Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Feb. 18, 1985, edition 1 / Page 7
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8The Daily Tar Heel Monday, February 18, 1985 t time to leam some mew trkks P?f Uaiii (Ear llwl 93 rd year of editorial freedom By RUTH BARDON Arm: Rk.ki;rt and David Schmidt Editor Editor Stuart Tonkinson Bun Pi:rkowski Dick Andurson Janet Olson Steve Ferguson Vance Trefethen Managing Editor Associate Editor Associate Editor University Editor News Editor State and. National Editor Leigh Williams Mark Powell Lee Roberts Frank Bruni Sharon Sheridan Larry Childress City Editor Business Editor Sports Editor Arts Editor Features Editor Photo Editor Paging through the future Perhaps this morning's Daily Tar Heel isn't the freshest thing on your breakfast table. But it's comfortable there, as it was nearly a century ago. Strange that such a long tradition would insist on change, yet it does every year and today marks the new beginning. The revised masthead above pronoun ces the difference. Not only does it contain the rare combination of two chief editors, it introduces other names with some familiar ones. The rest of the paper likewise will join the new with the old. An effort toward greater insight and background in stories will temper coverage that continues its focus on campus news. Writers also will be encouraged to develop individual styles within the restraints of journalistic responsibility. Cosmetic adjustments such as darker headlines, off-column layouts (on page 1 in this issue) and more boxed stories already enhance the basic design of past DTHs. Viewpoints differing from those of the editors won't necessarily be denied publication as editorials if they're sensible, because such a diverse and intelligent audience as ours deserves exposure to more than one perspective. Tone is just as important. Editorials will be written with care and sincerity, none to be printed unless we could personally read them to those they concern without hesitation. This won't preclude any humor; in fact, the odds and ends that found their way into "The Bottom Line" will rise to greater heights in editorials like the West German delivery truck that recently spilled its load of apple jelly and caused a traffic jam. Maybe the driver left the cargo door ajar. Of course, we can't have too much humor. Finally, we welcome your suggestions and criticism. Though the paper won't always please everyone, our accessibility should. Still serving students and the Univer sity community, today's D TH begins the 93 rd edition of a paper that began in 1893. We're confident youH remember this year's DTH for much more than a numerical coincidence. To the dfh deg The Editors' Column At this strange mid-semester juncture, Dave Schmidt and I begin our co editorship of The Daily Tar Heel. Of course, weVe spent the past week and a half preparing ourselves for the quantum leap, but . . . well, let's just say that there's only so much one can do in a week and a half. This, in case you're interested, is the first instalment of our Monday editors' column. In the future, its aim will be to field reader responses, to accept criticism, and to point out facts which otherwise might not be understood by even the most well-disposed of readers. Dave and I will most likely take turns at authoring the column, but since I drew the shorter straw, I get to start. Begin, therefore, with a good example. Today's eight-page edition is, we admit, short on copy and long on advertising. The problem which we encountered was as follows: an advertiser desired a two page foldout in today's paper, which required us to print either eight or twelve pages (a ten-page paper has no foldout). We chose the eight-pager over the twelve- pager, given the amount of copy we had. You may note that there is an inter esting relationship between the amount of copy and the number of advertisements in a newspaper. The advertisements are intended to strengthen the paper, to allow it to print more copy in the future; but the copy is constantly competing for space at present. The tete-a-tete between the two can produce funny results, as with today's back-page crossword puzzle. Running the crossword puzzle on the back page is not our idea of fun and games. We only did it in order to clear space for more copy inside the paper. Now, perhaps running the crossword puzzle on the back page didn't draw your ire. Perhaps it didn't even draw your attention. But we are more than willing to explain why we did it. That's what this column is all about. In the future, we fully expect to draw response on more compelling questions. Let it be known, then, that this column exists. Feel free to call our bluffs if you ever think we're bluffing. ARNE RICKERT THE Daily Crossword by N.E. Campbell ACROSS 1 Ariz, river 5 Say suddenly (with "out") 10 Sponsorship 14 Former Ugan dan leader 15 Uncanny 16 Company symbol- - 17 Final oppor tunity 19 On the peak 20 Realm 21 Solons 23 Roster 25 Orchid tuber food 26 Kind of club 30 Gaudy 33 Scot, hill sides 34 More docile 36 WWII area 37 Small rolls 38 Kitchen knife 39 Old Eng. poet 40 Football player 41 Fe or Monica 42 Surface for inscriptions 43 Kilts 45 In high spirits 47 Under to a poet 49 Sharp in taste 50 Greek - 53 Used a certain golf club 57 Small liquid container 53 Fla. resort city 60 Fish-eating bird 61 Young eel 62 Puerto 63 Foxx 64 Men of vision 65 Large amount DOWN 1 Strong wind 2 Moslem leader 3 Speak Imperfectly 4 Island group T 2 3 4 """"J e t 8 g 1Q 11 12 13 U ' TS ' 16 "FT" Tf a i9 "IB "" 21 22 . 23 24 25 """" 26r2fl 23" 30 " 3132"" 34 " 35" "" """ 36 " " mmmm, MJ 40 41 42 "43 44" """ 45 48" " '" """ '" ' 47 """" If """" " 49 l50ir" - 52" 53 " 54l55l5eP ""7 ' "ST" " 5P " " 60 TT" """"" """"" 62 """" TT" 64 1 63 1985 Tribune Media Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved 21885 5 Command 6 Yam measure 7 Vases 8 Elmorand Grantland 9 Adolescent 10 Click beetle 11 Lose self control 12 Gorinor Stravinsky 13 Bribes 18 Yells 22 Having wings 24 Giant 28 Fr.prlastly titl03 27 Steamer or Saratoga 28 Together 29 Bi:i of fare 31 Purloined 32 Desired 35 Intended 33 Recreation activities 39 Specks imperfectly lTlAlBlur"0RS0NlAH ATBl E G AN LOTT O.JM P L E AIRS E.A. R.Tm"uM PLL L 0NES0 ME P.0 S EjS III ! a 1 e. cTl s ; . bTA Y L 0 R;iH E SlHfTTP TT F r LESS E. R C0D A AT TM E NilAS P I R.E.S. T 0 F U.""XAll T JLJR n. at "AWED IAIGIa t RABBLE TIrTTTs HITo oTso rTe IbIuIgIlie cTa lls"twi g i s l e a r e a s r e d 0 IsItIuidL jbIaIsIrIaLo res 41 The Man 42 Bushy plant 44 Staggered 48 Hoglike mammals 43 Selassie 50 Declare to be true 51 Grow weary 52 Vheel hub 54 Follow closely 55 homo 56 Indian Ocean vessel 59 Mai de I am writing to discuss a problem and to propose the beginnings of a solution. But the problem I address is one that many don't consider to be a problem - sexist language. Defenders of sexist language argue that everyone understands "he," "man," and "mankind" to be generic, that "man-made" can't possibly be offensive, and that these words are simply not to be taken too literally. They say that changing the language would entail more extreme difficulties and would result in awkward and sterile language. And they appeal to tradition. I respect tradition. I admire grace in language. I don't enjoy difficulties, and 1 do understand the intended meaning of "mankind." But when I hear, "mankind," even though I know that the speaker means to include both men and women, I have a strange reaction I feel as though I've been erased. I haven't always felt this way. For years I wrote "mankind" and thought that those who objected were oversensitive and silly. But in 1982 I was forced to change the language I used. I worked as a staff editor at World BookChildcraft, Inc., where the editorial board was working to eliminate all sexist language in the encyclopedia. In order to learn to write in the new, non-sexist style, I was asked to revise old articles. I remember struggling with the old "fire" article, in which primitive "man" uses "man made" tools to build fire, and all "mankind" benefits. And in my head, an image formed of d man making a fire. When I had rewritten the article and changed the language, my mental picture changed accordingly. I learned that the language we use is largely responsible for our perception of the world. I also learned that sexist language is often vague and inaccurate. My revision was much more specific, and much more detailed than the original article had been. I had been forced to confront the reality behind the words I used, and that made me a sharper writer. And revising that "fire" article taught me one more thing: it's difficult to revise sexist language that's already in print. It's much easier to leave out the sexist language in the first place. And this, of course, requires taking the issue seriously, not just giving it lip service, but actually changing the way we think and the way we see the world. This sort of conscious language change is nothing new. Think of the change in the words used to describe black Americans, for example. We no longer talk or write about "colored" students. Non-black Americans realized that Rflffia u s ra O their language was offensive and consciously changed it. Sexism in language is comparable to racism in language, but it's a great deal more subtle and pervasive. Take, for example, the word men to signify "the human race." "Men" is supposed to be one of the most comprehensive and all embracing words of our language. When we say "good will to men," there's charity and generosity, a feeling of expansiveness in our hearts. We mean "good will to all." But the language we use undermines our good intentions. How is it that our words and our meanings are so far apart? The answer, as I see it, is that women are now part of the country (and part of many other countries) in a new, unprecedented way, and our language has simply not caught up to our changing realitv. As a teacher of freshman English, I try to increase my students' awareness of language, to teach them to use language with precision and respect. I try to show them that the words they choose make a difference; that every choice, in writing, has rhetorical consequences. And if a writer says "mankind," there is a strong possibility that some member of the audience will feel excluded. It is easy to avoid eiving offense and even if it weren't, I think it would be worth the effect. While many members of the university community agree with what I'm saying, they aren't quite sure of how to go about changing their language. They don't know what words or phrases are available to them. Many universities provide new teaching assistants (and other faculty members) with a written explanation of the university's policy on sexist language. The "policy sheets" often include lists of words and phrases that are neither awkward nor inaccurate. Having a policy sheet not only helps the teachers in their own writing and speaking, but gives written university support to the teachers' efforts to influence their students. I suggest that UNC or the English department or the Freshman English Committee try to create such a policy sheet. A policy sheet will not eliminate sexist language, but it can help to raise the conscious ness of the university community. 1 know that as far as writing and speaking go, we TA's and faculty members are pretty old dogs, but we can try to learn new tricks. And if we can't do the new tricks, we can at least teach them. Ruth Bar don is a graduate student in the English department living in Chapel Hill RUM READER FO ARA's standards leave something to be desired To the editors: Much has been said this semester about the $100 mandatory meal plan granted to ARA Food Servi ces. Wondering what exactly that $100 would buy me, I went to the newly opened "Commons" last week for breakfast. I ordered a $ 1 .25 sausage and egg biscuit, 45-cent hash browns, and a 55-cent medium Coke that makes a total of $2.35. 1 was charged $2.40, a five cent overcharge. An isolated incident I can accept, but IVe since been back twice, ordered the same items, and have been similarly overcharged each time. A five cent overcharge on each student's visit over a semester leads to almost $2.00 being robbed from him. (A five cent overcharge of the roughly 40 visits needed to spend $100 results in $2.00) That brings the "gift" ARA receives from each student to $102.00 per student. Additionally, upon getting to my nice, clean, probably newly renovated table I discovered my biscuit, hash browns, and Coke were in fact a biscuit, hot apple turnover, and a Coke. When I complained to the cashier with whom I had placed my order, I was told that there were no hash browns. The apple turnover had been sub stituted since it was available and cost the same as the hash browns. Now I appreciate her consideration as much as the next guy, but I hate apple turnovers with a passion! Had she asked my preference in the matter, I would have declined the offered turnover. But, then again, I was not asked. Does McDonald's Apologize, Berger! To the editors: I am writing in response to a quote from student body president candidate Doug Berger in the DTH article, "BSM funding fails again by narrow margin," (Feb. 13). It seems to me Berger was criticizing the DTH for printing editorials, as he blamed the DTH for the failure of the referendum and stated that the DTH's opposition began "from the first editorial against BSM fund ing." Now whether I voted for Berger or the referendum is irrele vant and does not pertain to my reason for writing this letter. What is pertinent here is that Berger has openly stated criticism against the First Amendment. Those individu als who were against the Black Student Movements's funding had as much of a right to be heard as those who favored it; I might add that both sides were equally repres ented and had equal opportunity to be represented, thus no DTH bias or prejudice was in effect. On what then does Berger base his criticism? He has no grounds to accuse the DTH of bias or prejudice. Therefore he must have been criticizing the DTH for abiding by the First Amendment and fulfilling their duties as a newspaper. He must have been criticizing the First Amend ment the freedom of speech and press. He must have been criticizing the United State's for being such a free country and he, furthermore, must have been criticizing Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and our most highly respected forefath ers for ratifying such a ludicrous amendment in the first place. How do you, the student body, feel about this? Well I know how I feel. I feel personally criticized for being an American, a believer in what this country was founded upon freedom: freedom for everyone, black, white, anti-black, or anti white. I am Jewish and I still fully support the rights of the Nazi party and Ku Klux Klan to hold public marches simply because of my strong belief in the First Amend ment. When we take a right away from any individual or group, we take rights away from ourselves as free Americans. I believe it was Jesus who said, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." So, yes, Berger, the DTH did allow negative editorials to be printed and that action might have caused the BSM referendum to fail. Yet, the DTH also printed a series of your negative statements concerning the campus right wing, the DTH, and current Student Body President Paul Parker. Democracy, Berger, is not a one way street and if you call yourself an American I believe that you owe your fellow Americans a very sincere apology. Neil Kodsi Connor Dorm randomly substitute one choice for another when one choice is unavail able? For that matter, does any self supporting and competitive restau rant chain do so? Of course not! My point in all this is not merely to complain about the poor service, but it does serve as an excellent example of why ARA should not be granted the mandatory $100 "gift" from each on-campus student. With roughly 6,000 on-campus students, that amounts to a "gift" of over $600,000 being handed oyer freely to ARA. ARA's monopolistic position as the only contracted food service on campus should preclude their need ing a subsidy. In economic terms, a monopoly (such as ARA) has a decreased incentive to be efficient due to its position as the sole source of a good or service, in this case food. Also, subsidies such as the mandatory meal plan can lead to a decreased incentive to be efficient. By inefficiency, I am referring to increased costs, lower quality food, and lower overall quality service. In other words, ARA, when given this subsidy, has even less incentive to meet even the minimally accepted standards of quality and efficiency. Therefore, the increased funding ARA claims will improve its ser vices to the campus, will, in fact, do no such thing. If ARA's planned "gift" won't improve their quality service, per haps alternative food services or alternative plans should be consi dered. Should $100 of each on campus student's money be approp riated to underwriting an inefficient and costly food service? I think not. After all, if ARA cannot maintain minimum standards, their contract expires in 1986 and they can be replaced. Scott Humphrey Chapel Hill Berger can 9t handle it To the editors: I suppose writing a column or a letter to the editors is the "in" thing to do nowadays, so I'll maintain the status quo. To the omniscient grad students Harlin Gradin and Steven Band (" 'DTH sinks to all-time low with endorsement," Feb. 15) who feel Doug Berger has , been treated unfairly: please, quit whining. The election is over. Berger lost. Wallace won. The DTH had a questionable editorial practice as anyone who read it surely knew. However, how many people do you think really make their decision according to what the DTH say s? Berger lost and he can't handle that. He's crying about it and clutching at straws so he can rationalize losing. He didn't lose because of ultra-conservatives spreading lies, or because there's a great racist movement on this campus. Berger lost because UNC students don't want some "rebel without a cause" using the Univer sity to promote his own political beliefs. The guy lost by 912 votes, people! Get a freakin'clue! The students showed their opin ion. It's over. Now, please stop whining and let this dead horse rest. Phil Bridges Governor Ehringhaus Residence College Trefethen was right, Jones The American Way To the editors: It was with swelling pride that I read Allen A. Taylor's exposure of Doug Berger ("Against Berger, socialism," Feb. II). His no nonsense approach left no doubt about the ugly facts of the matter. Just the thought of a socialist occupying the exalted seat of stu dent body president is enough to torture the imagination. But in this intellectual community, we are .indeed fortunate to count as one of our own someone like Taylor who holds the flag with dignity. In helping to educate others with less insight and vision, he goes beyond any ordinary devotion to country. Let no one say that his high-minded and graceful plea emerged from the rank cesspool of ideological bigotry. It was, in fact, the wise counsel of one who has truly committed himself to freedom and the Amer ican way. Henry Shanoski Chapel Hill To the editors: Brian Jones displays an appalling lack of knowledge in his attack on Vance Trefethen ("Combatting racism with facts, not half-truths," Feb. 1 1). If Jones really does believe that Jews are not, as a group, denied jobs in the USSR I suggest talking to any refusnik or reading any publication of B'nai B'rith or Amnesty International. Jews who apply for immigration to the United States or Israel (and only 900 were allowed to leave in 1984) are, as a rule, dismissed from . whatever job they happen to hold at the time. If the person is lucky they might be able to find menial labor at a far lower wage rate. If they are not, and all too many are, they are convicted by Soviet authorities on charges of "hooliganism" and "parasitism" for not having a job. The minimum sentence is five years in a labor camp. If they publicly say they wish to leave the Soviet Union, addi tional charges of "slandering the Soviet Union" are thrown in for good measure. . Anti-semitism is policy in the Soviet Union, both de facto and de jure. To be a Jew is not a crime, but to be Jewish is. It is forbidden to teach Hebrew in the Soviet Union (punishable by up to 20 years in prison), all but the elderly are prevented from worshipping in synagogues, and anti-Jewish quotas are a way of life. Jones' ignorance of fact does not end with Soviet Jews. The boat people, primarily ethnic Chinese, are to many Southeast Asian coun tries what the Jews are to the Soviet Union. When I first read Trefethen's column I was inclined to agree that many of his analogies stretched the limit. But reading and thinking about Jones' denunciation made me realize that Trefethen was right. You can't shade morality. As for your invitation to conservatives to join with you liberals in combatting racism at UNC, I would be more than happy, Jones, to listen to your proposals on the subject. Brad Torgan President-elect Graduate and Professional Students Federation
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Feb. 18, 1985, edition 1
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