September 23, 2003

Carolina in the News

Here is a sampling of links and notes about Carolina
people and programs cited recently in the media:

State and Local Coverage

Move carefully (Editorial)
The Charlotte Observer
Should the University of North Carolina system admit more top students from out of
state -- even if it means fewer spaces on some campuses for in-state students? Yes --
but carefully.

UNC students kick off year of exploring role of honor
The Herald-Sun
As Christopher Junker sees it, honor isn't just about doing the right thing;
it's also about staying out of trouble...."At some levels it's kind of esoteric,
which is why I think it's important to have some of these real issues, like the
MP3s," said Melissa Exum, UNC's dean of students, referring to popular
format for computer music files.

UNC Hospitals had tough year financially
The News & Observer
Chapel Hill-based UNC Hospitals lost $3.7 million on its core health-care business
in the fiscal year that ended June 30, mainly because of a limping economy that weakened
demand for elective health-care services and left more patients unable to pay their bills.

North Carolina revisited
The Wilmington Morning Star
When Hugh Morton began compiling a book of his photographs, he asked
his old friend William Friday - the retired president of the University of North
Carolina system - to help pick them.

Bond campaign intensifies
The News & Observer
Approve the school bonds or else -- that's the blunt message voters will begin
hearing Wednesday from supporters of the upcoming $450 million Wake
County school bond issue....Although county officials say they must fund new
schools, the issue is not that clear- cut, said Joseph Ferrell , a professor of public
law and government at UNC-Chapel Hill's School of Government.

Issues and Trends Affecting Carolina

Calls for More Lucrative Scholarships
The New York Times
In response to efforts by legislators in California, Nebraska and several other states to increase
scholarships to college athletes so they reflect the complete cost of a year at college, the head
of the National Collegiate Athletic Association has endorsed the idea of giving athletes an
additional $2,000 to $3,000 a year.

College budgets fall short (Opinion-Editorial Column)
The News & Observer
When a parent calls to complain about overcrowded classrooms or a reduction in courses
and thinks to cinch the case by saying, "After all, I'm a taxpayer and I pay your salary," I
respond by asking a question: what percentage of the university's operating costs do you
guess are covered by public funds? Almost always, the answer is something on the order
of 75 percent. When I say, no, the figure is just 25 percent and heading downward - and
add that in some states the figure has dipped below 10 percent - the reaction is usually
equal parts surprise and dismay.
(Note: This Opinion-Editorial column originally appeared in The New York Times.)

Vance soldier killed in Iraq
The Daily Dispatch (Henderson, N.C.)
Vance County has suffered a combat loss in Iraq.
Lunsford Brown Jr., the son of Vance County Commissioner Deborah Brown and the older
brother of University of North Carolina starting football center Jason Brown, apparently was
killed over the weekend. The Pentagon has not released details, but the death was the sad
talk of the town Monday.

Weaver Dairy Road plan OK'd
The Herald-Sun
The Town Council has approved a compromise with the N.C. Department
of Transportation for future improvements to Weaver Dairy Road.

Note: If you have any questions about Carolina in the News, please call Russell Campbell at News Services, (919) 962-2091, russell_campbell@unc.edu, or Mike McFarland in University Communications, mike_mcfarland@unc.edu

Note: Web links on this page are time-sensitive, so stories might not be available after the day they first appeared.