8
Friday, October 15,1993
Daily (Ear
Yi-Hm Quag editor
Jennifer Mete ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Established 1893
A century of editorial freedom
Overdue Ordinance
If you are in Carrboro and you are harassed
by a panhandler, you now can rely on the law to
put things back in order.
The Canboro Board of Aldermen unani
mously passed an ordinance Tuesday night to
restrict aggressive panhandling in the town.
The ordinance prohibits begging in an intimi
dating manner. In an effort to protect citizens
and control the problem of panhandling, the
ordinance also makes it illegal for panhandlers
to curse, follow, block or touch residents.
The timing of the ordinance could not have
been better as more and more panhandlers have
been flocking to the area, disturbing and harass
ing the Canboro community and even Carrboro
Elementary School students.
Carrboro’s ordinance reflects a good compro
mise between a stricter ordinance which
failed last year —calling for a complete ban on
panhandling and aproposed ordinance that only
would address verbal abuse.
Community Participation
UNC students are very fortunate to be here at
the University during its Bicentennial Celebra
tion.
University Day officially marked the begin
ning of the observance, and the 29 events that
took place Monday and Tuesday presented stu
dents with many ways to celebrate.
But student turnout at the events Tuesday
was markedly low and hopefully not a reflection
of future student involvement.
The University excused students from classes
on University Day to allow them to take part in
the celebration, but many did not take advan
tage of the opportunity.
Many distinguished faculty members offered
interesting lectures throughout the day. It would
have been preferable that the problem was de
ciding which lecture to attend (many occurred
concurrently) as opposed to whether to attend
one at all.
Fortunately, there was considerable turnout
for the main event of the day—the Bicentennial
Convocation in Kenan Stadium. Attendance for
the president’saddresswas impressive, andthose
patient enough to wait in line all afternoon were
rewarded.
President Clinton’s speech was visionary and
charismatic, conveying his ideas in a fashion
Tar Heel Quotables
“If we do not follow the tradition on which
this University was founded, change will
become our enemy.”
PIESIKRT BU CLMTOi
During his convocation speech Tuesday night
“I speak for all of us who could not afford to
go to Duke and would not have even if we
could have afforded it.”
CHARLES KURALT
CSS Item Mcboraun and UNC graduate
During his speech at the Bicentennial Convocation
“Freedom is not free. It costs. Although we
were prepared to die when we first came to
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Stepbnie Greer states national editor
SterePobi sports editor
Aay L Seeley features editor
Kin CoeteQo FEATURES EDITOR
Wady Mhekefl arts a entertawmbit editor
Marty Mindbrn SFECIAL ASSIGNMENTS HXTOR
Rote. Cagle COPY DESK EDITOR
Justin Williams photography hxtor
Justin Seheef graphics EtXTOR
Erin Lyon LAYOUT EDITOR
Kas DeCanaDio cartoon editor
John C. Manuel SPORTSATURDAY EDITOR
Panhandlers’ First Amendment right to free
speech ends as soon as they start harassing others
and infringing on others’ rights.
The new ordinance will act as a deterrent
against aggressive panhandling. Maybe panhan
dlers will think twice about being too pushy and
even be polite in soliciting for donations.
But panhandlers might realize that Carrboro
is more restrictive than its next-door neighbor,
Chapel Hill.
The town of Chapel Hill now does not have a
panhandling ordinance on its books, so aggres
sive panhandlers simply can cross the town bor
der to legally continue their practices.
It is a good time for Chapel Hill to follow
Carrboro’s lead and enact an ordinance prohib
iting aggressive panhandling.
With the close proximity of the two towns, it
only makes sense that Chapel Hill and Carrboro
work together to protect citizens against harass
ment and abuse.
that was relevant to the University community.
Some participants complained that Clinton did
not cover any new issues, but it would have been
inappropriate to let the announcement of anew
program or policy overshadow the UNC’s Bi
centennial Observance.
Some logistical problems did arise during the
ceremony. A combination of security problems
and organizing the spectators’ seating meant
that a contingent of high school bands could not
perform as planned. It was unfortunate that they
could not formally play, but it also was unfortu
nate that some of them decided to play at inap
propriate times, such as during some of the
speeches.
Although University Day has passed, there
still is much to celebrate. There are special exhib
its and activities happening throughout the en
tire school year.
On behalf of the students and the University,
four students on Tuesday night presented Presi
dent Clinton with a book of essays on the Stu
dent Bicentennial Planning Committee’s chosen
theme for the Bicentennial Observance com
munity.
The University including its students
needs to come together and celebrate the remain
der of the Bicentennial year as a community.
the square, we now had to face it, eye to eye,
face to face.”
ULB
PqMty tewbr of 1919 Thu— hi Sgurt dwttrition
“If tobacco tax goes up, N.C. can’t afford Bill
Clinton.”
Sign held by protesters outside Kenan Stadium
before the President's speech
“I liked it at first. But you have to pretend to
be someone you’re not. I don’t think it’s a job
for anyone who can think. It’s the dumbest job
I’ve ever had.”
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EDITORIALS
flag upside down. j\
Voo CAM EVB) MAKE
BUT YOU CANT SIOP OS
BCC Supporters, Opponents Should Try Compromise
It’s time for the topic we’ve all been fearing.
The topic that, in all honesty, I’m scared to
talk about. Three little letters that prick up the
hairs on the back ofnecks all across campus. Not
NRA. Not UNC. Not GRE. But BCC.
Honestly and realistically, my view of the
need for a black cultural center and my view of
where it should be placed will accomplish noth
ing and will just get everyone angry. Besides, the
free-standing BCC, as a conceptual institution,
has proved neither its importance nor its worth
lessness yet because it doesn’t even exist.
What makes me mad is that, all around this
campus, people are calling me childish. They
call me childish because I kid around about
things that supposedly are serious. I’m telling
people in my childishly sarcastic way to lighten
up, to fight for your right to party, to stop
pretending we’reintherealworldbecausewe’re
in a little semi-osmotic bubble called college,
and college is the punch line to a 17-year-old
joke called education.
But our campus is filled with people who are
taking on the responsibilities of 30-year-olds,
fightingfortheirrights, fighting for others’ rights,
fighting for anything and everything. So many
students on campus are fighting—a responsibil
ity for adults—but they’re acting like they’re in
fifth grade. Sure, I act lie I’m in fifth grade, but
I’m not taking much responsibility, either. I’m
balanced. This campus, however, is not.
We’ve got people so upset about the BCC that
they’re flying banners over Kenan Stadium. But
they don’t have the guts to take accountability
for it. They symbolize whites everywhere when
it comes to race relations: when in support of the
cause, they’re standing hand-in-hand with it;
when against the cause, they’ll protest it, but
they won’t show their face.
By not taking responsibility for those ban
ners, by not taking responsibility for “No BCC”
scribbled in chalk all around campus, whites are
turning what should be simple opposition into a
Ku Klux Klan rally. They’re not wearing hoods
because they’re not even coming into the light.
There is nothing wrong with opposing the
BCC if there’s a good reason for it. If they truly
had a good reason for their protests (“good
reason” does not include beliefs in racial superi
ority), they should not hide, because that just
helps out die BCC cause.
Our campus will not accept the presence of an
invisible KKK, and nobody is going to support
an opposition they can neither see nor identify.
I also don’t mean “good reason" as a term to be
interpreted by African Americans, either, be
cause there is no such animal if you ask them.
According to them, any opposition comes from
racism, and there will be no further debate.
And what are supporters of the BCC think
ing? “Lessee, how can we gain support from the
campus? Hmm, let’s tell them we’re taking over
Article About Bennett's Visit
Didn't Include Whole Truth
TO THE EDITOR:
I am outraged over the article titled “Former
Drug Czar to Speak at UNC” that appeared in
the Monday DTH. Being close to the source, I
feel that I should correct misleading information
that was contained in the article.
The student who is mainly responsible for the
effort to bring William Bennett to campus is
Amanda Scoggins. I know because she is my
roommate, and she first mentioned the idea to
me over a month ago.
Miss Scoggins came up with the idea on her
own and was the only person to contact the
Young America’s Foundation about the event.
Student Body President Jim Copland heard about
her efforts and offered both Iris assistance and
that of the executive branch of student govern
ment.
No date has been proposed or planned for this
event. As of this writing, the official proposal
has not been submitted to the Young America’s
Foundation.
The article incorrectly states that “approxi
mately $12,000 has been allocated forthe event. ”
The only money that has been secured is the SSOO
donation from Student Congress.
Of course, Miss Scoggins was present to speak
on behalf of her project. And since the plans for
Mr. Bennett’s lecture are far from definite, there
is no way to speculate on which topic he may
choose to address.
The article itself is incomplete in its coverage
of the topic in that Miss Scoggins’ name was not
the country, that
we’re unstoppable,
that we’re better than
they are and that they
owe us everything we
ask for. That should
gain support. Sure.”
I honestly support
a BCC, and for only
one reason. It can’t
hurt. But it is a flawed
notion to believe that
the University owes it
to African-American
students.
jjQ
BILLY FAIRES
EVERYMAN
Granted, we are a “gimme gimme” society.
We want things for ourselves, we don’t want to
share and we think we should have it coming. “I
deserved that job. I deserved a better grade. They
owe me that promotion. They owe me recogni
tion.’’
Whites, especially white men, who admit
tedly have gotten more than the rest, now are
expected to give some oftheir share because they
owe it to other deserving people who perhaps
were ignored on the basis of race, gender or
sexual orientation.
Who are you kidding? I’m on this planet for
two reasons: to enjoy today and to wake up
tomorrow with as little discomfort as possible. If
you think that part of enjoying today involves
balancing out my ancestors’ wrongdoings, you’re
just another brainwashed college student.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for equality. I
wish the world truly was harmonious. I wish we
could all get along, but me giving the less privi
leged what is mine isn’t going to happen. I
worked hard to get where I am, and I’m not
giving that to anyone else. What I’ve gotten, the
world owes me.
Okay, my dear hypocritical readers. Take a
moment to pass your judgment on me. Tell me
it’s people like me who keep race relations sty
mied (no pun intended). But then look at the
BCC’s opposition to a multicultural center. The
argument is that the Black Student Movement,
not other minorities, has worked for a center. If
the other minorities want a center, then they
should work for their own because African
Americans aren't going to give an ounce of what
they’ve worked so hard for to anyone else.
Here are some phrases from last year’s DTHs:
“It’s our center, go fight for your own, ” and “I’m
sure other minorities deserve one, but it’s not the
BSM’s responsibility to fight for their center.”
Can you imagine the stink a white boy would
raise by saying that?!
“It’s our college/corporation/country. Go
fight for your own. I’m sure African Americans
deserve one, but it’s not a European’s responsi
bility to fight for a black’s education/income/
rights.”
READERS’ FORUM
The Daily Tar Heel welcomes reader comments and
critcism. Letters to the editor should be no longer
than 400 words and must be typed, double-spaced,
dated and signed by no more than two people.
Students should include their year, major and phone
number. Faculty and staff should include their title,
department and phone number. The DTH reserves
the right to edit letters for space, clarity and vulgarity.
even mentioned. The reporter, Leena
Pendharkar, did attempt to reach Miss Scoggins
on Sunday afternoon, but she was out of town
and unavailable for comment. I think that this
fact should have been included in the article with
information about her efforts.
I hope that in the future the DTH can make a
commitment to the whole truth in all of its
articles.
I also would like to recommend that Miss
Scoggins be contacted for future articles about
the possibility of William Bennett coming to
UNC to speak about an undetermined topic.
Sara L Frisch
FRESHMAN
JOURNALISM
tUhp Saily uJar Bp pi
And the rhetoric of many African-American
students is getting us nowhere when they say that
blacks in this country have moved forward in
spite o/what whites have done. People got mad at
me when I said whites allowed blacks freedom
from slavery. How dare I claim that whites had
anything to do with it, they implied.
Well, didn’t they? I didn’t know Abraham
Lincoln and the rest of the Union were black!
Many African Americans will flat-out deny
that whites have done anything to advance the
rights or the lifestyle of blacks, but they are
wrong, plain and simple. We’ve had whites who
beat the black man, and we’ve had whites who
bandaged the beaten black man. We’ve had
whites who whipped the black man, and we’ve
had whites who have soothed that black man’s
pain.
I just want to force the whole campus to watch
“Glory.” White racists hate it because it shows
that blacks can do anything whites can. Black
racists (insert another word here if you don’t
believe blacks can be racist) hate it because it
shows the white man in a superior position.
Idealists hate it because the 54th Regiment dies
having failed their mission.
I love it. Morgan Freeman is inspirational.
And the very end shows what we all should be
trying to accomplish and what we all be trying to
avoid: a white man, sliding down into his grave,
and a black man sliding down next to him. They
compliment one another, and it is beautiful. But
they’re dead. Want the beautiful? Stop the fight
ing.
And we’re wasting our time on an issue like
the Homecoming queen. What about compro
mise, folks?
African Americans say whites want it to end
because blacks are winning. Whites say they
want it to end because only 300 students care.
Hey, I’ve got an idea.
Move the step show, a staple of Homecoming
week for anybody who’s got rhythm and soul, to
halftime, and vote for Homecoming Posse by
applause. That way, nobody has to put up with
the silliness of girls with layers of makeup, or
controversy with its layers of makeup. Instead,
we get to see a true cultural experience, everyone
gets to vote, and African Americans still win the
day (as we know, white men can’t jump, and
white men have no rhythm, so they have no
chance in a step show, either).
Let’stry more compromise. Let’sbeless afraid
of opposing every minority cause that springs up.
Let’s take responsibility for our actions. Let’s
stop using scare tactics to reform the white man.
And please, stop acting so childish. That’s my
job.
Billy Faires is a senior psychology and English major
from Chattanooga, Tenn., and a human being from
this planet.
Students Should Think
About Plight of the Homeless
TO THE EDITOR:
How many of us think about homeless people
in Chapel Hill? As we go to classes, work out at
the Student Recreation Center, and go to Chase
or Lenoir for dinner, how many of us think about
those who have no food?
There are hundreds of people in Chapel Hill
who have to think about where they are going to
sleep that night or when they are going to get
their next meal. Many of them stay at the Inter-
Faith Council shelter merely a few blocks away
from the center of UNC’s beautiful campus.
BFC is a 52-bed facility which is always full—
on most nights citizens have to be turned away.
Last year more than I,ooopersons were guests at
the community shelter. Many children have to
be turned away because only eight of the 52 beds
are allotted for children.
Take a walk by the shelter, or even just take a
walk down Franklin Street and talk to a home
less person.
You may start to realize that these people are
more like you than you would have ever thought
and have just had a bad break in life.
Use your time to think about things that really
matter, such as homelessness and hunger, and
come up with some creative solutions about how
our social programs can be improved to better
serve the needs of the poor.
Beth Salvi Hudgins
GRADUATE STUDENT
SOCIAL WORK