PAGE 4 CAROLINA JOURNAL APRIL 19, 1967
Voting Age
As Election time approached again here on
campus, thoughts turn to the campaigning,
speeches, poster parties, and voting which we
all take for granted.
We enjoy the privilege here of voting in
our leaders, and thus having a voice in the
laws which govern us and the people who make
these laws. Unfortunately, this is not true
of many of us when election time comes out
side of our University. We speak, of course,
of national and state elections.
In North Carolina, voters must be twenty-
one years of age before they can cast a ballot
in a state or federal election.
Currently, discussion is going on in our
state legislature concerning lowering the voting
age to 18 years in North Carolina. One of
the champions of the bill is Jim Beatty, a
young man himself, who obviously does not
go along with some of the arguments against
this measure.
Those who oppose the bill argue mainly that
young people do not have the judgment, experi
ence, or concern to be allowed to vote.
We would venture to wager that young people
have as much or more concern than adults
have about national and state matters. Are
they concerned, indeed, when 20 and 30 percent
of the REGISTERED voters is a consistent
turnout figure?
Also, we are more open-minded, less pre
judiced, and more objective in most decisions.
Because of the pressures of a fast and furious
world, teens grow up fast because they must.
At 16, we are old enough to face a prison
sentence just like a man.
We pay taxes as adults do.
Simply, we are competent enough to handle
a rifle and a tax return, but not a ballot.
At 21, we are old enough to vote.
We hope that this representation will be
granted to the young people of North Carolina.
We would like to think that we could have a
voice in laws which affect our future, and
sometimes our present.
A Pat On The Back
A note of pride is evident as we thank editor
Ellison Clary, Jr. for working with the Journal
so successfully this year.
Clary has created a first rate paper out
of a mediocre one in several short months.
The Editorship is a hard, thankless job, with
a great burden of responsibility.
This year has seen the paper grow to its
size, from 4 to 8 pages. It has seen the
staff grow in triplicate, with quality the
keynote. Campus coverage has been excellent,
with the paper taking the lead in opinions,
service, and opportunity.
All this has been done while he remained
in school, a seemingly impossible feat, when
the ex-editors are reviewed.
A salute from the staff to a job well done.
Wednesday Break Problem:
What’s Been Done About It?
BY ELLISON CLARY
Dr. John Rock, a primary de
veloper and proponent of the birth
control pill, speaks on campus but
scores of students find it imposs
ible to attend his lecture because
of previous plans to attend the
Union officer candidate speeches
being held at the same time.
Dr. Joseph Banks Rhine, aiead-
er in extra-sensoryperceptionre
search, speaks.here but students
are faced with choosing between
his lecture and speeches made by
candidates for student body posi
tions which are occuring simul
taneously.
meetings of various campus or
ganizations occur, and faculty and
administration gatherings take
place.
More than a few professors and
students here have spoken of the
desirability of a change in the
“break” system.
Professors are unable to attend
the Rhine talk due to a faculty
meeting scheduled for the same
time.
What has been done toward mak
ing a change?
“Very little,” replies outgoing
student body president Tim Brit
ton.
A major plank in Britton’s plat
form last spring was his promise
to try to do something about the
break. “I’vepushedandpushedthis
thing,” says Britton, “I’ve done all
Today, Thad Stem, Jr., will ap
pear during the same time period
alotted for speeches by class offi
cer candidates.
I can.”
Newly elected president John
Gaither has also indicated he would
like to see something done about
All these are examples of con
flicts produced by the “Wednes
day break”, the time slot between
11:30 and 1:00 each Wednesday
when no classes are scheduled.
During this weekly period, nation-
ally-known as well as regionally-
known personalities speak or per
form, student assemblies and class
meetings are heid , regular
the situation.
“I don’t know the reason some
thing hasn’t been done,” John ad
mitted. “I’m not too familiar with
this but I plant to look into it.
We’re hurting for relief during the
break time,” he said.
Dr. Julian Mason, Assistant to
Chancellor Colvard, agrees with
Gaither that “we’re hurting”. “I’m
concerned that too much is being
You know, if They’d change the break day,
maybe the lectures wouldn’t conflict with pool
either.
How can students get the Wed
nesday break change in motion?
“They could ask that a further
study be made,” answered Dr.
Cone. She indicated that no peti
tion would be necessary and that
the student legislature could well
make the study suggestion.
She said any resultant study
should pay particular attention to
what has been done in large, urban
universities whose situation is
similar to the one here. She list
ed the University of Wisconsin at
Milwaukee and the University of
California at Berkeley as ex
amples.
Dr. Cone said that students, in
the process of the study, should
steer clear of saying, “This is a
solution.” Rather they should con
tinually ask, “What is a possible
solution?”
Dr. D. W. Colvard, chancellor,
made two points in regard to the
change. First, he said, it should
be decided whether there is a need
to re-examine policy here. Second,
a change should be made on the
basis of careful study.
“I am ready to receive reports
of studies made in connection with
the break,” said Dr. Colvard. “I
look forward to them to serve as
guides.”
Business Leaders, Profs Meet
A Conference between business
leaders and college professors will
be held tomorrow at 10 a. m. in
conjunction with a luncheon at the
White House Inn.
from UNC-C, Davison College,
Queen’s College, and Johnson C.
Smith University.
The meeting, sponsored by the
Charlotte Chamber of Commerce,
is officially titled, “College -
Business Forum”.
Dr. John B. Robbins will repre
sent UNC-C, and has assured us of
a stimulating discussion.
There will be a panel consist
ing of four business leaders and
four college professors selected
All students and faculty'
members are welcomed to attend
the meeting; however, all those
planning to attend are asked to
register at the University Union
desk, in order to allow for lunch
eon arrangements.
The purpose of the conference is
to encourage business in this area
to tend supportto the area colleges.
AP.A. system will be set up
so as to allow members of the
non-participant attendants to pose
questions over a mike. In this
manner, the relationships between
business and college can be openly
explored.
jammed into that hour,” he said.
“I’d like to hear many of the
speeches that are made at a time
when there is a conflict.”
Dr. Mason also said he, like Gai
ther, knows little of what has been
done toward correction of the
situation.
Dr. Bonnie Cone, vice chan
cellor, said Dr. Loy Witherspoon
and an informal group of students,
faculty, and staff discussed the
matter at his home “one Sat
urday.” There has been “no de
cision to change,” Dr. Cone said.
Dr. Cone pointed out that most
institutions have no specific break
time at ail. Events are simply
scheduled at best available times
in this situation.
Many persons interested in see
ing a change made in the present
break advocate two breaks a week
rather than one. These would oc
cur on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
This system would quite possibly
defeat the purpose of a resche
duling, however, feels Dr. Cone.
She points out there are fewer
students on campus on Tuesdays
and Thursdays and not many would
drive an extra 20 miles or more
in some cases just to hear a speak
er no matter how good the in
dividual might be.
She thinks a Monday-Friday or
Monday-Wednesday break would
be a better change, if a change
must be made.
“One or two class days could
be added to the schedule to make
up the time lost to these breaks,”
Dr. Cone said. She added that a
committee could work on making
speakers available for these
breaks. If no speaker could be
found for a break, the time could
still be put to use for something,
she said.