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8 FRIDAY. APRIL 11. 2008 f SAM PERKINS THAT’S WHAT HE SAID Sam Perkins is a senior environmental studies and journalism double major E-MAIL: SSPERKINOEMAII UNC.EDU Use good ink to draw your conclusion So, I figured a follow-up to last week’s column was inevita ble. But that's good people are at least talking and thinking about this. Last week my column looked at a variety of reasons and sources in support of our readiness to eliminate affirmative action, at least at UNC. Today people jump on every “-ism" they can. If Hillary Clinton is not elected president that will bring complaints that America is sexist and not ready for a female president But if Barack Obama isn't our guy in November, then America is still too racist and not ready for a black president. Some people will discriminate for any reason, be it gender, sexual orienta- UNIVERSITY COLUMNIST tion, age. attractiveness or a variety of other reasons. But two wrongs do not make a right. We can't tell admissions to make sure we have an exact make up of X of the majority race and X for the minorities (carefully broken down); X men and X women; and X heterosexuals, X homosexuals and X transgenders. If there is bias shifting justice to the "majority" end of the spectrum, the answer is not to add bias to the “minority" end of the spectrum to rebalance the situation. That doesn't address the core problem. And if there's still racism in America does that mean the cur rent system is really working? There has to come a point (now would be good) when we at least look at UNC’s admissions. If we can’t do without affirmative action because we would be blatantly racist in our admissions in 2008 (although, no “race" question, no problem), then there are far bigger problems. Otherwise, scrap it. If some school districts in the state don’t get equal money or opportunities, then there should be consideration for those people on an economic basis. But to say it’s not just a trend, that it inherently has to do with skin color, serves no one. Obviously women are doing fine in getting admitted here. Finally, especially in a passion ate debate, it is imperative that good information Is utilized. A let ter to the editor Monday claimed that 1 misinterpreted a study. Yet rather than read the actual study, the author of that letter read a news .article about the study. My presentation of information in the study is absolutely correct, and I encourage people to read the study, “The Opportunity Cost of Admission Preferences at Elite Universities," at opr.princeton. edu/facultv/tje/espenshadessqptii. pdf. What did seem to conflict was the study’s prediction versus what we’ve seen actually happen. The study predicted that, should affir mative action be eliminated, there would be fewer blacks at universi ties. but four out of every fiv e spots lost by blacks would be gained by- Asians. When affirmative action programs have been eliminated in California, Florida, Texas and Washington, we've seen a rebound to pre-affirmative action numbers, although Asians did make a bit more of a gain. Both the study and history say whites wouldn't gain. But now we're holding down Asians? Or are they not a discrimi nated-against minority, in which case it’s OK to hold them back since they’d be taking spots from blacks? What would we do if Tiger Woods half-black, half-Asian had applied to UNC? Does being half-minority, half-white mean you've been discriminated against half as much? Do we need skin color swatches for measurement? It’s just too absurd to make deci sions based on skin-color labels because then you tell one minority not to rise too fast and impede upon another minority, and then there's the multiracial dilemma. Go online and look at the com ments made on last week's column and the letters to the editor. And bring some good data (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy and Polling Report are two good, unbi ased sources online) and thoughts of your own. EDITORIAL CARTOON By Alex Lee, lobin9email.unc.edu Keep the committee Current process best way to find qualified vice president Student Congress made the right decision when it shelved a bill that would have changed the way the stu dent body vice president is selected. The bill would have created a presidential ticket, allowing students to vote for the joint president-vice president pair they liked the best. However, Congress put it on hold until at least January to allow time for further research and because it does not think the executive branch is likely to approve of it. Congress should just go ahead and abandon the bill altogether because the current system is the best way to select a qualified candidate for vice president. Under the current system, a student government commit tee reviews the applications of vice presidential hopefuls and sends its top three recommen dations to the president. It s not time to be blue Putting in more street lights should he first priority Students, law enforcement officers and town residents alike have often wondered whether the blue-light call box system really pays dividends in deterring crime and making Chapel Hill a safer place. Aside from partial manu facturer studies that obviously indicate their crime-stopping capabilities, there is little or no available literature that offers evidence one way or another. Determining whether blue lights deter crime or simply waste money is like searching for the meaning of life. It’s impor tant and everyone's waiting for someone to figure it out That information is some thing that the town government should have before it ultimately decides how to spend student government’s 880,000 gift for off-campus lighting. Presently, the town plans on spending at least $28,000 of the recent student fee increase to install three blue lights on Short Street, Colony Court and McCauley Street. The remaining 852,000 is slated to go toward increased A place to call home Robertson building will be good addition to campus For the first time in the Robertson Scholars Program's eight-year existence, the students who regularly cross enemy lines will have a “home" on campus. Although the program cur rently occupies the bottom of Graham Memorial, University officials want to construct a new building by 2010 to fur ther enhance the program's namesake and notoriety. Since the building will be open to the general cam pus community, much like Graham Memorial is, we sup port its construction. The new Robertson home will be a ben efit to the entire UNC campus, as well as the program itself. Here at the diched “University of Never-ending Construction,’ Opinion If student body president candidates had to choose a run ning mate, they would have to select one from their social net work. How would you choose a running mate you don’t know, short of holding interviews? Because our candidates sim ply don’t have the political con tacts that some U.S. presiden tial candidates do, this would mean they’d have to choose from a far narrower pool of qualified individuals. Moreover, if candidates had to choose a running mate, it would be much more likely that their decision would be influenced by compatibility or friendship rather than qualifi cations of the individual. While it is important that the president and vice presi dent be able to get along with each other, friendship ties and loyalty have no place in the decision-making process. Critics of the current sys pedestrian-level street lighting in dark areas. Putting more of the money toward street-level lighting is the best thing the town can do right now-. Almost everyone today car ries a cell phone, and using GPS, police can track most call ers from cell phones to within six feet. With that ability, the call box part of blue lights might be obsolete, and street lights, which give off more light, are likely a better deterrent. However, if students actu ally use blue lights, then they are a worthy investment. A Department of Public Safety survey sounds like a good idea. And speaking of student input, we’re glad the town is listening to students when it comes to placement of the lights, particularly since our fee money is paying for them. However, at a town forum Tuesday, residents expressed far less concern about addi tional lighting than they did about blue lights. One resident went so far as classroom and general cam pus space always seems to be a recurring issue on campus. Although starting construc tion on another building on campus just adds to the cliche, we really do need the space and welcome it with open arms once it’s finished. The tentative plans are for the new building to house an auditorium, library and living area, all of which any UNC stu dent can take advantage of. The auditorium will provide some much-needed practice space, and the library will surely be an excellent study locale. One of the stated purposes of the building is to allow the pro gram the capacity to expand. We look forward to the day tern mistakenly perceive it as an example of the executive branch stepping on the rights of students to democratically elect their leaders. But while we’re all about democracy, the committee method is the best way to ensure the most qualified individual is appointed as vice president. The way the system works now, the president is able to choose from three of the most qualified individuals, some of whom the president might not have had the chance to get to know before running for office. The best candidate gets the job, hands down. There’s far less risk of political finagling, and we don’t have to worry about wanting to mix and match candidates. This system is not about the push and pull of democracy and power politics; it’s about common sense. After all, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. to call the data on crime rates that student government pre sented “fluffy.” And yet, the data student gov ernment used, which showed an extremely high concentration of crime in the Cameron-McCaulev area, is from the Chapel Hill Police Department. Fluffy, indeed. Without a doubt, the lights should be concentrated between that area and downtown because of both high student populations and high crime rates. But until we know- more about blue light usage, more traditional lighting is probably the safest, most productive use of the money. Installation of a street light costs SSOO for a regular wooden pole and can go up to $3,000 for a more decorative one. Blue lights, on the other hand, cost anywhere from $5,000 to 810,000 to install. We can get a lot more regular lights for our money. But if we learn that students want blue lights, then we should pay the extra price. It’s not too much for safety. that this expansion occurs, which will give more students access to this marvelous program. Plus, parts of the build ing will follow the guidelines of the U. S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design in order to be a sustainable build ing that’s energy- and water efficient. With our student and Robertson powers combined, we can help Captain Planet and stand for all that is good and environmentally friendly. So next time you’re in the Undergraduate Library unsuc cessfully searching out a cubicle, find your local Robertson schol ars and give them a hug; thanks to them, you’ll have one more place to get your study on. QUOTE OF THE DAY: “This isn’t the only tribute event to Eve on campus, but this one is special in that it was an idea she had herself T MIKE TARRANT, FORMER STUDENT BODY VICE PRESIDENT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Feel strongly about something that has been printed? Post your own response to a letter, editorial or story online. VISIT www.dadytarheel.com/feedback Roy didn't abandon his loyalty to Chapel Hill TO THE EDITOR: Be honest. How- many of you have complained each time you’ve seen someone at a UNC athletic event sporting a bright yellow/aquamarine/flaming pink shirt/dress/muumuu? Lots of you. And why? Because we just think we should show as much support as possible, right? Well, guess what? At Monday night's national championship game, Roy wore a sticker. It was red and blue, and it sent a bunch of you into a tizzy. We all wanted Roy to be on TV talking about how well TYler Hansbrough was playing in the post and how- Danny Green couldn’t possibly miss a three if his life depended on it But the fact is, we weren’t playing that game and Kansas was. So. Bryant Gumbel wasn’t planning on asking too many questions about us, especially given Roy's long (and don’t for get successful) history at KU. Besides, if we had been play ing that game, wouldn't you have wanted Michael Jordan in the stands wearing something close to Carolina blue? I dare say that would have made you happier than a plain black suit. Roy didn't slip up, he didn't abandon his loyalty to Carolina, and he certainly realizes how much you love him. But did you think he was going sit there and let some stranger from Rhode Island think he might be pulling for Memphis? And anyway, doesn’t it feel bet ter to know that we lost to a team that ended up bringing home a trophy? If it doesn’t, just thank your lucky stars you don’t go to Duke. That always works for me. Lauren Winstead Junior Economics , Public Policy Local business is valuable to the entire community TO THE EDITOR: As someone deeply invested in the local store where I work as well as its place in the communi ty, I must say that 1 was surprised to hear about my lack of support from a business major respond ing to the “Mom and Pop" edito rial (“We don’t have a duty to sup port small businesses," April 10). “Local" businesses cover a wide spectrum of the consumer market, and their purpose is not just to sell items that one can buy anywhere at marked-up prices. In (Thursday’s) edition ofThe Daily Tar Heel I counted 16 ads for businesses that I know- for a fact are independently owned and operated. So yes, ultimately “Mom and Pop* have their business in order to put food on the table, but consider also how they support the DTH, their suppliers and the community that w-ants the money it spends to cycle back into its own town rather than a corporation six states away. It would not be realistic for me to say “only shop local," but there is some merit in suggesting a balance in what you spend and where you choose to spend it. So don’t forget specialized products you can get locally from people who will remember your name. Evan Smith Junior History SPEAK OUT WRITING GUIDELINES: ► Please type: Handwritten letters will not be accepted. ► Sign *d date: No more than two people should sign letters. ► Students: Include your year, major and phone number. ► Faculty/staff: Include your department and phone number. ► Edit: The DTH edits for space, clarity, accuracy and vulgarity Limit letters to 250 words. SUBMISSION: ► Drop-off: at our office at Suite 2409 in the Student Union. ► E-mail: to editdeskOunc.edu ► Send: to P.O. Box 3257, Chapel HiS, N.C., 27515. EDITOR'S NOTE: Columns, cartoons and letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Daily Tar Heel or its staff Editorials are the opinions solely of The Daily Tar Heel edito rial board The board consists of nine board members, the associate opinion editor, the opinion editor and the editor The 2007-06 editor decided not to vote on the board ahr Daily Oar Hr el Kvetching board kvetch: v.l (Yiddish) to complain No, I'm already registered. Yes, seriously. I am. Yes, in Chapel Hill. Yes, I'm positive. OK, you know what, now I'm thinking about NOT voting just so I can upset you as much as you're annoying me right now. It's April. Would someone PLEASE turn off the heat in Gardner HaU? I can't stay awake in class. Were you saving those timeouts for a rainy day, Roy, or did you just think 40-12 was a glitch in the scoreboard? Dook fans: Try making it to the Sweet 16 first and then come back and harass us about losing in the Rna! Four. Just a thought for future a cap peila performances: How about we schedule them at different times so you can get the maxi mum possible fans? If you play together three times a week throughout the year, have matching T-shirts, spectators recording your games on film and enough subs for a second team, you probably shouldn't be playing co-rec. Just a thought. To those of you who jumped down my throat for my complain ing about the GEC toilet water I sent in that kvetch a long time ago, before signs were even posted in the building about the “amber* water. If anything, it's my fault AND the DTH's... Hey DTH, how about some articles with your ads? Hey, people from my past There’s probably a reason we weren't Facebook friends before 'People You May Know.* i was quite pleased to see in my Monday DTH that Garrett Gore can take a man-sized swing at a baseball. Does this mean that he typically has baby-sized swings or that he is. in fact not the size of a fully mature male and that the size of this particular swing should have been impressive? Thanks, DTH editors, for publish ing four kvetches that all made the same point. I know it's not for lack of material; I sent in three last week that you didn't publish. And yes they were funny. You're all wrong. The toilet water at the GEC is yellow because I didn't flush. We're stilt in a drought right? Just doing my pan I CARE! I CARE! I care about bridge competitions 50 years ago in Graham Memorial! One more wont of discontent on the bridge; and I'D transfer to Duke! Kvetchers: Where has your wit and creativity gone? Kvetching is an at! Please, work your sar castic syntax magic once again. Send your one-to-two sentence entries to edit desk9unc.edu, subject line 'kvetch.' (Hip Daily (Tor Hrrl Established 1893, 115 years ofeditorialfreedom ERIN ZUREICK EDITOR. 962-4086 ZUREICKeEMMLUNC.EDU OFFICE HOURS MON . WED.. FRI.I-2RM. ADAM STORCK OPINION EDITOR. 962-0750 APSTORCKOUNC.EDU JONATHAN TUGMAN ASSOCIATE OPINION EDITOR. 962-0750 TU6MANOUNC.EDU EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS JESSICA SCISM TED STRONG SARAH WHITWORTH KATHRYN ARDIZ2ONE SARAH LETRENT DUNCAN CARLTON ELYSE MCCOY GRAHAM ROWE DAVID GIANCASPRO
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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April 11, 2008, edition 1
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