8
FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 2004
BOARD EDITORIALS
BEST BUY, FOR NOW
The Princeton Review picked UNC as the best value among colleges
and universities, but tuition hikes might do away with this honor.
According to the Princeton Review, UNC is the
best bargain among the nation’s institutions of
higher learning. How long we remain deserv
ing of this distinction remains to be seen.
While many of the Ihr Heel faithful might prefer
to rest atop The Associated Press basketball rankings,
it is noteworthy to retain our spot on the publication’s
annual list of “America’s Best Value Colleges.”
It’s a fine title for any college or university to
assume, one that recognizes the academic quality
that accompanies UNC-CH’s relatively low costs.
Everyone appreciates a bargain.
But how long can the University claim the latter
honor if it continues down its current path?
The Princeton Review’s methodology uses aca
demic and financial aid ratings. It also factors in a
“tuition GPA,” which subtracts average student gift
aid from the sum of tuition, fee and room and board
costs.
The publication’s Web site identifies its basic goal:
to publicize universities that enroll students who
enjoy their experience and aren’t worrying about
being forced “to mortgage their futures because their
DONATIONS NEEDED
Members of the community should consider giving money or items
to families whose homes were damaged severely in a fire Monday.
One day, a family might live in relative securi
ty, with a place to call home waiting for it
once work and school obligations are met.
The next day, that same family could be left picking
up the pieces.
This possibility became reality in Carrboro on
Monday, when a fire ravaged a building at Brighton
Square Apartments. Carrboro Fire Marshal Stan
Foushee deemed two of the building’s six units
irreparable.
One prominent member of the University com
munity who has been affected directly by the fire is
Frances Ferris, UNC student body secretary. She and
her fiance lived in one of the apartments that was
damaged by the flames.
In comparison with some of her neighbors, Ferris
is fortunate. She had renter’s insurance that will cover
the cost of repairs. Other people who lived in the
building aren’t nearly as lucky: In addition to losing
their homes, they now have to contend with the mas
sive financial burden of accounting for damages.
Ferris and her neighbors are organizing a drive to
raise funds for the building’s residents whose lives
TRUE TEACHER LOST
Jeffrey Obler, a political science professor who died Saturday, was
known for never losing sight of the exploratoiy nature of learning.
If you were a student in a political science class
taught by Professor Jeffrey Obler, you were never
quite sure he could see you.
On the first day of all his classes, squinting from
behind his characteristic magnifying eyeglasses,
Obler apologized in advance for calling students by
the wrong name or ignoring a raised hand. Poor
eyesight made it difficult for him to discern faces.
But if a student’s argument piqued his interest
during debate and discussion, Obler instantly would
focus all his attention on the person speaking. He
sometimes pointed and seemed to determine the
student’s exact location with an apparent sixth sense.
In addition, Obler had an uncanny ability to elec
trify a classroom with a mixture of his own passion
for the material and a rare, natural rapport with
undergraduate students. His passing represents a
true loss for the Department of Political Science and
the University as a whole.
There was a reason Obler’s classes filled up on the
first day of registration. There was a reason that, for
political science undergraduates, securing a spot in
EDITOR'S NOTE: The above editorials are the opinions of solely The Daily Tar Heel Editorial Board, and were reached after open debate. The
board consists of seven board members, the editorial page associate editor, the editorial page editor and the DTH editor. The 2003-04 DTH
editor decided not to vote on the board and not to write board editorials.
QUOTABLES
“We’ve heard a lot lately
about Adam and Eve, not
Adam and Steve. But,
personally, I wonder if
Steve would have eaten the
apple.”
MAB SEGREST,
CONNECTICUT COLLEGE PROFESSOR, ON
GAY MARRIAGE, AT THE SECOND ANNUAL
N.C. UNITY CONFERENCE ON SATURDAY.
“It’s like when you’re 15,
and you fell in love with
that blond girl. You do
everything and work so
hard and then lose them
to the football player.”
JOE RIDDLE.
FAYETTEVILLE DEVELOPER, ON THE
IMPENDING CLOSING OF THE GAP.
“I don’t see how they could
make a financial
argument for tearing it
down. If they do, I’ll
probably flip my lid.”
CHARLIE ANDERSON,
CHAIRMAN OF STUDENT GOVERNMENT'S
RENEWABLE ENERGY SPECIAL PROJECTS
COMMITTEE, ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES'
DISCUSSION OF DEMOLISHING MORRISON
RESIDENCE HALL
school is charging them way too much.”
This year, UNC-CH fit the bill and is looking
down on such competition as Amherst College, Rice
University and the University of Texas-Austin.
But this might not be the case for long.
Once Princeton Review compiles data from this
academic year, it’s altogether possible that the
University no longer will be afforded a view from the
very top.
Tuition increases of S3OO and $1,600 for in-state
and out-of-state students, respectively, inevitably
will make UNC’s reign at the No. 1 spot difficult if
not impossible to maintain.
None of the widespread concern about the poten
tially negative effects of these increases could have
affected Princeton Review’s data for last year.
But it doesn’t take a prophet to guess that, by this
time next year, UNC students could be less satisfied
and the University’s bargain might not be the best.
For now, the price is right.
But if UNC is No. 1 next year, it more likely will be
on the soccer field or basketball court than in the
pages of the Princeton Review.
have been turned upside down.
Those interested in donating money or children’s
items should contact Ferris at 956-9545 or ffer
ris@email.unc.edu.
If they have even a dollar or two to spare, mem
bers of the University and town communities should
strongly consider making a contribution. Some vic
tims of Monday’s fire now have next to nothing, so
every little bit of aid, no matter how small, would
help.
Giving away that money might mean one less bag
of chips or cup of coffee or magazine or CD pur
chased in the fiiture. But measured against a fami
ly’s need to overcome crippling repair costs, these
amenities are meaningless.
Students, faculty members and local residents
alike have the ability to make a difference in fire vic
tims’ lives.
This is not the time to adopt an “it doesn’t involve
me, so why should I care?” mind-set. Instead, it
would be appropriate for people to count their bless
ings and look out for fellow members of their com
munity.
his small section of Political Science 86 before sen
ior year was a reason to call their parents.
This expert in political philosophy left all pre
tenses of hierarchy or seniority at the classroom door
an unusual ability for someone with an intellect
as powerful and diverse as Obler’s.
In many ways, he considered himself a student in
his own class. Those lucky enough to study with him
before he stopped teaching earlier this year likely will
remember thinking that their professor was on the
same path as they were, working toward the same
goal as the rest of the class.
He just happened to be slightly more informed on
the subject matter.
Whether viewed as a colleague, instructor or both,
Obler exemplified the student-professor who still
was learning eagerly after years of study.
The long line for his help during office hours no
longer will form on the second floor of Hamilton
Hall, but members of the UNC community can still
learn from Jeffrey Obler by approaching whatever
they do with care, passion and jest.
EDITOR'S NOTE
Grades will better reflect officials’ performances
prqhe problem of grade infla-
I tion comes up with great
X. frequency in the realm of
higher education, and the topic
has reared its ugly head numerous
times on our particular campus.
But few people realize that the
problem has surfaced on the edi
torial page of The Daily Tar Heel.
I bring it to the forefront of
dialogue in light of this year’s edi
tion of the DTH editorial board’s
annual report cards for elected
officials.
With the end of the year and
the inauguration of new officers
set for Tuesday, it is time to assess
the performance of the individu
als elected by their peers to repre
sent the student body.
The final term grades will be
published Monday for the student
body president, senior class presi
dent and vice president, Graduate
and Professional Student
Federation president, Carolina
Athletic Association president,
Residence Hall Association presi
dent and Student Congress.
As such, it is important to
stress the manner in which the
editorial board doles out grades
and the reason we choose to
grade certain student government
officials.
These officers and representa
tives from the leadership of
Opinion
NATHAN DENNY
EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR
Student Congress have been
selected for grading because they
were elected by the student body.
That show of electoral faith
demands a thorough graded cri
tique of those officers’ perform
ances.
So the conspicuous absence of
the judicial branch and Student
Attorney General Jonathan Slain
should not be taken as a slight to
the students who work to uphold
the University’s Honor Code.
The editorial board soon will
consider and produce an editorial
dedicated entirely to that branch.
But for the time being, we’re
sticking to our elected officials.
The editorial board will meet
with and interview each elected
officer and several representatives
from Congress before discussing
and deciding upon the grades.
As I pointed out at the begin
ning of the semester, it is impor
tant to recognize that the editorial
board behind this set of report
ON THE DAY’S NEWS
*Charity should begin at home, but should not stay there.”
PHILLIPS BROOKS, MINISTER AND POET
EDITORIAL CARTOON By Chris Mattsson, mattsson@email.unc.edu
COMMENTARY
Carrboro s progressivism has
outpaced that of Chapel Hill
X X reading last week’s
%/m/ news coverage about the
Y T same-sex marriage bill
on the Chapel Hill Town Council’s
agenda, I stumbled across anew
word I can add to my vocabulary.
Council member Mark Klein
schmidt, the bill’s author, told a
reporter that state legislators
might just write off the the bill as
another gonzo item pushed for by
those Chapel Hill “wackadoos.”
What in bleedin’ hell is a “wack
adoo?” Is it some exotic animal
caged for its own protection from
the wily rightist predators in the
wild? Well, since our town is not
only “liberal” but a “zoo” as well, I
can see how the moniker fits.
Like all liberals, us local folks
love to hug dogwoods, slash
Hummers! tires, wallow in white
guilt and drop rosea in gun barrels
as we simultaneously slaughter
scores of nascent babies.
That’s a stretch, but I’ve been
accused of as much— I can rea
son why. I believe that permanent
damage to our environment is not
an acceptable cost for short-term,
finite financial gain. I’m all for
promoting the diversity of both
thought and people. I support
people’s personal rights and free
doms, but not if their success
necessitates another’s failure.
There is no one I respect more
than the brave women and men
in our military, but my blood boils
if they’re ordered to fight for the
cause of oil merchants, corpora
tions and arms dealers instead of
freedom and justice. Oh yeah,
what a woman does with her body
is her own damn beeswax.
So I’ve been branded for life
with the L-word and, I suppose,
smeared by the innuendo that fol
lows. If that’s what I am, cool.
Too bad that I’ve never felt that
the vibe of our supposedly liberal
cards is largely anew one.
Only four members of this
semester’s editorial board were
members of the board when
midterm grades were determined
and published. And one of them
was DTH Editor Elyse Ashbum,
who participates in discussion but
does not vote.
So only three voting members
return from the fall semester,
with four new editorial writers
and entirely new leadership.
Since this is the case, report
card grades might look a bit dif
ferent this semester.
It was obvious that last semes
ter’s grades were for lack of a
better term generous.
Of the six grades given, the
lowest was a B.
And while it would be a shame
to understate the talent and dedi
cation of this year’s slate of elect
ed officials, such an impressive
showing suggests that, perhaps,
student leaders need to be
watched with a more critical eye.
In response to that kindly dis
play, the editorial page staff will
be publishing a grade scale that
thoroughly explains and
attempts to justify the grades we
give out.
For example, a “C” grade is not
a glaring indictment of an indi
vidual’s personal failings and does
i jr/ .
NICK EBERLEIN
THE VILLAGE MEGALOMANIAC
town meshed with how I feel.
TVue, the Town Council’s made
some great strides lately getting
rid of voyeuristic red light cam
eras, instituting protective zoning
for the town’s oldest black and
working-class neighborhood,
speaking out for equal marriage
rights for all, buying open space
but much of it feels like damage
control. And a lot of people hate it
The first letter to the editor
printed in The Chapel Hill News
after Kleinschmidt introduced his
bill stated that legalizing same-sex
marriage would pave the way for
sanctioned bestiality, polygamy
and statutory rape.
Kleinschmidt also told me that
some residents told him he lost
their vote for playing a hand in the
red light cameras’ repeal. Ouch.
A healthy contingent of resi
dents opposed efforts to regulate
Northside’s affordability because it
would curtail the neighborhood’s
mansionization. Never mind that
its once-segregated black residents
were only a generation freed from
oppression. Never mind that it’s
basically the only place in town
our hard-working municipal
employees can afford to buy a
house. Forget about people’s prop
erty and taxes, escalating to values
beyond normal inflationary levels
due to forces beyond their control.
Protection came after more than a
decade’s worth of residents’ pleas. I
pray it didn’t come too late.
It seems that once our leaders
not suggest any ill feelings on the
part of the editorial board.
It merely suggests that the
individual did an average job.
Nothing spectacular; nothing that
would do permanent damage to
the position or the student body.
In an effort to reflect the
University’s grading policies, an
“A” will be reserved for only the
most outstanding performances.
So when report cards run
Monday, don’t be surprised if
your favorite student official’s
grade has dropped since last
semester.
Grade inflation has no place on
the editorial page.
Contact Nathan Denny,
editorial page editor,
at ndenny@email.unc.edu.
TO SUBMIT A LETTER: The Daily Tar
Heel welcomes reader comments.
Letters to the editor should be no longer
than 300 words and must be typed,
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more than two people. Students should
include their year, major and phone
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Publication is not guaranteed. Bring let
ters to the DTH office at Suite 104,
Carolina Union, mail them to P.O. Box
3257, Chapel Hill, NC 27515 or e-mail
them to: editdesk@unc.edu.
(El|p Mg ®ar MM
exercise good sense, a glut of folks
come out of the woodwork ready
to impugn their actions. This slows
local progression, and it’s scary.
I walk through Carrboro and
see a town where the ethnic mix
actually reflects America. Unlike
Chapel Hill, gentrification hasn’t
bleached it as lily-white as my arse.
Kick back sometime at the pic
nic area in front of Weaver Street
Market, which, by the way, is a
community-owned cooperative.
Carrboro has turned its down
town, albeit small, into a vibrant
spot without the thought of luring
uppity, exclusive boutiques to the
area so their elite, bedroom-com
munity folks on the fringes might
mix with the commoners. That
only happens in Chapel Hill.
Cat’s Cradle followed the starv
ing artists across the tracks once
one-sided economics forced them
from here, and now we can no
longer claim to be the musical and
cultural mecca of the Piedmont.
I guess that’s why our leaders
follow in Carrboro’s footsteps
when grappling with issues such
as domestic partner benefits, the
environment and affordable hous
ing. Chapel Hill’s neighbor has
managed to remain an inclusive
town to its residents and workers
and to be a welcoming community
to a multicultural demographic.
The culture found in Carrboro,
a culture I love, is fast becoming
an old wive’s tale in Chapel Hill.
Chapel Hill must once again
become the avante-garde, “liberal”
town it’s reputed to be. Remaining
one step behind could easily mean
that we’ll be one step too late. Let
us not follow Carrboro’s awesome
lead, but let us be real wackadoos
and blaze our own social trail.
Contact Nick Eberlein
at slimkid@emailunc.edu.
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