Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Nov. 1, 1993, edition 1 / Page 13
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ulljp Saily <sar Iwl University Construction Bonds Deserve Students’ Votes Editor's Note: The authors are student body president and vice president University Day has come and gone, but months of Bicentennial celebration and self-examination remain ahead, Asa University community, we must con tinue to ask ourselves: “Where have we come in 200 years and, more importantly, where are we going?” Essential to ensuring that our Univer sity remains a leader in higher education in its third century is the continued ability of our University facilities to meet the chang ing needs of teaching and research. Critical to this effort, the referendum tomorrow on the University construction bonds offers an opportunity for the University to ac commodate pressing space needs and to capture state-of-the-art technology. Not only would the construction bonds offer support for UNC-Chapel Hill, they would provide desperately needed improve ments at the 15 other member schools of the UNC system. And it would send a clear message to budget-cutting legislators that the citizens of the state support their Uni versity. What are the University construction bonds? The bond issue, if passed by the N.C. voters Nov. 2, would give the UNC system $3lO million for construction projects. Over the last five years, during which the General Assembly has approved only $75 million in new construction, the UNC General Administration has re quested s644million in new capital proj ects. Every campus in the system has press ing needs that have gone unsatisfied for years. With passage of the bond referen dum, UNC-CH would receive approxi mately $35 million to fund five new con struction projects: ■ Kenan-Flagler Business School build ing, ■ Addition to the School of Dentistry, ■ Lineberger Cancer Center Research Addition, ■ Area Health Education Centers-Con struction Grants, and ■ Carolina Living & Learning Center for Autistic Adults, Phase 11. Why support the construction bonds? 1. The Need for Construction The passage of the construction bonds is critical for the University’s future. Even if a student would not use one of the pro posed buildings the bond would fund, pas sage of the referendum would clear up legislative moneys for other planned Uni versity construction. Furthermore, additional space will open up as University programs vacate existing buildings. For example, anew business school will provide more undergraduate Panel Forums Will Probe Important Campus Issues Editor's Note: Nick Johnston is the panel coordinator for student government. TO THE EDITOR: In time with the Bicentennial Celebra tions, the Executive Branch of student gov ernment has launched the “From the Front Line” project. This project has been started in order to produce a report examining the University, looking both at what is right and what is wrong. In essence, it is a study of where we have come in 200 years, and, more importantly, where we are going. We now are conduct ing a telephone poll to students, asking them general questions, but we are not polling administrators or faculty. Therefore, we have set up panel forums with administrators, faculty and student leaders to further promote the issues that Front Line is probing and to create more in-depth discussion. The panels have been set up in association with the Student Bi centennial Planning Committee chaired by Kevin Moran. We are appealing to the leaders of the University in the different areas, as we feel that we are lacking impor tant feelings and attitudes in trying to ad dress the issues. By holding these panels, we intend to create vital discussion which can add to the statistics and information we are already collecting. We intend to hold five sessions, with the first one scheduled for tonight at 7 p.m. in the North Wing of Lenoir. These panels will include: Two academic affairs panels due to the complexity of the topic; the environmental issues of the University; the state of race relations and the subsequent problems on campus; and finally, the state of campus security. The first forum uses the slip in UNC’s rankings in the U. S. News & World Report survey as a springboard for discussion. This forum will take the form of direct question and answer sessions to the guests, before the discussion is opened to the audi ence. Guests on the first panel will include the president of the UNC system C.D. Spangler; Chairman ofUNC-CH Board of Trustees Johnny Harris; Chancellor Paul Hardin; N.C. House Finance Chairman Joe Hackney; Faculty Chairman James Peacock, the head of the Center for Teach ing and Learning; Joel Schwartz; David Taylor, head of the Undergraduate Li brary; Student Body President Jim Copland and Executive Branch coordinator of Aca demic Affairs, Jasme Kelly. If there is a particular issue which you feel strongly about in relation to this dis cussion, now is your chance to speak di rectly to those who are responsible for the University. I must stress again there is a need for these leaders to hear your views, all of which will be noted. Everyone will have ample opportunity to air his or her views. All are welcome to attend the dis cussions. Look forward in the future to further forums. We at student government feel that we are covering issues which are im portant to every student on campus, from the BCC question to the safety of the cam pus to the necessity to have recycling and other environmental programs. These ses sions are in-depth discussions and will bring classroom space on main campus by opening up Carroll Hall. More im portantly, meeting our space needs would elimi nate the other wise inevitable competition for state funds be- GUEST COLUMNIST tween construction projects and money we desperately need for library acquisitions, financial aid and faculty and staff salaries. While we cannot constitutionally issue bonds to support these other funding needs, we can issue bonds for construction. 2. The Bond Will Not Raise Taxes Taxes would not have to go up to finance the bond issue, says State Trea- GUEST COLUMNIST surer Harlan Boyles. Our state's debt service would increase from 1 percent of the budget to just over 1.3 percent, but it would return founder 1 per cent within seven years as other debts are retired. Interest rates are extremely low, and the state has a top bond rating, so the time is opportune for a bond issue. 3. Send a Signal to Legislators If the bond referendum passes, the vote will reaffirm the state’s commitment to its universities. If not, legislators will perceive that the University is not a citizens’ fund ing priority, and we will see that sentiment reflected in the allocation of funds we re ceive in future years. Deeper budget cuts and a continued decline in resources might result as legislators heed the message sent by their constituents. Create a Student Voice. It is in the self-interest of every student (and indeed every member of the UNC CH community) to support the bond refer endum. The value of our diplomas depends on the University’s standing through the next century. We as students have a unique opportunity to lead the support of the bond at the polls. Student government will be running shuttles tomorrow to the polls to ensure students can vote. They will run from Union the issues to debate. They will provide an excellent opportunity in which students can directly interact with administrators and faculty who make and implement cam pus policy. Nick Johnston SOPHOMORE POUTICAL SCIENCE/HISTORY Calvin Cunningham JUNIOR POLITICAL SCIENCE/PHILOSOPHY Students Should Exercise Their Right to Vote TO THE EDITOR: Please let me express my gratitude to The Daily Tar Heel and to the students of the University for their continuing friend ship and support, both over the years and during my recent troubles. Students are the reason for our town, and the heart of our existence. Without their support and the support of the local newspaper with the largest circulation there would be no rea son for me to be politically active in Chapel Hill. Please also let me take this opportunity to encourage all registered students to vote in the local elections this Tuesday. (The polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.) There are a number of good candidates running for the Chapel Hill Town Council (and the Carrboro Board of Aldermen). And this year the local school board elec tion especially is important. Please vote for the good guys (and gals). I encourage voters to support the four state-wide bond referenda. (My favorite is the one for state parks.) And please reject the proposed state constitutional amend ment, which would only encourage local governments to disregard the will of the people. Thanks again for being good citizens of Chapel Hill and Orange County. Joe Herzenberg CHAPEL HILL Vote for Amendment, Against Bond Issues TO THE EDITOR: On Tuesday, every registered voter in North Carolina is going to be asked to vote on a general obligation bond referendum for $740 million in new state debt. $740 million is the biggest bond proposal in this state’s history, and paying it off will cost us at least S6O million per year for the next 20 years. For the past four years, 65 percent of North Carolinians have wanted to vote on a lottery referendum but the legislature has said, “No.” For the past six years, 70 per cent of North Carolinians have wanted to vote on a veto for our governor but the legislature has said “No.” Now the legislature needs your approval for $740 million in new bond debt. John F. Kennedy said, “Things didn’t just happen, they are made to happen.” This is die time to make something hap pen. Vote “No” on the $740 million bonds and send this simple message: “Not one dollar more for debt until a lottery and a veto are on the same ballot.” “Give a little, get a little,” is what makes EDITORIALS TODD GILCHRIST 1113 Circle to the General Administration build ing and police station, from Hinton James and Craige residence halls to the Commu nity Church and from Granville Towers and Whitehead Residence Hall to Lincoln Center. No student who is registered in Orange County should fail to exercise their right to vote. In addition to the bonds, the results of Chapel Hill Town Council and other local elections have an impact on both the Uni versity and its students. 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. politics work. Link your vote on the bonds to your right to vote on a lottery and veto. Under our state constitution, if the $740 million bond referendum fails Nov. 2, the governor can quickly call a special session of the legislature. Within a few weeks, we can have another referendum at which we can vote onalottery, the veto and the same $740 million. Anyone who claims that linking the bonds to a lottery and the veto shouldn’t be done has forgotten, “no taxa tion without representation.” Trading what they want for what you want is the heart of everyday politics. In fact, it is at the heart of our society: On the job we trade our skills and time for wages and salaries; as customers we trade our money for goods and services al ways linking what we want to what they want. So what is suddenly wrong with doing at the polls what we do every day? Nothing is wrong with linking $740 million in new debt to a chance to vote on a lottery and the veto. In fact, it is the only way you’re going to get a chance to vote on a lottery and a veto in North Carolina because our consti tution does not permit citizen initiatives. The only way you get to vote on any issue is to send a clear signal at the polls that you want to vote on a referendum. There are five proposals on the referen dum ballot which is distributed statewide for the Nov. 2 election. Proposals 2,3, 4 and 5 are the $740 million general obliga tion bonds for UNC, community colleges, water and sewer projects and state parks. Each proposal will be voted on separately. Vote “No” on these four proposals until they are on a referendum with the lottery and the veto. Here’s a rhyme to help you remember: “On the state referendum election day, Stand up for your right and vote this way: #1 ‘Yes’, #2 through #5 ‘No’, until we can vote on lottery and veto.” JoeMavretic N.C. REPRESENTATIVE D-EDGECOMBE Some Faculty Demean University's Reputation TO THE EDITOR: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill faculty who equate their value to the University vis a vis their seating location in the Dean Smith Center demean the reputation of the University as a whole. I trust their comments at the recent Faculty Council meeting express a minority posi tion within the University community. We all must vote to ensure the place ment of one piece of the puzzle essential in preserving our future. Don’t let others call students apathetic; let’s make our voice heard at the at the ballot box and make sure the University Construction Bond Issue succeeds. Jim Copland is a senior economics major from Burlington. Dacia Toll is a senior political science and economics major from Bethesda, Md. In reflecting on the celebration of our University’s2ooth birthday, I am reminded of the theme our students chose for the celebration: community. As President Clinton pointed out in recognizing this theme, community “oughttobe America’s theme today - how we can be more to gether than we are apart." President Clinton also reminded us of Frank Porter Graham's words about the destiny of the two great races in the South: “If we go up, we go up together.” This same principle ap plies to the members of the University community. Ifwe go up, we go up to gether. The troubling no tions of a few Uni versity faculty sug gest that we still have work to do if we are to achieve the value and meaning of com munity. As I said in rededicating the cor nerstone of Old East, as we (faculty, staff and students of UNC) undertake the challenges of this third century in the University’s history, may we unfailingly ToDOGH-CHRivr |^3 HHi respect the individual worth and dignity of each member of our community, and may we always value and reward each person’s service in honor of our University’s contri butions to North Carolina and the nation. Kay Wijnberg CHAIRWOMAN THE EMPLOYEE FORUM Editorial Left Out Greed Of Athletic Department TO THE EDITOR: It is most amusing to watch the Univer sity community fight over the dregs of good basketball tickets, most of which al ready have been allocated to contributors to the Dean Dome or persons who join the Rams Club. If DTH editorial wrath is to be directed anywhere, it should be directed at a greedy athletic department willing to give the good seats to any Tom, Dick or Harriet with an extra SSOO in hand, or to a wealth-domi nated nation whose taxing authorities per mit most of that “bribe” to be treated as a charitable tax deduction. The so-called faculty seating preference Public Television Will Benefit From Passage of Bond Issue! It’s not every day that the average person has a chance to directly affect the qual ity of life —and of public television in North Carolina. But that day comes Tuesday, when residents will have the op portunity to cast some very important votes on our state’s future course. North Carolinians will find on their ballots that day four public-facility bond referendums for major capital improve ments that will make a positive difference for every state resident. One of these bonds (the second on the ballot) is a $3lO million referendum for improvements to the Uni versity of North Carolina. The measure, which includes $6 million for The UNC Center for Public Television, will directly affect the center’s ability to serve the people of North Carolina. If these University bonds are approved, we will invest our share in two key areas: construction of the first public-television station in the Lumberton/Fay etteville area; and replacement and upgrade of WUNC TV, which serves 12 counties in the Tri angle area. Anew station for Lumberton/ Fayetteville: This populous area of the state is not currently served by UNC-TV. Building anew transmitter here would bring the well-known benefits of public television’s educational programs to some 105,000 school children. In all, an esti mated half-million people would receive public television for the first time. Primaiy counties to be served by anew Lumberton station would include Cumberland, Robeson, Bladen, Hoke, Harnett and Scotland, as well as the city of Fayetteville. Some of the state’s most eco nomically disadvantaged citizens live in this section of the state. These are people for whom UNC-TV services (which in clude learning opportunities such as high school equivalency and community-col lege courses) could make a difference. Improvements to WUNC-TV/Chan nel 4: WUNC-TV primarily serves the Triangle, but it also reaches viewers in an area extending from Eastern Greensboro to Moore, Johnston, Franklin and Granville counties. This flagship station is the oldest in the state’s public-television system. Unfortunately, the WUNC-TV broadcasting tower also is the oldest stand ing structure of its kind in the country. Passage of the bond issue would make possible long-needed improvements to this perilously outdated equipment, including, most importantly, the replacement of the nearly 40-year-old tower. Both safety and is minuscule. After teaching here and sup porting the team for 27 years, and becom ing a chaired, full professor, I finally re ceived downstairs tickets—in the last row behind the basket. Moreover, since this University now pays less and awards lesser benefits to faculty than competitive campuses, would you further handicap its ability to attract and retain good people by eliminating this tiny perk in the name of politically correct egalitarianism? If ever an inter-university bidding war breaks out for staff personnel, they will have the bargaining power to demand their own perks. Meanwhile, you might save your wrath for something of consequence. Martin B. Louis PAUL B. EATON PROFESSOR OF LAW Seating Controversy Elicits Rhyme and Reason TO THE EDITOR: We have some great faculty at UNC, but I couldn’t resist the following ‘generali zation’ in light of the faculty/staff seating formula controversy at the Dean Dome. A professor bemoaned his seats at the Dome, “An embarrassing problem.” said he. “I’m a faculty member, king ofthe Hill, yet my seats are way up in ZZ. My colleagues are laughing, they think it’s quite funny, that things have worked out this way. For way down in front, be hind Dean himself, sits my secretary in Row A. “Now it’s true that she has been here for 31 years, missed five days of work all that time. But c’mon, let’s get real, what does UNC value, her capabilities or mine? She works hard, but I teach! It’s as simple as that. The importance of each well defined. And questionable con cepts of equality and such were not in the contract I signed. “Anyway, it’s important for students to know how the real world is run, and by whom. And sharing the spoils is a threat to our system of rewarding a chosen few. We must take a stand. She already gets park ing. Good God, where will it end? The staffs demands get worse and worse. My perks I must defend!” Just then he awoke, it had all been a dream. “What a relief, what a nightmare! ” saidhe. But it did make him think, “I’mnot Monday, November 1,1993 reliability are at issue. Mounted on the tower is the critical link TOM HOWE GUEST COLUMNIST in the microwave system beaming our sig nal to the other nine stations across the state. If the tower were to collapse, a ma jority of the state might be without public television for months. With anew, tallertower, we will be able to send a stronger signal to a wider audi ence, an estimated 450,000 additional people, as well as many schools and col leges in the region. North Carolinians also would benefit from better coverage for WUNC-FM, the Triangle’s public-radio station, which has its antenna on the WUNC-TV tower. The funds also would make possible the installation of an emergency generator, avoiding delays of several hours when power is interrupted. Just recently, both WUNC-TV and WUNC-FM were off the air for more than three hours when a car hit a pole conveying power to the site. Our annutd FESTIVAL telethon raises many of the funds used to create original productions that serve the people of the state and to obtain high-quality programs from PBS and other sources. The N.C. Public Television Foundation has raised more than $4.4 million in private contribu tions to equip ourproduction facilities. But we depend upon the state to fund construc tion and maintenance of our transmission system, a priceless state asset. The other referendums are: $250 mil lion for community colleges; $145 million for clean water, and $35 million for state parks. All would improve the lives ofNorth Carolinians in tangible ways. This is an especially good time to sell bonds for major capital projects. Interest rates are extremely low. And North Carolina’s credit rating is AAA, the best possible guarantee that bonds will sell well. State treasurer Harlan Boyles said the state should be able to make interest apd principal payments without a tax increase, because the annual cost would be such a small percentage of its overall budget. What it comes down to, in essence, is neighbors helping neighbors to make a better life for everyone. We urge you to help ensure the future of public television that belongs to all North Carolinians this Nov. 2. Vote yes on the University im provement bonds. Tom Howe is director and general manager of the UNC Center for Public Television. getting enough. Maybe Nike’s got some thing for me Bruce Egan STAFF Hardin Should Reinforce Good Image Among Staff Editor's note. The following letter was addressed to Chancellor Paul Hardin. TO THE EDITOR: During the past several days the media reports about the discussions at the F acuity Council meeting on Oct. 15 has many State Employees Association of North Carolina members and me alarmed. Of particular concern are remarks quoting professors who said that they were “better educated and more valuable to the Univer sity than staff.” SEANC members and their supporters believe that staff employees deserve equal treatment and respect at the University. These contrasting points of view make clear that the relative status of staff em ployees is in dispute among faculty leaders here. A clarifying statement from you at this time may also promote a positive public image of staff. At the same time, it would also go a long way toward reinforcing a positive self image among staff sorrje thing stressed by President Clinton on Oct. 12 so that faculty, staff and community alike may better focus on the University’s future work and activities. Patricia Bigelow CHAIRWOMAN SEANC. DIST. 25 DTH Advertising Inserts . Add to Litter Problems TO THE EDITOR: t How many UNC students can walk across campus andNOT notice the pilespf litter which have accumulated as a result of the inserts found in the DTH? This seems to be an early morning ritual for many of us. Twenty thousand copies of the DTH are distributed each day, and on average an insert is located in the paper once a week. By allowing these inserts to be placed in our campus paper, the DTH is only adding to the problem of litter on our campus.. Not only do the inserts contribute To litter on our campus, but they are also 1 a waste of paper. The vast majority of these inserts go unread and are quickly discarded about the campus in hopes that someone might have the courtesy to pick them up. Would it not seem that the money used to pay these people could be put into some project which would benefit our campus? I realize these inserts are a definite money maker for the DTH, but surely there .is some other way to generate funds and still preserve the beauty of our campus. Placing recycling bins near the loca tions where the DTH is distributed would at least begin to make a dent in this prob lem. There must be some way for us to make a change in this situation, a change which will accommodate the needs of the DTH and those of our campus. Paige Snow FRESHMAN BIOLOGY 13
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