Opinion

No entendemos: Moving Spanish classes online the wrong move

When resources are too tight to provide enough classes to meet demand for a foreign language, the answer is not to transfer sections online. But that is the fate to which the introductory Spanish class has been relegated. This move indicates that the current model of teaching foreign language isn’t working, and the proposed solution is a misunderstanding of the University’s academic mission.

Double major nightmare: Supplemental credits posed bureaucratic headaches

The mess created by the recent supplemental education requirement change has been a direct result of bureaucratic miscommunication — one administrators should have seen coming.Currently, students majoring in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete a supplemental education requirement — three courses above the 200 level in each division of the college. But the recent change affected students in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and the School of Education who have a secondary major within the College of Arts and Sciences.

Navy blue uniforms for football are abhorrent

TO THE EDITOR:Those navy blue football uniforms suck. There is no other way to say it. They do not imbue more testosterone; rather, they confuse the public and insult every true Tar Heel.Speaking for all whose blood runs Carolina blue, there is no way that any shade of a darker blue is welcome nor necessary.

Come and learn about issues in mayoral race

TO THE EDITOR:So many of the political decisions that directly affect our campus community are determined by local elections. Students represent a vast portion of the Chapel Hill population, and we have the power to make our voices heard in issues that impact our lives. As responsible residents, we need to be informed about the stances of each mayoral candidate in order to make an educated decision and then get to the polls.

Abortion debate was a valuable campus event

TO THE EDITOR:The article “Abortion event gets $9,675 from Congress” (Oct. 21) cited how more student funds were used per participant than other events hosted by UNC student organizations.

Applications being taken for Carson scholarship

TO THE EDITOR:Calling all juniors! The executive committee of the Eve Carson Scholarship will be holding information sessions at 7 p.m. today and Wed., Oct. 28, in Bingham 103.The selection committee, composed of UNC students, faculty and administrators, seeks individuals who have developed a passion, especially in the areas of leadership, academics and social justice during their time at UNC. Juniors with at least a 3.0 GPA are eligible to apply, with the exception of those already receiving a full merit-based scholarship.

Athletics should not take precedent at the University

TO THE EDITOR: For more than 20 years, I was privileged to call UNC my professional home. I proudly told anyone who asked that I was part of the faculty of one of America’s top universities. Now, if asked, I might add the disclaimer, “But that was before the sports tail so blatantly wagged the University dog.”Thursday night’s football game, accommodating a television broadcast calendar, and the resulting shabby treatment of UNC employees, is an example of misplaced values.

Web courses do not help students speak a language

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: As a student in hybrid Spanish 102, I strongly believe that turning all Spanish and eventually all romance languages into strictly online courses is a bad move on the University’s part.The article “Spanish classes to move online” (Oct. 21), specifically says, “students who have taken online versions of the courses have not performed as well as their peers in traditional classes” and “their pronunciation scores were drastically lower.” If pronunciation and performance are low, then students cannot communicate in their chosen language.

Student government takes student feedback seriously

TO THE EDITOR: The executive branch of student government would like to address some of the concerns raised in the recent editorial “Student voice lost on Jones” (Oct. 20). Tuition changes capture our attention each year, and students should participate in this discussion with as much information as possible. That is why we wanted to respond by discussing our methods for inviting students to join the conversation.  First, the editorial calls for our administration to create a public relations team.

Cartoon for Oct. 26

The Daily Tar Heel Caption contestEvery Monday, a cartoonist will draw an extra cartoon, and we want YOU to give it a humorous caption. Send your one- to two-sentence caption to dthedit@gmail.com, subject line “caption.” We’ll publish the best captions the following week as the lead cartoon, and the person with the best entry will win a 2009 National Championship poster.

Not quite green enough

UNC is no stranger to the “green” movement.And now the increasing push to become a more sustainable campus has paid off. UNC received an A- on the Sustainable Endowment’s Institute’s annual College Sustainability Report Card and improved from 2007, when it received a C.The grading is based on sustainability information gathered from public sources and a series of surveys sent to about 300 institutions in the United States and Canada. UNC is tied with 26 other institutions for best overall grades. Nobody received an A.

All tricks, no treat: H1N1 concerns not valid argument for smaller event

Chapel Hill shouldn’t further limit the size of Halloween.The town’s Halloween celebrations are the stuff of legends (and for some, bad hangovers).Before last year, crowds were estimated at upwards of 80,000 people, consisting of UNC students, town residents and out-of-towners.But those crowds weren’t exactly manageable. Fights, alcohol poisonings and vandalism were just a few of the problems Chapel Hill and various local police forces faced.

For good future, hard work necessary

The philosopher Vitamin C said it best in “Graduation” when she sang: “Will little brainy Bobby be the stockbroker man?”I don’t know about you, but I feel like I spend all my time these days wondering about what will happen after graduation.The clock is ticking. It seems possible that my dream career is already out of my reach even before I start after it. But I still want to have a balance between productive schoolwork and enjoyment in these years.

Let’s rock Chapel Hill for Thursday night’s game

TO THE EDITOR:This Thursday night, we have an enormous opportunity. When Florida State rolls into Chapel Hill, all eyes in the college football world will be on Chapel Hill. The future of Carolina football has never been brighter, and this Thursday night, we have an opportunity to make Kenan Stadium the home field advantage that our football program deserves: a raucous, rowdy, intimidating sea of Carolina blue.Let’s show that national ESPN audience that we are not just a basketball school, as they are so fond of calling us.

Spanish classes should not be taught solely online

TO THE EDITOR:I was stunned when I read that introductory level Spanish classes are now to be taught entirely online at UNC. I have no doubt that this measure will save money and “solve” enrollment problems, but is it really worth the academic compromise? This is UNC, not the University of Phoenix Online.The idea that someone could learn the first level of a language from an online course is laughable. Part of learning a language for the first time is repeatedly having an instructor demonstrate pronunciations and correct your pronunciations of words.

Cartoon for Oct. 21

Czajkowski has the better platform for downtown

TO THE EDITOR:I think Matt Czajkowski’s ideas for the rebirth of our downtown are some of the most exciting I have heard. They are both achievable and will also greatly benefit our local arts community.Michael BrownUNC ’77

Kleinschmidt has experience necessary for mayor’s job

TO THE EDITOR:I wholeheartedly throw my support behind Mark Kleinschmidt. As to why I am supporting Mark, I can cite his experience as a town councilman. Serving since 2001, he has the most experience in town government of any of the candidates running. I can cite his leadership as chairman of the council communications committee and chairman of the economic development committee. He served as president of the NC American Civil Liberties Union, therefore defending that right to free speech students on both sides of the political spectrum discuss so passionately.

Kleinschmidt is the most sensible choice for mayor

TO THE EDITOR:There has been a lot of talk about who would be the sensible choice for town of Chapel Hill mayor during this election season, but who is the best choice? Mark Kleinschmidt, an eight-year veteran of the Town Council, the only registered Democrat and the youngest candidate in the race is the best choice.

Czajkowski has financial sense to be great mayor

TO THE EDITOR: Matt Czajkowski showed his financial good sense when he was the only Town Council member who opposed lifetime health insurance for town officials.When we moved here 11 years ago, we loved to go downtown. Now the empty store fronts and parking problems have driven us away. We believe Mr. Czajkowski can, as mayor, expand both business and jobs opportunities here.