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12 TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2003 BOARD EDITORIALS GETTING TOUGH University housing officials should take a more aggressive approach to solving the growing problem of tailgating in campus residence halls. ri are some issues on campus that crop up I from year to year as regular as clockwork, par- JL ticularly tuition, parking and safety. After a campus survey by the Department of Public Safety that revealed students readily let more than 90 percent of plain-clothes officers into resi dence halls, the Department of Housing and Residential Education’s Campus Housing Student Safety Task Force has released a series of proposals to solve the problem of tailgating. Tailgating occurs when someone holds the door open for others to enter the residence hall, posing a safety risk because anyone can get inside. But the task forces proposals to halt the safety risk of tailgating simply aren't up to the task. The committee has proposed several solutions, particularly placing signs about the practice near entrance halls and adding more call boxes. Such patently foolish responses won’t even begin to solve the problem. After an armed robbery on campus last semester, campus officials launched a comprehensive educa tion campaign about tailgating that targeted stu dents’ love of sweets. DPS officers in plain clothes tried to follow students into residence halls. If the students let the officers in, they received a Dum Dum. Those who didn’t let the officers inside got a Smartie. The survey, which involved 557 attempts to enter campus residence halls, proves that educational campaign had little effect casting serious doubts that large signs would manage to be more success ful. And expecting additional numbers of call boxes to solve the problem of tailgating is nothing short of a pipe dream. Students realistically barely use them already sim ply because they’re inconvenient. Why go to all the trouble of calling your friends THE RIGHT TO KNOW Officials must re-examine their open meetings code after shutting a reporter out of a meeting likely about former Coach Matt Doherty’. As the details regarding former Coach Matt Doherty’s disappointing departure from the University continue to mount and to drag UNC’s name through the mud, a particularly dis turbing detail has emerged that has been overlooked. The (Raleigh) News & Observer recently report ed that the Faculty Athletics Committee closed doors, in possible violation of the state’s open meet ings law. An N&O reporter attempted to enter the meeting only to have Chancellor James Moeser shut the door in the reporter’s face. Director of Athletics Dick Baddour also was at the meeting, which was held only hours before a press conference announcing Doherty’s allegedly forced resignation. Moeser and Baddour were almost certainly at the meeting to brief faculty about the Doherty situation and were understandably hesitant to make public the details behind their decision. But that doesn’t justify the decision to clbse the meeting. As of Monday afternoon, the Faculty Athletics Committee was listed on the University Web page under the “open meetings” section, meaning that reporters should be allowed to attend meetings of the group. That agreement was part of a 1996 settlement between the University and the N.C. Press Association clarifying which campus committees were public and which weren’t. The agreement, worked out to stem a potential lawsuit, is in danger of falling apart if campus offi cials continue to play fast and loose with the public’s right to know what campus officials are discussing particularly when it’s an issue affecting campus life or one that many care about such as removing a basketball coach. EDITORS' NOTE: The above editorials are the opinions of solely The Daily Tar Heel Editorial Board, which were reached after open debate. The board consists of eight board members, the assistant editorial page editor, the editorial page editor and the DTH editor. The 2002-03 DTH editor decided not to vote on the board and not to write board editorials. Often-overlooked Hiller left lasting mark on University TO THE EDITOR: As the Daum administration assumes its place among the archives of student government, I would like to acknowledge an offi cer who is rarely recognized for his invaluable commitment to our campus. Aaron Hiller, former student body vice president, served Carolina’s students with unwaver ing commitment for four years. A pinnacle of integrity and humility to his peers, Hiller invested count less hours in UNC’s improvement without expecting recognition or recompense. Hiller was a source of support and strength for his fellow officers, and they will forever value his contributions to student gov ernment. Walter Lippmann said, “The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the will to carry on.” Even after graduation, Hiller’s pledge to pursue excellence will endure in those fortunate enough to witness his work. On behalf of UNC, I thank Hiller for his service as a friend, inspiration and leader to all students. He will be missed in presence but preserved in memory. Lily West Executive Assistant to former Student Body President Jen Daum and making them come downstairs to open the door for you when someone’s willing to hold the door open for you? Even if the University decides to throw money away by adding additional call boxes, troublemakers aren't going to bother to call ahead before pulling a gun on a resident and demanding money. The root cause of tailgating isn’t a lack of knowl edge —some students even jokingly ask if a person is a criminal before letting him in. It’s the idea of hospitality and kindness pervading the University. UNC has built up a reputation as a friendly school, and that involves holding the door open for strangers. Unless officials want to make students paranoid or turn them into rabid questioners reminiscent of the Spanish Inquisition, the problem of tailgating will only continue. That’s why it’s so vital that officials respond to the problem realistically, such as by posting more uni formed officers around residence halls and ensur ing that resident assistants patrol the halls fre quently. And it also means placing cameras at the entrances of residence halls. The cameras would provide an important record that officials could use to identify a suspect after a major event such as an armed robbery or worse. At the same time, it’s important to emphasize that such cameras would not used to find petty offenders, such as students sneaking in cases of beer. The security cameras only should be used to put dangerous offenders off the streets to promote the overall safety and well-being of campus residents. Although cameras might prove costly, they could be offset by saving money on printing signs and installing call boxes. That way the same discussion might not crop up next school year as well. Campus officials have claimed that the group is not a public body, defined by the UNC-system as a policy-making group appointed by a University or system official, because it is elected by the faculty. But that simple fact only further bolsters the argu ment that the meetings should be open. As elected officials, board members have an obligation to their constituents to operate in the public spotlight. Failure to do so betrays the public trust required to hold office in the first place. As The Daily Tar Heel Editorial Board has emphasized repeatedly in the past, perhaps the most crucial check on the abuse of power is forcing offi cials to operate in the public spotlight by holding open meetings. Without that vital check, the only real thing restraining officials from abusing their offices is the strength of their own ethics. And generations worth of scandals at all levels of politics illustrate the futil ity of blind faith. As the University, particularly Baddour, continues to take heat for manner of Doherty’s' dismissal, it’s likely that officials will try to hold more and more closed meetings as a way to prevent other embar rassing incidents from leaking out and further dam aging the school’s image. University officials must not take the easy way out by limiting public scrutiny. Such tactics would only do more damage in the long run by wrecking UNC’s reputation of honesty of fairness. It would be far better for them to handle future meetings concerning Doherty’s dismissal in the pub lic spotlight. Such openness would curtail the rumor mills and hoopla surrounding the dismissal and help repair some of the damage done. It’s the quickest way to give the University a hand up out of the muck. Doherty treatment betrays what University represents TO THE EDITOR: It’s kind of frightening to think about the opportunity Carolina had when we hired Coach Doherty. And now look at the absolute mess that alack of communication, lack of foresight and severe shortage of humanity this has created not just for Carolina basketball, but for the future of UNC. Did someone leave their spine at the door? Just what kind of message does this send to our society? I thought coaches were supposed to be in charge. What happened to the love of the game? The honor in doing your best? The integrity of sports manship? Ever since I was a little girl, I have been pulling for the Tar Heels. In fact, I’m pretty sure it was before I was born. Almost my entire fam ily has attended Carolina at some point in their lives (whether for undergraduate or graduate, some times even both), including my grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts, sisters, cousins, etc. This town and this University are in my blood, and I am really sad, embarrassed, frustrated and just generally let down that some thing like this could happen at Carolina. I can tell you this: By firing Coach Doherty, we’ve really let our selves, and the community that we serve, down. What in the world will Editorial Page happen next? We have an opportunity right now to either continue in this downward spiral of depravity and corruption, cr we can learn from our mistakes and move on to be the kind of place and the kind of lead ers we want to be. Every second of every minute we make choices, no matter how large or how small. These little decisions we make gradually lead us to the bigger ones, and it’s amazingly clear that the people who are making the decisions around here aren’t cog nizant of the consequences and the messages they send. I’ve always heard that people who are the most successful in life stick to their values, learn from their mistakes and get right back up when they get knocked down. I pray that the University I love will continue to be a place of honor, a University where I can one day send my children and grandchil dren in the full faith that it will be an institution of integrity, morality and principle. Coach Doherty, you did a great job. We w'ere lucky to have you as long as we did, and wherever you go next, in whatever you do, I know you will do it well. You will be missed by all, and we will never forget you! Katherine Geil Graduate Student College of Arts and Sciences ON THE DAY S NEWS “It is common sense to take a method and try it If itfails, admit itfi'ankly and try another, but above all, try something." FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, 32ND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WiweforLanTwar^ Law attacking civil liberties virtually ignored in U.S. When more Ukrainians than Americans know about a law that is being considered in the Oregon state legislature, something’s wrong. Especially if it’s a law with a potentially chilling effect on the essential freedoms guaranteed to Americans by the Bill of Rights. Dubbed an “anti-terrorism” bill, the legislation contains auto matic sentences of 25 years to life for the crime of terrorism. But what can be considered a terrorist act? Just about anything. Written by Republican Sen. John Minnis, chairman of the judiciary committee, Senate Bill 742 originally defined a terrorist as someone who “plans, partici pates in or carries out an act that is intended, by at least one of its participants, to disrupt business, transportation, schools, govern ment buildings or free assembly.” “Under the original version, terrorism meant essentially a food fight,” Andrea Meyer, American Civil Liberties Union spokes woman and one of the bill’s most vocal critics, told Reuters News Services. Even Sen. Minnis eventually admitted that his definition was unconstitutional, and the amend ed bill now being considered would define a terrorist as some one who “participates in or car ries out any violent act that the person knows, or reasonably should know, could result in the death or serious physical injury of a person and is intended by at least one participant to substan tially disrupt or destroy” com merce, education, assembly, transportation, or government institutions. Though the amended version is more tolerable, it is nevertheless abhorrent. Civil liberties groups Want better results at UNC? Go straight to the top! TO THE EDITOR: It was shocking to read of UNC’s recent decline in U.S. News & World’s graduate school rankings. However, there is a suitable solu tion. Following the logic of Chancellor Moeser and Athletics Director Dick Baddour, the UNC system Board of Governors should begin gauging the student percep tion of Coach Meez’s performance. Certainly few would defend his record. If Matt Doherty can be forced into resignation because of a less-than-superb record, should n’t our school’s highest officer be held to the same standards? So the resolution is obvious. Now all we have to do is stage the press conference. Perhaps Roy Williams could bring Kansas Chancellor Robert Hemenway with him. Michael Fischer Sophomore Political Science Philip Guillemette Senior Political Science Editor's Note: Applications for the fall 2003 editorial staff are now available at the front desk of the The Daily Tar Heel in Suite 104 of the Student Union. Back-page columnist, Editorial Board and car toonist positions are available. RACHEL GURVICH INFORMED DISSENT have charged the bill with impos ing collective guilt. Here’s what they mean: If some rabid protester throws a brick through a window, he would be charged not as a vandal but as a “terrorist” and would receive at least 25 years in prison. But even more infuriating is that other demonstrators “participating" in the protest, without having thrown any bricks, could be simi larly accused of “terrorism” and thrown in jail. There are other problems with the proposed legislation. Much like the U.SA. Patriot Act 11, the bill would exempt local law enforcement agencies from releasing information related to “terrorism” investigations as long as they remain open. S.B. 742 would direct police agencies involved with federal investigations to ignore statutes that prohibit the gathering of intelligence, without grounds to suspect criminal conduct, about the political, religious or social views and activities of individuals and groups. This is only a sampling of the bill’s provisions. Most people realize that S.B. 742 won’t make it out of its com mittee because four out of six members are opposed to it. But even the symbolism of suggesting this measure is pernicious, as parts of it are clearly designed to crack down on anti-war protest- The DTH Editorial Board is made up of the DTH editor, the editorial page editor, assistant editor and eight editorial writers. Editorial writ ers are responsible for writing one 500- to 550- word unsigned board editorial each week on a topic agreed upon by the rest of the board. The board meets three times each week Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday beginning at 5 p.m. The Editorial Board will be responsible for endorsing candidates for student government and local elections. Editorial Board members also have the chance to write signed columns. Columnists write one 700-word column each week. They are assigned to the same day each week. Columns should be timely, newsworthy and relevant to the DTH's readers. Beginning in the fall, three columnist posi tions will be dedicated to writing news analysis columns similar to the current page 3 columns. Cartoonists are responsible for one editorial cartoon each week on an assigned day. Applications are due by 5 p.m. April 17 to the front offices of the DTH. If you have any ques tions, please contact editdesk@unc.edu. If a student is studying abroad, please e-mail for an application. No other e-mailed applications will be accepted. Late applications also will not be con sidered. Journalism experience is not required to apply. No member of student government is eli gible to be a part of the DTH editorial staff. TO SUBMIT A LETTER: The Daily Tar Heel welcomes reader comments. Letters to the editor should be no longer than 300 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. Publication is not guar anteed. Bring letters to the DTH office at Suite 104, Carolina Union, mail them to P.O. Box 3257, Chapel Hill, NC 27515 or e-mail forum to: editdesk@unc.edu. alir iatUi <Tar Hppl ers. In fact, people such as Sen. Minnis have attempted to create some sort of cognitive link between “protester” and “terror ist” in the minds of Americans. The only positive outcome, now that this legislation has been sug gested, is that our nation or at least Oregonians might engage in public discourse about the value of free speech or the definition of terrorism. This incident makes me think of the man who was arrested in a mall in Albany, N.Y., just for wearing a T-shirt that said, “Give Peace a Chance." He had pur chased the shirt at that very shop ping center. And amazingly enough, not very many people knew about that episode, either. Now, about the Ukraine. While searching the online database Lexis-Nexis for recent articles on Oregon’s S.B. 742,1 came across astonishingly little in the American press —one Reuters article, an article from a New Jersey newspaper, a few mentions in the local newspaper in Eugene, Ore. But lo and behold, at the top of my list was an article from the BBC news service, which appar ently has been monitoring Ukrainian media “behaviour.” It seems that Ukrainian state TV reported that “the U.S. state of Oregon has proposed prosecuting participants in anti-war protest ers as terrorists." So you see, I wasn't kidding when I said that more Ukrainians than Americans have probably heard about this measure, which, even though it won’t pass, is pret ty troubling —and we expect other nations to take us seriously as liberators. Contact Rachel Gurvich at gurvich@email.unc.edu. Established 1893 110 years of editorialfreedom Ulir Dailij aar Hrrl KIM MINUGH EDITOR OFFICE HOURS NOON-1 FRIDAY ALEX KAPLUN MANAGING EDITOR LIZZIE BREYER PROJECTS EDITOR LUCAS FENSKE EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR DANIEL THIGPEN UNIVERSITY EDITOR JOHN FRANK CITY EDITOR ELYSE ASHBHRN STATE St NATIONAL EDITOR AARON FITT SPORTS EDITOR BRIAN CASSELLA PHOTO EDITOR ADDIE SLUDER FEATURES EDITOR NICK PARKER ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR TERRI RUPAR COPY EDITOR BETH BUCHHOLZ & TIFFANY PEASE DESIGN EDITORS JOSH STALFORD GRAPHICS EDITOR ADAM SHUPE ONLINE EDITOR BRIAN MILLIKIN WRITING COACH ERIC GAUTSCHI OMBUDSMAN If you have any concerns or comments about our coverage, please contact Ombudsman Eric Gautschi at gautschi@email.unc.edu or 918-1311.
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