North Carolina Newspapers

Letters to the editor orking in system does work Opiniocj of Tbe Daily Tar Hed art expressed on its editorial page. All unseed editorials ire (he opinions of tbe editor. Letters and columns represent only tbe opinions of the individual contributors. Hany Bryan, Editor Tuesday, September 7. 1971 W Cyclists could be more considerate Bicycle riding, quickly becoming a nation-wide pastime, has caught on in Chapel Hill. Advocates of the sport say it is not only fun but good exercise as well. Besides, as they are quick to point out, it does not add to air pollution. Certainly bicycle riding is enjoyable, good exercise, non-polluting and a quick way to travel from James Dormitory to a classroom building on North Campus. However, a number of persons have been complaining of discourteous riders both on campus and off. With UNC overenrolled for the second straight year, the campus has become more crowded than usual this fall. Walk ways and halls are already congested enough as is without students having to dodge errant bicycle riders swerving in and out of the crowds. Chapel Hill motorists have also found fault with cyclists moving in and out of traffic, and traveling in It's better than only Asheville-born Thomas Wolfe, author of "Look Homeward Angel," "Of Time and The River," and "From Death to Morning," has often been called the greatest novelist produced in the state of North Carolina and one of America's greatest authors. And as a former student at UNC and former editor of the Daily Tar Heel, Wolfe is UNC's second best known alumnus, ranking behind only former U.S. President James K. Polk. It would seem, then, that the University would have built some sort of gigantic statue in honor of Wolfe long ago. . . or at least have named a building or something after him. Instead, however, a measley little memorial stood beside Person Hall, supported by cinder blocks and several 2-by-4's. Thinking of this, we thought an Norman Black Ont-of-state tuition increase hurting University When the N.C. General Assembly enacted Senate bill 793 on July 12, they ratified a bill which cannot help but have a drastic effect on all aspects of campus life here at Chapel Hill. This bill will boost the cost of out-of-state attendance at North Carolina public colleges and universities from $950 to S1,S00 over the next two years, and will make it virtually impossible for an out-of-state student to establish residency in North Carolina. The increase will affect graduate out-of-state tuition even more, raising it to $2,500 per year in 1972-73, and will torment some 13,000 out-of-state students this year (if they remain in N.C). With the passage of this bill, UNC is now the proud possessor of the third largest difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition in the country. That difference would amount to $1575. Only the Universities of Vermont and Montana possess a larger difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition rates. Rep. William T. Watkins' stated goal when introducint the bill was to more nearly equalize the amount that out-of-state students pay and the actual costs of education, estimated at $2,445 per student per year at UNC. Granted that the cost of education varies in each state, it is still interesting to note that 80 per cent of the states in this the middle of lanes without moving aside for oncoming automobiles. Not only are these riders endangering themselves, they are also slowing down traffic that is bad enough as is. The problems created by the increased number of bicycles on and around the campus can easily be solved, though, if riders will just be a bit more considerate. If they'll stay out of the halls of classroom buildings, at least attempt to avoid weaving all over walkways, and stay out of the way of traffic, the situation is bound to get better for everyone concerned. As we said, we're not condemning the use of bicycles. In fact, there are times when one becomes sick of this highly mechanized, polluted and overweight society and begins to wish automobiles would be banned. But since there are automobiles, bicycles and pedestrians, everyone must give a little. After all, we do have to live together. missing half there editorial asking the University to at least complete the memorial would be appropriate, and we made a trip to Person Hall just to make sure the job had not already been completed. Instead of the small brass plaque, however, all that remained were the cinder blocks and the 2-by-4's. Evidently, someone in the University administration had become embarrassed by the miserable monument and took it upon himself to take it down. Or possibly, it was taken away to be completed. Since administrators were taking a vacation on Monday and could not be reached to find out what actually had happened, we must admit that we don't know what's going on concerning the memorial. But we do know that no memorial is better than the one that was there. counuy chaige their out-of-state students substantially less than the increases passed by the Assembly. When speaking to a number of UNC administrators, I found each one clearly felt the addition of out-of-state students to a state-supported campus "enhanced the educational atmosphere." But as Director of Student Admissions Richard Cashwell put it: "There is no doubt that out-of-state students contribute to our total educational worth. But you can't attatch a dollar amount to this." It is obvious that the N.C. General Assembly has found no value whatsoever to attatch to this contribution. The tuition hikes are expected to generate more than $16 million in new revenue over the next two years. The money will go into the state's general fund for additional budget demands during the 1971-73 biennium. However, some government sources view this estimate as being unrealistically high. Profit hopes are unrealistic "The figure presumes that the number of out-of-state students won't drop because of the increases." said Hugh Buchannan, a budget officer for the State To the editor: Working without the system has been appraised by certain segments of the DODuhtion 2S the only reasonable, the or.lv just and indeed the only moral method for making changes in society. But thus belief Las several fallacies, in that working within the system can and does work. First, the support of the system is apparently widespread. The fact that support from city ghettos, reservations. Appalachia, migrant camps, and some youth has not noticeably strong does not automatically lead one to conclude that they prefer working without the system or that, even if they do, a major change is warranted in the structure of the system instead of reform of the system through minor repairs and alterations. Communication and sincere effort are alternatives to rejection of the system. Second, the support of the system does not rest on the assumption that the system is inherently good, only that it is inherently desirable. If it were "good"(whatever that means), then attempts to change or reversals in policy and goals would never occur. Even the present federal administration offers some proof of the ability to change and reverse policy within the system. People cause changes within the system not because they think the system is inherently good, but because they think they can better the system. Third, the idea of working without the system is a view of cowards, of people who are afraid to season idealism with realism, who are afraid to give up "pie in the sky" fantasies of pure people's government, all 200 million of us in happy ignorance of strife and disagreement. These people cling to anarchy like a child clings to its mother in protest of accepting responsibility and practicality. Fourth, the belief in upholding the system rather than in tearing it down is as operable a democracy as can be found. What other country or system can give the greatest number of goods to the greatest amount of people or to safeguard against repression through constitutional measures in a land as diversified as this? The problem with revolutionary politics J. C. Superstar Board of Higher Education. "It also doesn't include atheletes on scholarship and special exclusions under the bill. ..I'd be surprised if the bill generates $10 million." Sen. O'Neil Jones (D-Anson), has pointed out that "the legislators were thinking strictly in terms of money when they passed this bill." It is interesting to note the state will not even receive the money th legislators had counted on. Rep. Watkins forsees no drop in out-of-state attendance. "They accept less than one-fifth of those who apply," he said. "I assume the same number would have money enough to pay the (increased) tuition." Most educators around the state foresee no immediate drop in out-of-state enrollment, but they are concerned about the future. "We're going to be very badly hurt a year from now ," said Dr. Walter Peterson, dean of the graduate school at N. C. State. And as one official at Chapel Hill explained: "Any major university's national reputaion rests very heavily on its graduate school." So the bill can affect our "educational atmosphere" and can lower our national reputation. And the Office of Student Aid is not going to be able to help. William Geer, director of student aid at Chapel Hill, reported it would take an which are struggling to be in vesru; today is that the people are subjected to cas for radical change without guidelines for replacement of the system; the people have no guarantee that they shall be freed from a governing elite. Government by the masses is mindless; government for tne masses is inner cuu, elitist. I: all seems to boil down to whom cr.e wants to rule them - and after all, that's what working within the system allows the masses to do, if they want to do so. Eyen local changes can be made within the system. Organised co-operatives can help combat high prices and protect consumers. Organized unions with political motives (somewhat elitist in themselves I can combat job oppression and corporate ruthlessness and also g3in decision making control (right, migrant farm workers and ghetto blacks?) Organized students can fight for improved education. Organized anything can fight for reform, and all within the system. The only block would be the apathy of the people. What system can change that? What elites can avoid it? What change is mandated? Working within the system can do that which can be done. Working without the system seems to offer us nothing better. Cole C. Campbell 1728 Granville Towers West Daisy Junge A column for grad Graduate students here have traditionally lived in an ambiguous middle world between undergraduates and faculty. We introduce freshmen, delivered to us by the computer, to the ways of language labs, college math and English I. But we fight for C stickers and often end up paying for the dubious advantage of a T sticker. We bring our families, dogs, cars, and broken furniture to Chapel Hill, pay taxes, vote and are charged out-of-state tuition rates. On the other hand, we are unlikely to consider additional $5UU,uuu to assist those students who are already on aid. This does not include those students who will need aid as a result of the increased tuition. ::vrav:vtv:tt:w Bill will hit athletics, too As Geer admitted, "We would not be able to take care of all of them." The bill will also affect the future of atheletics on this campus, according to Walter Rabb, assistant athletic director. "We'll simply have to. find the funds. We're obligated to the students here on grants-in-aid to pay for their tuition. This could mean we would have to cut down on the size of our squads, road trips, etc. We had not set aside money for this increase." And it is now infeasible, if not impossible, for an outof-state student to change his residency status. To qualify as a North Carolina retuut t, a student must live in the state 12 month prior to the date of his first enrollment in a North Carolina school. Previously the requirement was six months. The University forbids a change in residence status after a student is first enrolled. So if a student becomes a resident of Traffic problem needs attention 1 o the edito: The traff: in Crape' H 11 has become a monun al problem : over the ir.g a need for city five Years c ticia.s to remedy the situation at once Franklin street has beco: so heavjv congested that automobile operators are tempted to ignore the pedestrian crossing signs in order to save time. Although this action maintains their place in the line extending through the downtown area.it endangers pedestrians who have been accustomed to crossing the streets without difficulty. Safe drivers become dangerous when they see a chance to change lanes m a very small space. Some operators who sit in cars parked along the street get impatient after waiting several minutes to leave the space. The streets have become a game o: nerves and chance for both pedestrians and drivers. I suggest that several changes be made in the flow of traffic on the streets, and. visitation hours a major issue or refrigerator rentals a service of primary importance. Our concerns are largely with the state of our education - curriculum library', examination standards- and the state of our pocketbook-assistantships, housing, consumer problems. This column will address itself week by week to the issues and activities that concern graduate students here at UNC. It will appear every Tuesday and in most cases will take its matter from the doings of the Graduate and Professional Student Federation We turn to a column for our voice, instead of relying merely on news items, because a column provides explanation, a way of dealing with the structure of controversy or excitement. We hope not to thrive on crisis and argument. We are not interested in finding that controversy is what we do best. The column will vary from week to week. It will most often center on a single issue or project, but sometimes it will include announcements, snippets of news, how-to-do-it suggestions for alleviating difficult situations or for cooperating among departments. As the year begins, the GPSF is stressing again the need for departments to organize within themselves. In some cases, certainly with most smaller departments, minimal structures will suffice. What is needed, though, is a designated representative to channel communication among departments. When we began meeting during the summer, to fight the tuition hike, we found it extremely difficult to reach many departments. We are all aware that adequate and prompt communication is not one of UNC's administrative strong points. One aim of the GPSF is to compensate by gathering and spreading useful information, but it can be done effectively only if individuals from each North Carolina, the University re! uses to recognize him as such. Thus the University creates a distinction between two people, when both axe residents of the state, on the basis that one is more a resident than another simply because he happened to be a resident at the time oi his first enrollment. This is absurd, and hopefully Ihz many law suits which have been filed across the state will prove that this is a straight denial of equal protection as established by the 14th Amendment. In-state as well as out-of-state students should be concerned with this tuition hike. If all state institutions continue to raise out-of-state tuition in an effort to equalize the costs of education, then the day will soon come when no student from this state or any other will be able to venture past his state boundaries to acquire an education. Regardless of the quality of his state schools, or of his potential contribution as an out-of-state student to "the total educational atmosphere," he will be economically fenced in! One cannot help but feel something can be done to equalize the rising differences in tuition. But what? Perhaps a voucher system, which is currently utilized in only seven states in the country, is the best answer. The system works like this: there are many students in this state who would the planrur.g of the stre For one thing. Franklin Street could be made a one way street (m the direction of Fastgate Shopping Center) and Rosemary Street could be chanced to a one-way street m the opposite direction. In this manner, traffic flow would be increased and would decreavr the chances of accidents and dinger to pedestrians. Some side streets. which were ed years ago to handle very little traffic could be expanded to three or four lanes to handle the outflow of cars from Franklin and Rosemary Streets. Old sidestreets could be extended to reach ma; or roads and the feasibility of new streets should be looked into with care. These are only a few suggestions that might replace the old and antiquated road systems that we presently have. I am sure there are more ways thct improvement coulde be made if only the aldermen and city managers would first recognize that a problem exists. The government of Chapel Hill would be displamg the qualities of leaders w ith forsight and integrity if they act on the roadway headaches. 1 hope that it is not askme too much. Craig G. Alston Ca rrb or o students department are willing to assist with the network of facts, questions and investigation. I ask for volunteers, especially in departments which have not yet chosen a GPSF senator for the 1971-72 year. Anyone interested can contact me easily by campus mail in 506 Greenlaw All departments should check that they have a GPSF senator. According to the GPSF constitution, each senator is chosen according to aprocedure decided within each department. It is therefore a simple matter to elect a replacement for a former senator, if one has moved on to greener employment, or to elect a new senator. Please contact me or any other Executive Board member if there are any questions. The first GPSF Senate meeting will be held Thursday, September 16, probably in the Student Union. It will be concerned with our recognition situation and with the tuition hike and we will elect the new Executive Board, including a president and vice-president. The meeting will also open up possibilities for discussion and action on other issues during the coming year. It is important that each department send an elected representative. r it 1 1 ill -: 1 t.i '-uViVV.V.j The Dally Tir Heel accept!.: letten to the editor, provided tbtf : ere typed on a 60-ipace line 134 : X limited to a maximum or jvj ; !' J 111 " i V . V fj : and the address ana phone num :$ of the writer must be Included. The paper reserve the rifht g edit all Itttert for Ktrfui statements lyjji oo4 tate. . t v i Address letters to' Associate : Editor, Tbe DaifyVTat Heel, in care :: , like to attain a coilege education outside of N.C, but do not have the funds. The state of N.C. could pay these people up to SI 000, which would allow the majority of these students of leave N.C. Our legislators have stated that it takes over S2000 to educate a student in this state. If the student leaves the state after receiving SI 000, N. C. has saved over SI 000. There would be more money available for budgeting to the state's system of higher education. Or perhaps you can equalize the in-state and out-of-state tuition across the country, and then require the parents of a Florida student who comes to UNC to pay the proportion of taxes for education that N.C residents pay? Could an agency of the federal government regulate the proportion of the state's ta s and distribute them to students who go out-of-state? Would the complete socialization of education in this country bring about a better system? The future alone may hold the correct answer to this problem, but for the present, the N.C General Assembly has moved forward with a plan which will jeopardize the quality of higher education in this state. The N.C General Assembly will meet in special session on Oct. 26. Every student in this university should endeavor to convince our legislators that Senate bill 793 is wrong, and should be repealed.