Police academy: Police department program should help transparency

Local law enforcement is often perceived as an intrusive force rather than a protective organization. The Chapel Hill Police Department’s Citizens Police Academy is a great way to combat such a perspective by reaching out to citizens in an effort to establish a stronger community understanding of law enforcement operations.

Gambling with legality: Sweepstakes cafes allow gambling, should be banned

A legal loophole that allows patrons of Internet cafes to gamble online needs to be closed.Gambling is illegal according to N.C. law. But “sweepstakes cafes” have managed to find a loophole in the statues that allows them to run computers that simulate slot machines.

Get them a lawyer: Plaintiff’s council would help ensure due process

The Student Supreme Court needs an appointed plaintiff’s counsel position to ensure fairer and more effective procedures.This would give people who sue student government greater access — if they so choose — to representation by an individual who has an understanding of the Student Code and the process of suing in the Student Supreme Court.

Speak French? No right answer

The little old man from Upper Normandy was rather proud of his cigars, and he made sure to tell me just how proud he was.I didn’t know him. I was minding my own business, eating a pain au chocolat on a bench by the seaside and thinking pensive thoughts — until he sat down next to me and started extolling the virtues of the cigar when compared to the normal cigarette.

Tiger Woods’ hard knock life

I feel terrible for Tiger Woods. He has spent years married to a wife of average attractiveness, dealt with the disappointment of two toddlers who have not yet measured up to his early golfing aptitude and suffered through a hard-knock life of solitude on driving ranges.

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.