Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Sept. 8, 1977, edition 1 / Page 8
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V 8 The Daily Tar Heel Thursday, September 8, 1977 Greg Porter Editor Ben Cornelius, Managing Editor Ed Rankin, Associate Editor Lou BiL!ONis,.4Morij Editor Laura Scism, University Editor Elliott Potter, City Editor Chuck Alston, State and National Editor Sara Bullard, Features Editor Jeanne Newsom, Arts Editor Gene Upchurch, Sports Editor L.C. Barbour, Photography Editor Stye Sailjj 85th year of editorial freedom The race for middle ground There was a touch of irony, if not surprise, yesterday as Luther H odges J r. announced his candidacy for the Senate seat Republican Jesse Helms now holds. The former NCNB chairman has been running unofficially for eight months and the media have touted him as the Democratic heavyweight for more than a year. So the campaign kickoff was routine rather than shocking. As he moved from the Research Triangle Park to Eden to Charlotte, the candidate took the expected swipes at Helms. "Helms' voice is weak," Hodges said. "And when it is heard, it is always saying the same thing 'No!' He has said so much that whenever he proposes anything, the rest of the Senate says 'no' to him," Hodges said. The ironic element of the maiden voyage of the campaign was the send off. Luther Hodges Jr. opened his campaign in the midst of the industrial and academic research complex his father built. The Research Triangle Park, the fastest-growing center of its kind, is the very impressive handiwork of Luther Hodges Sr., who many observers say was the best governor in the history of the state and went on to be U.S. Secretary of Commerce under John F. Kennedy. This is the mantle Luther Hodges Jr. carries into the Senate battle as one of his most effective weapons. In this state, only the name Sam Ervin rivals the impact of the venerable Luther Hodges Sr. It is this impressive calling card, along with Luther Hodges Jr.'s administrative skills and huge financial base, that make him the Democrats' most potent challenger to Jesse Helms. Hodges is io risk to alienate conservative Democrats with a liberal platform. He is a safe bet to follow in his father's footsteps as a "businessman in the state house." His moderate stance should consolidate his party and make Helms' strident right wing views seem all the more out of the mainstream. Hodges' approach was clear in yesterday's comments. "If I were a United States Senator I would be talking about tobacco as opposed to the Panama Canal," Hodges said. "I would be knowledgeable about the canal, but I wouldn't be paranoid about it." In the inevitable race for the middle ground, Hodges should have an advantage. He's much more at home in the middle of the spectrum than the ideologue Helms. He and his father have held down that spot for almost three decades now. Night taxi service a failure University and town officials are obviously having problems communicating these days on a bus contract acceptable to both parties. Judging from the misunderstandings that have cropped up over improved night service for students and faculty, it's clear that Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance John Temple was correct in refusing to sign a previously agreed-upon contract Tuesday. The present transit system offers no fixed route night service necessary for students traveling to and from campus. Temple said yesterday that he received a letter in June from Town Manager Kurt Jenne that promised night bus service. Jenne said he remembers no such letter or ever having promised night bus service. The letter may remain a mystery but one thing is clear the shared-ride taxi service that replaced the night bus system is not working. Taxis are supposed to transport riders in areas within one-fourth of a mile of any bus route except in Carrboro and the core of the campus. Even town officials have admitted the taxi service has not had an auspicious beginning. This is not the first snag that the U niversity and town have hit over the bus system. The University announced plans earlier this year to pay $338,000 rather than the $400,00 that had been agreed to tentatively. After the Board of Aldermen stubbornly voted to repeat the town's request the town and University agreed upon a compromise of $366,000 negotiated by Mayor Jim Wallace. The night taxi service should be an addition, not substitute, for night bus routes. Town and university officials, however, will have to reach the same wavelength before a beneficial agreement on the level of night service is signed. Chapel Hill's parking problems letters to the editor University officials should come in out of the rain To the editor: To Dean Boulton: 1 am so glad you are keenly aware that there is a water shortage. And better still, that you realize that there is friction between the town and the University. Knowing these two facts, let's look at the problem which exists and try to find those really responsible for the friction you outlined in the Daily Tar Heel ("Boulton suggests orientation to ease Chapel Hill friction," Sept. 6). Anyone living in Chapel H ill this summer came to realize that there would be a shortage this fall. It didn't take too much insight. One needed only to look outside the window day after day to determine that rain was not falling. And even if you were on vacation or living in a windowless room, a quick call to the weather bureau or a glance at the newspaper would have revealed that there was indeed a serious problem emerging. All the more reason for the University to allow 10-20.000 students to come to Chapel Hill. I guess you thought that your Indian war dances and divining rods would bring the "great rains" and hidden springs to the students. But. alas, that did hot happen. So in closing. Dean Boulton. please don't pass the buck on to the citizens. They have a right to be angry. They should not be angry at the students. Students were not told that a serious crisis existed. And who's fault is that? It all boils down to you. So simply accept the responsibility and blame that goes with last minute efforts and poor planning. When it rains, it pours, so it might be time to pull out your umbrella, or better still come in out of the rain. Dan R. Ariail 1 100 Roosevelt Dr.. Apt. 3 Bottoms up To the editor: Police Chief Herman Stone's act of arresting students in front of Kirkpatrick's last week is an example of an annoying regression to conservatism this town has displayed in the last two years. I can remember a time when carrying a beer down the street was legal or at least tolerated (sigh). Perhaps several points should be brought to Mr. Stone's attention: First, police and town have traditionally been tolerant of student activities. Since most have to work hard here, since beer is cheap and since on-campus beer sales are non-existent, many patronize bars when it's time to play, i admit Carolina students can be loud but they have enough class to conduct themselves better than those in other college towns I've seen. Second. Stone said students were causing a safety problem on public property. Does this mean he will arrest people for drinking at campus mixers which are held on or near public property? He would anger a lot of students if he tried. If Mr. Stone saw Kirkpatrick's during the NCAA finals, he must realize these "illegal" crowds will continue on occasion simply because there is no where else to put them. Third, don't bite the hand that helps feed you! Beer sales in this town are among the highest in the nation for its size. This means money. It seems foolish to endanger this revenue by hassling those who generate it. Fourth, with all the cars racing down Rosemary St. like there's no tomorrow, are the crowds endangering or endangered? I hope there will be a sensible solution to this controversy, but in the meantime. bottoms up Mr. Stone! John Johnson 1 16 Lewis The Daily Tar Heel welcomes contributions and letters to the editor, letters must he signed, typed on a 60- . space line, double-spaced and must be accompanied by a return address. Letters chosen for publication are subject to editing. Fee Increase justified To the editor: This is in reply to the charges by Bruce Tindall ("Increase in student fees this year's unnatural act?" Letters. Sept. 6) concerning student fee increases. Anyone belonging to a campus organization seeking help from CGC this past spring can well remember the struggle for necessary monies. This student fee increase would help ease the problem of funding all the campus groups that come before the finance committee in March. I urge all students and especially those belonging to a campus organization funded by CGC to wholeheartedly support this increase. I hese student fees have not been raised since 1957 and the money received now cannot properly fund all groups. In regard to Mr. Tindall's accusation that CGC is considering salaries for themselves, I, as a CGC member declare that his statement is false. Our job now and when we ran for it was understood as being unpaid. So I ask you once again to help us help you, by supporting this increase in badly needed student fees. Sonya Lewis 207 Whitehead CGC representative. District 12 Night rider To the editor: Recently I purchased a semi-effective bicycle to ride those distant treks. After just moments of night riding I realized that several passers-by had insisted upon headlights for my new bicycle. 1 know they're recommended but are headlights a steadfast law in Chapel Hill for bicycles after dark? Kip Pearson 528 Ehringhaus Jesse and friends can guard canal themselves To the editor: As of late. President Carter has been enlisting support from all across the political spectrum for his proposed Panama Canal treaty and for two good reasons. First, the president and his negotiators have produced a workable treaty as a means of attempting to solve a crucial and growing problem. Secondly, treaty ratification in the Senate is unsure at best. Many junior John Waynes like Senators Jesse Helms and Strom Thurmond still cling to the old "We bought it so we're not gonna give it up" theory. This Victorian mentality practiced by some of our congressmen is indeed unfortunate. Teddy Roosevelt's "Carry a big stick" diplomacy of the 1890's cannot be applied to the politically volatile I970's. But more than the politics of a few senators is at stake. The Panama Canal issue has all the makings of another Vietnam if not dealt with efficiently. Even hardline conservative Barry Goldwater has endorsed the proposed treaty as a means of avoiding another Vietnam. The really ironic twist here is that if it were ever necessary to send troops into Panama due to the troubles that failure of ratification might bring. Senators Helms and Thurmond, Governor Reagan, and all their hawk friends will be sitting safely in the states while young people like myself will be sent to war. 1 si i. r t rr A n 8 Plwto by ChwlM Hardy Sen. Jesse Helms I love this country and if it were ever attacked maliciously and deliberately as in World War II, I would be the first to fight for it. But I will not die in a Vietnam-type conflict to protect Jesse Helms' outdated political ideals. . , If Jesse, Strom, and Ronnie want to keep the canal, buy them a gun and let them guard it. Robert Wells 303 Stacy Advice to bikers Prevention is the best cure Editor's Note: This advice is prepared by Student Legal Services, which maintains an office in Suite C of the Carolinu Union. UNC students have pre paid for this service and may obtain advice at no additional charge. Student Legal Services has encountered a large number of students who have been injured in biking accidents. The typical case involves a bike and car encounter, with the cyclists sustaining serious physical injury. Cyclists are required to observe all traffic regulations and, as a practical matter, should practice defensive driving at all times. Even if the car is "mostly" at fault, the cyclist may wake up in the hospital to learn that his "contributory negligence" will let the car driver off the hook for the med'eal bills. Cyclists are urged to shop for bike with safety features which at a minimum meet the mandatory safety standards issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Bicycle frames, steering systems, wheels and brakes have to meet rigid tests for safe construction, strength and performance. Advice for the day: 1) In the event of an accident, call the police and be certain to get the motorist's name and insurance information. 2) If you feel the motorist is at fault, tell your observations to the police officer. 3) Seek legal advice ii you feel that you are being treated unfairly by either the police department or the insurance company. Gradual restraint of traffic flow through campus area may be the answer The system has two immediate results. First, it is areas on the campus would be closed in sequence and X II ByK. KERR HOLLIDAY With the recent change in Chapel Hill's parking ordinance for the streets around the campus, the parking problem has again been brought home to the campus commuters. With more and more cars coming to Chapel Hill each year the parking situation does not seem to be getting any better. And of course everyone asks why Chapel Hill is reducing the number of parking places when what we need is more parking. To begin with, the parking problem in Chapel Hill is not past the point of being solvable even given the increasing number or cars and a static, or perhaps decreasing, amount of real property available for parking. Many people point out that the Bell Tower lot could be a massive parking deck. Of course those same people are not interested in paying for it. A new parking deck has been proposed for the hospital, and perhaps, if it is used for visitors, the deck is needed. The cynics among us point out the solution is really quite simple. They smile and tell us to just outlaw cars. While it is certainly not politically advantageous to suggest outlawing cars, some type of traffic restraint is going to be the simplest and very likely the least expensive solution. One system tried in some European cities with varying degrees of success is a traffic restraint system. The traffic restraint system does not outlaw cars; the system merely makes it more attractive to ride the bus. In fact, cars and trucks need occasional access to the business district to at least make deliveries. But how does the system work? Picture a central business district surrounded by a loop road, something like a very large traffic circle. Now divide the business district into sections like a pie. The traffic flow is designed so that cars and trucks can enter any pie section from the loop road but cannot go from one pie section to another without going back to the loop road. easier to walk in the business district since pedestrians do not have to dodge cars. Second, buses can keep to schedules more easily because there is less traffic. A traffic restraint system would certainly be too severe for a town like Chapel Hill. But it would be practical to borrow the basics of a traffic restraint system and apply them to Chapel Hill. We would need a system that drastically reduces traffic but at the same time does not reduce access. The system would have to work with the bus system and at the same time make a dent in the parking problem. The system would have to be easy to implement (political considerations aside) and most importantly the system would have to be inexpensive. A system that would meet all the requirements would be a Franklin Street mall and a complete elimination of commuter parking on or near the campus. Franklin Street should be blocked off from Raleigh Street to just past Granville Towers. Rosemary Street could handle westbound traffic. Eastbound traffic would be a bit more difficult: Cameron, South Columbia, South Road and Raleigh Street would handle eastbound traffic. Cameron Street through the campus should be closed. The result would be a large traffic circle to move through traffic quickly and provide a pleasant mall area for students or residents to shop. The mall would not have to be expensive, the streets would be blocked off and the pavement could be left intact. But what about the elimination of parking? If removing five hundred parking spaces causes such a flap, what would it be like to remove all commuter parking? The solution presented is just the obvious extension of providing express bus service to and from fringe lots. The parking could be gradually phased out so the switch would not be so abrupt. Individual parking the people who had decals for those areas would not be allowed to get a decal for another area. More fringe lots and more buses could gradually be added as needed. The system would not eliminate parking but would just move it out of town and provide buses to get to the job. The key to the whole system is that everyone, from the Chancellor on down, would have to ride the bus. Many people point out that it is not nice to require people to support the Chapel Hill bus system, especially since the people supporting it would be commuters, presumably from out of town. Of course, it is somehow nice to charge them an exorbitant fee to park a car on campus and pay for the privilege of fighting traffic. Others say they should not have to sit on a bus for forty-five minutes on their way to work. Instead they would rather sit in their cars and inhale the sulfur dioxide the car in front of them is exhaling. Of course there is always the Equal Protection analysis. But I feel it is rather unwise to introduce the interstices of the Fourteenth Amendment to an already overburdened traffic system. Especially since even the , Supreme Court has trouble with the Equal Protection Clause. I have not offered the ideas here as a solution to Chapel Hill's parking and traffic problems. But rather I offer the ideas as a starting point to begin to plan for Chapel Hill's future. I designed the downtown "mall" in twenty minutes and 1 am sure that a traffic engineer would tear it to shreds, but while he might destroy the method he would not destroy the idea of some type of traffic restraint for Chapel Hill and the University. The problems are serious and not getting any better. Until the University and Chapel Hill realize that traffic restraint is the only practical solution, Chapel Hill will continue to wallow in cars. K. Kerr Holliday is a second-year law student from C hapel Hill, N.C. Rosemary St. .juiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiirmnrmw.Tn ; : Franklin St. a" S ' Id I; n Granville J Towers CO E E 3 w ! A.2 ! I Old Well m njMlilllllllllllllllliiMiiiiiiMMiiuiiiiiiiijiiTmrrr South Building A V y Bell Tower P by Joctyn Pton A traffic restraint system like the one above could solve Chapel Hill's parkina problem, encouraging bus ridership and parking on the perimeter of the campus Traffic would flow in a counter-clockwise manner, as shown by the arrows.
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Sept. 8, 1977, edition 1
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