Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Oct. 26, 1993, edition 1 / Page 8
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8 Tuesday, October 26,1993 Yi-HnOug EDITOR Jennifer Tilkelm associate editor 0 Established 1893 A A century of editorial freedom Inexcusable Behavior A judge by profession is supposed to hear and decide cases in a court oflaw, but Superior Court Judge George Greene acted unprofessionally when he passed judgment on two women who were alleged victims of a gang rape in a Chapel Hill apartment last November. Greene said he could not understand why the two sisters stayed in the apartment for several hours after their alleged assaults. “I’ve been sitting on the bench for the better part of 19 years and this is the lowest, scummi est, stinkiest case I ever had,” Greene said in court last week. “Either these two sisters are professional pros titutes of the highest order, or they were gang raped. “I am very much tempted to dismiss these cases,” he said. “If I were sitting on that jury, I would find every one of these men not guilty.” Although the jury was not in the room when Greene made these comments, the judge should not have made such inappropriate remarks. Anybody got a clue as to who’s running in the upcoming local elections, or what issues govern the race? Elections for Chapel Hill mayor, Chapel Hill Town Council, Carrboro mayor, Carrboro Board of Aldermen and Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education will be held a week from today. Although watching moss grow might seem more exciting to some people than next week’s elections, there are some really good reasons to get involved. Eligible students, faculty, staff and adminis trators should take a moment and consider what their absence from Chapel Hill and Carrboro politics might mean. The vast majority of governmental goods and services that impact the lives of average citizens come directly from local government. Bill and Hillary are by far the most interesting soap opera around, but they don’t put water in your tap or teachers in your classrooms. Such basic amenities as police and fire protec tion originate locally. Think about that the next time you feel unsafe walking on Franklin Street after 8 p.m. In addition, the ideology that forms the edu f krty I6tAS WHo\ ''V '"■'v ( yovVtc vot\m* ) / . v7~l / / foft, SOM ? J ( hjd iwlesi SEAviS I I AMU Alt ) I ) eoA/aiAitf; ott NicHOrcl 2)£J< ~ht/ % <>^ Busnest and aArntning: Kevin Schwartz. director/general manager Bob Bates, advertising director Leslie Humphrey, classified ad manager Gina Berardino, business manager Jeff Kilman, advertising manager. Bunwes staff; Holy Aldridge, assistant manager Joanna Hutchins. Jenny Schwartz and Jen Talhelm. Aaaiitatrt editors: Alex Frew McMillan, arts and entertainment EBta Dowd and Kelly Nordlinger. copyhmy Ferguson, layout Elizabeth Maybach, photography. Zachary Albert Jacson Lowe and Carter Toole,sport s, Adam Davis and James Whitfield. SpottSaturday Adam Bianchi. state and national: Steve Robblee and Holy Stepp, University. Arts and entertainment Peter Royball Diversions design coordinator John O'Brien and Alison Shepherd. Diversions graphics: Kevin Brennan. Ryan Coleman. Waynette Gladden. Laura Guy. Alison Ince, Tommy Jenkins. Bnan Kahn. Sam King. Daniel Kois, Kevin Kruse. Mondy Lamb. James Dalton Mayo Jr. Alison Maxwell. Ryan McKaig. Merrette Moore. John Neiman. Stuart Nichols. Tanya Oestreicher. Elizabeth Oliver. Tma Pifer. Kate Power. Jon Rich, Brandon Sharp. Charlie Speight Saly Stryker. Kristi Tumbaugh. Emma Williams. Lynn Wingate and Katrina Wittcamp. Cartoon: Maty Brutzman. Bridget Busch. Chris DePree. Dustin Hedrick. Brian Kahn. Jake MacNely. Sergio Miranda. Phet Sayo and Dan Tarrant City: Anu Anand. Tiffany Ashhursl Alison Baker. Amol Bhat Diane Blackman. John Blackwell. Bill The editorials are approved by the majority ol the editorial board, which is composed of the editor, editorial page editor and seven editorial writers. The Daily Tar Heel is published by the DTH Pubkshing Corp. a nonprofit North Carolina corporation. MondayTriday. according to the University calendar. Calers with questions about biing or display advertising should dial 962-1163 between 8:30 a m. and 5 pm. Classified ads can be reached at 962-0252. Editorial questions should be directed to 962-0245/0246 Office: State 104 Carolina Union ISSN#IMMH36 Campus mil address: CM 5210 Box 49, Carolina Union U.S. Mai address: P.O. Box 3267, Chapel Hil, NC 27515-3257 Not only were his words insensitive and in sulting to die two women who allegedly were raped, but Greene had no place publicly express ing his opinion on a case that was to be decided by a jury. By showing a lack of self-control, the judge violated the fairness of the judicial process and threw a wrench in the constitutional right of due process. Regardless of the guilt or innocence of the five men charged with first-degree rape and sexual assault, Greene should not have compared the two sisters to prostitutes or declared the defen dants innocent before the jury had reached a verdict. There is no excuse for an elected public offi cial presiding over a court of law to act so unprofessionally in the courtroom. Greene should apologize for his inappropri ate comments and act with greater restraint in the future. A judge should be the last person to upset the balance of justice. Inform Yourself cation of hundreds of area students is directly influenced by you guessed it members of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board. If you feel strongly about the ongoing multicultural debate, whether pro or con, a vote in the local elections is your best bet to make a difference. Finally, as a citizen not only of this country but of this community, you owe it to your neigh bors to care enough to get involved and vote in the local elections. But don’t cast an uninformed vote. Pick up copies of local newspapers, learn the issues and find out where the candidates stand. Attend forums, such as the candidate’s forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters Thursday night. The forum, which will feature candidates for the Chapel Hill Town Council and Chapel Hill Mayor, will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Chapel Hill Town Hall council chambers. It’s a good chance to get to know the candidates. And make plans to cast your ballot Nov. 2. Whatever you do, do something. Participa tion strengthens democracy. Don’t let this opportunity to be a good neigh bor and a good citizen pass you by. THE DAILYTAR HEEL Biiim | Advertising Stiff receptionists. Classified advertising: Melissa Atom. Dodie Brodsky. Jen Pilla, Lisa Reichle and Christi Thomas. representatives: Kevin Brennan, production assistant Display advertising: Ashleigh Heath, special projects manager Ryan Bolick. Shannon Edge. Lynelle Hovaniec, Tiffany Krueger. Lisa McMina Editorial Staff Blocker, Vicki Cheng. Daniel Feldman. Kathryn Hass. Heather Jones, Rochelle Klaskin. Jamie Kritzer. Kristen Laney. Kristen Min. Brett Perry. Amy Piniak. Molly Shafer. Judith Siviglia. Jacob Stohler. Jay Taylor. Jodie Townsend. Maureen Turner and Holly Williams. Copy: Kathleen Flynn, Kendra Gemma. Margi Hilstad. Melanie Hutsefl. April Jones. Candi Kobetz. Erin Lewis, Erica Martin. Emily Masura, Jennifer Pender. Kim Preslar. Presley Rankin, Chris Reuther. Robert Strader. Chrissy Sweeney and Emily Tinsley. Edftorial: Michelle Chan. Matthew Hoyt Rama Kayyali. Jeremy Kyle Kinner. Jennifer Mueller, Jason Richardson and John Wesley, features: Angelique Bartlett Dale Castle, Jon Goldberg. Andrea N. Hall. Amy Kincaid. Dana Meisner, Funke Moses. Jennifer A. Moyer. Tara Powell. Robin Rodes. Maurine Shields. LeAnn Spradling, Amy Swan. Ross Taylor. Nam Vo. Angie Wainwright Denise Walker and Emma Williams Graphics: Jen Drttmer and Julie Spivey Layout Dawn Owen and Kelly Peacock. Photography: Missy Belo, Lauren Brandes. Andrea Broaddus. Sterling Chen. Sarah Dent Jill Kaufman. Dtna Pope editorial page hxtor Michael Workman UNNERSTTY EDTTOR ReDyßyao cmr editor Stephanie Greer STATE S NATIONAL editor Steve Politi SPORTS EDITOR Amy L Seeley features editor Kim Costello FEATURES EDITOR Wendy Mitchell arts 6 entertainment editor Marty Minchin special assignments editor Robin Cagle copy desk editor Justin Williams PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Justin Seheef graphics EDITOR Erin Lyon LAYOUT EDITOR Kas DeCarvalho cartoon editor John C Manuel sportsaturday editor Allison Sherrill. Kathy Trent Jon Tuck and Ashley Widis. account executives: Jay DaKoriya, Kelly Doyle and Andrew Wong, assistant account executives. Advertising production: Bill Leslie, manager/ system administrator Stephanie Brodsky. John Mims and Denise Walker, assistants. Jason Kirk. Jonathan Raddiffe. Jayson Singe. Debbie Stengel, Ross Taylor and Katrina Wittkamp. Special Assignments: James Lewis Sports: Andy Alley. Chad Austin. Doug Behar. J. Michael Bradley. Corey Brown. Seth Brown, Rodney Cline. Brian Edmonds. Mark Franklin. Jon Goldberg. Alison Lawrence. Erin Parrish. Robbi Pickeral. Jill Santopierto. Brad Short Ethan Treistman, Frank Wang, Scott Weaver and Jill West State and national: Andrea Jones, senior writer Jonathan Barker. Kellie Brown. Anna Burdeshaw. Bronwen Clark. Ward Convile. Jenny Heinzen. Amir Khan. Greg Ray. Melissa Roche, Alia Smith, Ryan Thornburg. Brad Williams and Sara Worrell. University. John Adcock. Jennifer Ayres. Jiffer Boorguignon, Dawn Bryant Elizabeth Cleary, Kia Conlei Casela Foster. Jessica Frank. Chris Gioia. Marissa Jonei Rachael Landau. Erica Luetzow, Phuong Ly. Kevin McKee. Kelly Newton. Leena Pendharkat Holly Ramer, Lisa Robbins. Shakti Routray. Judy Royal. Kirk Royal. Kara Simmons and S. Tebbens Editorial Production: Stacy Wynn, manager. Printing: The Chapel Hill News. Distribution: Triangle Circulation Sendees EDITORIALS Attorney an Example to Bickering Political Groups With South Africa’s first nonracial election barely six months away, many of our parties are bemoaning the prevalence of long-standing political intolerance, which might become an impediment to truly free and fan elections. Our media, in searching for a role model of political tolerance, has settled on one Antony Griffin. Griffin, an attorney from Galveston, Texas, is involved in a somewhat unusual case. It goes back to 1958, when Supreme Court Justice John Harlan ruled in the case, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People vs. Alabama, that the state of Alabama had no right to demand the membership list of the NAACP. The ruling was based on the constitutional right to organize and speak, and the perception that “compelled disclosure of affiliation with groups engaged in advocacy may expose those members to economic reprisal, loss of employ ment and threat of physical coercion.” Earlier this year, the Texas Human Rights Commission went to the courts to get the names of any members of the Texas Knights of the Ku Klux Klan who lived in the town of Vidor over a certain period. The courts have been trying, against fierce white opposition, to integrate an all-white public housing unit in Vidor. Everyone Should Share Responsibility of Racism TO THE EDITOR: I’m sure that I am a racist, especially since I don’t bow to every single thing that African Americans think I owe them. At least this is the way Doug Nicholas (“Opponents of BCC Hide Behind Intellectual Masks,” Oct. 18) would have it. I never cracked a whip or beat a black man, yet here I sit as a 130+-year-old ex-slave owner. At least this is the way many African Americans would have it. For everyone to quit acting like children and stop saying “you white people” or "you black people” is the way I would have it. First, let us think logically. When the BCC is built, it will be the only free-standing building on campus whose name implies only a single ethnic group. Obviously this building doesn’t set Afri can Americans apart (a synonym for this phrase is segregation). Also, I have yet to see an ACC (Asian Culture Center), an HCC (Hispanic Culture Center) or any other culture center for that matter. To be a truly desegregated campus, we must have a center for every race or none at all. What makes African-American history more important than anyone else’s history, including mine? I see no problem in teaching others about different cultures, but not at my expense. If someone wants to know more about any subject, they go to the library. There are millions ofbooks available on campus, and I am sure that there are more than a few about African Ameri cans. If you have not learned about your past, that’s your fault. I have not taken the time to leam about my own ancestors, but I don’t place the blame on any race. I am to blame. Some people, such as Mr. Nicholas, try to portray whites as doing all they can to oppress African Americans. This implies that only whites (Caucasian Americans, if you please) are ca pable of being racist. I have run across all too many African Americans who are just as racist as any KKK member you’ll ever find. Mr. Nicholas points out “the racial barriers they (presumably Caucasians) have been build ing for years.” I believe that it is time that everyone shared in the responsibility of racism. Sure, whites may have started it, but it is being carried on by members of every race. If you don’t believe this, you need to follow Mr. Nicho las’ advice and “Hey! Wake up!” Donald R. Oates Jr. FRESHMAN CHEMISTRY Excellent Series Shed Light On Risk-Management Policy Editor's note: The author is former president of the Alumni Fraternity Council and now serves as alumni adviser to Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. TO THE EDITOR: Congratulations to the DTH, and especially to (Special Assignments Editor) Marty Minchin, for the outstanding job on the five-part series concerning the UNC Greek system’s risk-man agement quagmire. Your articles shed more light on this subject than has come from all the committees, councils and administrators who have addressed this The Texas Hu man Rights Com mission wants to find out if the Klan is re sponsible for any of the threats and in timidation thwarting blacks trying to mo ve into the housing. Griffin, who has won some notewor thy First Amend ment and voting rights cases, is de- ALAN HARTDLGEN OUT OF AFRICA fending Michael Lowe, the Grand Dragon of the Klan who has vowed to go to jail before surren dering the names of the members. Lowe’s argu ment is that they could lose their jobs if identi fied. Hardly an earth-shattering tale thus far, until one learns that Griffin is a black who happens to be general counsel for the Texas NAACP. And, in effect, he’s defending the Klan against a state investigation of housing discrimination that the NAACP had itself helped launch. The steadfast attorney was accredited with saying that this case “wasn’t aboutrace. It wasn’t about whether I liked him (Lowe) orhelikedme. It’s about the basic right to speak 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, doublespaced, 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. topic endlessly over the past four years. Hopefully, you will keep the light on this subject (and the heat on those responsible for creating a safe environment for all UNC stu dents) until a satisfactory resolution is achieved. Congratulations also to the Panhellenic Coun cil for their efforts to forge progress in this area in the face of (a) opposition from certain Greek men who are supported in their resistance to responsible change by certain uninformed and/ or misguided alumni and (b) the absence of leadership by University officials who continue to cling to the fiction that because Greek houses are privately owned their ability to act is inhib ited. When the University finally decides to take constructive action, there are many Greek alumni who stand ready to support an enlightened risk management policy and to cooperate in provid ing whatever access the University feels it needs to the houses. E Spencer Everett Jr. CHAPEL HILL N.C. Residents Should Vote For Water and Sewer Ronds Editor’s note: The author is legislative chairman for the N.C. Utility Contractors Association. TO THE EDITOR: 0nN0v.2,1993, the voters ofNorth Carolina have an opportunity to accept or reject $740 million in bonds for capital improvements for the state university system, the community col lege system, state parks and local clean water projects throughout North Carolina. Each of the four bond items must stand on its own merits with the voters, whose affirmative votes will allow planned expansion of these various state and local systems. A “no” vote will send a clear but perhaps unfortunate message that North Carolinians feel that now is not the time to borrow more money to finance new projects when the ordinary citi zens are having to make do with what they have now. However, it is important to point out and consider that the clean water bonds (for water and sewer projects to improve municipal treat ment and collection systems) are earmarked for obtaining matching federal hinds ($45 million). These federal funds will then be added to the SIOO million to then make loans to local govern ments to improve the quality of their water and <Ul|p Daily uTar liM and organize.” Of course not everyone agrees with Griffin. Critics claim that “you can’t represent the Klan and the NAACP at the same time.” But Griffin was adamant, reminding them that the Supreme Court case against Alabama had been won by the NAACP. He refused to apologize or budge and said that if forced to choose between giving up the case or leaving the NAACP, he would do the latter. An incredibly brave stand indeed. Clearly the case concerns a constitutional issue that goes beyond the NAACP-Klan relationship. Those who do not want groups such as the Ku Klux Klan (substitute Pan African Congress or Afrikaner Resistance Movement .in South Af rica) to have their rights protected, might con sider for a moment which of their own rights they lose in the process. Antony Griffin’s story is by itself such an elemental fable that the morals hardly need draw ing. At home he is being touted as a “patron saint of political tolerance” for transcending racial politics, and an example to members of all our rival political groups so preoccupied with their bickering. Alan Hartdegen is a junior political science and economics major from Johannesburg, South Africa. sewer systems. The projects are basic quality-of-life items, without adornment or excess, and are desper ately needed throughout many localities in North Carolina to provide both urban and rural resi dents with “modem” water quality and sewer treatment systems instead of unsafe water sup plies and unhealthy sewage disposal. It is intended to give each locality a chance to provide the minimum level of services for its citizens, not a high-tech or “Cadillac” system that is best left dreamed about until money is as readily available as clean water out of our spig ots. And best of all, the water and sewerbonds will pay for themselves as the municipalities that borrow the funds recapture their expenditures from user fees which are then returned as annual repayments to the State Revolving Loan Fund. No binds from the general fund or general rev enues will be needed to pay off these bonds. In addition, the matching federal funds will always be available to be reused by North Caro lina, thereby creating local funds that can con tinually be reloaned as projects are paid offby the local governments and then reused for new projects. Expending $145 million and more over the next three to five years will not only improve the basic quality of life in North Carolina but also create new jobs as monies being spent on these projects invariably create new construction jobs, material sales and related expenditures in the N.C. private construction sector all to the ultimate benefit of the state tax collector. It is a win-win-win situation for the people, our local industry and state and local govern ments, as well. A “yes” vote on Nov. 2 for the water and sewer bonds is like a voter's smile it’s easy to do, it makes everyone else happy, it costs nothing and it makes North Carolina just a little bit better place in which to live. Please smile on the water and sewer bonds on Nov. 2 with your “yes” vote. James W. Armentrout WINSTON-SALEM Columns Policy The Daily Tar Heel welcomes guest column submissions from our readers. Interested writers should contact Dana Pope at 962-0245 weekdays between 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. or drop by the DTH office in the back of the Student Union, Suite 104. Please follow these guidelines when submitting columns: ■ Limit column length to 800 words. I All columns should be signed. No more than two people may sign a guest column. I All columns must be typed and double spaced. I If you are a student please include your class, major, hometown and phone number. ■ If you are on faculty or staff, please include your title and phone number. ■ Alumni should include their year of graduation, current address and phone number. ■ Others should include their hometown and phone number. ■ The DTH reserves the right to edit guest columns for space, clarity and vulgarity.
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Oct. 26, 1993, edition 1
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