Opinion

Town should be stricter: After developer violated various Chapel Hill tra?c ordinances, town should have issued citations

The town of Chapel Hill should have been more stringent with the Greenbridge development project regarding recent traffic violations.The developer violated at least five traffic laws within the last few months. These violations included construction vehicles traveling the wrong directions on one-way roads, lacking proper traffic controls and illegally closing Rosemary Street.

Honor the classes: Achievement gap troubling, but honors classes not issue

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School curriculum should work toward raising the bar for under-achieving students. But it should also provide an academically rigorous curriculum for the intellectually gifted. There is absolutely no reason why these two goals cannot be accomplished at the same time.

Funded mandates: Finance committee accurately doles out fee money

The Student Congress finance committee had a difficult task this year — allocating about $365,000 to student organizations whose requests collectively reached nearly $1 million.But this task is especially delicate with regards to cultural groups on campus.

Defend education, it’s your right

Students across the country are organizing to defend public education. The National Day of Action to Defend Public Education, to be held today, was called for by organizers in California and New York and will see students at institutions of higher education in 30 states and Washington, D.C., march, rally, sit-in, picket, teach-in and more to defend the right to an education for all.

Do good, beef up resume: Firm offers internship placement in nonprofits

Economic downturns have the potential to inspire creative problem solving and bring about greater efficiency. A group of students and alumni have taken advantage of the Great Recession and accomplished just that. University students should take advantage of their work.

Cartoon for March 4, 2010

Making the grade: Schools should require minimum GPA for athletes

High school student athletes should be held to the same academic standards as every other high school student.So it makes sense that Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools is considering a 2.0 grade point average requirement for high school students who want to participate in their school’s athletic programs.

Grievances can be pursued: Surprisingly strong avenues in place for well-liked employee to clear her name

Whether or not former Rams Head Dining Hall cashier Angela Vargas was wrongfully terminated, it would be inaccurate to say that she has no avenues for recourse.

Diffcult to escape pretension in college

In the first few minutes before class yesterday, I overheard a conversation between two classmates. From what I could gather, they were talking about a play or a book. The conversation was about the depth of a character or something like that. Then I heard the following sentence: “I have a distinct curiosity about humanity.”

Cartoon for March 3, 2010

Nursing nightmare: Reports of improper treatment and low ranking from Medicare raise questions at Britthaven nursing home

Report after report alleges that Britthaven of Chapel Hill has consistently failed to meet the reasonable standards of care demanded by those who invest in the nursing home facility for their loved ones.Poor inspection reviews and serious complaints and allegations against the facility are disturbing.

Trust is wasting away: After wastewater leak at a UNC facility, the University must work to foster more trusting relationship with public

It is unacceptable that residents near a UNC research facility were not notified of an animal wastewater leak for two months. But the lack of transparency and communication between the University and Orange County residents has hopefully come to an end.

Make shopping less taxing: State should have additional tax-free weekend in spring

The institution of a tax- free weekend for the purchase of spring textbooks would be a small, albeit noble, step toward lowering textbook costs for college students.The UNC-system Board of Governors is actively lobbying the state legislature to make this a reality — and the Association of Student Governments needs to get on board.

QuickHits for March 2, 2010

U.S. in VancouverThumbs upThe U.S. won 37 medals — the most all time at the Winter Games. Typical America. But how about that closing ceremony? Nothing says successful Winter Games like Michael Buble and a beaver … Typical Canada.AppleThumbs down

Old faithful, departing: New, vastly improved registration system launching Wednesday for fall 2010 course selection

Our condolences to the Student Central class registration system. Our old friend’s replacement launches Wednesday. And it’s about time. The new registration system will be operating under ConnectCarolina and through the MyUNC portal. FOR MORE INFORMATIONContact the Information Technology Services Help Desk at 919-962-HELP.

Cartoon for March 1,2010

Give new students ?rst pick: Freshmen and sophomores should be given ?rst preference for on-campus residences

If the lack of on-campus housing becomes an issue, the housing department should implement a lottery for upperclassmen and graduate students who want to live on campus.By 2012, Odum Village likely will not meet fire code regulations, which means its more than 400 students will have to be put elsewhere. Right now, it looks like this place will be Granville Towers.

Mexico’s war on drug cartels

In Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, about 200,000 people have left the city in the last 18 months alone due to drug-related violence. Many have crossed the border into the United States. Thirty thousand people are estimated to have moved to El Paso.Ninety percent of cocaine entering the United States comes through Mexico.

Cartoon for March 1, 2010

Academy Awards, Olympic edition

It is the magical time of the decade when Olympic programming intersects with movie award show season.