Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Sept. 29, 1983, edition 1 / Page 10
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10The Daily Tar HeelThursday, September 29, 1983 ERS TO THE EDITOR Students needed for blackwhite dialogue 91st year of editorial freedom I Kerry DeRochi, Editor ALISON DAVIS. Managing Editor JEFF HlDAY, Associate Editor Lisa Pullen. umvmity Editor John Conway, aty Editor Christine Manuel, state and National Editor Karen Fisher. Features Editor MlKEDESlSn.SxwfcEitor, JEFF GROVEM Editor JJlLL RlEDY, News Editor CHARLES W. LEDFORD, Photography Editor To the editor: Much debate has appeared recently in The Daily Tar Heel concerning integration on the UNC campus. Indisputable is the fact that our campus today, for whatever reason, is far from integrated. It is lamentable that one rarely sees groups of black students and white stu dents together on campus in numbers larger than two or three. If you look around the Union for instance, you are most likely to see black students sitting in one area and white students in another. Equally lamentable is the fact that many white students graduate from Carolina without ever truly getting to know any black students (the opposite is usually not true due to sheer numbers). My purpose for writing is to inform the members of the student body of a relative ly simply way that they can make an im pact on this problem. Three years ago a Black White Mouei uroup was loimcu m an effort to deal with segregation on cam pus. The purpose of the group is merely what the name implies: black and white students gathering together in a high visibility area of campus or town to act as a model. The group's goals are twofold first, to raise the consciousness of the stu dent body by demonstrating that blacks and whites can and should interact on a normal, daily basis; and second, to pro vide an informal opportunity for students to make friendships they might not other wise make. . The group involves 20 people willing to spend one hour a week together discussing whatever they desire (Carolina football, the weather, etc.). Any student who would like to participate can call 933-5872 during the evenings. Tom Lambeth Law School In the dark LETT It's the traditional American way to forgive a politician his public gaf fes. After all, Gerald Ford fell off planes, and Jimmy Carter lusted in his heart. Interior Secretary James Watt, however, deserves no such treat ment, his insensitive and discriminatory remarks showing his inability to nofd public office. "Watt pursues controversy as a zealot does religious truths, leaving a trail of offended groups clamoring behind. Last week the esteemed secretary began the newest and perhaps largest controversy. At a meeting of 200 Washington lobbyists he described a department commission as a group with "every kind of mix you can have. I have a black, I have a woman, two Jews and a cripple." When questioned about the remark he answered, "If you can't joke about things, you shouldn't be in Washington." The only thing Watt proved through his comment is that if anyone shouldn't be in Washington it is he. His history of politically impetuous remarks now included a one-liner that was discriminatory and offensive. It was the mark of irrational thinking, something one would hope to find in a bar, not a federal meeting. Watt didn't think of decorum or public decency just as he didn't think of the Jewish panel member whose arm was paralyzed with polio. Of course Watt will argue that he did not purposefully mean those awful things and he's written an apology to President Reagan just as he did with his other remarks. According to his past statements, American Indian reservations show the failure of socialism and the Beach Boys attract the wrong element to their concerts. Democrats and Republicans are categorized as "Liberals and Americans" in the secretary's small, small mind. Watt needs to learn that saying you're sorry, while enough in third grade fights, cannot undo the damage of such public remarks. It is one thing for a high government official to have storig opinions, quite another for him to label others as inferior. Although Reagan has said he has forgiven Watt, congressional leaders should not be so easily soothed. There is no room in the federal government for such blatant insensitivity as displayed by Watt. In the past his remarks have earned him disap proval, let them now earn him a pink slip. The Daily Tar Heel Editorial Writers: Frank Bruni, Charles Ellmaker and Kelly Simmons Assistant Managing Editors: Joel Broadway, Tracy Hilton and Michael Toole Assistant News Editor Melissa Moore News: Tracy Adams, Dick Anderson, Joseph Berryhill, Angela Booze, J. Bonasia, Keith Bradsher, Amy Brannen, Lisa Brantley, Hope Buffington, Tom Conlon, Kathie Collins, Kate Cooper, Teresa Cox, Lynn Davis, Dennis Dowdy, Chris Edwards, Suzanne Evans, Kathy Farley, Steve Ferguson, Genie French, Kim Gilley, Marymelda Hall, Andy Hodges, Sue Kuhn, Liz Lucas, Thad Ogburn, Beth O'Kelley, Janet Olson, Rosemary Osborne, Heidi Owen, Beth Ownley, Cindy Parker, Donna Pazdan, Ben Perkowski, Frank Proctor, Linda Queen, Sarah Raper, Mary Alice Resch, Cindi Ross, Katherine Schultz, Sharon Sheridan, Deborah Simp kins, Jodi Smith, Sally Smith, Lisa Stewart, Mark Stinneford, Carrie Szymeczek, Liz Saylor, Mike Sobeiro, Amy Tanner, Doug Tate, Wayne Thompson, Vance Trefethen, Chuck Wall ington, Scott Wharton, Lynda Wolf, Rebekah Wright, Jim Zook, Kyle Marshall, assistant state and national editor, and Stuart Tonkinson, assistant university editor. Sports: Frank Kennedy and Kurt Rosenberg, assistant sports editors. Glenna Burress, Kimball Crossley, Pete Fields, John Hackney, Lonnie McCullough, Robyn Norwood, Michael Pers inger, Julie Peters, Glen Peterson, Lee Roberts, Mike Schoor, Scott Smith, Mike Waters, David Wells, Eddie Wooten and Bob Young. Features: Dawn Brazell, Clarice Bickford, Tom Camacho, Toni Carter, Margaret Claiborne, Karen Cotten, Cindy Dunlevy, Charles Gibbs, Tom Grey, Kathy Hopper, Dana Jackson, Charles Karnes, Joel Katzenstein, Dianna Massie, Kathy Norcross, Jane Osment, Clinton Weaver and Mike Truell, assistant features editor. Arts: Steve Carr, Ivy Hilliard, Jo Ellen Meekins, Gigi Sonner, Sheryl Thomas and David Schmidt, assistant arts editor. Graphic Arts: Jamie Francis, Lori Heeman, Ryke Longest, Jeff Neuville, Zane Saunders and Lori Thomas, photographers. Business: Anne Fulcher, business manager; Tammy Martin, accounts receivable clerk; Dawn Welch, circulationdistribution manager; William Austin, assistant circulationdistribution manager; Patti Pittman, classified advertising manager; Julie Jones, assistant classified adver tising manager; Debbie McCurdy, secretaryreceptionist. Advertising: Paula Brewer, advertising manager; Mike Tabor, advertising coordinator; Laura Austin, Melanie Eubanks, Kevin Freidheim, Patricia Gorry, Terry Lee, Doug Robinson and Anneli Zeck ad representatives. Composition: UNC-CH Printing Department Printing: Hinton Press, Inc. of Mebane. Wanted: black JV cheerleaders To the editor: Attention! Attention! All girls wishing to be junior varsity Carolina cheerleaders. Wanted: Female 5'0 to 5'4, 85-100 lbs., long blond or brown hair, blue eyes and most importantly CA UCA SIAN. This want ad should be put on every flyer that publicizes JV cheerleader tryouts. Why? Because for four years running there have been no black cheerleaders. Actually, during the past four years there has been one black cheerleader. She fit all the criteria stated in the above want ad except for the fact that she was black. I would very much like to know why there have been no black girls on the JV squad in the past four years. I am deeply concerned because I am sick and tired of seeing talented black girls leave tryouts every year hurt and dejected. I have been at every varsity tryout and three JV tryouts in my four years at Carolina. Granted, my knowledge of the things the judges are looking for is limited, but no one can tell me that for four years there has not been one black girl good enough to make junior varsity. Anyone who believes that is crazy, stupid or both. Something is wrong, very wrong. . We all know why there are black girls on the varsity. It is simply because if there were not any the blacks on campus would scream bloody murder and cause tons of bad publicity for the University. If the blacks on campus did not care if there were any blacks on the varsity squad, there would be none. That's a fact. If you do not believe me, check out the JV squad. They are not highly visible. They cheer at JV football games (which no one sees), JV basketball games (which no one sees) and women's varsity basketball games (which no one sees). No one sees them. No one cares who's on the squad. So con sequently, without anyone pressuring the judges to select talented black girls, they select talented white girls. One final point. Black beauty has still not become accepted as "genuine" beau ty. Therefore, there are no black JV cheerleaders. Females, that is. The other side of the story is that there are four black males on the squad. Why? Because it is acceptable to have black men in highly physical, athletic positions. Whoever you judges are, you are not fooling anyone. You think because you selected four black males for the squad, blacks would be satisfied. You are wrong. I want to know why there have not been any black female JV cheerleaders, and I'm" sure other blacks would also like to know. The DTH would be an excellent place to tell us. Paul M. Swann Hinton James ARA: high-priced and bad Flight 007 atrocious, not tragic To the editor: The day after KAL Flight 007 was shot down by the Soviet Union, a con servative journalist predicted that liberals would soon be referring to the incident as a "tragedy." DTH assistant University editor Stuart Tonkinson is one of the many apologists who have proved that George Will was correct ("United (?) Nations On the de fense," DTH, Sept, 26, 1983). A child dying of leukemia is a tragedy. A man gunning down his wife is murder. A government shooting 269 innocent people out of the sky for trespassing is an atrocity. Fleming Robinson Chapel Hill To the editor: As a regular reader of the DTH, it truly surprises me to observe that, day after day, you never seem to comment on something that affects a large portion of UNC stu dents. Specifically, why have we not seen any scathing editorials concerning the ARA food services? Face it the food is bad, the prices are horrendously high and the employees' manners certainly do not brighten my day. First, let's discuss the food itself. It's bad. The primary entree is carbohydrates spaghetti, lasagna, etc. The primary vegetables are rice and mashed potatoes. Carbohydrates are good for the ARA be cause they are cheaper to serve than other foods. They have little nutritional value for the students, however. Also, it is disgraceful that the Pine Room and the Fast Break both have "B" sanitation ratings yet continue to charge outrageously high prices for their food. Let's compare some prices from Hardee's and the Fast Break. Bpth are supposed to be fast food types of eating establish ments: a sausage biscuit at Hardee's 75 cents, Fast Break 95 cents; a hot dog with chili at Hardee's 65 cents, Fast Break 85 cents; a double cheeseburger at Hardee's $1.18, an equivalent quarter-pounder at Fast Break $1.35. Surely ingredients can't be that much more expensive for the ARA than for Hardee's. Finally, some of the employees' man ners are not up to par. Admittedly, my complaint only refers to a few employees, but they seem to be the same ones who are rude day after day. They snap "May I help you?" in a very irritated voice and then glare impatiently while you make up your mind. Contrary to popular belief, they are not doing us a favor by waiting on us. We not only pay for the food, but we also pay for their salaries. Courtesy would be nice. Karen Fisher Morrison A fuzzy line HANDICAPPED ZONE To the editor: As a Baptist my personal relationship with Christ is decidedly an individual mat ter. I do not consider myself as part of any voting bloc; neither does the Baptist State Convention supersede the autonomy of the individual church or persons within that church. Baptists such as Roger Williams have fought for this autonomy and have advocated the separation of church and state in the U.S. I agree with your contention ("Pulpit politics," DTH, Sept. 27) that "(conven tion) advice should be issues-related." The ' role of the Christian is to augment hisher personal religious experience with a posi tive influence on society. For some this may involve political activism. As indivi duals, Christians in American can speak for the political welfare of others; it is im portant to note that nobody in the Baptist "hierarchy" has a binding hold on fellow believers. On an individual level, though, personality factors will be weighed along with examination of the issues. It's not too difficult to see how Gov. Jim Hunt and Sen. Jesse Helms have close friends who happen to be highly involved in the ad rninistrative offices of their particular church denomination. Furthermore, in many cases it is difficult to distinguish between personality and is sues in politics. Maverick, ornery Baptists in colonial Virginia were one of the pri mary political reasons why George Mason so strongly advocated the passage of a bill of rights. As a minority group in Mason's district these early Baptist leaders played a major role in formulating one of the cor nerstones of political liberty, yet in their pressure politics they perceived a fuzzy line between personality and issues. Carlton Miller Henderson Street Long live the queen ? To the editor: Personally, I've had it with the Doctor, i.e. Doc Droze. In response to his Sept. 27 letter to the editor, "Next time the joke may be on students," it just brings back terrible memories of his anti-student, anti-fun tirades of last year. He was one of the few against the Carolina Concert for Children. He's also the one who seems to think that he is the "big politico" on campus because he decides all the "weighty issues" of Carolina student life. Come on, Doc, the joke is really on you. Can't Doc understand that the Homecoming queen has lost all significance? Some people think it is a sexist (not this year!), outdated frivolity. How many people voted for a Home coming queen this year? Not many. Doc, people think the Student Government you so fervently represent is a joke, if they even think of it at all. Hugh G. Reckshun, when he ran for student body president last year, proved that point. And before you get on your political high horse about making it "difficult for anyone to mount a joke candidacy" (real important issue here), just remember no one really cares. And Doc's letter was actually funny. There is a sharp contrast to the tune now playing ("The Times They Are A-Changin' ") and Doc in his letter sounding like a 27-year-old reactionary try ing to get in good with the John Birch Society. He refers to Carolina Athletic Association Presi dent Padraic Baxter as "an able administrator." Baxter is a student who gets great seats to all the games, and gets paid for it! "An able ad ministrator" come on! i This and other issues that Doc has continually brought up aren't really all that important like keeping all the old traditions, most Student Government stuff, etc If the DTH would quit paying attention to Doc's antics, maybe he would just go away. Really, I'm sure Doc is a smarChard-working guy. He should just try to be' a little more hum ble. Student Government, despite other claims I'll read about, is most of the time unimportant; it is certainly not what "student activism" is all about. If Doc wants to get fired up, why not about something that deals with the real world like nuclear disarmament, Lebanon or the legaliza tion of marijuana (uh oh)? Doc, here is just a word to the wise if you don't calm down a little you may be on the receiving end of what would be a really funny joke: You may not get re-elected. Ha. Ha. Doc, seriously, take a bong hit. "Buzz" Brice Smith Level Road To the editor: We are writing this letter to express our dis satisfaction with The Daily Tar HeeV coverage of last week's Homecoming activities. The DTH editorial staff has shown a dis couraging lack of class, tact and thoughtfulness throughout the entire matter. The "open letter" Sept. 26 to Padraic Baxter in Monday's paper was not only inappropriate, it also made little sense. Was the DTH humiliating Baxter? If so, it should surely give an elected stu dent official and his office more respect. Obviously the DTH supports Teague in its ir responsible actions, having given extensive coverage to their candidate both before and after the Homecoming election. By giving unwarrant ed attention to Teague, the DTH is merely en couraging such juvenile behavior. Maybe next year we can expect joke officers in the Campus Governing Council, the Carolina Athletic Association, and yes, even the DTH. The "cute" headline on the front page of Tuesday's paper (" '83 Homecoming issue 'drags on' ") exemplifies the DTHs patronizing at titude toward this matter. Any time a paper stoops to placing quotation marks in a headline for comedic effect, some of that paper's sense of journalistic integrity is lost. With all the pictures of "Yure Nmomma" in the DTH (three in two days), there were no pic tures of the wirining banner, the winning float or parade Grand Marshal Woody Durham. Perhaps if "the Voice of the Tar Heels" had worn a dress, he would have merited coverage in your news paper. The only people who could be truly happy with the DTHs coverage of last week's Home coming are those who live or sleep in Teague. " Doug Kinne Chip Fooshee Manly To the editor: As a journalism major, I'm sure Doc Droze realizes that consistency is a hallmark of good rhetorical deliberation. Still, it is difficult to un derstand how our "last bastion of tradition," the Homecoming queen election, I presume, has fallen when his next paragraph begins by inform ing us that "Here at Carolina, tradition abounds" ("Next time the joke may be on students," DTH, Sept. 27). And hark, ye pitiful student body! Despite your life-long academic records, despite the best efforts of our esteemed admissions office, Jim Swofford has seen fit to pass down his judgement ("Everything is 'one big joke,' " DTH, Sept. 27). Know that he has deemed you "One big joke"! . Considering the popular awareness of the dan gers in taking satire seriously, I find it disturbing that many people never realized some of the elec tion outcome's most basic lessons. Tradition is fine as long as it doesn't impede progress. But who traditionally wins such elections? The representatives of the largest organization? The prettiest girl? Both great reasons, I'm sure, but can't Homecoming mean more than a mere beauty or popularity contest? Can it be that this apathetic student body has reacted against such an outmoded, elitist tradition? I would like to congratulate Steve Latham on his win, although I would be naive to suggest that everyone who voted for him had such high-minded motives. I would also like to apologize to all the other Homecoming queen contestants-. You all looked beautiful, and your participation only reflects the affection and high regard your peers hold for you. Better Latham had been the only nominee. Nick Pritchard East Rosemary Street To the editor: After reading the letters to the editor on Tues day, Sept. 27, by Jim Swofford ("Everything is 'one big joke' ") and Doc Droze ("Next time the joke may be on students"), I have to sympathize with both writers' points The girls of the Homecoming court should, and rightfully so, be disappointed by the election of Yure Nmomma. Gone is the honor, excitement and memories of being elected Homecoming queen. Yet the election of Yure Nmomma does make a statement about the enthusiasm of the average UNC student toward Homecoming. In fact, it seems as if few people on this campus get excited about being a part of the University of North Carolina when football games roll around. It's true that it is hard to get psyched for a Home coming game in the middle of September against William and Mary. But can't we try? Other schools make football games an event, filling the stands with thousands of cheering fans who won't leave at halftime because they are bored. So let's look to the future Homecomings at UNC. Carolina Athletic Association President Padraic Baxter: Work on a major renovation of Homecoming activities. Douglas Dibbert, direc tor of Alumni Affairs: Pick a more appropriate time and opponent for the game. And finally, students: At games, let's show that we're excited about attending the best university in the nation. Let's all do this, so that Yure Daddy won't be queen in '84. Paul Heath Old East To the editor: Yure Nmomma was elected Homecoming queen, and most students, fans and alumni got a bigger kick out of Homecoming than they ever would have had we merely elected another pretty face. But a small minority was bothered by it. Why? Doc Droze felt sorry for the girls who lost the election ("Next time the joke may be on stu dents," DTH, Sept. 27). If these girls place such a high value on being recognized as "the pret tiest," then I pity them for that reason, not because they lost the election. Jim Swofford was bothered because the "big joke" atmosphere put across the student body as apathetic and unscholarly ("Everything is 'one big joke,' " DTH, Sept. 27). Then I must ask Swofford, "Are beauty contests more in line with your image of an enlightened, knowledge-seeking student body?" I see nothing wrong with electing a lovely lady for Homecoming queen if that is what students want. But if students would rather have some fun and elect a lovely guy, they should be able to do that too, without complaint from the small con tingent of students who haven't yet mentally graduated from high school. Matthew M. Brown Ban Lewis Craige
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Sept. 29, 1983, edition 1
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