12
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2005
NEGLECTED PROMISE
The Chapel Hill Town Council needs to get on the ball and honor the
pledges it made during the debate about renaming Airport Road.
It was a dream. But maybe it’s time we wake up
and realize that some promises have gone unful
filled.
With the recent anniversary of the renaming of
Airport Road to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard,
it is as good a time as ever to look back at other steps
the Chapel Hill Town Council vowed to make in its
efforts to deal with racial tensions.
On Dec. 6, 2004, the council declared that in
addition to renaming Airport Road, it might estab
lish a room at the library honoring King and the
civil rights movement in Chapel Hill. Also, the town
pledged to look into a number of other events, such
as a “Racial Justice Week,” oral histories and an
annual forum on the monumental Brown v. Board
of Education case.
But the council has been lagging behind in deliv
ering on any of those proposals it threw out in the
heat of the renaming debate.
On Jan. 10, 2005, a continuing concerns com
mittee was formed to tackle the above recommen
dations.
But a chairman wasn’t appointed until mid-
STOP THE INSANITY
Candidates for office at UNC should have some sense of dignity and
maturity something that was lacking in Tuesdays special elections.
Tuesday saw another election to fill empty seats
in Student Congress —and South Campus saw
some listserv shenanigans that are an embar
rassment to candidates, a future member of Congress
and the notion of student self-governance.
South Campus students received several dozen e
mails, initially regarding the race for Congress.
But this eventually broke down into childish
name-calling and dalliances into absurd comments
such as “I love lamp.”
While the editorial board enjoys lamps as well, we
certainly don’t think it is appropriate to send that out
over the listserv, billed as an election notice, to all our
colleagues on South Campus.
The exchanging of insults is the worst part, and
whether it came from candidates themselves or from
their supporters, it reflects poorly on them —and on
the entire student body.
UNC has a long tradition of operating a student
government that has a great deal of responsibility
and that traditionally has exemplified maturity.
It is a badge that we should wear proudly, not
something we should allow to be tarnished by cam
paigns that break down into sophomoric hijinx.
IT’LL BE A GOOD YEAR
Tar Heels should take joy in both of our basketball programs and
show up to womens games or miss out on some amazing victories.
This year’s basketball season already has started
on strong footing, but most UNC fans and stu
dents are erroneously and singularly focused
on only the men’s program.
It's time the women got their much deserved
respect and acclamation for the start of what should
be an incredible basketball season.
It’s great that the men have performed beyond
expectations, but the women, who were expected to
be great, have turned out to be amazing.
The big news in UNC sports this week was the
close albeit impressive victory of the men
against ranked Kentucky, the only men’s program
with a better all-time win record than UNC.
But perhaps the more notable feat was the top
pling of the University of Connecticut in Hartford
by the Tar Heel women’s basketball team.
The UConn women have a tradition of champion
ship basketball but were no match for the Tar Heels,
who, led by Ivory Latta, blazed past UConn 77-54.
The current English language does not contain
words that accurately can describe what happened,
so the editorial board must take it upon itself to cre
ate one. Connoggling: beating a team by 20 points
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.
Tuesday editorial poorly
written, made little sense
TO THE EDITOR:
I’m not sure what the thesis of
yesterday’s editorial “Here and
licensed” was.
It seemed that each paragraph
introduced anew point. Whether
it was condoning illegal immi
gration, calling federal laws “stu
pid” or deeming the proposed bill
“mean-spirited,” xenophobic and
“un-American,” the editorial talked
little about the issue or solutions,
and focused mainly on unsubstan
tiated bad-mouthing.
The editorial did make several
true statements. There are illegal
immigrants in this country. Many
of them are not a threat to national
security.
This is not de facto proof that
illegal immigrants have a right to a
driver’s license. That they pay taxes,
that they drive, that the bill will not
inhibit illegal immigration does not
nullify the bill in question.
The most interesting part of
the editorial was: “The bill would
require proof that applicants (for
driver’s licenses) are inhabiting the
country legally.”
America is a country of laws,
and as such people wishing to exer
cise the freedoms granted by this
country must adhere to those laws.
Individuals choosing to break laws
have freedoms revoked either
February. And no additional members were appointed
to the committee until the Nov. 21 council meeting.
Needless to say, there hasn’t been any progress
on the library front, nor have other promises come
through.
With newly installed Chapel Hill Town Council
member Bill Thorpe, who has vowed to bring these
issues back to the table, perhaps there will be some
thing tangible to show in the coming months.
Many would agree that race relations in Chapel
Hill could use improvement. But empty promises
and platitudes just aren’t the answer.
The council should put its money where its mouth
is and deliver a library section on civil rights history
in Chapel Hill there’s plenty of material to put
in such a section. It should also fill the continuing
concerns committee so that there will be a body to
address ongoing issues.
And if any student residents are interested in
applying to be on the committee, they can do so by
visiting the town’s Web site at www.ci.chapel-hill.
nc.us/index.asp?NlD=74B and filling out an appli
cation.
Leave such foolhardy electoral behavior to a school
that wants to elect a pirate captain as student body
president or the University of Durham not the
University of the people.
This board hopes we have all learned a lesson.
Candidates for student government offices should
be careful with sending campaign listserv messages
and tell supporters not to embarrass themselves and
their candidates with such tomfoolery.
It’s no way to campaign for office and no way to
act at UNC. And it cannot be to your advantage to
fill the in-boxes of your would-be constituents with
an abundance of spam.
To those who received the e-mails and perpetuat
ed the downward cycle of silliness: Either stop being
puerile or transfer far, far away to where you can not
affect the listservs of this campus.
The most important thing to learn from the
incidents is simply that we are all better than this.
Candidates in other elections this year should strive
to avoid the ridiculous lack of etiquette that was
demonstrated Tuesday.
We are, after all, UNC students. The UNC tradi
tion says nothing about perpetuating spam.
or more in its own house.
This is the largest point margin that the UConn
women have lost by at home in 20 seasons.
Many argue that women’s sports are not nearly
as exiting as men’s, but tell that to Latta; and good
luck.
When Latta left the court with the win secure, the
Hartford crowd gave her a standing ovation. That,
just in case you were wondering, is not a typical
response on the road for any player.
“It’s a great honor for them to clap for me like
that,” Latta later said.
The energy of the players has not been reciprocat
ed by the fans, and it’s time that students supported
women’s basketball.
When the UNC women play Duke in basketball,
there is always a large crowd to cheer them on. It
is possible to get amped about women’s basketball
don’t limit the energy to the Duke game.
The UConn romp, Ivory Latta and a soon-to-be
top-five national ranking should draw students by
the masses to watch the women’s games. After all, the
Carolina basketball programs —both of them has
plenty of other connogglings to deliver.
economic freedom in the form of
a fine, or physical freedom in the
form of incarceration.
I don’t understand why the edi
torial board believes illegal immi
grants should be given additional
freedoms for breaking the law. The
only people denying illegal immi
grants driver’s licenses are those
same people who chose to enter
this country illegally.
If the editorial meant to con
done illegal immigration, shame
on you. Your energy could be better
focused on encouraging more legal
entry —then this issue would be a
nonissue.
Adam Azman
Graduate Student
Chemistry Department
Without reading days there
is not enough study time
TO THE EDITOR:
Review sessions, all-nighters at
the UL and bottomless cups of cof
fee these are all staples of exam
week.
In years past, students could
sometimes count on the traditional
reading day before exams.
This year, however, the University
has done away with this essen
tial free day. As you all are aware,
students finish classes Friday and
must take exams Saturday. So, a
MWF class that meets at 11 a.m.
Opinion
will get out at noon and have the
final only 24 hours later, at noon
Saturday.
This is not enough time for stu
dents to review an entire semester’s
worth of material, in addition to
the brand new material presented
in Friday’s class.
Moreover, there is no reading
day until the following Wednesday
no matter what the University
says, Sunday does not count. This
means some students could finish
exams without having a reading
day at all to study for them.
While we appreciate the
University’s attempt to end the
semester in a timely manner, they
are doing a great disservice to stu
dents who deserve every opportu
nity to succeed on their finals.
Gena Romano
Senior
Joumalism/Spanish
Jessica Bonnem
Senior
English/History
Column fails to appreciate
this year's sports victories
TO THE EDITOR:
After reading David Moses col
umn titled “Like the leaves, Tar
Heel athletics fell this season,” I
was flabbergasted when trying to
recreate the thought process that
FROM THE DAY S NEWS
“What good is my freedom if my people are still dying ...if 27
million are still in slavery ?”
FRANCIS BOK, FORMER SUDANESE SLAVE
EDITORIAL CARTOON
ILQTTEAV COfnmiSH
S6T FM Aftw; Bicj Ciflmes evauiy...
COMMENTARY
From whence we’ve come,
and where we could’ve gone
There are a lot of things left
to say, and only this space
in which to say them.
I’ve talked about plenty of
issues this semester: some of
widespread importance, others
that hit closer to home. The most
important things I hope you take
from all that:
■ There is never an excuse to
hit your loved ones out of anger.
After I shared my secondhand
experience with you all, I got
many stories of firsthand deal
ings with physical and emotional
abuse. I appreciate these people’s
confiding in me because this was
the one point during the semes
ter when I felt my words carried
actual weight and importance.
■ This University is not the
only one in North Carolina, nor
should we ever act like it.
Neither UNC-Chapel Hill
nor N.C. State University needs
autonomy in tuition decisions,
as the state legislature suggests.
Those flagship universities should
stick with the other 14 system
schools and show support for the
greater good of higher education
in North Carolina.
■ Don’t run for Student Body
President if you’re not going to
fight for those you were elected to
represent.’
UNC-Chapel Hill SBP Seth
Dearmin received a big fat F on
Wednesday from The Daily Tar
Heel’s editorial board. I wish
there had been a lower grade to
give the guy who has done little to
nothing when it comes to really
fighting against tuition increases.
■ The UNC-system
Association of Student
Governments, in fact, does plenty
to halt out-of-control tuition
increases.
Unlike Dearmin and last year’s
student body president, Matt
Calabria, the leaders of the ASG
have busted their asses to fight
against any tuition increase for
students in the UNC system.
goes through the minds of so many
Tar Heel fans.
Moses suggested that John
Bunting be fired and replaced
by defensive coordinator Marvin
Sanders, who led the Heels to
the 45th-ranked defense in the
nation.
Sanders has done a remarkable
job in resurrecting the Carolina
defense, but is the answer to hire
someone with as little experience
as Sanders?
Bunting has certainly come to a
crossroads at UNC, but if fans like
Moses expect the Heels to play in a
BCS game anytime soon, promot
ing from within would make this
possibility all but extinct.
In addition, Moses suggested
that the men’s soccer team did not
live up to its potential this season,
a year in which they posted a 17-4-
3 record and advanced to both the
ACC finals and the national quar
terfinals.
Instead of relishing the past
success of players such as Michael
Jordan, Mia Hamm and Lawrence
Taylor, I urge all Carolina fans to
support our current student-ath
letes instead of comparing them to
athletes who put the final stamp on
their legacies long after leaving the
city limits of Chapel Hill.
Nick Lopezzo
Junior
Exercise & Sport Science
EMMA BURGIN
IT'S A GLAMOROUS LIFE
Many people, especially here at
the DTH, are extremely critical of
the ASG’s efforts without having
attended even one ASG meeting
and seeing what they’re about.
The organization isn’t perfect
in its lobbying efforts toward the
N.C. Genera] Assembly, but it has
greatly influenced the UNC-sys
tem Board of Governors’ tuition
decisions during the past four
years.
There are things I didn’t get to
say this semester. If I were going
to continue to write columns, you
might see the following from me:
■ I’m a Methodist, and if
you keep up with these kinds of
things, you know that my church
recently ruled that homosexuals
could not become pastors. The
national church did say, however,
that they could be a part of our
congregations.
Honestly, all being Methodist
has really meant to me is that I
stand up for quite some time dur
ing church service and am served
grape juice during communion.
And while I grew up in a very sup
portive church community, I can
see how someone with an alterna
tive lifestyle could feel uncomfort
able there. I come from a pretty
normal family that fit in with all
the other normal Methodist fami
lies in Greensboro.
When the Episcopal Church
ordained the first openly gay bish
op a couple of years ago, it was
a great step-forward. But I am
disappointed that my own church
is being quite wishy-washy on the
subject. Banishing homosexuals
to a second tier of church mem-
Speak Out
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By Philip McFee, pip@email.unc.edu
bership is almost as bad as not
welcoming them into the religious
community. I say if they believe
in God, more power to them and
welcome.
■ While we’re on the subject
of church, let’s mix in some state.
The separation of church and
state is a touchy issue even today.
As recent as this summer,
the U.S. Supreme Court voted
to allow an antique monument
of the Ten Commandments to
remain outside the Texas state
capital while ordering two county
courthouses in Kentucky to
remove similar displays.
I am fully in support of
strengthening the separation of
church and state. That’s why I
think it’s such a travesty that our
president won the 2004 elec
tion on the coattails of same-sex
amendment votes in 11 states. It’s
a smart move to mobilize your
base by putting this very volatile
issue on the same ballot as your
incumbent.
And Democrats failed to do
the same. But that genius also
carries a sad message for the care
Americans show for their fellow
man.
When does a man wanting to
marry another man or a woman
loving a woman ever affect you?
By all means, the church can
say marriage is between a man
and a woman.
But the state shouldn’t touch
that stance with a 10-foot pole.
Too few states have taken the
steps to support same-sex unions.
We as a country need to re-exam
ine our dedication to the separa
tion of church and state.
There’s much more to say, but
sadly no more space to say it.
So I leave you with this:
It’s a glamorous life! So live it
up!
Contact Emma Burgin,
a senior dramatic arts major,
at emmaJine@email.unc.edu.
www.dallytsiheei.com
DANIEL MALLOY
SPORTS EDITOR, 962-4710
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