Funding student groups is more important than pay

TO THE EDITOR: The Daily Tar Heel editorial board opines that Student Congress officers need stipends in order to resolve a “dedication deficit” (“Pay Them”, Jan. 28th).

Bad bookkeeping

The idea that the Chapel Hill Town Council is even considering expanding the town’s public library during a period when revenues have dried up and taxes are high is a bit absurd.The proposed expansion, delayed Monday night, would cost $16.5 million and would be financed by bonds. The bonds would be paid back through new taxes, about $26.20 for the owner of a $200,000 home in 2012.

Review police procedure

The recent dismissal of a case against underage drinking reflects the need for a comprehensive review of the way Chapel Hill law enforcement addresses alcohol citations.Officers of the law are called to “protect and serve” the community. They often accomplish their mission with resounding effectiveness, and the residents of Chapel Hill should be grateful for their service.

Double standard in getting naked

In 1982, Scott Brown, a 22-year-old law student from Boston College, posed nude in a Cosmopolitan Magazine centerfold. He described himself as “a bit of a patriot,” but with a well-placed arm, he kept any bits of his patriot shielded from the camera.

Cartoon for Jan. 29, 2010

Cartoon for Jan. 28, 2010

Easier to get a room: New Union room registration system is a needed change that’s easier for staff, students

The days of ridiculous lines, spending the night and headaches involved in reserving a room through the Student Union are fading into the past. We couldn’t be happier.This week, the Student Union took a leap into the 21st century and moved room reservation for about 70 spaces around campus online.

Good job, UNC Hospitals: Treating Haiti burn victims demonstrates compassion and dedication

UNC Hospitals is raising the bar in charity and is truly representing the Good Samaritan aspect of medicine.Three victims from the 7.0-magnitue earthquake that struck Haiti arrived at UNC Hospitals on Tuesday for treatment.Each of these patients has a heart-wrenching story, and we’re proud to have a hospital on campus that responded to their needs.

Pay them: Student Congress leaders deserve and need compensation for their service

Paying certain members of Student Congress could encourage greater commitment to the organization.For too long, Congress has been faced with a dedication deficit. This past year, only one undergraduate returned from the previous Congress, who has since resigned.Other parts of student government do not have such an extremely high turnover rate.

Hippies support the free market

Hippies and drug dealers surrounded me. The houses and shops, covered in murals and graffiti, were cobbled together from the remaining scraps of the abandoned Danish naval base.

Cartoon for Jan. 27, 2010

Time to get serious on head injuries

You may know the tales of former National Football League players affected by too many hits to the head. Former Cowboys star Troy Aikman’s career was cut short by concussions — a small price to pay compared to the depression and suicide of 44-year-old Andre Waters, whose hard-hitting play transformed his brain tissue to that of an 85-year-old man with early Alzheimer’s disease.

Video decision regrettable: Refusal to release dashboard camera video deprives public of ability to judge case independently

A judge ruled Friday that the dashboard camera video showing Courtland Smith’s interaction with police officers before he was killed should be permanently sealed. This is a regrettable decision that denies the public the ability to examine fully this incident. The decision runs the risk of factoring into future court decisions.

More money, problems: After major Supreme Court ruling on corporate spending in elections, N.C. must act to limit effects

North Carolina lawmakers should act to limit out-of-state corporate spending in state elections.Without limits, state residents could find their voices in elections drowned out by a flood of corporate-funded advertising.

Idea worth patenting: Licensing agreement will help UNC in long run

A new licensing standard for bringing UNC-owned technologies to market should be very promising for the University community and the public at large.Before this agreement, University researchers struggled to bring their creations to the market, as a result of a very burdensome negotiation process.

QuickHits for Jan. 26, 2010

Tax deductible reliefThumbs UpTaxpayers will now be able to deduct their donations to the relief efforts in Haiti. Even after the media coverage stops, there will still be a need for help, so keep donatingAppleThumbs Up

Tutors reign supreme: Mentoring program has seen great success, is an example of positive involvement in education

A local school program that seeks to increase educational achievement among minorities is a great way to get involved in the community. The Blue Ribbon Mentor-Advocate program, which began in 1995, is provided through Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools and currently has more than 100 mentors.

Engage in foreign policy dialogue

A statesman once said, “No foreign policy — no matter how ingenious — has any chance of success if it is born in the minds of a few and carried in the hearts of none.” Great Decisions, a program led and taught by undergraduates  on UNC’s campus for more than two decades, embodies this idea by encouraging our generation to analyze and engage major global issues.

Smile, you’re on camera: Installing dashboard cameras in police cars will help to provide an infallible record of incidents

The decision by the Orange County Board of Commissioners to outfit more sheriff’s office vehicles with dashboard cameras addresses an important need for public safety and officer accountability.Dashboard cameras can often provide crucial evidence that officer and witness testimony cannot.

Cartoon for Jan. 26, 2010