
BY JIM WALSH
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
The newly announced president
of the Carolina Union says she
wants to broaden the definition of
arts and music programming on
campus.
Erika Stallings, announced
Wednesday as the president-elect
for the Union, is slated to take
the helm of the Carolina Union
Activities Board in April. CUAB
commands one third of the student
activities fee, which amounts to an
annual budget of about $300,000.
Stallings, a junior from
Goldsboro, will become chairwom
an of the Union board of directors
and CUAB.
The latter organized multiple arts
and entertainment events this year,
including the Homecoming concert
and the Carolina Comedy Festival.
Stallings said she wants to main
tain CUAB’s educational mission
while providing accessible enter
tainment and activities for stu
dents.
Top News
The search for anew director
started in September after Kjervik
announced she would step down.
Blanchard said Bickford’s faculty
and administrative experience will
help her.in the new position.
“Her experience both as an
instructor and as a board member
and having worked with a women’s
center at the University of Rhode
Island were all important aspects.”
Even though she initially was not
seeking an administrative position
within a women’s center, Bickford
said the UNC center’s goals were of
interest to her.
“The focus on education, advo
cacy and outreach which is what
I focus on with my students in the
classroom” was one of the main
reasons she felt like the job was a
good match, she said.
The center sees about 250 women
on a yearly basis who walk-in or
call with questions. Of that group,
Chimi Boyd, interim director of the
including Dr. James Harper, associate dean
of the School of Medicine, and Vonetta
Flowers, 2002 Olympic gold medalist in the
women’s bobsled.
“Fit Nation” was born partly out of an
increase in obesity-related news, Gupta said.
“Frankly I was getting sick of it,” he said.
“The country gets it. We’re not doing well
with our weight.”
In an interview before the taping, Gupta
said he wants to get college students to add
insight into what he feels is a fixable and
potentially costly problem.
“Kids who are college students now are
going to pay the costs,” he said, noting that obe
sity-related expenses could promote change.
Chancellor James Moeser introduced
Gupta and outlined his hopes for fitness.
“We’re looking for ways to reach out to
youngsters, to increase healthy habits.”
The discussion was heavy on crowd par
ticipation, including an interactive weight
loss statistics quiz and a list of the “top 8
signs that you may not be part of a fit nation,”
4h\
Junior Erika
Stallings will
become
chairwoman
of the Union
directors board
and CUAB.
“For us it’s striking a balance
between big-name stuff and stuff
they might not be so familiar with.”
Stallings said she wants to devel
op communication mechanisms
with the Office of the Executive
Director for the Arts, which over
sees the booking of the Carolina
Performing Arts Series at Memorial
Hall, and she wants to coordinate
CUAB programs with the series.
The series was announced
March 21 and features more than
38 performances, including an
opening gala with Texas singer and
songwriter Lyle Lovett.
“Nobody wants it to become all
SEE UNION, PAGE 4
Donna
Bickford is
excited about
the stated
goals of the
UNC women's
center.
Women’s Center, estimated that 55
percent are students, with the rest
composed of staff and a small per
centage of faculty.
The center is located at 134 E.
Franklin St.
Both Bickford and Boyd said
much of the summer will be spent
ensuring that Bickford gets well
adjusted to the campus, as well as
the outlying community.
“There are a lot of people on cam
pus I want to meet,” Bickford said,
citing campus organizations such
as the Black Student Movement,
Muslim Students Association and
Greek organizations.
ala David Letterman.
Gupta also split the audience into five
brainstorming groups, which then proposed
programs that could help fight obesity locally.
In a nationwide contest, CNN will reward
$5,000 for the most successful program.
Contestants must submit a video report
covering their activities before Oct. 1.
“Be the change that you wish to see in the
world,” Gupta told the audience.
The students in attendance were eager to
voice their ideas.
“I think it’s great that we’re all brainstorm
ing, and I hope that something will be put
into action,” said Ashley Leßlanc, a freshman
majoring in exercise and sports science.
Gupta advised the mostly student audi
ence to value personal health.’
“College students are immortal,” he said.
“Then you realize as you get older that health
isn’t something you can take for granted.”
Contact the State & National
Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
Businesses shuffling in Carrboro
BY ERIC SHEPHERD MARTIN
STAFF WRITER
This April downtown Carrboro
will see new beginnings and final
closings within its small-business
community.
With bright yellow going-out
of-business signs lining its outer
walls, the 58-year-old Riggsbee-
Hinson Furniture Cos., located at
311 E. Main St., will close its doors
permanently to the public Sunday.
“We’re pretty much down to just
one room (of merchandise),” store
co-manager Chris George said.
“We’ve seen a lot of new faces
... people popping in and saying
‘Oh, I didn’t even know you were
here,’” George said of the crowds
that flocked to take advantage of
closing sales.
Without the longtime furniture
store, Sid Keith, owner of neigh
boring business Surplus Sid’s,
said buying furniture in Carrboro
would become as difficult as find
ing a place to buy shoes.
“Carrboro’s kind of short on
business,” he said.
“I’ve been here 19 years; they
were (here) long before I got here,”
he continued. “All good things
The center will celebrate its 10th
anniversary next year, after being
founded at the request of women
on campus.
After a decade as a campus
institution, Boyd said the center
still does not have the visibility it
would like on campus.
Bickford noted the importance
of a having a hub for the women in
the community.
“It’s important for every univer
sity to have a women’s center, partly
in response to the marginalization
of women,” she said. “When you
deal with the issues of marginal
ized groups, you make a healthier
campus climate.”
Having anew leader will provide
an opportunity for the center to
look to the future, Blanchard said.
“She’ll be a natural person to
build bridges.”
Contact the News Editor
at udesk@unc.edu.
—"H
■ r jf' i A :
DTH/ANNA DCRN
Dan Matute, an employee at Riggsbee-Hinson Furniture in Carrboro,
prepares Thursday for crowds as part of the going-out-of-business sale.
come to an end.”
The close comes as a result of
both deteriorating business and
the failing health of store owner
Charles Browning, who died
March 25.
Chip Browning, co-manager
and son of Charles Browning, said
he had no definite future plans
FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 2006
March
to urge
clean
needles
Advocates want
Easley support
BY KRISTIN PRATT
STAFF WRITER
While it might look like a dem
onstration against Barry Bonds,
activists carrying clean syringes
and banners in today’s march in
Raleigh will be demonstrating
for a different public health issue
HIV/AIDS prevention.
Marchers will be advocating for
the passage of a syringe-exchange
program bill as part of the N.C.
HIV prevention strategy.
Starting at 11 a.m. at Bicentennial
Mall, students, community mem
bers, HIV patients and clergy
will walk their issue to Gov. Mike
Easley’s mansion. After the march,
the Road to Hope AIDS tour will
stop at 7 p.m. in Bingham 301.
Several
groups are
involved in the
demonstration,
including the
UNC chapter of
Student Global
AIDS Campaign
ONLINE
AIDS fundraiser
features student
performances at
Memorial Hall
tonight.
and the N.C. Harm Reduction
Coalition Inc.
About 100 people are expected
to march.
“I’m really pumped about it,”
said Alison Duncan, a UNC fresh
man who is marching for the first
time as part of the campaign.
“We really want to encourage
Gov. Easley to take the opportuni
ty to positively affect public health
in the state, and he can do that by
supporting this bill,” she said.
Easley recently has proposed
an increase in HIV/AIDS preven
tion funding, but advocates are
now marching for his support for
House Bill 411, which would autho
rize three community-based clean
syringe exdSSagg'programs, march
coordinator Alfssa Fine said.
The bill IS* Sponsored by Rep.
Thomas Wright, D-New Hanover,
who will speak at the march along
with Rep. Jean Farmer-Butterfield,
D-Wilson.
A major part of the event is to
educate the public about dirty
needles as a cause of the HIV infec
tion.
“People aren’t really aware of
it,” Fine said. “When they think of
prevention, they think of condoms;
they think of sex. Needles don’t
really come to mind.”
According to 2004 N.C. statis
tics from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, about
11,000 people are living with HIV
and more than 7,000 have AIDS
within the state..
About 25 percent of newly
reported AIDS cases are due to
dirty needles, Fine said.
Under N.C. law, the purchase
of nonprescription needles is pro
hibited, making syringe-exchange
programs illegal, too, Duncan
said.
SEE AIDS, PAGE 4
ATTEND THE MARCH
Time: 11 a.m.
Date: Today
Location: Bicentennial Mall, Raleigh
Info: www.ncaidsmarch.org
once the business shut down.
“I’m going to take a little time off.
I just want a little break,” he said.
The future of the old Riggsbee-
Hinson building is just as
uncertain.
Kim Griffin Jr. of Griffin
SEE BUSINESS, PAGE 4
3