Archive for March, 2005

Academic Bill of Rights/NC Mutual/Biscuits

Thursday, March 31st, 2005

Academic Bill of Rights: A bill making its way through the North Carolina legislature would assure fair treatment for all college students. And while it sounds simple enough, the bill is stirring up debate about ideological tolerance on campus. Host Frank Stasio gets the faculty perspective from Mike Munger, chair of the political science department at Duke University; and Judith Wegner, professor of law and chair of the faculty at the University of North Carolian at Chapel Hill. (30:00)

NC Mutual: In 1898, two men, John Merrick and Dr. Aaron Moore, founded the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company in Durham. After some early financial problems, North Carolina Mutual would become the cornerstone of the African-American business community known as Black Wall Street and by the mid-1950’s, the company was the largest black-owned business in the country. Host Frank Stasio speaks to Ray Christian, an archivist working to preserve documents and other memorabilia from the company; and Chuck Watts, corporate secretary and general counsel. (17:00)

The Tao of Biscuits: If the best part of your weekend is breakfast, you’re in luck! SOT’s food maven, Kelly Alexander lets host Frank Stasio in on the best biscuits in Chapel Hill. How would she know? Well, it turns out biscuits are Kelly’s achilles heel. Sure, she can cook the most difficult recipes in every obscure French cookbook, but the staff of life of her native south? Alas, no. But maybe listeners can help — we’re expecting good advice on making the best biscuits. (10:00)

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The Provincials

Wednesday, March 30th, 2005

“The Provincials”: Durham native Eli Evans published his seminal chronicle of Southern Jews in 1973. The book was an instant classic, combining memoir with journalistic research and reporting to create a historical document. To coincide with the 350th anniversary of Jews in America, UNC Press has reissued Evans’s book with a new introduction and many pages of photographs. Host Frank Stasio talks with Evans about the colorful history of Jews in the American South, including his own family’s story (Evans’s father was a mayor of Durham in the late 1950’s early 1960’s.) Listener Call-In. (59:00)

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Payday Lending/Philip Gura

Tuesday, March 29th, 2005

Payday Lending: Several bills have been proposed in the state legislature to address payday lending businesses, which offer short-term, high interest loans to customers. The businesses are banned in the state, but operate via a loophole that connects them with out-of-state banks. Host Frank Stasio speaks with Willie Green, president of the North Carolina Check Cashers Association; Yolanda McGill, attorney at the Center for Responsible Lending; and Laura Leslie, reporter at WUNC .Proponents say payday lenders are the only way some people can deal with short-term debt; opponents claim they prey on the poor, using exorbitant interest rates and fees. (40:00)

Jonathan Edwards: Eighteenth-century Calvinist minister Jonathan Edwards has been best remembered for “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” The sermon, a fiery depiction of divine justice, is still standard reading in some high school classrooms. Host Frank Stasio talks with Philip Gura, professor of American Studies at UNC-Chapel Hill, about the famous minister. In his new book, “Jonathan Edwards: America’s Evangelical” (Hill and Wang/2005), Philip Gura argues that Edwards has been popularly misunderstood. (17:30) (CP)

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Final Four/A. Van Jordan

Monday, March 28th, 2005

Carolina In The Final Four: The North Carolina men’s basketball team has reached its 16th Final Four. Host Frank Stasio looks back at the weekend and ahead to the national championship with WUNC’s Dave DeWitt, author of “True Blue”. (Rowman & Littlefield/2002).

A. Van Jordan: Raised in Akron Ohio and relocated to Greensboro to teach at UNCG, poet A. Van Jordan offers his perspective on being an African-American relocated to the south. Host Frank Stasio speaks with Jordan about his journey to writing via the halls of government as well as his role as teacher and his new book, “Macnolia” about the life and times of a young African-American spelling bee champion from Ohio. (40:00)

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Lottery/Duke Jew

Friday, March 25th, 2005

Lottery: The issue of the lottery is one of the most divisive in North Carolina politics. Although the state Senate has approved a lottery bill, it has stalled several times in the House. This week, House Speaker Jim Black said the lottery may go to a vote as early as next week. Host Melinda Penkava talks with David Rice, reporter for the Winston-Salem Journal; Eddie Davis, president of the North Carolina Association of Educators; Chuck Neely, chairman of Citizens United Against the Lottery; and Charles Clotfelter, professor of public policy at Duke University. Listener Call-In. (56:00)

Commentary: There’s a French saying, “Esprit de l’escalier.” It translates into something like “spirit of the staircase,” and refers to that moment when you’re walking away from an interaction wherein you have been stung by some barb or remark, and your witty retort, what you should have said, suddenly comes to mind — always a few seconds too late. WUNC’s Rusty Jacobs had a moment like that recently while in a restaurant in downtown Chapel Hill during the NCAA tournament when he heard the phrase, “Duke Jew.” (3:00)

Lottery
Duke Jew