Opinion - The Daily Tar Heel

Money-back guarantee: Chancellor Thorp right to reimburse Youth for Western Civilization for Tancredo debacle

By Editorial Board | Sep. 17, 2009

Chancellor Holden Thorp’s decision to compensate Youth for Western Civilization up to $3,000 for bringing in a new speaker was the right one.The decision came after the group’s intended speaker, former U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., was unable to address the crowd because of protester disruptions.The speaker shares many of the group’s extreme, xenophobic views and was met with heavy resistance from certain students.But regardless of opinion, everyone has the right to speak, and the situation quickly dissolved into an embarrassment for all parties involved.

Review should be public: Town and Chapel Hill Police Department should release investigation into the Charles Brown incident

By Editorial Board | Sep. 17, 2009

The Chapel Hill Police Department and the Town of Chapel Hill should complete and release their internal reviews of the Charles Brown incident.As long as these reviews are pending, there can be no real resolution to the question of whether Brown’s detention was racial profiling. And it’s unclear why the investigation has taken so long. Brown was mistakenly detained by Chapel Hill police for about 40 minutes on June 1.

Fee requests need to be well-scrutinized by all

By Letter to the Editor | Sep. 17, 2009

TO THE EDITOR:The Sept. 16 edition of the DTH reported under Campus Briefs that “Congress voted without objections to appropriate $3,316.15 to Carolina Review.” This funding decision, in particular, is much more salient when considering two facts. First, two students who have written for the Carolina Review sit on the finance committee of Student Congress, which is the original entity through which any request by a student organization is considered.

Fee requests need to be well-scrutinized by all

By Letter to the Editor | Sep. 17, 2009

TO THE EDITOR:The Sept. 16 edition of the DTH reported under Campus Briefs that “Congress voted without objections to appropriate $3,316.15 to Carolina Review.” This funding decision, in particular, is much more salient when considering two facts. First, two students who have written for the Carolina Review sit on the finance committee of Student Congress, which is the original entity through which any request by a student organization is considered.

DTH shouldn’t promote film that demeans women

By Letter to the Editor | Sep. 17, 2009

TO THE EDITOR:Walking into the front entrance of UNC Hospitals a few days ago, I spotted a stand for The Daily Tar Heel, above which was a large advertising frame containing a poster for the movie “Sorority Row.” I have not seen this movie, and my knowledge about it derives mainly from a trailer I have seen. The sorority theme, which I’m sure the creators thought would play well to a certain segment of the population, is peripheral to the issue.

Tough question: What are you?

Sep. 16, 2009

Take a moment and ask yourself the following: “What are you?” Does that seem crazy? Now imagine that every form you fill out, every trip to the DMV and almost every person you meet asks you the same prying, intrusive question. Worse yet, you may not have a straightforward answer. No, this isn’t metaphysics — this is part of the multiracial experience in the United States. Kip Fulbeck, whose exhibit “kip fulbeck: part asian, 100% hapa” is currently on display at the FedEx Global Education Center, will be performing there tonight at 7 p.m.

QuickHits for Sept. 17

By Editorial Board | Sep. 16, 2009

Kanye WestThumbs downHow dare you, Kanye — interrupting Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards! Frankly, this story is upsetting enough that it definitely warranted front-page placement on CNN.com.President ObamaThumbs upIn response to Kanye West’s drunken outburst at Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards, President Obama called West a “jackass.” We can hear West now: “Barack Obama doesn’t care about black people.”UNC SnugglesThumbs up

Park it like it’s hot: Chapel Hill Town Council should adopt resolutions to make some downtown lots free after 6 p.m.

By Editorial Board | Sep. 16, 2009

Anyone who has ever attempted to park in downtown Chapel Hill knows what a hassle it can be.There are too few spaces on the street and too few lots, and it’s becoming increasingly rare to carry around a stash of spare quarters to feed a meter. Instead of dealing with these troubles, some drivers simply go elsewhere.This happens all too often, so it’s good news that the Chapel Hill Town Council is looking to change that. The council should adopt the changes suggested earlier this week by Kenneth Pennoyer, the town business management director.

U-turn for U-Mall: Developers should pay attention to student market in making University Mall an attractive option

By Editorial Board | Sep. 16, 2009

Students should be excited that University Mall is about to be renovated.It’s the ideal candidate for the massive mall makeover it’s slated to receive.In 2007, University Mall was bought for $40 million by Madison Marquette Realty Services, a Washington, D.C.-based developer that specializes in finding neglected malls in great locations. University Mall definitely fits the description. There is certainly a good core at the mall — the Spice Street restaurant and the nationally recognized gourmet retailer A Southern Season, among a few others.

Editorial right; Koch went over the line on protests

By Letter to the Editor | Sep. 16, 2009

TO THE EDITOR: I would like to thank The Daily Tar Heel for its editorial on Sept. 14 regarding Haley Koch’s protest of Tom Tancredo’s speech (“Protesters be warned”).I am not an authority on the topic, by any means, but a simple reading of The Instrument of Student Judicial Governance for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill proves explicitly why protesters like Koch cannot be tolerated.

Koch should have engaged and not insulted Tancredo

By Letter to the Editor | Sep. 16, 2009

TO THE EDITOR:In response to the letter to the editor entitled “Koch editorial defended elitist, right-wing position,” (Sept. 16), I say that your characterization of Mr. Tancredo is wrong. Mr. Tancredo came to our campus to discuss why he believes that illegal immigrants should not be allowed to attend state colleges or universities. His position on the issue is neither xenophobic nor racist.

Editorial right to rebuke Koch for Tancredo actions

By Letter to the Editor | Sep. 16, 2009

TO THE EDITOR:Kudos to the Daily Tar Heel editorial board for defending this university against fascism, censorship, and intolerance (“Protesters be warned,” Sept. 14).Although charges against Haley Koch and several of her partners-in-crime were dismissed, it was perfectly reasonable for the University to attempt to punish these people for disrupting free speech on this campus.

Drunk driving tragedy took wonderful person

By Letter to the Editor | Sep. 16, 2009

TO THE EDITOR:

Editorial on 911 system crashing raised valid point

By Letter to the Editor | Sep. 16, 2009

TO THE EDITOR:Your editorial, “Who you gonna call?” (Sept. 14) raises a good point. You suggest that the Alert Carolina Web site should have posted Orange County’s news about last week’s 911 service interruption. We’re taking steps to do that in the future, and we’ve added links on the Alert site to local law enforcement agencies and CodeRED, an emergency alert service provided by the county.

Koch editorial defended elitist, right-wing position

By Letter to the Editor | Sep. 16, 2009

TO THE EDITOR: How did I know that there would be an editorial in Tuesday’s edition of The Daily Tar Heel that would be titled something like “Protesters be warned” (Sept. 15)? Another epic fail for the DTH and the Department of Public Safety.

Zip down to Pittsboro

By Editorial Board | Sep. 16, 2009

The new PX line is a great new option for commuters and students travelling between Chapel Hill and Pittsboro.This is a first for Chapel Hill Transit, as the bus is the only route that extends beyond the borders of Orange County into Chatham County.The line was created specifically with commuters in mind. Fueled by a $350,000 grant and Chatham County and Pittsboro funds, the PX runs about six loops a day — three in the morning and three in the evening.Unlike normal Chapel Hill Transit buses, a ride on the PX route comes with a $3 fare.

Harris Teeter shouldn’t be an overprotective parent

By Letter to the Editor | Sep. 16, 2009

TO THE EDITOR: Needless to say, not everyone ascribes to the ideal of “self-control” (celibacy) that Mr. Spargo advocated in his letter to the editor, entitled, “Self-Control is the solution, not blaming Harris Teeter” (Sept. 14).

Editorial on the Koch case based on distorted facts

By Letter to the Editor | Sep. 16, 2009

TO THE EDITOR:As an editorial writer, columnist, newspaperman and journalist for more decades than I can count, I can say without fear of contradiction that your editorial (“Protesters be warned,” Sept. 15) was among the worst I have ever read.

A textbook case

By Editorial Board | Sep. 16, 2009

Textbooks, wherever you buy them, are incredibly expensive. And at Student Stores, the prices are a bit higher still. But that doesn’t mean there’s not good reason for it, nor that we should abandon buying books there. It’s important to recognize that the main reason for the absurdly high textbook prices has to do with industry standards — not just Student Stores’ markup. It’s often just assumed that Student Stores is doing a disservice to students by having higher prices.

Release the study, UNC

By Editorial Board | Sep. 16, 2009

UNC should release a study requested by the volunteer Orange County Rescue Squad that examines the response times of emergency services. The squad has been sidelined since June 2008 because of allegations of unprofessionalism; but squad members are asserting that response times in the area have increased as a result of the action taken against them.