Rosemary Street runs through it

I was driving back to the store today and happened to turn onto East Rosemary Street at Boundary, so I passed by the house where I lived during the summer of 1990, and that got me to thinking about how central to my life Rosemary Street has been over most of the time I've lived in Chapel Hill. The Pink House was a block behind East Rosemary on North Street, the second national SEAC office was on East Rosemary, the MOVE office & the first Lost City location overlooked West Rosemary, and the second Lost City is at 402 West Rosemary Street.

Even the side streets running off Rosemary Street have been important. Ericka Kurz lived on the corner of Church and Short Street, a block from Rosemary. Jyoti & Swati's Plastic House was right behind La Rez on Pritchard Ave., one house off Rosemary. I started running my used furniture business working out of Chris Pedigo's apartment on Pritchard, also storing stuff at the Plastic House, inside the Pink House garage, and throwing yard sales at both Pritchard locations. And of course, Jay Murray has kept the Pink House vibe alive for five years on the corner of Pritchard and Carr.

R.I.P. Ericka Kurz (1968-1993)

I think I'm past my initial shock at the news of Ericka's death and my profound grief that followed. I was definitely grieving for a while there this week, walking around campus all out of focus and lost in worlds of thought about her, and all the times I could remember spending with her. I kept turning the details of how she died over in my head, and lost a lot of sleep the first couple of nights after you called me, just feeling miserable and agitated, all fucked up in general.

Ericka and Raj at Pink House, Spring '92.

Now I'm at a stage where everything's receding a little bit, which is both good and bad. Until my exams finish, I absolutely have to focus on studying. But at the same time, I feel like my mind unleashed this torrent of memories about Ericka this week that now, already somehow, I don't remember as well any more. It's funny how memory works like that. I want to think about Ericka, and write everything down about her that I can recall, but again, I feel like I can't sit down, start, and not finish. It's got to be the whole nine or else I'm going to further mess with my memory circuits and not be able to conjure up intense mental images of her again for a long time.

- Letter to Dana, 5/2/93

(Note from 10/28/10 - Impossibly hard to believe it's been 17 1/2 years since Ericka was murdered. That seems like such an eternity, and yet I still think about her and miss her like crazy. From the time I met Ericka at the first SEAC organizing meeting of the fall '89 semester in Hamilton Hall, I had a mad crush on her. (In Caroline Philson's words, me and probably every other guy - and girl - in SEAC). Only I was a freshman, and she was a junior, so there was little chance that was going to happen. But we became friends.

Pink House, Spring '92. Photo courtesy of Raj Krishnasami.

I wish I had written down my memories of Ericka like I'd planned to back then, because I'd love to remember every detail of all the times I spent hanging out with her late nights around her kitchen table on Short Street, passing through the familiar beaded curtains to find her (and often her housemate Banu, or other pals) eating ice cream or occasionally cooking up something more nutritious. Dropping by the SEAC HQ's, both office #1 on Franklin Street, then #2 on Rosemary, and watching her work day and night to make sure SEAC would continue taking things to the next level. Plotting with her on an ultimately unsuccessful plan to secure an off-campus house on Mallette Street that would double as an office space and crash pad for national staffers. Driving her to Raleigh one afternoon at breakneck speed through rush hour traffic because she had to file some important paperwork by 5 pm for SEAC's national incorporation. Going out to her Mom (Jennie Knoop)'s Granville County farm for a retreat and sitting under the stars together with all our fellow SEAC'ers in front of bonfires late into the night, feeling young and idealistic and full of life.


"UNC-CH students protest Exxon recruiting & policies," N&O, 10/20/90. From right: Lisa Abbott, Ericka Kurz, Jimmy Langman, Alec Guettal, David Biggs, Erik Ose. Dan Coleman and Greg Gangi are near the far left.

Last year I re-connected with former SEAC National Office staffer and Threshold editor Eric Odell. He wrote an eloquent tribute to Ericka that was read at her memorial service (also at her Mom's farm), and promised me he'd look for a copy to re-post here at some point. As time continues to pass, it bothers me more and more that Ericka's story remains largely untold. Although I did recently stumble across a long blog post that her Mom wrote in 2006, which is the most detailed account of her life and death available online. Ericka helped change the world in her not-quite-25 years (Dec. 5, 1968 - April 25, 1993), and had the potential to do so much more if she had lived longer. Her death was a heartbreaking tragedy and outrage.)

For more info about Ericka's organizing work with SEAC, visit The Ericka Kurz Archive.

Possible names for '96 anti-Helms voter registration coalition

(Editor's note from 2013 - recently on Facebook, Susan Comfort noted that Mark Chilton and myself were schooled by our time in SEAC (Students Engaged in Acronym Construction) to think up catchy names for some of our future political projects - for example, Musicians Organized for Voter Education (MOVE). She was right, and to prove it here's the list I came up with while trying to brainstorm what to call a sister organization to MOVE that could register more voters when Jesse Helms was next up for re-election, in 1996).

Democrats Organized for Voter Education (DOVE)

Stop Helms - Organize Voter Education (SHOVE)

Liberals Organized for Voter Education against Helms (LOVE a Helms)

Student Coalition for Voter Registration

Democratic Youth in Action

People for a Progressive North Carolina

Coalition for a Progressive North Carolina

Progressive United North Carolina (PUNC)

Congressional Club - Not!

Progressive Congressional Club

Revolutionary Citizens Coalition

Young People's Liberation Army

Voter Education Revolves around Youth (VERY) Project

Radical Revolutionary Liberation Power Movement

Coalition Against More Power to Helms (CAMP)-NC

Progressives Organize - We'll Educate Rednecks (POWER)

Just Educate Some Students Everyday (JESSE)

Pink House circa Summer of '92

I drove back down to Chapel Hill. Got here around the end of June. First of all, the house was a mess. Looked like a fucking band of gypsies had been living here! Next, I found out there were several vacant rooms in the Pink House that needed to be filled with people, pronto, otherwise I would have been up to my eyeballs in debt from having had to pay close to nine hundred dollars in rent myself.

So that's the sort of things that have been occupying my time for the past few weeks. Mark, I have not yet gotten involved with any voter registration campaign...in fact, I haven't even been in touch with Kate Lowenstein since I've been back in town. I think I'll call her tomorrow. Caroline, you would never guess who I saw tonight...Alec Guettel! He was drinking beer with me and about twenty other National SEAC people in the Forest Theatre. He's been living in New York and working with SEAC, but this summer marks the end of his involvement for right now. Isn't that sad to think about, in a way? Seeing him brought back lots of old memories of what it was like for all of us, you, me and Mark, when we were just becoming involved with SEAC our freshman year. There's a National Council meeting going on this week, and many people are in town for it. Many of them are also sleeping in our living room downstairs, right now.

Joe Herzenberg called me on the phone today, and I ran into my friend Termain Kyles outside the TEP house this evening, and Deidre, of all people, came by this morning with my housemate Lydia to wake me up, and SEAC people like Eric Odell, Ernesto Guzman, and Todd Thomas were dropping by the house, all of whom I haven't seen in a couple months.


Ernesto & Todd, Spring '92

Last night I heard Uzoma Nwosu (you know Uzi, right?) on air doing his hip-hop/dance show on WXYC, so I called him up at the station and we're going to get together this week. Plus, on this past Tuesday night Lydia and I went to the Cradle to see Arrested Development, the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, and Me Phi Me perform. Finis Dunaway was there, among a cast of hundreds. Preston and Richard are around, working at the Varsity, haunting Franklin Street and Papagayo's. We've discovered a swimming pool that's at Northampton Terraces, just two apartment complexes behind North Street. It's the new Pink House pool...we go there to swim every day. See, these are all just some of the things that make me happy to be in Chapel Hill again.

- Letter to Caroline (& Mark Chilton) in Kenya

Dada Veda are one band you have to experience for yourself

"More decadence for your money at Cradle," Daily Tar Heel, 3/36/92

By LINDSAY LOWRY

Plutopia and Gravity's Pull will be donating their time for a cause both bands feel is vitally important, the vanishing rain forests and the indigenous people of South America and tropical Asia being destroyed along with them. Tuesday night (March 31) will be a joint endeavor of the Rain Forest Action Group of the SEAC and the Amnesty International Student Group. One of the new Cradle "Four Bands for $2" evenings, all proceeds go to help indigenous groups protect their land and livelihood from the onslaught of industrial "progress".

In addition to Plutopia and Gravity's Pull, the evening will feature Two Fish Blue and Dada Veda. Formerly John Svara and the Reptiles, Two Fish Blue (Svara, John Gillespie and Ian Shreier) has already gained quite a following in the state and beyond with their blend of intelligent lyrics and accessible music. They seem to be moving away from the acoustic-based sound they started with, and are experimenting, more with stronger bass lines and drum beats. Svara has been experimenting with electric guitar, to bring more rock flavor to his sound.

Dada Veda is a student band that consistently packs the Hardback Cafe and turning 'em away at the door. Their sound has a hint of the dark and moody found in the Smiths, and with their classical guitar, funky bass and a lead singer who delights in his drama major-ness, they are one band you have to experience for yourself.

So it looks like the coming week will be a good time to hear some good music...whether you want to be frivolous or help the disenfranchised. Spend the $2 and expose yourself to some Chapel Hill culture.

Benefit for Indigenous People with Two Fish Blue, Plutopia, Gravity's Pull and Dada Veda.
Tuesday, March 31 Cat's Cradle.
Tickets $2 at the door.
For information, 967-9053.

Two of the most fun people we know

"Class of '93 hopefuls touted," Daily Tar Heel, 2/11/92

Philson/Pedigo would lead UNC to productive, fun year

To the editor: We are writing to endorse Caroline Philson and Christopher Pedigo for senior class president and vice president. As members of the class of '93, we feel that Philson and Pedigo are the best candidates for the following reasons:

Leadership. Philson is presently co-chairwoman of EEK! (Earth Education for Kids) and has been actively involved with the Student Environmental Action Coalition and UNITAS. Pedigo is the co-founder of the Russian House. He has also worked in student government and with Pauper Players. Philson and Pedigo have proven that they are effective leaders of various organizations, that they can be strong leaders of the class of '93.

Goals. Philson and Pedigo have goals that affect not only the senior class, but the entire University. Let's face it: We've been here for three years. Our awareness of the University's policies and problems put us in a position to do something about them. Now is the time for seniors to give back to the University. Philson and Pedigo hope to implement a book-loan program that would save all students money on books. They also plan to organize a task force to keep students informed about the budget crisis and what the legislature is doing.

Unity. Philson and Pedigo want to work hard to include all seniors in senior class activities. After three years of hard work, it's time to have some fun, but one-sided senior class activities are only fun for some. Philson and Pedigo hope to create activities that all seniors will feel comfortable participating in. Accessibility. Philson and Pedigo hope to be accessible to all seniors by participating in activities that encompass all seniors. This will include mobile "office" hours in places such as Lenoir Dining Hall and the Pit.

Fun. These two are some of the most fun people we know. They will most certainly lend their enthusiastic attitudes to everything they do. Remember, "For a good time, vote for Philson and Pedigo." Philson and Pedigo know what the offices of senior class president and vice president entail. They'll let George Bush promise you a job, but if you want to have a great time and help out the University in your last year at UNC, vote Philson and Pedigo for senior class president and vice president.

TRAVIS THOMPSON TYGART
Junior, Philosophy/Speech Communication

RUBY SINREICH
Junior, Environmental Protection

Threshold launches SEAC as a national movement

Twenty years after we both spent countless hours helping to organize Threshold in our first semester at UNC, C-line and I sat down to reminisce and remember about SEAC's early days. We thought about touching down at the Forest Theatre, where Threshold concluded in an emotional ceremony on Sunday, October 29, 1989. But it was otherwise occupied by the Paperhand Puppet Intervention, performing one of their annual late summer shows. So we traveled a few hundred yards down the road, and ended up at the curved stone bench behind Gimghoul Castle that overlooks the far edge of Battle Park.



At the first SEAC organizing meeting of the fall semester '89 (in Hamilton 100), Jimmy Langman convinced us all that Threshold was going to spark a national movement, and Ericka Kurz gave a fiery, impassioned speech wearing a cool black leather jacket. Besides Jimmy and Ericka, SEAC O.G.'s who were running the show included Alec Guettal, Blan Holman, and Don Whittier. They were all juniors, seniors, even recent grads, but nobody past their early twenties. Still, as C-line put it, "They seemed so old. And we said, tell us what you need us to do!"



The nuts and bolts work of actually organizing a nationwide conference in the pre-internet era was a little less romantic. Working alongside dedicated souls like Lisa Abbott, Chris van Daalen, Celeste Joye, Yu-Yee Wu, Raj Krishnasami, Mark Chilton, Quaker Kappel, Ruby Sinreich, Dave Ball, and a bunch of other SEAC'ers, we prepared mass mailings, entered hundreds of pre-registered attendees' names into ancient Mac computers, lined up crash pad arrangements with hundreds of UNC students, and using a primitive device known as the landline telephone, called up folks who wanted more info to convince them to make the trek to Chapel Hill. And my favorite part, sitting around in endless meeting circles on the second floor of the Campus Y, arguing over one minor detail or another until the WHOLE GROUP reached a consensus.


Threshold ad from Oct. '89 issue of Music Monitor.

The conference succeeded beyond anyone's wildest dreams. Over 1,700 folks showed up from around the country, representing 43 states and 225 schools. It was the largest gathering of student activists since the heyday of SDS in the late 60s. And it launched SEAC as a national student and youth-led environmental movement.

On a personal level, my involvement with SEAC convinced me I wanted to be an organizer, and laid the foundation for all my political work that's followed. I became good friends with C-line, and our adventures have continued ever since. I worked on my first winning political campaign thanks to SEAC, when we helped elect Mark Chilton to the Chapel Hill Town Council two years later. And if I hadn't bonded with fellow SEAC'er Raj K., we wouldn't have agreed to live together (along with Clint Curtis) in the spring of '91, which started our search for off-campus housing that eventually led to the Pink House.

Back in the Spring of '89

I'm home for a week's vacation in RI. Taking things slow and easy. Right. Anyway, so my folks have me on trash detail, going through piles and secret stashes of all kinds of long-forgotten shit that's accumulated as a result of my adventures and travels. Naturally, there's lots of treasures and funky stuff. So I come across the 57th pile, and check it, turns out to be DTH's and other campus publications that I hoarded when first coming down to check UNC out back in the spring of '89.


What's going on in that world? It's a wild one, with places like Fowler's, Colonel Chutney's, and the Carolina Theatre on Franklin Street still in full effect.


The Cradle has just re-opened its doors in February in its "new" location across from Hardee's. SEAC members are staging a protest against dolphin-killing tuna expeditions, with Don Whittier at the helm. Brien Lewis has just defeated Trey Loughran in an SBP runoff election. Outgoing BSM leader Kenneth Perry is shaking things up by saying some pissed off things that white Carolina students don't want to hear.


This woman named Kasey Jones is producing controversial lab! theater plays. Some cat named Ian Williams is writing funny columns for the DTH. Dave Suroweicki is the DTH assistant photo editor coming on strong. Ed Davis, or Ruffin Poole, or whoever the fuck that kid was, is cutting up as editor of the Phoenix. Speaking of Davises, there's this media whore named Gene who seems to get his ass quoted in every freaking DTH article published.


And there's even a radical new voice on the scene, some kid named Dana Lumsden (and yes, he is a male) writing guest columns about how George Bush needs to stop helping his friends profit off the arms trade while he's hypocritically leading a hyped up War on Drugs.

- e-mail to Dana, 7/23/98