Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Oct. 14, 1980, edition 1 / Page 6
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-f C The IV.y Tai In . Oct GlORGE ShaDRO'JI, Editor CI k 'j ' k HLik J Djnita James, Managing Editor Bsad Kutro-;, Associate Editor Thomas Jf.ssiman, Associate Editor Karen Rowley, News Editor PAM KELLEY, University Editor Martha Waggckix, City Editor Jim Hummel, State and National Editor Bill Fields, Sports Editor Mask Muxrell, Features Editor Tom hioczz, Arts Editor Scott Shaipe, photography Editor Melanie S:ll, Weekender Editor. . , year of editorial freedom -ienaix an air Sixteen months 'ago, Mary Cunningham graduated with a mast degree in business administration from the Harvard Business School. Offered a job with the Bendix Corp. in Detroit, she was promoted to vice president for corporate communications in June and then to the influential post of vice president for strategic planning Sept. 23. But when her swift rise in the power structure was rumored to be the result of her friendship with company chief executive, William Agee, she became the center of an undesirable controversy. The incident made national news two weeks ago when Agee, at a meeting of 600 employees at the company headquarters, claimed that Cunningham was no more than a close friend of the family. But instead of putting the issue to rest, Agee's comments only increased the speculations. - ! . . Finally, Cunningham resigned, convinced that her credibility had been destroyed. The company's board of directors "reluctantly" accepted her resignation, and she now is looking for work elsewhere. . Her claims that professional performance is the true basis for career advancement and that personal relationships should be immaterial were lost amid the overwhelming publicity of the scandal. Some women executives across the country, pleased by recent gains in the traditionally male world of big business, have been quick to point to the Bendix controversy as an isolated incident, blown out of proportion by the press and by Agee's naive, heavy-handed attempt to kill the issue. Indeed in companies of more than 100 employees, twice as many women are employed today as managers and officials than were working a decade ago. But such gains do not diminish the injustice done to Cunningham, who resigned without a formal complaint ever submitted against her promotion. She was clearly the victim of a system unwilling to give her credit for ability rather than a pretty face. Here at Carolina, like the Bendix Corp., women find themselves in a job market controlled by men. Although women comprise more than 55 percent of the student body, only 20 percent of the faculty is female. Four women faculty are planning to file a class action suit against the University for discrimination against women faculty in hiring, promotion and tenure. Their contentions that sexism played a substantial part in the University's denial of their initial bids for tenure remains to be proved, but the low percentage of women faculty here and the suspicions of sexism that exist on campus, do little to contradict the claims of the four women filing suit. . There are those who argue that change takes time, that the world cannot be changed overnight, but until ecjuality is reflected in hiring practices for womervSiid the Mary Cunninghams in this country are not slandered out of work, we must question how much progress has really been made in the status of women. " . - 4- Charlie. B rown turns 30 As a young man, Charles Monroe Schulz was shy, innocent and unassuming. He wanted desperately to believe in himself and other people, but often found that he was a victim of his own gentleness. For ' much of his youth, all those energies that other people expended on social life, academics and sports, Schulz funneled into his comic strip." In the years that followed, the strip, like the author himself, has grown, matured and prospered. But it succeeded only because the warmth and vision of Schulz came alive in a young boy named Charlie Brown, who celebrates his 30th birthday this month. The magic that Schulz works in "Peanuts," only can be explained in simple terms. People see in the good-natured Charlie Brown that which so many feel as they struggle through their disappointments and j failures: the pain of unrequited love, the disillusionment of shattered hopes, the power of relentless faith in the goodness of people, and the : desire to be accepted, faults and all. Charlie , Brown tries to steal home in the big baseball game because he wants his friends to respect and like him. When he fails, we all feel his disappointment as friends belittle him and then leave him alone to suffer. The little red-haired girl may not know Charlie Brown exists, but each of us understands his confusion and fear as he wonders how to approach her; his lack of confidence is our own. ,. ' . When Charlie Brown ponders the questions of life, he does not disguise them in false intellectualism or pedantry, but in simple terms. Where do I fit in? Why does the world around me move so fast? Linus, Charlie's close friend and companion, does his best to help answer these pleas for help, but he too often fails. There is no Great Pumpkin, no matter how desperately Linus wants to believe in it. The world frowns on security blankets, and the Lucys in the world often leave the Linuses and Charlie Browns confused and hurt. All of the world's meanness and vengeance seem to fall upon the , gentle and insecure Charlie Brown. No matter how strong his faith, Lucy pulls away the football. No matter Charlie Brown's sincerity, Linus has to articulate the fear that the true meaning of Christmas is often lost. The climbers, the pretentious and the takers, all use Charlie Brown' as a doormat. Depressing, right? No. In fect, that is the magic of Charlie Brown and "Peanuts," the character of Charlie Brown remains intact, wise and strong despite the problems that befall him. He represents much of what is beautiful in !)(. ttfr.AnoA "'? Xr r A npe AfH Yi 'ViV( "i-tr if Si v . v it vw , iv.v.l i.uj &liluiiJJi fi.-Jt iiv t-4.ijrj j- to .. ill (14V ; paper, the next day, prepared for any failure that comes along and ready to try r!n. AH the while we recognize that Charlie Brown's "faults" indict the society that calls him a failure. Even the cc::in:trcia!ii.alion of the "Peanuts" characters has not Editor's note: This, in its entirety, ' is Chancellor Christopher C. Fordhzm's University Day speech, given in Memorial Hall Sunday, at which time his official term as chancellor began. Governor Hunt, President Friday, Chairman Jordan, Chairman Bowles, Chairman Pollitt, President Saunders, Members of the Faculty. Student Body and Staff, Alumni, Trustees and guestss of the University: May I add my warm words of welcome to all of you as we celebrate University Day, 19C0. Almost 200 years ago, soon after the birth of our . nation, a lamp was lit with the founding of this University in Chapel Hill. Wrought from an humble and at the same time glorious beginning at the site of the Davie Poplar, the institution in its early years represented access to college education for the youth of a pioneer state. Its students were mostly the sons of working people, as North Carolina was not a rich plantation state. 'In times past, the institution was for the education of white male youth. Today our student body is over 50 percent women and almost 8 percent black.' - At times, along the way, creative and sturdy individuals, over a wide range of disciplines, achieved prominence as members and leaders of the faculty. I need mention only the names of Davie, Caldwell, Battle, Spencer, Winston, Alderman, Venable, Chase and Graham to recall visions of courage and wisdom - among the giants of earlier University generations. But it was not until well into this century that the University emerged as an important national citadel of scholarship. By then several important traditions had become its heritage. I shall mention only five of these traditions as examples which I hold to be especially dear. . First, the University's deep roots in the soil and in the people of North Carolina. This sense of fundamental identity is an important base for the quality and character which have evolved here. And this identity is not, and has not been, restricting. This University is truly national and international in its scope- and through the relationship between its strong base in the state and its global outreach in a multiplicity of disciplines and endeavors, it serves as a critically important value for the people of the state a wide, wide window to the world. This concept of a great University which belongs to the people of the state, has , thus far survived and flourished, perhaps as effectively in North Carolina as anywhere in the world. "A second established tradition is the University's commitment to freedom freedom of expression, freedom to dissent, freedom to be wrong. Indeed, in many ways, the great state University is truly at the frontier of freedom in our society. The search for truth, knowledge and understanding is complex, and in the minds of men and women, rarely simple and easy. The unpopular view, the dissenter, the maverick philosopher will surely find intellectual companionship and solace here. . ' A visionary concept does not always appear virtuous . in genesis or in its gestation. The University must be a haven for ferment and creativity. Ideas, hypotheses, theories, suppositions whatever their origin and contentmust always be subject to expression and scrutiny in the University. Despite ambivalence and uncertainty on the part of some in periodic crises, the people of our state have sustained the University and its commitment to freedom, the-search for truth and knowledge, and in the open and free expression of individual and collective views. ; This heritage of freedom spanning generations is not casually to be taken for granted. Many educational institutions have been subjected to restrictions in their freedom to explore and to express by administrators, trustees, legislators and others. Perhaps the fundamental pioneering spirit and the small farm-small business ethic of early North Carolina, together with the great good fortune to have the right people at the ' right times, all together helped build this tradition of freedom here. '; Today the advent of increasing regulation and growing centralized bureaucratic control at ail levels threaten creativity and freedom in subtle and yet very real ways. It is fervently to be hoped that we can achieve increasing justice in our society without the sacrifice of freedom. But whatever the origins of this freedom of expression in the University, society today is its beneficiary. A third deeply ingrained tradition which we today celebrate is the University's steadfast commitment to scholarship, excellence and achievement. The value to society of an institution where there is the intense motivation and the capability to reach for the stars on the-wings of the mind is inestimable. At a time in history when we have begun to have doubts about ourselves and our ultimate destiny, the sturdy commitment of this institution to excellence and achievement is more important than ever. And this commitment can here be characterized as confident 2l22rs to'&2 editor and collegia!; false gods and superficial institutional aggrandizement abound in higher education as in other endeavors. Let our commitment to excellence and to knowledge, understanding and truth transcend the expedient and be construed by us all as in the service of society and fee the betterment of humankind. - A fourth tradition which we inherit is that of societal leadership and the tradition of important contributions from among our former students. These contributions must surely reflect both classroom excellence and the out-of-classroom experience by the extraordinarily talented students who come to Chapel Hill. As mentioned by Professor Albert Coates in his book, The University As a Magic Gulf Stream of North Carolina, it could be said, even in the 1960s that more than 120 students had gone from the University to be attorneys general of North Carolina and other states. More than 40 had become justices and chief justices of North Carolina and more than 18 other states. Thirty two had become governors of North Carolina and eight governors of other states. Hundreds had gone out to become state senators and state representatives. One student left the University to become president of the United States, one (to become) vice-president and many to become cabinet members; over 50 to become ambassadors, 25 U.S. senators and well over 100 U.S. Representatives. Hundreds have gone out to become leaders in business, education, research, the performing arts, law, medicine, journalism, athletics , and almost every other field of endeavor. Surely, one of our greatest traditions is the extraordinary productivity of the University's former students. And what of today's students? Absolute r t xj, L Chancellor Christopher C. Fordham ...speaks Sunday in Memorial Hall 11 J purity of spirit does not seem to characterize the human condition. In such an evaluation, one needs to remember that ambivalence is a poignant and fundamental aspect of human behavior and human destiny. There are always elements of good and bad, construction and destruction, and positive and negative. And we have, as a society, the unrelenting tendency to highlight the negative, to find the flaws, to chastise even the chaste. I find the students of today to be bright, competent and high-spirited. There is a perceptible tenor of serious purpose and light heart. Among our own student body are many, many creative individuals of high potential with a wide range of interests and with remarkably diverse backgrounds. The students of today are truely the hope of our society. I believe in them and am optimistic because of them. The fifth great tradition of the University is to be found in the special human spirit which exists here. The warmth of the human environment and the easy collegiality among faculty, students and townspeople have been noted and recorded through generations. Such qualities are by nature fragile, and the good will and spirit of many people are required to sustain them. The progressive nature of the institution and the concern of its faculty and students for the well being of all people has contributed, perhaps more than any other single factor, to the progressive image which the state itself has enjoyed. The University is a larger place today than most of its alumni remember it to be, but so is the state of North Carolina. We must remember that the University's present size has at least two virtues: (I) the exposure of substantial numbers of students to uhat the University can offer, and (2) the maintenance of both breadth and depth of scholarship in an increasingly complex world. This institution is, in fact, among the most comprehensive of universities. The intellectual and physical resources available to it students are truely remarkable: In the newest and the oldest subjects it teaches, the faculty has breadth and depth and it is a superb faculty; its accomplishments and its standards mean that an appointment to the faculty is, alone, a very substantial level of Achievement and recognition. Thus size, when joined with quality, commitment and collegiality, may contribute in very significant ways to productivity and to opportunity. The complexities of the world and its knowledge base notwithstanding, it is vital that we maintain and nurture the special spirit with which this institution has been imbued. It is both real and metaphysical perhaps akin to love of country difficult to characterize and impossible to measure. It represents to its alumni a precious commodity carried forth from Chapel Hill, a special kind of joyous identity through life. Let this special spirit live on, and let us work to assure that it is more than pride and personal joy that it is, and that it begets, respect for others. In times past, the institution was for the education of white male youth. Today our student body is over 50 percent women and almost 8 percent black. And our potential for fuller service to society and greater productivity in the future has thereby been immeasurably enhanced. We must be aggressive in our efforts further to diversify the student body and the faculty and staff. The institution has poignant and important parallels with our nation: Its date of origin, its commitment to freedom, its respect for the individual, its struggles toward justice. There is yet another important dimension; its as yet unfulfilled dream of brotherhood and sisterhood characterized by genuine respect for others, equality of opportunity and equality of justice without sacrifice of freedom. Surely we have made progress, but we must find ways to advance this dream to full fruition for the very sake of our society and the University must provide leadership at the frontier of this noble cause. I ask in the special human spirit which exists here that all in the University community lend support to this absolutely vital venture. Can these great traditions of this institution and its service to North Carolina and the nation be sustained and advanced? The answer surely must be "yes"', and the challenges are formidable: (1) It will require committed and effective stewardship by the faculty and its leaders including the capacity to consider and effect prudent change and to make the very most of limited resources; (2) It will require high motivation and commitment by our students, a sorting out of serious purpose from trivialities, but with a light heart and a steadfast refusal to take oneself too seriously; (3) It will require growing and generous support from alumni and the private sector the critical extra margin of excellence; (4) And it will require strong support by the people of North Carolina through their: elected leaders and the University system. Among the products of the erowinz complexities of our nation' is the advent of the state University systems. Our own system began almost. 50 years ago and reached its present level of 16 institutions in the early 1970s, under the remarkable leadership of President Friday and in the wake of the turbulent 1960s. There are legitimate considerations which favor coordination, orderly relationships and regional and institutional equity. But there are also vital considerations which have to do with institutional identity, integrity and mission. Surely it is easily understood that a progressive people would wish to sustain an institution with special qualities and traditions of excellence and national and international prominence achieved over almost two centuries. Those of us here today, and all North Carolinians, have inherited this great institution from our forebearers its special attributes, precious as they are, will not be sustained and nurtured in the future without sacrifice. I am optimistic. The state itself and public higher education in North Carolina are blessed with strong and enlightened leadership. The forces which would, in the name of other priorities, dilute and diminish the contributions which this institution has made and can make to North Carolina and the nation must be steadfastly resisted and overcome. Because this place, in all of its glorious natural beauty on this fall Sunday, represents an undeniably lofty expression of the human spirit and symbolizes such aspirations for future generations. I believe that the character and excellence the light and liberty of the University at Chapel Hill, as a beacon for all of the people of North Carolina, will be nurtured and will survive as a special expression of its people. Let us rededicate ourselves on this day to the enhancement of the contributions of this University. With respect and affection for my comparion in life, my wife Barbara, I pledge my best effort for the noble ' cause which is this University, and I ask for the help of all those who share this vision. "H ft i.ll (nTVn (Hi (R!sTT)(TDf?1P, TTTl (7.tak 7(A tamhhsJ the n::::; pictures and words mcstrs. Vc will 1 v It) .-.- - t j , . cruelty, zr.d i!:re tht y undermine the profoundness of thit to t-try.Ie through life with Charlie To the editor: As seniors end high-spirjted Carolina fans, we hoped this ' would be a banner year for UNC football. Indeed, bowl prospects look good the trim is impressive. What is not impressive is the Chtcrir j this year has been disorganized, poorly executed and segmented among groups. Who is to Maybe it's a crowd accustomed to winning; if so, the tar is cn the seat of cur pants instead of our , htth. Cut p-etheprthe mike mea is a mere serious After 1977, we hoped a similarly incompetent mike rr.aa would net be encountered. But t!as, the went has hrrr"d. Better still, have such a competition at the next home game. Isn't it against some tech school from R 2 !-"' h i w -t W I . A p-vicus !::t?r. "Trycut tlis (DTI. Sept. S), Si: J it v. ;$ unf;.:r fcr the ch:c:,.:id;rs to choo:.e i:r. We tzttt with them. How .:ra oc r . s fcnr.er t... 7 ecu. J iu;a fii cr. , T7".r, . V i i.L i 7-Ti I t.-i, i' M ? ... f$.ljJ 'UZA "urf the::n to ir.treduce thi I r ? A I ) N rurmn ime. Unfcnun: CJ fry V vQ J-A V ' A- t - - V.'e cl fcr 8c::r r? los Ccpp:- hJ tern mile m:;rj before t?;e :;!y, he f.3jei, and it Izs Larry Davidson John B-rficld 8-N Km;$ood and 25 Others How's tho feed? To the editor; The Student Government Food Service Committee h re-. pen.-: tie for Iz-ir.z the A!!A roc J Service management informed about ituder.ts evaluations of their eperstions. ARA Lis teen rr.rorv.he to our S'jr.tbrs thus fur, an J we expect this cooperation in the future. We n:eJ students irrr.'fr.s Of the fu-cj service, and wcJ 2;rrruiute it if co.-u-fr:;eJ ir.diidui!s voU4 cit the Inc, i'tv:t, between 1 p.m. ar.J 5 p.m. 0,--er..:r:rs w.'l wrhe d-3n c-"-T.re;;ts and s;;-:::tirr.t, vh'.h v,e v..'.l then rfrtni at our rent nierti."-j; w..h A I A. V:ti C : - l '. i h:-i - . . . .. o on ' W- 'Mrd.' - h If s , ' yivisV f 6, - h- ' ''. v yu 1 i 9 ( i- J.V.I v " .' -(' i cf r p f r c c :h tl ::? i
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Oct. 14, 1980, edition 1
6
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