Technician
monday november
16 2009
Raleigh, North Carolina
Tuition hike, retreat acts highlight BOG Student body presidents from system schools voice concern with ‘tax on tuition’ approved by General Assembly
BOG sounds off on retreats The retreat acts were important topic as well. After a Chancellor or President have finished their term but wish to continue teaching, they must take a time period where they refresh themselves on the material that once taught and will teach again. The concept is known as a retreat act. The main concern with this, regards how much the chancellor or president should get paid during the period and how long the period for the chancellor or president to completely renew the knowledge they will teach, should be. Also, the cost of textbooks was brought to the board of governors attention in the meeting the day before.
Caroline Barfield Staff Writer
The Board of Governors, the governing body of the UNC System, met in Chapel Hill Friday in its last meeting of the calendar year. SBPs gather to voice concern at tuition increases The Board discussed tuition increases one day after student body presidents from across the state met to discuss an advocacy strategy in hopes of overturning the decision made by the General Assembly to increase all tuition rates by $200 or 8 percent beginning with the 2010-11 academic year. The increase would apply to all students, regardless of residency, and both undergraduate and graduate levels. Student Body Presidents Jim Ceresnak said the increase is a tax on tuition. “The $200 will proceed directly to state funds and the universities will not receive any of the extra funds which are much needed for financial aid and other critical campus needs,” Ceresnak said. “The Association of
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Chancellor James Woodward applauds board member Marshall Pitts during the Board of Governor’s meeting in the Board Room of the Spangler Center Friday.
Student Governments is fighting to have this increase revoked. We are rallying as many student body presidents as possible because we want to see this changed. The Board of Governors is encouraging the General Assembly to make this step as well- we want to see the money go back to the campuses.”
The decision on the increase will be reported later in the academic year. Bowles praises State’s Centennial, alumnus UNC System President Erskine Bowles said it was impressive that last month the university celebrated
Wolfline public access gains profits Initiative begun in 2005 began paying dividends last year Jasmine Willis Staff Writer
In 2006, the University opened the Wolfline bus to the public to qualify for federal funding. Making the bus public allows any one to ride Wolfline buses without showing any type of identification. Allotting people the right to utilize the Wolfline is profitable to the University but also risky to the students. Tom Kendig, director of Transportation said the Wolfline’s availability to the public is beneficial to the University. “By becoming a public transportation system, the university is eligible for federal funds,” Kendig said. After three years of having a public transit system, the school began making a sufficient profit last year when the school received over $300,000 for opening the Wolfline to the community. “If we had not gotten the additional funds from the government, we would have had to increase transportation cost,” Kendig said. Receiving extra money from the government by for granting locals free access to Wolfline buses is an efficient way to reduce transportation costs for students. “It is a win-win situation,” says Kendig, “It hopefully will reduce the reliance of student fees by using another revenue source.” Christine Klein, public communication specialist, said public transportation is minimizing the potential costs
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to students in the future. “Its only good to the students,” Klein said. The Federal Transit Administration awards the university via the Capital Area Transit for keeping a record of passengers on each Wolfline bus. To provide information for the federal government, the buses have an automatic passenger counter. “Once someone walks through the entrance door or the exit, he or she is counted,” Klein said. This is why students must enter and exit through the appropriate door to give an accurate number of passengers. After several years of gathering data, the university just recently started receiving the benefits. “There is not much of a downside other than submitting the numbers,” Kendig said, “There has not been any problems with non-student members, so we do not expect it to be a real concern.” Krystal Carter, a freshman in First Year College, said the public exposure of the Wolfline buses could be hazardous. “Sometimes people on the bus can be strange and make me feel uncomfortable,” said Carter. By riding with her friends on the bus, it helps her feel safe. Carter said she would feel more safe if the nonaffliated members had to show some type of identification to board the bus. “For the most part they are friendly,” Carter said, “We just need to be cautious, but as long as everyone is safe I do not mind.”
University’s first Cabaret captivates photo story By Ryann Pasquale, Jonathan Stephens & Luis Zapata
T
hompson Hall was the selected venue for the University’s first Cabaret Friday, where performers sung and danced before a sold-out crowd. The event was hosted by AEGIS and the University’s GLBT center as a creative outlet and to generate publicity for the center.
Becky Jaeger, doctoral student in counselor education, puts eye shadow on Billy Gehling, sophomore in business administration, for the Cabaret in Thompson Hall Friday night. The Cabaret was put on by AEGIS and the GLBT Center. “I got involved to help promote awareness for the GLBT,” Jaeger said.
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Tres Seippel, senior in landscape architecture,
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the 25th anniversary of Centennial Campus with the groundbreaking of J. Hunt Library. He also commented on Doc Hendley, alumni of the university, was voted one of CNNís Top 10 Heroes of the World because of his non-profit organization, “Wine to Water.”
Textbook prices addressed The report from the previous day said that the cost of textbooks per year can exceed one thousand dollars and that it sometimes nears two thousand dollars. On top of tuition, this greatly increases college expenses. The Board of Governors agreed to monitor the costs of textbooks and will decide in future meetings whether or not tuition increases should be made based on how much the price of text books fluctuates. A rental program for textbooks, as pioneered at Appalachian State, will also be considered for colleges statewide.
bows after performing in the University’s first Cabaret Friday. Seippel performed Mariah Carey’s song ‘Fantasy.’ The sold-out performance was hosted by AEGIS.
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Julian Arrington, junior in architecture, falls to his knees reenacting the Titanic sinkage after the Cabaret Friday night. Arrington created all three of his costumes by hand for the performance.
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