Have a question for Direct Line?
Send it to CB#6205.
QWhat is the status of the old University Laundry building on Cameron Avenue? I drive past it every day and it really is an eye sore. After the work that went into landscaping around the power plant, it seems so strange for it to sit by with boarded windows and decaying facade. Does anyone still work in it? Are there plans for this property (i.e. renovation, demolition)?
AAbout two years ago, a decision was made to renovate the old laundry building for the Housekeeping Headquarters and for the Physical Plant shops. The building, although basically sound, required extensive renovation to accommodate these new functions. The first step was the removal of all asbestos and lead paint from within the building. This work was placed under contract in the summer 1994 and completed in spring 1995. Phase II, which was recently completed, made repairs to the roof structure and put a new roof on the building. Phase III, just under contract, will complete exterior repairs to the building, including windows, doors, etc. This phase will continue through spring or summer of this year. When it is complete, we will bid out the final phase, which will accomplish the interior development of the building. We expect the project to be completed and the building occupied in the spring of 1997. The total project's cost is approximately $2.2 million, funded through a combination of appropriated repair and renovation funds (from 1993, 1994 & 1995) and University trust funds.
Gordon Rutherford, Director, Facilities Planning and Design
QThe other day I was waiting for an elevator in Hamilton Hall when a young man came in and proceeded to post about 15 different announcements, completely covering the existing posters on the bulletin board. In response to my inquiry, he informed me that he was the employee of a private service that attacks every campus bulletin board in this way, and that he also performs this service on other high-traffic, high-visibility spots such as building stairwells. With some pride he noted that he regularly blankets Dey Hall in half an hour.
These commercial announcements (on this particular occasion his primary client was Cat's Cradle) would not seem to be the purpose for which the taxpayers intended that their bulletin boards and buildings stairwells be used. My assumption always has been that the campus bulletin boards were meant for academic announcements and that blank walls were meant to be, well, blank. Am I correct? If so, where do I go to complain? Is there anything that can be done about this?
AThe Policy on Use of University Facilities for Noncommercial and Commercial Purposes covers the use of bulletin boards on campus. The policy states that general purpose bulletin boards may be used for information purposes and for materials associated with student election campaign, as well as solicitation of charitable organizations and fund-raising events that meet certain criteria outlined in the policy. The policy further states that they may not be used for commercial purposes, except for use by University students, faculty and staff for offering for sale personal items such as textbooks, bicycles or typewriters or for advertising individual services of students, faculty and staff such as baby-sitting or term-paper typing for compensation. No notices, advertisement or document of any kind shall be attached to any wall, door, lamppost or tree. Complaints regarding unauthorized postings on bulletin boards should be made to the University Police.
Bruce Runberg, Associate Vice Chancellor, Facilities Management
QWhen was the idea of Tar Heel Temporaries conceived? And, when did it actually start?
AThe idea of an "in-house" temporary service to serve campus departments was evaluated beginning in 1988. The idea came to fruition in 1991 when Laurie Charest, associate vice chancellor for human resources, persuaded other senior administrators of the benefits that such a service would bring to the campus. Human Resources' Employment Department management met with many departmental business managers who often used outside private temp companies. Overwhelmingly, the business managers expressed their desire for an in-house service. The Employment Department then developed a business plan for the service. In 1991, the University administration loaned to the Employment Department the "start-up" funding for Tar Heel Temps. The staff was hired to operate the service and it began in January 1992. It is a self-supporting operation and is highly used by campus departments. Tar Heel Temps has to generate its business to stay in business. It has been able to find highly qualified temporaries through rigorous screening. Typically, Tar Heel Temps has 225 temporary employees on assignment in any given week. Departments needing short-term temporary help still are able to hire directly or to use outside private temp companies. Two excellent by-products of the in-house service are that (1) the private temp companies have lowered their charges to stay competitive and (2) it has helped recruitment for permanent SPA openings.
Jack Stone, Employment Director, Human Resources
To the UNC Home Page