Opinion -

Rain on our parade: Jones’ administration should host an exciting and inclusive parade or not at all

By Editorial Board | September 8

Student Body President Jasmin Jones is moving forward with plans to revive UNC’s Homecoming parade as a way to showcase school spirit.But with time and budget restraints, the proposed parade is shaping up to be modest at best. With only an hour for the parade to start and finish and a limited amount of money, no floats will be featured and some student groups will inevitably get left out. Reinstating a comprehensive Homecoming parade is impractical in a time of budget cuts.

Take a hike: University misled out-of-state students by indicating they wouldn’t face more tuition raises

By Editorial Board | September 8

Out-of-state students who thought they were safe from onerous tuition hikes this year shouldn’t hold their breath. It was announced at Friday’s Faculty Council meeting that the option for higher tuition hikes for these students is now on the table. Raising the possibility for further tuition increases does not guarantee that out-of-state students will get a larger hike. However, it flies in the face of previous gestures by officials implying that out-of-state students were safe.

Congressman Price should have brought bill with him

By Letter to the Editor | September 8

TO THE EDITOR:Most agree a Congressman should be well-prepared for a town hall meeting with their constituents on health care reform. However, U.S. Rep. David Price, D-N.C., fell short of such preparation on Sept. 2. In fact, the Congressman had the audacity to conduct a town hall at UNC without a copy of the very bill which he so adamantly supports and claims to be so knowledgeable of.

North Carolina Governor’s School shouldn’t be free

By Letter to the Editor | September 8

TO THE EDITOR:In response to the editorial “Keep school free,” (Sept. 3), I would like to the author ask a very simple question: What’s with the sense of entitlement?As a native of Maryland, I was not given the opportunity to attend a governor’s school. I honestly had no idea what one was until my freshman year at Carolina, so I readily admit that I just don’t get the big deal.

Decision to cut academic library journals is foolish

By Letter to the Editor | September 8

TO THE EDITOR:Thursday’s editorial (“Small cuts, big difference,” Sept. 3)about serials cancellations was foolish, anti-intellectual and just plain wrong. I speak in particular defense of the “Journal of Metamorphic Geology.” As one who teaches and does research in this area, I can assure you that many students and faculty rely on that journal. You don’t “flip through it.” It’s not “People.”

Athletes should give back financially to Carolina

By Letter to the Editor | September 8

TO THE EDITOR:Last Friday, many former Carolina basketball players currently in the NBA played an alumni game to launch the year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of UNC basketball. Buzz Peterson was quoted as saying, “It’s not just a group of guys, it’s a family.”

Varsity is integral to UNC experience

By Hannah Thurman | September 7

The first Saturday night of my freshman year, my friends and I consulted the maps we’d gotten at C-TOPS and made the long trek up to Franklin Street to see “Superbad.” Before I’d lofted my bed or memorized my PID or figured out that the last three words of the fight song weren’t “Rah, rah, rah,” I’d already had my first real Carolina experience: going to the Varsity Theater. The Varsity — which closed this summer after more than 80 years of Carolina students showing up late and talking through the previews — was an icon.

Lending a hand: Microloan program for homeless should be expanded

By Editorial Board | September 7

The Community Empower-ment Fund, a collaborative effort by three campus organizations, has found success in reaching out to Chapel Hill’s homeless.This microloan program, which gives participating homeless people $300 to pursue skill workshops, should be expanded and should also include outreach for applicants who aren’t approved for loans.Those who apply should all be granted access to the resources made available in the program, specifically by pairing homeless participants with student advisers regardless of whether they receive one of the loans.

Give them a break: Stop forcing UNC employees to shoulder so much of the burden from budget cuts

By Editorial Board | September 7

The University and the state have asked our employees to sacrifice too much. There’s been a mandatory two-hour workday cut on Oct. 22 for a football game, a 0.5 percent reduction in salary, a 10-hour furlough and now a decrease in employee course waivers from three classes to eight credit hours. The budget crisis requires sacrifices from everybody, but too much is being asked of a group that has little say in the budget decisions of Gov. Bev Perdue. They seem to be the first group hung out to dry when it comes time to make more cuts.

Take H1N1 seriously: The virus is here on campus, but with several small lifestyle changes we can help prevent its spread

By Editorial Board | September 7

As the H1N1 virus sweeps through college campuses across the country, students must remember to take the virus seriously.This is not to imply most of us aren’t … though we have heard our fair share of “swine flu” jokes across campus. But by staying aware and making small changes in our day-to-day routine, we can try to live in a healthier environment.Campus Health Services administrators have done their part, disseminating information and getting students the help they need.

Fewer TAs in classroom hurts quality of teaching

By Letter to the Editor | September 7

TO THE EDITOR:I have read the article “Fewer teaching assistants hired” in The Daily Tar Heel (Sept. 5), and I am disappointed.The fact that UNC departments have to hire fewer teaching assistants is an alarming sign for graduate students who can only afford to do their research because they are offered the positions of teaching assistants.

Letter misrepresented the idea of ‘positive rights’

By Letter to the Editor | September 7

TO THE EDITOR:In his recent letter to the editor (“Rep. Price’s views differ from Founding Fathers’,” Sept. 4), James A. Wadsworth makes a number of preposterous assertions.First of all, he criticizes U.S. Rep. David Price, D-N.C., not for his views on health care, but rather for supporting the idea of positive rights in the first place. Wadsworth believes that somehow this isn’t in keeping with the ideals of the holy Founding Fathers.On the contrary, one needs only look as far as the United States Constitution to find positive rights.

Give the ASG a chance to prove its value to UNC

By Letter to the Editor | September 7

TO THE EDITOR:The Association of Student Governments is an important organization for UNC-Chapel Hill to be a part of. It is one of the ways in which all 17 UNC-system campuses can come together to discuss issues and ideas that each campus is facing throughout the year.

It’s time we leave the Association of Student Governments

By Editorial Board | September 4

This is the last straw for the UNC-system Association of Student Governments. In light of an inflated budget and lack of results, it’s time that UNC-Chapel Hill stops funding this group.ASG, a group responsible for representing the interests of students throughout the entire UNC system, has not proved its worth. And its use of student fees is simply embarrassing.Last weekend, ASG gave final approval to its $260,000 budget for the upcoming year. These funds come directly from student fees paid by UNC-system students.

Protesters should know their facts

By Justin Chandler Wilcox | September 3

A few protesters in Raleigh have a strange definition of rape. And through them, we can all learn about decorum in disagreements, how to listen and why we learn before we speak.I went there a few weeks ago to see the premiere of “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell,” a movie based on a collection of stories of the same name written and lived by Tucker Max. He is the quintessential bar-party boy, famous for his sweet talking and subsequent sexual conquests. His genre is a guy’s version of chick lit, and his audience is the college crowd.

Keep it artsy: The University and Chapel Hill should ?nd a way to keep the Varsity Theater an arts venue

By Editorial Board | September 3

The closing of the Varsity Theater on Franklin Street this summer was a devastating blow to the Chapel Hill community. But hopefully, this vacancy will only be temporary. While it’s wonderful to see businesses moving back to Franklin Street and the town’s renewed commitment to fostering economic development, it’s hard to believe we can’t support a main street movie theater. And it’s so unfortunate that two of the three independent movie theaters in Chapel Hill have closed within the past five years.

Enough is enough, ASG: In light of wasted money and ineffectiveness, it’s time we leave the Association of Student Governments

By Editorial Board | September 3

Due to an reporting error in this editorial, the board incorrectly stated who may eliminate the Association of Student Governments fee. The UNC-system Board of Governors can eliminate this fee. Due to editing errors in this editorial, the board incorrectly stated who was involved in the incident leading to assault charges against Cole Jones. It was the aunt of Jones’ son.

Inebriated sex can have very serious consequences

By Letter to the Editor | September 3

TO THE EDITOR:Austin Capobianco’s letter to the editor (“If it feels good, it must be wrong — sex included,” Sept. 2) makes a joke of a situation which is very serious to many, especially to survivors and secondary survivors. It also downplays the importance of many who work tirelessly to end sexual violence. Never has it been stated that inebriated sex is bad. What has been stated is that legal consent cannot be given by a person who is inebriated.

Trying out the ‘real world’

By Lea Luquire | September 2

Before moving into their freshman dorm, most college students are already dreaming about their senior year. Your final year in college is the last few months before you start the rest of your life. Otherwise known as the “real world,” the rest of your life entails having to do adult things like work and pay bills — all the things required and expected of a responsible post-college human being.

QuickHits for Sept. 3

By Editorial Board | September 2

SRCThumbs downThe first few weeks of school mean that there are hordes of freshmen trying out the Student Recreation Center. We know you think you can avoid the freshman 15. Fat chance. 'Drank'Thumbs upInnovative Beverage Group has introduced a new relaxation drink called “Drank.” Now if somebody asks to “buy you a drank,” you won’t have to get drunk and forget what you did. Sorry, T-Pain.H1N1Thumbs down