Weatherspoon and Revolution Mill Announce Exciting Collaboration

September 1, 2016 | Greensboro, NC

"The Weatherspoon Art Museum at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Revolution Mill are excited to announce that they have partnered to present a dynamic painting installation by Raleigh-based artist James Marshall (aka Dalek) inside the newly completed Gallery 1250 located at 1250 Revolution Mill Drive.

Titled Articulate, Marshall’s design was inspired by a desire to both feature the angular geometries found throughout the historic mill building and set off the vibrant red that has been used as the signature color of its renovation. He created a composition in which interlocking and overlapping bands fit together to form an array of rectangles, diamonds, and bisected squares. His use of wall space emphasizes the height and depth of the gallery, while a cool palette of greens and blues contrast with, and give greater definition to, the hot red of the historic industrial duct work overhead.

“Marshall’s installation is stunning” says WAM curator, Emily Stamey. “He not only responded thoughtfully to the space, but used every inch of the gallery walls to dramatic effect.”

WAM and Revolution are working to make this installation the first in a series of ongoing WAMRev collaborations, reflecting a shared commitment to presenting bold and imaginative exhibitions and reaching new audiences.  

WAMRev is located in Revolution Mill’s newly redeveloped Building 1250. The gallery was designed in the center of the floor, with walkways through the space and large glass windows so that tenants and visitors can continually view and experience the art. The 1250 building is just part of the 50-acre mixed-use campus, which is home to artist studios and creative office spaces, and also features a multimedia gallery for film installations, a future café, 142 character-filled apartments, and an outdoor event and performance space named Revolution Docks. 

 “We are thrilled to partner with the Weatherspoon in this space”, says Revolution Mill development manager, Micah Kordsmeier. “Developing a creative and inspired campus has always been a central focus of our work at Revolution, and so it’s very exciting to work with such a committed arts institution and to  extend WAM’s reach into new communities surrounding Revolution. It is one of many ways we are engaging with Greensboro’s creative community.”

Articulate will remain on view through the end of 2016, and future collaborative projects are already in the works, featuring contemporary artists representing a breadth of mediums, styles, and cultural experiences.

Learn more about this installation and the WAMRev partnership at www.revolutionmillgreensboro.com/WAMRev or on social media using #WAMRev.

The installation is on display at 1250 Revolution Mill Dr., 1^st Floor
Monday-Friday 11-6; select evening + weekend hours will begin this fall.

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About the Weatherspoon Art Museum
Mission
The Weatherspoon Art Museum at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro acquires, preserves, exhibits, and interprets modern and contemporary art for the benefit of its multiple audiences, including university, community, regional, and beyond. Through these activities, the museum recognizes its paramount role of public service, and enriches the lives of diverse individuals by fostering an informed appreciation and understanding of the visual arts and their relationship to the world in which we live.

History
The Weatherspoon Art Museum at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro was founded by Gregory Ivy in 1941 and is the earliest of any art facilities within the UNC system.  The museum was founded as a resource for the campus, community, and region and its early leadership developed an emphasis—maintained to this day—on presenting and acquiring modern and contemporary works of art. A 1949 bequest from the renowned collection of Claribel and Etta Cone, which included prints and bronzes by Henri Matisse and other works on paper by American and European modernists, helped to establish the Weatherspoon’s permanent collection.  Other prescient acquisitions during Ivy’s tenure included a 1951 suspended mobile by Alexander Calder, Woman by Willem de Kooning—a pivotal work in the artist’s career that was purchased in 1954, and the first drawings by Eva Hesse and Robert Smithson to enter a museum collection.
In 1989, the museum moved into its present location in The Anne and Benjamin Cone Building designed by the architectural firm Mitchell/Giurgola. The museum has six galleries and a sculpture courtyard with over 17,000 square feet of exhibition space.  The American Alliance of Museums accredited the Weatherspoon in 1995 and renewed its accreditation in 2005 and 2015.

Collections + Exhibitions
The permanent collection of the Weatherspoon Art Museum is considered to be one of the foremost of its kind in the Southeast.  It represents all major art movements from the beginning of the 20th century to the present. Of the nearly 6,000 works in the collection are pieces by such prominent figures as Sol LeWitt, Robert Mangold, Cindy Sherman, Al Held, Alex Katz, Henry Ossawa Tanner, Louise Nevelson, Mark di Suvero, Deborah Butterfield, and Robert Rauschenberg. The museum regularly lends to major exhibitions nationally and internationally.

The Weatherspoon also is known for its adventurous and innovative exhibition program. Through a dynamic annual calendar of fifteen to eighteen exhibitions and a multi-disciplinary educational program for audiences of all ages, the museum provides an opportunity for audiences to consider artistic, cultural, and social issues of our time and enriches the life of our university, community, and region."

- A Press Release

Play chronicles lives of former slaves in early 20th century Pittsburgh

"GREENSBORO - UNCG’S Brown Theatre stage will be transformed into a 1911 Pittsburgh boarding house April 22-26, as UNCG’s Theatre Department stages “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone."

The play tells the stories of the inhabitants of a boarding house in 1911 Pittsburgh. It portrays the lives of a few former slaves who have traveled to the north, where they face discrimination as they seek to redefine themselves. It will be guest directed by Tamera Izlar.

"This interesting work examines the consequences associated with systematic victimization, hatred, and discrimination,” said Izlar, artistic associate at Triad Stage. “More importantly, it also seeks to liberate, restore community, celebrate one’s ancestral lineage, and encourage others to discover their unique songs."

It was written by August Wilson (1945-2005), a celebrated African-American writer whose plays chronicle African-Americans’ lives during the 20th century. He twice won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, in 1987 and 1990, for his poetic writing. “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” is the second in his Century Cycle series of plays.

Wilson was the fourth of six children and grew up in Pittsburgh’s historic Hill District. His mother, Daisy Wilson, walked from North Carolina to Pennsylvania seeking a better life.

"Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” premiered in 1984 at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center in Waterford, Conn. It opened on Broadway in 1988, and was awarded the 1988 New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play. It was also nominated for the 1988 Drama Desk Award for Best Play and the 1988 Tony Award for Best Play.

There will be performances at 7:30 p.m. April 22-23, 8 p.m. April 24-25, and 2 p.m. on April 26. Tickets are $16 for adults, $11 for children and seniors, and are available through the Triad Stage box office downtown, by phone at 336-272-0160, or through the Brown Box Office on campus from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Tickets can also be bought online at http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?orgid=24297&group_id=546978&schedule=list

About UNCG

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina, is a high-research activity university as classified by the Carnegie Foundation. Founded in 1891 and one of the original three UNC system institutions, UNCG is the most diverse university in the state with 18,000 students and 3,000 faculty and staff members representing more than 90 nationalities. With 82 undergraduate, 63 master’s and 28 doctoral programs, UNCG is consistently recognized nationally among the top universities for academic excellence and value, with noted strengths in education, health and wellness, the performing arts, business and the arts and sciences, among others. For additional information, please visit uncg.edu."

- A Press Release

Petty Family Foundation to Host Fashion Challenge: Event to Highlight Petty-Inspired Designs and Raise Money for Scholarships

"(Level Cross, N.C.)   The Petty Family Foundation is partnering with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) to host the first  Petty "Hot Pass to Fashion" Challenge and Red Carpet Event.  The Petty Fashion Challenge will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2015 at Petty Enterprises  311 Branson Mill Road in Level Cross, N.C.  The event will begin at 7:00 p.m.

This first-of-its-kind fashion show will feature Petty-inspired clothing from talented student designers at UNCG's Department of Consumer, Apparel and Retail Studies (CARS).

UNCG's nationally ranked CARS program is one of the most respected fashion studies in the South.  Fans nationwide will be able to view each design online and choose their favorite by voting at the Petty Family Foundation website.

Celebrity judges will include: country stars Chris Lane, and Julie Roberts; Editor-in-chief of Carolina STYLE Magazine Brie Wright;  Anthony Simmons with Haute Exclusive Fashion Mall's Charlotte International Fashion Week; and, Marilyn Green of Marilyn's Model and Talent Management

The winning contestants will have their design featured in Carolina STYLE Magazine.  Prizes will also include career-launching internships in the textile and fashion industry, and the opportunity to show their designs at Charlotte International Fashion Week in 2015.  Local models will be featured at the event, including the King himself, Richard Petty, who will also hit the runway.  

"The Petty 'Hot Pass to Fashion' Challenge will connect graduating seniors with representatives from the fashion industry, which may, in turn, help launch their careers in an ever-changing job market.  "This is an event that will truly have an impact in the lives of each young designer", said Jill Mongelli, director of non profit events for the Petty Family Foundation.  "We're also thrilled to have industry professionals agree to showcase our winners' work throughout the region.  All of our designers are working hard, and this will help them take their first step toward successful careers.  We are really looking forward to a great show."

Proceeds raised from this event will provide scholarships for rising seniors in UNCG's CARS program.  A portion of the proceeds will also go to support the Victory Junction Camp, which provides a unique recreational experience for severely  disabled children.

General Admission tickets are $43.00.  Limited VIP tickets, which includes first row seating, reception and swag bag, are $143.00.

For more information about the Petty Family Foundation, or to purchase tickets to the Petty "Hot Pass to Fashion" Challenge, please call 336-495-6643, or visit www.pettyfamilyfoundation.org.

About The Petty Family Foundation

A Legacy of Success, A Vision of Humanity ~ The Petty Family Foundation seeks positive change for those in need by inspiring communities to enrich lives and provide the necessary means to empower those who help make dreams come true for others."

- A Press Release

UNCG: FOR 1,642 WINTER GRADS ‘YES’ WAS THE ONLY RATIONAL ANSWER

Photo by Carlos Morales

"Dr. Bruce Kirchoff, Biology, had a simple message for UNCG's 1,642 winter graduates: Don't underestimate the power of 'Yes'.

"When life is difficult, the only rational, the only possible answer is 'Yes,'" Kirchoff told them. He smiled and threw his hands in the air throughout the speech, happy to acknowledge the screams and cheers of graduates' families and friends.

Kirchoff, who received the UNC Board of Governors' Teaching Excellence Award in May, gave the winter commencement address Thursday in the Greensboro Coliseum. His speech focused on obstacles and hardships -- and graduates who persevered.

Many in the graduating class are first-generation college students, Kirchoff said. About 40 percent relied on PELL Grants to pay for their education. And 73 percent took on debt -- an average $25,000 -- to attend UNCG.

"I know that each of you has a story to tell about the adversity you have overcome in order to be here today. I wish we had time for you to tell your stories. In lieu of that, let me tell you a few of them that I know," Kirchoff said. "The stories are short, and important. They are stories of how you have succeeded in the face of adversity. They are examples of how you have said 'Yes.' The stories are real. The names are not."

He spoke of "Alexander," who worked two jobs totaling almost 40 hours a week, but got all A's or B's in his classes.

"Not only is he a hard worker, he also one of the most pleasant students I have had the pleasure to work with during my years at UNCG," Kirchoff said.

Then there is "Reem," who worked as an EMT on the night-to-dawn shift through the six-plus years of her undergraduate and graduate study at UNCG.

"Reem would come to my 9:30 a.m. class after about an hour of sleep, with her cup of coffee in hand and would stay awake, and even participate," Kirchoff said. "She was always present. She was always attentive. Every day Reem proved her 'Yes'".

"Alea" was homeless before she enrolled at UNCG. In addition to the typical struggles for new college students, she had to get off the streets, find a reliable food source, and establish the security she needed to finish her education.

"During her studies she lost her food stamps and struggled with food insecurity. At times she could not afford her textbooks. During her studies her grandmother passed away, a loss that I know many of you have shared," Kirchoff said. "Throughout everything she carried a full-time, strenuous course load, worked full time, and also held a leadership position on campus."

And lastly there is "Daniel," whose family immigrated to the U.S. when he was in high school. With hard work and family support, Daniel graduated high school, enrolled in a community college, and finally transferred to UNCG. He was the first in his family to attend college. Things were going well for Daniel, who plans to be a dentist.

"Then, that first October, his father was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer, and given six months to live," Kirchoff said. "Devastated, Daniel wanted to give up. The first thing that came to his mind was to drop all of his classes and help his family, but his father would not let him abandon his dream. Up to that time Daniel had been working every weekend, but now he had to find full-time employment. Two years have passed since his father was diagnosed and he is still here fighting every day, and so is Daniel."

Dr. Elizabeth Ann Doebler also urged graduates to acknowledge the love and support of families like Daniel's. Doebler, who earned a DMA in music performance, spoke for the Class of 2014.

"And most importantly, remember to thank your family -- your parents, siblings, grandparents and, for some, your spouse and children," she said. "They are the ones who supported you no matter how late you called or how cranky you were. They are the ones who cheered you on when you wanted to quit. They are the ones who are so proud to see you reach your goal, and they are the ones who will continue to be there as you move into the next chapter of your life."

The university awarded 1,232 undergraduate degrees, 331 master’s degrees, 8 Specialist in Education degrees and 71 doctoral degrees during the ceremony. Of that total, 52 degrees went to international students.

Four of the first UNCG Spartans of Promise — Kevin Wu, Jessica Straehle, Dustin Gamradt and Melvin L. Clark Jr. -- were among the graduates. The new Spartans of Promise award recognizes graduating seniors for excellence in both academics and service; it is given each year to no more than ten graduating seniors.

Also graduating were 11 merit scholars, five Phi Beta Kappas and four UNCG Guarantee Scholars. UNCG Guarantee enables deserving students with limited finances to graduate debt-free.

David Banks was chief marshal. Robert Todd was tassel turner.

Dr. L. DiAnne Borders, Counseling and Educational Development, was faculty marshal and mace bearer.

Dr. Sue Medley, Class of 1965, and Melvin Clark, Class of 2014, rang the university bell, a UNCG tradition. Clark is also a Spartan of Promise honoree.

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a challenging, supportive and engaged community where learning is carried forward to Do something bigger altogether. Founded in 1891, UNCG is the largest and most diverse university in the Triad, serving more than 18,000 students. Standing apart from other universities, the UNCG community is joined together by a shared value: We define excellence not only by the people we attract, but by the meaningful contributions they make."

- A Press Release

New preschool program encompasses art, music, yoga and more

"Encourage. Stimulate. Enlighten. That’s the heart and soul of Simple Gifts Enrichment, a new morning preschool program for ages three to five that includes yoga, tennis, music and art all under one roof. From September to May, your child will have the opportunity to explore a wide range of activities to enhance their creativity and physical well-being in a nurturing and loving environment.

“It’s very simple to share a gift, especially with children,” says Program Director Robin Carter of Summerfield.

Carter spearheaded this new and innovative program and brings a wealth of experience and creativity. She has a bachelor’s degree in child development from UNCG and served as a preschool director for 27 years. She’s also a certified yoga instructor. The idea for the program came from her own experience of transporting her daughters – Honour An and Hope Linh – to and from their various activities each day. She felt providing one location to house all of these enriching activities would appeal to other parents who’ve shared her experience. But the program isn’t all about convenience. Simple Gifts Enrichment offers a variety of activities to encourage, stimulate and enlighten your child.    

From 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays, children will be guided by a qualified and loving staff in the following core areas:

·       YOGA - In our fast-paced technological culture, children have limited opportunities for movements which affects their physical, mental and emotional health. Yoga can help restore that balance to your child’s life. Robin Carter will lead an exploration of yoga, encompassing various guided postures and movements.

·       TENNIS – Under the direction of tennis professional Brad Spivey, qualified instructors will coach and encourage your child in this fun and challenging sport. Spivey, formerly No. 1 in the state for Open Division Mixed Doubles, is an USPTR and USPTA certified teaching professional. He also played tennis collegiately at Western Carolina University. He is the founder of Advantage U, a nonprofit organization which helps underprivileged children.

·       VIOLIN and MUSIC – Music is fundamental in early childhood education. Your child will be given developmentally appropriate musical instruction including introduction to violin, exercises in rhythm, early music theory as well as exposure to various other musical instruments. Listening to music and singing will also be part of the daily routine. Guiding the children through violin will be musician Donna Goodwin, who has shared her talents in various venues including Raleigh Symphony, musical theater and teaching.

·       ART – The arts are a major element in education. The integration of arts into a child’s life helps to develop key cognitive skills needed for academic success. It also promotes social and emotional strengths that lead to academic achievement. Leading the art programming will be Verna Morgan, who has worked for the past 17 years as an art educator and program coordinator for ArtQuest at Greenhill art museum in Greensboro. In addition to guiding school group tours, scout workshops and teaching camps for 3 and 4 year olds, her job included afterschool programs at various Guilford County schools as well as a toddler program at Hemphill Library on Friday mornings. Morgan has a degree in early childhood education from Appalachian State University. She taught second grade in Virginia for five years before moving to Greensboro. While raising her two children, Robert and Sarah, she taught preschool for 10 years at Guilford Park Presbyterian Church. In her spare time, she has danced and sang in community musical theater for 25 years.

Simple Gifts Enrichment will take place at Pinetop Sport Club, 3723 Pinetop Road, Greensboro (http://www.pinetopclub.com). Register today by calling 336-509-7536 or visiting www.simplegiftsenrichment.com."

A Press Release

Greensboro Selected by NC Department of Transportation for Watch for Me NC Campaign

"The N.C. Department of Transportation will partner with various communities from the mountains to the coast in 2014 to spread the Watch for Me NC campaign message of pedestrian and bicycle safety. The City of Greensboro, UNCG, and NC A&T have been selected as partners in the Watch For Me NC program, which improves enforcement of bicycle and pedestrian safety laws and educates motorists, pedestrians and cyclists on safety awareness. The goal of the campaign is to reduce bicycle and pedestrian crashes and fatalities in North Carolina.

Each year more than 2,400 pedestrians and 960 bicyclists are hit by vehicles in North Carolina. On average, about 160 pedestrians and 20 bicyclists are killed each year in the State, representing about 12% of all traffic fatalities that occur on North Carolina roads. In collisions with cars, pedestrians in particular have a lot to lose. Those hit at 40 mph have an 85 percent chance of dying.

The City of Greensboro will be working with NC A&T and UNCG to put together a local campaign which will roll out during the fall. Additional partners from throughout the community will be asked to help support and organize the educational aspects of the campaign.

We all share the responsibility to make sure North Carolina roads are safe for everyone, including pedestrians and bicyclists. Safe places to walk and bike are important for supporting active, vibrant communities. As a campaign partner, Greensboro will receive assistance with printed and multi-media materials and police officer enforcement training. Additionally, the Highway Research Center at UNC-Chapel Hill will provide technical support with campaign implementation. For more information on the Watch for Me NC initiative visit: www.watchformenc.org. For more local information visit www.greensboro-nc.gov/index.aspx?page=4493."

A Press Release

UNCG research shows ‘early college’ high school students experience higher levels of success

By Michelle Hines

University Relations Writer

“Early College” high school students in North Carolina are experiencing higher levels of success than many of their peers at traditional high schools, according to research conducted by Dr. Julie Edmunds at UNCG.

Dr. Edmunds has been tracking the progress of early college students since 2006 and has found positive impacts at the high school and college levels. In her study, 86 percent of early college students enrolled in college compared to 65 percent of the control group.  

At the high school-level, she has found that early college students are more likely to be taking and succeeding in the courses they need for college; they are more engaged, have better attendance and lower suspension rates, and have higher expectations. Students also reported more rigorous and relevant instruction, better relationships, as well as greater academic, emotional, and social support. 

Dr. Edmunds has discovered that a variety of students benefit from the early college model. Most early colleges target students who are underrepresented in college, including those who are low-income or who would be the first in their family to attend a university. “The early college model is having a positive impact on all students, and, in some cases, it is reducing gaps between different populations,” Dr. Edmunds said.  

Thanks to ongoing support from the General Assembly, North Carolina is home to more than 75 early college high schools, accounting for nearly a third of the 240 early colleges around the nation. Early college programs offer small, supportive learning environments that reduce barriers that keep students from attending college. Graduates of the programs earn high school diplomas, collegiate-level skills, and two years of tuition-free college credit or an associate’s degree. 

“While the U.S. economy increasingly demands workers educated beyond the high school level, many of our teenagers are leaving high school unprepared,” Dr. Edmunds said. “Early college high schools are very purposely designed to get young people ready for college and to provide them access to college courses, and it’s clear that they are providing very positive results.”

Dr. Edmunds has been awarded a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to conduct additional research into the success of early college students at higher education institutions. Early data suggests these students will outperform traditional high school students at the post-secondary level.

Because students choose to attend early colleges, it can be challenging to make comparisons between their performance and the performance of other schools in the state. However, Dr. Edmunds’s study took advantage of schools that used lotteries to select students. Her research compares students randomly selected to attend with those who applied but were not selected.  “This means that we’re comparing apples to apples,” explained Edmunds. 

Dr. Edmunds hopes that her ongoing exploration of the success of early college high schools will lead to a better educational experience across all high school systems. She envisions traditional high schools that expect their entire student body to attend college, placing greater focus on college readiness and providing early access to college courses. 

“Early colleges are changing some of the dialogue and thinking about high school. It's about re-envisioning what it takes to successfully prepare students for college and today's jobs,” Dr. Edmunds said. 

See Dr. Edmunds describe her work in her own words at https://vialogues.com/vialogues/play/11859.

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a challenging, supportive and engaged community where learning is carried forward to Do something bigger altogether. Founded in 1891, UNCG is the largest and most diverse university in the Triad, serving nearly 18,000 students. Standing apart from other universities, the UNCG community is joined together by a shared value: We define excellence not only by the people we attract, but by the meaningful contributions they make.

UNCG’s Consumer, Apparel & Retail Studies ranked among best in nation

"UNCG’s Department of Consumer, Apparel and Retail Studies (CARS) has been ranked as the 13th best fashion program in the nation by the website Fashion-Schools.org, a jump of 10 spots from the 2013 placement. 

The CARS program ranked as the third best program in the South, up two spots from last year, and received the website’s best ranking among programs in the state of North Carolina.

“This jump in the rankings is a direct reflection of the tremendous dedication and hard work of the faculty, staff and students in CARS,” said Dr. Nancy J. Hodges, professor and incoming chair of the department. “We are extremely pleased to know that our continued efforts to ensure that CARS students develop the requisite skills and real-world experiences necessary for professional success are leading to such positive and widespread recognition for the CARS department and its degree programs.”

Fashion programs were judged on their academic reputation, admission selectivity, value, location, depth and breadth of the program and faculty.

CARS, one of five departments in the Bryan School of Business and Economics, offers degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels as well as a post-baccalaureate certificate. The undergraduate degree is available in three concentrations: Apparel Product Design, which preps students for careers in apparel and textile products design and production; Retailing and Consumer Studies, which prepares students for careers in apparel marketing, distribution and retailing; and Global Apparel and Related Industry Studies, which prepares students for apparel and related industry careers in the global arena. 

The accolade is the latest for the UNCG Bryan School, which is consistently ranked among the best business schools in the nation. The Bryan School’s evening MBA program is recognized as the 13th best part-time MBA program by Bloomberg Businessweek, and the Department of Information Systems and Supply Chain Management is ranked among the top 50 information technology programs in the nation by IS Job Index."

A Press Release

Greensboro has made the shortlist of top college towns for socially conscious students, with The University of North Carolina at Greensboro leading the way

By Michelle Hines

UNCG

BestColleges.com, an online resource for prospective students, has named Greensboro one of the “Best Cities for Service-Oriented Students.”  UNCG is the largest university in Greensboro and the Piedmont Triad region with nearly 18,000 students. To view the other U.S. cities on the list, visit http://www.bestcolleges.com/features/cities-for-service-oriented-students.

UNCG adopted the motto "Service" in 1893 shortly after its founding. Service and community engagement are woven into the campus culture both inside and outside the classroom.

During the 2013-2014 academic year, UNCG students contributed nearly 813,000 hours of volunteer service, mostly in the Greensboro community.

Service-learning provides hands-on experience for students and engages the community in a positive way, said Cathy Hamilton, director of UNCG's Office of Leadership and Service-Learning. “At UNCG, we pose the question, 'What can we do together that we cannot do alone?'"

UNCG has made the Corporation for National and Community Service's Presidential Honor Roll since the honor roll's inception seven years ago, and is one of 73 colleges and universities recognized by NASPA-Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education as leaders in cultivating civic-minded students. For eight consecutive years, UNCG has made Washington Monthly's  list of American universities that contribute most to the public good. 

***

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a challenging, supportive and engaged community where learning is carried forward to “Do something bigger altogether.” Founded in 1891, UNCG is the largest and most diverse university in the Triad, serving nearly 18,000 students. Standing apart from other universities, the UNCG community is joined together by a shared value: We define excellence not only by the people we attract, but by the meaningful contributions they make.

UNCG responds to rec center questions

UNCG Associate Vice Chancellor Mike Byers said several of our questions about the university's planned recreation center in the Glenwood neighborhood would be best answered by the student affairs office, but we couldn't reach anyone in time for today's article. Yesterday after we had gone to press, a UNCG spokesperson forwarded answers to two of our questions.

Reade Taylor, UNCG's vice chancellor for business affairs, responded to two questions that Byers couldn't answer (below). The first question: How has/will the rec center affect/ed students financially? The second: If UNCG plans to break ground of the rec center in the spring, is it too late for students, faculty, etc. to give input? Will opposition be considered or is the project moving forward regardless?

Here are Taylor's complete answers:

"The facilities fee related to the new Student Recreation Center for a full-time student is $435 per year or $217.50 per semester. Upon its opening in the Fall of 2016, maintenance and programming costs will add approximately $156 to a full-time student's annual fees, or $78 per semester, based on today's costs and 15,500 student FTE.

UNCG contracted with a professional who conducted a needs evaluation, based in part on student surveys. There have been open forums for student input. The project aligns with UNCG's strategic plan. In addition, UNCG has already purchased the site and has invested several million dollars in its design. Construction will begin in the spring, unless the Board of Trustees determines otherwise. The board has approved the project."

Read the full article about UNCG's divisive student recreation center in today's issue of YES! Weekly or here online.

UNCG students, faculty and alum call on school to halt expansion

Faculty member Susan Dennison speaking at the press conference today with some of the other opponents behind her.

Students, faculty and alums of UNCG held a press conference in front of the campus library today to oppose the university's expansion into the Glenwood neighborhood. Almost 50 opponents of the expansion listened to speakers who said that the university's growth across Lee Street, particularly a proposed $91 million recreation center, represent misplaced priorities of the school. Speakers called on UNCG to immediately halt the expansion because enrollment numbers are down and jobs and programs are being cut.

Read more about the opposition expressed at a recent UNCG master plan forum.

A more detailed report of today's press conference and UNCG's expansion plans will be coming soon — stay tuned!

UNCG master plan met with opposition

Students and other attendees at the first of two forums about UNC Greensboro's master plan today raised repeated questions about the wisdom of implementing expensive plans designed prior to the worldwide economic collapse in 2008, particularly a $91 million recreation center. 

Sue Dennison, an associate professor of social work, said the center would come with a 30-year mortgage, a fact that concerns her when enrollment is down and is projected to decline further. A spokesperson for UNCG said the recreation center was initially designed in 2006 and that student fees have been set aside to contribute towards funding the project for three years.

"We are in different economic times right now [than when the plans were created]," she said. "We're attracting working-class students. It concerns me that this seems to be a train that's left the station."

Several students —including Dillon Tyler, Emma Troxler and Juan Miranda — expressed similar concern about the impact of the rec center on tuition and fees for working-class students. Miranda asked numerous questions, several of which went unanswered, about the funding and need for the center.

"Education should be our core," Miranda said. "It should be our number one. It seems like the forefront of this [plan] is not about education."

Miranda argued that student fees increased 42 percent since 2010 and said reduced programs and teaching positions watered down the quality of UNCG's education. Troxler said she doesn't see the educational value of a recreational center compared to other potential priorities. Several said they were concerned the master plan amounted to little more than window dressing.

Miranda said the school isn't making sufficient effort to involve students in planning discussions and decisions. Students were not informed about a master plan meeting in the spring and that an announcement about today's forum only circulated yesterday, he said, contrasting this with widespread information about UNCG's homecoming. Other audience members agreed. [YES! Weekly received a press release last week]

The presentation by Sasaki Associates touched on the recreation center, which would be part of the university's expansion into the historic Glenwood neighborhood south of Lee Street, but focused more on alterations to Lee and Forest Streets.

An older proposed redesign of Lee Street (slides from today weren't immediately available).

Several attendees expressed concern about the level to which Glenwood residents would be shut out by the plan, both at the recreation center and more broadly. The concern isn't new — a 2010 master plan presentation by firm Lord Aeck Sargent about community feedback said the "rec center has no perceived value to Glenwood if public access is not allowed" — but UNCG Associate Vice Chancellor Mike Byers said the school is confident they will be able to provide limited access to nearby residents.

Several ground-level spaces in new campus buildings along Lee Street could be used as educational or meeting space, presenters said, but when asked if community organizations could meet in such a space similar to a room at a library branch, a UNCG spokesperson said the only planned community meeting space would be at a new police substation along Lee Street. A few attendees laughed at the idea.

Community member Bulent Bediz said after the meeting that UNCG's process hasn't been transparent or involved community input. Like some other attendees, he said he opposes plans to make Lee Street more like Spring Garden. The proposed master plan would create a median with trees along the thoroughfare and try to emphasize two major pedestrian crossings at Glenwood Avenue and for the recreation center.

Sasaki presenters stressed the need to reintegrate the Lee Street and Glenwood properties back into the rest of the campus through changes on Lee Street, transforming the underpass into a "Spartan Corridor" for alternative transportation, providing shading along Forest Street, shielding the train tracks from view and sports fields and a glen south of Lee Street to continue the school's emphasis on green spaces.

Not all attendees spoke against the planned recreation center in Glenwood. Student Government Association President Crystal Bayne and a current rec center fitness instructor said the project is a much-needed resource for students.

The plan did not address the proposed downtown university district that would involve UNCG, but Byers said the school is still as committed to the project as it can be at this time. There is no space for UNCG's forthcoming doctorate nursing program on campus, he said, and the idea would be to include it in a downtown campus in conjunction with other Greensboro colleges and universities.

The second presentation will be held today at 6 p.m. in the Alexander Room on the ground floor of the Elliott University Center. 

Local vocal: Locked up for a reason

We intended to run this "Local vocal" piece in this week's paper but ran out of space — here it is in full. 

I am Tristan Munchel, a student at UNCG, and you are reading this column because I, along with four other students, have been arrested.

All of us are members of the North Carolina Student Power Union, and were arrested in Raleigh on May 1, International Workers' Day, while demanding the chance to have a future. We and around 200 other students and activists marched for several hours before the five of us moved past a police barrier, tried to enter the legislative building and were arrested for disorderly conduct.

This needed to happen.

We students, workers and immigrants joined to refuse a government that lowers the corporate tax rate while letting one in four children go to bed hungry each night. We refused to watch silently as laws suppress the votes of people of color, students and the elderly. We refused to listen to lawmakers who imply anybody who is not white, male, cisgendered, well-to-do, heterosexual and non-disabled is being un-American by demanding recognition.

We joined together because Gov. Pat McCrory and state Budget Director Art Pope want to cut around $200 million from the UNC System over the next two years, when over the last two we have lost $414 million. Eight thousand students are going to lose their financial aid. Tuition will continue to rise. The people whom our society has always oppressed will feel first the cuts to education, just as they will feel first McCrory’s rejection of Medicaid and destruction of unemployment benefits.

We took to the streets because we no longer believe in an electoral system that tells us to choose between pro-business fascists and pro-business centrists. We took to the streets because our student governments and our single, non-voting member on the UNC Board of Governors do nothing for us. We took to the streets because we believe that education does not exist to train workers, but to encourage thinkers who can create rules rather than just follow them.

I know conservative think tanks have already labeled us attention-seekers, and that they and liberals alike will call into question our ability to achieve tangible differences. I am not sure whether our actions will have any impact on the reactionaries in Raleigh. However, I think that by being visible we reshape the political discourse. Whenever we help people realize they do not have to fear the police, whenever we help people step off paths of least resistance and realize they have political potential, we move towards a better society.

I have never felt more alive than I did May 1. We began marching at 2:30 p.m., chanting for hours, stopping to hear youth and students speak against oppression and regression. A few times through collective daring we managed to break off the sidewalk and march in the streets, shutting them down for blocks at a time. Cars honked and workers cheered to us from the front steps of buildings as we passed.

When our march reached Jones Street, the five of us unfurled a long banner reading, “We Demand a Future.” We marched down Jones while the police attempted to force us off the road using their horses and bicycles. Just before reaching the legislature the five of us sat down.

Instead of arresting us the cops backed off. The rest of the marchers formed a circle around us and for most of an hour we stayed on Jones Street, singing protest songs and chanting. Two little girls, sisters, came next to me and helped hold the banner, and I began to cry.

At least 50 police watched us. I don't know how many thousands of dollars the state paid them to be there and intimidate the kids, immigrants and workers advocating for equality. I sat in the middle of everything and cried. I cried for the workers whom our society refuses to recognize on International Workers' Day. I cried for all the time I had wasted not knowing that these people, of so many different experiences than my own, were my sisters and brothers. I cried for the police and for the awful, empty system that would waste so many resources to convince the little girls next to me not to ask for a future.

Then, while I was crying on Jones Street, the parade marshals tapped our five shoulders and asked what we wanted to do. We decided to escalate, stood up, and began to advance on the front doors of the legislature. The police backed up and formed a long, brawny line of white men in wide-brimmed hats.

Our people marched up to the police line chanting, screaming, "Show me what democracy looks like!” and the five of us moved through. This is what democracy looks like.

UNCG student given misinformation at early voting

When UNCG student Laura Stanley went to the early voting site at the Weatherspoon Art Museum a few weeks before the election, she wasn’t sure if she needed to bring anything. At age 20, it was her first time voting, though she had registered several months prior.

As she walked up to the polling place wearing an Obama sticker, Stanley said she approached a man holding a Romney sign and asked him what she needed to vote. Without asking her any questions  —like if she was already registered — he told her she would need ID and two pieces of mail such as a bill to prove her residency. He asked her who she was voting for and she answered with “Obama,” and he reiterated that she would need ID and two pieces of mail, Stanley said.

Trusting his advice, Stanley turned around and left, not realizing until Sunday night that the information was entirely false after her mother inquired about whether she had voted and did a little digging.

It is not clear whether the man and the woman he was with outside the Weatherspoon were with the Guilford County Republican Party and the affiliated Victory campaign, but Guilford County GOP chair Al Bouldin said the party has had someone stationed at the Weatherspoon for the majority of early voting. Stanley said she overheard the woman, who wore a “Conservatives for America” hat, talking on the phone about someone coming to take over the next shift.

When asked about the advice Stanley received, Bouldin said it was true if she hadn’t voted before, even if she was already registered. Trying to explain the different requirements for first-time registrants or people in Stanley’s shoes, Bouldin falsely stated what was required each time but said he delegated those responsibilities out and added that Guilford County GOP Vice Chair Mindy Greenwood handled it for the party.

“We don’t teach them to give advice on the voting process or rules or anything like that,” Greenwood said after Bouldin passed her the phone. “They don’t have that level of training. We just tell them to be nice and courteous and to stay where they’re supposed to be and that’s sort of the only training that they get.”

Greenwood said questions about registration are usually referred to her, Bouldin, someone else in party leadership or directly to the board of elections.

“We’re not here to be experts on that,” she said, adding that people like the man Stanley encountered were just supposed to be knowledgeable on the candidates. “We’re not the board of elections so we don’t try to be. We don’t train them to know about voting, and the process and the rules with the board of elections.”

Charlie Collicutt, the deputy director with the Guilford County Board of Elections, said that while early voting registration does have a higher identification threshold, no voters are ever required to provide ID and two pieces of mail. People who are already registered and haven’t voted yet are almost never required to provide identification as Bouldin claimed, Collicutt said, except when a previously provided social security number or driver’s license number doesn’t match.

Out of 360,000 registered voters in the county, 8,000 — or 2 percent — have had to show ID in such a circumstance, he said. Students can register with a student photo ID along with a document from the school showing their name and current address, Collicutt said. While it may be easy to get confused, he said, the Romney supporter provided false information and shouldn’t have answered Stanley’s question in the first place.

“He had no knowledge of her registration status,” Collicutt said. “Even if she was a same day registrant, he’s still wrong. He is not the appropriate person to answer that question. The voters are also wading into dangerous waters when they go and ask advice from people who aren’t associated with the board of elections.”

Collicutt added that he has worked well with Bouldin and that he planned to contact Bouldin regarding the information, saying that the requirements were “complex” and that “there’s so much nuance.”

In the end, Stanley realized the error with some assistance, and said she planned to vote on Election Day. While she unknowingly passed the false information along to a friend, she said he wasn’t deterred because unlike her, he did have a document to prove his address — even though she didn’t need one. 

UNCG to help residents address city council

Speaking at city council is about to get a little easier. UNCG's speaking center announced it will consult with anyone who wishes to address council this summer, beginning next week. Below is the information from the press release:   


As part of a ongoing communication activism initiative, volunteers from the University Speaking Center will be available from 5:30-7 p.m. outside the Greensboro City Council chambers during council meetings this summer. The volunteers, who are trained communication consultants, will offer consultations to anyone wishing to address their elected officials. The coaching will be available Tuesdays, June 5, 19 and 26; July 17 and August 6.

“UNCG’s speaking center has a strong history of supporting public self-expression about community issues, especially concerns in the pursuit of social justice,” said Speaking Center Director Kim Cuny.

“A free society gives birth to both freedom of speech and the study and application of the principles of effective public communication,” Cuny added. “By helping citizens effectively convey their points of view, we equip them to participate in the democratic process.”

UNCG and GPD aim to learn more about how abuse survivors use services

UNCG Associate Dean of Research Jacquelyn White is leading a study, in conjunction with the Greensboro Police Department, about how survivors of abusive relationships use the resources of various agencies in Guilford County.

“Our goal is to hear survivors’ experiences about the services – positive or negative – to help identify any program shortfalls and make the process as easy as possible for other domestic violence survivors,” White said in a press release.

UNCG is seeking participants for the study who would be asked to participate in an hour-long confidential interview about their experiences with service programs and not about the abuse they experienced.

Contact Shawn Mendez at 336-338-9207, or snmendez@uncg.edu for more information. Participants will each get a $25 gift card, though the press release didn't say where the card could be used.

$30 million construction project underway at UNCG

UNCG broke ground on June 4 on a new $30 million, 170,000 square-foot residence hall at the corner of Spring Garden and Kenilworth streets in Greensboro. The structure, which is designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards set by the US Green Building Council, will be the first “green” residence hall on campus. The building was designed by Raleigh-based Pearce Brinkley Cease and Lee and Baltimore-based Ayers/Saint/Gross. Construction is being managed by Michigan-based Barton Malow and Greensboro-based Samet Corp. State economist cited by the university estimate that for every $1 million spent on construction, 36 jobs are created, and that each dollar spent on projects such as the residence hall an additional $2.28 is pumped back into the state’s economy. The new residence hall, which will house 400 students in suite-style rooms, is expected to open in August 2011.

Chancellor: UNCG doesn't see Newman Whitney site as 'viable'

The Greensboro Zoning Commission turned down a request by Ohio-based Edwards Communities to build a massive student apartment complex on the Newman Whitney Machine property on Spring Garden Street. It remains unclear whether the decision will be appealed to the city council.

If it is, this Dec. 23 letter from UNCG Chancellor Linda Brady to Mayor Bill Knight and members of the council will likely bear some impact on their decision:

We have had discussions with Edwards Communities for nearly three years regarding off-campus student housing alternatives. We recognize Edwards as a nationally-reputable student housing provider and have respect for Edwards’ professionalism and portfolio of work. However, UNCG does not currently consider the Newman Whitney site in College Hill as a viable component of the conceived new neighborhood of university-controlled housing [emphasis mine]. When the university’s Strategic Housing Plan was developed, Edwards was invited to consider partnering with UNCG to develop the ‘new neighborhood’ of university-controlled housing somewhere else near campus, rather than proceeding with their planned project to the east of Fulton and Spring Garden (Newman Whitney property). However, Edwards declined, presumably because Edwards had already expended pre-development costs in the Newman project.

Brady also said UNCG plans to expand its inventory of university-controlled student housing by 4,000 beds in the next decade "by building additional housing facilities on campus and by exploring the possibilities for the development of a new neighborhood of university-controlled student housing near campus."

A Foxy Eye on the Arts: Andrew Martin Art Exhibit Opens in High Point

Review of a new exhibit at High Point University focusing on the influence of one North Carolina artist on a lineage of notable local painters.

I was fortunate to attend the intriguing and historically significant opening Nov 3rd of the Tribute to Andrew Martin exhibit showing at the Sechrest Gallery at High Point University. Curated by Maxine Campbell, the show features works by Martin as well as UNCG affiliated colleagues influenced by his work; many of whom were former students of Martin. The exhibit includes twenty works on loan from the Weaver Foundation, which was formed in 1967 and is comprised of the works of artists who have studied or taught at UNCG. The show's other paintings are on loan from private collections.

Martin, who was part of the Hansa cooperative in New York City in the 1950s, was intrigued with the endless combinations of light, color and pattern within a painting. His work contained no political statements or underlying messages. Rather, Martin believed that "regardless of its theme or impulse, a painting ultimately is about the nature and possibilities of painting."

The show subtly underscores his painterly motivation by showcasing multiple large-scale views from his backyard, a scene he painted over and over again in all seasons, displayed side-by-side commanding an entire wall of the gallery. Other works of Martin's hang throughout, interspersed with those of former students and colleagues as well as artists who may not have studied with him but whose work is nonetheless informed by his style.

One painter clearly influenced by Martin is Bruce Shores, who has nine pieces in the show. The depth of that influence is plainly revealed with an introduction to Bruce's nine-year-old son, who is prompted to divulge, (with a small sigh and a hint of eye-rolling at grown-up foolishness) for perhaps the hundredth time that night, that his middle name is "Andrew, ... after Andrew Martin".

The exhibit's other artists cover an enjoyable visual range. From the stylistically similar like Shores or Henry Link, to those whose work moves in other directions like the smooth, graceful lines and saturated hues of Richard Fennell's lush still life paintings. The most interesting juxtaposition in the show however, comes with its own story. "Payson-Park Indiantown" by Martin and "Payson Park-Motif One" by Robert Keeny, hang in the show together aptly enough, as they were painted together. Keeny and Martin spent time visiting with one another in Florida, where they would go out for the day and paint, swapping the fruits of their labor at day's end as a remembrance of the time. Keeny's painting was purchased eventually by the Weaver Foundation and upon viewing their collection, Keeny donated his Martin painting of the scene to them as well.

The exhibit runs through January 30th, 2009 and the gallery is open to the public, free of charge, 1-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 1-3 p.m. some Saturdays. For more information, contact the gallery at 336-841-4685. After hours, contact Gallery Curator and Director Maxine Campbell at 336-803-1815.