August 25, 2004

Carolina in the News

Here is a sampling of links and notes about Carolina
people and programs cited recently in the media:

International Coverage

Indonesia's search for simplicity
Asia Times (Hong Kong)
Indonesia is a country renowned for its far-flung geography and cultural complexities....Research by Paige Johnson Tan, an Indonesian specialist at the University of North Carolina, for instance, has shown that there is a "general aversion" to the present party system among Indonesians.

Regional Coverage

Trouble doubles up in obesity, diabetes
The Republican (Springfield, MA)
Sharon Owsiak didn't always believe in the connection between obesity and diabetes....Dianne S. Ward, professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina and director of the national Get Kids in Action Partnership, advises people to prepare their own food.

State & Local Coverage

Poverty isn't just a statistic (Commentary)
The News & Observer
Political insiders say Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge -- the guy who issues those colorful terrorist alerts no one understands -- is considering stepping down after the November election....UNC-Chapel Hill has welcomed its first group of freshmen taking advantage of the Carolina Covenant.
Related link: http://www.newsobserver.com/print/monday/front/story/1555935p-7744887c.html

Graduates' debt (Letter to the Editor)
The News & Observer
The Aug. 22 Business section article "More grads carry debt burden" made some valid points about students who borrow too much for their college education....And as a subsequent article ("Debt-free education," Aug. 23) observed, programs such as the Carolina Covenant at UNC-Chapel Hill convey the promise to those in need that higher education is within reach.
Related link: http://www.newsobserver.com/print/sunday/work_money/story/1552902p-7741121c.html

Christian fraternity to sue UNC over free speech
The Chapel Hill Herald
Christian fraternity that had its official recognition revoked is planning to sue UNC, alleging that the university has violated the constitutional rights of the group's members.

Faith on campus (Letter to the Editor)
The News & Observer
The writer of the Aug. 24 People's Forum letter "Equal access at UNC" made the irresponsible point that UNC-Chapel Hill is forcing an atheist ideology on its student population. How then are state-funded, exclusionary religious groups in line with his theist beliefs? They certainly aren't with mine.

Think tank peddles nonsense on constitution (Editorial)
The Chapel Hill Herald
They're at it again -- the folks at the John Locke Foundation, that is, who are still trying to explain away the section of the state constitution that requires low tuition at UNC.

Stone Center opening draws jubilant crowd
The Chapel Hill News
Early Tuesday morning, the pristine gold and green hallways of the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History showed no signs of the flood of visitors it held on Saturday. Students walked briskly by the building, book bags slung over their shoulders on the way to class.

Stone Center offers learning alternatives (Letter to the Editor)
The Chapel Hill News
The Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History commands a bookmark in the history of the University of North Carolina and in the South.

Different dorms, different living
The Chapel Hill News
Though only 12 feet separate the two UNC-Chapel Hill dorms named Morrison, they're more like an odd couple than sibling look-a-likes.

Quiet time for reading program (Commentary)
The Chapel Hill News
I missed the fun that came with the controversy. This year's UNC-Chapel Hill Summer Reading Program escaped the public attention that came during the last two years.

The youngEST student
The Chapel Hill News
Like thousands of freshmen at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Belinda Johnson started class Tuesday. Unlike most of the other students, however, Johnson is only 16. In fact, she is the youngest freshman enrolled as a full-time student this fall.

Produced by News Services, Carolina in the News is an e-mail sampling of current news media coverage about Carolina people and programs, as well as issues and trends that affect the university. Stories usually will be online and available free for a limited time - often one to two weeks. Expiration dates before stories move to archives vary by media outlet. Some outlets require free user registration or a subscription.

Carolina in the News is also posted daily to the News Services Web page, http://www.unc.edu/newsserv/clipsindex.htm.

Please share any questions, comments or suggestions at news@unc.edu.