8 The Daily Tar Heel Thursday. February 7,
David Stacks, Editor
Michele Mecke, Managing Editor
Michael Wade, Associate Editor
Gary Terpening, Associate Editor
Martha Waggoner, News Editor
Eddie Marks, University Editor
Carol Hanner, City Editor
Kathy Curry, State and National Editor
Reid Tuvim, Sports Editor
Susan Ladd, Features Editor
Laura Elliott, Arts Editor
Andy James, Photography Editor
Dinita James, Weekender Editor
For president, Saunders
It might be that the snow has covered what we believe to be the most
important concern in the campaign for student body president this year,
or perhaps the three candidates all have chosen to talk of somewhat
smaller issues and thus have approached the larger picture only
obliquely. Regardless, Kevin Garrity, Bob Saunders and Clive Stafford
Smith all are good candidates capable of directing the complex
organization that operates out of Suite C. But one candidate, Bob
Saunders, emerges as best qualified to deal with the urgent concern that
none of them has said enough about: The fact that this election coincides
with other events in such a way that 1980 provides a unique opportunity
to begin a renewed era of student responsibility at the University.
The selection of a new chancellor and athletic director means a chance
for Student Government to acquire a previously unheard-of rapport
with many aspects of the administration. The J.B. Kelly presidency,
which has removed some of the tarnish that had accumulated on the
credibility of Student Government, provides a solid foundation that, of
the three candidates, Saunders is best equipped to build upon.
Saunders has demonstrated consistently that he has the ability to take
advantage of the opportunities open to the next student body president.
He has run on his record of leadership both in and out of Student
Government a record much more extensive that those of either of his
opponents. But even more convincing is the pragmatic, effective manner
in which Saunders has conducted the business of the organizations he
has led,
Saunders has served as Student Government coordinator for the 16
chancellor's committees, which are composed of students and faculty
and report to the chancellor on specific issues. Both Saunders and his
opponents, as well as many Student Government staff members have
praised the work of these groups and deemed their development an
important catalyst behind the recent increased communications
between. South Building and students. Saunders' role in coordinating
the committees is strong evidence of his claim to a practical kind of
experience. His leadership background also includes service as Student
Government Elections Board chairman and campus affairs
coordinator, as well as chairman of radio station WXYCs board of
directors, lieutenant governor of the North Carolina Student
Legislature and as a member of the Food Service Advisory Committee.
The issues of this campaign are complex. All three candidates are
knowledgeable on the Long report, which recommends a University
office for minority affiars; the Thornton report, which recommends
curriculum changes in the General College; proposed student health fee
increases; and the food service problem. But on many of these and other
issues, anyone who has inquired recently to Student Government for
information probably has been referred to Bob Saunders. His superior
knowledge of the issues, as well as his experience in dealing with the
sometimes intricate mechanisms of Student Government and the
University, gives him the edge over his opponents in the process of
learning how to be student body president.
Garrity also possesses a great deal of knowledge and experience both
in and out of Student Government, most notably as university services
coordinator and as a member of the Student Health Service
Administrative Board. But Garrity's ideas on operating Student
Government are more vague that those of Saunders, and his knowledge
and experience less deep.
Stafford Smith brings to the race for student body president
refreshing idealism and genuine originality. His membership and
involvement in a spectrum of groups ranging from the Bridge Club to
the Black Student Movement give him a broad perspective of student
needs and concerns. But the short one-year term of the office requires a
president with more leadership experience than Stafford Smith has
demonstrated.
Both Stafford Smith and Garrity have much to contribute to Student
Government. But Saunders proven sure-footed leadership gives him an
essential quality that Student Government now needs.
Leadership,
motivation
vital issues
By KEVIN GARRITY
1 he student body president is the
elected representative of the entire
student body. Constitutionally, it is the
president's responsibility to represent
students' interests, desires and ideas to
the faculty, administration, other
schools, the University Board of Trustees
and the UNC Board of Governors. My
own perception of the office includes the
maintenance of a high-quality, motivated
staff to ensure that while I may be
involved in a single issue, all areas of
student concern will be addressed.
The next student body president will
have a rare opportunity to direct student
input into new areas of policy making.
Four areas of immediate concern are:
implementing the recommendations of
the Long report dealing with minority
and disadvantaged students; ensuring a
student voice in curriculum changes;
controlling the increase in Student
Health Service fees; and providing an
improved food service for students.
More specifically, I would like to see a
voting student member on the
Educational Policy Committee, an office
of minority affairs, greater student input
on town boards (the Planning Board, for
example), the chancellor's committees
and a more secure campus by the funding
of an escort service and the addition of
more lights on campus.
One recurring complaint against
Student Government is that the student
bodv simply doesn't know what Student
Government is doing. Students should be
1980
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87th year of editorial freedom
ii:
Kevin Garrity
given the opportunity to react to Student
Government policies and plans so that
Student Government more closely can
reflect student desires. If elected, I intend
to meet regularly with dorm senates and
area executive councils throughout the
year in a continuing campaign. There
should be no distance between Suite C
and the student body at large.
Student Government has expanded to
include more than 100 students
working in Suite C. An effective and
interested staff requires the motivation of
a strong and dynamic leader. For this
reason, leadership is also an important
issue in this campaign. From the
experience I've gained in both the
Student Consumer Action Union and
Student Government, I'm confident in
my ability to lead, motivate and
effectively work with other students and
administrators. This, added to the things
I'd like to see accomplished during my
administration, makes me think that I'm
the best candidate for the job.
Kevin Garrity, a junior history major
from Deal, N.J.. is a candidate for
student body president in student body
elections next week.
i
letters to the editor
CGC auction condemned us undemocratic
To the editor:
On Feb. 5 a referendum guaranteeing
that 15 percent of graduate student
activity fees would be administered by trie
Graduate and Professional Student
Federation passed by the necessary two
thirds majority. 1 was quite astonished to
read that the Campus Governing Council
approved a counter-referendum Tuesday
night which would delete the new
amendment "CGC action could cancel
effect of grad referendum," (DTH, Feb.
,6). However well-intentioned CGC
officials may have been, such a measure
does not seem compatible with
democratic principles.
The explanation offered by the CGC
that more polling places were allocated to
graduate students than to off-campus
undergraduates does not strike me as a
serious problem, especially since Election
Board Chairman Scott Simpson has said
he considered the electionto be fair. If the
CGC wishes to do something
constructive about the election process, I
suggest they revise the bylaw which
necessitated keeping the polls closed till
1 1 Tuesday morning. There are students
who have jobs following morning classes,
and therefore have no opportunity to
vote.
I urge the CGC to reflect on its ill
considered decision. Even if the CGC has
a legal right to submit its proposal to a
simple majority vote when the original
referendum required the approval of two
thirds of the voters, such an action
certainly isn't morally justified. In the
event that the CGC's proposal is
submitted to a vote, I think all students
should follow J.B. Kelly's example. He
voted against last night's proposal in spite
of personal opposition to the 15 percent
amendment. You're, not voting on a
budget amendment anymore, but on a
matter of conscience.
Richard Nunan
Department of philosophy
To the editor:
So much for the democratic process.
Now that the voters have passed the
graduate referendum, the Campus
Governing Council, in its wisdom, has
decided that we really didn't vote as we
were supposed to. As a result, they will do
our thinking for us and reverse the
outcome. I assume that we will keep
doing it until we get it right.
If these elected officials have so little
regard for the process of democracy,
perhaps the University administration
should consider doing away with the
whole concept of student self
government. It sounds as though Kathy Lamb is a
graduate of the Richard Nixon school of
participatory government. If the mob
fails to do as we think they should, we
have the obligation to show them the
way.
Student Body President J.B. Kelly is to
be commended for his vote against this
scurrilous move. I hope he has the
courage to veto what amounts to little
more than official ballot-box stuffing.
Paul D. Naylor
Durham
To the editor:
The political maneuvering of the
Campus Governing Council in regard to
the Graduate and Professional Student
Federation referendum is fascinating, to
say the least.
Once the results of the 1976 election
were known, wouldn't it have been
' wonderful if President Gerald Ford had
overruled the electoral process and then
challenged Jimmy Carter to a best two-out-of-three
runoff? Better yet, best
three-out-of five. Ah, yes, the wonders of
a democracy never cease to amaze me.
Robert Reddersen
Department of radio,
television and motion pictures
Experience
and vision
necessary
By BOB SA UNDERS
Student elections often are burdened
with shopworn cliches like the classic,
"Let's put the student back into Student
Government.' If the candidate fails to
understand the concepts behind the
clever phrases, only the cliches remain.
Most candidates feel obligated to say,
"I have the most experience." My work
'with administrators, the University
Board of Trustees and numerous
chancellor's committees has provided me
with practical experience. This group
composes the same audience which faces
the student body president.
Many candidates talk about their
abilities to motivate and inspire. As a
freshman, I organized the campus
elections as Elections Board chairman. I
continued in Student Government my
sophomore year as campus-affairs
coodinator.
This year, I worked in J.B. Kelly's
administration as the coordinator of 60
student members on the 16 chancellor's
committees, including food service,
student health. Student Stores and the
status of minorities and disadvantaged.
My experience has not been limited to
inside Suite C; I currently am serving as
the lieutenant governor of the N.C.
Student Legislature and as chairperson of
the board of directors of WXYC.
In the academic area, the Thornton
rcPrt recommends a more restrictive
General College curriculum by increasing
the number of required courses. Instead
.DTH9 ignorant on 'Do
To the editor:
When dealing with any affair that
relates to blacks, The Daily Tar Heel
seldom fails to show its asininity. While
it could not give prominence to its so
called "preview article," "Black history
portrayed," (DTH, Feb. 1), on Down
Home (Editor David Stacks said the
article was prominently placed), it could
give prominence to its "review" of last
Saturday's production ("Singing
redeems 'Home,'" Feb. 4).
Before there is any
misunderstanding, let me say that my
students and I are able to accept
intelligent criticism. We were and are
fully aware of any merits and
weaknesses of Down Home.
Evidently, Bob Royalty and Arts
Editor Laura Elliott think it is not
necessary to have any knowledge of
what he is to review before he reviews it.
Elliott says that she does not seek news
but waits for it to be sent to her.
Question: Why, then, did she send
Royalty to review Down HomfP. Elliott
also says that she cannot read minds
but a mere reading of the program
should have kept Royalty from writing
that Down Home is "a show written by
Professor Lee Greene."
Down Home is a production which
my students and I wrote. It is an
extracurricular activity which grows
out of English 84, Black American
Literature, and is designed to portray
the historical context in which various
black American art forms have their
genesis. Participation in the
productions we do is open to any
student. There are no auditions and
thus no competition for parts. The
primary purposes for Productions 84
are to give students in the course a better
understanding of the backgrounds to
the literature and to provide an outlet
(which does not exist at UNC) for these
students to express and nurture
whatever interests and talents they may
have in the arts. It is not our intent to
produce a slick, so-called Broadway
play, though we maintain
professionalism throughout our
Bob Saunders
of this approach, we need to strengthen
the advising system and preserve the
freedom of choice for students.
In the area of the food service, the
U niversity is studying operations at other
universities. One provision being
considered, a mandatory meal plan for
freshmen, is an option with which I
totally disagree.
In order to increase the advisory
capacity of the University, we need to
construct new administrative structures
in order to enhance the minority
presence. From my work with the
committee on the status of minorities and
the disadvantaged, I am convinced of the
need for an office of supportive services in
order to ensure the firm implementation
of the Long report.
The role of the student body president
is to provide a collective voice for
students in the decision-making processes
of the University. We need someone who
can combine the necessary vision with
practical experience. Consider the issues.
Consider the experience. Vote.
Bob Saunders, a junior economics major
from High Point, is a candidate for
student body president in student body
elections next week.
V .. . , - ;
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activities.
In his review, Royalty accurately
points out that in the main the technical
aspects of the production were terrible.
Credit for this goes to the Carolina
Union, whose technicians were unable
to follow both written and verbal
directions. The Carolina Union does
not allow our own technicians to handle
these aspects of our productions.
Royalty's other comments about
Down Home do more to reveal his
ignorance of the black American and
the production itself than to evaluate
any of the production's merits or
demerits.
It is obvious from his review that
Royalty has no accurate knowledge
about the Middle Passage or the Great
Black Migration; it is obvious that he
does not understand (yet is a victim of)
the X-paradigm. Apparently, he knows
nothing about black American slave '
songs and their double-entendre quality
and is unaware that the world considers
these songs this country's only original
contribution to world art forms. In
essence, he knows absolutely nothing
about the black Americans and
especially black American arts.
Royalty's review, then, is written out
of unadulterated ignorance or pure
malice or both. I do not write this
letter because I take seriously any
judgment Royalty makes about Down
Home. I have read enough DTH
reviews to have better sense than to do
that. Royalty states that in essence
Down Home was "a ridiculous
treatment of a serious theme." For those
of you who did not see the production
and who have any sense of objectivity, I
ask only one question to put the review
and the reviewer in the proper
perspective: Why would 800 black
people (and others in the audience) give
a standing ovation to 65 students if
indeed those students had just spent two
hours rendering "a ridiculous treatment
of a serious theme " about black
American history through the arts?
To Royalty, I say: "Walk Him Up!" If
ever he is able to understand what this
Perspective
and unity
needed
By C- STA FFORD SMITH
I am running for student body
president because there are several issues
concerning all of us that must be resolved.
I believe that I have the ideas workable
ideas that will enable us to do just that
this year.
We need a new food service. National
companies have indicated their
willingness to compete on campus, and
recourse to student opinion through a
referendum will force the issue.
Servomation's contract includes a 60-day
termination clause.
We need to eliminate the division
between the north and south parts of
campus. Among the suggestions that I
have put forward to help alleviate this is a
free campus-belt bus service, which
would be similar to the service at Duke.
Our education must be made more
personal. My proposals include classes in
the dorms, like those taught currently in
Henderson and Scott residence colleges,
a reduced student faculty ratio in
advising and diverse one-hour interest
classes. Also, the Thornton curriculum
report must be brought to a referendum
so that we can avoid the adoption of this
unnecessarily arbitrary proposal.
My policies for I9&0 are designed to
help to unify the entire campus north
and south, black and white, Greek and
non-Greek. These proposals call for such
measures as classes in the South Campus
dorms, Student Government action to
ensure the fulfillment of the Long report
and Greek participation in sponsoring
extracurricular activities.
wn Home
means, then he will be almost qualified
to comment on the black Americana.
Lee Green
Associate professor of English
To the editor:
In Bob Royalty's review "Singing
redeems 'Home,' " (DTH, Feb. 4). he
describes Down Home as dubious,
ridiculous, inadequate and nebulous.
We would like to use the same adjectives
to describe Royalty's review of the
production.
First of all, where was the plot
denied? How were the dramatic
monologues "inadequate"? Why was
the North-South argument too long?
How did it detract from the excellence
of the production? How did slaves
appear dressed like ghosts or klansmen?
Obviously, Royalty was not prepared
for what he had the opportunity to
experience. Anyone with any
knowledge of black American history
who witnessed Down Home has to
admit that it did portray that history.
For example, Royalty described one
portion of the production as a
"ridiculous treatment of a serious
theme." Well, maybe it was ridiculous,
to that portion of the audience who
laughed or to Royalty. But to those
who sympathized or understood, it
must have been just the opposite: a
serious treatment of a serious theme.
Royalty also claims that "the
dramatic continuity of the play was
dubious at best," and that some sort of
plot was hinted at only to be denied.
Had Royalty been a more astute listener
and observer, perhaps he would more
readily have recognized that the songs
he claimed "popped up out of nowhere"
actually contributed to the continuity
that he failed to grasp.
Orlando Dobbin
832 James
Stan Reid
539 James
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Cllvo A. Stafford Smith
My experience with the Educational
Policy Committee has given me a firm
grasp of the way to run Student
Government, so 1 shall be able to
perpetuate the gains made by the present
administration. Beyond that, the
diversity of my involvement on campus is
a great asset. Having been active with the
attorney general's staff, '77k" Daily Tar
Heel, the Black Student Movement and
the Campus Y, I hope 1 have the
necessary overall perspective that I would
not have acquired had I limited myself
simply to government-related
committees.
As president 1 will do my very best to
give an energetic, purposeful lead.
However, (please excuse an overworked
metaphor from my rowing days with the
Crew Club) if we are to accomplish
anything, we must pull together. The true
power of the presidency irs in the
mobilization of everyone who is
interested in the firm stands that we will
take in the upcoming vear.
Clive A. Stafford Smuh, a junior political
science and A merkan tud$ major from
Cambridge. England, is a candidate for
iuiknt body president in student body
elections next nfrt.