-  Andrew

TO THE EDITOR:

 In an online poll taken on the Daily Tar Heel website recently, an overwhelming majority expressed their frustration with the $291,000 raise offered to Butch Davis a few weeks ago. The most common response chosen was that fans didn’t feel that the team’s 4-8 record justified the raise. But that’s neglecting the real reason Butch was given the salary increase, which was simply to persuade a head coach who is a proven winner to stay at this university. Alabama fans aren’t happy that their new coach came with a 6-6 record in his first year at the school (despite his $32 million price tag), but they know that it takes time to build a powerhouse football program. Have doubts? Get on your computer and look at the caliber of recruits that are thinking about Carolina for next year. You’ll like it, I promise. So give the coach a little time. As they say – Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Chris Dias
Music
Junior

TO THE EDITOR:

I am writing in response to the blatant display of racism and ignorance expressed in Kevin Wise’s letter to the editor “Keep illegal immigrants out of community colleges,” (Dec.4).

            To compare undocumented immigrants to rapists and then to claim that the children of these people don’t deserve to go to school is just sickening.  The all too common claim that “illegal immigrants do not pay taxes and are a drain on our economy” is an easy excuse for conservatives but it is wrong. 

Allow me to lay down some “liberal sense” for you, Mr. Wise.  UCLA’s North American Integration and Development Center has found that “undocumented immigrants” contribute at least $300 billion per year to the U.S. gross domestic product.  As for jobs, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that by 2008, there will be five million more jobs in the U.S. than people to do them. 

Wise claims that illegal immigrants have “infiltrated our population.”  Overlooking the obvious discriminatory phrasing, may I remind you that the United States was founded as a place of refuge and opportunity? The U.S. Census Bureau has also projected that the population of Latinos in the U.S. is expected to triple by 2050.  It is my sincere hope that Mr. Wise will get past his racist views and come to terms with the fact that the United States is a country made up of many different people and every single one of them has a right to be here.    

Mary Lide Parker

Sophomore

Journalism and Spanish

TO THE EDITOR:

The Faculty Council will vote soon on the priority registration proposal giving student-athletes the chance to register for classes before the normal student.  This proposal is one that is long overdue and is certainly essential.

Student-athletes typically practice twenty-hours each week, the equivalent of a part time job, yet being a part of a varsity athletics team requires everyone involved to meet a stringent practice schedule.  UNC athletics are known to compete at the highest level at every sport, yet certainly this reputation hasn’t stemmed from mediocre attendance at practices.  The several hours set aside each day for afternoon practices is crucial to the success of the team.  

Many athletes encounter difficulties while registering because oftentimes the one or few sections of a class that are available during the hours outside of practice times are full by the time registration begins. Athletes are being put at a disadvantage when they cannot register for the only section of a class available within their confined schedule.  This is one reason why so many athletes are required to take summer school to graduate on time. 

Students working part-time or involved in other extracurricular activities are naturally more flexible because they don’t have to commit to a fixed schedule every single day of the week.  That one class outside of their desired time frame can be taken though their work schedule may need to be altered.

There is a good reason why every other school in the ACC has priority registration for student-athletes—they realize that athletes are being put at a disadvantage during registration due to the restrictions inherent in being a part of a varsity team.  It is imperative that this proposal pass for the welfare of all student-athletes representing and earning this institution the fine reputation it has within the NCAA today.

David Solarz
Sophomore
Chemistry

TO THE EDITOR:

I am deeply disappointed that most of the local media has been complicit in reinforcing a common misperception of the county’s dog tethering issue, namely that it is a debate between “animal rights activists” and “hunting groups.” Such polarization only serves to obscure the real complexities of this issue and hinders substantive discussion.

Sincerely,
Dan Stern
Senior- Biology Dept. 

TO THE EDITOR:

Over the last week, I’ve been quite caught up in the political frenzy of primary season beginning.  I’ve spent countless hours looking at cnn.com, nytimes.com, newspapers, and CSPAN, reading about this week’s Iowa Caucuses.  And  more than once, I’ve thought, “Man, those folks are really right in the middle of the political process.”

As a resident of North Carolina, it’s pretty easy for me to say, “well, you know, my primary vote doesn’t really count, we’re state number 42 (or something like that) in the primaries.”   But, having seen all of the excitement in Iowa, what strikes me is that Iowa isn’t special.  Or, more specifically, Iowa is no more special than any other state, including North Carolina.   So what if our state’s primary comes late in the game?  So what if Iowa and New Hampshire come first?  We’ve got well-educated, well-informed, politically passionate and aware people here, too!   So, darn it all, when we get the chance every four years to actually take part in picking the person who holds the highest office in the land, by golly, let’s take it.   I’m going to proudly send in my absentee ballot this April, or May, or whenever our primary finally rolls around.   We all should.   Not only is it, technically, a civic duty, but this year’s race may be a close one, and every candidate is going to need every supporter they can get.  Even those in states with late primaries.

So I wrote a column today. We unveiled the new public editor column location, in the bottom of the editorial page where the third edit usually is. The plan for the spring is to have me write every-other week in that location. I’m not sure if we’ve decided on a day yet, but it will likely be Tuesdays or Wednesday. This should be “different” next semester as I tackle a much more regular column. I also will be blogging when I run my column, talking about what I wrote and things I didn’t have the space to say.

About today’s column. For a while now I’ve been told that I need to write something distinguishing the difference between news and opinion pieces. In fact I tried to write it a month ago, but it was too boring. Since that time though I’ve emailed a lot of people saying basically what I said in the column, the opinion page and its content do not a biased paper make. I decided to make that point the heart of my column and go with it from there. I hope you thought the column was at least worth reading.

I’m sure that many people are going to look at the column and be like, “No shit, the opinion pieces in the paper present an opinion.” I didn’t say anything Earth-shattering so I won’t be surprised if that happens, but the fact was people were frequently confused, and this needed to be addressed.

Now for some stuff that I didn’t have the space to say in the coumn.

In the column I talk about Editor-in-Chief Erin Zureick sitting on the editorial board. I seem to say that this is ok because she doesn’t vote on the board. However, I don’t think she should be on the board at all. Having talked to members of the board and the opinion editor and assistant opinion editor, I know that Erin can be heavily involved in the discussion/debate and will try and influence the opinion of the board. This just seems wrong, and it is a major encroachment on the separation that needs to exist between news and opinion.

From what I understand, it is only in the past four years that the editor has given up the right to vote on the board. I’m sure that this was a major step, but now I suggest Erin goes a step further in the Spring semester and remove herself from the board completely. This would set a great precedent for future editors to follow. If she doesn’t want to do this, I hope that Managing Editor Allison Nichols, or whoever becomes next year’s editor, makes not being part of the edit board part of the platform that she runs on.

The danger that the DTH faces is not that the opinions from the opinion page are going to spill over into its news coverage. Rather the concern is that the news writers and editors are going to, or are at least going to try to, influence the opinions of the board. This wouldn’t be as obvious to a reader, but it would still be very problematic for the paper.

The opinion page is probably the most popular page in the paper, and as such, everybody seems to want a piece of the action. Multiple times this year news editors have complained when the editorial board wrote some opinion and did not talk to their writers first. This is clearly an attempt by them to try and influence the opinions of the board. These reporters and editors need to be concerned with the articles they are placing in the paper and not the opinions of the board, even if far more people will read the editorial than the article. If the news side of the DTH is concerned with influencing the opinions of the editorial board then its possible their opinions will slip into their writings, something that would be terrible for the paper’s credibility.

The bottom line here is that the paper needs to step up its efforts to separate news and opinion operations. This doesn’t mean that they can’t be friends and party and black-out together on weekends. It just means that everyone needs to be conscious of what is appropriate and what is not. And for right now that means those involved with reporting on the news need to remain concerned with that job and not the opinions being presented on the opinion page.

For whatever reason, the N.C. State football game on Saturday took all of the sports reporters or maybe because women’s soccer success is becoming all to common place, no one from the Daily Tar Heel was on hand to cover the tournament over the weekend.

In reading Monday’s front-page article (“Soccer takes 18^th ACC Title,” Nov. 12) however, there was no way to know that no one from the DTH was there to watch it all go down. The article used phone interviews with a player and coach from hours after the game and presented them as post-game interviews taken on-site in Florida. It also reported on the descriptions of the game without giving proper credit to where these facts came from.

The end result was an article that lead readers to think the author was in Florida when in reality she was in Chapel Hill. The quotes from Carolina Coach Anson Dorrance and tournament MVP Nikki Washington needed to be prefaced with, “In a phone interview after the game,” or something else that would accurately depict the manner in which they were taken.

Since Samantha Newman, an assistant sports editor and author of the article, didn’t attend the game or watch it on TV, she also had to rely on someone else’s descriptions for her play-by-play account from the game. Newman either needed to cite Washington and the phone interview as the source for the description of the game, or she needed to credit wherever else she pulled her facts from, because the one thing that is for certain is she did not see the game herself; whoever provided her with a description deserves credit for it.

The intent behind the way the article was written was good. A sports reporter wants the reader of her article to understand what happened in the game, just as if they were there. The problem was that in doing so in this article, readers were mislead to think that she was at the ACC Tournament in Florida when in fact she was not, and proper credit was not given for her play-by-play description from the game.

Even though an assistant sports editor writing the article should know better than to have un-cited play-by-play descriptions of a game she did not see and to report as if she was somewhere she wasn’t, Sports Editor Jesse Bumgartner should have caught these problems in the article long before it ever was published. When he assigned this story out, it should have been made clear that since no DTH reporter was at the game, do not report like one was, and all play-by-play descriptions needed to be credited elsewhere. Even after the article was written these descriptions should have served as a red flag. Before this story ever left Bumgartner’s desk, it should have been fixed.

Not attributing facts correctly is part of a larger issue in journalism. Just like in the academic world we are all so used to at UNC, authors and reporters deserve credit for the work they have done and what they have written. So as reporters and editors continue producing the paper each day, they need to make sure that they are doing it correctly, giving credit where credit is due by citing facts they got elsewhere, and by not misleading readers to think news was covered on-site when in fact it was not.

- Andrew -

I’d like to take a moment to respond to Paul Worley’s letter in Monday’s paper.  Worley questioned the usefulness of the graphics accompanying the “Hispanics’ economic impact increases” that ran last Thursday.

As co-editor of the graphics desk and a co-creator of those graphics, I take responsibility for any ill feelings they may have caused.  As graphics is still a relatively new desk at the Daily Tar Heel, we are always thrilled when we receive space in the paper to print them.  Our ultimate goal is to present the facts visually so that readers can better understand the world around them and consequently make informed decisions with that knowledge.  Consequently, in no way do we wish to be considered unthoughtful in the presentation of our numbers.

For the particular graphics in question, I kept in contact with the writer of the story through meetings and emails while developing the graphics.  Every choice was a conscious one.  The bar graphs that ran on page 4 depict only manufacturing, agriculture and construction job disparities because that is where most of the recently migrated Hispanic workers, the focus of the article, have been able to find immediate employment.  We pulled these numbers from the report on which the story was based (you can read it at this link: http://www.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/ki/reports/2006_HispanicStudy/) Statistics on small business owners and educators weren’t available, although they would have made a nice comparison. With the space we had, the writer and I chose these professions to emphasize the disparity in annual salaries between non-Hispanic and Hispanic workers in job fields that are already known to not pay incredibly large annual sums.

The graphic on the front, which Worley considered disturbing, I actually found surprising.  The numbers show that Hispanic immigrants cost the state $61 million – or $102 per Hispanic resident in 2004 – was much lower than I think we’ve all been led to believe.  And additional benefit through this depiction was that the Corrections costs were so minimal compared to the portion of the population which consisted of Hispanic immigrants in 2004, combatting another common misconception about this group.  We also tried to put the costs into perspective by indicating, for example, that the largest cost to the state – the $467 million paid for K-12 education – consisted of only 7.5% of the entire K-12 budget (and an even smaller percentage of the entire education budget.)

Worley says these graphics do not do justice to the study’s finding that Hispanic immigrants contribute $9.2 billion to the state’s economy, greatly off-setting the $61 million in costs to the state.  I would agree.  In talks with the writer, space became an issue, and we decided this important point at the very least should run high in the story.  We simply did not have room in the graphic size we were allotted, and we tried to compensate by utilizing the space as mentioned above.  Our graphics hinted at this large difference (through wage disparities in particular) but relied on the accompanying story to deliver the full message.

Should it have worked this way?  I would like to think readers look at both the graphics and the stories, but this may not always be true. So I want to thank Worley for writing a letter and bringing this to our attention. I hope he continues to read and critique our work, as it is only through this valuable insight that we can continue to improve.

Thank you,
Rebecca
Graphics Desk Co-Editor

Boo me all you want, Wolfpack fans. When I walk through your student tailgating section wearing baby blue, hiss until your hearts content. You can issue the “dose of class” we UNC fans need (as noted by NCSU Technician columnist Benton Sawrey on Friday). I understand and appreciate rivalry– it’s what makes college football so great … so boo away.

But what I experienced on Saturday afternoon went far beyond my daily dose of humility. Walking around the fairgrounds I continually was approached and told to “Go back to Brokeback Mountain, faggot”… to “go fuck myself”… and “to go home, bitch”. Not for taunting or teasing the red storm, but for just walking by in a blue shirt.

And the Wolfpack’s comments weren’t contained to me. They were hurled at a young elementary-school aged boy and at an elderly couple. I was chased down inside Carter-Finely by two young Wolfpack gentlemen in front of my mother (who was wearing Wolfpack colors) to be told to go fuck myself.

Maybe we UNC fans could use a dose of humility, but maybe some State fans could use a dose of class. I will deny into the ground that I was stereotypically born with a silver-spoon in my mouth. But I would rather be thought of as a stuck-up Carolina girl than a classless State fan any day of the week… and that includes game day.

Claire Williamson
UNC Class of 2008
Journalism

TO THE EDITOR:

I write in response to the article titled “Trustees move up tuition vote” (Nov. 9). While student government officials and the Chancellor may not always agree on issues related to tuition, I do want to assure the student body that Eve, Lauren, and I are working closely with the Chancellor in an effort to ensure that tuition increases for nonresident undergraduates and both resident and nonresident graduate students are kept to a minimum.

Although the decision to accelerate the tuition process may have caught some by surprise, student government officials and the Chancellor have maintained a close working relationship throughout the tuition process.

We commend the Chancellor for his efforts to seek student input and we will continue to work with him and the Board of Trustees to explore ways to improve the tuition process for future years.

In the meantime, please visit www.unc.edu/studgov to learn more about the tuition process and opportunities for you to make your voice heard before the Trustees vote on tuition proposals during the BOT meeting on Thursday.

Mike Tarrant

Student Body Vice President

TO THE EDITOR:

As a fellow organizer for workers’ rights at the University of Southern California, I was disappointed to read the article “Students Lobby for Workers” (11/9/07), which omitted significant facts and details regarding the sweat-free campaign at UNC Chapel Hill. The article failed to mention that the campaign is advocated by a broad base of support at UNC with ten student groups formally endorsing the campaign. The writer also cites Moeser’s letter that “There is more momentum among the very top public universities licensing programs to pursue alternatives to the DSP,” but totally omits the fact that 60 other American colleges and universities also held actions on their campuses in solidarity with UNC’s action- misleading readers to believe that the DSP is a marginal program compared to Moeser’s proposal.

Lastly, this is not an isolated incident – students at UNC Chapel Hill are not simply refusing to leave the chancellor alone until he signs onto the DSP, but have been engaging with him for nearly two years within the university licensing committee – whose members support the DSP!

The struggle to hold our universities accountable for profiting from sweatshop labor is an international movement, and not a lone effort at UNC.

Teresa Cheng
University of Southern California
Class of 2009
Political Science

TO THE EDITOR:

Jeff Soplop’s column, What to do about the doobie: part one (Thur, Nov 9) was… interesting. A tad off base, but interesting.

Soplop did get some things right, like when he said “it would be ridiculous if the government outlawed those (alcohol and cigarettes).” Yet he is so, so wrong when he says “because marijuana is no more harmful than cigarettes or alcohol doesn’t mean that it should be legalized in the United States either.”

Cannabis (marijuana) is a lot less harmful than either tobacco or alcohol. Monumentally less harmful. 5,000 years of recorded historical use without one fatality from consumption compared to 400,000 deaths each year for tobacco (in the US alone) and another 100,000 from alcohol. Should every one consume it? No. Should those who do be labeled criminals? No.

The Prohibition of alcohol failed for very specific reasons. The Prohibition of cannabis (and all the other illegal drugs) suffers from the same failures. After 70 years of government efforts to eliminate cannabis as a drug, it is now our nation’s #1 agricultural commodity, worth more annually than soybeans and corn combined. THAT is failure, to the nth power.

It is not whether pot should be illegal but whether Prohibition is a viable policy. Consider the history of cannabis Prohibition and you will see a policy founded on lies and xenophobia. Prohibition is the problem, not pot.

Allan Erickson

Drug Policy Forum of Oregon

I’ve known Dan Coleman for nearly twenty years. During our long friendship, I’ve been impressed by Dan’s passion for politics as well as by his intelligence and good humor.

I share the belief of many of Dan’s supporters that he brings both breadth and depth of thought to local politics. We need local political leaders who have the ability to think through issues and guide truly compassionate decision-making. In my experience, Dan has demonstrated this ability. Since the late 1980s, when he organized the Orange County Greens, Dan has impressed me as well-informed and forward looking. He’s written a fine book on Green Politics, a well-researched novel about a (19^th/20^th) turn-of-the-century Anarchist, and countless thoughtful letters to local newspapers. His intellectual reach is wide, though his feet are firmly planted here in Orange County.

Dan’s service describes the range of local progressive politics: Carrboro’s delegate to the Long Range Transit Committee; Chancellor Moeser’s Leadership Advisory Committee; Economic Sustainability Commission; New Horizons Task Force; NAACP; and, current member of the Carrboro Board of Aldermen. As a Carrboro High parent, I was particularly pleased when Dan volunteered to represent the Board of Aldermen in discussions of safety improvements for Smith Level Road.

Finally, Dan is a well-known consensus builder. He is caring, critical, and connected to key county and state representatives like Mike Nelson and Ellie Kinnaird.

Dan’s diverse talents bode well for Carrboro. He is a friend who has earned my respect and support through twenty years of informed, passionate activism.

Sincerely,

William Stott

Carrboro, NC

Keep Strom on Council

This town has made some amazing steps forward in the past eight years, and much of that has been due to the able leadership of our Town Council. We’ve modernized our Land Use Management Ordinance, introduced fare-free bus service, instituted Neighborhood Conservation Districts, expanded greenways, and introduced and adopted a series of environmentally-friendly policies. We’ve faced tough talks on Carolina North as we move toward a plan that works both for our community and for UNC.

Bill Strom has been at the forefront of all these issues and more. He has never failed to stand up for the community and the quality-of-life issues that make Chapel Hill such a great place to live. But what is striking is how far beyond parochial thinking his leadership goes. His initiatives and approaches reflect a farseeing approach to our problems and future that is all too rare among our political leaders. He has worked for sensible development instead of sprawl, sensible transit options instead of wider roads, downtown revitalization instead of strip malls.

As a citizen, I have found Bill accessible, helpful, and effective. His support on neighborhood issues has been strong. We can count on him to lead us in the right direction.

We’ve made a lot of progress, but there are difficult days ahead. Let’s keep Bill Strom on Council.

Mike Collins

Our Incumbents Deserve To Be Re-Elected

I am writing in support of the re-election of all five incumbent officials in Chapel Hill: Mayor Foy and Council members Greene, Hill, Strom and Ward. I have served for eight years on Town advisory boards (Transportation, Community Design Commission, Planning, Streetscape Master Plan Review, Town Operations Center Design, Northern Area Task Force) and have worked with all of the incumbents during those 8 years. I believe that these individuals have performed an outstanding job in managing Chapel Hill’s growth while maintaining those qualities of Chapel Hill that we value so highly. They have done so while implementing strategies to both maintain and increase our existing inventory of affordable housing and to protect the character of existing neighborhoods. These individuals all have strong records of environmental protection, encouraging sustainability, and insuring the protection of minorities. Furthermore, they have demonstrated a willingness to listen to the citizens of Chapel Hill and to work with their colleagues on the Town Council to provide us a community that functions well and is a pleasure and privilege to call home. Please join me in the upcoming election to re-elect Mayor Kevin Foy and Council members Sally Greene, Cam Hill, Bill Strom and Jim Ward.

George Cianciolo

The Chapel Hill Town Council faces a difficult task: to preserve the admirable essence of our town amidst the pressures and opportunities of growth and change. I am delighted that we will have the opportunity to re-elect Bill Strom to the Town Council because he has demonstrated notable skill and leadership in all aspects of Chapel Hill governance, and particularly in preserving neighborhoods, supporting and sustaining our natural environment, and seeking opportunities to enhance town-gown cooperation. A vote for Bill Strom is a vote well cast.

Steve Reznick

Chapel Hill

Bill Strom makes it a joy to vote on election day. Whether it’s neighborhood protection, downtown revitalization, or environmental stewardship, Bill works hard, listens carefully, thinks freshly, and gets results.

Our neighborhood is grateful for Bill’s attention and leadership in negotiating plans for the South. Columbia Street widening project, the UNC Central Campus and, now, for Carolina North—always working for the good of the Town and neighborhood preservation.

Eight years ago, Bill called to ask about my work with other progressive communities on Low-Impact Development Design and stormwater management. Thanks to Bill’s leadership, and our progressive Council, Chapel Hill is now a leader in environmental stewardship and an example for other communities.

Please vote to re-elect Bill Strom.

Kimberly Brewer

Re-Elect Sally Greene

As a member of the Chapel Hill Town Council, Sally Greene has proven to be an extraordinarily effective advocate for the preservation of our neighborhoods, our environment, and our open space. Her keen intellect enables her to formulate public policy to realize the Town’s long-term goals, and thus enhances our quality of life in Chapel Hill. Sally is also an active participant in making this community a positive and enriching place to live through her leadership on issues ranging from civic justice to homelessness.

Please join me in re-electing Sally to the Town Council.

Janet Kagan

Dear Editor,

I am writing on behalf of Dan Coleman for Alderman.

Dan is a long term area resident with a history of service who is well aware of the subtleties of the development issues facing the town. In his time on the Board of Aldermen he has exhibited the leadership we need.

If the town of Carrboro is to achieve its goal of a strong downtown economy, we need Dan’s participation. We need a leader who has proactively made the effort to reach out to business owners and individuals to strengthen the local business community. He has show his commitment in the time that he has put in talking and listening to different points of view and encouraging cooperation among groups.

Dan knows that the success of Carrboro’s future will depend heavily on the success of small independent businesses and he has gone out of his way to strengthen relationships among business owners to actively promote the wealth of commercial activity in the downtown area. Dan is alone among the aldermen at the early morning business association meetings and always has time to participate in new initiatives to promote the town.

Carrboro is a small but diverse community with conflicting needs and demands. We require the humble input of those who seek to guide our future development through many unknown outcomes. We need leaders like Dan who are fair-minded, practical and can reconcile complexity.

The growth Carrboro is experiencing creates a set of issues that lack clear black and white answers and certainly don’t lend themselves to inflammatory remarks. Dan is a skilled consensus builder and excellent listener who can take intelligent and nuanced positions on complicated issues. He has served the town well and deserves to be re-elected in this crucial time in the town’s development. That’s why I’ll be voting for Dan.

Jenny McMillan

4 for 4 (More)

UNC voters have an opportunity to return four very qualified council members back to the Town Council this fall. Sally Greene, Cam Hill, Bill Strom and Jim Ward (in alphabetical order) have all provided the Town and University students with excellent leadership on a whole host of issues over the past four years. Working through the transition to a new town manager, Roger Stancil has proven to be an excellent choice. Issues surrounding Carolina North have been treated fairly. Lot 5 development will bring a new dimension to a downtown that is evolving. The new public works and bus facilities are excellent examples of green design. And above all, they have found a way to increase town services without tax increases. While there are other good people running for Council, for these and their many other accomplishments the existing four Council members: Ward, Strom, Hill and Greene deserve to be re-elected. And don’t forget to vote for Kevin Foy for mayor. He has provided superb leadership of a Council that has accomplished a great deal over these past four years. Be sure to vote Tuesday, November 6. Every vote counts and the students are generally under-represented in those who turn out to vote.

Alan E. Rimer

Re-elect the CH Incumbents

I am voting to re-elect all five incumbents in Chapel Hill: Mayor Kevin Foy, and council members Sally Greene, Cam Hill, Bill Strom and Jim Ward.

I have worked with this council for the past eight years while serving on five town boards and commissions, and believe this council has made significant progress in many areas: fiscal responsibility, preserving the character of our neighborhoods, tree protection, managing growth, relations with UNC, affordable housing, environmental protection and fare-free bus service.

While not perfect, these council members have worked tirelessly on these issues and have been very accessible to the town’s citizens. I believe these incumbents will continue to maintain the qualities of Chapel Hill that we so highly value.

Gene Pease

Letter to Editor:

I met Dan Coleman in 1986 when we were both members of the Coaltion for Alternatives to Shearon Harris, an organization which won all the battles but lost the war to stop Shearon Harris from opening. Since then I have worked with Dan on a myriad of issues from promoting energy-efficiency and alternative energy, lobbying for energy-efficient schools, monitoring growth and development, advocating for a living wage, promoting a sustainable local economy, the list goes on and on.

He is one of the most knowledgeable people in our community on issues of progressive policy, from the macro to the micro. He has proven equally adept at representing citizens’ concerns on the Carolina North development as at helping to create a community garden for local residents. I hope that he is elected to the Carrboro Board of Alderman so that he can continue his good work.

Mark Marcoplos

October 22, 2007

I am writing in support of the re-election of Mayor Foy, Council Members Bill Strom and Jim Ward and the election of Penny Rich to Council. Mayor Foy, Council Members Strom and Ward have provided the Town with leadership and vision on many fronts in the past. I also strongly support the election of Penny Rich. I served with Penny on the OWASA Board and had the opportunity to get to know her and see her in action on Board matters. Her passionate leadership, positive attitude and vision for Chapel Hill will make her a valuable member of the Council.

Randy Kabrick, P.E.

Coleman supports community-initiated projects

Please consider voting for Dan Coleman for Carrboro Alderman. I support Dan primarily because of his respect and support for community-initiated projects such as the Carrboro Community Garden, Carrboro Greenspace, the ReCyclery, and the Really Really Free Market. Dan makes a habit of actively engaging with people involved such projects.

I also support Dan because he grounds his commitment to building the local economy not only in locally-owned businesses, but in locally particular interests and needs. He has a strong interest in creative approaches to local economic planning, such as those articulated through the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, and has the energy, focus, and responsiveness to move forward with such approaches.

Dan stands out as the most receptive, most responsive, and most thoughtful representative currently on the board. His concern for Carrboro’s future is evident in his remarkable attention to details in proposed developments, and in his commitment to hearing and understanding residents’ diverse perspectives. Please join me in supporting Alderman Dan Coleman for another term.

Vinci Daro

Carrboro

To the Editors:

I value the Independent’s investigative journalism. Where’s the investigative element in the Indy Chapel Hill election endorsements?

Regarding “the financial ramifications of the controversial downtown redevelopment initiative” (Independent, 10-24-07, p.15): Why no mention that for a year and more Council members Strom, Greene, and Hill failed to let our downtown development national consultant guide their planning? Why no note that the coliseum-style plan pushed by Sally Greene had to be totally changed by NCSU Dean Marvin Malecha, recruited by then Town Manager, Cal Horton? The Indy’s investigative staff should follow the money and time expended. Our current perceptive Town Manager, Roger Stancil, has himself advised the current Council that “time is money.”

The Indy’s fine reporters could cover the many comments that Chapel Hill’s permitting process takes too long, costs too much, restricts our tax base. Why does the Independent so often focus only on what the Sierra Club focuses on?

UNC has already committed to preserving 75% of its Campus North land and to build sustainable buildings. Both towns have met with UNC in LAC Committee meetings without the problem Cam Hill fears.

The Indy could connect the dots between Food Lion’s two years, crushed by Chapel Hill’s politics as usual, only reopening an old building in Ram’s Plaza – and now taxpayers

paying an Economic Development Officer to expedite improvements there.

As a member of the local NAACP, I am also sensitive to all minority concerns.

Chapel Hill, vote for real diversity. Give the whole community a voice on Town Council.

Mayor: Kevin Foy (he has respect for our biggest employer, UNC)

Council: Bill Strom (he follows plans for future rail transit)

Jim Ward (botanist able to hear others)

Matt Czajkowski (bicyclist with financial training, experience)

Penny Rich (water conservationist, ties to businesses)

School Board: Jamezetta Bedford (experience with variety of education needs)

Michael Kelley (financial focus for schools)

Mia Burroughs (experience with students-at-risk)

Annetta Streater (wants to close achievement gap)

Lynne Kane

Chapel Hill, NC

Cam Hill has been a terrifically effective member of the Town Council and highly deserves to be reelected.He has brought a listening and caring leadership to the board that is fair to all parties. His service to our community ensures that we will grow in a responsible way that will maintain the charm of our Chapel Hill. We need his balanced approach as we deal with all the upcoming difficult issues of growth and change.

It’s rare to find an elected official as genuine, modest, and considerate as Cam. Vote for him this fall and keep him working for us.

Scott McLean

I urge you to support Cam Hill for Chapel Hill town council. Development in Chapel Hill is accelerating and is making much of my home town indistinguishable from any other town. Finding the balance between inevitable growth and preserving the special character of our town is our biggest challenge. Over the last four years Cam has shown that he is a hardworking, well informed, and sensible leader. Please vote for Cam Hill.

Jim Vernon

As a member of Carrboro’s Transportation Advisory Board and a local business owner, I would like to share a bit about Alderman Dan Coleman’s leadership on transportation alternatives and local business initiatives.

Dan understands the connection between transit and land use planning and has been a strong advocate for Carrboro’s needs. He is Carrboro’s delegate to the Long Range Transit Committee, and has also represented Carrboro on Chancellor Moeser’s Leadership Advisory Committee. There, he joined Mayor Chilton in insisting that pedestrian, bicycle, and transit trips should be the highest priority for Carolina North.

Dan is a strong advocate for local business. He brought the author of The Small-Mart Revolution, Michael Shuman, to speak publicly about the importance of small businesses to local economies. He has also met with me to discuss starting a Balle (Business Alliance for Local Living Economies) chapter in Carrboro.
If you want a walkable and bikable town with a strong local economy, then I strongly recommend voting for Alderman Dan Coleman on November 6.

Daniel Amoni

A healthy democracy depends on responsible, well-informed voters who make electoral decisions based on candidates’ proven performance.

As a Carrboro alderman, Dan promotes local business, supports transportation alternatives, protects open spaces, and limits urban sprawl. In short, he works diligently to ensure that Carrboro remains a vibrant and progressive community in a time of globalization and unprecedented growth.

Dan’s proven track record merits broad support from the Carrboro electorate. And that’s why, as a resident of Carrboro and as a longtime runner who values our town’s commitment to sidewalks and greenways, I will be voting for Dan Coleman on Nov. 6.

Thanks and regards,

Ismail Suayah

Carrboro, NC

Dear Sir:

The Town Council is going to be dealing with many issues in the near future and paramount among them is negotiating with the University for the best resolution of Carolina North’s impact on the community. The mayor and many others have shown that they have a handle on the basic problems, and Bill Strom has proven to be an outstanding negotiator. Strom is strong in his position with the appropriate balance and fairness needed to protect the town as it comes to terms with the inevitable growing pains that Carolina North will bring to us.

Let’s continue with Bill Strom on the Town Council for mutually beneficial resolution of Carolina North’s impact on our town.

Sincerely,

Ray and Pat Carpenter

Carrboro is fortunate to have an engaged citizenry led by creative and committed community leaders. Among our very best and brightest is Dan Coleman, who offers a rare combination of abilities, foresight, and sense of community for our town.

Since we moved here 18 years ago, I have admired Dan’s work to help us grow smartly in ways that enhances our people, local businesses, and ecology, to protect our greenways and natural areas, to keep our town affordable for all, and, most importantly, to help empower citizens to work together to create solutions for a better future.

I am grateful that as an alderman, Dan has provided invaluable leadership on issues that matter to all of us. Dan has made Carrboro more inclusive, diverse and fair in terms of housing affordability, taxation, job opportunities, and access to our greenways. His oversight over the Carolina North project will make a difference for future generations here.

Please vote on Nov. 6, and mark your ballot for Dan Coleman.      

Stephen Dear   Since 2001, council has generally represented my support of the
environment, neighborhoods, sane transportation planning, downtown
revitalization, and other progressive issues. Bill Strom is one of the leaders
up for reelection who has helped to transform the council, and I am writing to
urge you and your readers to support him in November.

I met Bill in the mid '90s when we worked on behalf of neighborhood
interests. He had the vision and endurance to seek two successful terms on the
council, and in his bid for reelection, I support him wholeheartedly. While I
haven't agreed with him on everything, I know him to be a tireless advocate for
the people of Chapel Hill.

Bill and like-minded council members have helped to prevent Weaver Dairy
Road and Columbia Street from being converted into four-lane thoroughfares. He
was an early supported of Citizen Action for Responsible Roads (CARR), and
continues to advocate for environmentally sane solutions to the town's
transportation problems.

As usual, turnout promises to be low in this year's local elections. While
there doesn't seem to be much controversy this year that might drive greater
turnout, I urge readers not to be complacent. We need people like Bill to watch
out for the town's interests.

Sincerely,
Burwell
Carrboro is fortunate to have an engaged citizenry led by creative and
 committed community leaders. Among our very best and brightest is Dan Coleman,
who offers a rare combination of abilities, foresight, and sense of community
for our town.

> 
> Since we moved here 18 years ago, I have admired Dan’s work to help us grow

smartly in ways that enhance our people, local businesses, and ecology, to
protect our greenways and natural areas, to keep our town affordable for all,
and, most importantly, to help empower citizens to work together to create
solutions for a better future.

> 
> I am grateful that as an alderman, Dan has provided invaluable leadership on

issues that matter to all of us. Dan has made Carrboro more inclusive and
diverse and fairer in terms of housing affordability, taxation, job
opportunities, and access to our greenways. His oversight over the Carolina    North project will make a difference for future generations here.

> 
> Please vote on Nov. 6, and mark your ballot for Dan Coleman.
> 
> Stephen Dear

I have known Sharon Cook for ten years. Sharon is a dedicated, community

oriented citizen. Presently Sharon is a member of the Carrboro Town Planning

Board and is also a representative to the Carrboro Greenways

Commission.

Sharon would be an excellent addition to the Carrboro Board of

Aldermen. She would truly represent all the citizens of Carrboro, something

sorely needed given the current make-up of the Board.
Elizabeth Kent
I first met Bill Strom in 1991 when we were both neighborhood activists

just north of town where I still live and Bill lived at the time.  I

have followed his work in Chapel Hill since he first ran for office and

I'm pleased that he has remained true to his principles of sustainable

and community-enhancing development.  His leadership on energy

efficiency, climate change, transportation and neighborhood protections

helps all of us in the area.  With the coming development at Carolina

North, I am glad that Bill is fully engaged to make sure that the

University and the community at large are well served by these huge

changes in our community.
I encourage your vote for Bill Strom.
Lee Rafalow
Orange County
Dear Editor,

Carrboroans driving down

Hillsborough Road have surely noticed the community garden that

flourishes on the future Martin Luther King, Jr. Park site. The garden

is a partnership between the Carrboro Community Garden Coalition, a

grassroots group of novice and experienced gardeners of which I am a

member, and the Orange County Partnership for Young Children's Healthy

Kids initiative.

The success of the garden owes a great deal to Alderman Dan

Coleman who took time to meet with the organizations and to facilitate

discussions with the Mayor and Board of Alderman and with town staff.
Many are not aware that the garden is now watered from a pre-existing

well, which will soon be powered by a donated solar pump set to be

installed this winter by local solar experts.  The well was scheduled

to be capped, but Alderman Coleman recognized the value of this water

source and the importance of demonstrating the use of solar power in this manner.  It

is largely due to his initiative and perseverance that, while other

gardens suffer under the drought, the community garden flourishes.
As the Sierra Club pointed out in its endorsement, we in

Carrboro are fortunate to have such a forward-thinking and hard-working

public official. Please join me in voting for Alderman Dan Coleman on

November 6.
April McGreger
Cam Hill grew up in Chapel Hill and has seen it evolve from

the small college town I remember of the 70s into the high-priced suburban

community we live in today.  He

refuses to accept that the “locals” have no say in the future their town. He has

been willing to both stand up to and work

with those institutions most responsible for the direction in which

Chapel Hill has moved.  I am a Real

Estate Broker in this town, and my business obviously benefits from the growth

in population and price of housing.  Cam would like to curb both through

“smart growth” policymaking.  I can

think of no one I would rather have representing and overseeing the collective

interests of Chapel Hill’s diverse community than Cam Hill, and I strongly urge

you to vote for him.
Sammy Martin

Franklin St. Realty

For the past year and a half I have been part of a group that has been attempting to preserve the site of the old Sparrow Pool and turn it into an ecology and community center. I write because throughout this process Alderman Dan Coleman has been absolutely invaluable to our efforts. In fact I think we might have given up long before if it were not for his support?both in terms of his knowledge of the town and area, and his moral support, because of his true commitment to the livability and sustainability of Carrboro.
    Throughout this time Dan has taken the time to meet with us repeatedly, explaining and even researching the zoning and relevant land use ordinance provisions. In addition, Dan brought other aldermen and community leaders to the site to introduce them to us and to our project.
    What was so impressive to me was that this was all "extra-curricular" in terms of Dan's responsibilities as an alderman. But it is yet another instance (and many friends of mine have had other similarly positive experiences) that attest to not only how committed he is to both community life in Carrboro and environmental issues writ-large, but how much he is willing to give of his own time and effort in order that we residents can actively participate in making this town the special place it is. (Considering the state of democracy surrounding us, this access was almost startling!)
    Please join me in voting for Alderman Dan Coleman on November 6, I really can?t think of anyone who better embodies what such a job can and should entail!

Sincerely,
Michal Osterweil
Grad Student, UNC Dept of Anthropology

Dan Coleman brings a unique blend of knowledge and skills to the Board of Aldermen.   Since the beginning of his service as an Aldermen,  he has carefully listened with an open mind to all sides of policy deliberations,  has been particularly attentive and responsive to public input and has provided an important voice in support of issues such as affordable housing ,  neighborhood protection and sustainable development.   Regarding the Northern Transition Area,    he served as co-chair of the New Horizons Task Force which was created to help the town respond to the concerns of newly annexed residents.  He has addressed in his votes the concerns of Carrboro and County residents in the Northern Transition Area involving environmental,  traffic and light pollution issues. He is thoughtful,  creative,  hard-working,  collaborative,  and proactive,  and a person of highest integrity. 

I strongly encourage your vote for Dan Coleman. 

Jay Bryan

Carrboro voters should be aware that Alderman Dan Coleman understands that Carrboro is impacted by more than what goes on around Main Street. One aspect of that is Dan’s understanding of the threat of a serious nuclear accident at the Shearon Harris Nuclear Plant, a threat that could leave our storefronts (to say nothing of our homes) empty for decades.
Dan knows that the plant has been out of compliance with NRC fire safety regulations for over 14 years and the significant risk that poses. He led a delegation of local elected officials to meet with Congressman Price to discuss the problem. This resulted in an independent fire safety study now underway by the Government Accountability Office.
Dan is the best sort of local official: one who works hard to realize progressive community values in Carrboro and yet clearly understands the big picture. I urge Carrboro voters to elect Alderman Dan Coleman to another term in office.

Pete MacDowell

There are dozens of ways I could make the case for voting for Alderman Dan Coleman. One of them is to review the list of supporters who attended his campaign kick-off.
I didn’t know everyone at the event, but here are a few of the notables among the thirty or so present: Carrboro’s Volunteer of the Year Jackie Helvey, El Centro director Ben Balderas, Nerys Levy of Friends of the Carrboro Library, Carrboro Business Association chair Greg DeWitt, Carrboro Planning Board chair James Carnahan, Carrboro Film Festival organizer Nic Beery, 2005 alderman candidates Catherine DeVine and David Marshall, community activist Ellen Perry, and Patrick McDonough of the Village Project.
I could not put it better than State Senator Ellie Kinnaird, who told those assembled “when you see the array of people here who are supporting Dan Coleman, you’ll know why he is the best candidate.”
All these fine citizens are supporting Alderman Dan Coleman. And so am I.

Zemo Trevathan

Please return Dan Coleman to the Carrboro Board of Aldermen on Nov. 6th.  Through my work on Carrboro advisory boards, I have gotten to know Dan Coleman well during his first Alderman term. Dan is always one of the most informed, prepared, and intelligent decision makers on the BoA. Dan is articulate, accessible, and gives generously of his time and talents.  Dan serves Carrboro well.  Keep Dan Coleman on the BoA.

Mary Rabinowitz

Fellow Carrboro voters: the time has come to make town finances a major part of your thinking about who should get your vote this November.  Simple facts: Carrboro has the highest municipal tax rate in the state, its present five-year budget plan requires a 50% increase in that tax rate to maintain bare bones services, and a group of elected officials (and BOA candidates) is hell-bent to quadruple the planned density in northern Carrboro.  If approved, town finances will deteriorate and the tax rate will rise even more because Carrboro-style development raises town costs more than revenues.  You can’t run your household like that, and Carrboro can’t either.

               I urge you to vote for the candidates who understand the financial ruin that is coming Carrboro’s way.  Sharon Cook, Katrina Ryan, Brian Voyce, and Joal Broun can collectively reverse the path to financial disaster that the Mayor and others on the BOA have been blazing.  The way forward begins with recognizing the problem: all of these candidates understand how serious the problem is.  They also understand that unless Carrboro’s Mayor and BOA apply common sense and foresight to the town’s budget problems, the Carrboro that you know and love won’t be that same town in five years. 

Please do not make the mistake of believing the town can tax its way out of this mess.   Take the problem seriously, as these four candidates are, and vote for them on November 6. 

Bob Connolly

Associate  Prof. of Finance

UNC-Chapel Hill

South Columbia Street and Weaver Dairy Road and are not issues in this year's election, and I thank several members of the current council for keeping these roads from becoming four-lane highways. Mayor Foy and Mayor Pro Tem Strom have provided consistent leadership throughout their tenures on the council. Council members Greene and Hill were elected after these transportation issues were resolved, but they have been steadfast supporters. Council member Ward became a strong supporter in 2002, and he is to be commended. Foy, Strom, Greene, Hill, and Ward are endorsed by the Sierra Club and deserve reelection.

Sincerely,Michele S. Ware   I enthusiastically support Dan Coleman for Carrboro alderman.

In twenty years as a community activist, Dan has demonstrated an
impressive ability to study the issues and press for change with a
view toward the long term. On the Board of Aldermen, he has earned a
reputation as a well-prepared, thoughtful alderman who comes to every
discussion with an open mind and a genuine interest in widespread
community participation.

Dan's own participation has been extensive, from serving on housing
and transportation advisory boards to organizing living wage and civil
liberties campaigns. Dan understands that economic development,
environmental protection, and social justice are interconnected, and
he supports thoughtful development that relies on the creativity of
Carrboro's residents. Dan knows that smart approaches to issues like
expanding the commercial tax base require us to take our time and get
things right.

Please join me in voting for Dan Coleman on November 6.

Damon Seils   As members of the business community and active participants in Chapel Hill
events, including the Annual Community Dinner, we know it is important to
have a Council member like Matt Czajkowski. The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber
of Commerce writes that "if elected, [he] will bring a coherent and
pragmatic understanding of local issues to the Council." Matt is further
described by the Chamber as the "strongest and most attractive candidate for
the Chapel Hill Town Council."

We urge concerned voters to help elect Matt Czajkowski, a longtime Chapel
Hill resident, chief financial officer of a local bio-tech firm and a
proponent of building a vibrant downtown. He will bring to the Council
long-needed financial experience, and address such issues as improving
quality of life, increasing green space, and encouraging bicycling as well.

Victor and Carol Minton
Chapel Hill, NC    During the 18 years that I have been privileged to serve as a Carrboro
Alderman I have shared the board table with many dedicated members of
our community.Of all of the Alderman I have worked with Dan Coleman
stands out as among the best.

As an Alderman I judge my colleagues with a different set of standards
then I do as a voting citizen.As a citizen my main concern is that
those I vote for to represent me share my values and my goals for our
town.The standards I use to judge my fellow alderman include:coming
prepared to board meetings,being actively involved with and attending
the meetings of assigned committees and work groups,treating staff and
fellow board members with respect,being mindful that in a democracy
public officials are servants not aristocrats and being true to their
word.During my time on the board I served with some fine people with
whom I had strong policy disagreements but respected and appreciated as
co-workers.

Dan Coleman has earned both my vote as a citizen with his intelligent
approach to economic,social and environmental issues and my respect as
a colleague who I can count on to approach his job with integrity and a
strong sense of responsibility.

I ask the citizens of Carrboro please to vote for Alderman Dan Coleman
so that I may continue to work with him to serve our town.

Thank you

Jacquelyn Gist

Carrboro Alderman
    I admit it. I was wrong. I was
not in favor of Dan Coleman being appointed Carrboro Alderman in 2006.
Honestly, it was a bit selfish because I so much enjoyed reading his
insightful columns on local politics in the Chapel Hill Herald. I felt
his forthright, illuminating articles were a service to the community
and I knew the Herald would not continue his column if he became
alderman. But Dan's positive contribution to Carrboro and the area
has increased in his new position. His encyclopedic knowledge of local
issues and his passion for effecting government that is rational, fair
and open-minded have combined to make Dan an ideal representative.
We're lucky to have him as a Carrboro Alderman.

Mayi Sanchez     I am writing to urge Carrboro voters to support the
reelection of Alderman Dan Coleman.

As an economic development consultant, I have had the privilege of working in hundreds of communities across America, including Carrboro last year, and I can honestly say that have not met an elected official who “gets it” more than Dan.  He’s smart, engaged, hard-working, and compassionate. 

He’s also feisty, in the right way.  I’ve been impressed with how Dan has resisted calls for quick fixes, like big box stores or industrial recruitments that could destroy Carrboro, and instead has pushed to protect the incredible beauty, history, and culture of your community through more modest expansions of locally owned businesses. 

Over the past year, I’ve seen Dan learn from – and become a teacher for – elected officials nationwide who are trying to increase their tax base through local entrepreneurship, local business alliances, and “Think Local First” buy-local campaigns. 

Most communities I work with dream of having a visionary leader like Coleman.  Carrboro is lucky – all you have to do is reelect him.

Sincerely, Michael H. Shuman

 I am writing to support Bill Strom's re-election to Town Council in

Chapel Hill.  I have known Bill for 15 years, and have always

found him to be thoughtful, honest, and committed.  He has brought these

qualities and more to his service on the Town Council, leading

with enthusiasm and intelligence.  He has worked tirelessly on

environmental issues, public transportation, and affordable housing.

Bill is a good listener, and he has the skills and experience to tackle

the challenges we face now, including Carolina North and the

climate crisis.  Although I don't live in Chapel Hill, I write to

support Bill's re-election because I know he will push for

solutions that will benefit all of us in this region.

Larry Bohs   Two years ago when I was a senior at UNC, Kevin Foy, Sally Greene, Cam
Hill, Bill Strom, and Jim Ward voted to appoint me to the Chapel Hill
Planning Board.  That body is the main advisor to the Town Council on
development issues, and it had been years since an undergraduate
student had been appointed.  This is just one of many examples of how
these Council members have gone beyond talking about listening to
students to taking substantive action to make sure students have a
place at the table.

Over the summer when the Board of Elections tried to move the early
voting site away from campus, all five of these incumbents spoke up for
keeping it downtown so that student voices would be heard.

When Student Body Presidents James Allred and Eve Carson have
approached the Council with issue of concern to students, all five of
these incumbents have been responsive and supportive.

With Kevin Foy, Sally Greene, Cam Hill, Bill Strom, and Jim Ward
serving on the Town Council students can know they have leaders who
value their place in the town and will pursue policies to their
benefit.  Please go to the Post Office this week during early voting
and give them your support.

Tom Jensen

Vice Chair, Chapel Hill Planning Board

UNC Class of 2006
    "As I look at the list of people and organizations endorsing Dan Coleman

for Carrboro Alderman (mostly from outside Carrboro), I think, where is the

shame?  How could they do it?  Where is their moral compass?  What

motivates them to support such a person? What kind of communities are

Carrboro and Chapel Hill?

Let’s be clear about the character of Dan Coleman.  Mr. Coleman hit a young

woman in Anderson Park with his car.  He hit her twice.  He hit her

deliberately.

He was much older than the woman.  He was seated in a weapon of greater

power.  He was seated in a position of greater authority (appointed

alderman).  When confronted by this woman, who was acting as a volunteer

crossing guard to protect schoolchildren at a Carrboro High School event,

Mr. Coleman became enraged.  He was enraged that this woman of no

consequence would dare to delay him.  After all, he’s important.  He’s a

town official.  Who is she?  She doesn’t even live in Carrboro.  If she

did, she would’ve let him go.  She’s smaller than he in his two ton weapon.

She’s vulnerable.  So he hit her with his car.  Not hard enough to hurt

her, but hard enough to remind her who’s boss.

Eyewitnesses were horrified at his actions.  Some started to call 911.  Did

Mr. Coleman stop and apologize?  No.  Realizing that rational, stable

people were horrified at his violence, he calls 911.  He lies to the 911

operator.  He spins a fanciful yarn about a woman jumping on his car.  This

story is so unbelievable, the 911 operator asks him to repeat it.  He does.

Carrboro police arrive.  His police, not her police, for she doesn’t live

in Carrboro.  He does.  He’s a Carrboro alderman.  The police separate

everyone and listen.  Mr. Coleman lies again.  He tells the police that she

jumped on his car.  He had time to cool down.  He had time to consider

telling the truth.  He didn’t.   Lying to the police in an official report

or statement may be a crime for you, but he knew that he’s a Carrboro

alderman.

Remember, Mr. Coleman called 911.  He asked for the police to take action

against this woman.  He said the woman jumped on his car.  He sought to

cause this young woman a world of hurt.  He used his imprimatur as alderman

to try to convince the police that he hadn’t hit her.  Rather she was a

lunatic jumping on his car.

Did Mr. Coleman’s prevarication end there?  No.  He issued a first media

statement in which he could’ve told the truth.  He didn’t.

Thankfully, honest citizens saw what happened.   What if they hadn’t?  What

if she, a young woman of no power, had been alone at the time?  How would

this story have played out if Mr. Coleman wasn’t caught in his pack of

lies?

Mr. Coleman has now issued another statement in which he says he hit the

woman, in which he says she didn’t jump on his car.  Mr. Coleman didn’t say

that he lied to the 911 operator, lied to the police, lied to his fellow

Carrburbans, and lied to all of those who endorse and support him.

In an Alice in Wonderland turn, his most high profile supporters commend

him for “coming clean”, as if he had a choice.  Where are the staunch

supporters against women being intimidated by men in positions of power?

Where are the staunch supporters against women facing violence from men?

As a boy growing into manhood, I was extremely fortunate to have as a

physician an amazing woman. Dr. H. Margret Zassenhaus was a kindly soul

with a strong German accent.  She was a good doctor, despite those nasty

needles.  She emigrated from Germany after the war.  She became more than

our doctor.  She became a family friend.  I learned of her story.  I

learned of how during the war she saved the lives of hundreds of political

prisoners through her quiet courage and resistance in Germany.  To see her

you would never know that she held the highest honors from many countries

in Europe, that she was a nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize.

I used to talk to Dr. Z.  How could what happened in Germany happen?  Her

answer boiled down to this, good people let bad things happen.  Good people

enabled bad behavior.  Bad behavior, fueled by evil, boiled over.  It can

happen anywhere.

When I look at Mr. Coleman’s endorsements I think back to Dr. Zassenhaus.

Mr. Coleman no longer matters.  He is what he is.  It’s that list of

endorsees that stand out.  Enablers all, they erode the moral fiber of this

community.

Where is the shame?

Sincerely,

Brian D. Voyce"

 We are writing as parents of Carrboro High School Cross Country team
members. We wish to share our perspective on the incident in which Dan
Coleman ran his car into a volunteer who was stationed at a cross walk
to protect our children in our first home meet at Anderson Park in
Carrboro. For those of us who witnessed the attack by Dan Coleman, it
was a frightening encounter and we feared for the volunteer and runners.

For the rest of us, who heard stories from our children about the
incident, it was alarming. Politics aside, we feel the press has for the
most part understated the seriousness of Dan Coleman's behavior. Worse
yet, his lack of admission or remorse was disturbing to us parents and
citizens. His confession and apology came late, only after mediation,
and just before the election and the date he would have faced assault
charges.

Sue Coppola
Mary Hamilton
Peggy Bush
Coach Jay Crooker
Representing 30 other parents of the Carrboro High School Cross Country
Team

TO THE EDITOR:

Community Solutions Supporters

Carrboro is home to a few grassroots people-driven projects such as the Really Really free market, The Carrboro Greenspace, The Recyclery and the CCGC community garden at MLK park.  These projects demonstrate and serve as examples of community solutions to major issues. Fortunately, these community solution projects have found support, when needed, within our local government.

Of the incumbent candidates, I would like to specially recognize Alderman Dan Coleman for specifically: 1) his creativity when resolving the food liability issues with the Really Really Free Market, 2) his continued support of the Carrboro Greenspace (you can sign the petition @ carrborogreenspace.org), 3) his proactive engagement with grassroots community gardeners to develop an amazing community garden on the site of the future Martin Luther King Jr. park, 4) his firm support of saving the well at MLK park from destruction; a decision that has been made apparent to be obviously wise and forward thinking by the drought, and finally, 5) responding to a personal request from the owners of Carr Mill Mall to negotiate a resolution to community issues involving use of the Carr Mill lawn.

I would also like to thank Mayor Marc Chilton for his encouraging support of the Carrboro Greenspace, and also for his support of all of the above mentioned issues.

Please join me, and early vote for Alderman Dan Coleman and Mayor Marc Chilton.

Sammy Slade

TO THE EDITOR:

Living 47 years in Chapel Hill, I have known many Council members.  However, I have never taken pen in hand to encourage my many friends to support any candidate.  I do so now to commend Matt Czajkowski for your favorable consideration.  Chapel Hill is no longer the village of 1955 when I arrived here, and we are fortunate in 2007 to have a candidate with Matt’s qualifications willing to serve us.  I have always felt we need outstanding business people in public service.  Having high morals and ethics compiled with his superior business skills, Matt is an ideal candidate for Chapel Hill Town Council.  Thank you, Matt, for your willingness to serve all of us.

Joe Laton, D.D.S.

TO THE EDITOR:

I support Sharon Cook for Carrboro Board of Alderman. When UNC went to the
Planning Board for approval of Carolina Commons, the Board voted to require
a road through the Bolin Creek stream buffer. Sharon was the sole voice of
opposition. Sharon also led the battle to prevent street lights from being
installed in her neighborhood after annexation. She has also been a leader
in the fight against placing the waste transfer station on the backs of the
Rogers Road community, and been a strong advocate for creating a safe,
walkable/bikeable community.

She’s smart, dedicated, and caring. I encourage you to vote Sharon Cook for
Board of Aldermen.

Terri Buckner

TO THE EDITOR:

I am writing to support Bill Strom’s re-election to Town Council in
Chapel Hill.  I have known Bill for 15 years, and have always
found him to be thoughtful, honest, and committed.  He has brought these
qualities and more to his service on the Town Council, leading
with enthusiasm and intelligence.  He has worked tirelessly on
environmental issues, public transportation, and affordable housing.
Bill is a good listener, and he has the skills and experience to tackle
the challenges we face now, including Carolina North and the
climate crisis.  Although I don’t live in Chapel Hill, I write to
support Bill’s re-election because I know he will push for
solutions that will benefit all of us in this region.

Larry Bohs

TO THE EDITOR:

Last July, town councilman Cam Hill faced a conflict. His son’s Chapel Hill Parks & Rec football team didn’t have a coach for this fall; at the same time, local political advisers were telling him that he had to focus on his re-election campaign fulltime. Cam had played youth football in Chapel Hill as a kid but the town hadn’t fielded a football team for 11- and 12-year-olds in about 25 years. He wanted his son and other kids to have the opportunity to play. So he opted for a clipboard and whistle and his Titans’ first season has been pretty successful – certainly for the team’s 17 families. And he’s also running to keep his seat on the town council. Insofar as a politician’s task is to enhance his or her community, it’s great to see Cam keeping his priorities straight.

Merle Thorpe

I enjoyed Thursday’s article “Hispanics’ economic impact increases.” The piece is well-written and provides important information on a pressing issue.

That said, I found the presentation of this information to be unclear and confusing. In regards to the study and the various experts the article cites, the authors do not lay out a definition of who, exactly, is a Hispanic immigrant. A Cuban-American who moved to NC from Miami? My Mexican-American friend from LA? Not all Hispanic people are foreign born. It seems odd that they would fall into this category and, following this logic, we might propose a study on the economic impact of northeasterners studying at the University of South Jersey at Durham. They would also qualify as immigrants.

That said, the bar graphs are inflammatory. The one on page four merely provides an employment comparison between Non-Hispanics and Hispanics for jobs in which the latter are stereotypically employed. Educators? Small business owners? Where are they? The one on the front page, however, is disturbing. Next to quote that says the state receives 9 dollars back for every one spent on public services, the graph proclaims it shows the “Hispanic cost to North Carolina.” It even counts this cost, $61 million, next to the bar segment labeled “corrections.” Theses decisions to graphically represent Hispanics as wage laborers and a drag on the economy contrast sharply with the study’s findings that they contribute $9.2 billion to the state economy. They also muddy a fine, important article.

Paul Worley

Graduate Student

Comparative Literature

TO THE EDITOR:

To the girl who wrote that men should respect women on Halloween (11/1):

Females tend to use Halloween as an excuse, in the words of Jim Gaffigan, “to dress like complete prostitutes.”  In order for women to be respected by men, they must first exhibit some self-respect. Dressing up like Britney Spears in her Catholic schoolgirl uniform just screams to everyone, regardless of gender, “I’m going to be slutty like Britney tonight, in a crowd of 40,000 drunk horny males, yay!”

I understand that no matter how a woman is dressed, it doesn’t give men the right to grope as they please.  But surely, you must realize that dressing like a slut gives others the impression that you are a slut, and that you wouldn’t care that you were being groped as much as women who wore tasteful costumes that covered up their own asses for Halloween.  According to the great philosopher Dave Chappelle, “you may not be a whore, but you sure are wearing one’s uniform!”

Maybe the freshmen will learn their lesson from their first year on Franklin and choose costumes that don’t scream “look at me in my skimpy skanky ‘costume’!”  If you decide to go with the slutty outfit anyways next year, then your right to complain about being groped should be revoked.  It’s not like you can claim you didn’t know what you were getting yourself into again.
Roshni Bam
Sophomore
Economics and Political Science

TO THE EDITOR:

Student Academic Advising Board Seeks Junior-Senior Input Dear students, The Student Academic Advising Board is seeking ways to improve the advising experience specifically for juniors and seniors. We need to hear about your expectations of and experience with advising so that the program can be improved to best address your needs. SAAB will be in the Pit Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to have conversations about advising with juniors and seniors. We need to hear about how advising has worked for you and what can be done to improve the process. Please stop by! SAAB has also created an advising reform blog on the Student Government website which enables students to provide and discuss their experiences and expectations. The blog can be accessed at www.unc.edu/studgov/advising. We will deliver junior-senior thoughts directly to the Academic Advising Implementation Committee which is charged with restructuring advising to better serve upperclassmen. Without your input, the committee will not have an adequate insight as to what needs to be maintained or improved in a new framework for Academic Advising. Thank you, upperclassmen. This is your chance to be heard on the committee!

Todd Dalrymple

Student Academic Advising Board chair

TO THE EDITOR:

I write in response to the 10/31 op-ed regarding clothing choices on
Halloween, Alyson Culin’s thoughtful response to this piece, and the
hostile comments that have been directed on-line to Ms. Culin in reaction
to her letter.

Groping ? which is by definition unwanted sexual contact ? is one
manifestation of sexual assault.  There is no excuse for it, regardless of
what anyone is wearing or doing, and it is a criminal offense.

As Ms. Culin pointed out, the responsibility for eliminating groping rests
on the men who are doing the groping (the perpetrators), not on women who
are entitled to dress as they please.  The fact that society has encouraged
and favorably views sexualized costumes for women on Halloween should not
result in women being accused of “dressing like a whore,” as one of your
respondent argues, or of using Halloween “as an excuse” to dress in
“revealing clothing,” as your op-ed suggests.

Those who see groping as harmless play, or as something women “deserve”
because of their choice of clothing or costumes, ignore men’s
responsibility to work to end violence against women as well as the
expectation that men obey the law.

The hostile anonymous responses to Ms. Culin’s letter indicate that the
campus community as a whole does not understand what constitutes sexual
assault under the law, or how societal pressures and conditioning of this
sort create an atmosphere often known as the “rape culture.”

The Carolina Women’s Center and its staff are available to talk with anyone
in the campus community who has questions or concerns about these issues.
Please feel free to call us at 962-8305.

Donna M. Bickford, Ph.D.
Director, Carolina Women’s Center.

I appreciate James Dillard’s column “Why I’m a racist and you might be one too,” but I felt that he only addressed a small part of the problem.  While he suggests that it’s important to acknowledge when we are stereotyping (and it is), I think the far more powerful forces of institutional racism (and how white people benefit from it) also need to be addressed.  Dillard briefly mentioned “white privilege,” and the study on how people’s names affect if they get a call-back for an interview, however, there are numerous other ways that institutional racism continues to pervade our society.  For example, Martin Eakes, the CEO of Self-Help, recently spoke at our campus about how it is dramatically more expensive for people of color to obtain home loans. (Studies support his point, even when controlling for the borrower’s income.)   At the end of the day, if somebody is being harmed, somebody is also usually benefiting.  Most of the time, it is white America that is benefiting from institutional racism which harms people of color.  I strongly encourage people who are interested in this subject to read Peggy McIntosh’s list of 50 white privileges to see how both stereotyping and institutionalized racism confers benefits on one group while denying benefits to others.  And to the extent that white Americans continue to benefit from institutional racism, we are all guilty of racism.

Sean Coffey

Master of Public Administration, Class of 2008

School of Government

TO THE EDITOR:

I know that the DTH has proudly self-proclaimed itself the “Nation’s Best College Newspaper” numerous times, but honestly, can you get the information correct before you report it?  I know that everyone makes mistakes, myself as no exception, but before you misinform the University community about current events, especially issues as integral to our community as local governing officials or elected representatives, PLEASE take the time to get the facts straight; data verification is something that every other media outlet tries to accomplish before “breaking the news”.  Instead of “cleverly” hiding the corrections in the corners of the paper, or just below an advertisement for Yogurt Pump, the DTH should just make a log of all their “corrections” and publish them in the “Diversions” section of Thursday’s paper, after all they are pretty good diversions from the truth…

Ben Grafchik
EXSS

TO THE EDITOR:

I found it frustrating that in this past Tuesday’s “La Colina” section of the the paper, the editors had chosen Carlos Slim as “personaje ejemplar del mes.” After praising Slim for being the world’s second richest businessmen, the article went on to state that Slim currently owns 90% of Mexico’s land line telephone infrastructure through his company Telmex and that this one man controls over 7% of the country’s economic production, as if these were positive examples of his personality.         I am disturbed that La Colina would support this type of monopolistic behavior on the part of an individual. Granted, Slim is a shrewd businessman with very diversified assets, but due to the Telmex monopoly on  the communications industry, Mexicans pay some of the highest phone bills in the world, according to a study done by the OECD. According to one critic, these high rates are directly making the Mexican economy more inefficient by discouraging communication through higher prices, hardly exemplary behavior. On the other hand, the article did mention Slim’s recent philanthropy, but maybe if Slim’s products were not overpriced in the first place, there would be less of a need for his personal re-distribution down the line.

Ian Smith-Overman, Junior – Latin American Studies

TO THE EDITOR:

For Halloween my freshman year I went along with the majority of UNC women and picked a sexy costume – Britney Spears a la her Catholic school girl routine. I completed my outfit with plenty of atrocious makeup and set out for my first Franklin Street Halloween with a large group of friends. Despite having practiced “safety in numbers,” I still had my ass grabbed no less than three times – twice under my skirt.

Wednesday’s editorial “You better watch out” advised females to dress as, “an Eskimo,
polar bear or Peter Griffin from Family Guy to avoid getting haggled.” That is outright
ridiculous. While I recognize revealing clothing might send an unintended message, it
still doesn’t say, “please touch me.” It doesn’t even say, “please talk to me.”

Maybe rather than encouraging women to dress more appropriately on a night noted for its wild lack of propriety, you should be encouraging men to restrain themselves and realize that it is not their right to “haggle” a woman, regardless of the way she is dressed. I usually question a costume idea for its coolness and originality. It’s sad that I’m now
expected to question whether my idea will risk creeps trying to assault me.

Alyson Culin

Senior

History and Political Science

TO THE EDITOR:

We are writing in response to Mr. McCotter’s letter on October 29, 2007. While illegal file sharing is not explicitly forbidden by the Instrument of Student Judicial Governance (colloquially known as the Honor Code) it is a violation of ITS’ Acceptable Use Policy (see https://help.unc.edu/1672). When the Office of the Student Attorney General receives a report of a suspected violation from ITS, it is always the second time the student has violated the Acceptable Use Policy. For the first incident, the student’s internet access is shut off until a meeting with ITS is scheduled and the student signs an agreement. The agreement acknowledges that they are in violation of the Acceptable Use Policy and further violations will result in a report to the Honor System. If we receive such a report, the student is charged with II.C.2.b Violating University policies regarding use or management of resources including but not limited to computers, electronic resources, library resources, equipment, or supplies.

            If you receive a letter from ITS, please contact Carolina Student Legal Services Inc. (http://www.unc.edu/student/orgs/sls/) to discuss your options regarding separate civil litigation issues before you meet with ITS since this is a separate matter from the Honor System.  Our interests are in upholding honor and integrity on campus.  We are vindicating the interests of the University community, not those of the RIAA.  We encourage you to abide by the Acceptable Use Policy so this issue does not rise to the level of a violation. Please take advantage of Ruckus as an alternative to illegal file sharing.

Benjamin Peterson

Student Attorney General

Andrew Pham

Deputy Student Attorney General

TO THE EDITOR:

I’ve had enough with the spam that has been jammed into my UNC email account. I always report each email as spam, yet I still get repeated messages about how to have a great sex life or how to get the biggest penis ever. These amount of spam has increased since I began school and I really want to know if UNC is even doing something to help the students’ inboxes. I’ve opened some hoping that there would be an “unsubscribe” button, but most of them don’t. So, please, somebody: either tell me what to do to get rid of this crap permanently or tell UNC to be more active in fixing this problem. My inbox contains important emails that get lost in the sea of spam. I’d rather it stop soon.

-Sarah
Junior, Spanish & Chem Majors

TO THE EDITOR:

The continued focus on the location John Edwards campaign headquarters is baffling.  The report by Carla Babb is about as fair and balanced as a report from Fox News, one of the first “news” outlets to pick it up (I wonder why).  The story puts the Edwards staffer on the defensive from the very beginning by emphasizing Southern Village’s affluence.  The continued insistence of the DTH’s Dillard that John Edwards should have put his campaign in poor area has become comical.  We get it dude, you want Edwards staffers to work in the ghetto (and why don’t you quote Jay-Z again while you’re at it).

Instead of focusing on why John Edwards put his campaign headquarters in Chapel Hill (maybe because he lives and works here), why don’t we talk about why Barack Obama is charging students $15 and guests $25 to hear him speak in Durham, a poor area, on November 1.

Eugene Rossitch III

Junior

Political Science

TO THE EDITOR:

Dear Editor,

I was suprised to read “Who’s to say what’s ‘classic’: the radio, or the listeners” in today’s DTH (page6).  Williams’ presents the argument that the term “classic” was simply a label slapped on rock of the 60′s and 70′s by radio.  He also suggest that given enough time bands like the Smashing Pumpkins could become under the umbrella of classic rock.   His argument is inaccurate. For instance, Williams’ writes, “By pigeonholing things, the radio has listeners stuck on the same old things they’ve been listening to for years without offering any incentive to seek out new things.”  People still listen to it because 40+ years later it is still good music. Radio stations aren’t forcing us to listen to it.  If we don’t want to listen to “classic rock” then we’ll turn the dial.  Classic rock is called “classic” because it is timeless.  It is the beginning of rock music and no sound of its era will ever be produced again.  College students will no doubt be listening to the tunes of The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and The Rolling Stones for years to come. Just as students will continue to read classics like The adventures of Huck Finn, Catcher in the Rye, 1984, and so on.  I don’t see anyone challenging the “classicness” of novels. We still read those novels because even after all these years they are still good and remain unmatched. It’s the same with rock of the 60s and 70s.  The radio didn’t say classic.  Listeners made it classic by appealing to it for so many years.

Casey (I’ll fill in the rest of the info soon – the info was sent separate from the letter content and has since been deleted.)