By: Bethany Turner because this has always been a country
Senior Editor run by dictators - and incompetent ones
at that.” Haiti: To aid or not to aid, that Democrat Ed Schultz, of “The is the question. I have witnessed sev- Ed Show” on MSNBC, featured Lim- eral conflicts between my colleagues baugh on his January 15 show, in the and fellow UNC Wilmington students, “Psycho Talk” portion. “And in ‘Psy- those who may be referred to as “the cho Talk’ tonight, well, the drugster is opposition.” The, shall we say, tradi- still exploiting the tragedy in Haiti to tional conservative view is that Haiti’s further his hateful political agenda,” government is an irresponsible one that Schultz began. “Today, he went after may not deserve all of the monetary aid President Obama again for not talking it is receiving from the Obama admin- about the cost of sending U.S. troops to istration. “We’ve already donated to Haiti, and he topped it off with a swipe Haiti. It’s called the U.S. income tax,” at the military.” responded Rush Limbaugh to a caller A clip of Limbaugh from the from Raleigh, NC on his January 13, conservative show then ran, depicting 2010 episode of “The Rush Limbaugh the republican furthering “his hateful Show.” political agenda.” “President Obama Further in the transcript, was quick to claim that it cost U.S. which can be read on Limbaugh’s taxpayers a billion dollars for every Website, the caller told Limbaugh that thousand soldiers sent to Afghanistan his mother was supposed to be leaving – remember this? And he has yet to that morning on a missionary trip with mention how much it costs to send a her church. Her plane would have left soldier to Haiti,” said Limbaugh. “Why at 4:30 a.m. for Haiti. This trip, I’m as- is there no concern about the cost from suming, had been planned long before the White House, when there was so the earthquake struck. And Limbaugh’s much concern about Afghanistan? Af- point made after hearing this is a valid ter all, isn’t the job of the U.S. Mili- one: “Look, there are people that do tary, first and foremost, to protect the charitable work every day in Haiti… national security and interest of the There are people that have been trying United States? No, it’s not. The U.S. to save Haiti just as we’re trying to save Military is now Meals-on-Wheels.” Africa. You just can’t keep throwing This, my friends, is an ex- money at it because the dictatorships ample of the age-old battle between there just take it all. They don’t spread reason and passion. Hamlet’s “to be or it around, and even if they did, they’re not to be” soliloquy is a 400-year-old not creating a permanent system where instance of the conflict1. If one feels people can provide for themselves. It’s strongly about an issue, as Obama does a simple matter of self-reliance. No- about Haiti, it is probable that one may body takes that approach down there not be able to think rationally about 1 Bugliani, Francesca. “‘In the mind to suffer’: Hamlet’s Soliloquy, ‘To be, or not to be.’” Hamlet Studies 17.1-2 (Summer/Winter 1995): 10-42. it. Our president addressed the coun- benefits its citizens, deserve monetary try very quickly after the news of the aid from our country (which, dare I say, earthquake shook our borders. “My is also one that cannot utilize funds in thoughts and prayers go out to those a manner that benefits its citizens, re- who have been affected by this earth- gardless of which party is in power)? quake. We are closely monitoring the Our government has already elimi- situation and we stand ready to assist nated $1.2 billion in debt for Haiti, not the people of Haiti,” Obama said short- to mention the $100 million it is send- ly after 6:00 p.m., January 12. He was ing the ravaged country, but aren’t we notified of the earthquake at 5:52 p.m., in debt to China? Last time I checked, according to Fox News. that’s called “Obama’s mouth writing On the other end of the spec- a check that America’s ass can’t cash.” trum, Obama has received tons of (Excuse my American). criticism for taking three entire days And does the president of the to respond to the attempted bombing United States of America need to re- of Detroit-bound (that’s our own soil, spond in a timelier manner to matters people) Northwest Flight 253. Granted, that primarily concern other countries it was Christmas Day. Our president than he does to the country in which he was probably enjoying R. Seth Liston’s was elected to govern? favorite, “A Christmas Story,” with his Reasoning tells me, “No,” to family. Whatever he was doing, North- both questions. But passion tells me west employees and terrorists alike did that Haiti does deserve aid. Monetary, not have the day off. Even I was busy perhaps not (if the people of America catering to the obnoxious movie-goers want to donate, that is a completely dif- and binge-drinkers at Fox and Hound. ferent story, and that we will call char- Yes, on Christmas. So, no – President ity rather than handouts). Man-power, Obama most certainly does not get hol- supplies, medicine, food and water are idays off. all things that our country should be do- Therefore, if Obama takes nating to Haiti. Their people are suffer- three days to respond to an issue of ing a monstrosity that our citizens can homeland security, but at the very least, only begin to understand by comparing eight minutes to make a statement about it to Hurricane Katrina. They need our a crisis overseas, reasoning tells me that help. he must be more passionate about Haiti Still, do they need our tax dol- than America. Now, I’m not going to lars? I’d say not. So, President Obama, be one of those people who claim that this is a plea. I am begging you, sir, Obama will use Haiti as a way to gain to consider where your heart lies, and black voters. I think that’s an ignorant if your passions can be controlled by statement, and I think that Haiti does reason. Do you care for our country as deserve aid, and quickly. much as the president should? And do However, I believe it is neces- you really want to do for our people the sary for Obama to evaluate his presi- best that you can provide? If not, I beg dential situation. Does Haiti, which is you to find a way to change all that. a country that has made it quite clear Otherwise, this is going to be a long it cannot utilize funds in a manner that couple of years. By: Kevin King tuition is the LAST thing they want Editor-In-Chief to do. Well, I propose an option that is very simple, and solves ev- As we all come back to eryone’s problems. At UNCW, the campus from Christmas break, top 153 employees make $100,000 we probably have something new. or more. After a quick calculator While inevitably someone received session using the StarNews Online a brand new BMW for Christmas, database, I found that these 153 sal- most of us at least received an ugly aries total $18,972,300. What does sweater or a Pepperidge Farms that matter, you may be asking? sausage-and-cheese gift set. Don’t Well, the gem of this whole worry about this inequality though; ordeal is that with the new tuition the University has it all taken care increase, they plan on increas- of. They have gift-wrapped a brand- ing overall funding by roughly new tuition increase for all of us, so $940,000. Half of which would go no one feels left out! Isn’t that so toward financial aid and the other thoughtful? half to creating three new employ- The UNC Wonderful Board ee positions. Let me quickly touch of Trustees has requested a two per- on the financial aid portion. Does cent increase in tuition. This comes it make sense to ask every student at a time when those outside the to increase their loans next semes- administration’s ivory tower are ter to turn around and give half of stretched financially more than we that amount back to other students? have all seen in our lifetime. The That, my friends, is redistribution of last time the economy was this bad, wealth, and another whole discus- Reagan was in his first term and we sion. So, for argument’s sake, let’s were just a glimmer in our parents’ say they truly need this $940,000, eyes. Now, we are trying to weather indisputably. This is where those this economic storm by bettering 153 salaries come into place. ourselves through higher education, If you take the $18,972,300 and those at the top want to make and take just 5% of that, you would it as hard as possible. Surely, I am have nearly $949,000. That’s odd - just being critical though; there is no because that is even more than they possible way they would be against are anticipating through the tuition the student population, right? increase. So, if you just decreased Here’s where the math the salaries of those making over proves them wrong. They claim $100,000 by 5%, this budget short- there is no other option, and raising fall would be solved. This isn’t fair, though, right? Why should the em- aries that drain our funds dry. Yet, ployee make sacrifices? It should they are the very ones who benefit be the burden of the student, also from the hard work of those who known as the customer. The 20-year- actually give the students what they old student, working part-time, go- pay for, and provide such a top-rate ing to school full-time, and STILL education. UNCW will still be more taking out loans. I mean, that’s only than respectable with lower paid fair. administrative cronies. After all, Here are a few last num- they don’t step out of their offices bers for you. The poverty line for enough to contribute now as it is. 2009 in America is $10,800 (for a Right now, the private single individual), according to the sector is weathering the recession Department of Health and Human through cutbacks and salary de- Services. This means that those 153 creases - isn’t it time for the public employees make 11.5 times more sector to have to follow? After all, than the poverty level. If you de- Cindy Lawson, a spokeswoman for creased their salary by just a mere the Chancellor, once said about cut- 5%, they would still be making 11 ting back in response to “The Con- times the poverty level, averaging servative Hawk”, “We’ve all had to out to $117,800 per employee. do it…including the Chancellor and The point of all of this is myself, and everyone else through- that there is no responsibility be- out the University.” Is that so? I’m ing placed upon the employees of still waiting. our fine institution. In the prosper- ous years their salaries increase, yet when times are hard, they just outstretch their hand into our thin wallets. In no way is reducing sala- ries by 5% going to hurt them at all, especially our Chancellor whose salary would drop from $300,000 to a modest $285,000. With no house payment, surely she can get by. The true travesty here is how the backbone of our Universi- ty, the professors that actually edu- cate us, gets by on modest salaries. Meanwhile, Provosts, Vice-Chan- cellors, Assistants to the Chancel- lor, and other ambiguous positions draw unwarranted, extravagant sal- ITSD Update Part II By: Kevin King Editor-In-Chief After three months of investigation, “The Conservative Hawk” has been stonewalled and refused information. After fil- ing a formal Freedom of Information Act request, we were denied. All we want to know is how, and where, did ITSD get raises. No one seems to be able to answer us, or perhaps willing to answer us. Furthermore, after scheduling a meeting with Debra Saunders- White, the Vice Chancellor if ITSD, it was suddenly cancelled the day before. This was strange being that the time and place were selected by her. I am still waiting on her to reschedule. Why are these answers so hard to find? Why are requests denied and meet- ings cancelled? In my personal experience, it means someone has something to hide. I guess we will wait and see. 61-80 of the Top Salaries at UNC Wilmington We are now through the top 80 salaries at UNC Wilmington, and still haven’t broken six figures. Does that STILL not bother anyone? How many private sector businesses have their top 80 employees making over six figures? After all, the University is just trying to be more competitive with the private sector. I hope that all of you who read this will begin to ask the ne- cessity of these salaries. Furthermore, I hope you begin to ask what they are doing to help out in these tough economic times when we are all cutting back. Until then, you can find these and more online at http://starnewsonline.com. Sincerely, Kevin King, Editor-In-Chief