Madame Speaker: New Speaker of Student Congress Deanna Santoro has solid plans to improve transparency, efficiency

Micromanaging is the last thing that the new speaker of Student Congress, Deanna Santoro, says she wants to do. But if past performance is any kind of measure, she may have to put on the pressure to produce results.One thing Santoro has going for her is some solid ideas for improving Congress in the 92nd session.

Cartoon for April 16, 2010

Easiest test you’ll take all semester

It’s April, so don’t leave home without an umbrella — and another form of protection. April is Sexually Transmitted Disease Awareness Month, which is particularly important on college campuses. Why? Because one in two sexually active people will contract an STD by the time they are 25. And most of them won’t know it.

Let’s be FRANK: New gallery on Franklin shows promise

If you’re interested in what is happening in the local arts scene, it might be a good idea to check out FRANK, the new art gallery that opened last Friday on Franklin Street. The gallery’s grand opening attracted about 600 people. The nonprofit collective prides itself on featuring the best of local artists, while providing an elegant atmosphere for patrons.

Late night snack in 2012: Projected arrival of Wendy’s in the Union contested, but is the cheapest, most convenient option.

Finally, an affordable, late-night dining option that doesn’t require 45 minutes to an hour for delivery and a tip.The Union Board of Directors voted Tuesday in favor of bringing Wendy’s to the bottom of the Union. The board made the right decision.

No need to move trial: Judge in Eve Carson trial right to prevent change of venue and keep proceedings in North Carolina

Thankfully, a change of venue for the federal trial of Demario James Atwater, one of the men charged with killing former Student Body President Eve Carson, will not be granted. Following several attempts by defense attorneys to move Atwater’s trial out of the state, a judge dismissed the argument that the high-profile nature of the case has tainted the state-wide jury pool.

Cartoon for April 15, 2010

Israel and Palestine need new dialogue

When Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren spoke at University of California-Irvine earlier this semester, the night ended with 11 students under arrest.One of the students stood up in the audience and accused Oren of “propagating murder” before being led off by police. The other students arrested made similar gestures. The students were cited for disturbing a public event.

Help the hungry: Food donations low, but students can help out

For most of us, at least one of the meals consumed within the past week has had leftovers on one edge of the plate. In America, it seems unimaginable that people are starving or in need of food, but it is a reality, and one that is hitting us on a local level.

No satellite campuses: UNC-system schools should focus on state campuses

It’s important that UNC-system schools have a global presence. But that presence shouldn’t include overseas campuses.In 2008, N.C. State University began exploring the potential of having a satellite campus in South Korea’s Incheon Free Economic Zone — an area similar to the Research Triangle Park.

Tuition nightmare looming: Tuition cuts cannot be allowed to affect faculty

Running a university without teachers is like running a hospital without doctors. It simply isn’t an option.UNC departments are preparing for another wave of budget cuts, and this time, teachers could be hit the hardest.Administrators will know the full extent of the budget cuts after April 15, when income taxes are due.

Cartoon for April 14, 2010

Crisis is complex as it is pervasive

Any graduating senior knows that the job market is tough. Indeed, the global financial crisis has hit close to home, with the unemployment rate hovering near 10 percent. It’s almost cliché to talk about. But if we’re going to move forward as a country, we have to sort through the mess that is known as the global financial crisis.

Flight of the Phoenix

Some students take a different path with their approach to education. Not everyone can or should be treated the same. Alternative high schools like Phoenix Academy offer a great solution by giving students another choice.Although the school started 12 years ago, it wasn’t officially recognized until July of last year.

QuickHits for April 13, 2010

Justice StevensThumbs upVenerable Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens announced he is retiring at the end of the term.   With Stevens gone, Obama must keep in mind the importance of keeping a bow tie seat on the bench. Palin/BachmannThumbs up

Cartoon for April 13, 2010

Bad fences, bad neighbors: Research Facility in Bingham township must prove it’s a responsible operator before expanding

The Research Resource Facility in the Bingham township has yet to prove to the surrounding community its preparedness to tackle a new expansion project.Until the western Orange County facility does so, it should not undertake further construction.

Cartoon for April 12, 2010

Right to focus on underage drinking?

Correction (April 13 11:14 p.m.): Due to an reporting error in this column, the instances of underage binge drinking are incorrectly stated. There are roughly 1.5 billion instances of binge drinking a year in the U.S. involving those 18 and older. Most of those involve people age 26 and older. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for the error.

Live from UNC

At long last, it looks as if UNC Webmail might soon be history.Not long after Information Technology Services committed to upgrade faculty and staff to the Microsoft Exchange platform, it has committed to upgrading students to a similar system — Live@edu.