Win-win situation
Although his men's basketball team was predicted to lose its exhibition game against UNC last week, Mount Olive College coach Bill Clingan had entered into a win-win situation. Sure, the final score of 100-69 in the Tar Heels' favor wasn't his ideal outcome. But the coach obviously cared more about getting his players the experience that comes with playing a major power such as UNC than with actually winning the game.
Too many dollars
The Tuition Advisory Task Force's recommendations made up a small step of a lengthy process, but the group missed a major opportunity to send trustees a message that exploitative increases are unwanted. The task force presented three recommendations to the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees, calling for an in-state tuition hike of $250 to $350 and an out-of-state tuition increase of $800 to $1200. That's simply too much. In a year following major campus-based increases, we need a tuition freeze.
Take it from me, don't forsake your own mental well-being
Last year, I got stuck in a rut. I'm still not exactly sure why, but it royally - emphasis on royally - sucked. I lost interest in everything I enjoyed, half-heartedly completed class assignments and gave almost everyone in every capacity of my life the shaft. Every day, critical questions spun through my head like a cassette tape stuck on fast-forward. "What's your problem?" "Why don't you just snap out of it?" "What do you have to feel sorry about?" I couldn't think of anything.
Staying in control
Members of the University community are protesting the possibility that UNC might accept money from the Raleigh-based John William Pope Foundation to fund a Western civilization program. Though guarding against the influence of outside groups on the University and protecting the spirit of academic freedom are noble goals, this funding proposal should be no cause for consternation.
Group created shirts to call out apathy and cynicism that plague United States
TO THE EDITOR: We were happy to see Christopher Bathon's letter regarding the "Strike" shirts visible on campus last week. His response is proof that the shirts are generating conversation, which was the goal. We would like to take this opportunity to clear up Chris. We firmly believe that participation in the democratic process does not end on Election Day. We, too, were inspired by the passion demonstrated by our peers leading up to Nov. 2, and we hope to capture this momentum and to inspire people to believe in their ability to create change.
Distribution process is fair, and CAA members receive tickets for hard work
TO THE EDITOR: I am writing in response to the letter in Monday's paper about the ineffectiveness of the ticket distribution system. In response to the alleged lack of communication by the Carolina Athletic Association, I ask if the individual has visited the CAA Web site (http://www.unc.edu/caa).
Bad shot selection
Student Congress saved students from a ticket distribution disaster last Tuesday. But, amusingly enough, it was Congress that put them in peril in the first place. A majority of Student Congress representatives voted down Tuesday the current distribution policy for the men's basketball season, then reversed that decision and approved the policy.
A troubling trend
It is a sad state of affairs when members of the U.S. Congress defraud the very citizens whom they are elected to represent. Politicians are supposed to be servants of their constituents, and personal gain should be a distant second to that primary duty. Frank Ballance, a former Democratic U.S. congressman from the 1st District, ignored such a principle. He pled guilty Tuesday to using a charitable foundation as a means of channeling money to his law firm, family and church.
Duty to the public
WUNC-FM acted appropriately when it recently changed the wording in an on-air announcement of contributions by Ipas, a Chapel Hill-based international women's rights and health organization. The local National Public Radio affiliate told Ipas representatives that the words "reproductive rights" had to be modified to avoid any potential conflict involving the Federal Communications Commission.
Some post-election actions haven't been constructive
TO THE EDITOR: I am sure by now that most of us have seen our fellow students walking around in the conspicuous "STRIKE" T-shirts. I can honestly say - as a Democrat, a college student and an American - that nothing during the past few weeks has saddened or disgusted me more than these shirts. I think that the participation, political passion and voter turnout demonstrated by the UNC student body throughout the past months and culminating Nov. 2 has been absolutely amazing.
Students should come out to see opera performances
TO THE EDITOR: While the campus might not be aware of it from The Daily Tar Heel's coverage, Carolina's Department of Music presents a plethora of musical events designed to resonate with a variety of musical interests (most are free). Today and Saturday will be no exception as UNC Opera Theatre presents "From Page to Opera Stage" at 8 p.m. in Hill Hall auditorium. Admission is free and open to the public. The one-hour performance makes a great date and could also serve as a fine introduction to opera.
Point: must they divest?
In training and preparing the nation's future doctors, U.S. medical schools share a vital responsibility. Paramount is the directive that doctors impose on themselves before beginning their practice: "First, do no harm." But according to a recent report, some of the best medical schools in the country are choosing not to follow this command - and it's a downright blemish on their otherwise good names.
Neither side is focusing on real issues about abortion
TO THE EDITOR: I am writing in response to Jordan Stone's letter, "Federal funding of abortion itself is an example of imposing particular views." I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiments expressed in Emily Batchelder's column to which Stone was responding, but Stone does make some important points. I think it is important to point out the apparent inability of both sides to recognize the other's argument.
Statistics show full scope of the sexual assault epidemic
One of the reasons I am so vehemently pro-choice is that I feel that bodily sovereignty is one of the most significant issues facing women today. The idea that each woman owns her own body, on her own terms, at all times, is paramount in our struggle for equality and carries over into many other areas. It is fundamental that a woman control every aspect of her sexuality, primarily whether or not she will enter into any kind of sexual engagement.
Counterpoint: must they divest?
A hospital is a business. Its profits are measured in lives. Any deviation from completely impartial, free-market business practices threatens the viability of a business and its potential to succeed. In this case, it threatens the lives that the business supports.
Lessons unlearned
One would think that after chaos erupted from the 2000 election officials would have made voting procedures easier and more efficient before contests reached their climax last week. But that has turned out not to be entirely the case, and some North Carolinian candidates and constituents alike are continuing to feel the consequences. It's too bad that they are having to wait so long before any final result comes along, and it seems as if more could have been done to avoid such uncertainty.
A new zero effect
In a proposed budget going before the UNC-system Board of Governors, system President Molly Broad has recommended that there be a systemwide 0 percent tuition increase. The suggestion not to implement a systemwide increase is the best proposal for BOG members to go with. The potential to apply downward pressure on legislators' tuition policy outweighs any gains to be made by trying to outguess them.
