DATE: Saturday, November 15, 1997           TAG: 9711150272

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 

DATELINE: CHAPEL HILL                       LENGTH:   48 lines

STUDENTS AT UNC UPSET OVER ROAD BUILT FOR GIVERS

Students protested Friday outside the Smith Center along a state-financed road to be used only by wealthy UNC-Chapel Hill donors who park at basketball games.

About a dozen students attended a news conference before the men's regular-season opener Friday night and called for reforms within the Board of Transportation, which approved the so-called ``Ram Road.''

``We are here to try to change the way transportation issues are addressed in the state so people have local input and so that the Board of Transportation knows we're not backing down,'' said Mary Furr, a member of the campus group Transportation Reformers.

The road, which was approved in March, was not open for Friday's game against Middle Tennessee State because guardrails had not yet been installed, said a campus traffic guard who wouldn't give her name.

But that didn't stop the students - outnumbered by reporters - from hanging signs reading, ``Prohibit Pointless Pavement,'' and, ``Stomp the Board of Transportation.'' Two cars with security officers stood by, but the protest was a peaceful one.

The $1.3 million connector has caused a stink among local citizens and officials ever since the state board approved its construction in March.

The Educational Foundation, the athletic booster organization at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, requested the road, which supporters say will alleviate post-game traffic congestion.

Although a public road, it serves only an exclusive parking lot for members who donated $40,000 to the foundation.

The board has been scrutinized more in recent weeks after the resignations of two members after allegations that they backed projects that financially benefited them or their families.

Furr said sidewalks and bike lanes for students would have been a better way to spend the money.

``The wishes of the community have been ignored,'' said Furr, who added that the group will protest every game until DOT gets the message. ``We want them to hear us.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Becky Johnson, left, and Scott Warren protest the opening of the

road for wealthy benefactors during the ``Ram Road Stomp'' on

Friday.

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