VOLUME 114, ISSUE 31
HAIL TO THE CHIEF
Political, academic dignitaries flood inauguration for 16th president
BY ERIC JOHNSON
SENIOR WRITER
GREENSBORO When he took
office as UNC-system president in
January, Erskine Bowles told members
of the university’s governing board that
he’d prefer a small inaugural ceremony,
if there had to be one at all.
So far, that’s the only presidential
request board members have declined
to follow.
A high-profile guest list of congress
men, state lawmakers, university offi
cials and academic notables gathered
Wednesday on the UNC-Greensboro
campus for Bowles’ formal swearing-in as
the 16th president of the UNC system.
It was an opportunity for chancellors,
trustees and Board of Governors’ mem
bers from across the state to cut loose a
little, and most were clearly reveling in a
moment of university history. More than
a few danced their way into place as the
N.C. Agricultural and Technical State
University marching band warmed up at
the head of the procession.
By the time Bowles stepped to the
podium, any reservations about the pag
eantry of the occasion were gone.
“As my Mama, who is sitting right
down there in the front row, knows, I
am about to burst about to burst with
joy to stand before you in my hometown,
surrounded by my family and my friends
from across our state and nation as the
leader of our university.”
A former investment banker and chief
SEE BOWLES, PAGE 4
PRESIDENT ALL BUSINESS
BY ERIC JOHNSON
SENIOR WRITER
GREENSBORO lt was a message
that easily could have been meant for a
corporate boardroom, delivered by a CEO
with an eye toward future performance.
“Our people are no longer competing for
jobs and work with just the citizens of South
Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia,” said
Erskine Bowles in his inaugural address
Wednesday as UNC-system president
“In today’s knowledge-based global
economy, we’re competing head-to-head
with China, India and dozens of other coun
tries that are making tremendous strategic
investments in education and research.”
Mideastern journalists
offer a fresh perspective
BY SAMUEL LAU
STAFF WRITER
While the tens of thousands of U.S.
troops sent overseas during the war in
Iraq axe at the forefront of the public con
science, it is often overlooked that they are
followed closely by American journalists.
Since last Wednesday, UNC has been
turning the tables, playing host to about
20 Arab-speaking journalists through
the inaugural Edward R. Murrow
Program for Journalists.
The program, sponsored by the U.S,
JBk I J
OTH/JULIA BARKER
Fatima Dashti (right) and Heba El-Koudsy discuss their experiences working as
journalists in the Middle East during a weeklong visit to the University last week.
announcement
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site over the weekend for fresh
content and breaking news.
Serving the students and the University community since 1893
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DTH PHOTOS/SARA LEWKOWICZ
Erskine Bowles is sworn in as the 16th president of the UNC system at a ceremony on the UNC-Greensboro campus Wednesday.
Bowles repeatedly has called the system presidency his dream job. He has had a busy first four months in office, starting Jan. 1.
And it’s a competition that North
Carolina could well lose, Bowles told
an auditorium full of state officials and
University administrators.
From his first days in office beginning
Jan. 1, Bowles has sought to define the
university system as the state’s strongest
answer to economic challenges. His pri
orities are laid out as a kind of blueprint
for concentrating the 16-campus system'
on many of its core functions.
Or, as Board of Governors member
Hannah Gage calls it, “a focus on the
non-sexy stuff that’s so fundamental.”
SEE GOALS, PAGE 4
Department of State, was created to
offer journalists from around the world
the chance to observe journalistic prac
tices within the United States. Six other
universities are participating.
Heba El-Koudsy, one of the visiting
reporters who has more than 10 years of
experience as a journalist in Egypt, said
that in contrast to the American jour
nalists in Iraq, the dangers she faces are
not those of the world but from the chal-
SEE JOURNALISTS, PAGE 4
online | dailytarheel.com
WON'T SIT DOWN One student files
lawsuit over improperly graded SAT exam
EXTENDED RELIEF Service groups
discuss Spring Break trips to Gulf Coast
ARTS BLOG Information and reviews
about local entertainment acts to see
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Traditions cause dating obstacles
BY DESIREE SHOE
STAFF WRITER
With the advent of spring, love is in
the air.
Amid a bower of colorful flowers and an
enthusiastic wedding party, a Buddhist Sri
Lankan bride and a Hindu South Indian
groom tied the knot in Sangam’s annual
mock wedding Wednesday in the Pit.
Part of South Asian Awareness Week,
the wedding featured traditions from
both religions, including exchanges
of flower garlands and fruit, as well as
Buddhist and Hindu chants.
In reality getting to the marrying stage
is more of a challenge.
The act of finding and courting that
special someone varies from person to
person, especially among college students
who follow certain religious traditions that
guide interactions between couples.
Supriya Khazanie, a University junior,
says that while Hindu traditions about
dating vary from family to family, certain
aspects remain consistent.
“The thing with Hinduism is that
there’re different stages in life,” she says.
“When you’re a student, that should be a
time to study, and there’s a huge emphasis
on education. Later on, when you’re able
to be at a maturity point to balance school
and dating, then you can start dating.”
Khazanie says her parents gave her the
option of dating as soon as'she went to
college.
“Before, many people didn’t believe in
dating at all it was just arranged mar
riages and that was it,” she says.
Goals of Bowles
1, Improve primary education,
especially math and science, through
a greater number of quality educators.
2. Facilitate collaboration between
UNC-system schools and the state’s
community colleges.
}. Give every child the ability to
attend college by keeping tuition
low and increasing financial aid.
4. Decrease the dropout rates
at UNC-system schools with
mentoring for students.
5. Continue the commitment to
public service and research by
attracting and retaining faculty.
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DTH/RICKY LEUNG
Petals rain on seniors Vignesh Rajan (left) and Jigna Patel (right) as their hands are joined
by juniors Archana Ramesh and Kunal Shah at a mock wedding Wednesday in the Pit.
Khazanie says that when Hindus date,
they tend to date people with whom there
is a possibility of future commitment.
As with most traditional religions, sex
before marriage is strictly forbidden.
And while kissing and hand-holding
are common between many Western
couples, Hindu couples often keep their
displays of affection behind closed doors.
Khazanie adds that family plays an
integral part in Hindu relationships.
“A huge thing with Hindu marriages is
dive I page 5-8
BODIES HIT THE FLOOR
The Triangle concert scene
sees a rise in violence at
shows. Participants stress that
it's all in good fun and adds
to the hardcore atmosphere.
THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 2006
Faculty
council
hopefuls
emerge
Two to fight for
top faculty post
BY NATE HUBBARD
STAFF WRITER
The high-energy tenure of faculty
chairwoman Judith Wegner is coming
to an end June 30, and two candidates
already have emerged as her potential
successor.
The new chairman will represent the
almost 3,000 facul
ty of the University
and balance issues
ranging from grad
uate student educa
tion to faculty sala
ries and retention.
Steve Bachen
heimer, a microbi
ology and immu
nology professor,
and Joe Templeton,
a chemistry profes
sor, are vying for
the post.
Ballots were sent
to faculty through
e-mail Wednesday
and are due back
in a week, said Joe
Ferrell, secretary of
the faculty.
Elections will
close at 5 p.m. April
19, and results will
be available April
20, he said.
Sue Estroff, who preceded Wegner
as faculty chairwoman, said it will be a
tough task to replace the law professor.
“She has set the bar high,” Estroff
said.
Provost Robert Shelton said no one
expects the new chairman to work in
the same way as Wegner.
“The new chair doesn’t have to be
Judith,” he said. “The new person
coming in is going to have to define
himself.”
SEE COUNCIL, PAGE 4
that it’s not just a marriage between two
people it’s a marriage between two fami
lies,” she says.
“That’s one thing that hasn’t changed.”
For Carmen Anthony, a junior at Brigham
Young University, dating is guided by the
special doctrines of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“Ryan and I met at a youth conference
for our church when I was 16,” she says.
SEE DATING, PAGE 4
today in history
APRIL 13,1977 ...
A fall semester course on
Islamic culture will be one
of the first to combine
classes from Duke University
and UNC.
Microbiology
professor Steve
Bachenheimer
* .
Chemistry
professor
Joe Templeton
weather
Hr AM Showers
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police log 2
calendar 2
crossword 9
sports 13
edit 14