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DATE: JUNE 5, 2001
SUBJECT: UNC WILMINGTON DOCUMENTARY EXPLORES GROWTH ISSUES IN SIX STATES; AIRS ON PUBLIC TELEVISION 8 P.M., JUNE 20

WILMINGTON, NC — The states along the South Atlantic Seaboard share a dubious distinction — skyrocketing population, traffic jams, threatened fragile environments, and ugly sprawl. A growing public concern is how to handle this explosive growth and still maintain an environment attractive for living and working.

Over the past year, UNC Wilmington Chancellor James R. Leutze has sought answers to that question in a journey that took him from Maryland to Florida. He discovered that we do have choices in how we develop, including options for smart growth or sustainable development.

In its fourth television documentary, Paving the American Dream: Southern Cities, Shores & Sprawl, UNC Wilmington examines what led to the explosive growth occurring along the eastern seaboard and offers some solutions. The program will air at 8 p.m., Wednesday, June 20, on public television in North Carolina and South Carolina. It will also air on public television throughout Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, and Florida during the month of July; air time and dates are to be announced.

"The University of North Carolina at Wilmington is dedicated to fulfilling its mission," said Chancellor James R. Leutze, host and narrator of the documentary. "We must reach beyond our campus boundaries to raise awareness and educate the public about issues that not only affect our state, but our society as a whole."

Growth is exploding along the ecologically fragile coast, especially in the southeastern United States. In 1960, eight million people lived along the coast. That number is expected to reach nearly 23 million by the year 2015 - a staggering 188 percent increase. Inland areas also suffer from unmanaged growth. Abandonment of city life for quiet suburban surroundings has created its own set of problems.

Issues such as traffic congestion, air and water pollution, disappearing farms, forests, and the coastline all lead to a declining quality of life and environment.

Over the course of this hour-long documentary, viewers will hear from scholars, corporations, politicians, community leaders, and citizens up and down the eastern seaboard who are faced with the day-to-day challenges of growth.

"I want people to walk away from watching Paving the American Dream with a sense of urgency," said Leutze. "People must understand that time is critical. Our environment is riding on it."

Paving the American Dream was made possible with the support of many. UNCW faculty and staff were responsible for the entire production from scripting to filming to postproduction. With program concept by Leutze, the documentary was written and directed by Lou Buttino, professor of communication studies, and filmed and edited by Dustin Miller with UNCW-TV.

Executive producer is Elaine Penn who produced the university's previous three award-winning documentaries. In addition to her work at UNC Wilmington, Penn is also a singer/songwriter. She and her sister Vaughan Penn, also a singer/songwriter, wrote and performed the documentary's theme song, "It's a Gift." "It's a Gift" is performed at the close of the documentary as well as on Elaine Penn's new CD, "Same Sky."

Major corporate sponsors are Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation, Sprint PCS, and the Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort at Wrightsville Beach.

For more information, you can reach Elaine Penn at (910) 962-2657.

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