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The Daily Tar Heel
VOLUME 116, ISSUE 143
www.dailytarheel.com
Student elections
Setting the course for the
ENVIRONMENT
By Eliza kern
dive | page 5 IMAGES OF INDUSTRY An exhibit at the Ackland Art Museum focuses on the art of industry, showing coal, iron and steam since 1750 in a merger of history and art.
forum of record ATTEND THE DTH FORUM We’re hosting a public forum for students to ask student body president candidates questions. 7 p.m. today Union multipurpose room Can’t attend? Too shy to speak? Submit questions in advance at DailyTarHeel.com/sbpforum.
thursday, february 5, 2009
Staff Writer
It’s not up to the student body president to ensure that the dining halls have organic food. Nor is it his or her job to create renewable energy projects on campus. When it comes to environmental issues, the president serves not as a policy setter, but as a key promoter of ongoing initiatives. With more than 18 passionate and knowledgeable environmental groups on campus, the president’s job is to facilitate and advocate for others’ projects, not to initiate new programs. Though the next president won’t be counted on to come up with new ideas, his or her support is vital for an idea’s success. “The SBP doesn’t need to be totally hands-on,” said environmental affairs committee co-chairman Bill Bobbitt, who also works for Thomas Edwards’ campaign. “The environmental affairs committee is the expert, and if the SBP feels like they know what’s best for the community, they should just give them full steam ahead.” Director of Sustainability Cindy Shea said that she has talked with many of the candidates about their platforms and that she welcomes their help in promoting a green lifestyle. “It’s always a process of getting better,” she said. “If student govern-
The issues
This week, The Daily Tar Heel is examining the top issues facing the next student body president. Friday: budget concerns
Carbon neutrality and alternative energy The University’s commitment to carbon-neutrality by 2050 will require more sustainable energy alternatives. The student body president can advocate for institutional changes and encourage students to adopt sustainable practices. Implementing building and energy guidelines fall to facilities services and the office of sustainability.
From the candidates
The candidates have several platform points addressing the environment. Here are some of their proposals:
Michael Betts
Push Carolina on a track to being a paperless campus. Work with committees to increase campus energy efficiency. Create a green events guide to publish the activities of student groups.
Campus dining Several campus groups want to increase sustainable food options in campus dining locations. There is also a large push for reusable containers to replace Styrofoam. The president can meet with administrators and student groups to encourage change in dining options and practices. He or she can also encourage students to use these new options.
Ron Bilbao Work with the Environmental Affairs committee to get funding or grants for more recycling bins around campus. Hold environmental training to teach students and groups good practices. Create a sustainability outreach officer to coordinate efforts between parties.
Recycling and waste management Campus groups have pushed for recycling programs in Granville Towers and Greek houses. Past presidents worked with administrators to reform the printing system to reduce paper. Many of this year’s candidates want to reduce paper by using alternatives to blue books and Scantron sheets — which would require faculty and departmental consent.
Thomas Edwards Clarify and discuss the mission statements of all environmental groups to avoid overlap and increase efficiency. Decrease the amount of bottled water sold on campus. Create a bicycle-sharing program.
Water conservation
Jasmin Jones
Last year’s drought brought to light the issue of water use on campus, and many of this year’s candidates are pushing for water usage changes, including installing shower heads and toilets that use less of water. The ultimate decision to install these measures rests with facilities services and the housing department.
Create incentives for students living offcampus to use mass transit instead driving to minimize gasoline emissions. Work with Chapel Hill businesses to encourage more environmentally friendly practices such as less packaging.
See environment, Page 9
Ashley Klein Ensure that products bearing the UNC logo are all produced by eco-friendly manufacturers. Increase the proportion of food Carolina Dining Services purchases from local and organic farmers.
sports | page 3 SIGNS POINT UP UNC signed three out of Rivals.com’s top four in-state football prospects and 12 of the top 35.
Matt Wohlford Evaluate campus sprinkler systems to more efficiently use water. Create a program where students can buy Green Stickers to put on reusable containers to use them as alternatives to dining hall disposable boxes and cups.
university | page 3 MICROFINANCE GURU Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus’s speech today is expected to draw more crowds than the auditorium will hold, prompting the speech to be broadcast at other locations.
online | dailytarheel.com ELECTIONS GUIDE Student body president candidates list their top three campaign priorities, as well as speak via video about tuition, academics and safety.
this day in history FEB. 5, 1966 … Students petition against Communist lecturer Herbert Aptheker, who was invited to speak by student government and The Daily Tar Heel.
Today’s weather Sunny H 37, L 20
Friday’s weather Sunny H 54, L 31
index police log ...................... 2 calendar ........................ 2 sports ............................ 3 nation/world .................9 crossword ................... 11 opinion ....................... 12
Cuts would threaten classes, jobs by Andrew Dunn University Editor
The University has put together scenarios for what it would have to do if the state mandates permanent budget cuts — and the results would touch every aspect of life at UNC. In November, the UNC system was forced to undergo a one-time 5 percent budget cut and has since been instructed to reduce budgets by an additional 1 percent. Administrators fear that significant budget cuts could be made permanent, and the possibility has caused a stir within the Faculty Council and Employee Forum. The University was asked last
3
DTH ONLINE: Read the full report to the Board of Governors detailing budget cut scenarios. month to project what would happen if cuts were extended. Documents sent Tuesday to the UNC-system Board of Governors give the most specifics of how these cuts would affect life at UNC. Even at the lowest possible level, administrators say the needed cuts would severely hurt the University academically and significantly impair research. Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
percent
Cancel 212 courses in the College of Arts and Sciences and journalism school. Cancel 517 class sections; 236 undergraduate and 281 graduate. Cancel 41 faculty searches. Cut 39 non-faculty jobs. Release hundreds of temporary faculty and staff positions. Reduce ability to serve 603 students at existing class sizes.
5
percent
7
percent
Cancel 282 courses.
Cancel 442 courses.
Cancel 717 class sections.
Cut 232 faculty positions.
Cut 121 faculty positions.
Cut 178 non-faculty jobs.
Cut 86 non-faculty jobs. The number of undergraduate classes with more than 100 students would reach an all-time high. UNC would have to mandate a five-day furlough for nearly all employees.
Reduce the University’s enrollment by 3,426 students, or the equivalent population of a first-year class. Three department chairman positions would not be filled. The school’s accreditation status would be jeopardized.
Y elections now gender-blind Candidates’ plans for Student elections
By Dean Drescher Staff writer
The Campus Y has abolished a decades-old amendment to its constitution that had required one male and one female to serve as co-presidents. The decision, made last month at an executive cabinet meeting, allows this year’s co-presidents to be of the same gender. “Originally the rule was put in to make it more fair for women, who were a minority at the school, but times have changed,” said Jeff Chen, Campus Y co-president. “Holding with the Y’s stance on diversity, the majority of the cabinet felt that the rule was counterproductive to the mission the Campus Y was founded on.” The tradition dates back to 1963, when the YMCA and YWCA on campus were combined. Today, the Campus Y is the largest service organization at UNC. Three candidates are vying for this years co-presidency positions: two females and one male. Jimmy Waters, current Campus Y minister of information, is the
sole male candidate. Waters indicated no stance regarding the amendment abolition. “I think that there are both advantages and disadvantages that will be shown in future years,” Waters said. “Whether it was the right decision will be determined by time and future elections.” The two female candidates, Maryam Farooq and Chelsea Journigan, said that a candidate’s gender should be irrelevant. “I don’t think gender should be the deciding factor in a leader,” Farooq said. Elizabeth McCain and Austin Hairfield, candidates for the minister of information position, said they believed the Campus Y was moving in the right direction by repealing the amendment. “It makes it a more competitive election process and only the most qualified candidates, regardless of gender, will be elected,” Hairfield said. McCain, a member of the executive committee that made the decision to abolish the amendment,
Candidates for Campus Y offices
Co-Presidents (2 spots) Jimmy Waters Maryam Farooq Chelsea Journigan
Minister of Information Austin Hairfield Elizabeth McCain
Internal Treasurer Allison Howard
External Treasurer Empty
said she thought, if necessary, the decision could be reversed. “We believe it is a step towards equal opportunity, and we’re always up for amending it should it prove to be ineffective,” McCain said. At a forum held Wednesday night — which about 25 students attended — candidates for the copresident, minister of information, and internal treasurer positions
See campus y, Page 9
ASG involvement vary By Olivia Bowler Senior Writer
The next student body president candidate will have to decide how best to represent UNC-Chapel Hill in a statewide student leader association. Few of the candidates, however, have specifically outlined their plans for the UNCsystem Association of Student Governments in their platforms, and only one has ever attended a meeting. The ASG, an organization of student leaders from across the system, has the power to lobby the state legislature on behalf of the students and takes $1 in fees from each student in the system to fund its projects. In addition, the ASG president represents the only student voice on the UNC-system Board of Governors, which weighs in on tuition issues annually. Despite the ASG’s ability to
“A lot of times they don’t really get a lot of familiarity with ASG until they are elected.” JEFF NIEMAN, FORMER ASG PRESIDENT advocate for the students at the state level, the organization’s history of inefficiency and infighting has left some candidates uncertain about its effectiveness. “I would work with ASG and attend meetings as long as I felt like it was directly beneficial to the Chapel Hill student body,” candidate Thomas Edwards said. Current Student Body President J.J. Raynor’s decision to send a permanent delegate in her place ruffled some feathers in the ASG, and the
See ASG, Page 9