Newspapers / University of North Carolina … / March 28, 1985, edition 1 / Page 5
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Thursday, March 28,1985/THE BLUE BANNER/5 Ethiopian student recalls transition to socialism By Joan Sterk For most Americas who live In a relatively free- thinking and democratic atmosphere, the word so cialism connotes oppres sion and confinement. But for one UNCA, student from Ethiopia, socialism was a reality for three years. Hagazl Kebede, bom in Tlgray, Ethiopia, grew up in a feudal system under Emperor Haile Selassie, whose reign lasted until 1974. He witnessed the transition to socialism in 1975 and saw friends mur dered simply because socir- allst authorities suspect ed them of some wrong. Kebede, a small, dark- skinned man with solemn eyes. Serves as Campus Consnlsslon Business Mana ger at ONCA. He has almost completed a degree in accounting. He has a 3.56 grade point average and will graduate in May. He left Ethiopia on Dec. 5, 1978, afraid that by staying he might one day meet the fate of his friends, who were branded DNCA SIin»n: HAGAZI KEH^ (pictured here with his wife Carolyn) left Ethlq>la In 1978 after he realized he could not adjust to a situation where he disagreed with his govenaent's policies. He said the govemoent murdered citizens whom It cmsldered "enemies of the peC^Le . " Staff photo by Betsy Phillips "capitalist stooges." He also felt that if he stay ed , he would have been agreeing with the soci2Ll- ist government. And he did not agree. Kebede worked for the only petroleian refinery in Ethiopia for two years. The government paid for his education in India, where he earned a degree in chemical engineering. An education and govern ment job are marks of importance in Ethiopia, where only 10 percent of the people are literate. Even though his job was prestigious, Kebede did not feel comfortable with the situation. "If I worked for the government and was getting paid, then I was a part of it (socialism) and helping it," Kebede said. Former Emperor Haile Se lassie saw the need to educate his people and gave money to parents to send their children to school. "He was much adored. He was a really great man. Can you imagine? He paid parents to entice them to educate their children," said Kebede. Halle Selassie ruled from 1923-1973. By the end of his 50-year rule, Haile Selassie had erected high schools in all 14 provin ces. Before his reign, Ethiopia had only one high school. Haile Selassie under stood the problems of the people and talked with the villagers. This added to his greatness, said Kebe de. "In America, there is a trend of the rich living away from the poor. They don’t know what poverty is. Halle Selassie knew poverty and tried to help the poor," Kebede said. In 1974, when the Pro visional Military Admini strative Council (EMAC) took over, they placed Haile Selassie, under house arrest. Kebede described some of the atrocities he said the IMAC committed. "It was hard to adjust to the change. The most acceptable military lead ers were in the PMAC. TWo of them, chosen as chair men, couldn't be puppets, so they (IMAC) killed them," Kebede said. "If the EMAC was suspic ious of you, they would take you somewhere and shoot you. They would cov er the corpse with a sign saying, 'Enemy of the Peo ple ,'" Kebede said. If a family wanted to bury the murdered relative in a civilized fashion, they had to pay the Coun cil in arder to pick up the body. "They would make you pay them for the bullets they used to kill the person before you could pick up the corpse." continued on page 9 Mona Lisa and a computer terminal? Giant billboard stresses 'centrality of classics' — mmrnXi A $15,360 DISOODRT FKHL DHCA: If Haege- le O^oor Advertisiqg the blllboaid as a public service for one year in six different locations, DHCA WILL receive $15,960 in billboard pub licity for $600. Staff photo by Sylvia Hawkins By David Proffitt Motorists traveling west on 1-240 who see a gig£in- tlc, eye-catching bill board advertising UNCA as a place "Where the Clas sics Build Careers" may various administrators wonder at the unusual jux taposition of Mona Lisa and a computer terminal. The billboard is the re sult of discussion among including the chancellor, the admissions office, and the university relations office, said Dr. Tom Coch ran, assistant vice chan cellor for academic af fairs . Dr. Alfred Canon, direc tor of university rela tions, said a vice presi dent of Naegele Outdoor Advertising approached the university with the propo sal. "They said they would furnish the billboard for- slx months if ONCA would pay for the cost of the artwork," said Canon. Cochran said the admini stration and the Universi ty Planning Council, which looks at long-range goals for UNCA, wanted the giant ad to stress "our grounding in the liberal arts, and the centrality of the classics at UNCA." "Ife started with Socrar- tes seated at a computer, but the advertising people told us Mona Lisa would be a more recognizable and more easily understood figure," said Cochran. The Admissions Office and Continuing Education department provided the $600 need^ to cover Naegele's out-of-pocket expenses in producing the sign. Tammy Gilbert, secretary to the vice president of Corporate Development of Naegele Outdoor Advertis ing, said Naegele often donates space as a public service to non-profit organizations. "We have a public ser vice program at Naegele. UNCA had to pay our out- of-pocket expenses, and we plan to use the billboard at least six months, pos sibly longer," Gilbert said Naegele usually charges $1330 per month for a billboard of that size. They will move the sign to a different location every two months. Another smaller "poster" billboard on Swannanoa Ri ver Hoad advertising WCQS, tte campus radio station, only remains in place for 30 days. Naegele also provided it as a public service to UNCA and the community.
University of North Carolina at Asheville Student Newspaper
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March 28, 1985, edition 1
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