Will UNC choose donors over students with the Dean Dome? | Opinion
Where does UNC stand on the Smith Center’s future? Wherever the money leads, inevitably. Preserving an on-campus experience would be nice, but the students no longer matter, I gather. Only the donor class matters, as in everything anymore.
The “college experience” itself has been rendered quaint with good reason. But if the donor set can waste millions on football coach Bill Belichick, they can find a way to stay on campus.
Steve Craig, Charlotte
McFadden allegations
If the allegations against Sheriff McFadden are true, he should do the right thing and resign. All law enforcement officers should be like Caesar’s wife — be above reproach.
Among the allegations in the petition to remove him from office was that he had deputies drive officials visiting for the National Sheriffs Association conference to bars and strip clubs using official vehicles. I am not a prude, but law enforcement officers visiting strip clubs open themselves to a loss of confidence in their home districts.
Two of the other allegations are threatening Representative Carla Cunningham and retaliating against employees and whistle-blowers.
If any of the allegations are true, they are reprehensible and grounds for removal.
Augie E. Beasley, Charlotte
Trump helping Venezuela
Following WW2, Germany was devastated. Economy flat, people starving. The US basically ran the country for several years. When Germany was ready, the US left. Today Germany is a strong, free, constructive member of Europe.
President Trump is trying to do the same thing for Venezuela. He needs to speak up about how he is trying to help Venezuela follow the example of post WW2 Germany. That would make a whole lot better explanation.
John Baber, Lake Wylie, SC
Venezuela and clean energy
For decades, oil and military intervention have gone hand-in-hand, from the Middle East to Latin America. When “black gold” is involved, sovereignty somehow becomes optional.
If Venezuela’s main export were sunshine instead of crude, would warplanes be warming up? No one launches an invasion for wind or stages a coup over solar panels.
China, hardly known for naïveté, is racing ahead with solar power because it understands two simple truths: energy independence reduces conflict and clean energy is the cheapest per kWh. Solar energy doesn’t require regime change; it just requires sunlight and engineering.
If oil were truly devalued by aggressive competition from renewables — sun, wind, ingenuity — many coups and conflicts would seem as pointless as arguing over who gets the first slice of sunshine. And that may be the strongest argument for clean energy of all.
Mark Taylor, Charlotte
Trump game plan
The game plan is clear now. Trump attacked Venezuela to depose Maduro so he could get his hands on its oil. He now says we’re getting 30-50 million barrels of oil for free!
Since he doesn’t have much else to do, he plans to personally manage this revenue while he also runs the former Kennedy Center and oversees ballroom construction. Is this what we want the American Presidency to look like?
Jim Witek, Charlotte
USPS postmark changes
I was shocked that the USPS quietly changed when mail is considered postmarked. Now that mail will be considered postmarked only after it’s been processed, if you put your absentee ballot in your mailbox on Election Day or a few days before, it may not be counted because the postmark will be days later when it’s been processed.
Trump-appointed Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy, has turned USPS upside down. Though he has recently retired, USPS is a fraction of what it used to be. It’s been a loss for everyone except Trump.
Elizabeth Will, Shelby