July 25, 2002

Carolina in the News

Current National Coverage

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

Weathering the heat
Boston Globe
There will be a tent pitched in the end zone of the practice field at Bryant College, 
home of the Patriots' training camp. It is a heat tent, in which players suffering from 
heat-related maladies will be treated with liquids, ice, an IV, or whatever is necessary 
to properly rehydrate... In a study released yesterday by the University of North 
Carolina, eight football players died nationwide last year because of injuries, while 
another three died from heat stroke. Twelve more deaths were due to natural causes
aggravated by exercise, such as a heart attack.
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/206/sports/Weathering_the_heat+.shtml

(Note: This coverage resulted from a UNC news release 
http://www.unc.edu/news/archives/jul02/muell072302.htm. Other related coverage 
known to date includes the national Associated Press, ESPN, National Public Radio's 
"Morning Edition," the Boston Globe, Grand Forks Herald (North Dakota), 
Winston-Salem Journal, the News and Observer, Greensboro News and Record, 
Asheville Citizen-Times, Fayetteville Observer and The Chapel Hill Herald.)

Sheep Creek Lodge caters to tourists, residents 
Alaska Journal of Commerce
At Sheep Creek Lodge, a University of North Carolina instructor has taken on a new 
project. John Kartesz, who has a doctorate in botany and has compiled databases of 
North American plant life, bought the lodge three years ago and is planning ways to 
expand the business.
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/070702/foc_sheep_creek.shtml

Sura Reading 
The Weekly Standard
Its been said that it is important to know one's enemies. By requiring freshmen to read 
parts of the Koran this year, the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, may be trying
to do just that. But though this year's selection for the summer reading program may be 
well intended, some students and others with interests in UNC are trying to stop the 
program from going forward. 
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/001/496wsuyf.asp

(Note: The summer reading program also was the subject of a segment on CNN's 
"Talk Back Live" program airing Wednesday afternoon.)

Regional Coverage

Viewpoint: UNC should keep 'required' text (Editorial)
The Daily Texan (Texas -- student newspaper)
The Family Policy Network has announced plans to sue the University of North Carolina 
at Chapel Hill for requiring incoming students to read Approaching the Qur'an: The Early 
Revelations, a book consisting of 35 passages from the Islamic holy book and an 
introduction and translation by Michael Sells.
http://www.dailytexanonline.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2002/07/24/3d3e59bd6c52f

Required reading on Islam sparks lawsuit against UNC
The Daily Texan (Texas -- student newspaper)
A lawsuit filed Monday against the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill claims 
students in this year's entering freshman class are being unconstitutionally forced to study 
Islam. Questions have been raised over the UNC requirement that students read a book 
about the Quran, the Muslim holy book, as part of the UNC Summer Reading Program.
http://www.dailytexanonline.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2002/07/24/3d3e599e4906e

North Carolina News Notes

Bland Simpson, assistant professor of English and director of the Creative Writing 
Program, will be featured on UNC-TV's "North Carolina People with William Friday" 
tomorrow evening at 9:00 PM. The program will re-air on Sunday at 5:30 PM.

State and Local Coverage

ACLU gives Quran reading mixed review
The North Carolina chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union has weighed in on the 
debate swirling around UNC’s summer reading program, urging the university to proceed 
with caution, but stopping short of endorsing a lawsuit recently filed over the issue. A letter 
sent to UNC on Wednesday represents the ACLU of North Carolina’s first formal foray 
into the debate, sparked in recent weeks by allegations by a Virginia-based Christian values
group that UNC’s summer reading program is unconstitutional because it requires 
incoming students to read a book about The Quran. 
http://www.herald-sun.com/orange/10-250658.html

QURAN CONTROVERSY: Debate on book takes wrong tack (Editorial)
The campaign against UNC's summer reading selection, "Approaching the Qur'an," went 
from the silly to the absurd late last week with the latest salvo by the Virginia-based Family 
Policy Network. Taking a page from its secular adversaries, the Christian-values group 
made headlines earlier this summer by arguing that the selection violates church-state 
separation. 
http://www.herald-sun.com/archives/URNDetail.cfm?URN=0389538903
(Note: The Chapel Hill Herald requires free registration to access archives.)

Quran assignment: It's what college should do (Letter to the Editor)
Charlotte Observer
In response to "UNC changes assignment on Islamic text" (July 22):As an upcoming 
freshman at UNC Chapel Hill, I purchased "Approaching the Qur'n: The Early Revelations" 
for the summer reading assignment. While I am not thrilled at the selection, I cannot identify 
with those who feel their rights and beliefs are being compromised.
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/3730156.htm

A sound assignment (Letter to the Editor)
Regarding the July 23 article "Group sues UNC over assignment," I think it is clear that 
the entire lawsuit is simply absurd. The assignment's intention [that freshmen read and discuss 
"Approaching the Qur'an: The Early Revelations"] is clearly only to promote understanding 
and thus tolerance of Islam, which is increasingly important today in our society that tends 
to have an irrational fear of Muslims after the Sept. 11 attacks...
http://www.newsobserver.com/editorials/story/1581466p-1609729c.html

Reading religion (Letter to the Editor)
Why is there such an uproar over UNC-Chapel Hill's inclusion of excerpts from the 
Quran in its summer reading for freshmen? I believe it would be a very informative and topical 
study. No one is asking the new students to believe in what they read, only to comprehend 
and discuss it...
http://www.newsobserver.com/editorials/story/1581467p-1609736c.html

Issues and Trends Affecting Carolina

Town Council will likely raise taxes 
With the N.C. General Assembly mired in a budget stalemate, Chapel Hill’s Town Council 
is likely to raise property taxes by almost 10 percent Friday to counter potential losses of 
state revenue sharing. The prospective increase is the larger of the two officials had in mind 
when they approved an interim spending plan late last month, and would push the town’s
tax rate to 55.3 cents per $100 of assessed value. 
http://www.herald-sun.com/orange/10-250661.html

STATE LOTTERY: Easley concocts a cover story (Editorial)
Whether you favor or oppose a state lottery, you have to give Gov. Mike Easley points for 
persistence — along with raw political honesty. Easley made the establishment of a state 
lottery an important part of his gubernatorial campaign. A lottery referendum bill currently 
sits stalled in the House for lack of votes. 
http://www.herald-sun.com/opinion/hsedits/56-250515.html

ASU bans freshmen Greek pledging in fall
Winston-Salem Journal
When the fraternity and sorority parties start at Appalachian State University this fall, freshmen 
won't be invited. ASU is one of a growing number of universities that require freshmen to wait 
at least a semester before joining Greek organizations, in hopes that they will adjust to college
life and develop better study habits... Campus policies vary. Wake Forest University has long 
prohibited fall rush for freshmen, but first-year students at other campuses, including the 
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and N.C. State University are encouraged to 
pledge early.
http://www.journalnow.com/wsj/news/education/MGBN2VNO04D.html

Note: If you have any questions about Carolina in the News, 
please call Cathleen Keyser or Mike McFarland at News Services, 
(919) 962-2091 or news@unc.edu or mike_mcfarland@unc.edu