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8The Daily Tar HeelWednesday. November 10. 1982
Ku Klux Klan
90th year of editorial freedom
John Drescher. ELw
Ann Peters. Managing Editor
KERRY DeROCHI. Associate Editor
Rachel Perry. UmiwifyEiiif
Alan Chapple. ovy Biwr
JlM WRINN, State and National Editor
Linda Robertson. Sports Editor
Laura Seifert, n Editor
Crime in the
Results from a recent survey of university towns have shown Chapel
Hill, for the second year in a row, with the highest number of total crimes.
The survey, based on figures compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investi
gations 1981 crime reports, again reflects the need for students and town
residents to treat crime in Chapel Hill as a serious problem, not as inci
dents happening only in larger cities.
The survey compared crime statistics from seven university towns with
comparable student and residential populations. Figures show that 2,142
crimes were committed in Chapel Hill last year, a 1.1 percent increase
from 1980. Broken down into different categories, Chapel Hill had the
highest number of murders, manslaughters, forcible rapes, aggravated
assaults, burglaries and larcenies. The largest increase from 1980 figures
was in the number of forcible rapes: 13 were committed in 1981, a 39 per
cent increase.
Chapel Hill police officials say they are not surprised by the high crime
level and blame it on the proximity of Chapel Hill to larger cities. In most
cases, students committed the misdemeanors, while residents of Durham
or Raleigh committed the serious crimes. According to police officials,
this happens because of a past laxity in law enforcement that has attracted
crime.
No matter who commits the crimes, students and Chapel Hill residents
continue to be vulnerable to. crime. Caught up in the village atmosphere
of Chapel Hill, they often don't take the time to lock their doors or roll
up the car windows. The result has been the consistently high crime rates.
For instance, on Monday, police reported that more than $800 worth of
jewelry and money had been stolen from a locker in Fetzer gym. Just two
weeks ago, a man was stabbed at night on Franklin Street.
Local police have recognized the need for more stringent enforcement
and have pledged to do so. However, until students and townspeople take
the threat of serious crime seriously, efforts by police will be limited.
Police officers can help after crimes are committed. Town residents can
help prevent them from happening in the first place.
Buckle up
For several years now, consumer groups and automobile manufacturers
have argued about the need for automatic seatbelts and airbags in all cars
sold in the United States. The Supreme Court announced Monday that it
would put an end to the dispute and decide whether all cars should be
equipped with passive restraints. It would make good, common sense for
the high court to require the safety equipment on all autos built after the
1987 model year, . , ;
Studies by the U.S. Department of Transportation have shown that
about 90 percent of all Americans do not buckle up when driving. By re
quiring automatic seatbelts or airbags on all new cars, an estimated 12,000
lives would be saved annually. Passive restraints also would mean a savings
of about $4.5 billion in lost income, medical care and legal expenses.
The dispute stems from regulations drawn up in 1977 by the National
Highway Transportation Safety Administration requiring the equipment
on all cars by 1984. The Reagan administration, however, rescinded those
regulations last year, saying they were too costly. By the time a federal
appeals court overturned that decision in June, auto, manufacturers were
balking at the idea.
Auto industry representatives have argued against the passive restraints
for two reasons; they need more time to study the available options and
more time to implement the changes. The auto industry, however, has had
five years to study which type of passive restraints it wants to install. Any
improvements in seatbelts or airbags can continue after they have become
standard equipment on all cars.
The Reagan administration action has delayed introduction of the
passive restraints by at least three years. If the Supreme Court orders that
the safety equipment be installed it could draw up a three-year timetable
to phase in the changes. All small and compact cars could be required to
have the equipment by the 1985 model year. Small car passengers are
more seriously injured when accidents do occur; these cars should be the
first affected by the court's decision. Medium size cars would be similarly
equipped in 1986 and large cars by 1987.
Adding safety belts and airbags will no doubt increase the price of new
cars by an estimated $400 to $1,000. That price seems small when com
pared to the good the safety equipment would do.
The Daily Tar Heel
Assistant Managing Editors: Alison Davis, Leila Dunbar and Dean Foust
Assistant News Editor: Jeff Hiday
Editorial Assistants: Scott Bolejack, Lucy Hood and Chip Wilson
Contributions Editor: Gelareh Asayesh
News Desk: Greg Boston, Joel Broadway, Bob Kimpleton, Rita Kostecke, Karen Koutsky,
Eugene Marx, Eric Nelson, Heidi Owen, Donna Pipes, Sharon Rawlins, Kelly Simmons, Kari
Trumbull, Mickey Weaver, Margaret Wood and Maria Zablocki.
News: Cheryl Anderson, Joseph Berryhill, Hope Buffington, Stacia Clawson, Tom Cordon,
John Conway, Tamara Davis, Ashley Dimmette, Pam Duncan, Charlie Ellmaker, Bonnie
Foust, Bonnie Gardner, Steve Griffin, Jeff Hiday, Ivy Hillard, Lucy Holman, Charlotte
Holmes, Dane Huffman, Bob Kimpleton, Rita Kostecke, Lisbcth Levine, Christine Manuel,
Alan Marks, Kyle Marshall, Shawn Mcintosh, Mary McKeel, Karen Moore, Melissa Moore,
Robert Montgomery, Joseph Olinkk, Rosemary Osborn, Sharon Overton, Heidi Owen,
Laurence Pollock, Pamela Presslcy, Lisa Pullen, Scott Ralls, Sarah Raper, Cindi Ross, Nancy
Rucker, Mike O'Reilly, Kelly Simmons, Jeff Slage, Susan Snipes, Mark Stinneford, Susan
Sullivan, Lynda Thompson, Evan Truelove, Scott Wharton, and Jim Yardley. Lynn Earley,
assistant state and national editor and Liz Lucas, assistant University editor.
Sports: Jackie Blackburn and S.L. Price, assistant sports editors, frank Abbott, R.L. Bynum,
Richard Craver, Michael DeSisd, Jamie Francis, Paul Gardner, Brian Haney, Frank Kennedy,
Keith Lee, Draggan Mihalovich, Linda Nixon, Kathy Norcross, Robyn Norwood, Michael
Persinger, John Pietri, Lew Price, Kurt Rosenberg, Mike Schoor, Eddie Wooten and Tracy
Young.
Features: Shelley Block, Karen Fisher, Cindy Haga, Belinda Rollins, Lynsley Rollins, Debbi
Sykes, Mike Trueil, Randy Walker, Clinton Weaver, and Edith Wooten. Jane Calloway,
assistant Weekend editor, - ' .
Arts: Jeff Grove and Frank Bruni assistant arts editors; Ashley Blackwelder, Steve Carr, Jim
Clardy, Todd Davis, David McHugh, Jo Ellen Meekins, Mont Rogers, Karen Rosen, Marc
Routh, David Schmidt and Gigi Sonner.
Graphic Arts: Matt Cooper, Nick Demos, Danny Harrell, Janice Murphy, Vincc Steele,
Suzanne Turner, Robin Williams and Denise Whalen artists; Thomas Carr, Stretch
Ledford, Jeff Neuville, Zane Saunders, Scott Sharpe and John Williams photographers.
Business: Rejeanne V. Caron, business manager; Linda A. Cooper, secretary receptionist;
Lisa Morrell and Anne Sink, bookkeepers; Dawn Welch, circulationdistribution manager;
Julie Jones and Angie Wolfe, classifieds.
Advertising: Paula Brewer, advertising manager; Mike Tabor, advertising coordinator; Dee
Dee Butler, Harry Hayes, Keith Lee, Terry Lee, Kathy Mardirosian, Jef f McElhaney, Doug
Robinson and Deana Setzer, ad representatives.
Composition: Frank Porter Graham Composition Division, UNC-CH Printing Department.
Printing: Hinton Press, Inc., of Mebane.
KEN MlNGIS. Associate Editor
ELAINE MCCLATCHEY, Projects Editor
SUSAH HUDSON, Features Editor
LEAH T ALLEY. Am Editor
Teresa Curry, Weekend Edit
AL STEELE. Photography Editor
Village
Mac
By LEILA DUNBAR
KKK. When I was growing up in
Massachusetts, my American democracy
class learned how horrible the Ku Klux
Klan was, how the members burned
crosses, lynched blacks and terrorized the
South. I thought that whole bigoted men
tality was a product of the past. It couldn't
be possible in , the face of the ac
complishments of the past 20 years that
racial hatred could still exist.
I was wrong.
This past Saturday my roommate, Lucy
Hood, three friends and I went to a Klan
arms demonstration at the state head
quarters of one KKK faction in Benson.
Hood was working on an article about the
Klan and had called Glenn Miller, the
Grand Dragon of the Carolina Knights of
the KKK, for permission to attend the
demonstration.
We stopped at a supermarket in Angier
to call Miller for directions to his house.
When Hood came back to the car, we
received our first hint of what was to
come. She said Miller had given us the .
directions but had asked, "How many
friends do you have with you?"
She had said "four.'' "AD of them
white?" "Yes," she replied. "OK, come
on down."
The ride, which began with us drinking
and joking, now turned somber. Hood,
Gigi Branch, from Greenville, Cynthia
Marshall, from Connecticut, and I are all
Episcopalian. But our friend Janet
Cataldo, from Brooklyn, who had come
for the weekend to visit, is Catholic and
Italian. Did the Klan like Catholics? At
this point, we weren't sure what they ac
cepted. We made up a last name to give in
stead of Cataldo. The best was Janet Leigh.
Worthington.
Once we arrived in Benson, we couldn't
miss the house. There were about 10 Con
federate flags in the front yard. When we
pulled in, the front door opened. Three
men in army fatigues with "CKKKK"
over their shirt pockets came out, guns in
hand. Children ran out behind them. I
thought, "Could they take us hostage?''
And then I thought, "What for?" .
"Hello, Fra Glenn Miller," said the one
wearing a green beret. "Are any of you
Jewish?"
We said no. But he stared at Hood a
long time, not believing us.
"Take off your glasses," he told her. "I
want to see your profile."
She turned and he looked at her nose.
He frowned and. said, "OK."
Then he looked at Cataldo, gazing at
her red boots, tight jeans and Latin face.
"You're not Jewish?"
We all said, "She's Catholic."
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
tudent feels ripped off
To the editor:
Once again I have discovered why
everyone says the town of Chapel HOI tries
to rip off students. After hearing a strange
noise corning from my car, I went to the
Gulf station on the corner of East Franklin
Street and Estes Drive to have it checked
out. After looking at it, they told me the
alternator belt would have to be replaced.
In reply to the question of cost, the at
tendant said the part would be about $10
and due to the difficulty in getting to that
particular belt, labor would be at least $20.
I decided that the noise did not really
bother me, so I would wait until I went
home.
I had a chance to go home a few days
later and went to an Exxon station while
there. While getting the car filled up, I
asked about getting the belt replaced. The
attendant said it would take a couple
minutes. Before the car had been filled up,
the belt had been replaced at a total cost of
$10J0, $8 JO for the part and $2 for the
labor.
I hardly think that employees of Exxon
stations are more advanced than those of
Gulf, so I can only assume that the Chapel
Hill location of the Gulf station was a fac
tor in determining the cost. Upon seeing
that I am a student, they apparently
thought they could easily take advantage
of me. It is too bad that places such as this
have to resort to such methods to make
money and it is even more unfortunate
that students are usually the ones hurt.
Julia Pearlman
327 Winston
Jil MPJiji q
ism. . still thrives
A member of the Carolina Knights of the Ku Klux Klan practices his target shooting
... groups like the one in Benson seek the return of what they call "white supremacy"
He glared at us skeptically, then mo
tioned us into the house; two men fol
lowed us.
The interior looked like any Southern
home, with the exception of the white
Klan robe hanging on a bedroom door,
and the Confederate flag next to two dolls
dressed in identical robes on the
mantelpiece, beside his childrens' school
portraits.
We sat down in the living room, form
ing a semi-circle around Miller in his easy
chair and the men beside him. I got the
feeling that he thrived on the times he
could get publicity. He introduced the men
as a chaplain and a security officer. "Well,
let's start this press conference," he said,
lightly tapping the armrest of his chair.
"Do you want to ask questions or do you
want me to give a speech?"
For the next hour we heard much
.rhetoric, backed up by few statistics.
Miller said the purpose of the Klan was to
restore white supremacy to the United
States, which it had lost because of
government programs to help minorities.
"Blacks aren't being discriminated
against," he said. "Whites are."
He defined "white." "Whites are those
who identify with the white race," he said.
"They are defined in the Bible; Jews are
not white."
I wanted to say Jesus was a Jew, but I
didn't. V :
He told us that Jews were trying to rule
the country and wanted to rule the world.
For the record -
Because.of an editing error in the letter,
' "Bids don't hinge on race," (DTH, Nov.
9), a part of a phrase was omitted. The
' sentence should have read: "For an exam-
ion 5--S:S5-" I I1 i t ,m' 111' It .
inN.C.
X
"We can't trust the media because the
Jews run it," he said. He added that Jews,
such as Henry Kissinger, had destroyed
Richard Nixon's presidency, and " Hitler
had not ordered the massacre of Jews in
World War II.
I could feel myself getting angrier, want
ing to shake these thoughts out of them.
But I could only listen helplessly, in
timidated by the guns and awed by how
convinced they were. They believed what
they were saying. I started to ready myself
for the last tirade.
"Blacks are inferior. It's a fact," he
said. "Their brains weigh less. I wish they
had equality, because then they'd be back
out in the fields picking cotton."
We said nothing. More members ar
rived. He introduced us before we went
out to the firing range behind the house.
Kids and women joined us. Walking
down, surrounded by shotguns and
revolvers, I thought, "What if they're tak
ing us down to shoot us?" At that same in
stant, I knew how silly it was. I also rea
lized what paranoia could do to a person.
At the firing range, the chaplain took
over. He showed us how to fire a variety of
shotguns rifles and pistols. I shot a .22
caliber rifle at one of the black-figured
targets. Afterward, I showed it to some of
the kids. They said it was pretty good, and
asked me to take photos of them with their
guns. One said if he was ever somewhere
: and shooting started, the first thing he'd
pie, I want to point out that four sororities
out of the 1 1 participating in rush were not
even able to discuss offering this rushee a
bid because she did not meet their mini
S
Don't be left with the bill
Editor's Note: This advice is prepared by Student Legal Services which maintains
an office in room 222 of the Carolina Union. All UNC students may obtain free
legal advice at this office.
Many student tenants in Chapel Hill are only slightly acquainted before they sign
a lease together. Most apartments in the area require a joint lease which makes
anyone who signs the lease liable to the landlord for the entire amount of the rent in
the event a roomate skips out. If a roomate squabble occurs, and both roommates
have signed the lease but one wrongfully departs, the landlord need not chase after
the departing tenant. Instead, he may legally require that you, the remaining tenant,
pay all the rent.
Another typical student situation occurs each summer in Chapel Hill. The stu
dent tenant wants to leave for a three-month vacation and moves a friend in the
apartment .Some leases allow this subletting arrangement but others forbid it. Stu
dent tenants should know that they remain liable to the landlord for any rent or
damanges done by the sub-tenant, and that often such an arrangement may give rise
to an eviction action by the landlord.
ADVICE FOR THE DAY: 1) Make arrangements with your roommate
(preferably in writing) about any early departures from the lease, and 2) Know your
sub-tenant and your lease. Do not sublet to someone who is irresponsible and make
certain that your landlord approves of the arrangement.
t
:.
OTHLftla Cunbar
do would be to grab a gun and shoot. "I
wouldn't think twice," he added.
The men practiced for a while and we
had to leave. We thanked everyone for the
demonstration. Miller told Hood, "Now if
you don't write an article and send it to
me, I'm gonna come after you. Maybe if
you do, I'll come after you." We knew he
was joking, but it still unnerved us.
In the car headed for Chapel Hill, we
were exhausted from the tension, but
couldn't sleep. All we could say was, "I'
can't believe they think that way."
Seeing actual open racism was a shock,
but I can see how they rationalize their
hatred. Klan members are basically lower
middle-class people going nowhere. They
feel helpless. They're scared of being
below minorities economically or political
ly. They refuse to acknowledge the simple
respect of human beings that people are
people, regardless of religion or skin color.
It sounds childishly simple, but it isn't.
Racial hatred exists, and no laws will
change some persons' rninds. The struggle
for freedom and equality in this country is
far from over for minorities, particularly
blacks. As long as groups like the Klan are
around, it may never be over.
Leila Dunbar, a senior journalism and
Spanish major from Milford, Mass., is an
assistant managing editor of The Daily Tar
Heel.
" Wat -
mum grade requirement because of having
incompletes."
The DTH regrets the error.