Capital punishment diminishes us all

The time has come to abandon the death penalty.

The UNC students have provided a full-year look at the fallacies of this barbaric practice. Now we must be an example for the entire state -- yea, the nation -- in declaring that Demario James Atwater will not face the death penalty. Let Eve continue to lead as we experience this trial in the most civilized manner possible. That would be the UNC way.

Chancellor James Moeser closed the memorial service on Tuesday with an old Scottish benediction: render to no one evil for evil. Let that be our motto throughout this trial. Killing by the state does not make killing any more acceptable. --Nancy Elkins, Chapel Hill

Letter inappropriate after student's death

The letter from Scott Dance (March 12, 2008) is astonishing in its raw racism and has no place in our dealing with the loss of Ms. Carson. Eve Carson's time at Carolina was marked by tolerance, inclusion and bridge-building; Mr. Dance wants us to remember her through fear, barriers and sheer bigotry. For shame. --Andrew J Perrin, Chapel Hill

Students on record against death penalty

I hope District Attorney Jim Woodall will not seek the death penalty for either of the two men charged with the heinous murder of Ms. Eve Carson. My heart is full of sorrow for her family, friends and associates as well as for those relatives who, despite everything, must love these men.

There are powerful reasons for not seeking the death of these accused young men. The UNC Student Government Association (before Eve Carson was elected its president) passed a resolution calling for a moratorium on executions, thus expressing its doubts regarding the fairness and effectiveness of this outmoded form of retribution. Similarly, the towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough, Orange County, Chatham County, Durham County and the City of Durham, have all passed resolutions calling for a moratorium.

The violence endemic in our society cannot be remediated by taking yet more lives. Instead, let us dedicate ourselves to showing those who would murder that killing is wrong. --Judith S. Bellin, Chapel Hill

Town becoming gang destination

Over the past couple of years, we have heard continued concerns by local business people that their customers are afraid to be walking in the downtown area at night. Despite the recent decision to deploy a downtown police unit, town officials have continually responded with statistics showing that violent crime is not really a problem.

The response of our town leaders to late-night shoot-ups at two downtown nightclubs has been to close the clubs, but not to speak out about the presence of pistol-packing gang members on our streets late at night and the danger that might impose on students or other citizens who are innocently going about their activities in town or on campus. I would expect our leaders to be worried about why our town has become a destination for gang members with firearms and what we are going to do about it.

A few years ago, our town began a six-month trial of a system to photograph the automobile license plates of drivers who run red traffic lights. The idea was to discourage the habit of running red lights because that habit might well lead to the death of an innocent pedestrian or motorist one day. Our town leaders canceled that trial after two months because they felt the system did not reflect "Chapel Hill values." As a regular morning jogger, I can attest to the fact that at least once a week a driver speeding on Franklin Street blatantly ignores the red traffic light at the intersection with Boundary Street just during the short time I am there to witness it.

So my question to Chapel Hill town leaders is this: Where does the right of law-abiding students and other citizens to live healthy, safe, and productive lives stand on our Chapel Hill value system list of priorities? I'm hoping it's somewhere above reckless drivers and gun-toting gang members, but I'm a little short on evidence. --Bob Jolls, Chapel Hill

Why

I cried. I didn't know her. Didn't matter. I cried.
I cried for her
I cried for her family
I cried for her friends
I cried for our beautiful campus and town
I cried for our society
I cried for us!


WHY? WHY? WHY?
She represented our future
She represented hope
She represented joy
She represented commitments and promises


My tears are slowly dropping
as I am writing this.
Why?
I never met her. She was not in my class.
No, no, no, wait, I knew Eve very well but I never met her
She was my daughter, my young sister, my friend's daughter
She was one of my students.
She was a Tar Heel
She represented hope
She represented future


I cry for US...
And what we have become! --Amir H. Rezvani, Chapel Hill

In the light of Eve

Hailing from Georgia, wearing Carolina Blue
She spoke a kind word to many
Though her years were so few


A scholar, mentor and humanitarian overseas
Such a zest for life
One of our finest from UNC


Though senseless actions
of others transpired
Hers was one of good will
Leaving a legacy to be admired


We grieve when God takes a soul this young
But the angels led the way
And the ethereal song had been sung


May you find peace and comfort
For Eve is never far
At night, she is heaven's most beautiful star --Karen-Amy Tanz, Chapel Hill

High school offers thrilling performances

Following a rich feast of music, art and poetry in New York City, this grandmother came home to Chapel Hill and attended two local feasts at East Chapel Hill High School: the musical "The King and I" and an orchestra concert featuring student guest soloists Alan Toda-Ambaras and Vikram Potdar.

The quality of performance, staging, singing, acting and costuming for "The King and I" was outstanding, and the show was delightful to watch. Grace Adams, as Mrs. Anna, was remarkably poised and charming, and all the leading characters played their roles with understanding and skill. The production was colorful and entertaining, and all who participated at every level should feel proud of this immense success.

Very soon thereafter, the East Chapel Hill High School Orchestra performed an amazing concert of music by Tschaikowsky, Faure, Dvorak and Holst. The soloists were East Chapel Hill High School students, a pianist and a cellist, both of whom have won accolades in the United States and abroad. Once again, I was thrilled by the music and the high level of accomplishment.

Not only was I thoroughly entertained by these two events, but I came away so impressed by the talents and maturity of our young people, as well as the dedication of their teachers. They have earned our attention and deserve hearty applause. --Barbara F. Schutz, Chapel Hill

Put pedestrians first on town's roadways

Thank you for your editorial regarding recent proposals to improve our streets for pedestrians (March 23, 2008).

Fordham Boulevard, the site of one tragedy, is as welcoming as a moat with sharks and alligators. A pedestrian tunnel, like the wonderful one between the Friday Center and Meadowmont, is desperately needed at Manning and Fordham. I've seen many joggers and others scurrying across Fordham like frightened squirrels, and getting about as much respect.

The North Carolina Botanical Garden is building a new Visitor Education Center, which will bond it more firmly with the main campus and greatly increase the number of trips between the Garden and the campus. We should ensure a high percentage of those trips are by bike or shoe leather. Highland Woods and Morgan Creek residents must feel like they are in some kind of quarantine. Let's bind the community together, not partition it with lanes of traffic. --Bill Bracey, Chapel Hill