Opinion

Bible lays out what is sinful behavior and what is not

TO THE EDITOR:This quote was in The Daily Tar Heel on Wednesday as the featured online reader comment (in reference to “Identity in Ink,” Sept. 23): “I am sickened by Christians who judge and claim to know who God loves and what He approves of.”I have to say that this quote shows some ignorance on the part of the writer.

Greek problems should be dealt with house by house

TO THE EDITOR:There has been a great deal of talk lately about Greeks taking responsibility for their actions and their reputation. What these critics fail to understand is that the group that has been labeled “Greek” is a figurative umbrella term akin to the likes of UNC “athletics.”The UNC football team doesn’t feel the fallout when the UNC swimming team is cited for numerous alcohol violations.

Jones is disenfranchising graduate students on ASG

TO THE EDITOR:Last Tuesday, Student Congress passed a bill that would restructure the UNC delegation to the Association of Student Governments to better reflect both the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches of our student government as well as the composition of the student body in general.Rather than signing this bill into law or vetoing it outright, Student Body President Jasmin Jones is using a political maneuver to preserve her near-total control of UNC’s ASG delegation.

Fitness doesn’t have to be a pain

For centuries humans have obsessed over finding a quick and easy way to boost brainpower. This is especially true on a college campus where marathon Rock Band sessions and frat parties make cramming a necessary evil.Most try to maximize studying efficiency by barricading themselves in the library armed with the modern elixirs of intelligence — a Red Bull in one hand and a double-shot espresso in the other.But instead of frying your nerves with stimulants, you should take time away from studying to exercise.

QuickHits for Sept. 24

John EdwardsThumbs downRumor has it that John Edwards promised his mistress a rooftop wedding with the Dave Matthews Band. Wow, this would have been the hippest wedding around … if it were 1995.Miley CirusThumbs up

Really, ALE?: ALE must justify its case for equipping of?cers with assault ri?es or abandon the program

North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement agents have the right to be armed, but not with assault rifles. Currently, every agent is equipped with one of these weapons.Some ALE agents have already shown that they are inept at handling the firearms.The (Raleigh) News & Observer reported last week that two of these assault rifles have been stolen, and there has been at least one accidental shooting.This raises serious concerns about the workings of the agency and the decision to arm its agents with these weapons.

Bicycles for all: WeCycles proposes innovative bike rental program that the Town Council should approve

The town of Chapel Hill should allow WeCycles, a nonprofit bike-sharing organization, to begin operations.WeCycles wants to construct kiosks around town near high-traffic areas such as bus stops and various campus locations.For a $45 yearly fee or a $4 hourly fee, people can swipe a OneCard, credit card or WeCycles membership card and have a bike that can be returned to any of the kiosks, which would be open 24 hours.

Greeks wrong to blame DTH for negative coverage

TO THE EDITOR:In response to all of the complaints against The Daily Tar Heel regarding the Greek community, please take the pity party elsewhere.Stop trying to shift blame to the DTH for sensationalizing its articles and attacking Greeks. Multiple arrests surrounding a narcotics bust is sensational by definition. The fact that several of those arrested were or are Greek members is going to put more scrutiny on the Greek community.

Column about Al-Qaeda oversimplified the issue

TO THE EDITOR:Wednesday’s column (“Historical context often missing,” Sept. 23) would greatly benefit from following its own advice.The column attempted to encourage us to understand the true history of regions of interest such as the Middle East. In the process it made just as many irresponsible generalizations that were as equally misleading as “they hate us for our freedom.”

Greeks need to accept responsibility, move on

TO THE EDITOR:Let’s be real here. Stop being defensive and screaming “unfair” because the Greek community is in the spotlight of attention right now. After all, to an extent, you have earned it.First, as an alumnus of the Greek community at UNC, I can say confidently that the vast majority of the Greek community are hard working and good natured people. And yes, a few bad apples do ruin the image for everyone. Welcome to life in the real world.

Cartoon for Sept. 23

Gender pay gap is not as drastic as column indicates

TO THE EDITOR:I don’t get the purpose of Tuesday’s column (“‘Mad women’ and the pay gap,” Sept. 22). Was it to inform us about the show “Mad Men” or misinform us about the pay gap? Diana Furchtgott-Roth, former chief economist of the U.S. Department of Labor, had this to say in her blog: The 77 percent figure comes from comparing the 2007 full-time median annual earnings of women with men, the latest year available from the Census Bureau.

Efficiency the right focus: UNC’s road map for climate action a good start

The University’s new Climate Action Plan shows that it is taking sustainability seriously.This comprehensive road map is as ambitious in the long term as it is practical in the short term. It capitalizes on easy opportunities for efficiency now, while setting a target of carbon neutrality by 2050.Climate change is a heavily politicized issue. Words like “green” and “sustainable” are thrown around because they are politically palatable.

Making Greeks main focus of DTH coverage is wrong

TO THE EDITOR:I would like to know when the Daily Tar Heel decided to expose the weaknesses of its student body rather than promote their successes. Why has a main focus of this paper become an attack on the Greek community?I was under the impression when I entered this University that I would have the support of my school, whatever group I chose to join.This is not competitive journalism, nor is it even journalism that must make a profit to stay afloat.

Housing concerns: Department shouldn’t hire outside help right now

Another outside firm has been hired to do consulting for UNC — this time at a cost of up to $100,000. But why can’t UNC’s Department of Housing and Residential Education identify opportunities for improvement on its own? The firm, Brailsford and Dunlavey, specializes in housing facility planning and development. The study would identify opportunities for housing improvements on and off campus. It would also aid in the development of a cohesive housing strategy before new projects begin.

Tape is in public interest: Judge should unseal dashboard camera video of Courtland Smith incident

Randolph County Superior Judge Brad Long should make public the video footage of Courtland Smith’s shooting. The public deserves to examine the circumstances surrounding Smith’s death, especially when law enforcement officials were involved.County Assistant District Attorney Andrew Gregson has asserted that the release of this evidence could taint a jury pool in the event of a trial. But this video is not an inflammatory statement of opinion; it’s fact.

DTH blames Greek system, ignores other problems

TO THE EDITOR:With news of only a few members of the Greek community stepping out of line and the entire body being held responsible for these actions, I find it ironic, yet unsurprising, that The Daily Tar Heel has failed to report on itself.Several Daily Tar Heel staff members were cited for underage drinking this weekend, according to police reports.I would venture to say that every organization on campus does some form of illicit behavior to a certain degree.

Historical context often missing

Perhaps one of the greatest tragedies of our age is that while the Middle East is the primary theater in which the United States’ military is actively engaged, we as a people know little about the historical context of the wars we are waging in that region.“Experts” tell the American people that the conflict between Western civilization and Islamic civilization, as if the two are completely separate entities with no overlap, have been in conflict with one another for more than a millennium.

Congratulations, Carolina Latino Collaborative

The growing number of Latino students on campus have reason to celebrate with the launch of the Carolina Latino Collaborative. And the people involved deserve credit for years of hard work culminating with the opening of the center.A center for Latino students has been in the works for roughly three years, and after tough questions and meetings with administration officials, the project has been realized.The result is an official hub, located in Craige North, for unifying the many diverse Latino groups on campus.

Curb your enrollment

For years, the UNC-system Board of Governors had indicated that increasing enrollment is the number one priority for system schools. But recent data indicate that some schools within the system have graduation and retention rates well below their peers. We’re glad that the board is now focusing on increasing overall educational quality.Pending approval by the N.C. General Assembly, state funding will soon be partially tied to freshmen retention and six-year graduation rates.