Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Nov. 21, 2005, edition 1 / Page 7
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ttlljr Hatty ttar Hrrl BOARD EDITORIALS THE BOT’S BETRAYAL The tuition proposals being discussed are just another example of how the UNC Board of Trustees doesn’t see students only dollar signs. The UNC Board of TYustees discussed the next round of their favorite game Thursday how to milk more money out of students. Judging from the four proposals for tuition increases that are on the table, undergraduates won’t be alone in feeling the ever-growing squeeze of BOT approved hikes. In all of the proposals except one, resident graduate tuition would climb faster than their undergraduate counterparts. Only the first plan, Option A- with S3OO hikes for graduate and undergraduate residents and SBOO for nonresidents engages in equal-opportunity gouging. Of course it would be silly and unreasonable to demand that tuition never go up. But our BOT has made it clear that they want to get as much moolah as they possibly can out of students via tuition. Ever since 2004, trustees have pushed for a market-based approach to considering tuition increases. Needless to say, it comes as no surprise that three of the four tuition increases proposed stick it to grad uate students disproportionately. After all, as BOT Chairman Nelson Schwab so kindly pointed out after Thursday’s meeting, graduate tuition is “more com A MATTER OF SAFETY The University’s lighting tour illuminated trouble spots, but officials need to keep an eye on lighting year-round with all the construction. Recently, the University took a semi-annual tour of the campus lighting system. While it doesn’t appear that there were extensive problems, it seems that construction has caused unsafe circumstances in some areas and that quick action by officials would be a welcomed response. Among the findings, the Thursday night tour by Electric Distribution Services discovered that some areas, namely near Venable and Jackson halls, were poorly lit in part because of construction, which had caused power outages and alack of accessibility. Blue boxes those emergency call boxes at differ ent campus locations also have become something of a concern for those on campus as construction has blocked several of them. Others are not easily identi fiable. According to Student Congress, Odum Village doesn’t even have blue boxes. Officials said Friday that the jurisdiction for these lights is in the hands of emergency services and telecom services, though facilities management is responsible for maintenance. No matter who’s responsible for these lights, they were designed to provide a certain level of safety should a dangerous situation arise. For them to IN NEED OF RESCUE When the rescue squad desperately needs more money, Orange County Commissioners shouldn’t be wasting our money on an efficiency study. The Orange EMS and Rescue Squad needs new equipment and anew truck, but frivolous expenditures by the Orange County Board of Commissioners have trumped this need in the county budget for more than a year. The squad is a nonprofit service that is provided primarily by volunteers. And its budget is not enough to update the dilapidated, but much needed, lifesav ing equipment. The squad had relied on commu nity donations and fundraisers to pad their measly $220,000 budget, but donations have ebbed. The Board of Commissioners has questioned the squad’s need for anew truck and equipment. That one of the trucks repeatedly breaks down should be necessity enough. Yet when the squad came to the commissioners with a request for anew truck, they decided more information on the issue was needed and chose instead to fund a study on the way the rescue squad serves the residents of the county. Not that a study on efficiency is not a worthwhile concern, but when the rescue squad’s trucks and equipment break down, the board should save the consultations for another year. Commissioners might have good intentions, but EDITOR'S NOTE: Hie above editorials are the opinions solely of The Daily Tar Heel editorial board and were reached after open debate. The board consists of three board members, the associate opinion editor, the opinion editor and the DTH editor. The 2005-06 DTH editor decided not to vote on the board and not to write board editorials. Address concerns to Public Editor Elliott Dube at dubee@email.unc.edu. READERS’ FORUM Diversity fund is anything but 'A Waste of Money' TO THE EDITOR: In Thursday’s “A Waste of Money,” the DTH editorial board showed a lack of organization al understanding and vision in their criticism of the new fund by the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs. This fund is an opportunity for students to be directly involved in forging a campus community that embraces diversity as a tool to enhance each of our experiences here at UNC. Last year, the chancellor’s task force on diversity did a tremendous amount of research and set ambi tious and admirable goals for the UNC campus. They imagined a day when we won’t self-segregate in the Pit. We should be thankful that student groups have had Student Congress to go to previously, but this fund is not redundant. It is a sig nal to students that the University understands the importance of learning from those around you. More importantly, it dem onstrates that the University is actively trying to engage student's in the movement toward a campus of open exchange and appreciation of difference. We think that we as students should be appreciative and seize plicated” because of tuition remission and teaching fellowships in layman’s terms, the BOT believes that graduate students will suck it up and take the tuition hikes that are handed to them. Which brings us to the larger problem. It is explic itly spelled out in Article XI Section 9 of the N.C. Constitution that"... The benefits of The University of North Carolina... as far as practicable, be extend ed to the people of the State free of expense.” What part of the BOT’s philosophy of charging as much as they think they can get away with meshes with the mission laid out in the state’s constitution? No, many of the trustees have forgotten that mis sion for the state’s first public university. And by forgetting that sacred and fundamental cornerstone of UNC’s foundation, those trustees have betrayed the vision of the much-vaunted University of the people. Unfortunately, it looks as though they can get away with it for now. But a word of warning to the trustees: Eventually someone will enforce that con stitutional mandate. Let’s hope that day is sooner rather than later. become inaccessible or fall into disrepair is danger ous to those on campus and needs to be remedied. And while we thank officials for their commitment to fix the problem this week, it’s important that with all of this construction, the utmost diligence is prac ticed year-round. With the University in its peak year of construc tion, it’s expected that situations such as cut elec tricity or blocked lights can happen however, those lights, especially blue lights, are important to everyone’s safety. Construction will be a regular sight in UNC’s domain for years to come, and officials should make sure lighting is at the top of the list to help ensure security where it is needed. There is no doubt that the administration is con cerned about safety, but they have let some holes develop in the safety net. They can do better and we all deserve better. Blocked paths and lots of noise might be an incon venience, but blocked or disabled lighting is a safety issue —and one that should be monitored closely, both as a general rule and especially as construction progresses. their reasoning is unsound. It’s outrageous that the Board of Commissioners is poised to spend $6 mil lion on the failing IViangle Sportsplex, but doesn’t seem to see the necessity of working ambulances. If the rescue squad doesn’t receive the necessary funds soon, it may very well become a thing of the past. Brian Matthews, a member of the squad’s board of directors expressed concern about the squad’s future to The Daily Tar Heel. “If donations continue to drop and other avenues don’t work out, (bankruptcy) could happen,” he said. If the squad is forced into bankruptcy as a result of the board’s inaction, the residents of Orange County will be the ones to suffer as a consequence. The Board of Commissioners would do its citizens a grave disservice and endanger the lives of those that in the future will need emergency medical atten tion by refusing to act. The squad is not trying to fleece the commis sioners they volunteer for this and don’t earn a profit. It’s not the rescue squad that provides an ineffective or inefficient service it’s the Board of Commissioners. this chance to change our com munity. MattHendren Sophomore Economics/Public Policy Amon Anderson Class 0f2005 Wampler misrepresented his colleague's comments TO THE EDITOR: In the Nov. 15 Viewpoints col umn by Kris Wampler, he grossly misrepresented and took out of context the comments I have made with regards to the stipends resolu tion in Congress. Wampler states in his column that I disregarded the half-dozen e-mails promoting the view that disagreed with my own. I did not; I responded to every e-mail explaining why I was going to vote the way I did. I mentioned the constituent e mails to prove that the issue of stu dent government stipends was one manufactured by a small number of members of Student Congress and that portraying the issue as a student outcry was disingenuous. In addition, I came to Congress with the e-mail written by Wampler to the College Republicans listserv outlining a form letter to be sent to members of Congress. I read the e-mail and noted that six out of the Opinion seven pieces of constituent mail I had received regarding stipends had followed this form exactly. I stated that the sole e-mail I received from a non-CR encouraged me to vote against the referendum. Wampler also states in his col umn that I did not forward any anti-stipend or CR e-mails to the Congress listserv. I did not forward any of my constituent correspon dence to the Congress listserv from either proponents for nor oppo nents of the resolution. I did forward the comments of former members of student gov ernment. I did bring constituent e-mails to Congress and mentioned both those that differed from and those that agreed with my views. It is The Daily Tar Heel’s respon sibility to ensure the words that appear in your paper are correct. Kris Wampler’s heinous misrep resentation of my stance should have never been allowed to run in The Daily Tar Heel. AnisaMohanty District 6 Representative Student Congress Contact our representatives about cuts in financial aid TO THE EDITOR: Last Thursday night, the U.S. House of Representatives voted FROM THE DAY’S NEWS “When it comes to buying a Sportsplex overfunding the health care of the county, that’s negligence.” JAMIE DANIEL, FORMER COUNTY COMMISSIONER CANDIDATE, ON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS’ REFUSAL TO FUND THE RESCUE SQUAD EDITORIAL CARTOON CiMMilTAif Give thanks for blessings and the underappreciated ASG Thanksgiving is by far the best holiday. I love turkey and football. Also, the idea of taking out a day to be thankful sits very well with me. I also like it when everyone participates. Thanksgiving is a holiday without a particular religious affiliation, meaning that every American can take the time out to say thanks in their own way. This year while every Tar Heel sits down at the table we should count the UNC Association of Student Governments amongst the things we are thankful for because for the past few years they have been pulling more than their weight in the fight to keep tuition affordable. Now, if you do not know what the ASG is, you are not alone on the UNC campus. UNC has taken a concerted effort to be unin volved in the group’s efforts on behalf of students. Every student in the UNC sys tem that is us plus the other 15 public institutions in North Carolina pays $1 to the ASG to give system students proper rep resentation at a systemwide level. This makes the group the most representative and best funded student advocacy group in the state. The president of ASG repre sents all (about) 180,000 of us on the UNC Board of Governors. Before I go any further with this call to action, in the name of full disclosure, I must let the reader know that last year I was the vice president of legislative affairs for the ASG. I spent most of last year fielding questions about healing the rift between UNC and the ASG, and I am sure that my fellow Tar Heel Ginny Franks, who has since taken over the position, is in the same boat. So if I at all seem frustrated, know that it comes not from malice but rather from first-hand experience witnessing the results of UNC opting out. 217-215 to charge the average col lege student $5,800 more than he already will have to pay back in loans. The bill was labeled a deficit cutting measure, but a S7O billion tax cut will be proposed by year’s end to further sacrifice our future. Every Democrat in the House voted against this sham bill, and Walter Jones, R-N.C., and 13 other Republicans joined them. You can do something about this, and it’s not too late to stop it. First, call your senators, who will be negotiating with House leaders on the bill this week. Then, if a Republican represents your dis trict, call him/her. Tell these politi cians their priorities are mixed up, and that you don’t appreciate being sacked with this debt. Then put some pressure on them so they know how many votes their Democratic opponents will be get ting in next fall’s elections. Dustin Ingalls Public Relations Director UNC Young Democrats UORRECTXON: Friday’s editorial cartoon by Philip McFee referenced William Jefferson Davie instead of William Richardson Davie. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for the error. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2005 MATT LILES HERE'S TO DOWN HOME The Thanksgiving story I know involves Pilgrims arriving in the New World seeking anew life, much the same way you and I come to UNC. But the Pilgrims were ill-equipped to face the harsh impending winter. With the help of the Native Americans, the Pilgrims made it through that harsh winter and gathered to feast that next November to show their gratitude and thankfulness for being alive. In the tuition battle, the last five years have been anew world for students. The'advent of cam pus-based tuition and the budget ary pressure that has come from the recent recession have threat ened the existence of the entire UNC system. During that time the other 15 campuses have borne most of the load in advocating for affordable tuition at the General Assembly and the Board of Governors. Sure our student body presidents have gone to speak to policy makers about tuition, but mostly UNC has had little to no participation in ASG convenings designed to present a formidable force for advocating for student issues. UNC’s attendance at the ASG full-body meetings is sporadic, and save Ginny and myself, there has been no UNC interest in tak ing leadership roles. We have created a lens of arrogance and negligence for the other campuses to view us through. The ASG has gotten us through the winter, and it is past time that we invite them to the table and say thanks. Often there is a seri ous critique of the group’s effec- Sjjnak Out We welcome letters to the editor and aim to publish as many as possible. In writing, please follow these simple guidelines: Keep letters under 300 words. Type them. Date them. Sign them; make sure they're signed by no more than two people. If you're a student, include your year, major and phone number. Faculty and staff: Give us your department and phone number. The DTH edits for space, clarity, accuracy and vulgarity. Bring letters to our office at Suite 2409 in the Student Union, e-mail them to editdesk@unc.edu, or send them to P.O. Box 3257, Chapel Hill, N.C., 27515. All letters also will appear in our blogs section. <JV Hatty (Tar Hrel Established 1893 112 years of editorialfreedom RYAN C. TUCK EDITOR, 962-4086 RCTUCK@EMAILUNC.EDU OFFICE HOURS: TUESDAY, THURSDAY 1-2 P.M. PIT SIT: FRIDAY, 12-1 P.M. JOSEPH R. SCHWARTZ MANAGING EDITOR, 962-0750 JOSEPH_SCHWARTZ@UNC.EDU REBECCA WILHELM DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR, 962-0750 BECCAO7@EMAIL.UNC.EDU CHRIS CAMERON OPINION EDITOR. 962-0750 EDITDESK@UNC.EDU BRIAN HUDSON UNIVERSITY EDITOR, 962-0372 UDESK@UNC.EDU BRIANNA BISHOP TED STRONG CITY CO-EDITORS, 962-4209 CITYDESK@UNC.EDU KAVITA PILLAI STATE & NATIONAL EDITOR, 962-4103 STNTDESK@UNC.EDU By Philip McFee, pip@email.unc.edu tiveness from our end, which is as it should be. SBP Matt Calabria had a serious meeting concerning grievances. Despite his effort, the follow through has continued to be meek at best. ASG has both heard and then worked to change, while we still make offers to partici pate only if more change comes never thinking that maybe an infusion of capable Tar Heels could change ASG from within. We have to work off the stigma of past arrogance that we got from things such as former SBP Matt Tepper’s total disregard for systemwide issues. We must earn back the trust and respect in our capabilities as leaders and stu dents that the other 15 campuses so eagerly want to give. UNC is the big kid on the block, we always think we can do it better, stronger, faster -and often we can. But we should do this from within the ASG. When students go to Raleigh to advocate, with buses streaming from all throughout the state, we should be represented by more than a paltry number of student leaders. And when there is a crisis about tuition or any other system wide policy, we should give the other campuses no doubt but to look to us to lead the fight for stu dent rights. We are a bigger part of the system than that, and if we are going to be the big kid on the block we should start to act like it. Now I may have done a better job putting you to sleep than the turkey will on Thursday, but my condensed message is that if we continue to refuse to fully commit and provide only hollow semantic support to the systemwide effort to achieve responsible tuition policy, then maybe none of us will make it through the next winter. Contact Matt Liles, a first-year law student, at limat@email.unc.edu. www.dailylaiheei.cotn DANIEL MALLOY SPORTS EDITOR, 962-4710 SPORTS@UNC.EDU TORRYE JONES FEATURES EDITOR, 962-4214 FEATURES@UNC.EDU JIM WALSH ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR, 962-4214 ARTSDESK@UNC.EDU SCOn SPILLMAN CATHERINE WILLIAMS COPY CO-EDITORS, 962-4103 WHITNEY SHEFTE PHOTO EDITOR, 962.0750 JEN ALLIET DANIEL BEDEN DESIGN CO-EDITORS, 962-0750 FEILDING CAGE GRAPHICS AND MULTIMEDIA EDITOR, 962-0246 CHRIS JOHNSON ONLINE EDITOR, 962-0750 ONLINE9UNC.EDU KELLY OCHS EMILY STEEL WRITERS’ COACHES, 962-0372 ELLIOTT DUBE PUBLIC EDITOR, 260-9084 DUBEE@EMAIL.UNC.EDU 7
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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