Opinion -

QuickHits for August 26, 2010

By Editorial Board | August 26

Krispy Kreme Thumbs up Kripy Kreme is now on Franklin Street.

Faith in honesty: An excused absence system for religious holidays can work, if students won’t abuse it.

By Editorial Board | August 26

The prospect of genuine accommodation for students’ religious holidays is a welcome change.

The right price for Ross: Efficiency is important, but getting the best candidate is worth the money

By Editorial Board | August 26

In light of continuing economic difficulties, the UNC-system Board of Governors has zeroed in on efficiency as the name of the game for the coming year. We agree with this sentiment wholeheartedly.

Rathskeller, a Chapel Hill icon, will be remembered

August 25

UNC juniors and seniors will remember the Ramshead Rathskeller, which closed two years ago. The “Rat” is among my fondest memories of Chapel Hill. When I came to UNC in September 1948, I frequently went to Danziger’s Vienna Coffee Shop on Franklin Street, which was also a candy shop.

'Ground Zero' mosque exemplifies freedom

By Letter to the Editor | August 25

The amount of emotion expressed over placing a mosque near the former World Trade Center is surprising and befuddling to me. For eight years we lived under a presidency that, take it or leave it, was a very divisive one and resulted in a politically fractioned nation.

Speaking out against hazing at universities

August 25

As educators, advisors, counselors and in the front lines with women and men starting their first year in colleges across the country this fall, we all need to stop our bystander approach to hazing and speak out. Tolerating hazing, or looking the other way, is just as bad as participating.

Manning drive dangerous for crossing pedestrians

By Letter to the Editor | August 25

As one of the UNC-Chapel Hill campus family I say welcome and welcome back. For 15 years I have worked in buildings on Manning Drive, and so I am familiar with this street and the surrounding areas.

Let us feed your online addiction

By Sara Gregory | August 25

The Daily Tar Heel amped up efforts to reach readers through social media last year when we put someone in charge of building and interacting with the Chapel Hill community. As a news organization, we succeed only when we’re in touch with our readers.

Doing our part: Given county efforts to curtail spending, a modest sales tax increase is justified

By Editorial Board | August 25

A proposition to increase the sales tax on non-food items in Orange County is a necessary move in raising revenue to help improve government services and spur economic development.

Time for transparency: UNC-TV must be more open about funding connections with organizations it reports on

By Editorial Board | August 25

UNC-TV should provide better information regarding their funding and relationship with the entities on which they are reporting when producing news programs like the Alcoa report earlier this summer.

Tilting at windmills: Duke Energy and UNC should partner to produce technologies that truly benefit consumers

By Editorial Board | August 25

Duke Energy’s decision to abandon the construction of wind turbines in the Pamlico Sound is indicative of just how uneconomical wind is as an energy source. If anything, Duke Energy should use its partnership with UNC to make the technology viable instead of implementing it as is. As it stands, wind technology in its current form is a raw deal for consumers, and hardly environmentally friendly. The original plan was to put three “demonstration” turbines in the Sound.

Join in the curiosity and dialogue

By Sarah Frier | August 23

A new year starts, and some familiar questions are posed. How will a lack of funds affect jobs and academic quality at the University?

Mo' Money Mo' Classes: Tuition increase is not as bad as it might seem

By Editorial Board | July 21

A $950 tuition increase is not a good way to start off the school year, but it was what had to be done. The N.C. General Assembly authorized campuses to increase tuition to a maximum of $750. N.C. State University, UNC-Chapel Hill and UNC School of the Arts all opted for the maximum.

Presidential funk: Consulting firm should look for internal replacement

By Editorial Board | July 21

Erskine Bowles is a difficult UNC-system president to replace. A successor surely exists, but the UNC system might be looking in the wrong places.

Make a fresh start: Downtown needs an updated perspective

By Editorial Board | July 21

Downtown Franklin Street is looking more abandoned every day. While tumbleweeds haven’t been spotted yet, this isn’t the first time that empty storefronts have popped up.

What we have to do is just DREAM

By Rosario Lopez | July 21

My name is Rosario Lopez. I am a Tar Heel; I am also undocumented. I am not the only one who is both of those things.

Quick hits for July 22, 2010

By Editorial Board | July 21

eBooks Neutral Thumb For the last three months Amazon.com sold more electronic books than hardcovers.

New bridge could trouble taxpayers, environment

By Letter to the Editor | July 21

TO THE EDITOR: The voters and taxpayers of North Carolina are about to be taken on yet another ride for an extremely expensive, clearly unnecessary and destructive project to be paid for with their money.

Think with your mind, not with your political party

By Letter to the Editor | July 21

TO THE EDITOR: This is in regard to the letters of support for Burr and Marshall (“College Republicans stir up support for Burr,” “Elaine Marshall might not be ideal Senate candidate,” July 15). While I admire the two letter writers’ dedication to their causes, pro-Burr and pro-Marshall, we should not care if the best representative is Democrat or Republican because it no longer matters. Our two-party system is corrupt with power, special interest groups and lobbyists.

Quick hits for July 15, 2010

By Editorial Board | July 14

Tainted Dip Thumbs Down Your favorite dips might be the culprit of nearly 1 out of 25 foodbourne illnesses between 1998 and 2008.