Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Dec. 7, 2005, edition 1 / Page 12
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12 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2005 BOARS EDITORIALS HERE AND LICENSED The General Assembly should reject a bill that would prevent illegal immigrants from getting drivers licences it is foolish and impractical. Lying in wait for the N.C. General Assembly to take up in May is a bill that would make it more difficult for illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses. The Comite de Asuntos Latinos de Orange will take up the issue at its meeting today. The bill is nothing more than mean-spirited dis crimination and a waste of state resources that will not improve security but only make N.C. roads less safe. Introduced by Sen. Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, the bill would require proof that applicants are inhabiting the country legally. It also would require the governor to report to the assembly on which kind and how many licenses are denied, as well as any new security features. This is a foolish bid to bring the state into compli ance with a stupid federal law, the Real ID Act. Illegal immigration certainly is a problem, but the fact remains that we have illegal people in our coun try who are a part of communities and economies. They work, they pay sales taxes, and they drive. Making it harder for them to get driver’s licenses will not change that reality one bit. It will, however, OUR LANDS ABROAD UNC purchased land in London for study abroad programs it’s a smart investment as students spread their horizons beyond our campus. UNC is expanding its horizons with a $5 mil lion purchase of land in the London area for study abroad programs. The land will provide more students with the opportunity to study in the city and is a progressive step that promises a strong future for UNC’s already strong study abroad office. According to the 2005 Open Doors report, 1,657 Carolina students traveled abroad during the 2003- 04 school year. That number only will continue to grow, as more and more students seek to diversify their education opportunities and immerse them selves in anew culture. The purchase of the London land is evidence of UNC’s forward thinking and vision for the future of the program. More students will continue to seek study abroad opportunities, and the land in London will no doubt provide such for students. The purchase of the land also shows UNC’s com mitment that all students wishing to go abroad will have the chance. No matter what administrators or advisors might say during orientation, the cost to go abroad is significant. MORE REFORM NOW The N.C. House Speaker has appointed an ethics committee —a group that needs to accelerate reforms and develop even more accountability. Since the gods of irony would not have it any other way, N.C. House Speaker Jim Black, D- Mecklenburg, has formed anew legislative panel on ethics reform. The panel will explore whether anew lobbying law needs to be implemented sooner and if additional restrictions need to be implemented. The answer to those questions is a big “duh.” Of course the House needs ethics reforms. Look no further than the man who has called for the panel. Black already has had a paid adviser who helped write the lottery bill resign because of her side work with a lottery company. The N.C. lottery commission which Black partially helped appoint also had a resignation for similar reasons. With all its potential, the nascent phases of the N.C. lottery have been tainted by corruption —a disturbing number of which traces back to the House Speaker. And if the committee is going to succeed in reform, the first step is making it bipartisan. Twelve Democrats and 10 Republicans is not a bipartisan group it’s a committee that Democrats easily can dominate. This should not be about politics. It needs to be EDITOR'S NOTE: The 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 UNC treats test animals in a legal and ethical manner TO THE EDITOR: Regarding the Dec. 6 editorial “Carin’ for Critters,” it’s important for the University community to know that our animal research care program is in full compliance with federal rules. We have a rigorous system in place to ensure the humane care and treatment of the laboratory animals used in research conduct ed by our scientists to improve human health. Our campus adheres to the poli cies and guidelines of the National Institutes of Health Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare and has worked diligently to resolve any known deficiencies as quickly as possible —a practice that we pledge to continue. NlH’s last report said that our corrective actions were “appropri ate and responsive.” UNC has been rigorously inspected and accredited by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care. Last month, AAALAC com mended UNC for “providing and maintaining a quality program of laboratory animal care and use.” AAALAC went on to praise UNC for factors including a committed staff, an effective veterinary care give illegal immigrants no motivation to learn N.C. driving customs and regulations. The vast majority of illegal immigrants are neither terrorists nor a threat to the United States, but they will be a danger on the roads if they are not com pelled to learn how to drive. Furthermore, there is the question of what are the rights of residents illegally present or not. Immigrants pay local and some state taxes. They help support our road systems and should have a right to use them regardless of residency status. This bill is just one of many that are emerging as part of a trend of modernized xenophobia. We do not deny that there is a problem, but this is not a problem to be hammered down with draconian tactics. Surely there is a way of addressing illegal immi gration in a way that these people are legally inte grated into the communities of which they already are a significant part. Denying these people driver’s licenses is simply short-sighted; it will hinder safety and will not help security —and it’s just un-American. For many students, this cost might thwart partici pation in programs, most of which are more expen sive than a semester or even a year at school. The London purchase reaffirms UNC’s declared commitment of sending students abroad. The new property will allow for an area to hold lectures free of rent, hopefully cutting down on study abroad costs. UNC officials also deserve commendation not only for purchasing the land, but for doing so with private funds and not taxpayer dollars. The purchase will benefit students, without taking more from their wallets. Should plans for the newly purchased land work out, UNC officials should consider buying property in other frequently visited cities. The popular pro grams in Spain, Italy and other countries would ben efit from a similar endeavor. UNC will continue to grow in the future. The next few decades will mark a period of intense expansion of the core campus, and the study abroad programs shouldn’t be left out of the mix. It’s great to see the administration taking steps to encourage more students to travel and study beyond this campus. about creating honest government. The best way to do this is by making it evenly divided with 11 Democrats and 11 Republicans that way the rec ommendations will not favor just one party but all state residents. The panel as is will be led by Reps. Joe Hackney, D-Orange, and Julia Howard, R-Davie; they need to focus on closing up holes in the system so that the people not lobbyists hold the reins of power in Raleigh. That means more reporting of gifts, regardless of size, and more accountability. Part of the privilege of serving the people of North Carolina should mean reporting on who buys you anything whether it be a martini or a Maserati. The very first recommendation that the panel should make is to call for accelerating when the new lobbying law takes effect. Jan. 1,2007 is too far away Jan. 2006 would be a lot better. If this is a good law a year from now, then enacting it early shouldn’t be a problem. Cleaning up N.C. politics is no small task, but this panel can go a long way toward taking out the trash and bringing back the people. program and a well-maintained physical plant. AAALAC’s conclusions were drawn from a process that included an on-site visit to our campus last summer —one year after OLAW had done the same. Every proposed use of animals in research at UNC is carefully reviewed by a team of scientists and community members. No project is approved unless the reviewers are satisfied that the use of animals is justified in conjunc tion with the proposed research. Many life-saving medical treat ments for human beings are based on research with animals. Humane treatment of animal subjects is not just good policy; it is also necessary for good science. UNC remains committed to maintaining an outstanding pro gram for ensuring high-quality care for all of our animal sub jects. Tony Waldrop Vice Chancellor of Research and Economic Development University already has ways of caring for test animals TO THE EDITOR: What the editorial “Carin’ for critters” and, from what I’ve seen, most of the articles on animal treatment in research labs in UNC Opinion is missing is information about the institutional animal care and use committee. They’re an office of the National Institutes of Health present in all research institutions to monitor the training of personnel, approval of protocols and inspection of ani mal health, well-being, and their housing. So someone at the University is trying to work on the situation. Michael Rowland Senior Biology Langdon not responsible for listserv shenanigans TO THE EDITOR: On Tuesday, a large number of e-mails were sent to what is apparently a large percentage of the UNC student body under the listserv “Rob Langdon for Student Congress.” After this initial bombardment of e-mails, there were multiple replies from immature individuals who felt that they needed either to try to share their attempt at com edy with the entire listserv or to ask people to stop replying to the entire listserv. Many of the latter were rude, filled with profanity and stereo types and attacked Rob person ally. FROM THE DAY'S NEWS “ There’s nothing that parts of downtown need so much as a fire in which no people are hurt.” ROGER PERRY, chapel hill downtown partnership board member EDITORIAL CARTOON COMMENTARY Student leaders should clash with locals about UNC issues I’ve argued in several columns now that student interests are at odds with the town’s pres ent goals. And like many staffers at The Daily Tar Heel, student leaders and other observers, I’m disap pointed to see that only 440 stu dent-aged voters participated in last month’s municipal elections. But although municipal elec tions are over, they are not the only way for students to voice their opinions on town issues. They certainly are not the only opportunity for students to show leadership. The race for student body pres ident will begin soon next semes ter, and I for one would like to see candidates who are willing to con front the town on issues in which student interests diverge from those of permanent residents. Don’t get me wrong, most of the issues that the town deals with are of common interest. Keeping the bus system running, providing police and fire protec tion and taking care of all of the minutiae of town life is certainly an undertaking that everyone should appreciate. But it’s political difference that makes politics worthwhile. I’ve harped on the queue of neighborhoods that want to become conservation districts many times throughout the semester, and I’d like to come back to it again because it is an initiative that will hurt students yet there’s still no detectable confrontation. There have been student lead ers in the past who have tried to get students involved in town affairs, but I believe that the main problem with past approaches has been an excessive willingness to concede. Former Student Body President Jen Daum, for instance, spearheaded a “Good Neighbor Initiative” to improve relation ships between town students and Rob is not to blame for this mess the immature individuals who replied are. Direct your anger at them if you lack the maturity to get over it. Zach McKay Freshman Biology At least the ATN gives the option of not getting spam TO THE EDITOR: Subscribing to obnoxious list servs is something freshmen do to themselves at Fall Fest not something I wanted someone else to do to me right before Student Congress elections. Adam Farag and Robert Langdon’s blatant attempts to cir cumvent rules limiting schoolwide (or at least South Campuswide) mass e-mail were even more ridic ulous than the continuous stream of e-mails I used to receive asking whether I suffered from breast pain. At least with legitimate school sponsored e-mails like those I could exercise the option ATN intended for me to have and select “do not receive mass e-mails” in my directory settings. Erik Schuchard Junior Business Administration JEFF KIM NO LONGER A VILLAGE town residents. Student behavior might be at fault for local residents’ negative view of student housing, but has this approach helped? No. Since Daum’s initiative, local residents steadily have increased their efforts to fence students out of their spaces. Yet students are lulled to sleep by local officials who are adept at avoiding any negative buzz words. I feel compelled to say it again: Neighborhood conserva tion districts and a duplex ban are two different means to the same end. In order for student leaders to get their fellows interested in local politics, they will have to demon strate what’s in it for students. There is a natural incentive for students not to care after all. Most of us only stay here for four years and leave. We aren’t interested in many of the issues that the town addresses. Students look in the DTH and see controversies that don’t concern them. They see the fund ing discrepancy between Orange County and Chapel Hill schools as a recurring news issue. They might have a passing interest in the topic for reasons of social jus tice, but very few of them will get up and do anything about it. And they certainly won’t care about what the Chapel Hill- Carrboro City Schools decide to name its newly constructed high school. Student leaders should change the focus of the DTH’s local cover- Speak 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. ullje Daily ular MM Established 1893 112 years of editorial freedom RYAN C. TUCK EDITOR, 962-4086 RCTUCKOEMAIL.UNC.EDU OFFICE HOURS: TUESDAY, THURSDAY 1-2 P.M. PIT SIT: FRIDAY, 12-1 P.M. JOSEPH R. SCHWARTZ MANAGING EDITOR. 962-0750 JOSEPH_SCHWARTZOUNC.EDU REBECCA WILHELM DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR, 962-0750 BECCAO7OEMAIL.UNC.EDU CHRIS CAMERON OPINION EDITOR, 962-0750 EDITDESKOUNC.EDU BRIAN HUDSON UNIVERSITY EDITOR, 962-0372 UDESKOUNC.EDU BRIANNA BISHOP TED STRONG CITY CO-EDITORS, 962-4209 CITYDESKCUNC.EDU KAVITA PILLAI STATE 6 NATIONAL EDITOR. 962-4103 STNTDESKOUNC.EDU Gtyp Sotty Ear Mrri mm By Evann Strathern, evann@email.unc.edu age by confronting the town on issues that are important to stu dents —and making news of it. They should ensure that the high school naming story runs deep within the pages of the DTH, if at all. Former Student Body presi dents Matt Tepper and Nic Heinke were able to bring out large crowds to protest tuition increases for the Board of Trustees. Future presidents might do the same for Town Hall if they’re effective. Students are just as affected by issues of housing, busing and access to cheap goods as they are by a few hundred dol lar hikes in fees. They are losing just as much money, but the concepts are more abstract. Student leaders should be vocal in town affairs and point out the murky language when they see it. They should cry foul when town officials screw students to appease active voters. They should take the confron tational approach that they often take with UNC’s BOT. They should remain critical about the town’s actions - even if town leaders have good intentions at heart. And they should remain vocal about it. I would like to see a student body president who is able to engage the town and has a strat egy for confronting it. Candidates should be diplo matic, and they should retain the ability to work with council mem bers on issues of mutual interest. But a good student body presi dent is one that keeps the interest of his or her constituents in mind. And that interest inevitably will collide with those of town residents. Contact Jeff Kim, a senior economics major, atjongdae@email.unc.edu. www.dailytarheel. com DANIEL MALLOY SPORTS EDITOR, 962-4710 SPORTSOUNC.EDU TORRYE JONES FEATURES EDITOR, 962-4214 FEATURESOUNC.EDU JIM WALSH ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR, 843-4529 ARTSDESKOUNC.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 ONLINEOUNC.EDU KELLY OCHS EMILY STEEL WRITERS' COACHES, 962-0372 ELLIOn DUBE PUBLIC EDITOR, 260-9084 DUBEEOEMAIL.UNC.EDU
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Dec. 7, 2005, edition 1
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