Column: We rely on your voice, make sure it is heard

People have been particularly vocal these days about recent decisions made at UNC.

In the few weeks that I’ve been back in Chapel Hill, several letters and emails have come across my desk from disgruntled alumni who want nothing more than to see former head football coach Butch Davis back at the helm.

Some have decided to stop supporting UNC financially, unsure how they can continue to back a university whose chancellor they say made a poor decision so close to kickoff.

Others wholeheartedly support Chancellor Holden Thorp’s decision to fire Davis, touting it as a necessary move to get the football program and the University back on track.

Most have found a place somewhere in the middle, disagreeing with parts of the decision-making process while acknowledging that the situation is likely more complex than it seems.

I say this to bring you a not-so-novel insight: No matter how a situation is handled, it’s going to evoke reactions from all sides.

Need more proof? Just check out the debate about the merits of cargo shorts still raging in the online comments section on The Daily Tar Heel’s website.

No matter the situation, we here at the DTH thrive on what you have to say. It doesn’t matter where you fall on a given issue, just that you’ve taken the time to study up and form your own opinion.

Giving you the information that allows you to develop those opinions is where I come in this year.

It’s my job to ensure the DTH provides accurate, timely information you can use.

It’s your job to take that information, think about the issues and talk about them. The dialogue you engage in is the heartbeat of this community.

Whether you are angry, elated, or anything in between, we need to hear from you. Your feedback adds to the richness of the debate because the stories that run in these pages are yours.

There’s a football program still facing an uncertain future, winning season or not.

Budget cuts will become more apparent in the classroom this year. Class sizes are up, and administrators are fighting to retain top faculty.

The honor system is under review, begging us to ask ourselves what it really means to embody the Carolina Way.

Your voices will be crucial during town and student elections, which will bring strong voices advocating for and against every issue under the sun. Surely no returning students have forgotten the ongoing debates between the SBP candidates and student Board of Elections last year, right?

Plenty of people have been mad at The Daily Tar Heel during my three years here, and I don’t expect that to change anytime soon.

Will we mess up sometimes? Sure. But the DTH is first and foremost a training ground for the people who make it their job to keep you informed.

When we make mistakes, you’ll know. More than likely you’ll tell us we messed up before we even realize it. For that, I thank you. Your feedback on the credibility and accuracy of our reporting helps us to better do our jobs.

We also rely on you to tell us if we’re giving you the information you want and need.

We will continue to fight for open access to records and to hold power to account. We will do our best to tell stories that matter to both those on the UNC campus and in Orange County.

Your stories are what get me out of bed every morning and get this paper out the door every night.

As the issues and dialogue evolve within the community, so will our coverage.

So keep the letters and emails coming. Whatever you have to say, stand firm and say it. I look forward to hearing from all of you.