OLD GOLD&BLACK W A K E
F O R E S T
U N I V E R S I T Y
T H U R S D AY, O C TO B E R 1 1 , 2 0 0 7
VOL. 91, NO. 8
“Covers the campus like the magnolias”
University hosts immigration debate Conference discusses pertinent national issue from all angles By Wasif Huda | Contributing writer The university hosted “Immigration: Recasting the Debate,” Oct. 3-5, a conference on a topic that speaks to the heart of American history and plays a pivotal role to the nation’s prosperity and development. The conference went beyond just presenting the Republican and Democratic perspectives; it handled the issues as they affect the nation on a full-scale, rather than approaching it as a polarized issue. “I am thankful that the conference hasn’t only considered two camps of opinions,” senior Amber Egbert said.“I think that they have talked about all the issues rather then a political agenda.” The university accomplished its goal of creating a crossroads for important dialogues that explore the complexities of immigration. This gathering provided students with a learning experience that cannot just be gained from the internet or books. “We want students to educate
Show-band Right On and jazz musician Lynne Goodwin to perform at President’s Ball By Liza Greenspun | News editor
Sophie Mullinax/Old Gold & Black
A panel discusses immigration in Brendle Recital Hall during the university-sponsored immigration debate. The debate aimed to create opportunity for dialogue that explored the issue. themselves,” said Sandra Boyette, special assistant to the president. “We can’t do it for them, but we provide the opportunities.” The opening keynote address, which took place at 7 p.m. Oct. 3 in Wait Chapel, came from a Democratic perspective. Ray Marshall, U.S. Secretary of Labor, said, “National unity
depends on foreign assimilation.” The Latino population is becoming important politically. Therefore, they must be addressed as an intricate part of society, he said. “America, in order to grow and to maintain its high standards, must immigrate,” Marshall said. “Therefore, immigration in this country must contribute
to the American workers with skills that increase productivity.” The closing keynote address, which took place at 4 p.m. Oct. 5 in Brendle Recital Hall, presented a Republican perspective. Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida spoke about the See Immigration, page A3
Moratorium on new student groups ignites debate By Molly Nevola | Staff writer
The University Committee on Student Life instated a moratorium on all new student groups and organizations during the summer, intended to last all of this fall semester, but the Student Government Appropriations and Charter committee is trying to end it now rather than later. This moratorium on student groups, which does not include Greek organizations, originated in the University Committee on Student Life when a significant increase in the numbers of student groups put a strain on Student Budget Advisory Committee funding. The SBAC provides funding to subsidize the expenses of about 160 campus groups with funding that does not increase from year to year. According to Treasurer Sarah Walker, the budget for the 2006-’07 academic year was $565,284.80. Since the budget does not increase, there is less funding available for each group as more groups apply. As a result, Walker conducted a study last year and presented it to the university’s Chief Financial Officer Nancy Suttenfield, who granted an extra $25,000 for the 2007-’08 year. “This amount, however,” Walker said, “is not enough to cover the annual growth in both the number of student groups requesting funding and the continual annual increase in the amount requested from stu-
dent groups.” Davis said that with this new process, the comSBAC co-chairs senior Bryan Keith and sopho- mittee is encouraging similar groups to combine. more Jermyn Davis worked over the summer to Currently, there are several clubs waiting in the create new guidelines for the moratorium to be wings to be chartered, including the Investment lifted as soon as possible. Club, Book Club, Information Student Systems In creating its new set of guidelines, the commit- Group and Club Squash. tee is looking to make the rules more stringent in Appropriations and Charter is currently terms of the chartering process made up of 11 students and itself. two co-chairs, including four “More than anything, what members who are also on the “We are working to make the we’re doing is codifying exactly SBAC, two Greek members whole process less fluid than and several new freshmen. what we are looking for,” Keith said. The committeee also is it has been in past times.” “We are working to make the pushing to end the moratoBryan Keith whole process less fluid than it rium by making the process Co-chair of the Appropriations has been in past times.” more stringent and efficient. and Charter Committee The process through which “We hate making this stricter groups are approved starts in and making our groups jump the Appropriations and Charthrough hoops, but until the ter committee and then goes through both the SG resources are made available, the stringent guidelegislature and the Office of Student Life before it lines are the best thing we’ve got,” Keith said. is presented to the Faculty Senate. This year, Walker and SBAC will present The ease in chartering and consequent redun- another request for an increase in funding to dancy in groups put a strain on the resources avail- the CFO during the budgeting season, which able to other groups who necessitate their normal begins in February. funding. However, Walker emphasizes that the univer“We owe it to these older groups who are doing sity does have a limited amount of money and unique things on campus to give them what they that all requests for increases will be looked at need to do their jobs,” Keith said. in perspective.
Faculty members raise awareness of biodiesel fuels By Jacob Bathanti | Staff writer
Three years ago, four men discovered they shared a common interest in renewable fuel sources. At the time, the current explosion of interest in renewable fuel sources was just beginning to pick up, and awareness at the university was fairly low. Nonetheless, WFU Biofuels, composed of associate professor of biology Miles Silman, professor of biology Dave Anderson, instrumentation manager of the chemistry department Marcus Wright, and technology specialist of the education department Robert Vidrine, pressed on with its plans to create and use biodiesel, raising consciousness of the technology along the way. As the name suggests, biodiesel is a diesel-type fuel, produced from plant oils, which can be used in diesel engines. The group, with substantial student help, set up a biodiesel refinery in King, N.C., and began to collect
INSIDE:
Renowned bands to play at ball
Sophiie Mullinax/Old Gold & Black
Facilities management workers fill up tanks with the biodiesel fuel to be used in diesel engines on campus. vegetable oil from the Dixie Classic Fair to be refined into biodiesel. Things have changed significantly since the cadre’s inception. On Oct. 2, the university received its first shipment of biodiesel from
King. With that shipment, the group achieved one of its primary goals: convincing the university to use the biodiesel it produces. While this had been under discussion for a couple years, it had gone nowhere.
Life | B7 A weekend in Charlotte
Brieflies
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Police Beat
A2
Spotlight
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A Queen City native gives a guided tour of the city’s top restaurants, bars and attractions.
The Hot List
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In Other News
Sudoku
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• New classes help prepare for studies abroad | A2 • Sports gambling goes under the microscope | B1
The much anticipated President’s Ball, to be held from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Oct. 13 at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, will feature live bands, hors’ doeuvres and cash bars, along with elegant decorations that fall under the 1920s “Great Gatsby” theme. The featured bands will be Right On, a show-band, and jazz musician Lynne Goodwin. After the success of the Inaugural Ball, held as the crowning event of the Inauguration week for the university’s 13th president, Nathan O. Hatch in 2005, many thought that every student should have the opportunity to attend a President’s Ball at least once during their time at the university. “This truly is one of the rare opportunities for everyone associated with Wake Forest to come together,” senior Stevenson Farnsworth said, adding that his favorite memory from the Inaugural Ball was a student and an ARAMARK employee holding hands and running down the red carpet together as the first two to arrive at the Ball. The main band, Right On, is a 10-piece show band that will play on the lower level of the convention center and specializes in covers of oldies songs, said Kathy Arnett, associate director of the Benson University Center. Right On performed in 1998 for former President Bill Clinton, and played at the inauguration for President George W. Bush in 2005 and is starting to gain international recognition. “They’re very excited about coming,” Arnett said of Right On, “because this is something different for them.” According to senior Will Daniel, there will be a huge dance floor on the lower level to accommodate those who want to dance to the music. There will also be a garden, featuring a seven-foot fountain, where those in attendance can sit on See Ball, Page A4
Award attracts lower-income students By Jae Haley | Managing editor
The arrival of Jim Alty, the new assistant vice president for Facilities Management who came from UNC-Chapel Hill, provided the catalyst to kick-start the biodiesel program. Alty had personally seen biodiesel used at UNC-Chapel Hill and at the University of Texas at Austin, and he authorized its introduction into use in the university’s diesel fleet – some two dozen vehicles ranging from tractors and a trash vacuum to a dump truck. The only diesel vehicles that cannot use the biodiesel mix are two on-road vehicles, which require a finer grade of fuel than that used by the rest of the fleet. “Overall, this is a great example of a win-win for the entire university community,” Alty said. He noted that the project allows for considerable cooperation between the academic side of the university and the support staff, a
When deciding where to apply to college, sophomore Thomas Kozak knew he could only see himself at Wake Forest. But, with Kozak’s family already financing his brother’s education at Notre Dame, and tuition money in short supply, affording Wake’s hefty $46,000 cost was an obstacle for Kozak. “Money is a large problem for my family,” Kozak said. He described his lineage as “poor Irish and Italians all the way back.” The conflict between attending one’s dream school and lacking the money to pay the tuition is a problem for many families whose children want to attend those top-tier, “elite” and usually private institutions. Fortunately for Kozak and others like him, the university offers just the scholarship to remedy such a predicament. Last year, Kozak and 18 other students were announced as the 2006-’07 recipients of the Heritage Scholarship. Established in 2001 by an anonymous donation of $4 million, the scholarship covers up to 75 percent of a student’s expenses, depending on his or her demonstrated financial need. Fifty-three students have since received the scholarship, 21 of which are currently enrolled. The award, the only anonymously donated scholarship offered by the university, is so named because the donor stipulated that the money be used to attract students who most resemble the
See Biodiesel, Page A3
See Heritage, Page A3
Sports | B1 Going Strong
Opinion | A6 Stuck in Gear
The football team fires up for a rematch with the Florida State Seminoles who are looking to avenge last year’s 30-0 shutout in Tallahasee.
Merski weighs in on how the new shuttle service to home football games could be improved to accomodate more fans.