UNC Engulfed in Scandal

Adam Mancini
Sports Editor

Amid recent allegations of yet another academic scandal, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has gone on the defensive. Mary Willingham, a learning specialist at the UNC Center for Student Success and Academic Counseling, claims she has conducted research into the literacy levels of athletes of the most prestigious teams of the university, including the football team. According to Willingham, 8 to 10 percent of student athletes who played football or basketball between 2004 and 2012 read at a third-grade level or below, and 60 percent read between fourth and eighth-grade levels. Immediately after releasing the findings of her research, UNC refuted her claims, questioning her data. Provost Jim Dean brushed the research off as “a travesty, and unworthy of this university.”

Coca-Cola or Coca-Cancer

Devon McCarroll
Staff Writer

4-methylimidazole. Though not a household name, you have likely consumed it. 4-Mel is commonly found in certain sodas, barbeque sauces, and syrups. Usually dubbed “caramel coloring”, since 4-methylimidazole is a mouthful, 4-MeI is used in some of the most popular drinks. As harmless as caramel coloring sounds, it has recently been thrust into the spotlight over its possible carcinogenic effects. In certain studies, high doses of the heterocyclic organic chemical compound caused rabbits and chicks to convulse and intoxicated cattle that were fed with supplements that contained 4-Mel. The FDA says caramel coloring isn’t anything to worry about, when consumed in small doses. A U.S.  FDA spokesperson says that, “[a] person would have to drink more than a thousand cans of soda in a day to match the doses administered in studies that showed links to cancer in rodents.”

4-MeI was added to California Proposition 65 on January 7, 2011 because it was believed to be “a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer.” After a safe level of caramel coloring was established at 29 micrograms, some manufacturers have brought down the amounts of 4-Mel used in their products. Now Americans can rest at ease knowing their soda is slightly less toxic than usual.

Ukraine protests for government change

Shauna Hines
Features Editor

Protests in Ukraine have garnered international attention and numerous world groups seem to have their own opinions.

Here is a timeline that has led up to the protests:

November 21, 2013: Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych refuses to sign a deal that would strengthen relations with the European Union (EU), but instead aims to create stronger ties with Russia.

November 30: Anti-government protesters are violently put down by riot police in Kiev (Ukraine’s capital).

December 17: Russia agrees to bring down the price of gas sold to Ukraine and to buy $15 billion in Ukrainian government bonds.

January 22, 2014: Ukraine President Viktor Yanukovych wants to align with Russia instead of with the EU. Anti government protesters throughout the Ukraine decide they will not stop until the president steps down. The violence spreads from Kiev to other cities in the country and two protesters die from police clashes in Kiev.

Pope calls Internet a "gift from God", sells motorcycle for charity

Nicholas Chupka

St. Peter's Square

Staff Writer

Pope Francis claimed the Internet to be “a gift from God” in a statement released last Thursday saying, “The Internet, in particular, offers immense possibilities for encounter and solidarity.  This is something truly good, a gift from God.” Pope Francis should know best. Take just one glance at his Arabic Twitter account and you’ll see his Internet game is off the charts. On his English account, he has over 3 million followers, and on his Spanish account he has over 4 million followers.  On top of all that, he is responsible for taking the first Papal selfie in August of this year, proving himself to be the trillest (truest, realest) Pope to date.

Reasons to Dislike Valentine's Day

Marisa Ingraham 
Staff Writer

Every year on February 14, couples celebrate Valentine’s Day.  It’s a day about couples, love, valentines and romance.  But for some, it’s a dreaded day where they are again reminded that they are still single and have no one to share the holiday with.  Here are several reasons to dislike Valentine’s Day:

• The color pink.  From the candy, the stuffed animals, the hearts, to the valentines, everything is this atrocious color.  The amount of pink everywhere is sickening.  Even someone who likes this color could find it annoying and for those who hate pink, seeing the color everywhere is a nightmare. 

• Teddy bears holding little hearts saying things like “Be Mine” or “I’m Yours.”  You may not be together forever and when you do break up, the bear will just be an unpleasant reminder that you are no longer a couple.  Also a teddy bear would be a terrible gift for your boyfriend.  Most males wouldn’t like receiving a fuzzy, cute bear as a gift.  Boys are too self conscious about what their friends would think, and would be too afraid to show affection for the bear.

•  Hearts are also an annoying part of Valentine’s Day.  The candy boxes, decorations and valentines are all heart shaped.  Even the candy itself is heart shaped.  These fake hearts are irritating and unpleasant to look at.  This object is the only decoration used to celebrate this holiday.  It’s incredibly boring and repetitive to look at these same decorations every year.  If the decorations included a little more variety, then this day might be slightly more interesting.  But just slightly.

Chinese students get a feel for small town America

Michael Lyday and Nicholas Chupka
Editor-in-Chief & News Editor

Last month, Apex High School welcomed a class of students visiting from China to get a glimpse of life in America.

The students came from the Chinese capital of Beijing, and noticed the change from the big city to small town right away. “I like the environment; there is a lot less pollution,” said John, one of the students. The students also experienced a very different atmosphere in the school day itself, especially in terms of daily schedule and routines. “In China we have one classroom instead of switching classes every period,” said Vivian Zhou, another Chinese student. In Chinese schools, teachers move into different classrooms rather than students as in America.

Reasons Why I Love Valentine's Day

Marley Shattuck
Staff Writer          

There are easily a million reasons why one would love Valentine’s Day!  Here are my top ten reasons for why I love it, and why you should too:

1. What’s better than a day all about love?
2. It’s a good excuse to eat chocolate all day, single or not.
3. A day with your loved ones is always a day well spent.
4. Sometimes you get giant stuffed teddy bears, and nothing really compares to that.
5. Everything is pink, and pink makes everything better.
6. It’s an excuse to spend the entire day with your boyfriend/girlfriend.
7. Valentine’s Day is such an adorable and loving day full of all the things I love: flowers, heart-shaped boxes of chocolate, and all things romance.
8. You have more of a reason to watch sappy romantic dramas all day, whether you’re with your friends or forcing your boyfriend to watch them with you.
9. You get to eat those adorable little heart-shaped candies with cute sayings on them.
10. Did I mention chocolate?

Regardless of your relationship status, Valentine’s Day is a time to emphasize just how much you love all of the people in your life. Valentine’s Day is definitely not just a day for the people in relationships.