6The Daily Tar HeelWsdnesday, September 9, 1981
Jim Hummel, m
Susan Mauney. mw
Mark Murrell. a&xwv Edit
Jonathan Rich, as Edit
Edwina Ralston, Umty Eda
John Royster, ovy Edit
Charles Herndon. Suite National Edit
Beth Burrell, nh EHm
Clifton Barnes. Spent Editor
Tom Moore. Am Editor
Keith King. fu Editor
SCOTT SHARPE, Photography Editor
Ann Peters. Sponxh Edit
Chuck James. Ombudsman
mm
4
SSM year o" editorial freedom
Big freeze
Last week's installation of 51 air conditioners in the dorm rooms of
football players caused some other campus athletes and regular stu
dents to get a little hot under the collar.
While freshmen were still trying to get used to the sweltering life of their
humid new cubicles, the Tar Heels began to enjoy the luxury of cool, dry
and free air.
Although there are no NCAA regulations against this preferential
pampering, since the air conditioners were installed on medical recom
mendation of the Student Health Service, other UNC athletes and stu
dents are justified in a bit of jealousy.
Supposedly, the heavy equipment football players wear can raise body
temperature as high as 102 degrees and increase the possibility of heat
stroke. Although there is no concrete proof the' air conditioning will help
combat this problem, team physician Joseph DeWalt has said that the
mere possibility should justify the purchase of air conditioners.
Although this possibility of medical benefits is undeniable, it hardly
seems an adequate reason for the athletic department to shell out hun
dreds of dollars, since the football team has functioned without such lux
ury for 90 years.
Mortal students with a valid medical excuse must pay $55 a semester
for air conditioning. Obviously, many of their medical considerations by
far surpass those of the football team, and yet they must pay out of their
own pockets.
Officials say the units will probably be removed in October when the
average temperature during football practice drops to a tolerable level.
The units then will be rented out to students.
Although the quibbling the installation has caused seems more like
three-year-olds arguing over who gets to ride a tricycle than a healthy
campus controversy, one just can't help getting a little peeved while mis
erably tossing and turning in bed on a humid night, smelling the mildew
growing on the walls and thinking about how comfortably some football
player is sleeping.
If the Tar Heels go the Sugar Bowl, the injustice will have been worth
it, but anything less ...
By BEVERLY SHEPARD
North Carolina Indian groups say that
they are insulted by the Andrew Jackson
highway designation on U.S. 74, but efforts "
to have the designation changed are likely
to be opposed by or even ignored by state
transportation officials.
"I would actively try to get the Board of
Transportation not to act on it," transpor
tation board member John Q. Burnette
said last week. "My reason is that it's been
known since it was built as the Andrew
Jackson Highway. He is a president from
North Carolina and in honor of him, we
should leave it the way it is."
For North Carolina's Indians, however,
Andrew Jackson personifies contempt and
prejudice against the natives of this state.
Jackson sponsored the Removal Act of
1 830, which forced thousands of Indians to
move out of the state.
"Andrew Jackson's policy has been one
that's very negative to Indians," said Jerry
Berkelharnmer, assistant director of the
N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs. "His
policy was the Indians and white people
could never live together and that Indians
should be moved."
Thus, it was during the 198 1 Indian Uni
ty Conference, held in Charlotte this
March, that Indians ovemhelmingly sup
ported a resolution to ask that the Andrew
Jackson designation be removed.
U.S. 74 was designated the Andrew
Jackson Highway by the Highway Trans
portation Board, then called the state
Highway Commission, on April 4, 1963.
All the counties along the road, which
stretches from Wilmington to Asheville,
concurred on the decision.
Burnette represents three counties .
Anson, Charlotte-Mecklenburg and
Union that would be affected by the
proposal change. Burnette expressed con
cern about the cost of renaming the
highway.
"It would literally cost millions of dollars
to change it to another highway (name),"
Burnette said. "You're talking about 500
miles of highway signs." -
But Berkelharnmer said that on that
point Indian intentions had been misun
. derstood.
"We're really not suggesting that (the
signs be changed)," Berkelharnmer said.
Letters to the editor
Clean up the mud
North Carolina's Republican Sens. Jesse Helms and John East have
done an admirable job in protecting the state's interests by gaining sup
port for the federal tobacco price-support program. Both, however, went
overboard recently when they resorted to dirty tactics in an attempt to
discredit two politicians who oppose the tobacco program.
Last week Helms criticized Rep. Frederick Richmond, D-N.Y., by
saying the congressman had a "curious lifestyle." Richmond was arrested
in the summer of 1978 on a charge of soliciting sex from a young man.
The charge was dropped after Richmond agreed to participate in a first
offenders program.
Richmond has been quoted as saying that Helms was damaging the
federal price-support program by his efforts to cut the food stamp pro
gram. The price-support program, considered vital by many North Caro
lina farmers, guarantees farmers a minimum price for their leaf.
Helms said in a letter published in many state newspapers Sunday that
he was sorry for his "inappropriate" reference to Richmond's lifestyle,
adding that it would not happen again. Helms is to be commended for
admitting his guilt and promising not to repeat his mistakes. Political
organizations, including one closely associated with Helms, should follow
the senator's admission of guilt and stop the distortions and mudslinging
that have become increasingly common in the advertising campaigns of
many political action groups.
John East is among the people who should heed the senior senator's
actions and clean up his muddy act. Last week East smeared not only
Richmond, but also Sen. Thomas Eagleton, D-Mo. East said it was with
in reason to discuss a politician's personal background if "it tells you
something, possibly, about the character of the individual."
Eagleton was George McGovern's vice presidential running mate in
1972 until it was learned he had undergone psychiatric treatment.
Eagleton's constituents know of his past problems, yet they continue to
re-elect him because he has established himself as a highly competent
senator. And what does Eagleton's past have to do with the tobacco
price-support program of 1981? Nothing. But he has come under attack
because he has proposed substantive changes in the program.
Helms, East and North Carolina representatives say the tobacco pro
gram is safe, and this is good news for the state. However, the senators',
attacks on the personal lives of other politicans were unnecessary. Helms
has admitted his mistake in making an uncalled for remark. East should
do the same.
The Daily Tar Heel
Assistant Manag! Editors: Mark Ancona, Cindy Cranford, Rachel Perry
Editorial Writers: John Drescher, Beverly Shepard
Assistant News Editor David Jarrett
New Desk: Melody Adams. Cheryl Anderson, Keith Cooke, Reniece Henry, Mkhele Pelkey, Leisha
Phillips, Carol Reynolds, Laura Seifert, Louise Spieler, Mike Turner, Darryl Williams and Chip Wilson. .
. News: Ted Avery, Richard Boyce , Laurie Bradsher, Alan Chappie, Michelle Christenbury, John Conway, Nancy
Davis, Kerry DeRochi, Lynn Earley, Tracy Ford, Jane Foy, Deborah Goodson, Steve Griffin, Louise Gunter,
Karen Haywood, Katherine Long, Dean Lowman, Diane Lupton, Monica Malpass, Elaine McClatchey, Joe
Morris, Ann Murphy, Eddie Nkkens, Jamee Osborn, Lynn Peithman, Rachel Perry, Leisha Phillips, Scott
Phillips, Jeanne Reynolds, Mark M. Schocn, Ken Siman, Jonathan Smylie, Lynne Thomson, Lynn Worth and
Tammy Wright.
Sports: Geoffrey Mock, assistant sports editor; Kim Adams. Jackie Blackburn, R.L- Bynum, Stephanie Gra
ham, Adam Kandell. Draggan Mihailovfch and Linda Robertson.
Features: Ramona Brown, Jane Calloway, Susan Hudson, Steve Moore, David Rome, Randy Walker and
Chip Wilson, assistant Spotlight editor.
Art: Marc Routh and Leah Talky. assistant arts editors; Vick Griffin; Nissen Ritter; Bob Royalty and
Guha Shankar. ...
Graphic Arts: Matt Cooper, Danny HarreD, Dane Huffman and Tom Westarp, artists; Susanne Conversano,
Matt Cooper, Jay Hyman Faith QuintaveD and Al Steele, photographers.
Business: Rejeanne V. Caron, business manager; Linda A. Cooper, secretaryreceptionist; Brooks Wicker,
bookkeeper; Dawn Welch, circulationdistribution manager; Julie Jones, Angie Wolfe, classifieds.
Advertising: Paula Brewer, advertising manager; Mike Tabor, advertising coordinator. Jeff Glance, Julie
Cranberry. Julia Kim. Keith Lee, Robin Matthews, Jeff McElliancy. Karen Newell and Betsy
Swartzbaugh. ad representatives.
Composition: Frank Porter Graham Composition Division. UNC Printing Department.
Printing: Hinton Press, Inc., of Mcbane.
"We're just saying Andrew Jackson is a
name we re not happy with ... but if that's
what the people want, they're going to do
it anyway." Instead, the groups only want
the present signs removed.
Berkelharnmer's last statement, in par
ticular, inurninates a significant point
underlying the entire issue no one seems
very concerned about what the Indians in
North Carolina think.
A Charlotte News story recently quoted
Wesley Webster, deputy director of the
N.C. Department of Transporation, as
saying no item concerning the highway
designation change was presently scheduled
to come before the board.
N.C State Highway Director Billy Rose
. said last week that he knew little about the
proposal and summarized his knowledge
saying, "There was something two or
three years ago in the way of two or three
letters ." ,
As of last week, the N.C. Conimission
of Indian Affairs had received no positive
response concerning the proposal from the
transportation board, Berkelharnmer said.
But at this point, even Indian commit
ment seemed weak. '
"It's not something we're going to put
down everything and do, but it's a matter
we're concerned about," Berkelharnmer
said.
Perhaps the state cannot be expected to
go out tomorrow ripping down Andrew
Jackson signs from U.S. 74 to satisfy In
dians. That would be no more reasonable
than to expect the transportation depart
ment to remove Jefferson Davis signs
from U.S. 15-501 because as president of
the Confederacy, a highway named after
Jefferson Davis might offend some blacks.
But the significant fact is that monu
ments commending Indian contributions
to the state remain substantially few and far
between. - '
"I don't think you can find one out of 15
people that understands Indians ... the im
pression is that they , were savages beaten
down by white colonists," Berkelharnmer
said.
So, why be concerned with what the In
dians cf North Carolina think?
One, because Indians are a representa
tive minority and like many others, their
needs and desires for recognition often go
unanswered. Secondly, the largest Indian
population east of the Mississippi River as
well as the fifth largest in the nation lies in
1 ANDREW I
"S JACKSONl
HIGHWAY
th us -74 :
I u V ii
Janice ijrpg
Indians object to naming of highway after traditional foo
... North Carolina has always been insensitive to its Indian minority
North Carolina. The various tribes include
the Creek, Seminole, Chickasaw, Choctaw
and Cherokee. As a group, however, the
state's 65,000 Indians constitute only one
percent of North Carolina's six million
plus population.
Because Indians are a minority, their
contributions to the general public tend to
be ignored, Berkelharnmer said.
"There's always been a feeling among
Indians that their true history and their
contributions to the state have been ig
nored," Berkelharnmer said. "(Yet),
history tended to idolize Andrew Jackson."
While no one is fighting over the rights
to erect an Indian memorial in North
Carolina, both North and South Carolina
claim Jackson as a native. South Carolina
has a state park in Lancaster County to
honor him whereas North Carolina has a
monument near the state line. In October,
the N.C. General Assembly will be study
ing a proposal to erect a permanent
memorial to Jackson. The cost: $80,000.
More important than the controversy
over whether the state should redesignate
the highway is North Carolina's commit
ment to the minorities of this state. The
state should consider spending funds to
erect monuments that reflect contributions
from its diversified population rather than
centering on those traditional American
heroes heralded by the majority.
If the state can afford to spend $80,000
to honor a president that may not even
have been born here, it can afford to give
Indians and other minorities more consi
deration. And, the Indians as well, owe it
to themselves to demand a stronger com
mitment from their home state.
Beverly Shepard, a senior journalism
major from Jacksonville, is an editorial
writer for The Daily Tar Heel.
Is this page your subsidy
To the editor:
Your "Bottom Line" column DTH,
Sept. 3) erroneously stated that the DTH
is free. Actually, all students are forced to
support your publication through manda
tory student fees. Many students resent this
policy since they see it as a forced subsidy
of a newspaper devoted to propagation of
opinions, consistently liberal, with which
they disagree.
Of course, the DTffs response to any
objective over this scheme has been to
employ standard red herring arguments of
the left, such as "editorial freedom and
first amendment rights." No mention is
made of the right of students to support
the opinions they choose, and withhold
support from opinions obnoxious to them.
"Tough luck" would probably be the
DTITs off-the-record response.
Of the last three letters I have written
to the DTH, not one has been printed,
despite frequent DTH complaints about
the lack of student letters received. And
from conversations with others, I know
that I am not alone in this experience. It
would seem that not only does the DTH
exploit the editorial column to the fullest
to express its views, but it also manipulates
the letters to the editor section to suit its
beliefs as well.
Rick Kania
Law School
Pembroke State
To the editor: .
This letter is in response to the article
"Doctoral Dilemma" DTH, Aug. 31).
In the article, reference was made to "the
11 traditionally white schools" in the
UNC system. The overlooked fact is that
there are only ten. Pembroke State Uni
versity in Pembroke, N.C, is not a tradi
tionally white school, but has its roots
firmly embedded in the Lumbee people of
the area, thus making it a traditionally In
dian School.
Pembroke State was begun in 1887
through the efforts of many concerned
Lumbee. During this time, the Indians of
Robeson and surrounding counties were
denied access to' public education within
the state. Indian leaders, who saw educa
tion as vital to the preservation of the In
dian race, fought for and received a $500
appropriation from the state to construct
a school. Pembroke State began as an In
dian Normal School teaching elementary
and high school grades. It later became a
two-year college to train Indians for
teaching. Later it was Pembroke State
College for Indians. In 1946, it became
Pembroke State College and opened its
doors to all races. In 1967, it became a part
of the UNC system and present-day Pem
broke State University.
This traditionally Indian school is largely
responsible for the current progress of
North Carolina's 50,000 Indians, and has
trained many people of all races who hold
responsible positions in this state. UNC
should pride itself in the fact that con
tained within its system is the first Indian
college in the country..
PSU currently has the best desegregation
figures of any school in the system. Its
enrollment is 25 percent Indian, 13 percent
black and 62 percent white. However in the
UNC system, Indian students are catego
rized as white, thus making PSU's enroll
ment 87 percent white. Isn't it ironic that
Indian students are not recognized as In
dian (especially at Pembroke State)! Also,
considering UNC's desegregation pro
blems, one would think that administra
tors would jump at the chance to show
case PSU as a model of desegregation
within the system.
Nevertheless, today, Pembroke State
University stands as a symbol of Indian
pride and determination, something that
UNC and North Carolina can be proud
Ricky Oxendine
Carolina Indian Circle
Hero -worship a timeless sports tradition
By JOHN DRESCHER
BALTIMORE It was an hour before game time,
a time when baseball players casually participate in
their ageless rituals to prepare for the game ahead.
Some players half-sprinted along the outfield grass,
others lazily chased fly balls, and around the hub of ac
tivity, the batting cage, the players joked and talked
while taking batting practice. .
There is none of the pre-game hype so prevalent in
other big-time sports. No one jumps up and down,
smashes heads with a teammate or hibernates in the
locker room. The atmosphere is relaxed and amiable.
When you do something 162 times a year as baseball
players normally do there's no reason to get all
worked up about it. It is a time to be enjoyed. Some
players sit on the dugout steps and take in some sun,
others chat with fans in the stands, while a few at a time
oblige the hordes of small children seeking autographs.
As any hero-worshipping child knows, autograph
collecting is an art. Each player, surrounded by large
packs of small people, autographs everything from
baseballs to glossy pictures to small scraps of
yesterday's program that the cleaning man forgot to
pick up. Children jockey for position, seeking to be
aggressive enough to fight their way to the front of the
line, but at the same time using their best earners to
11
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DThijohn Iwescher
Young fan watches his heroes
charm the player into signing their momenta.
Fathers, who likely collected autographs in their
time, give advice: "Go down there," one father said to .
his particularly small child who was getting lost in the
shuffle of older, larger children. The father pointed 50
feet down the rail to a player with fewer children
around him. "And say, 'Thank you, " the father
said, his son already 20 feet away and making tracks
toward the other player.
It is a strange phenomenon, this autograph seeking.
What possibly can a hand-written signature on a piece
of paper or a baseball mean? To a 12-year-old, it can
mean a lot. In the unreal world of professional sports,
- where athletes are ranked somewhere between human
and god, any contact with these bigger-than-life people
is something to be remembered. It is the same reason
we take pride in talking to someone famous. It does so
much for our self-esteem that we frequently feel com
pelled to tell others about it. An autograph is merely a
way of recording that contact and saving that memory
forever.
Of course, autographs mean nothing unless the per
son signing is famous. To the kids in a baseball
stadium, a ballplayer any ballplayer is one of the
most admired people on earth. There is not a more ad
mirable occupation to many children than that of an
athlete. Whoever said America no longer has heroes
has never seen a child at a stadium patiently waiting
for an autograph, politely asking the signee for his
signature, then return to his seat, proudly displaying
his latest possession to Mom, Dad and whoever else
will look. '
Maybe we, the adult world that is, no longer have
our heroes as previous generations did, but it is grossly
inaccurate to say children don't. Media analysts and
sociologists and all those people that know, say the ob
trusive eye of the media has made it impossible for to
day's public figures to escape the intense scrutiny that
inevitably reveals faults and destroys the myths of
heroism. It's doubtful that yesterday's stars of the
1940s and 1950s were any more heroic than today's
' stars, yet the players of decades past were called heroes
while today's stars are just called good players.
Not so, as far as children are concerned. Perhaps it
is because they are naive to the ways of the world, but
the autograph hounds in this town's stadium were ever
bit as active as when I got my first major lesgue
autograph more than 10 years ago, and are probably
J u -' ;
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DTHJohn Drescher
Tho art of collecting autographs lives
no different than when my father got his first
autograpn in ine i4Us. You can argue as much as you
want that kids should not worship athletes, but they
have for ages and will continue to do so.
Youth is a time for play as no other time in life is. It
only makes sense that children worship those who play
the best: athletes. Save the adulation of Nobel prize
winners and rich corporate executives for the years of
bulging waistlines and varicose veins. The time has not
come when children chase after nuclear physicists with
pen in one hand, paper in the other and ask for an
autograph. Hopefully, it never will.
John Drescher, a senior journalism and history major
from Raleigh, is an editorial writer for The Daily Tar
Heel.