Student-athletes meet with former Chancellor Leutze

Submitted by Bob Bonner, Sports Director

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013, 7:38am

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - Six days after learning their program was facing termination members of the UNCW swimming and diving programs continue to fight the fight, but they are yet to get the audience that they're seeking.

Chancellor Gary Miller.

Miller has been out of town and unavailable for comment on the recommendations of the IARC (Intercollegiate Athletic Review Committee) which led the team in a different direction.

Tuesday morning four members of the program had a 45-minute meeting with former Chancellor James Leutze.

"We wanted to know what is the next step and he did give us an answer." said rising senior Matt Byrd. "We should formally meet with Chancellor Miller and sit down with him and let him bounce ideas off of us, present him with some things and leave him with information that we've gathered."

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UNCW Chancellor prepares for student-athlete rally

Submitted by Bob Bonner, Sports Director

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013, 7:36am

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - UNCW Chancellor Gray Miller is preparing his staff for a Wednesday rally planned for the steps of Trask Coliseum.

Members from athletic programs which are facing recommended cuts will assemble at 12:15 Wednesday in an effort to raise public awareness to the proposed cuts.

The following is an email Miller sent to members of the Board of Trustees on Tuesday.

From: <@gmail.com>

Date: May 21, 2013, 3:57:49 PM EDT

To: @gmail.com

Subject: BOT today from Chancellor Miller

Members of the Board:

Tomorrow around noon we expect a group to assemble outside Trask Coliseum to make their voices heard about the IARC's recommendations to eliminate 5 UNCW sports.

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What it took to remove Brian Berger from office

Submitted by Craig Reck, Reporter

Tuesday, May 21st, 2013, 7:51am

Commissioners voted 3-2 to remove Berger from office.

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Elected leaders voted 3-2 Monday afternoon in favor of removing one of their own from the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners.

By the process of an amotion hearing, commissioners kicked Brian Berger out of public office. Amotion is not bound by state law, but the county conducted the hearing similar to one that would happen in a courtroom.

It didn't take long in the process for Christopher Anglin, representing Berger, to question the board's ability to allow evidence against his client without having the ability to cross examine it.

Berger said a few days was not enough time to prepare his case. Anglin later said he was contact about a week ago to take the case. Sheriff's deputies served Berger with the charges against him almost a month ago.

Attendance

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Locals talk about moving to Hollywood for their big break

Submitted by Ashlea Kosikowski, WECT News

Tuesday, May 21st, 2013, 7:49am

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Open letter from Dave Allen to program supporters

Submitted by Bob Bonner, Sports Director

Tuesday, May 21st, 2013, 7:39am

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - Soon after learning his program faced the possibility of being cut, Dave Allen was overwhelmed by the number of calls, emails and letters of support that he received.

Not one to use social media (he also doesn't have a cell phone) Allen emailed his student-athletes thanking them and encouraging them to keep up the fight. The letter is below.

Dear Swimmers and Divers:

It is with great heart ache that I am writing you this email. I cannot begin to tell you how saddened I am with the decision of the review committee report.

I feel this is not a very good reflection on how well you have all done here at UNCW as students and as athletes, and how well you have represented this University.

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Dave Allen preparing for uncertain future of swimming and diving program

Submitted by Bob Bonner, Sports Director

Tuesday, May 21st, 2013, 7:37am

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - UNCW Swimming and Diving head coach Dave Allen ends his voicemail message with "It's a great day to be a Seahawk."

That message remains despite the possibility of his program being dropped from the roster of sports at UNCW.

Based on last week's recommendations from the Intercollegiate Athletics Review committee, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's cross country and indoor track and field as well as softball are facing the possibility of termination.

"All of the coaches here work so hard to try to make the University proud of what they're doing, and what their teams are doing." Allen said Monday afternoon. "When something like this happens you sit there and go well, maybe we're not appreciate and there is a lack of respect for what we're attempting to do."

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Commissioners vote 3-2 to remove Brian Berger

Submitted by WECT Web Staff

Monday, May 20th, 2013, 10:12pm

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Commissioners in New Hanover County voted 3-2 Monday in favor of removing Brian Berger from the board.

The amotion process started after the board's meeting Monday. It was the first hearing in the state in more than 100 years.

Berger retained a lawyer for the process, Chris Anglin who is based in Raleigh. Anglin filed a Temporary Restraining Order in an effort to delay the process, but a judge ruled against it.

Jonathan Barfield said early in the hearing he was not pleased with the process. He said it seemed like the decision had already been made. Woody White reminded Barfield that elected leaders don't have the ability to choose which issues to deal with.

Berger's tardiness and other run-ins with the law were mentioned during the hearing.

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