14 Thursday, February 10, 2000 Concerns or comments about ourccwerage? Contact the ombudsman at budman@unc.edu or call 605-2790. Scott Hicks EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR Katie Abel UNIVERSITY EDITOR Jacob McConnico CITY EDITOR Board Editorials Vote Songer/Walters Student seating at the Smith Center has become one of the primary issues on cam pus, thrusting this year’s Carolina Athletic Association presidential race into an even more important place than it has held in the past. Keeping the impor tance of this race in mind, Michael Songer and Adam Walters are the best candidates for CAA co-presidents. In the two weeks since the controversy began, they have established an impressive plan to redis tribute lower-level tickets Michael Songer so that students will sit behind both baskets and the visiting bench. The enthusiasm and hard work of Songer and Walters would buoy the fight surround ing student seating to anew level without los ing any of the momentum surrounding the debate. Student seating is, however, only one of many issues tackled by the CAA, and Songer and Walters have a diverse platform sup ported by thorough research. The duo’s commitment to all sports at UNC - beyond men’s basketball and foot ball - is especially impressive, along with their enthusiastic plans for Homecoming. They plan to publicize all sports at UNC with an updated fisting of events and scores on a ticker in the Pit. To be sure, current President Tee Pruitt is also a solid candidate and has worked hard Yamakawa for RHA The Residence Hall Association needs a strong voice and new ideas to truly serve the students at UNC in 2001. Presidential hope ful Robin Yamakawa has true potential to become that advocate for change and there- Jr fore deserves your vote. This year, RHA President Murray Coleman has been more than a little silent on too many issues. Yamakawa has the right ideas to change RHA for the better. The recent fires in Morrison Residence Hall have sparked controver- Robin Yamakawa sy as to exacdy who should be held respon sible for student safety during such times of panic. Unlike challenger Gaffney Gunter, Yamakawa thinks UNC shares part of the blame. She says the University owes it to stu dents to meet them halfway when it comes to improving fire safety in residence halls. She proposes making RHA members more aware of fire safety concerns through out all the residence halls on campus. To get this important task done, Yamakawa said she and RHA leaders would tour the halls with town fire marshals for potential hot spots. (Hie lathi