Mixed bag for football: A great game is sadly overshadowed by scandal
The performance of the football team in Atlanta last Saturday — given the circumstances — was impressive.
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.
Project Dinah thanks the DTH for Tuesday’s coverage of a crucial issue facing all students, not just incoming first-years: sexual assault at Carolina. In our community, men and women of all gender identities have survived sexual and interpersonal violence. Bottom line: violence affects us all.
In response to the editorial “Explain abortion money” (Aug. 31), where’s the choice in the abortion exemption? The real choice is when a woman has the peace of mind knowing she has access to all of her options — abortion with coverage or carrying the pregnancy to term — when in a difficult situation.
Chapel Hill’s recent addition of dashboard cameras in the town’s police cars is a welcome and needed improvement — especially in light of past confusion that such cameras would have helped prevent. The town now has 30 of its 45 frontline cars outfitted with digital dashboard cameras.
I have enough T-shirts. Long-sleeve, short-sleeve. White tee, tall tee. Turtleneck, V-neck. You name it, I’ve got it in at least one color. I definitely do not need any more. And this is why I’m tired of the charity 5k races. Is there really no other way to galvanize the support of a group of people toward a specific cause? I’ve got to think there is.
When anyone dies, it is a tragedy. And when that death affects a fellow student, we feel a special sense of solidarity.
The recent news of a spike in disciplinary action for housekeepers sitting down on the job has shed a negative and unwarranted light on how the University treats its workers.
It has been 30 years since I graduated from Carolina. I was so privileged to have received my degree there. You who are attending today and starting out a new year are so privileged and blessed to be Carolina students.
ConnectCarolina’s “inaugural season” has provided both benefits and challenges for the campus community. ConnectCarolina is a mammoth project both in scope and effort. On the positive side, students can now apply to Carolina, register for classes, receive financial aid and pay tuition online all in one place. The system has brought about major improvements including packaging financial aid faster than ever before, even with the last-minute tuition change, and providing convenient and efficient online bill payment.