University should not accept funds from Pope Foundation

Finally! Let me first say how glad I am that attention to this issue is being paid! The Pope Center, although considered noble for their donations by some, is not an organization that this University should have to go to for funds. This organization is well beyond conservatism and in its business practices (Pope Center aka Variety Wholesalers) seeks to ruin already low-income neighborhoods with stores of lesser quality and higher prices. And, lest we not forget, all money comes with a price: the degradation of the programs and departments in CHASS when the Pope Center’s agenda does not agree with that of the University (check out Art Pope’s letter in the News and Observer) or the public degradation of professors in not just a political, but also, a private sense. Do we really want money from these people if it will lessen the quality of our education, change our programs and call into question the careers and intentions of talented professors? I don’t think so.

Rachel Wingo Junior,Religious Studies and English

Not all donations are charitable

Regarding Tuesday’s editorial and article on the possible grant from the Pope Foundation, I agree that students have a right to know what’s going on. But we also have a responsibility to research what’s going on for ourselves rather than relying on administrators to explain it to us. If the University decides not to ask the Pope Foundation for a grant, it will not be because “it doesn’t support the views of a foundation willing to donate,” but because that foundation has already tried to use its donations to influence the curriculum at UNC-Chapel Hill. We may think that grants are just free money – to be spent however we see fit with no strings attached, but that is not the case. Furthermore, I find it deplorable that so-called reporters seem more interested in harassing people for interviews and comments than doing actual research. A simple Google search will turn up dozens of pages on UNC-Chapel Hill’s negative experiences with the Pope Foundation, which perhaps would shed some light on why members of our faculty want to reject such “means for improving our education.” I would urge all students concerned about this issue to research the Pope Foundation themselves, since our newspaper is apparently unwilling to do so. Only then can we have an intelligent discussion.

Melissa SchumacherSenior, Electrical Engineering and Philosophy