Thursday July 19, 2003 Online Since 1996 Vol. 77 No. 53

The Appalachian | News



General Assembly cuts UNC budget 4 percent, hikes tuition 5 percent

by James Nix
 Editor-In-Chief
   With a new fiscal year underway, the University of North Carolina system is facing another budget cut, as well as a 5 percent tuition increase after the General Assembly passed the state budget earlier this month.
   The budget includes $61.7 million in UNC system operating reductions, a cut of about 4 percent.
   Appalachian State University’s budget has been cut by 3 percent, said Jane Helm, vice chancellor for business affairs.
   “Of course we will continue to do all we can to protect the integrity of the academic program, but permanent cuts three years in a row, plus one-time reversions are taking their toll,” she said.
Off-campus housing to match ASU deficit by Jessica Hines
Associate Editor
Editor’s note: This is the second story in a two-part series investigating student housing. The first of the series was published in the June 19 issue.
    Off-campus housing options are shrinking as an on-campus housing shortage of nearly 1,000 spaces by 2012 pushes students off campus.
    With demand rising, area apartments handle the increasing student population with mixed responses.
    Two companies are currently building apartments in Boone.
    Pickering & Company has nearly completed construction on the first phase of Mountaineer Village, an apartment complex on 20 acres off Highway 421 east of Boone.
    The complex will provide housing for 216 residents in August with the completion of their first phase.
Financial aid refunds delayed across state by Leslie Rasimas
Staff Writer
      Appalachian State University students received their financial aid refund checks approximately two weeks late this summer session.
   Refund checks are generally given to students by registration day of each session. This term, students received their checks on Friday, July 12.
   University Controller Rick Presnell said the end of the fiscal year brings problems for the state budget.
   “There were circumstances out of our control,” he said.
Drugs, weapon violation at LLC by Stephanie Rimmer
Staff Writer
   Several non-students were banned from the Appalachian State University campus Monday, July 7, as a result of drug and weapons violations.
    University Police responded to a call from the Cannon Music Camp directing them to a room at the Living-Learning Center. Five citations were issued between 10:30 and 11:45 p.m. to camp students who were at the time residing at the LLC.
    Four citations were issued for drug paraphernalia, and a single citation was issued because of a pocketknife.
    “Cannon Music Camp has an aggressive attitude regarding camper compliance with the University Summer Camps Code of Conduct and our own Cannon Music Camp rules,” Cannon Music Camp director Stephen Hopkins said.
    Upon investigation, the five camp students were found to be in direct violation of both Appalachian as well as Cannon Music Camp policies.
    Hopkins said the University Police were extremely helpful with the investigation and took appropriate action.
    “The camp students have been sent home from camp and each received a one-year ban from the ASU campus,” University Police Maj. Larry Foster said.
    Of those involved, one was 18 years old and the remaining were minors.
Admissions affected by diversity by Ashley Hawks
Contributing Writer
    Decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court in two Michigan affirmative action cases have little effect on admission policies at Appalachian State University.
   The recent decision deemed racial quotas unconstitutional, but allowed room for public universities to find ways to take race into consideration when admitting students.
   The court upheld the University of Michigan law school’s policy of looking at race when reviewing admission applications. In a separate decision, the court struck down Michigan’s point system which automatically awarded 20 extra points to an individual from an under represented group.

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