North Carolina Newspapers

I Sweaters or shorts? Sunniness continues today with highs in the mid 80s and lows in the mid 50s. But at the beach, it's going to be terrific. Co ght 1984 The Dmity Tar Hee Volume 92, Issue 40 Housing By KEVIN WASHINGTON SUIT Writer After numerous complaints from students and faculty about noise levels in dormitories and surrounding areas, the Residence Hall Association and the Office of Residence Life of University Housing have set down guidelines to reduce noise in these areas. Under the policy, created by a joint committee of the two organizations: Stereo speakers are no longer to be placed in or near windows; Students may not make noise which will carry beyond their closed dormitory room doors from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. Odetta: timeless folk magic By FRANK BRUNI Staff Writer To Odetta, time seems irrelevant. At S3, she can neither recall the specific dates of events in her own life nor perceive too much of a difference between the way people felt 20 years ago and the way they feel today. Basic human needs, she contended, have not changed, and folk music has survived for precisely that reason. "We all feel love, hate, fear, want, hunger, joy, frustration," the legendary folk singer said in an interview at the Carolina Inn yesterday. Because folk music is "not calculated" in the manner of rock In' roll or classical music, Odetta said, "it rings of a center or a truth that touches each of us." Folk songs, she said, were written by people trying "to soothe the anger and the sadness and the lonesomeness in them." She said the songs have the subsequent effect of a "healing balm" on audiences. Garbed in a lavendar robe and adorned by sunglasses, a bulbous turquoise ring, a forehead ornament and a medallion with the engraving "I Am," Odetta seemed an icon from a decade pastHer soft .. but resonant -speaking voice was punctuated by deep drags on a cigarette and a booming laugh that hinted at the power of her singing voice. 'I'm not sure what I want to do when I grow up. It occurred to me that I'd be singing at 97 even if I couldn't sing. I'd be croaking something.' Odetta If Odetta smacked of the ethereal in terms of her serene, earth-mother composure and spiritual concerns, it is a predisposition she has had since childhood. A student of voice at 13, the young Odetta was most interested in oratorio. Years later, when she traveled with a theatrical road company from her Los Angeles home to San Francisco, she was introduced to folk music, which is similar to oratorio in its emotional immediacy. The rest, as they say, is history. Using a guitar given to her by a friend, Odetta returned to the early '50s folk scene in San Francisco a year later and landed a weekly club engagment. From there she went on to similar engagments in New York and Chicago, garnering enough praise to launch a concert career. Compounding her attraction with a unique stage presense that still includes flowing caftans and burning incense, Odetta went on to play Carnegie Hall, to headline folk festivals throughout the world, and to entertain the late John F. Kennedy at the White House. She said that the music industry's decision to "put its spotlight on folk music" in the '60s aided the success of singers, like herself and friend Pete Seeger, who fit perfectly into the decade's climate of political reform because of their inherent liberalism. The robustness and range of a voice that received classical training have made almost any musical showcase possible for Odetta. Over the years, her concert appearances have ranged from solo performances (she refers to her accompanying guitar as "my baby") to engagments with the symphony orches tras of various U.S, cities. However she prefers the kind of solo setting that will characterize her UNC appearance. "I like a configuration where I can change my mind on stage," she said. She added that her rapport with her audience is integral to a performance, and that she likes to be able to change musical gears depending on the mood of the situation. Her love of interaction with other See ODETTA on page 6 ) lays a When asked to reduce noise levels, students must comply. According to a letter outlining the new policy to dormitory residents, persons creating excessive noise will be subject to the housing disciplinary policy. Mark Stafford, RHA president, said the policy was a result of complaints about noise last spring. "When Davis Library opened, faculty and graduate students with carrels facing Old Campus dormitories said they were bothered by stereos blasting out of windows," he said. In addition, students also complained 5- v. T 4 .V' --.- - 4 -n Don't move! Skies turn a charcoal gray as the creative juices from Laura 44 assignment on campus. GSP estimated By ANDY TRINCIA Staff Writer The North Carolina economy is expected to grow in all four quarters of 1985, according to a recently released economic forecast. The forecast, the UNC Charlotte First Union National Bank economic forecast for the third quarter of 1984, predicts a 1 .6 percent rise in gross state product (the total of all goods and services produced in North Carolina) next year for a total GSP of $86,579.7 million by the end of the year. "Predominantly, manufactured goods will go up. The situation with durable goods looks good, " said James Singleton, media relations manager for First Union in Charlotte. "As far as non durable goods like textiles, well see a decline. This is an on-going decline. It's nothing new," said James Singleton, Chapel Hill By Kevin Sullivan Staff Writer In an effort to decrease the number of hand bills and tape cluttering walls, telephone poles and trees in the Frank lin St. area, the Downtown Chapel Hill Association will ask the city to build stationary kiosks downtown. In a public hearing on Jan. 15, the association will ask the town council to change a city ordinance that does not allow kiosks on the sidewalks and in the public right-of-way. The associ ation's appearance committee hopes that about four of the structures can be built to accomodate the large number of handbills around town that numer ous Chapel Hill merchants consider an eyesore. "Since our inception two years ago, we have been working on the problem of people posting signs on posts, phone J What s so funny 'bout peace, love flEt to Serving the students and the University community since 1893 Friday, September 21, 1984 the own 'RAs across campus are putting more stress on noise reduction than ever before. But we don 't want anyone to overreact, and so far no one has. ' Mark Stafford of noise levels in the dormitories, he said. The letter also said students were "meeting with resistance when making a reasonable request of another resident to rHiirp tVteir Ipvl of roif " Stafford said although the original 1 t- - l - ft fall approaches but a suprisingly warm Ford, a sophmore from Chatanooga, at $86 million for media relations manager for First Union in Charlotte. The dominant growth sector next year will be durable goods, with a 4.5 percent increase in production. "That's not bad. In fact, that's the only one of our sectors increasing over four percent," he said. The forecast is important, not just for North Carolina, but for the rest of the country because the N.C. economy is a good indicator of upcoming trends in the national economy. "North Carolina is a leading indicator of information. From a historical perspective, since 1952, the rest of the nation has followed North Carolina's economic cycle. For example, the state led the nation out of the 198 1 recession," he said. The forecast also predicts a 2. 1 percent increase in employment next i. ,n W-'-'-V.VW.V.V.V.W.VjK Z-M x- J 4 ' " ' t .Kiil& J J-, i k. 'v;f s I est ' ' s Ail f - - JjS desires community bulletin booths, trash cans and even trees," said Robert Humphreys, association member and owner of Chapel Hill Cleaners at 422 W. Franklin St. "We're trying to get (the fliers) off the buildings and into a place where they will be more attractive," he said. "It's just a big mess," said Dr. William T. Kohn, who is currently serving as president of the association. "Different businesses have been displaying these handbills for years. They deface build ings with tape and frankly it disgusts me. There is a city ordinance which prohibits posting handbills on tele phone poles which has been very difficult to enforce. "There is a $50 fine for posting those things but the police can't enforce it because people have to be caught in the Chapel Hiil, North Carolina aw: no excessive complaints about blasting stereos came from library patrons and students in classes near North Campus dormitories, all on campus have been included in the policy. "The reason we rationalized doing it on South Campus was that there is DTH Jamie Moncrief yesterday afternoon brings out Tenn., as she sketches her Art end of 1985 year. This means over 50,000 new non agricultural jobs for North Carolinians. The N.C. unemployment rate is expected to decline steadily in 1985 from 6 percent in January to 5.2 percent in December. That would be the lowest unemployment rate in N.C. since 1980. Although the overall economic out look is good, the construction sector is expected to decline 4.8 percent in output, while agricultural output is expected to drop 3.9 percent. Singleton attributed the declines to high interest rates and the state's heavy reliance on agriculture. But for the N.C. economy as a whole, a recession is unlikely to happen next year. "Our forecast says it won't happen. The general feeling is if a recession comes, it won't be in 1985." See FORECAST on page 6 act of putting them up," Kohn said.. "I don't think there are enough police men downtown to catch them." Association members support the kiosk plan, although they explored alternatives such as sign post bulletin space "like the poles you see where bus schedules go," Kohn said. Josh Gurlitz, a Chapel Hill architect who is serving on the appearance committee for the association, said the proposal will include a recommendation for the type of kiosk that will be used. "We are researching various kinds of manufactured kiosks," Gurlitzz said. "A kiosk is a small, self contained struc ture which holds, in this case, informa tion on it. There are a wide variety available and many companies that make them." Gurlitz described the kiosks as and understanding? Elvis Costello always one student who might be studying somewhere on campus during the day and might be disrupted by noise," Stafford said. He said that in enforcing the policy, resident assistants should use their best judgement. "It's a situational judgement it's OK to turn (the stereo volume) up a few notches if no one is being bothered," he said. "RAs across campus are putting more stress on noise reduction than ever before," Stafford said. "But we dont want anyone to overreact, and so far no one has." Percentage of blacks here declines again By STEVE FERGUSON Staff Writer The percentage of blacks in the total freshman class of 3,300 has declined for the third straight year to 10.6 percent, according to preliminary figures in The News and Observer. In 1981, that class was 14.3 percent black. In 1982, that figure slipped to 14.25 percent and in 1983 the number dropped to 13.31 percent. Figures also show that the total number of blacks applying to UNC has been declining since 1982. This year, about 800 blacks applied to UNC, compared with 1,020 in 1983 and 1,037 in 1982. Figures for enrollment of all students also show black enrollment leveling off. The 1983 Minority and Female Pres ence Report shows that the percentage of blacks in the total student body have been rising until 1982, when blacks made up 8.7 percent of the whole student population. That figure remained at 8.7 percent in 1983. UNC groups plead ar field 9s By MARGARET McKINNON Staff Writer As Velma Margie Barfield awaits her Nov. 2 execution in a cell on North Carolina's death row, UNC students and faculty members are petioning Gov. Hunt to grant her clemency. UNC School of Law professor Daniel Pollitt, English professor Doris Betts, philosophy professor E.M. Adams, and history professor George Taylor sent a letter to Hunt last week urging him to postpone a decision on Barfield 's fate until after the Nov. 6 elections. "The decision should not be made under these circumstances," Taylor said. Pollitt agreed. "The Governor knows whatever he does everyone will think it's political, " he said. "The Helms crowd will hound him (Hunt) either way he goes. "Hell either be pegged as the first governor to kill a woman in 35 years or hell lose support at the polls because the majority of North Carolinians support the death penalty," he said of Hunt. Pollitt he said plans to send another letter to Hunt outlining questions to be considered in the Barfield case . In the letter, he points out to Hunt that only 13 women have been sentenced to death in North Carolina and only two were denied clemency. Both were executed in 1935. "There's no doubt she's a murderer," Pollitt said. "Velma killed her mother, fiance, and two elderly women she was caring for by poison and admitted she was guilty in court. "But she was an abused child, who married an alcoholic, and became heavily addicted to prescription drugs. In prison, she is now clean and has become very useful as a grandmother boards in downtown area "usually two to three feet wide and about seven feet tall. There are three to four surfaces, or they can be round." Kohn said the association would remain active in the planning for kiosks. "If our proposal (for the council) goes through, then the town council, the planning board and our appearance committee will probably work together on the project," Kohn said. The association has a particular interest in the appearance of the downtown Chapel Hill streets because most of the 70 members are merchants in the area. "We're made up of residents, profes sionals and business people in the downtown area from the public library to Carrboro which includes Franklin and Rosemary Streets as well as the side streets," Kohn said. Many of the area shop owners and Fighting Flutie The Heels take on Boston College and its feared poten tial Heisman-rwinning quar terback in a 7:30 matchup Saturday night NewsSportsArts 962-0245 BusinessAdvertising 962-1163 noise David Fussell, a Grimes dormitory resident assistant, said he thought the policy was fair. "After all, Grimes is no more than 200 feet from Hamilton Hall and Davis is right across the street," he said. "All that noise makes it hard to teach classes." "Students still have weekends to listen to their stereos," he added. Aycock RA Susan Bullock said she thought the system was working. "On the other hand," she said, "we havent hit the time to study yet like for midterms and finals." UNC officials feel the total percen tage of blacks at UNC will remain about the same this year, according to The News and Observer. The news comes at a time when the UNC system is trying to fulfill a 1981 desegregation agreement with the U.S. Department of Education. That agree ment states that the system will have 10.6 percent black enrollment at its predominantly white institutions and a 15 percent white enrollment at its predominantly black institutions. UNC and UNC-Wilmington are the only two predominantly white cam puses in the UNC system to show a decline in black students. Figures for four of the five UNC schools with mostly black students weren't available. Those include Eliza beth City State University, N.C. A&T University, N.C. Central University and Winston-Salem State University. At Fayetteville State University, an increase in white enrollment was reported. clemen cy confessor to younger prisoners on drugs,"Pollitt said. Spokespersons for Students Against the Death Penalty, a Campus Y organ ization, said their organization would not only petition for Barfield life but also seek to change attitudes on campus about the death penalty. According to SADP co-chairmen Karen Smith and Chris Cain, the group will hold a church service and vigil the night of the execution. "The outcome does not look good, but everything we can do helps," Cain said. Like Pollitt, SADP thinks the circumstances of Barfield 's human itarian aid to fellow prisoners make her case particularly important. "Why should we put someone to death who's making such a valid contribution?" Smith said. "Velma Barfield reallly is an exceptional case. If she is not granted clemency by Gov. Hunt, things will look worse for our cause. It will be even harder with Rufus Edmisten or Jim Martin, who want the death penalty for first-degree rape. "Yet the political bit is so incredibly entangled in the governor's decision," she added. Hunt's deputy press secretary Lynne Garrison said Hunt would consider Barfield 's case on its own merits before making a decision on whether to grant her clemency. "Gov. Hunt believes in the death penalty for first-degree murder cases only, but he also believes that each case should be judged on its own merits," she said. Garrison said Hunt would review the letters from UNC's professors and the student petitions along with other evidence before making a decision on Barfield. She did not know when Hunt would announce his decision. managers support the kiosk plan even though they feel it may not stop the problem entirely. "I don't think the handbills look good taped up all around town," Bob Simp son, manager of Town and Campus said. "Most of us (merchants) spend money decorating and cleaning the buildings. When I find them on my store, they come down." "I doubt it will keep them from putting them up," Simpson added. "There is no control on those political handbills. Since they're doing it now, I doubt that bulletin boards will stop them but eventually it should work." Richard Layne, the manager of the Record Bar on Franklin St., said that once people get used to looking at the kiosks for information, the handbills will stop multiplying.