It's time to move on from housekeeping controversy
TO THE EDITOR: Regarding “Righting the ship” (Aug.
TO THE EDITOR: Regarding “Righting the ship” (Aug.
We are writing to express our disagreement with the DTH editorial (“Break busts legitimate,” Aug. 31) that stated, “the break policy for housekeepers is reasonable and humane.” We are even more disturbed that University officials have failed to condemn a policy that treats housekeepers like children, demanding that they ask permission from supervisors to sit down when needed.
Many students are already trying to figure out what jobs or internships to do next summer.
Panhellenic sororities at UNC can sometimes get an undeserved bad reputation.
Amid the wake of turbulent flood waters in a mid-campus residence hall last week, the Department of Housing and Residential Education showed a glaring weakness by leaving some students without clear direction. The department needs to do more to prepare and implement contingency plans for emergency situations in the future, so students can know what they are expected to do.
It’s true. I asked them. Well, not really. But Dr. Alan Shindel of UCSF did, in last month’s Academic Medicine. He asked more than 2,000 U.S. and Canadian medical students two questions: 1. How’s your sex life? and 2. Are you comfortable dealing with patients’ sexual issues?
Down 13 starters, seven on one of the top ranked defenses in the nation, and they still came within six yards and seven points of beating former BCS champion and 7.5 point favorite LSU! I am very proud of my fellow Tar Heels that made the trip to Atlanta, especially T.J. Yates, who stepped up and delivered.
The UNC Dance Marathon sincerely appreciates David Bierer’s recognition of our efforts in his recent column (“One shirt, two shirt, red shirt, blue shirt,” Sept. 2). The UNC Dance Marathon is our way of making a difference in the lives of patients and families at N.C. Children’s Hospital. Every year, we stand for:
The performance of the football team in Atlanta last Saturday — given the circumstances — was impressive.
Proposals for raising the cap on annual undergraduate tuition increases to 10 percent could set a dangerous precedent for UNC. As part of the 2010 review of the four-year tuition plan by the Board of Governors, some have proposed broadening the ability of UNC-system schools to raise tuition.
The new academic year offers a fresh start for the University of North Carolina’s Association of Student Governments. We hope the opportunity for initiative is not wasted. We welcome Student Body President Hogan Medlin’s clear vision for working with ASG. In developing Jasmin Jones’ concept of a trained student lobbying group, Medlin envisions ASG coordinating structured lobbying efforts. He sees ASG representing a strong, united UNC-system student body to the legislature and university leadership. And he has concrete objectives for tuition, health care and partner benefits for UNC employees. At a time of instability — with a new system president, and financial uncertainty — a clear voice on behalf of students is crucial. But we are not convinced that Medlin’s vision is sufficiently driven by students. Student contributions fund ASG — every student at a UNC-system school contributes $1 toward the association. For this contribution, students have a right to have their interests represented. And that puts the onus on Medlin and his administration to provide students regular opportunities for engagement. The Jones administration last year tackled this challenge by organizing a petition-signing drive in her ASG efforts. This was a simple way to ensure student buy-in. As Medlin works to create “student lobbyists,” it is even more important to minimize any disconnect between students and their representatives. Students are not necessarily opposed to Medlin’s ideas; tuition concerns are on everyone’s radar. But especially in more narrow areas — partner benefits for UNC employees, for example — he must justify it as the best use of student contributions. Finally, the size of salaries paid to ASG officers must remain an ongoing concern. ASG can be an efficient force for the interests of UNC students.
What does it mean to be a citizen? As the immigration debate heated up this summer, some Republican lawmakers proposed denying babies born of undocumented parents their birthright citizenship, a dangerous idea considering what it could mean for the civil liberties of all Americans. The 14th Amendment to the Constitution states “All persons born or naturalized in the United States … are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”
The University’s decision not to go the way of other institutions in contacting parents following a student’s first alcohol violation respects student independence. Recent alcohol policy revisions by James Madison and Wake Forest universities have been the model for school administrators.
Summer is a valuable time for those of us in academia. It’s like our halftime. We can game plan or — for the more realistic, modern athletic parallel — tweet. But sometimes, you lose summers and just have to get what you can out of them, striving for at least a Pyrrhic victory. In early June, I wondered how much money I could get offering for someone to shoot me. With a bullet. I’ve always been a bit curious; you know you’ve wondered, too, in that ‘just-for-a-second’ mindset.
Sexual assault is a constant threat, and the first six weeks at some universities are considered the most dangerous.
Over the past year, this campus has seen the Greek system turned upside down by investigations, increased scrutiny, and negativity. The failures of the Greek system have been on display and the positives have been overshadowed. But in the midst of these negative occurrences, we as members of the Greek system have a unique opportunity to remember why we are here. This is a chance for us to revert to the values of friendship, brotherhood, sisterhood and philanthropy that define the creeds and mantras we teach.
In “Explain abortion money,” (Aug. 31) the DTH expressed the following sentiment about the lack of transparency surrounding the premiums: “Abortion is a contentious issue, and allowing students choice is the right thing to do.” I
Drinking saves Thumbs Up Great news for everybody in college: a recent scientific study found that heavy drinkers live longer than those who don’t drink at all.
Are you interested in meeting with Chancellor Holden Thorp each month to discuss pressing campus issues?
In reference to “Righting the ship” (Aug. 31), Assistant Housekeeping Director Tonya Sell thinks that it is unfair to even ask students whether housekeepers can “hang out” in lounges.