TECHNICIAN
technicianonline.com
Raleigh, North Carolina
Budget problems cause class cuts Economic downturn taking “There is no question that its toll on classes available everybody in the University is Alex Vaughn Staff Writer
TIM O’BRIEN/TECHNICIAN
Morris Dees, the chief trial counsel for the Southern Poverty Law Center, signs a copy of his book for Katie Trimble, an employee at Peace College, at the Martin Luther King Jr. Campus Commemoration in Stewart Theatre Wednesday. His speech was both a recognition of King’s legacy and a call to action to finish his work. “I’ve been a supporter of the SPLC for many years,” Trimble said. “I liked his speech. I thought it was terrific very engaging. It encouraged involvement not just appreciation.”
Campus commemorates MLK Civil rights leader Morris Dees discussed advances, setbacks since Martin Luther King Jr. was killed Samuel T.O. Branch Deputy News Editor
Civil rights activist Morris Dees said African-Americans have come a long way, but there is still work that needs to be done to eliminate racism. Students, faculty and alumni came to Stewart Theater in Talley Student Center Wednesday to hear Dees speak at the University’s commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The commemoration came at an important time in the history of the civil rights movement for the University, since the event occurred after racist messages were posted in the Free Expression Tunnel and a week be-
fore the first black president in American history will take office. Dees has given his all in an effort to help minorities, Janet Howard, a lecturer for the Office for Equal Opportunity, said. “He has dedicated his life to helping under-represented groups,” Howard, who also served as the interim director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs during her career at the University, said. “He’s won some major victories against the [KKK] and other racist terrorist groups.” Jose Picart, vice provost for diversity and inclusion, called Dees “a legendary civil rights activist.” Dees used the commemoration as an opportunity to discuss America’s civilrights accomplishments since King was killed, especially in light of the election
of Barack Obama. “Dr. King would be glad so many things he wanted to see have been realized,” Dees said. But the recent racist events on campus showed this nation still has improvements to make. Charles Gatlin, a freshman in agribusiness management, said it was key for such a prominent civil rights activist to be delivering his speech on a campus with recent racist problems. “It’s a big step, a real big step. It’s important for [Dees] to be seen here,” he said. Dees pointed out while Obama was elected, only 10 percent of Caucasians in Alabama, Mississippi and other southern states voted for him. “We need to build bridges across the
Derek Medlin Managing Editor
Despite forecasts for sub-freezing temperatures and numerous e-mails from concerned parents about safety concerns, organizers decided Wednesday to keep Campout outside on Lee Field. Morgan Donnelly, chair of the Student Senate Campus Community Committee, said event planners have taken the necessary steps to make sure students camping out are protected from the weather conditions. “Apparently parents had sent a letter to Chancellor Oblinger and Lee Fowler expressing concern about the safety of Campout,” Donnelly said. Tom Stafford, vice chancellor for Student Affairs, said the concerns that parents expressed focused on safety. “We have had some expressions of concern from parents,” Stafford said. “But the response has been that students planning the event are doing a good job to make sure this is safe.” Donnelly said the concern
RECOMMENDED ITEMS FOR STUDENTS AT CAMPOUT: a scarf a pair of gloves a hat blankets/sleeping bags A minimum of three layers of clothing r hand warmers r warm socks r warm shoes or boots r r r r r
SOURCE: MORGAN DONNELLY
prompted planners to consider other options for Campout locations, including Reynolds Coliseum and Carmichael Gymnasium. Once Donnelly determined those two places were not options for Campout, she said she spoke with Stafford again to make arrangements for further precautions for Friday night. “There are a bunch of rules for students who are going to attend Campout,” Donnelly, a junior in political science, said. “Volunteers will be checking campers as they come in to make sure they are properly layered and have all the necessary equipment with them.” Donnelly said students attending Campout must wear three layers of clothing and also bring
insidetechnician
other items, like hats, gloves and scarves, to keep warm. Another addition to the Campout will be 13 heaters spread around Lee Field. Donnelly said students will have to remain at least three feet away from three of the heaters. Sam Lawhorn, a senior in civil engineering and a group leader for Campout, said students just need to be prepared for the cold. “You just have to plan for it,” he said. “I’ve made sure I have real warm sleeping bag so I’m ready for the cold. I’m also a group leader so I made sure everyone in the group has warm sleeping bags.” Stafford said the extra precautions are all aimed at safety. “Safety is the primary concern,” he said. “If students don’t take precautions and dress appropriately and don’t have sleeping bag that is adequate or don’t take advantage of drinks and soup they could get into some trouble.” Donnelly said SG will provide hot chocolate for free until 11:15 p.m. and will be selling hot chocolate and pizza throughout the night. The University may also provide hot soup. If weather conditions make the Campout difficult for students
DAVID MABE/TECHNICIAN
to complete, Donnelly said there are plans to shut it down early and send students home. “We have set plans in place if we need to shut Campout down early,” she said. “It will be over at the point things start to go wrong. If we get to two checkpoints that’s where it ends nobody will be penalized.” Stafford said he is confident the plans put into place for Friday will make Campout a success.
From seeds to wilted stems
viewpoint features classifieds sports
4 5 7 8
UNC system to hold a forum regarding possible hate crime policy today Staff Report
Morgan Donnelly, chair of the Campus Community Committee, strips off layers of clothes while speaking about the dangers of cold weather this year for Campout participants.
BUDGET continued page 3
See page 5.
MLK continued page 3
Campout to remain on Lee Field despite cold SG recommends students prepare for sub-freezing temperatures
Budget cuts have caused a reduction in the classes CHASS offers this semester, and further cuts may have an impact campus-wide next year. “We’re already feeling the impact and it’s going to get worse,” Jim Martin, chair of the Faculty Senate, said. Martin said CHASS seat and section cuts were an immediate reaction to budget cuts. “Independent of the budget cuts, CHASS had a large financial deficit, and the budget cuts are coming on top of that,” he said. Louis Hunt, vice provost and university registrar, said CHASS is offering 67 fewer oncampus sections and 2024 fewer seats than at this time last year. But though this might be the most severe set of budget cuts, Martin said that 19 out of the past 22 years there have been budget cuts at the University. “We have had major budget cuts other times, but this is probably the worst economic situation that we’ve faced in the careers of just about everybody that’s here,” Martin said. Martin said that as much as 7 percent, or $28 million, could be cut from the Academic Affairs budget for the next school year. Among faculty, adjunct professors and lecturers are the most vulnerable to being released due to these cuts, he said.
going to be impacted,” he said. “The question is how much and how do we make the decisions.” Ruth Gross, foreign languages and literatures department head, said while increasing class sizes is not ideal, it is one of the ways her department has been able to keep seat reductions to a minimum. “Any cuts that we made were very carefully vetted by the dean’s office and then by provost’s office,” she said. “I do think that the university is trying to protect seats as much as possible,” Gross said that 99.8 percent of the overall CHASS budget is in instructional or personnel budgets, and as a result any cuts will have an effect on sections. Adjustments to the foreign language course schedule managed to keep most of the seats, despite the section cuts, according to Gross. “We really try to protect the classroom as much as possible,” she said. Buddy Bryson, a freshman in CALS attempting to transfer into CHASS, said he is taking whatever CHASS courses he can get into this semester. “It just seems like any class that you try to go and get into is just full or they cut them, especially in the college of CHASS,” he said. Bryson said a philosophy class he had wanted to take had four sections cancelled by the time
The UNC system is exploring the possibility of of a hate crime policy following the racist messages left in the Free Expression Tunnel on University campus. The night after the election of President-elect Barack Obama, four students sprayed threatening and racist opinions onto the tunnel wall. The incident spurred UNC system President Ersk ine Bowles to start this panel. The panel will hold an open forum at 1 p.m. today. It will be held on UNC Chapel Hill campus in the board room of the Spangler Center (910 Raleigh Road). The 11 members of the panel will hear differing opinions on the formation of a hate-crime
Save 25% on cost of your textbooks by buying used books at:
NC State Bookstores "The Official Store for NC State Textbooks."
resolution, which could limit what can be written on the Free Expression Tunnel. The board will also consider mandatory diversity training courses for all incoming freshman in the UNC system. On March 31, the panel will give its recommendations to Bowles. The forum is open to the public, but all who wish to speak should register by sending their requests, name, organization, address, telephone number and email address to Commission Chairman Harold Martin at study_commission@northcarolina.edu. For those who cannot attend the forum, opinions can still be heard by emailing the same email address. E-mails will be accepted until March 31.