10 The Daily Tar Heel Thursday. March 13, 1980
George Shadroui, Editor
Dinita James, Managing Editor
Brad Kutrow, Associate Editor
Thomas Jessiman, Associate Editor
Martha Waggoner, News Editor
Pam Kelley, University Editor
Anne-Marie Downey, City Editor
Jim Hummel, State and National Editor
Bill Fields, Sports Editor
Mark Murrell, Features Editor
Laura Elliott, Arts Editor
Andy James, Photography Editor
Mel an IE Sill, Weekender Editor
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88th year of editorial freedom
By WILLIAM DURHAM
The penultimate bastion of apartheid fell last
week as Robert Mugabe, Marxist and militant,
won an overwhelming victory in Rhodesia's
general election. Blacks, frustrated by those of
their own leaders who waffled in their negotiations
with the whites, united to elect the leader who
refused to compromise. Mugabe's victory, while
astounding the British mediators and white
Rhodesians alike, heralds a new era during which
Rhodesia, or Zimbabwe as it is soon to be called,
can become one of the most prosperous nations on
the African continent.
Mugabe's margin of victory indicates that the
black population of the country has pulled
together at last. Long splintered by factionalism
and tribalism, the black voters combined to give
Mugabe 62.9 percent of the 2.7 million black votes,
and 57 of the 80 black seats in the Parliamentary
Assembly.
The wily British political manipulators had
predicted that no candidate would achieve a
majority of the vote. With a colonial fervor
reminiscent of the days of the empire on which the
sun never set, the British experts had anticipated a
more even split among Mugabe, his former
guerrilla partner Joshua Nkomo, and Bishop Abel
T. Muzorewa, the leader of last year's biracial
regime. The absence of a majority would have
allowed Lord Soames, the colonial governor, to
pick the increasingly moderate Nkomo to head a
coalition government. Until Mugabe's recent gain
in popularity, the British had not even wanted to
include him in the coalition.
Mugabe's reputation among white Rhodesians
as a Marxist and a murderer is reason enough for
the British wish to exclude him from the
Rhodesian government. Last year, the British had
allowed an election from which both Mugabe and
Nkomo were excluded. The leader of Rhodesia's
letters to the editor
Professors and teachers perform a role essential to a free and a t t
responsible nation. That they should be paid low wages while JfldSfSQ OSt
celebrities rake in million dollar salaries tends to indict the values that M v
transcend this country. Certainly, a realigning of priorities seems in
order. In the meantime, the 10 percent salary increase and the trend
towards improving a traditionally poor income area are welcome signs
that indicate a movement in the right direction.
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Misplaced priorities
There is something quite ridiculous about a society that rewards its
athletes, actors and rock V roll stars with extravagant salaries while
often ignoring and grossly underpaying those people who mold the
minds of the future: teachers and professors.
In an announcement Tuesday, the Southern Regional Education
Board announced that the disparity between faculty salaries in the
South and other areas of the country would disappear by the mid-1980s
if current trends remain unabated. Also, UNC President William Friday
said he would request a 10 percent faculty salary increase when the 1980
session of the N.C. General Assembly convenes this spring.
Both of these announcements indicate a long standing problem in the
academic institutions of this country. As Thomas Isenhour, chairman of
the chemistry department pointed out, the inability of universities to
compete with independent employers could result in a dwindling supply
of quality educators, a possibility that would most certainly undermine
an effective educational system here at Carolina and throughout other
universities (low wages do not do a lot for faculty morale either).
In an effort to deal with poor salaries and difficult working situations
(such as student violence), many teachers across the nation have formed
unions. Unfortunately, this option sometimes results in the best interests
of the student being forgotten amid salary disputes and intense
negotiations.
1 ' '
SOUTH AFRICA
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largest guerrilla army, Mugabe is known for his
ruthlessness and dedication to Marxist ideology.
However, Mugabe has so far shown
magnanimity and an apparently sincere desire to
turn Rhodesia into a multi-racial state tolerant of
even his political enemies. Aware of the qualms of
the white population of Rhodesia, Mugabe went
on television to reassure whites of his government's
respect for personal property and pension rights.
To the blacks he addressed an appeal for
patience: "Every body should exercise patience, for
change cannot occur overnight."
Mugabe stresses that he is a moderate socialist
and will not inundate the country with Marxist
ideology. .He favors redistribution of land and
other wealth in favor of blacks, but intends no
wholesale remaking of the country. "We are not
going to interfere with private property, whether it
be farms or whether it be the mining sector of the
industrial sector. The modifications can only take
place in a gradual way," Mugabe said.
Land distribution is a point of potential
controversy in a country where 3 percent of the
population, the whites, owns 50 percent of the
land. To forestall cries of plunder and a wholesale
flight of whites from the country, Mugabe has
agreed to compensation for redistributed land.
Before he begins any long-term programs,
Mugabe must deal with the more immediate perils
facing his country. Four armies are roaming about
a countyside devastated by war. Rural schools,
clinics and agricultural installations have been
destroyed. Blacks totaling 850,000 have been
forced from their farms onto "protected villages,"
and 250,000 refugees are returning from
neighboring countries. The economy has been so
plundered that it has had a large negative growth
rate for the last five years. And with the results of
the recent election, the prices of Rhodesian
Government bonds and of companies with
interests in Rhodesia fell sharply.
Nevertheless, there is potential for enormous
economic gain in Rhodesia. The United Nations
Security Council has decided to lift the trade
embargo it imposed a decade ago, opening the way
for significant improvement of the rocky economy.
The 230,000 whites in the country, however, are
essential to Rhodesia's prosperity. If Mugabe
prompts a white exodus by following the
majority's wishes for a larger share of the land,
then the economic picture will be bleak indeed.
Meanwhile, manufacturers are on the road to
capacity production, construction is expected to
increase, and mining production, which has
increased vastly in the past few years, is due for an
upsurge, according to the government.
The key to foreign investment in the country is a
stable government capable of maintaining peace.
The key to internal stability is the pacification of
both the whites and the blacks. In any event,
Rhodesia's success hinges on M ugabe; he is the key
to the country.
William Durham, a sophomore English major
from Chapel Hill, is editorial assistant for The
Daily Tar Heel.
al
tentative to Reagan, Carter
Self defense
To the editor:
I was pleased to see that, belatedly,
the DTH has begun to cast doubt on
President Carter's bid for election
this November in "A capricious state
of mind," DTH, Feb. 11).
I was less than euphoric about
what was written. The editor said
that it is difficult to be harsh on the
man who threatened to "whip Sen.
Kennedy's ass." Why is it difficult to
be harsh on a man who has
hypocritically been kissing the same
part of South Africa's anatomy since
1976 while he says he is for human
rights? Why is it difficult to be harsh
on a man who has presided over a
tripling in the inflation rate? Why
should we applaud a man who has
made U.S. foreign policy the
laughing stock of the world?
Carter has his faults, but we must
not wait for them to damage his
HeuS bob
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It seems as if every time one picks up a paper these days, the headlines
blare: embassy taken, hostages held. First came Tehran and the pictures
of blindfolded Americans huddled behind the militants, then Pakistan
stepped onto the bandwagon when hundreds of students, angered by the
takeover of the Great Mosque in Mecca, burned the U.S. embassy
compound and killed two Americans. Now in the latest incident,
terrorists overran a diplomatic reception in Bogota, Colombia and
captured more than 60 hostages, including U.S. Ambassador Diego C.
Asencio. Taking hostages under any circumstances is reprehensible and
inexcusable, especially in light of the fact that an embassy in a foreign
country is supposed to receive protection from all such attacks.
The take-over in Colombia is particularly alarming because of the
IPhlV trained Jinn nprliratprl natlir rkf thf trrrrictc A rsmorlnkluUmU .. . . o ... . .
wi iuv iwiuuow. .vmain-auij! 111511 political lortunes. we mustiooKnow
. number of the Colombian population, 2,000 of the 27 million citizens, at what all the candidates are saying
are active guerrillas, and the group holding the hostages is one of the and decide now who is the best man
best equipped and organized. The United States has left the whole affair for the job.
to the discretion of the Colombian government, and the Colombians In some instances Reagan's
have said that they will not make an assault on the embassy unless the desire to blockade Cuba, for
lives of the hostages are in immediate Hanapr Rprentlv thf tPrmrictc example we have a clear decision as
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have sottened their demands from $50 million to $6 million and asked
for the release of fewer political prisoners. Still, they appear ready to
fight for the latest demands and their determination in past terrorist
activities has shown a preparedness to die for their cause.
Because of their symbolic nature, ambassadors and embassies make
for easy targets. Recently, small groups have discovered how successful
such attacks are for airing political views. If absconding with jetliners
was the mode of the past and stealing nuclear or atomic weapons is to be
the mode of the future, terrorists seem content with the most expedient
tactic: hijacking embassies. By poorly protecting her embassies, the
United States becomes ridiculously vulnerable. The depth of protection
in ma ny U .S. embassies is a marine with a gun at the door and another at
the front desk. In Iran the United States was embarrassed when top
secret documents were not burned or destroyed before militants overran
the inner office, and the situation is similar in many other U.S.
embassies where such documents lie in file cabinets in unguarded halls.
Before another embassy is attacked, countries across the world should
take a hard line against terrorists, and. the United Nations should make
an effort to ensure the safety of diplomatic sanctuaries. In the meantime,
sadly enough, the simplest solution may be to increase the military
presence in the embassies.
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to whether we want World War 111 in
1981. However, unfortunately,
usually we have no idea what the
candidates really do believe, in which
case we are in danger of having to
vote blind.
This year there is one candidate,
though, who does make sense.
Who told the National Rifle
Association conference that he is in
favor of gun control, while John
Connally droned on and on about
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being "born in Texas with a gun in his
hand?"
Who told the Iowa farmers that he
supports the grain embargo while
Kennedy ranted about them being
used as pawns in the election year?
Who backs a 50 cent gas tax with a
corresponding reduction in Social
Security tax? Who would plow
windfall profits tax revenue into
energy research rather than into oil
development, as advocated by
Carter?
Whose support for Civil Rights
legislation was so eloquent that John
Conyers, Democratic leader of the
Black Caucus, crossed the floor of
the House to shake him by the hand?
When you support a man for
President of the United States, why
not support the best, regardless of
party tag?
John Anderson. Let us go forward
with common sense and ideas and
not be forced by the fickle fortunes of
politics to stagnate in dogmatic party
stereotypes.
Clivc Stafford Smith
203 Carr Street
ABC Board to rule on future of Elliot's Nest
The Bottom Line
Joel What's-his-name
Everyone knows that the massive
Federal bureaucracy screws up a lot.
Remember the U.N. vote?
But governmental goofs are not limited
to the leaders in Washington. Take
Chapel Hill, for example.
During discussions of nominations for
the vacant seat on the town's
Transportation Board, members of the
board tossed the name of a UNC student
into the ring. Board member Gorman
Gilbert urged the board to recommend to
the Town Council a student he knew was
interested, Joel-something-or-other, to
the board. The board, ever enthused by
displays of student interest, agreed and
recommended both Joel what's-his-name
and fellow student Warren Collier,
Student Government's nominee. Both
names were typed on the official
recommendations and sent to the Town
Council for consideration.
No problem, right? Wrong. There is no
one named Joel anything who wants to be
on the Transportation Board. Gilbert
apparently suffered an attack of less-than-total
recall and pulled a totally
wrong name out of the air.
Thus, diligent transportation director
Bob Godding was sent out to scour the
campus for the student who knows
Gilbert and wants to be on the board. Of
course, if Godding can keep the town's
1955 vintage buses on the road, nothing is
impossible. Anyway, he found that the
mystery student who is dying to serve on
the Transportation Board is David
McCarn. After all, names like David and
Joel sound awfully similar.
Anyway, what's in a name when the
machinery of town government is
moving?
Mooching
It was learned this week that one of the
hostages in the Dominican embassy in
Bogota, Colombia is not a diplomat at
all. He's a professional gate-crasher, and
got caught in the embassy when leftist
guerrillas took it over on Fcbv 27.
To sneak into such diplomatic parties,
the man, identified as Jose Antonio
Velcncia, poses as the editor of a fictional
magazine called "Diplomatic World."
Apparently he arrived early on the
evening of the embassy takeover, so not
to miss out on the free drinks and
canapes, and wound up staying later than
he expected. Guess that'll teach him a
lesson.
And that's the bottom line.
By ANNE-MA RIE DOWNEY
A decisive battle between local residents who
are fighting to close Elliot's Nest, a Chapel Hill
nightspot, and the owner of the controversial club
will be waged Friday.
The state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board
will decide whether to issue a permit to sell beer
and wine to the club's owner, Tony Gore. Unless
Gore fights the decision in court, the board's ruling
would be final. ' .
If the board denies the permit, Gore likely will be
forced to shutdown permanently the club. But if
the state board grants the permit, the residents,
who have complained long and loudly about the
club, will have to tolerate having a nightclub in
their neighborhood. Either way, someone is going
to leave the hearing in Raleigh less than satisfied
and more' than mildly upset.
The conflict between the residents of South
Graham Street and the owner of the club has been
brewing since the disco opened its doors in 1975.
But when Gore bought the club in December, the
residents stepped up their efforts to close the club.
When the complaints became loud enough, the
story provided lively copy for the front page. The
residents publicly proclaimed that the noise, traffic
and parking problems created by the club made
their living conditions unbearable. But the most
riveting revelation of all was that one resident had
caught two supposed Nest patrons in a
compromising carnal act in the Second Baptist
Church, a neighbor of the club. The headlines were
set.
But conflict has since taken a more serious turn,
and now the ABC board will have to decide
whether to jeopardize Gore's business or risk
further outrage from the residents.
At the center of the conflict is the residents'
T7 !
contention that the nightclub should not be
allowed to operate in areas close to residential
sections. The site of Elliot's Nest is zoned for
commercial use but it borders on a residential
one.
In the past this site, which is adjacent to the
downtown business district, has housed other
businesses, including a laundromat. The resident's
furor and argument that the area had been zoned
incorrectly was provoked only when Elliot's Nest
moved in.
Derek Godwin of the state ABC office said the
ABC board can rule to deny a permit on the basis
of a club's location even if the site is zoned for
commercial use. If it is found the location is
"unsuitable," no permit will be issued.
Following a preliminary hearing of the Elliot's
Nest case on Feb. 15, ABC Officer Lowell Sikrr
Issued a report stating that Elliot's Nest indeed is
unsuitable.
Godwin said the unsuitable clause often is used
to deny permits if the local community opposes the
permit request.
"This statute (the unsuitable clause) is more or
less my catch-all," Godwin said. " I his statute gives
(the ABC board) broad powers to take anything
into consideration."
Conflicts between residents and bar owners arc
common, Godwin said. Sevcralcommunity efforts
in Raleigh against clubs on Hillsborough Street
have been successful in shutting down bars. Much
of the opposition to granting ABC permits comes
from church groups, most notably the Baptists, he
said.
Godwin said many of the controversies that end
in the closing of bars and the businessman's losses
could be averted if the owner of the establishment
would ask about possible opposition before he
invests money, into his bar. Unfortunately, the
ABC board is usually hc last itop for businessmen
who assume their application for a permit
automatically will be approved.
I feel for those people (the bar owners)
sometimes," Godwin said. "But all it would take it
a phone call or a few questions around the
community."
Since the Elliot's Nest controversy began, the
residents have been successful in getting what they
want. First, Gore's initial application for a permit
was denied. The club has been closed since
January. Now the hearing officer report on
Gore's appeal has recommended the club be denied
the permit. Chapel Hill Police Chief Herman
Stone and other local officials have stated their
support for the residents position. It seems that
Gore like many other bar owners may be forced to
close his doors permanently and take a substantial
financial loss.
Annt-'Afane Downey, a junior juurnalnm and
political science major from Chunhton. Std is
city editor for I he Daily Tar Heel.