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THE APPALACHIAN TheAppalachianOnline.com
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Vol. 87, No. 05
Academic freedom debate continues on campus by CHELSEY FISHER Senior News Reporter
by ANNE BUIE
Managing Editor
F
ollowing last year’s controversy about academic freedom at the university, Faculty Senate discussed academic freedom at their regularly scheduled meeting Monday. “I think many of us can agree that there has been a chill on this campus with regard to academic freedom and our faith in academic freedom especially in the classroom,” English professor Jill Ehnenn said. Last year, several faculty members voiced their complaints when tenured sociology professor Jammie Price was placed on administrative leave after students made seven allegations against Price, including engaging in “inappropriate speech and conduct” in the classroom. There has been a lot of fear, complaints and questions regarding academic freedom since last year, Enhenn said. “This is not an issue that just reflects the voices of five or six people,” Enhenn said.
Faculty members expressed their concerns, questions and suggestions to the Faculty Senate and Provost of Academic Affairs Lori Gonzalez. The administration will come up with answers regarding professors’ questions about academic freedom, Gonzalez said. Gonzalez said she is committed to academics and hopes to answer questions in a way that doesn’t “pit administration against faculty.” “I just ask that you offer the benefit of the doubt until you can prove that we are not supporting academic freedom,” Gonzalez said. “I have no doubt in the commitment to academic freedom by the administration,” said Jeff Holcomb, associate professor of government and justice studies, “But the way we protect academic freedom is to make sure the due process policy is properly laid out.” But not all professors were as optimistic as Holcomb following the meeting. Matthew Robinson, professor of government and justice studies, said none of
File Photos | The Appalachian
Matt Robinson (center) walks with sociology professor Jammie Price (left) across campus to Provost Lori Gonzalez’s (right) office on April 25, 2012 following the decision to place Price on administrative leave. Academic freedom was a main topic at Monday’s faculty senate meeting.
his questions were answered. “This was very frustrating and disappointing,” Robinson said. “But I have been
Boone’s housing market sales begin increasing by STEPHANIE SANSOUCY
ing up kids and families and buying goods which increases our Intern News Reporter economy,” White said. This year has been the best year Currently rent is high, but for Boone’s housing economy White said it has the potential to since 2007, said Marc White of lower next year from the increase Cash Realty & Construction and of approximately 1,000 beds for president of the Multiple Listing college students. Services. “That means we will have more Before the housing crash, 2007 places to rent, housing prices are was the last year of great activity, going to go down just a little bit White said. Sales and rent is going to are finally startgo down just a liting to go up and “That means we will tle bit,” White said. almost paralleling S h a n n o n have more places to Hawkins the number of sales of rent, housing prices Boone’s Advanced in 2007. This alone, are going to go down Realty Property White said, is a said the average just a little bit and good indication of rent of an apartrent is going to go the market’s “rement within walkturn to normalcy.” down just a little bit.” ing distance of ApOne of the reapalachian’s campus Marc White, Cash Realty & sons for the inis between $700 Construction crease of sales is and $800, while from buyers feelthe average rent for ing more confident an apartment that in the economy, he said. requires commuting to campus is “It’s starting to slowly get better between $700 and $650. and it’s going to be a slow growth However, she said she agrees over a number of years, but as that rent should go down next year, goes up we are going to continue specifically in apartments that reto see an increase in transactions,” quire commuting. White said. Matt Wilcox who works with White said the recent growth is Highland Woods Apartments also from the university hiring for said they are expecting rent to stay the first time in three years. the same because they are comThe new employees are “bring- pletely full this year.
told that my questions will be answered by the Provost and provided to the Faculty Senate. I eagerly await those
answers because these are questions that must be answered in order for faculty to be able to freely do their
jobs without fear of discipline or reprisal for discussing potentially controversial or upsetting issues in class.”
Physical Plant Director awarded by APPA by LINDSAY BOOKOUT Intern News Reporter
Mike O’Connor, director of the university’s physical plant, was awarded the President’s Award from the Association of Physical Plant Administrators. He was one of six individuals receiving the President’s Award, given to APPA members who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in facilities management and who have made outstanding contributions to the association. “It was such as shock when I got it,” O’Connor said. “I’m kind of undeserving.” The President’s Award is given to individual APPA members who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in facilities management and who have made outstanding contributions to the association, according to appa.org. O’Connor, who was born “a military brat” and then joined the navy, had moved 26 times when he moved to Boone at age 46. He started as a navy pilot and then spent 20 years serving as a civil engineer doing facilities management. At one point, he was the commanding officer at the presiden-
Maggie Cozens | The Appalachian
Director of the physical plant Mike O'Connor has recently won APPA President's Award for his achievement in facilities management.
tial retreat Camp David, where he and his family lived on the camp with President George W. Bush, O’Connor said. “We went to church with the president, we got to eat with the president, go running with the president,” O’Connor said. “It was very interesting.” A military base is a lot like a college campus, O’Connor said. There are “young” people, the dining halls, residence halls, education facilities and both regu-
lated by the government. “I’m just lucky to be able to work with the physical plant and hopefully lead it in the right direction,” O’Connor said. “All of the credit” goes to the physical plant employees without a doubt, O’Connor said, since they are the ones having to “turn the wrenches” and do very dangerous work. “Mike O’Connor is one of my favorite people on campus,” Ged Moody, the university sustainability director, said. Moody and O’Connor have been working together for four years, Moody said. The way their jobs are set up, there should be a natural tension, but Moody said he and O’Connor have maintained a really great working relationship. O’Connor is always open to how to do things more sustainably and is always willing to change even if it means more work for him, Moody said. “This job is a challenge, but if I had everything I needed and all the money I needed and all the people I needed, it would be boring,” O’Connor said. “I’d want to go work somewhere else, find somewhere where there is a challenge. You have to have something to fix and work on.”
American brewing starting to get crafty, Appalachian brewers to see benefits by KELLI STRAKA News Editor
by DANIEL STEVENSON Intern News Reporter
Mid-year results from Brewer’s Association show craft breweries growing by a large percentage in United States, according to brewersassociation.org. The Brewer’s Association, a trade association representing a large majority of American breweries, reported an increase of dollar sales of 14 percent for craft breweries, as well as increase in the number of breweries overall, which has been a growth of 350 since June 2011. The number of jobs provided through craft breweries in the country now is 104,000, which
includes related jobs such as servers and bartenders. In June 2012, the Bachelor of Science degree program in fermentation sciences was approved by the UNC General Administration for the university. The program accepted its first students this fall. “I think [the numbers] demonstrate the necessity of our program,” said Seth Cohen, director of fermentation sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences. Cohen said he knows that the growth of craft brewing holds a lot of potential for students. A higher percentage of fermentation science students are finding jobs with the smaller crafts because of new breweries
opening, Cohen said. “They’re very environmentally conscien“A growth in the industry means a lot of tious, good employers, so across the board, job opportunities,” he said. it’s great for the economy,” he said. Students in the department learn how Michael Schriber, co-owner of Glug to operate and work Beer and Wine,said he with a brew house on a has definitely noticed small-scale and develop “They’re very environmen- the growing popularity recipes with microbiolof craft beer in his sales tally conscientious, good ogy and chemistry, Cothrough his 12 years in employers, so across the hen said. Boone. board, it’s great for the “I think it’s been “It’s blowing up,” economy.” great,” said Brett TaubSchriber said. “Craft Brett Taubman, chemistry professor man, a professor in the beer is taking over the chemistry department market and everybody who works with the knows it.” fermentation sciences department. Schriber, who is an Appalachian alumni, The craft breweries are a “great” small said he thinks people “respect the art and business, Taubman said. science behind” craft beers.
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