Technician
wednesday april
21 2010
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
Budget proposal slashes education funding Reduction in teaching staff expected from Perdue’s budget cuts Staff report Governor Bev Perdue released her budget proposal for the 2010-11 fiscal year Tuesday which calls for a nearly $1 billion cut in government spending and for a reallocation of nearly $250 million to government reform and economic recovery. As reported by WRAL, the cuts are an effort to bridge a projected $788 million deficit expected for the fiscal year, which starts in July. According to a press release from the Office of Bev Perdue, the reductions include a cut in education spending limited to four percent, which is expected to eliminate 600 positions. As reported by Greensboro’s News & Record, UNC President Erskine Bowles said any proposed budget cuts to the University system would cut at its “academic core.” In December, state agencies including the University system were asked to draw up plans to prepare for worst possible scenario with the budget cuts, which were expected to range between three and seven percent. While the four percent budget cut is lower than the expected worst case scenario, Bowles was reported by WRAL to have said the across-the-board education cuts in Perdue’s
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UNC President Erskine Bowles said he was against budget cuts to the University system, as reported by Greensboro’s News & Record. Bowles said the reductions wil do permanent damange to the university’s academics and have a substantial impact on the level of educationNorth Carolinans will recieve.
proposal go too far. “The budget reductions reluctantly recommended by the governor will do permanent and substantial damage to the University’s
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UNC to host first Chick-fil-A Challenge Carolina interfraternity council to host charity race modeled after Krispy Kreme Challenge Jessica Highsmith Correspondent
The UNC interfraternity council (IFC) will host the IFC Chick-fil-A Challenge Saturday, April 24 to benefit the North Carolina Children’s Hospital. According to Wes Saunders, vice president of IFC, the event will feature a four-mile race beginning at the Chi Omega Sorority house off of Franklin St. Participants will consume a dozen Chick-fil-A nuggets before completing the race. “The interfraternity council was actually approached by the Chick-fil-A at University Mall to host this event and modeled after the triumph of N.C. State’s Krispy Kreme Challenge,” Saunders said. Blake Zanardi, IFC public relations chair, said although the events are very similar the challenge was not created to be a replication. “After the IFC was contacted by Chick-fil-A with the possibility to host the event, we decided it would be a great philanthropy event for the spring,” Zanardi said. According to Tucker Piner, IFC president, the IFC took note of the success of the N.C. State Krispy Kreme Challenge but wanted to put their own twist on things. Piner said he wanted to strive to show the philanthropic side of fraternities and promote an event that would really benefit the community and get everyone involved at the same time. “We were excited that UNC’s publication of The Daily Tarheel offered to do coverage on this ground-breaking event for UNC students,” Piner said. “We’re just trying to get the word out and get everyone involved—from students and faculty to alumni.” Zanardi said UNC students are excited about this unique opportunity
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academic core and will start us on a path to mediocrity, something North Carolinians have never been willing to settle for in their institutions of higher learning,” Bowles said.
As reported by WRAL, much of the money will be reallocated to improving primary education, including the purchase of learning devices for K-12 programs. There are also concessions made to fully fund enrollment growth in UNC system as well as community colleges. Funds are being allocated to provide more need-based financial aid in higher education. According to the press release, Perdue’s budget proposal also allocates funds to improving North Carolina’s economic climate, setting the government straight, and improving safety in the community. The proposal allocates more than $15 to the JobsNOW program, which offers incentives for small businesses to hire long-term unemployed workers and provide their employees with health insurance. Perdue’s initiative to “set the government straight” increases funding to the State Ethics Commission and provides $4 million to the Department of Revenue to target corporations with outstanding tax liabilities, estimated to increase tax revenue by $110 million. The proposal allocates $10 million to consolidate the state criminal records system into a streamlined process and increases funding to establish a statewide capacity for law enforcement to collect DNA at the time of arrests.
“Run 4 Charity. Eat Chicken 4 Us” Registration: • Visit Chickfilachallenge.com or sign up the morning of the race, beginning at 7 a.m. • $15 to register • Event begins at 8 a.m., Franklin St.
and are anticipating a good turnout this Saturday. “Right now we have over 100 registered, are expecting about 200 from the Greek community to register, and will be expecting many last minute runners to sign up Saturday morning when registration opens at 7 a.m.,” Zanardi said. Saunders said the challenge will send all proceeds to the N.C. Children’s Hospital and even give students an opportunity to benefit. “The first girl and boy to return to the Chi Omega house will receive a year supply of Chick-fil-A, and the first team to return will enjoy a free meal,” Saunders said. The cost of the event will be covered by the participants registration fee, according to the event’s website. “Everyone in the community is invited to participate, and we even encourage people at N.C. State to come out and see what it’s all about since they have more experience with this kind of race,” Zanardi said. Saunders said he hopes this will become a staple event for the UNC Chapel Hill community, just as the Krispy Kreme Challenge has become an annual charity event at NCSU. “Without sounding cliché, this is going to be a great cause for a lot of people that haven’t done the Krispy Kreme Challenge,” Zanardi said. “It provides a similar experience closer to home.” Piner said this is an overall beneficial event. “Running is healthy, Chick-fil-A nuggets are delicious, and helping benefit the N.C. Children’s Hospital is awesome,” Piner said. “It’s a winwin situation for everyone involved.”
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Sam Kim, a senior in communication, teaches students his choreography in a workshop Monday night. Fusion dance team hosts open community events during the spring semester and invites all interested students. “A lot of people want to learn and this is a way to give back,” Kim said. Kim has been a member of Fusion for four years. “I like the fact that I can express myself through dance.”
Students of AMF raise grief awareness Students talk about importance and impact of coping with illness or death Staci Thornton Correspondent
This week is National College Student Grief Awareness Week on campus and the Students of Ailing Mothers and Fathers (AMF) Support Group is spreading the word. The theme for the 2010 Grief Awareness Week is together we cope with grief. The president N.C. State’s Students of AMF chapter, Tiffany Stringfield, said, “often, grief is perceived as a solitary activity. However, during this week, we want to encourage those who are grieving, those who know someone who is grieving and those who want to raise awareness about this very prevalent issue, to connect through positive action.” Stringfield, a junior in biochemistry, has taken a personal interest in the organization to see that it grows and develops. “My mother died when I was 16. Students of AMF has become my niche because I can help my fellow peers through my experiences,” String-
field said. Students of AMF was started in 2004 at Georgetown University by David Fajgenbaum whose mother, Anne Marie, died of brain cancer during his first year in college. “While my mom wanted me by her side during her battle, she knew that I could give her strength by going to school and making her proud,” Fajgenbaum said on the National Students of AMF Web site. He wanted to give students who were dealing with death and illness a support group so that no one would feel like they had to deal with their grief alone. What started out as 10 people supporting one another quickly grew into 400 members at Georgetown alone. Soon, Students of AMF was receiving inquiries from other colleges and universities across the nation on how they could start their own program. David and his friend, Ben Chesson, created the national organization in April 2006. There are currently 66 schools participating in the program, 10 of which are located in North Carolina. N.C. State’s chapter, which started this past fall, held its first service event March 5 — five students created and brought baskets to the Hospice of
Wake County. The baskets were filled with the comforts of home — blankets, candles, books, etc. — and given to patient families. Almost 30 percent of college students have lost a family member or close friend during the past year; 35 to 48 percent of undergraduate students have lost a family member or close friend within the last 2 years. While it has been found that counseling helps students stay in school, only about 10 percent of students seek counseling as a way to deal with death- and illnessrelated grief. Devon Mitchell, a junior in business administration, and secretary of the organization, said, “Students of AMF has given me the opportunity to give back to others as well as converse with the campus community who are dealing with grief.” Each day this week, members of the organization have been encouraged to share their own personal experiences, show their support for those who are grieving, honor those whose loss we feel every day, connect with someone who is grieving and serve others. In order to serve others, the Students of AMF will be participating in the Walk For Lupus Now Event, Sunday at North Hills Mall.