Turning a blind eye to inequality

Greenbridge has thrown our environmentally minded town into an existential crisis.For many, the 10-story monolith jutting out of the Chapel Hill skyline promises a death sentence to the historically black neighborhood in its shadow, Northside, and the black-owned businesses that have thrived there for generations.It is part of the inevitable tide of progress for some — and the green-washed froth of gentrification for others. We hear a lot about that dreaded “g” word, but not a lot about how it works.

Czajkowski for mayor is right choice in Chapel Hill

TO THE EDITOR:I support Councilman Matt Czajkowski for mayor. I admire his lone stand against lifetime health insurance benefits for Town Council members — a majority of one. He is the son of immigrants. He served his country for four years in the U.S. Navy. He went on to graduate from Harvard College and Harvard Business School. A former investment banker, Matt has an understanding of money and finance which is sorely needed on any town board. Matt is the sensible choice. I urge you to vote for Matt Czajkowski for mayor of Chapel Hill.

Cook for Carrboro Board of Alderman is right pick

TO THE EDITOR:We’ve been residents of Carrboro for 22 years and have known Sharon Cook and her family since they moved here 12 years ago.Cook has worn many hats and has always been extremely active in our neighborhood and in a wide range of local civic organizations and groups.As a parent she has been a dedicated volunteer within the Chapel Hill school system, Orange County Girl Scouts and Orange County Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts.

No plastic accepted: Follow the law: Don’t throw away plastic bottles

Think twice before buying bottled water next time. As of Thursday, it is illegal in North Carolina to throw plastic bottles away.The new law, which was passed in 2005, is the latest in a solid environmental effort by the N.C. General Assembly. The law is going to be difficult to enforce, so North Carolina residents — and especially the University community — should take it upon themselves to comply.From 2007 to 2008, the University — not including UNC Hospitals — generated 5,384 tons of waste for the landfill.

Red ?sh, blue ?sh: New liberal magazine adds to the marketplace of ideas on campus, will bring balance

Kudos go to the Young Democrats of UNC and the Duke Democrats for putting out the first issue of their new publication, Campus BluePrint. The liberal-leaning magazine will fill an important hole in campus media — that of the leftist population at UNC. It’s sort of an ironic hole, considering how overwhelmingly liberal the student body is considered.The magazine will act as an important foil to the Carolina Review, the monthly voice of conservative thought on campus. Every observation from the mainstream to the fringes is essential to the marketplace of ideas.

No great ‘honor’ in Carolina program

Today I celebrated the one-month anniversary of dropping my e-mail address from the honorsinfo3 listserv. And it feels great.For the past two years, the honors program has consistently disappointed me, underwhelmed me and made me question whether our University doesn’t deserve something at least a little better. But it wasn’t always like this. When I got my acceptance letter in 12th grade, I was overjoyed. Not only had I been admitted to the University itself, but with my admission came an invitation to the most elite academic clique, the honors program.

Food for thought: Carolina Dining Services does well in analyzing student needs; fee increases necessary

The planned expansion of the Top of Lenoir and installation of a 24-hour restaurant in the Student Union are welcome improvements to on-campus dining, despite the required $18.25 student fee increase.Fee increases are rarely welcomed by students, but as the University’s enrollment continues to grow, on-campus dining needs to grow with it.Carolina Dining Services, with the help of the consulting firm MarketMatch, has done a good job listening to the requests of students concerning dining options.

Football team should focus on winning, not marketing

TO THE EDITOR:It appears that the time has come for UNC to refocus the direction of its football program. Enough of the glitter such as smoke from the player tunnel, loud music to encourage crowd participation, large and colorful video screens and talk about stadium expansion and improvements.We need to focus on football, not the “production” of and “marketing” of the game and program. UNC has become the poster child for football mediocrity. The recruits will come to a successful program and the crowds will follow. It’s that simple.

Cartoon for Oct. 5

Review was unfair to new album from Avett Brothers

TO THE EDITOR:Jordan Lawrence’s article “New Avetts a ‘major’ bore” (Oct. 1) is not at all a correct representation of the new Avetts album. I can agree that the songs on this album are much slower than many of the previous albums; however, the comment, “The Avetts babble meaninglessly about dreams just out of reach,” is completely repulsive.

Letter misunderstood the idea of rights, residents

TO THE EDITOR:Alex Rhodes’ letter to the editor (“Granting in-state tuition status is highly unfair,” Oct. 1) made me cringe. His arguments seem so ill-thought-out that I didn’t know if I was reading a letter or a compilation of knee-jerk conservative hodgepodge.Rhodes says illegal immigrants should not get in-state tuition because, like out-of-state students, they are not registered residents of the state.

Letter offered no insight to counter in-state status

TO THE EDITOR:In his Oct. 1 letter to the editor (“Granting in-state tuition status is unfair”), Alex Rhodes does an excellent job of bashing Christian Yoder’s stance (“Make ‘access’ meaningful,” Sept. 30) that illegal immigrants should be granted in-state tuition to North Carolina’s community colleges, but offers no insight as to why this shouldn’t be.

Here’s to unity through good eats

One day last week, I received a message from one of my friends telling me that she and two of our other friends had picked up Mellow Mushroom in Durham for dinner.I was SO jealous — that pizza is killer. There are good pizza places in New Orleans too, but nowhere that I’d drive 20 minutes each way for without a second thought. Then, a few nights ago, another friend texted me that she had just gotten home from The Loop.And their Oreo milk shake had been excellent, per usual.My response : “GO PLAY IN TRAFFIC.”

Start up the bus: Try Transit Week was great way to promote and encourage public transportation in the Triangle

Try Transit Week was a great way to get the community involved in practicing sustainable transportation habits. Although the official week of events wraps up today, local residents should still make buses a favored mode of transportation. Triangle Transit and other local transportation systems created the event to encourage others to protect the environment reduce dependency on foreign oil and improve the overall quality of life.The weeklong program comes to a close today, but ideas that it promotes will hopefully resonate within the community as a whole.

Defend cyber space: University should work quickly to update ITS policies on cyber security in light of recent attacks at UNC

The University needs new cyber-security policies.Information Technology Services has proposed policy solutions, but they haven’t been enacted yet. They should be put into place as soon as possible.The announcement that one of the University’s databases at the School of Medicine was breached — exposing personal information on 236,000 women — makes the situation urgent.

Measured response apt: Report and response from Chapel Hill Police Department show competence in Brown incident

The steps the town of Chapel Hill has taken to investigate Charles Brown’s allegation of racial profiling proves that it understands the severity of such allegations. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People recognizes this. And it should argue the town’s report on its merits, rather than reflexively dismiss it. The report — written by Police Chief Brian Curran — details the results of the town’s investigation into the detention of Charles Brown, which the NAACP claims was racially motivated.

Cartoon for Oct. 2

Column disregarded all principles, law in argument

TO THE EDITOR: In his column titled “Make ‘access’ meaningful” (Sept. 30), editorial board member Christian Yoder argues why illegal immigrants should be able to pay in-state tuition.

Keep Wendy’s away from UNC, embrace local foods

TO THE EDITOR:Concerning the possibility of opening a fast food restaurant on campus, I oppose. If this University is serious about promoting healthy living habits, how then can we stand by and allow administrators and food industry consultants to control our food choices? I know she has cute, freckled cheeks and a darling set of pigtails, but Wendy can stay away from the University. And Dave Thomas too, may he rest in peace.

Cartoon for Oct. 1