Wilson’s column well-timed
Marlena’s Wednesday column could not have come at a better time! I have had dyslexia for more than half my life and I do have many of the same problems you mentioned. I’ve found dealing with dyslexia is emotionally difficult because I don’t want to be treated differently, but I found out after the fact that I can’t read and understand the same things my peers do. Being treated differently, and knowing I’m being treated differently, has helped me learn to deal with the consequences of my lessened ability.
Very recently, just a few days ago, I started a blog on the lessons I’ve learned in college “outside the textbook”(http://rickerwrites.blogspot.com/) and my first post was on a recent case of dealing with the struggles of my learning disability — dyslexia.
For now, I am choosing not to get help. I was helped for nine years in high school and I wanted college to be different. I wanted to combat this on my own.
Melissa Rickersenior, biological sciences
Support of Special Olympics commendableN.C. State did a fantastic job Saturday when it hosted the fifth annual Polar Plunge and second annual Torch Run 5K run/walk as part of the N.C. Law Enforcement Torch Run benefitting Special Olympics North Carolina. Both events were highly successful with 84 people plunging in the frigid waters of Lake Raleigh and 761 registered runners and walkers participating in the 5K on Centennial Campus.
In all, more than $53,000 was raised for Special Olympics’ mission of providing sports training and competition to children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Our most sincere appreciation is extended to the leaders of the event — Steven Carlton of Campus Police and Amy Orders of N.C. State Environmental Health & Safety for leading the organizing committee. Committee members included Cindy Johnson and Kristen Will of Campus Police, Todd Becker with N.C. State Environmental Health & Safety and Mark Carpenter and David Setser of University Facilities. Their commitment and leadership made the event the most successful ever! Keith L. FishburnePresident/CEO Special Olympics North CarolinaReapportionment article misinformed students
Thursday’s news article “Senate considers reapportioning seats” was riddled with factual errors that should have been caught with only a few minutes of research or the use of a little common sense.
For example, the article claims without citation that “a single senator from a smaller college would be representing more than 1,000 students.” Yet a quick check of enrollment data on the University Planning & Analysis Web site shows that no Senate seat represents that many students — and if a Senator was truly representing that many constituents, it would be the result of vacancies that have gone unfilled rather than an issue in apportionment.
The article also claims, again without citation, that the new apportionment proposal is “designed so each senator represents a relatively identical population of the student body.” Yet, again after checking the UPA data online, the reporter would notice that thecurrent apportionment structure actually accomplishes that objective better than the proposal it reports on.
Why is that the case? Because both the Student Body Constitution and current apportionment rules require it. The constitution specifies that Senate seats “shall be apportioned among the schools, colleges and recognized programs according to percentage of enrollment” while the supplementing rules require that “each Senator represents, as nearly as possible, an equal number of students.”
Regardless of one’s position on the merits of politicizing the apportionment process for Student Government, the students’ newspaper should ensure its coverage of the proposal is accurate so students can convey their well-informed opinions accordingly.
T. Greg Doucettealumnus, class of 2009president, UNC Association of Student GovernmentsStudent Senate president emeritus2007-2008 & 2008-2009
