Technician
friday september
23 2011
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
GLBT students, administrators plan for action Students act in response to a North Carolina constitutional amendment preventing gay marriage. William Brooks Correspondent
Megan Farrell/Technician
Hundreds of protestors gathered outside of the General Assembly Legislative Building on Halifax Mall on Tuesday, Sept. 13 to participate in an organized rally against North Carolina’s “Anti-LGBT Amendment.” The North Carolina Senate approved Senate Bill 514, 30-16 Tuesday afternoon, putting the proposed amendment into the hands of voters for the May 2012 primary elections.
As a response to the upcoming amendment against gay marriage in North Carolina, the GLBT center is teaming up with several N.C. State and Raleigh organizations. The director of the on campus GLBT Center, Justine Hollingshead, explained that the organization is still in the planning stages of official means to combat the amendment. However, her thoughts gave some insight on the amendment and what the GLBT Center will be doing to commemorate GLBT History Month in October. “We have been in discussions with allies like the Women’s Center, the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity, Student Government and Union Activities Board,” Hollingshead said. The news is still fairly recent, so Hollingshead did not cite any specific GLBT events planned so far. Hollingshead explained that the GLBT Center plans on spreading the word around campus through student
organizations, focusing on teaching students why the amendment could be potentially harmful. “We know we’re going to have to educate folks on the amendment and what that means, why it’s discriminatory, why we don’t support that,” Hollingshead said. The Republican-led legislature — in both the House and Senate — approved the bill. Aaron Dancy, chairman of N.C. State’s College Republicans, explained that his organization would not be doing anything to support the amendments passage. “I would tell my members at the meeting that [your opinion on the amendment] is up to you,” Dancy said. “We’re leaving it up to the voters to decide.” Neither College Republicans nor the GLBT Center have harsh feelings toward one another. “We’re not about the business of politics,” Hollingshead said, explaining that the GLBT Center wants to make sure not to stray into politics. Dancy explained that although not all members in the College Republicans support the amendment, he
glbt continued page 3
Former chancellor given position despite public disgrace Oblinger takes on new position at University research facility. Sruthi Mohan Correspondent
Former University chief executive James Oblinger was hired as president of the Murdoch research facility on Sept. 13. Chancellor Oblinger resigned from his post at the University two years ago amidst much controversy regarding his hiring of the former first lady Mary Easley. Recently, however, he has been hired as the new president of David H. Murdock Research Institute on the recently organized North Carolina Research campus in Kannapolis, N.C. The facility is part of an interdisciplinary program that hires 100 percent research professors who work in the health and nutrition areas. All the professors bring their staff of graduate students and lab workers and they hope to have more contributions. Rod Gurganus, director of N.C. MarketReady, and one of Oblinger’s co-workers at Plants for Human Health, had only good things to say of his work ethic and personality. “[Oblinger] was a good friend and mentor. Everyone really enjoyed working with him and he had a lot of connections,” Gurganus said. Asked if he believed Oblinger’s past media scrutiny would have any impact on his future career with Murdock after he leaves his position with Plants for Human Health at the end of the month, Gurganus said “I don’t think
so, a person’s past is his past and we’re were to get a 1-2 percent pay increase all professionals doing our jobs and as suggested by former Governor Mike Easley. moving forward.” The Easleys believed it was a wellTara Vogelien, director for business and marketing at the research deserved salary hike due to the fact campus, described the 5-year old that Mary Easley was expected to take establishment as a “collaboration be- on many new responsibilities and tween six UNC academic institutions, therefore was essentially taking on a including NCSU, and various private new position. The former governor was persistent institutions -- such as Dole, Murdock, General Mills, among others. It was in defending his wife and believed sexestablished through a joint effort by ism and a lack of understanding on the UNC General [Administration] part of the other disgruntled faculty and the campus developers, and we members to be the reason his wife’s hope it will go on to be very success- new position and corresponding salary were being ful.” harassed to such Oblinger starta degree. ed working on Although c a mpu s more members of the than 25 years ago Board of Goverin various faculty nors requested and administraher resignation t ive posit ion s severa l times, until he became she stayed firm c h a nc e l lor i n in her position Oct. 2004. He was to continue with known for being a Rod Gurganus, director of N.C. he r f ive -ye a r hard worker and MarketReady contract with the being able to get University. things done, and, The controversy soon led to the therefore, the UNC Board of Governors unanimously voted him into the questioning of who had hired Easley into her position, and several eoffice of chancellor. Near the conclusion of his time as mails between the former governor, Chancellor he got caught up political Oblinger and the Provost at the time all seemed to point fingers toward the drama. Mary Easley, who had been hired provost and Oblinger. Oblinger also came under fire for into a full-time position at the time, was to be paid $170,000 a year, which translated into an 88 percent pay increase, while the other state employees oblinger continued page 3
“[Oblinger] was a good friend and mentor. Everyone really enjoyed working with him.”
brent kitchen/technician archive photo
Raleigh mayor Charles Meeker looks on as N.C. State Chancellor James Oblinger is asked questions by members of the media following the groundbreaking at the Hillsborough Street renovation project May 20, 2009.
Provost’s office expreriences structural office changes
insidetechnician
Less funding leads campus leader to consolidate. Caroline Gallagher Staff Writer
Hitting the runway See page 5.
Chain brings quick burritos to Hillsborough Street See page 6.
Sept 26 – 28 10AM - 7PM
Bearcats beat down State See page 8.
Provost Warwick Arden is directing a strategic reorganization plan to realign the Office of the Provost for maximum efficiency and effectiveness. Chancellor Woodson, who charged the Provost with implementing the realignment plan, has accepted and announced some recommended changes, which
consolidate programs and promote student success. The Board of Trustees will have the final say over which recommendations to implement. “You will see an effort to build on the similarities between units to create new opportunities for effectiveness and efficiency; a new approach to creating academic capacity; reductions in bureaucracy; and most of all a renewed dedication to student success,” Woodson said in a public mes-
provost continued page 3
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