Is our children learning?: Suspended students need an alternative education

N.C. children have a right to an education. That right shouldn’t be infringed, even if a student is being disciplined.On Monday, the N.C. Supreme Court heard arguments in the case King v. Beaufort County Board of Education.

Take the ?ne and smoke it: Orange County should allow legal process to unfold, rather than continue to ?ne Hookah Bliss

Until there is a resolution, Orange County should stop fining Adam Bliss. Bliss, owner of the popular Chapel Hill smoking establishment Hookah Bliss, was fined $200 Monday for not complying with the new indoor smoking ban mandated by the state. He will continue to be fined $200 by the health department for every day that he is open.

Due to lots of magic, cost of bill is ‘low’

Proponents of health care reform everywhere have reason to celebrate like Kool and the Gang for finally triumphing in a struggle that predates that pop culture reference.

Cartoon for March 25, 2010

Feeling better can be dangerous

You’ve probably heard about the power of positive thinking. In a nutshell, the theory states that when we affirm something and believe in ourselves, it’s more likely that we will achieve our goals.So it comes as no surprise that the reverse process works just as well. Thinking about the negative parts of something in your life can change your beliefs and actions toward it.

Rent responsibly; A nominal fee can protect your property

When moving off campus, students should seriously consider acquiring a renter’s insurance policy. Recent events have emphasized how important this protection is. A group of four students were displaced last month when a fire started in the home they rented. None of those students had renter’s insurance. There was also a noticeable jump in robberies last fall.

Language policy should exclude archaic terms

TO THE EDITOR:

Get graduation rates up; New rule would recognize athletes are students, too

A proposal to require NCAA Division I basketball teams to graduate at least 40 percent of their students is a great step to further the underlying principle of college athletic programs: preparation for life after sports.

DTH publishing letters not accurately reflecting issue

TO THE EDITOR:As one of the organizers of the gender-neutral language teach-in, I have been very disappointed with The Daily Tar Heel’s subsequent coverage of the event and its demands.

Change the culture; Administration needs to view transparency as an asset

The culture of closed processes in selecting administrators needs to change.Recent searches by the University to fill key administrative positions have shown half-hearted efforts at transparency. They indicate a sentiment that open records and open meetings requirements are an obstacle rather than an asset.

Never too late to plan ahead and study abroad

TO THE EDITOR:Although the application deadline for summer and fall 2010 study abroad programs has passed, as class registration approaches, I want to encourage all students to consider study abroad and to plan their courses accordingly.

Cartoon for March 24, 2010

Preaching prosperity gospel not Christian

A crowd of more than 9,000 gathered last August for a Christian conference in Fort Worth, Texas. Those headlining the conference focused on teaching the “prosperity gospel,” a doctrine that promises abundant financial blessings from God in exchange for your own generous giving to a pastor or ministry.

One card easier: Catalog merge between libraries will increase effciency

A proposed catalog merge between the Orange County and Chapel Hill town library systems will make library use more convenient and efficient for Orange County residents.Currently, residents who frequent both Orange County public libraries and Chapel Hill town libraries need two cards to check out books.

Moving on up: Single user interface for messaging and calendar at UNC will help with effciency, collaboration

The move to Microsoft Exchange for faculty and staff will bring messaging and calendaring management for UNC employees into the 21st century.The current system is inefficient and utilizes disparate systems that are difficult to sync with devices.

Tuition safeguards for all: Tuition increase cap for out-of-state students should be included in new UNC-system tuition plan

When the UNC Board of Governors reviews the 2006 tuition plan, it must ensure that tuition protections are awarded to all students within the system. The protection should come in the form of a commitment to a percentage ceiling for tuition increases for all students — regardless of residency.

Education more than what is ‘practical’

In our current economic crisis, college students are more concerned than ever about their degrees’ value in a competitive job market. It takes a sort of stubbornness these days to decide to be an English, history or romance languages major, as students in these fields are forced ad nauseam to answer the elusive question “What will you do with that?”

Cartoon for March 23, 2010

QuickHits for March 23, 2010

SpringThumbs upIt was a cold and dark winter. But we braved through it and now, as of March 20, spring is officially here. Now we just have to get through six weeks of an inappropriate amount of upper man-thigh.  Time WarnerThumbs down

Hands off our publications; Student Congress shouldn’t tell campus print publications where to produce their content

Student Congress has no business altering the behaviors of campus publications. But a proposed bill in Congress would do just that.Congress members should vote down bill 91-125, “A Bill to Incentivize Web Publishing.”