Thursday, January 29, 2009
{The Blue Banner}
The Blue Banner’s View
New and improved The Blue Banner gets a facelift This semester marks a new era for The Blue Banner as we switch to a more compact tabloid format. As a result of reader feedback, the design change is intended to make the Banner more reader-friendly. A staff of more than 40 students will provide comprehensive campus coverage with an increased amount of supplementary stories, photos and videos available online at www.thebluebanner.net. Whether a student picks up a copy of the paper on the way to class or an alumnus reads the university news online, the Banner aims to be the primary forum for campus discussion and the premier portal for breaking news and in-depth reporting on news events, sports and the arts for the community. As always, the Banner encourages and
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welcomes reader feedback. Readers questions, comments and concerns drove this semester’s changes in both design and coverage of campus events. The Banner, while objectively covering the news, also aims, through its editorial pages, to provide a balanced view of controversial issues surrounding campus and beyond. Whether conservative or liberal, Democrat or Republican, pro-business or pro-environment, all opinions have a place in this publication. In rocky economic times, a changing media landscape and a bright but uncertain future for UNC Asheville, the Banner aims to both reliably provide unrivaled campus coverage and promote critical discussion as UNCA and the community brave, new territory.
Blue Banner Editorial Board
Karpen Hall 019 (828) 251-6586 banner@unca.edu www.thebluebanner.net Aaron Dahlstrom, Editor-in-Chief
Emily Gray, Business Manager
Jonathan Walczak, Managing Editor
Cassidy Culbertson, Photo Editor
Pam Stringer, News Editor
Cassady Sharp, Assistant News Editor
Dylan Schepps, Arts&Features Editor Sam Hunt, Assistant Arts&Features Editor Greg Hicks, Sports Editor
Matt Starkey, Assistant Web Editor
s em t I Michael Gouge, Faculty u Adviser en ggs M E ic an ange g r R l/O publish e The Blue Banner is UNC Asheville’s student newspaper.caWe each Thursday re Lo F
Jason Herring, Design&Web Editor
Page 15
Changes in the new year bring changes from SGA Last semester the Student Government committed to several projects. This semester a few of the longer-term projects are still in the works, but many more will be taken on, and we, your Student Government Association, hope to make as big a difference as possible. As a member of the Student Affairs Committee, I can reliably speak about our specific projects and goals, but as a Senator, I can tell all of you that many people worked tirelessly on many different student concerns. Committees are kind of a work-horse for most of the things that we do; these committees meet weekly so that SGA stays up to date on the most important current affairs. In the Student Affairs Committee last semester we dealt with one such affair: the new smoking policy instituted in January. Originally, smoking would have been banned almost everywhere on campus except for the few designated areas next to the residence halls and outside of the University Heights loop. Petitions were gathered, meetings were held, and just when we thought we’d have to take it a step further, several members of SGA were invited to meet with the administration. According to Dr. Haggard, Vice-Chancellor of Student Affairs, the change in the stance of this administration policy was “unprecedented.” Yet we now have the policy that is in place; people can smoke in the gazebo and in a few other areas around campus which were once banned. Although this compromise is something we are grateful for, it is not everything we asked. The work of Student Government ultimately affects all students. Whether it
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By Alex Bumgardner SGA Senior Senator
awbumgar@unca.edu
is smoking, tuition fee increases, official policy or a few special events, we cannot do our jobs without student support and input. The students who were willing to consider our petition made a large difference. Even though everyone’s busy, I encourage all students to take a moment and reflect on your UNCA experience. What do you want done differently? Are there any issues that deserve more attention? Do you have any ideas that would help other students, now or sometime in the future? There can be no change if no one is willing to stand up and fight for their rights or their beliefs. This community is a special one, and in order to preserve UNCA’s unique character, I urge all of you, no matter what opinion you may have, to speak out, participate and to be more than the great number of voices drowned out by the winds of apathy. Student Government is not simply those individuals who were elected into office; it is as it says a government of the students. To contact student government: www.unca.edu/sga Highsmith Student Union Room 249 sga@unca.edu 828-251-6685
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• Free Range Eggs except during summer sessions, finals week and holiday breaks. Our office is located in • 10% off with UNCA ID Karpen Hall 019. • Juice/Smoothie Bar The Blue Banner is a designated forum for free speech and welcomes letters to the editor, considering them on basis of interest, space and timeliness. Letters and articles should be e-mailed to banner@unca.edu. They should be signed with the writer’s name, followed by year in school, major or other relationship to UNCA. Include a telephone 640 Merrimon Ave, Suite 102 • www.risenshinecafe.com • 828-254-4122 number to aid in verification. All articles are subject to editing. Open Monday - Saturday, 7:30am – 2:00pm, Open Sunday, 9am-2pm