• Residence hall to be complete by July 2011

On April 9, the Board of Governors officially approved the building of a co-ed residence hall set to be completed by July 2011.

• Relay for Life raises $33K for cancer

Celebrate, remember, fight back!
These four words brought 902 participants together on the UC Lawn to form 51 teams and walk 24 hours in support of cancer caretakers, survivors and victims while raising $33,825.12 for The American Cancer Society during Relay for Life on April 16-17.

• Detective: graffiti linked to county gangs

UNCP Detective Ed Locklear said the graffiti appearing in men’s bathrooms around campus is directly linked to gangs in Robeson County.

• Kyle Carter is new UNCP Chancellor

Western Carolina University Provost Kyle Carter has been named Chancellor at UNCP by the UNC Board of Governors. The presumed previous frontrunner in the search, State Controller David McCoy, reportedly had withdrawn his name.

• Provost resigns, stays as Professor

Dr. Charles F. Harrington resigned as Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs on March 29.

Dr. Harrington told The Pine Needle he resigned to return to teaching economics and finance, which he called “my first love.”

• Chancellor may be Controller McCoy

The Pine Needle has learned that North Carolina State Controller David T. McCoy is likely to be named UNCP’s next chancellor.

• Admissions office refuses art piece

When senior art major Meriel Smith began her semester, she had no idea that her work painting figures would result in a controversy over whether or not creative art should be displayed in the Office of Admissions in Lumbee Hall.

• Secrecy in chancellor search continues through finalists

The campus was surprised to learn at the Faculty Senate meeting March 3 that the finalists in the search for a new UNCP chancellor reportedly were to be brought to campus over spring break when most faculty and students would be away.

• Students oppose tuition increase

Students at UNCP and all campuses in the UNC system petitioned in January against an 8 percent tuition and fee increase for 2010-2011. The goal was 21,500 signatures, and more than 22,000 students signed the petition.

• Train crash simulation set for March

As safety remains a major concern for University officials, a train derailment exercise will be held on March 11, beginning at 8 a.m. and ending at 2 p.m.

• Campus QEP plan to improve student writing capabilities

The University is finalizing its Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), a University-wide program to improve student learning in a particular area as part of the University’s reaccreditation process.

• Tuition and fees increase next fall

Tuition and fees for each of the campuses in the University of North Carolina system will increase next fall, but by how much is still up to the state legislators.

• Jenna Walters is Miss UNCP 2010

Senior Mass Communications major Jenna Walters was crowned on Feb. 4 at the 58th annual Miss UNCP Scholarship Pageant held in GPAC. More than 1,000 people watched the competition.

• Band performs tribute to America

When the Band of the Irish Guards and the Sutherland Highlanders 5th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland performed in GPAC on Jan. 19, patrons were treated to a rare sight as members of these legendary bands performed traditional European music dressed in full regalia.

• Campus mourns loss of international student, retired professor

The UNCP community is mourning the deaths of an international student and a retired history professor.

• New door alarms in dorms offer safety, piercing noise

Students living in residence halls were welcomed back with new alarms on the emergency exit doors when returning from winter break, an installation that has caused controversy with some students living in the residence halls.

• Students come together for Haiti relief

The devastation in Haiti is not as far away as some people may think. The earthquake that devastated the country has hit close to home with some of the students at UNCP, who are now working on ways to provide relief for Haiti.

• Holiday Inn opens doors for business

Pembroke’s new Holiday Inn Express, located at 605 Redmond Road, opened Jan. 20. after a year long building process.