One big mess: Leaders need to work together to ?ll Congress vacancies

Eleven seats in Student Congress are currently empty, and the process of planning a special election to fill them has been grueling. A lack of communication between Congress, Student Body President Jasmin Jones and the Board of Elections has only exacerbated the problem, and no one is accepting blame for why these vacancies have not yet been filled.As a result, the student body, particularly graduate students, isn’t getting the representation it deserves.

‘Massage’ has no place here: Many questions remain about Tom Cat’s 2

The establishment commonly known as University Massage— now named Tom Cat’s 2 —is an enterprise that should arouse the moral concern of everyone.A recent presentation by Donna Bickford, director of the Carolina Women’s Center, has piqued interest in the establishment again.For years, the massage parlor has been beset with rumors and allegations of prostitution and sex trafficking.In 2007, Daily Tar Heel columnist James Edward Dillard wrote about his experience at University Massage.

Obama is the subject of too much unfair criticism

TO THE EDITOR:I am disgusted with all the negativity toward President Obama.I have always considered myself proud to be an American despite my differences with some of our political leaders. When President George H. Bush lied and said, “No new taxes,” I wasn’t upset. I expect politicians to lie. But, when I hear lies about our president, I see red.Rush Limbaugh is spreading lies. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) is spreading lies. What bothers me the most is the American people believe these lies.

Saving money on campus is easy as flipping switch

TO THE EDITOR:In response to Jason Sutton’s letter “No time like the present to push for energy reform” (Oct. 15). As much as I love sarcasm, it’s often good to back up your humor with substantial facts.Make no mistake, clean energy advocates are aware of the expenses associated with cleaner fuel sources. Times are tough. Investing in new energy infrastructure may not seem the best thing to do right now.

Police should help make bonfire tradition safer

TO THE EDITOR:I may be only a budding policy analyst, but there seems to be to be a rather easy fix for this controversy over the Franklin Street victory bonfires. Keep the tradition. That is, with a few minor changes. Last March, there were hordes of police officers and firefighters, but most of them that weren’t pulling people off of trees and light poles were standing around idly, looking for something to do.

South Road underpass for cars is a better option

TO THE EDITOR:An even more expensive but far better option than a pedestrian bridge over South Road would be an underpass for the cars. When I was a graduate student at Harvard 60 years ago, the university had the same problem: Between classes, hundreds of students needed to cross one of Cambridge’s most heavily traveled city streets. I resolved that if I became rich I would endow an underpass.

Cartoon for Oct. 19

New ticket policy hurts graduate students most

TO THE EDITOR:To the individuals in charge of the basketball ticket policy: a number of comments on the change from two tickets to one.Do you hate dating? What better excuse to ask out your crush than “I have an extra ticket to the game”? No extra tickets? No chance to meet that someone special! Do you hate groups of friends? Before, double tickets meant you were guaranteed going to the game with at least one friend. Even if two friends get tickets, they will likely have different phases complicating sitting together, let alone groups of 4 or 6.

Bridge needed on South road; people don’t focus

TO THE EDITOR: I don’t agree with your recent editorial stating that the proposed South Road pedestrian bridge is unnecessary and a waste of money (“Not quite the Golden Gate,” Oct. 16). The current system depends upon both the driver and pedestrian paying attention to each other. With the prevalence of iPods and other mobile distractions, often neither the driver nor pedestrian are fully engaged with what they are doing.

UNC is making significant strides to reduce coal use

TO THE EDITOR:Meghan Corbet’s letter (“UNC can and must do more to wean itself from coal,” Oct. 13) requires factual corrections and more context about the University’s commitment to mitigating climate change.The University has made a bold commitment through the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment to reach climate neutrality by mid-century.Indeed, the University showed leadership by becoming an early signatory of the ACUPCC in 2007.

UNC is making significant strides to reduce coal use

TO THE EDITOR:Meghan Corbet’s letter (“UNC can and must do more to wean itself from coal,” Oct. 13) requires factual corrections and more context about the University’s commitment to mitigating climate change.The University has made a bold commitment through the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment to reach climate neutrality by mid-century. Indeed, the University showed leadership by becoming an early signatory of the ACUPCC in 2007.

UNC is making significant strides to reduce coal use

TO THE EDITOR:Meghan Corbet’s letter (“UNC can and must do more to wean itself from coal,” Oct. 13) requires factual corrections and more context about the University’s commitment to mitigating climate change.The University has made a bold commitment through the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment to reach climate neutrality by mid-century. Indeed, the University showed leadership by becoming an early signatory of the ACUPCC in 2007.

Visible examples not whole picture

In the overwhelming response to my last column, I was asked by several of my fellow students: “Why don’t you go off on the frat guys?”I said I would, but I lied. They wanted blood after a few bad experiences and some trumped up stereotypes, and I told them that they couldn’t lump people together based on groups.I’ve been to frat parties. I’ve been kicked out of frat parties.In fact, I believe that the number of times I’ve been kicked out of frat parties is equal to the number of times I’ve attended them.

Cartoon for Oct .16

Costume should be about you, not crowd

Ah, Halloween. Less than half a month away. The time of year when a girl’s inner kitty-cat prostitute can run free.It isn’t so much that I’m against sexy bees/nurses/Eskimos/fire hydrants/whatever, it’s more that they’re so uninspired. A shortened hem and a pair of fishnets does not a costume make.A woman who follows the list below may not get the catcalls, but she’s guaranteed to have a blast all her own.

Vote early, avoid the rush: Students should take advantage of one-stop early voting

One-stop early voting for the 2009 municipal elections in Chapel Hill will begin on Monday at Morehead Planetarium. Students should take advantage of the opportunity to quickly and conveniently cast their votes for mayor, Town Council and Board of Education before Election Day on Nov. 3.It is up to the student population to make sure that these local officials address issues that link the town and the University.

Not quite the Golden Gate: Proposed bridge over South Road is a waste of money; crossing guards su?cient to help traffic flow

Building a footbridge over South Road is a bad idea and plans to do so should be halted.The proposed bridge would stretch from Fetzer Gym all the way over South Road before leading into the Pit.Its purpose would be to ease traffic congestion on South Road and to provide students with safe passage to the middle of campus.But it’s also unnecessary, and the price tag is alarming. The final cost of the bridge will be roughly $8 million. The Board of Trustees should stop this project and direct that the $8 million be used for a better, more useful venture.

Another chance: Under new leadership, BOE must work hard to avoid blunders of last year, provide sound oversight

As the student body election cycle unofficially begins, the Board of Elections would be prudent to learn from last year’s mistakes.The board is tasked with ensuring all candidates follow the student election laws in the Student Code. Student Congress made a wise choice in approving Peter Gillooly to lead this year’s board. Gillooly has served on the Board of Elections before and will be able to offer his experience this year.Gillooly has also indicated that he plans to run the board very differently from last year. Let’s hope so.

QuickHits mocking gun rights was not amusing

TO THE EDITOR:We were disappointed to see The Daily Tar Heel editorial board standing solidly against a group with whom they disagree, Tar Heel Rifle and Pistol Club (“QuickHits,” Oct. 15).While the editorial board clearly takes issue with the club’s support of our Second Amendment rights, the statement “We’re a little scared of guns” is ironic because the primary aim of Tar Heel Rifle and Pistol is to promote firearm safety procedures.

Abortion debate was thorough and successful

TO THE EDITOR:In her letter to the editor yesterday (“Abortion debate did not address root of problem,” Oct. 15), Kalli Smith claimed that the abortion debate hosted by Carolina Students for Life on Tuesday was an inappropriate use of student funds because the framework of the debate did not come from a social justice perspective but rather focused too much on fetus viability.