UNC Asheville Students Organize Bond Rally;
Five Legislators to Speak at the November 6 Event

The UNC Asheville Student Government Association, led by SGA President Ryan Southern, will hold a Higher Education Bond Rally at noon Monday, Nov. 6, in the University Dining Hall. Southern and UNCA Chancellor Jim Mullen will be joined by the five state legislators who reside in Buncombe County -- N.C. Senators Charles Carter and Stephen Metcalf, and N.C. Representatives Lanier Cansler, Martin Nesbitt and Wilma Sherrill.

"The bond referendum is a critical issue for UNC Asheville and the state's other higher education institutions. It's not just about buildings, it's about students and it's about opportunity. UNC Asheville's students deserve the same chance as students anywhere else. If we want to emerge into the workplace prepared to succeed, we need to be learning in up-to-date facilities," Southern said. "The rally is one more opportunity to remind students and others on campus what's at stake. And we are very pleased that our local legislators are supporting us in this effort."

The Higher Education Improvement Bonds, on Tuesday's ballot, would provide $3.1 billion to build and renovate facilities on campuses of the state's 16 public universities and 58 community colleges.

UNC Asheville would receive $49.9 million needed for constructing new facilities and improving existing ones. Funds would go to:

* Highsmith Student Center Renovation and Addition -- $11.5 million. Funds will allow UNC Asheville to complete the long-awaited renovation and expansion of the current student union facility, built when UNCA's residential students numbered one-third what they do now.

* New Math and Science Building -- $22.2 million. This building, to be sited across the road from the current Rhoades/Robinson math and science building, would replace UNCA's obsolete science facility.

* Carmichael Hall Renovation -- $5.5 million. These funds will allow UNC Asheville to renovate and modernize this outdated classroom building, constructed in 1966, which houses the History, Philosophy, Classics and Foreign Languages departments and the Humanities Program.

* Zageir Hall Renovation -- $2.6 million. Funds would allow UNCA to improve and expand this undersized and heavily used building constructed in 1975, which houses the Psychology, Sociology, Political Science and Education departments and the Teaching Fellows and Africana Studies programs.

* New Physical Plant Building -- $6.3 million. This new building replaces an inadequate structure, in use since 1963. The new location on Campus Drive allows the current site of the Physical Plant to be used for additional parking and residence halls.

* General Campus Improvements -- $1 million. Funds will allow UNC Asheville to upgrade such infrastructure needs as the general campus electrical system.

* Technology Infrastructure Expansion -- $751,200. Funds will allow UNC Asheville to improve capacity to meet current and future demands.

Media Contacts:

• Ryan Southern, Student Government Association President, 828/275-5774
• Tom Byers, Executive Assistant to the Chancellor, 828/251-6500
• Jill Yarnall, UNCA Public Information Assistant, 828/251-6526