Leave theology out of transgendered debate

TO THE EDITOR:I must say I’m disappointed with The Daily Tar Heel’s coverage of transgendered people and religion. I submitted a letter in response (that was not published) to Grayson Street’s assertion that an online comment misunderstood Christians (“Bible lays out what is sinful behavior and what is not,” Sept. 25), stating that perhaps Street should try to understand transgender people before pronouncing them sinful.

Cartoon for Sept. 28

Viewpoints: Laptop use in class

The issue: Laptop use in class can be a contentious issue. Some argue that laptops can be distracting and that professors reserve the right to ban their use outright. Others believe that laptops aid in the learning process and students should have the right to use them in class. In today’s Viewpoints, two members of the DTH Editorial Board debate their side of the issue. Students can make own decisions

Embrace your new fall TV friends

Something momentous happened to me this week. Actually, it happened to you as well.I am, of course, referring to the new fall season of television.The beginning of a new season of television is an important social and personal event. New people enter our lives through these new shows, and we also get to see the same faces that have been coming back for years.

Christianity more inclusive than Street asserts in letter

TO THE EDITOR:Perhaps Grayson Street should have taken his own advice before criticizing a community of people and done a bit of research on how the Bible represents transgender people. “In the beginning” … God created the first human in God’s image, Genesis 1:27. To be created in God’s image means embodying the complementary character aspects, including both the masculine and feminine energies, of the divine.

Limited coverage of rape reports is unacceptable

TO THE EDITOR:Let me start by saying my views are my own because you insist on identifying me by my staff title.Now, as much as I want to understand the dynamic relationship between the University and the Greek system, I am much more interested in a woman being kidnapped and raped from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard on Monday night.

YWC can have a minority leader and be prejudiced

TO THE EDITOR:We are writing in response to Nikhil Patel’s letter, “From group’s president: YWC isn’t racist, radical” (Sept. 22).He posits that since he is a non-white person, Youth for Western Civilization must not be a racist organization. The argument that racism cannot exist in the organization because their president is not white is flawed.

Cartoon for Sept. 24

Cartoon for Sept. 25

How we cover the Greek system

I understand why the Greek community is upset.Our headlines have been dominated by topics that relate to fraternities and sororities — some directly, others less so.We have not devoted so much space to these issues because of a vendetta against the Greek system. Many members of The Daily Tar Heel, including editors, are in fraternities or sororities.But cocaine arrests and the changing relationship between the University and the fraternity system are big news in our community, and we would be irresponsible if we chose not to cover them as completely as possible.

Action, not tolerance, needed

These are dark days for the Greek system at UNC. First came the death of former Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity president Courtland Smith. A subsequent investigation into DKE rush activities has now culminated in a year of social probation. Then a Sept. 15 cocaine bust at 211 Church St. yielded 76.8 grams of the drug and implicated Julianne Kornegay Howard, a member of the Chi Omega sorority, according to Chapel Hill police reports.

Bible lays out what is sinful behavior and what is not

TO THE EDITOR:This quote was in The Daily Tar Heel on Wednesday as the featured online reader comment (in reference to “Identity in Ink,” Sept. 23): “I am sickened by Christians who judge and claim to know who God loves and what He approves of.”I have to say that this quote shows some ignorance on the part of the writer.

Greek problems should be dealt with house by house

TO THE EDITOR:There has been a great deal of talk lately about Greeks taking responsibility for their actions and their reputation. What these critics fail to understand is that the group that has been labeled “Greek” is a figurative umbrella term akin to the likes of UNC “athletics.”The UNC football team doesn’t feel the fallout when the UNC swimming team is cited for numerous alcohol violations.

Jones is disenfranchising graduate students on ASG

TO THE EDITOR:Last Tuesday, Student Congress passed a bill that would restructure the UNC delegation to the Association of Student Governments to better reflect both the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches of our student government as well as the composition of the student body in general.Rather than signing this bill into law or vetoing it outright, Student Body President Jasmin Jones is using a political maneuver to preserve her near-total control of UNC’s ASG delegation.

Fitness doesn’t have to be a pain

For centuries humans have obsessed over finding a quick and easy way to boost brainpower. This is especially true on a college campus where marathon Rock Band sessions and frat parties make cramming a necessary evil.Most try to maximize studying efficiency by barricading themselves in the library armed with the modern elixirs of intelligence — a Red Bull in one hand and a double-shot espresso in the other.But instead of frying your nerves with stimulants, you should take time away from studying to exercise.

QuickHits for Sept. 24

John EdwardsThumbs downRumor has it that John Edwards promised his mistress a rooftop wedding with the Dave Matthews Band. Wow, this would have been the hippest wedding around … if it were 1995.Miley CirusThumbs up

Really, ALE?: ALE must justify its case for equipping of?cers with assault ri?es or abandon the program

North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement agents have the right to be armed, but not with assault rifles. Currently, every agent is equipped with one of these weapons.Some ALE agents have already shown that they are inept at handling the firearms.The (Raleigh) News & Observer reported last week that two of these assault rifles have been stolen, and there has been at least one accidental shooting.This raises serious concerns about the workings of the agency and the decision to arm its agents with these weapons.

Bicycles for all: WeCycles proposes innovative bike rental program that the Town Council should approve

The town of Chapel Hill should allow WeCycles, a nonprofit bike-sharing organization, to begin operations.WeCycles wants to construct kiosks around town near high-traffic areas such as bus stops and various campus locations.For a $45 yearly fee or a $4 hourly fee, people can swipe a OneCard, credit card or WeCycles membership card and have a bike that can be returned to any of the kiosks, which would be open 24 hours.

Greeks wrong to blame DTH for negative coverage

TO THE EDITOR:In response to all of the complaints against The Daily Tar Heel regarding the Greek community, please take the pity party elsewhere.Stop trying to shift blame to the DTH for sensationalizing its articles and attacking Greeks. Multiple arrests surrounding a narcotics bust is sensational by definition. The fact that several of those arrested were or are Greek members is going to put more scrutiny on the Greek community.

Column about Al-Qaeda oversimplified the issue

TO THE EDITOR:Wednesday’s column (“Historical context often missing,” Sept. 23) would greatly benefit from following its own advice.The column attempted to encourage us to understand the true history of regions of interest such as the Middle East. In the process it made just as many irresponsible generalizations that were as equally misleading as “they hate us for our freedom.”