As a freshman, David Shannon had a life full of promise and many opportunities that he had yet to experience. His life came to an abrupt halt from an accidental fall where alcohol consumption was involved. With his recent death, we are reminded of the continuing issue of excessive alcohol consumption that occurs among students at UNC.

Binge drinking is not just a campus issue; it is also a community issue. According to the CDC, overconsumption of alcohol costs the U.S. $224 billion in hospital visits, loss of productivity, and crime, which averages out to $1.90 per drink. While there have been improvements in safety measures, events like Homegrown Halloween encourage binge drinking before the students walk over to Franklin Street. We declare the event was a success when the number of individuals taken to the hospital due to alcohol intoxication has decreased. While this is an important marker to show progress, binge drinking still occurs.

More must be done to create a community environment where binge drinking is not acceptable. Although some programs have been implemented, campus initiatives will not be enough to reduce binge drinking at UNC. We need to change the town environment and implement policies that discourage binge-drinking behaviors in bars. Collaboration between community members of Chapel Hill and the university must work hard to address these major, complex concerns of excessive alcohol consumption now. The problem cannot be ignored any longer.

Jessica Boten

Carrboro

Don’t blame Palestinians

As a high school student I saw the terrible effects of the Kristallnacht in Berlin (CHN, Nov. 21, bit.ly/TgKKM8).

Luckily I escaped Germany just before Pearl Harbour. But that does not mean that I support the continued Israeli destruction of Palestinian homes and the taking away of their land. The Palestinians had nothing to do with the Nazi atrocities.

Christoph E. Schweitzer

Chapel Hill

U.S. has leverage

Gaza is in the news, but seldom will you hear in the mainstream media that our government gives $3.1 billion military aid to Israel, in violation of our laws that forbid use of that aid against civilian populations. $3.1 billion gives our government, our president, leverage to intervene not only to help assure permanent ceasefire brokered by Egypt, but to condemn Israel’s savage and disproportionate bombing of Gaza. Already the bombing has caused hundreds of civilian death and injuries in Gaza and the toll rises. 3 Israelis are reported dead from Hamas rockets.

Our government has leverage to end Israel’s brutal siege of Gaza’s 1.7 million people – a siege that Israel has imposed since Hamas was democratically elected in 2006. Eighty percent of Gazans need food aid, 45 percent are unemployed, economic development has been disrupted by the Israeli blockade. Further fueling the crisis was Israel’s recent assassination of Hamas military leader, Ahmed Jabari. Known to Israeli intelligence, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reports that Jabari was poised to negotiate a permanent cease fire brokered by Egypt and was instrumental in securing the release of an Israeli soldier.

Our government needs to hear our voices that demand not only a permanent cease fire in Gaza, but an end to the blockade, an end to the occupation, an end to Israeli land expansion through its building of illegal settlements and demolishing Palestinian homes. Israel’s actions with the support of our U.S. tax dollars endanger its security, democracy and world standing. Our voices must call for bringing the $3.1 billion war dollars home to , that including right here in county to secure funding for our public schools, build affordable housing, expand health care services and early childhood programs. Please call and get others to call the White House comment line at 202-456- 1414, the State Department at 292-657-4000, and Congress members at 292- 225-3121, and call or write media outlets to tell the whole story. For more information go to our trianglewilpf.org website where you can find other important news links.

Miriam Thompson

Chapel Hill

The writer is a member the Triangle Branch of Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom, Jews for a Just Peace NC and the Abrahamic Faith Initiative on the Middle East.

Watchful eye

I wanted to express my enthusiasm for the wonderfully written piece by Mary Sonis in the My View column. I have enjoyed Mary’s watchful eye towards Mother Nature for years as he has entertained us all with her “Critter cam” series on email and Facebook. She has an exceptionally keen sense of wildlife and a wonderful way of making them come alive on the page.

If she could add more of her terrific photography it would enhance her writing even more.

Thank you for publishing her first and I hope many to come column.

Karen Frisch

Chapel Hill

And the winner is ...

Nominations are open to salute a community hero in the greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro area.

Annually, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce recognizes the men and women committed to making Chapel Hill-Carrboro a thriving, healthy and sustainable community. The Salute to Community Heroes awards express the chamber’s commitment to our community by recognizing and encouraging volunteerism and selfless service. This year’s salute ceremony will be 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 19 at University Mall.

Anyone can nominate an individual for the following awards:

• Citizen of the Year: Presented to an individual who believes that leadership and citizenship are the two essential ingredients to the community’s well-being. Candidates should embrace both qualities through service to civic or charitable organizations, through elective office or appointed position, and/or through encouragement of ethical business practices and commitment to excellence.

• Town and Gown Award: Presented to an individual who fosters a mutually beneficial relationship between the community and UNC. Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to civic affairs and demonstrate leadership in cultivating the relationship between faculty, staff, students and government officials, citizenry, and the business community.

• Jim Gibson Volunteer of the Year: Presented annually to an individual who has volunteered his/her time, talents and energy to enhance the quality of life in the community. Candidates should demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to volunteerism and service to our community.

• Irene Briggaman Lifetime Achievement Award: This special award for service, named in honor of its first recipient, is presented on occasion to individuals who have demonstrated a lifetime of exceptional public service and volunteerism in the greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro community in multiple capacities with different organizations. This special honor is only awarded when a nominee’s consistent volunteerism and service have made a profound impact on our community.

Other awards given at the Salute to Community Heroes include:

• UNC Department of Public Safety Officer of the Year

• Orange County Emergency Services Employees of the Year

• Chapel Hill Police Officer of the Year

• Carrboro Police Officer of the Year

• Chapel Hill Fire Fighter of the Year

• Carrboro Fire Fighter of the Year

Individuals can download a nomination form at the Chamber’s website at carolinachamber.org. The deadline is 5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 30. For more information, contact Laura Morrison at 919-357-9989 or lmorrison@carolinachamber.org.

Kristen Smith

Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce