Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / March 21, 1983, edition 1 / Page 6
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6TThe Daily Tar HeelMonday, March 21, 1983 91st year of editorial freedom Kerry DeRochi, Editor ALISON DAVIS, Managing Editor JEFF HlDAY, Associate Editor LlSAPULLEN, University Editor ,; ' JOHN CONWAY, City Editor CHRISTINE MANUEL, State and National Editor KAREN FISHER, Features Editor MIKE DeSISTI, Sports Editor JEFF GROVE, Arts Editor BlLLRlEDY, News Editor CHARLES W. LEDTORD, Photography Editor BSM provide s system of support For voting Wednesday is election day. There hasn't been a campaign. There' ve been no posters, no schedules of forums. No candidates have gone door to door. Yet, you will be voting on perhaps the year's most important campus issue, an issue with the potential to affect every student. On Wednesday, you will vote on the student activities fee increase. Your student activities fee now stands at $15.25 a semester. The pro posed increase would raise that by $1.25. The fees are allotted by the Campus Governing Council to help pay the expenses for all campus organizations the Union, Student Legal Services and campus publica tions. ' There has already been one vote on the fee increase this year, but no one will ever know whether it passed or not. The Student Supreme Court invalidated the Feb. 8 vote because the former CGC had not allowed enough time between approving the referendum and putting it before the students. On March 2, the new council unanimously approved a second fee referendum. Now, it faces its largest opponent ever a student body that doesn't vote. According to the Student Government Code, 20 per cent of the student body must vote Wednesday to validate the election. That's 4,192 students. Compared to 20,000, that doesn't sound like much. However, only 4,900 students voted in last month's general elec tions. The same time last year only 7,000 voted. Against this tradition, a lone referendum doesn't seem to stand a chance. As elections board chairman Stan Evans said, "I find it pretty unlikely that an election in an off time in the semester will draw that many voters." That's where you come in. Whether for or against the fee, you have the chance to make a statement. Anyone can easily lapse into patriotic song and dance when speaking of voting, perhaps hire a fife and drum. But what voting really comes down to is the question of who cares enough to make a difference; who has the time to read about an issue, make a deci sion, and who has the courage to stick with that decision. At Carolina, that's not very many. It's a bitter irony that a university committed to improvement can turn only handfuls of students out to the polls. Through voting, problems can be faced and solutions found. It's important in any election. For the numbers needed and because of the vote's significance, on Wednesday this is especially true. Ahh, spring Perhaps you heard, or couldn't help but hear, it announced. Not by a radio or television commentator, but by the dawn chorus of birds defend ing 'territories' 'and 'attracting mates: : - - r Spring. It began last night at 11:39. It's going to be here for 93 days. Like it or not. Some like it. They like the invigorating warm sun, the frisbee throwing and what they call the markedly improved scenery. Those, they say, are spring's biggest plusses. "I like tan lines," is commonly heard. But looking at the world through Ray-bans is not all it's cracked up to be. For example, since late, December it's been getting lighter earlier. By now, after a particularly late night on the town, it hardly seems worth go ing to bed since it will be light so soon. And if you've come in at 5 a.m., with the beginnings of a hangover, the birds outside your window will start singing. : Instant nausea. They say it's the hormones. It makes birds sing. Dogs howl. UNC students party. In New York City's Soho, they participated in "holistic stripping." Then they painted each other. Some people, whose morning faces have acquired a permanent glaze, are already saying nasty things about spring. They mumble about a not-so-thrilling spring concert, sunburns, suntans (on everyone else), hayfever, difficulty in studying, and the imminent threat of winter's revenge. Today's weather forecast calls for showers and thunderstorms, followed by variable cloudiness, becoming windy and cooler. Highs will be in the 60s, with lows in the 20s and 30s. Snow flurries are expected in the mountains. ; Who needs it? The Daily Tar Heel Editorial Desk: Frank Bruni, Charles Eflmaker and Kelly Simmons, writers', Jonathan Talcott, staff columnist Assistant Managing Editors: Lisbeth Levine, Melissa Moore and Eddie Wooten Assistant News Editor: Stuart Tonltinson Special Projects: Mark Ancona and Keith Bradsher News: Tracy Adams, Cheryl Anderson, Pete Austin, Joseph Berryhill, Ashley Blackwelder, J. Bonasia, Joel Broadway, Hope Buffington, Paul Cocke, Tom Conlonr, Kate Cooper, Lisa Davis, Ashley Dimmette, Linda Evans, Katherine Farley, Pete Felkner, Bonnie Foust, Sherri Goodson, Julie Haack, John Hackney, Ivy Hiilard, Kevin Johnston, Bob Kimpleton, Kim Kleman, Rita Kostecke, Susan Kuhm, Stuart Long, Eugene Marx, Gary Meek, Karen Moore, Kim Morrison, Ellen Orahood, Rosemary Osborn, Heidi Owen, David Poole, Sarah Raper, Sharon Rawlins, Mike O'Reilly, Mont Rogers, Lynsley Rollins, Cindi Ross, Mike Sharsky, Lori Schantz, Sharon Sheridan, Jodi Smith, Don Solomon, James Stephens, Mark Stinneford, Susan Sullivan, Carrie Szymeczek, Amy Tanner, Keith Taylor, Lynda Thompson, Stuart Tonkinson, Michael Toole, Evan Trulove, Perry Twisdale, Beth Walters, Lea Watson, Mickey Weaver, Scott Wharton, Lynda Wolf and Jim Yardlcy. Liz Lucas, assistant University editor, Hope Buffington, assistant state and national editor. Sports: Frank Kennedy and Kurt Rosenberg, assistant sports editors. Paul Gardner, Drag gan Mihailovich, Kathy Norcross, Robyn Norwood, Michael Persinger, John Pietri, Lew Price, S.L. Price, Al Steele and Tracy Young. Features: Debbie August, Dan Bishop, Dawn Brazell, Toni Carter, Michelle Christenbury, Tom Camacho, Tom Grey, Cindy Haga, Kathy Hopper, Dana Jackson, Warren Miller, Mita Morris, Jane Osment, Stevie Roe, Debbi Sykes, Randy Walker, Clinton Weaver and Edith Wooten, Mike Truell, assistant features editor. Arts: David Schmidt, assistant arts editor; John Altschuler, Steve Carr, Jim Clardy, Todd Davis, David McHugh, Jo Ellen Meekins, Mont Rogers, Karen Rosen, Gigi Sonner and D.F.Wilson. . Graphic Arts: Jamie Francis, Jeff Neuville, Zane Saunders, Scott Sharpe, Al Steele and Lori Thomas photographers. Dick Anderson, Greg Calaby, Cabell Finch, Doug Hilburn, An thony Moses and Janice Murphy, artists. Business: Rejeanne V. Caron, business manager; Anne Sink, assistant business manager, Linda A. Cooper, secretaryreceptionist; Dawn Welch, circulationdistribution manager; Patti Pittman and Angie Wolfe, classifieds. Advertisinj: Paula Brewer, advertising manager; Mike Tabor, advertising coordinator; Sharon Duckworth, Keith Lee, Terry Lee, Jeff McElhaney, Doug Robinson, Deana Setzer and Maria Zablocki ad representatives. Composition: UNC-CH Printing Department ' Printing: Hinton Press, Inc. of Mebane. By WENDE WATSON Accomplishments for blacks here at Carolina did not happen by osmosis. Black students insisted that the ad ministration hire and tenure more black faculty and staff. Furthermore, it was the black students who initially in sisted that there be an increase in future black student enrollment. Black students demanded an Afro-American Studies Department (although the administration responded with an Afro-AmericanAfrican Studies Cur riculum). And guess who negotiated for Upendo Lounge in 1976? Right. All of the above actions were accom plished by black students who also happened to be members of the Black Student Movement. The BSM, founded in 1968, is a multifaceted organiza tion to address to the needs of a very diverse constituency. In 1968 there was only one black faculty member, approx imately 500 black students, no black administrators and virtually no courses which stressed the history, culture and contemporary issues of black Americans. Today, there are approximately 51. teaching black faculty, 34 black ad rninistrators and 1,927 black students at UNC. The BSM was formed to represent a constituency which is predominantly black American and is second in size on ly to the student body itself. The diversity of its special in terest groups requires a working relationship with several . other campus groups who may share common interests or goals on certain issues. Student Government, Carolina Union, Campus Y, and the Association of Women Stu dents are just a few organizations that the BSM works with on special projects or programming. Moreover, the BSM maintains rapport with the UNC adrninistration on behalf of our constituency to discuss and assist where possible with the implementation of policies which will enhance campus life. Blacks strive for equality The premise behind the existence of the BSM has never been separatism or segregation. Qualified blacks demand ed entrance into this University in an effort to integrate it! After 17 years of trying to work with the UNC system toward equality directly, and indirectly through a student chapter of the NAACP, blacks finally accepted the fact that the administration and faculty would notdoes not adequately address the needs of black students. In fact, blacks attending predominantly white univer sities all over the nation realized this. Consequently, most traditionally white institutions of higher education still maintain black student organizations today to address the - concerns of their constituents. For example, Duke Univer sity has the Black Student Alliance, UNC-Greensboro has the Neo-Black Society, Wake Forest has a Black Student Alliance. Again, the purpose of these organizations is not to foster racism or apartheid, but rather to help others face the same reality we have had to face there are other crucial matters to be resolved before total integration can occur. - Because blacks have decided to come to Carolina to be an integral part of the life of this university, the BSM en courages involvement in other campus groups as well as the BSM. For those who seek extracurricular activities, the BSM leadership continues to urge participation on Carolina Union committees, Student Government As sociation, Campus Governing Council, Carhpus Vs Big Buddy program, WXYC radio and other activities. Moreover, the BSM welcomes the efforts of others to tear down racial barriers to total integration.' Student organizations, however, cannot always be con sistent in this type, of progress due to turnover in leader ship positions each academic year. We must continue to work at it. On the other hand, adiriinistrators and some faculty members are often permanent employees of the University. Therefore, they are usually in a better position to maintain steady progress in race relations as well as continuity of support systems for minorities. they can carry with them that ideal when they leave and work to recreate it in the larger society." Increasing the size and stability of the Afro-AmericanAfrican Studies Cur-rir-Ium is certainly one sure way of increasing "strong, supportive" models on this campus. As a support system to our constituents, it has been the mission of the BSM to address the cultural, social and political needs of black students here at UNC; There are nearly a dozen subgroups of the BSM which provide outlets for these purposes. From time to time, white students have aided the BSM in these advocacies, but the BSM has remained the primary impetus for improving the quality of life for black students on this campus. The BSM does not pretend to represent each individual black student. It is, however,' a vehicle accessible to all blacks . . . for the diverse group of blacks at UNC, the BSM is like in surance: 'It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it Possible support systems for UNC's blacks are the Of fice of University Affairs, Black FacultyStaff Caucus and the Curriculum in Afro-AmericanAfrican Studies. ' These individuals and their affiliations have been consis tent in their efforts to enhance the black presence here at Carolina along with the BSM. The BSM's interdependent relationship with these respective groups is a very natural and necessary part of the support system for the largest ethnic minority on UNC's campus. The dilemma is this: 1) Although the position of the vice chancellor of University affairs is the highest ranked position held by a black here at UNC, it has no final authority in the huingtermination of black faculty, nor does his official position provide resources to students comparable to that of Student Affairs; 2) There is a steady decrease in the black faculty and staff presence. Consequently, there is a steady destruction of this par ticular support system; and 3) Afro-American Studies, the only black-oriented curriculum on campus, is not a de partment. This means that it is administratively more vulnerable to the whims of its dean. Moreover, the ad ministration has been reluctant to hire and tenure full-time faculty in Afro-American Studies. As a result, the lack of full-time faculty in this curriculum prevents it from being a more effective support system. Importance of support systems The importance and necessity of support systems is confirmed by Chancellor Christopher C. Fordham III in his report on the "Minority and Female Presence in The University at Chapel HUT (Nov. 19, 1982). He points out that "Every student who seeks a strong, supportive model should find one. Our students must perceive this institu tion to be a model of both excellence and equity so that regardless of whether they are undergraduate, graduate, Greek-affiliated, performing artists, political, athletic or social. The extent to which students become directly in volved with the BSM is their own decision. In any case, for the diverse group of blacks at UNC, the BSM is like insurance: "It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it." In conclusion, a sure cure for this disease which seems to be causing UNC's administration to passively regress toward segregation again is strongly recommended as follows. Implement (not just discuss and write) a major metamorphasis of UNC's institutional policies (both writ ten and unwritten) to include 1) at least an equitable representation of blacks in body and in authority on the faculty, administration, staff, student government, Board of Governors, and the Board of Trustees; 2) re quire certain Afro-American Studies courses for gradua tion; 3) tenure and promote more black faculty; 4) pro vide more stabilitycontinuity to non-teaching blacks (ie, deans, assistants to chancellors, etc.); and 5) enforcement of a very strong affirmative action plan by the Affirmative Action office. The administration should not worry about the side effect that ultra-conservatives fear called "reverse discrimination" sometimes referred to as "preferential treatment to blacks" it's a myth. Blacks are never the sole benefactors of serious steps toward affirmative ac tion. Meanwhile, until UNC's "condition" clears up, the BSM continues to be a most viable complement to our student government, in particular, and to the University community in general. Wende Watson is an Afro-American Studies major from Chapel Hill and a former chairperson of the BSM. ETTERS TO THE EDITOR Do we really need an increase? To the editor: As the 65th Campus Governing Council gathered to discuss whether to send Stan Evans' war-torn Elections Board yet another referendum question, namely one more chance at the same fee increase, debate initially reeked of personal opinion on the issue itself when the matter at hand called for none. The council was simply to decide whether students should have the chance to (again) vote on what would be the first hike in student fees since 1977. "Let the students decide," was the over whelming consensus. So on Wednesday, weary polltenders and Elections Board members will go to work once more in an attempt to conduct a valid election; that is, one in which 20 percent of the student body votes. Twenty percent! Only 25 percent voted in the run off between Monroe and Reckshun. In addition, a vote uncast is just as effective as a vote against the increase since an in valid election kills the question just as dead , as a' valid defeat. Even if 20 percent turn out, it takes two-thirds approval to pass a fee increase of this sort. Chances are each student's $2.50 in question will wind up in the Happy Store cash register rather than in the Student Activities Fund Office. Does that mean we are doomed to four pages of ad-laden newspapers and "free" flicks for a dollar? Does that mean the first organizations in the budget process line will receive funding for their programs while those that wait will be turned away? Will Spring Concert , Chairperson Ben Lee's successor be forced to napalm the CGC Finance' Committee in order to en sure a "thrilling" spring next year? The arguments of those who answer af firmatively are underwhelming. In four years the General Reserve mounted to $195,000 as groups not only spent less than expected but also raised impressive sums themselves. Brent Clark, student body treasurer, so ardently opposed the increase that he could not sit still as the Council discussed the referendum. The 64th ses sion's Finance Committee chairperson Charlie Madison, said he needed no more money than he bad last year: there was quite a bit to spare. Trie bastion of support for the increase, the DTH, feels the easiest way to gain its badly-needed additional funds is to enlarge the entire purse from which its guaranteed 16 percent .comes. There is an alternative, but coming before the CGC and requesting more money doesn't appeal to a paper concerning with protecting its editorial freedom. ' Ap propriations above that 16 percent to the DTH would likely glide through the coun cil, as additional funds are badly needed, and the paper meets every criterion for a worthy cause. As long as the truth is printed, there will be no mudslinging con troversy leading to charges of stifled editorial freedom. Please, do not vote for the fee increase just because there has not been one for six years. If you are convinced that there just isn't enough money, go for it. But the fact is that there are sufficient funds for the several groups that request them. Those who are consciously planning not to vote in hopes of defeating the increase might want to reconsider out of courtesy to the Elections Board. John Wilson CGC, District 18 Now, are ya gonna come aloir quietly ancfvote, or is Lefty here cfoniia. hive' Eo watess ya tcp ? What's going on with graduation? To the editor: I am concerned about the lack of information given to graduating seniors about commencement. Rumor has it that graduation is May 15. To date I have seen nothing notifying seniors of what they need to do by way of preparation. I did discover (completely by accident and four days before the deadline) that we are re quired to register for our degrees. Although the University will have con ference housing for those who need a place for relatives and friends to stay during the weekend I have seen no announcements in the DTH telling the class that this is available. . t What is going to happen on May 15? Is a speaker being considered? Is anything being planned for the weekend of May 13-15? Maybe there have been announce ments all along. (If so, I have just shown my ignorance.) If not, maybe in the near future someone will let the rest of us in on what is going to be done to celebrate our entry into the real world. N Howard Ray Chapel Hill Proposed hike too steep By JONATHAN TALCOTT Two bills before the state legislature proposing drastic increases in tuition costs for out-of-state students should be modified substantially. Though a tuition hike would be reasonable, the two bills go too far and could damage the academic and educational atmosphere here arid at other public institutions of higher education across the state. Several people have spoken out against the proposed tui tion hike. The money that is spent subsidizing out-of-state students seems a small price to pay for the profits that may be enjoyed by the state and the University system. The bills were sponsored by Rep. John Jordan, D-Ala-mance and by Rep. Howard Coble, D-Guilford, respec tively. The bill sponsored by Jordan calls for an increase in tuition of more than $3,000 to take effect next fall. Jor dan proposes that students from outside North Carolina should have to pay the full cost of their education. The state presently subsidizes a portion of every out-of-state student's tuition costs. Coble's bill proposes that out-of-staters be required to pay 90 percent of the cost of their education, and that the increase should be introduced gradually reaching 90 percent by the fall of 1986. A tuition increase for the UNC system's out-of-state Students is fihOiiLdue. There has nnt hefj a, substantial in crease since 1971, according to Tony Strickland, assistant director of undergraduate admissions at Chapel Hill. Co ble has pointed out that the amount the state subsidizes for out-of-state students has steadily increased since In 1973, the state contributed only 30 percent to the cost of educating an out-of-state student. Today, the state pays more than half of a student's tuition costs. Though there is clear evidence that the time is ripe for another tuition increase, the state should not harm the educational environment at Chapel Hill and at other cam puses across the state in the process. Undergraduate students from outside North Carolina contribute to the academic life at UNC. For the freshman class this year, the mean Scholastic Aptitude Test score for out-of-state students was 200 points higher than the mean SAT score for in-state students. (These figures do not include Morehead Scholars, Johnston Scholars or students admit ted under the special criteria used for athletes and children of alumni who live outside North Carolina.). Of course, a student's abilities can not be judged by an SAT score alone. But it is worth noting that this year 5,800 students from outside of North Carolina will be competing for 200 spots in the 1983-84 freshman class while about 5 00 in-state students will be competing for 2,700 spots, according to Strickland. Evidence of the contribution that out-of-state students make to UNC can be seen in several areas. Two of the last five student body presidents and one of the last three editors of The Daily Tar Heel were from other states. Pollster Lou Harris and philanthropist Frank Kenan were both out-of-state students at the University. Financially more important is the contribution that graduate students make as teaching assistants. President William C. Friday pointed out in a letter to the Raleigh News and Observer that students in the doctoral programs at UNC save the University millions of dollars by assisting in teaching courses. All graduate students are not from outside of North Carolina, but if the state is going to con tinue to attract the best students, they must be willing to compete for students from all over the country par ticularly from the South. In the 16 southern states, UNC already charges out-of-state students more than any other state university except Maryland, according to Friday. UNC can therefore ill af ford to raise the tuition substantially. If the tuition for out-of-state students has to be raised at all, then the increase should be smaller and less abrupt than either of the bills before the state legislature pro poses. Strickland believes that an increase that requires out-of-state students to pay 70 percent of the cost of their education would not affect the number of applicants to UNC too severely. If the legislature adopted a measure that gradually in creased the amount ot tuition out-of state students paid, and put a ceiling on the amount of increase so that the state continued to subsidize at least 30 percent of an out-of-stater's tuition, the state would heiiLto alleviate some of the budget pressures from which it is suffering while not threatening the academic environment of the campuses in the University of North Carolina system. Jonathan Talcott, a junior history major from Litch field, Conn., is staff columnist for The Daily Tar Heel.
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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March 21, 1983, edition 1
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