Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Sept. 22, 1980, edition 1 / Page 8
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CTh3 Da ly Ter Hsc-IMonday, September 22, 1980 .Gnoses Shadoui, Editor o ' Dinita James, Maxib.g Editor Dsad Kutrow, Associate Editor Thomas Jessiman, Associate Editor. Karen Routey, News Editor Pam KeHEY, University Editor Martha Waggon:.:?, City Editor Jim Hummil, State1 and National Editor Bill Fields, Spru Editor ' Ma ex. Mujseu., Features Editor Lau2A Elliott; Ira Scott Sharfe, Photography Editor Melanie Sill, Weekender Editor I V -f ..aP "3' "nui 53 ffsy By DAVID POOLE x it ttf ' 3j rar 0 editorial freedom i lie imai verdict After eight I0113 months, it appears now that the Zeta Psi incident of Dec. 2 has played itself out. More than a vyeek ago, The Daily Tar Heel recommended that the Honor Court pursue and intensify its investigation .of the Zetes, not knowing that "prosection of one fraternity brother had already concluded and that the case against other brothers and the entire fraternity was already closed. Student Attorney General Louis Bledsoe finally agreed to speak publicly and responded in a DTH column and news story that no further action could be taken because the evidence in the case did not satisfy certain offenses as defined in the Instrument of Student Judical Governance. ' The DTH has not seen the evidence and thus cannot judge its content; we assume and are convinced that the Honor Court ran a , thorough and exhaustive investigation. Yet, the end result of these efforts must have left the University community unconvinced that justice was done. The court's recommendation of expulsion for only -one of those involved seems to make the Honor Court's effectiveness in this case questionable. But if this inability to build a substantial case hampered justice, Chancellor Christopher C. Fordham's reduction of this sentence from expulsion to suspension, must have further defeated it. Fordham's explanation When asked to explain his decision, Fordham declined, but did cite the extensive and tireless work of those who investigated the case as impressive, saying, "People were all giving of themselves to do the right thing." Fordham's action then, is that much more inexplicable, for he thwarted these attempts "to do the right thing.?' He has suggested that public ridicule should be considered in reckoning the final punishment of the Zetes. "There is a lot of suffering in that public embarrassment," he said. "None of that gets figured on the bottom line, but it's all there." Maybe. Maybe not. In' any case, the codes that govern student conduct make no mention of public embarrassment as adequate punishment. And it is the law with which we are concerned. Perhaps Fordham felt the University could save face by not expelling the student, or that he did the student and the University a favor by showing compassion. In fact, a University shamed by the Zeta Psi party has only earned more humiliation for not taking stronger action against the violators of its codes. While The Daily Tar Heel appreciates compassion, it respects decent behavior and justice, too. .; " - TSis cods of conduct As you read this, I cm probably sitting in my car, on my way into campus, waiting for the jerk in front of me to turn. By tks time you get this far, we will have been ct that stoplight for several minutes. The car in front of me will most likely be ell banged up, but the owner will be extra cautious because I'm in a hurry. He'll wait until the road is clear for three miles up ahead before he makes his turn. A t about this point, I will be screaming obscenities at the person sitting in the car that is sitting in front of me, but I won't be blowing my horn. That is the quickest way I know to make someone mad, end- the guy in front of me is probably &foot-8 and can bench press Vermont. And even though I am writing this column several days in advance, I can say with relative assurance that once that guy moves and I get to campus, every parking space in the free world will be filled and Til be late for class. Again. In statistics, they've probably got some confusing term for the way my luck runs. I. call it life. Life in the turn lane. latters'to the editor That's a pretty Wocdy Alicnish vay to cpen a column, but everybody's got to have a gimmick. At least that's what I've always been tc!d. There are a lot of thirds. in this world that just bug the living daylights out of me, and I know that I can't be the only person around bua;ad by these things. Like why 'every bug in the world wants to ccrrjr.it suicide on my windshield. Or why they stopped making red Me?? Once I realized that, I really felt better about the whole thing. It helps to know that others are suffering from the heartbreak of having just two pennies when Life . inthe turn lam their order costs $3.03, and that I'm not the only one who counts the number of times I yell, "Shut up, Howard," while watching Monday Night Football. I hope that I won't come off sounding like I'm trying to preach my beliefs to anyone. I hope that I can make you laugh. I hope that I can at least take your minds off the boring economics lecture or microbiology class for a minute or two. I hope I don't write many more sniveling paragraphs like this one. Some of you folks might remember a guy named Don Wcodard, who wrote a column called "Paradox Lost" for this newspaper two years ego. I thought the joker was pretty good at this sort of thing. Cut a friend of Voodard's told me the ether day that this talented guy has worked since he graduated from this hallowed institution, for CDS as a stagehand on The Price is Right. He is one cf the guys who helps the hysterical housewives come on down. Maybe I should have been an engineer. Woodard had a gimmick. He was a funny guy. Shoot, anybody can do it that way. get to class late again, but no one notices. I slip gracefully into the back of the room. As I begin to sit, the professor inquires, "Poole?" "Here!" I reply. "UTiew, made it cgain, " I fool myself. "Mr. Poole, " the professor snidcly retorts, "I called roll 10 minutes ago. " "Oh," I mumbled. Meanwhile, four people slip in the door unnoticed while my professor ridicules me. I watch them sit down and get the roll sheet and sign in like they'd been there the whole time. And somewhere the guy who was in the car Ln front of me reaches his destination. Does anybody know where I can get a used gimmick? David Poole, . a senior journalism major from Castonia, is assistant sports editor for The Daily Tar Heel. 6 IT. XL I'-W U 1L. eel9 finmnem I pro b le u i' i' 1 r 77 emi 71 Coming out of all this is the need for a Campus Code that clearly spells out the illegality of parties such as the one the Zetes threw. The attorney general's office compiled an enormous amount of evidence during the entire process, but apparently was hindered by loopholes in the Campus Code. Statutes that seemed to apply perfectly to the case always contained a brief clause that disqualified their use. According to the code of student conduct, expulsion, suspension or lesser sanctions may result from, among other offenses, "intentionally inflicting injury upon a person or intentionally placing a person in fear of imminent physical injury or danger." This was the offense for which the student was suspended by the chancellor, but the code is sufficiently nebulous and full of loopholes to prevent this charge from being applied to the whole fraternity. Bledsoe maintained that simply not enough evidence exists for the entire fraternity to be charged unde.r the current Campus Code even though Section II.E.2. explicitly states that "the knowing failure of any organized group to exercise preventive measures relative to violations of the code by their members shall constitute a group offense:" Knowing what we do about the nature of the Zete party and the blatant violations of decency there, it appears highly unlikely that the event could have occurred if the majority of members had taken "preventive measures." Still, Bledsoe maintains that enough evidence could not be gathered given the code as it now reads. If that is so, then certainly some revision of these "laws" seems in order. Bledsoe agrees that in light of this case some measures could be taken to strengthen the code and make it applicable to events like the Zeta Psi party. Even though Carolina does not emerge from this incident with an untarnished image, some solace can be taken in Bledsoe's assurance that he will not let this matter rest. The Campus Code is complex and the attorney general's office and the Honor Court no doubt understand its subtleties and implications better than average students or His Daily Tcr Heel. But this is one case the Committee on Student Conduct should study carefully. The laws should be clear and specific and capable of dealing with the kind of behavior that took place on Dec. 2. Maybe next time, if there has to be a a next time, the attorney general will have a stronger and broader case against violators, a case that, even given the chancellor's final say, will make it impossible for him to thwart justice. A 1 1 ' Hi For many of us on campus, Woollen Gymnasium is generally associated with waiting in line for something. During registration, students have to wait in line to get into the gym and then wait in line to drop cr add cr do whatever they need to do. In fact, they usually have to wait in line to get out cf the phce. Today, though, there eirht to be a short queue in Woollen Gym, and the students in it will be after something a good deal mere important thn an Ar.thro 41 card. Voter registration is being held in the gym between 1 1 a.m. and 4 p.m. today and cgain Sept. 29. Those who aren't rr:''t:red cr who need to change their registration from Peep!: under 25, roughly cf college age, typically vote lees than --' v...u c (..wvOiwii j..vt k4 over u.e ijcutn vote f f f ----- ' r .--'--. K i . t r A ii'vrr'fu n tr" ( . f . ; 'i it-tit , -k ii IU vX L.,..i l.i luv. .Wiiit-),v4 in ccr.juneticn x.lilx the Cert. 2') rcghtreticn in an effort to nr. up t:r. Give t!;: rc. '-.trrrs in Vcc!!:n f.c:n:th:ng to do; stand in line r , , To the editor: , Recent articles in The Daily Tar Heel may have caused concern within the student body that the portion of their student activities fees allocated to the DTH may ' have been mismanaged. , Specifically, they may be concerned that the inauditability of the DTH books and the current litigation with the N.C. Employment Security Commission indicates a misue or fraudulent use of student funds. This is not the case, and clarification of these events is needed." Last year, the DTH began to implement an accounting system that was independent of the Student Activities Fund Office. During this transitionary period, the new system was formed by a gradual shift of functions from SAFO to the DTH. This shift during the fiscal year made it difficult for our auditors to apply standard audit tests to the transactions. It should be noted that this audit was performed at the request of the DTH Board of Directors. In previous years, our books were audited during the audit of SAFO's books. Because we had implemented a system independent of SAFO, we saw the need to hire our own auditors. During the summer we have worked with our auditors Touche, Ross and Co. to construct an accounting system that would satisfy both the University administration and Student Government that there are sufficient internal controls to ensure , the proper use of student funds. This system is very near completion. The suit filed' by the Employment Security Commission did not arise from negligence on the part of the previous DTH business manager. Rather, the . Employment Security Commission has ruled that DTH employees arc not state employees, and as a result we must pay an assessment for back taxes from the past five years. The Daily Tar Heel does not agree with the assessment and is contesting it at this time. Mark Kadlec DTH business manager THE BATTLE Of MTI-MISSIE TECHNOLOGY i v I the soviet pnmcLe. THE WASRlCAfl 3-FouriDvJRsMOl SoCisET American inge-Nuity T.'lncrity Affelrs ' To the editor: The soon-to-be-established position of vice chancellor for University Affairs represents a new challenge to UNC-CH's educational commitment. It challenges the University to enhance minority presence in an historically discriminative system. This task will not be met if past tendencies are maintained. The vice chancellor cannot be an ineffective, systematized perpctuator cf present minority-affairs practices. He must advocate necessary improvements and be willing to deter from the present norms that necessitate his very existence. Committee report after report has attested to the inadequacies in the University's past and present minority' affairs practices. Installation of a vice chancellor who fits neatly into the system, one not willing to administer stiff directives for increasing minority enrollment, hiring and retaining of minority faculty, one not willing to mandate UNC-CH's commitment to all citizens bf North Carolina will further strengthen disillusionment, discontent and questions of academic integrity associated with the University. Before acceptance of the vice chancellor by those whom the position is primarily designed to serve, the legitimacy of the commitment must be established. If and only if a strong vice chancellor with strong facilities to discharge his duties is chosen, will effective steps toward equality be taken. Black Student Movement Chairperson Mark Canady has recommended Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences Hayden B. Renwick for the vice chancellor position. During my association with UNC-CH, I have seen the University from many perspectives: those of the student, the disadvantaged and the minority. Renwick's expressed and genuine commitment to the needs of each of these is unquestionable. He has risked his professional and physical neck to better this University. Renwick's refusal to be a silent corroborator can only supplement the qualities attributable to an associate dean who. has been heralded by all races, by students and administrators, locally and nationally. In many minds, no one can fill the position as can Renwick. William J. Bynum, former BSM chairperson Correction To the editor: In the past week and a half, there have been at least three articles in this paper concerning the Campus Governing Council meeting held Sept. 9. Statements concerning this meeting were incorrect. One example of such an error was taking my reply to a question from a CGC member out of context. Not only was the reported quote, 'I think I read something about them in the paper," taken out of context from what I actually said, but my answer was not in reference to muddled election laws as reported in Monday's editorial, "The Zoo" (DTH, Sept. 15). Instead, it referred to the GPSF referendum court case. Such mistakes as this one will occur, but I hope that in the future such occurrences can be greatly reduced. This reduction is possible with more accurate and attentive reporting, and through better correspondence between Student Government as a whole and The Daily Tcr Heel. Both of these organizations are for the purpose of serving the student body. Thus, they should work together whenever possible instead of working against each other. Gregg James Elections Board chairman Indian Clrcla insulted To the editor: The Carolina Indian Circle is a prominent organization on the UNC campus, composed of University students with Native American backgrounds. Members include undergraduates, graduates, alumni, faculty and staff. The graduate areas of study include medicine, law, pharmacy, public health, physical therapy snd education. As a prominent organization of the University, the members felt the Campus Calendar announcement in The Daily Ter Heel (Sept. 16), that "the Carolina Indian Circle was to have a 'buffalo picking was an intentionally malicious insult on the American native race: It is neither reasonable nor logical to infer the print as erroneous. "Pig" is not similiar to the word "buffalo" by sight, sound or meaning. Buffalo is a meat that has no prominence in North Carolina, but its relationship to Indians can imply an intentional practical joke on the part of the writer. Such a joke is neither reasonable nor acceptable to a respectable newspaper. Citizens are protected by law from detriment of character in print. Therefore, the act was illegal in nature as well as racially insulting. As an act of good faith, the members of the Carolina Indian Circle feel the attack on our racial heritage by the intentional practical joke should bs requited in a written apology to the organization. Joseph Bell Chief Carolina Indian Circle Editor's note: Campus Calendar notices are printed as originally submitted. The Sept. 16 announcement was epparently submitted as a joke. The DTH intended no insult in printing it and regrets the insult inferred. Letters? The Daily Tcr Heel welcomes letters to the editor and contributions cf columns for the editorial pse. Such contributions should be typed, triple-spaced, cn a CO-space line, and are subject to editing. Column writer? should i their majors and hometowns; each letter should include the writer's name, address and telephone number. f'l r O 'fyn -i fry'1 44. H4dl t- I t J C? i) v.(rz 7! utz VJi Cp"w if By GERRY COHEN There's a lot of talk about the presidential end gubernatorial elections, but thoie who don't register to vote by Ct. 6 will only be at'e to talk, Voters vi ill have thewiJ-t choke amors presidential candidates this fall in d::ad:s. Besides President Carter. Ronald Rtz:m and John Anderson, there are Barry Commoner cf the Citizens Party tnd Ed Clark cf the Libertarian Party. Per Carrbcro residents, there ttt ether critical choices cbser to home. A lov, 4 rsftrtndm cn the tran-.it sv.cn u ill decide uh ether Carrtaro whl l-cr.V.r its sah-'d and thai th: level cf bus service. Supreme Court noted that its ruling docs not mean all students can automaficUy vote here; it means that they can become residents without diicrimination because cf their student status. The co-art held that dorms and apartments ere as eligible as voting residences as houses. But students must show the same lir.J cf intent and evidence of residency as ether protective voters. Residency is a three-part test, first, a voter mast have a living rhsce in Char;! 11.11. That's an caw tctt to meet. Second, he rr.us! intend to make Chard H.li his e r :-.v and for an indef.n.te rencd cf i.. t in the future. Theccurl saij that a icuder.t cc-adj lea r e'deni cf Char:' IL'd even if he rlanrteJ to leave t-rcn h I ii- J t i-J J CtltT-liJ Char.-1 cn his checking account? Does he have that eddreas cn his driver's license? Don't :t r.e wrcrg, Ui not a test a person has to iccre 103 percent cn. Dat if the ftudrnt sho-As an cat-cf-state driver's license, the rcrhtrtr inform him that he has (A days to jet an N.C. Leerase. That's r.at ma;h cf a burden, sr. J N.C. licenses are cheaper than most states anyway. Students shouldn't be intirr.idateJ by questioning be: a r.e the rrri-.trars are neither po- cor anti-studeest. Students who feel tr.ey are fCildents'ani whi ins?w 'O aneui in em ueu.-u-.s r;.z ij . - i.;y in, say, O.srLttr cr Detrcit should jri in line r. i.ux reaa.:;a:.; n s:.':-; 1 1 t-ciasru tujai; c either r.a:l i- f e hi orlt mean? 7 - . v mere cu!d te v,i - to ;:er san. Three I a f:cn a :i eft: ahaiaa a-out c:' ' .'.: t rr;' :r cri vcte in C ; I II I. U t )e:r,V e N.C. ha;:;a.e C. t i, ' ,'i th: h 1 : cf t:d;r.-i tv r si C ;J U rr; I : ;;a! ;a- la; clj R..: f! - Whit daes this le-al slt'fd r.-..er.: is:!, if a student 1 frrrn Carl vtte a" J plans to t a A tl re v. hen he jra is'rs, h: is Jt.il a C: a!,:: ider.t. If 1: def.a.itely d..:sn't r' ta jn tack In arl then 1 : h:s i.en up I f..t::.:t t: r: a- i can vote i ere. It's the undr.adeJ r r-'; : whej '.".."".'if r f ' '. 7! e t'. rd ta i is cn: cf cr '-a;e i .'rr-ua; at ctl -r r - dyih-nths-se ym thatCh.ardU.ll s varied fx -am ID ! ! c? at UNCI r.rvrcdm-a. .haclu Att.dyin r,?2tl n a-:'-: UNC tta'r: z f.-r.'.-ren in lira s. Tr i t: ' t-crea-. ; r - re.sUs a 1; ;l':,:ti prs 1 1 t ::n i frcn t : r a- : rrr.r-s r e r.n t i i. . - - s- f - (K -9 tV t! r 1 ii a t a..--! i: -it It.
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Sept. 22, 1980, edition 1
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