UNC paper runs caricature of Muhammad

The Muslim Students Association at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Friday asked the campus' student newspaper to apologize for publishing an original cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad.

"The intention of bigotry was clear," the association wrote in a letter to The Daily Tar Heel. "One must question the DTH's ethics in advancing a widely protested issue to cause a riot of their own. The MSA not only found this cartoon derogatory but is also shocked at the editor's allowance of its publication-one that incites hate in the current political and social context."

Caricatures of Muhammad, including one that shows the prophet with a bomb-shaped turban, were published first in a Danish paper in September, then reprinted in European papers in recent weeks in the name of press freedom. Their publication has sparked violent protests in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Islam is interpreted to forbid any illustrations of Muhammad for fear they could lead to idolatry.

Daily Tar Heel editor Ryan Tuck said the newspaper wanted to challenge fellow students to think about the issue. He said while he has apologized personally to individuals who told him the cartoon offended, the newspaper will not apologize.

"The point of any cartoon in any newspaper is to challenge belief systems," Tuck said. "We knew it would offend, but that doesn't make it the explicit goal of the cartoon."

University officials said they hope that the Daily Tar Heel would use restraint around a topic such as this one, which is hurtful and offensive to members of the campus community, said Margaret Jablonski, vice chancellor for student affairs at UNC-CH. "Many of our national media outlets chose not to publish the original pictures or cartoons and we believe our student paper should have used the same editorial judgement," Jablonski said.

Virginia officials ok plans for new college

Virginia's House of Delegates gave preliminary approval Monday to a bill that would create a new public college in the state's economically troubled Southside.

The bill would establish the "New College Institute" in Martinsville or Henry County, a region that has seen textile and furniture jobs dry up in recent years.

Former Gov. Mark Warner included $4.5 million for the New College Planning Commission's efforts in his two-year budget plan, and Gov. Timothy Kaine has said he strongly supports a new school.

The bill, sponsored by Del. Ward Armstrong, D-Henry County, is scheduled for a final House vote Tuesday.

WSSU student found guilty of murder

A former Winston-Salem State University student was found guilty Friday in the kidnap and murder of a teenager in 2003.