Oct. 16, 2007
Carolina in the News
Here is a sampling of links and notes about Carolina people and programs cited recently in the media:
National Coverage:
UNC MASCOT JASON RAY'S LIFESAVING DECISION
ABC News
Jason Ray, a senior at the University of North Carolina and mascot for the Carolina Tarheels, was on track to finish college early… But he was also committed to helping others, making missionary trips to Haiti and Honduras. He told his parents that being an organ donor was a natural outgrowth of his beliefs. When Jason was killed in a car accident, the decision had already been made that he would donate his organs — a choice that saved the lives of four other people.
Regional Coverage:
Mood in country music has shifted on the war
The Plain-Dealer (Cleveland)
Anyone silly enough to claim that patriotism can be whittled down to who wears an American flag pin and who doesn't, or who supports the war and who doesn't, had best pay attention to what's happening in country music. … "Country music has always reflected the country's mood, but it also challenges that mood," says David Whisnant, a professor emeritus of English at the University of North Carolina who has studied the politics of country music.
State & Local Coverage:
In death, UNC mascot gave gift of life
The Charlotte Observer
Jason Ray is still touching the lives of others more than six months after his death…In all, about 80 people have received an organ or tissue from Ray, the 21-year-old from Concord who performed at UNC Chapel Hill as Rameses, the school mascot.
Related Link: http://www.newsobserver.com/front/story/738374.html
Committee to hire search firm
The Daily Tar Heel
The chancellor search committee will meet today to discuss hiring an academic search firm to assist in its search process. Committee members will hear proposals from three organizations, aiming to decide which firm to hire by the end of the meeting. The three companies making presentations have not been announced.
A Nobel accomplishment (Editorial)
The Daily Tar Heel
After 19 long and dedicated years at UNC, Oliver Smithies, a UNC professor of pathology and medicine, won the Nobel Prize for medicine last week… Smithies has brought UNC to the forefront of the international science community, extending the reach of the school's reputation and contributing to the goal of making UNC a more global campus.
UNC-Chapel Hill chancellor made unexpected impact (Editorial)
Triad Business Journal
When James Moeser was hired as chancellor of UNC-Chapel Hill, I was not a happy alum… I was wrong to sell Moeser short. Upon his departure as chancellor next summer, he will leave behind a legacy of achievement that could be accomplished only with strong vision, effective communication, a hefty intellect and hard work.
Orchestra gets $50,000 donation
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
The Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle announced Monday that retired UNC Chapel Hill professors Charles and Shirley Weiss of Chapel Hill have donated $50,000 to the orchestra to establish a $100,000 endowment for up-and-coming solo artists. The Charles and Shirley Weiss Young Soloists Endowment has been established to ensure that the orchestra can continue to identify and cultivate emerging, young international soloists. The soloists have been chosen from the most prestigious international competitions. Funds from the endowment will allow young talent to participate with the orchestra while continuing their musical careers.
UNC, town team up on green push
The Chronicle Online (Durham)
Duke's rivalry with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill could be moving to the environmental front… Doug Crawford-Brown, director of the UNC Institute for the Environment, said town-gown cooperation is typical of UNC students. He added that students are currently involved in a community carbon reduction project to measure the town's greenhouse gas emissions.
Issues & Trends:
Bowles: Chancellors' raises will help state
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
The 15.7 percent raises last month for UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor James Moeser and N.C. State University Chancellor James Oblinger were approved by the UNC Board of Governors 2 1/2 weeks before Moeser announced his intention to step down from the position.
PAC pushes UNC agenda
The Daily Tar Heel
UNC-Chapel Hill's high-powered political action committee has some policy experts and legislators worried about the unfair advantages that money brings to the flagship campus. "They undermine the legislature's and the Board of Governors' ability to fairly address the needs of the state and the system," said Ran Coble, executive director of the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research.
Related Link: http://media.www.dailytarheel.com/media/ storage/paper885/ news/2007/10/16/InvestigativeTeam/Few-Universities. Nationwide.Have.Pacs-3034243.shtml
Almost a Sin (Letter to the Editor)
The Winston-Salem Journal
Your Oct. 5 editorial “Student Debt” said, “Those in charge of America’s colleges and universities must get those costs under control.” You might as well have asked the Yadkin to flow toward Blowing Rock… Let Chapel Hill, N.C. State University, Appalachian State University, East Carolina University and maybe a few others become private universities and squeeze what they want out of their students.
Make that frame count
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
The Carolina Production Guild, a UNC-Chapel Hill student group, organized the 24-hour film challenge — its first one — on the final weekend of September…Garrett Kemble, vice president for the guild, said he had seen this kind of filmmaking challenge done before, and he wanted to try it at Carolina.
Wealthy colleges questioned about costs
Associated Press
Colleges and universities raked in money by the billions last year. But their investing success now has a price — a movement in Congress to force the wealthiest schools to spend more of their money to keep down tuition. In recent weeks, a string of colleges and universities have announced enviable investment results.