Interesting Element In Admissions Process Of Some Colleges

This Time column describes a new trend in the college admissions process, at least for a few colleges and universities. The idea is to have a parent write a letter about their child and submit it along with the traditional statistical data required with a college application. I actually like this idea. I suspect there are interesting insights into an 18-year-old that only a dad or mom can provide. And certainly, any admissions officer worth his/her salt can see through obvious puffery and obfuscation, and mine the letter for an understanding of who the child is, as well as his/her strengths and if they’re a good fit for the college.

Chapel Hill First In The Nation?

Tonight the Chapel Hill town council will reportedly take up — yet again– whether or not to ban talking on a cell phone while driving in town. If the council decides to go all out and ban even the “hands-free” method, it will be a first. I have, many times, argued in this space that if the concern is really about addressing driving distractions, then the first thing that would be banned is children as passengers. That, of course, is preposterous. Like it or not, banning cell phone use while driving, and banning children as passengers, are intellectual equivalents within the context of the distraction they represent. But here’s the kicker about Chapel Hill’s case, courtesy of the News & Observer.

Chapel Hill is considering the ban despite an opinion from the state attorney general’s office stating that a ban is outside the town’s authority.

Town Attorney Ralph Karpinos wrote the state attorney general last year asking if the town had the statutory authority to regulate cell phone use.

Assistant Attorney General Jess Mekeel said no.

 

CORRECTED POST: Rasmussen: Obama 46%, Romney 43%

Readers: At 1:20 p.m. I corrected/updated this post from this morning. My mistake, my apologies. The original, incorrect post remains below the line toward the bottom.

Data from Rasmussen Reports:

In a hypothetical 2012 matchup, President Obama leads Mitt Romney leads by three percentage points, 46% to 43%. If Rick Santorum is the GOP nominee, the president leads 49% to 41%.
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Data from Rasmussen Reports:

In a hypothetical 2012 matchup, Mitt Romney leads President Obama by two percentage points, 46% to 43%. If Rick Santorum, the winner of Saturday’s Louisiana Republican Primary, is the GOP nominee, the president leads 49% to 41%.

Newt Gingrich, who will campaign in North Carolina this week, loses to the president by 12 points, according to Rasmussen.

Unfortunately, No Cameras in the Supreme Court Today

C-SPAN and others requested that the Supreme Court suspend its policy of no cameras in the courtroom for this week’s oral argument over Obamacare, but the Court said no. The ruling will determine whether the federal government can force every American to buy something approved by the government, or face a penalty for refusing to comply. Every American should be able to see and hear for him/herself what each Justice has to say, or not to say, and hear the arguments of both sides.

What a shame we will not have this opportunity.

Debate and Concern Over Carrboro Anarchists

They have planted themselves in Carrboro, and it appears there’s no consensus among Carrboro aldermen and Carrboro police about how to respond to anarchist activities in the town. I see it as simple. If a group gathers to peacefully protest and breaks no laws, they have a right to do that. If, however, a group breaks law — oh, say, breaks into a building they don’t own and occupies it without permission from the owner — they should be arrested and charged. In the case of the anarchists, they say private property doesn’t exist. Thus, police have a duty to protect the citizens who own the property that anarchists may decide to take over.