10The Daily Tar Heel mwsdav. Aprtl 3. 15C3
94th year of editorial freedom
QinMMs coFiieFs mo
Building brick pathways to cover the
shortcuts students have trampled into
campus lawns is not only an annual
waste of $100,000, but it is gradually
transforming Carolina's campus into a
N.C. State Brickyard.
The Physical Plant maintenance crew
laid the original brick pathways with
consideration for the natural flow of
traffic from building to building. These
paths gave all students equal access to
every sector of the campus.
From the first day the bricks were laid,
the school has granted the students a
great privilege. The primary reason for
the campus' design was for students to
use, not for the administration to
display. No "Keep off the Grass" signs
were erected. No administrators or
faculty reprimanded the students for
playing touch football games on lawns
in front of academic buildings. Indeed,
this vibrant spirit is a cornerstone of the
University's foundation.
However, over the past 30 years (and
increasingly so in the past five), students
have exploited this privilege. And unless
students stop cutting corners, the
campus lawns will someday be
brickyards.
Either by ignorance, impatience or
apathy, students continue to trod
'Uippoirt Y-8s,
FLASH: Oil prices are now the lowest
they have been since the mid-1970s. But
to those of you who thought this had
to be good news sorry. Even though
Americans have been relishing the drop
in gas prices, the economy may dry up
in the coming decade.
Most consumers viewed with glee the
longer lines and cheaper gallons at the
gas pumps. To the average motorist,
cheap gas means more delightful excur
sions to the beach and to Grandmother's
house. To make matters better, inflation
and interest rates have fallen and the
stock market has been soaring for weeks.
Indeed, this so-called oil glut has been
a soothing balm to the American
economy so far.
But the federal government is begin
ning to cap this gusher of good news,
saying the U.S. economy will suffer in
the 1990s. Vice President George Bush
is leaving for the Middle East today to
try to persuade the leading members of
the Organization of Petroleum Export
ing Countries to restrict productivity.
Granted that consumption remains
stable, this will decrease the world's oil
supply, and, as any economically astute
person knows, bring an increase in oil
prices
But why would consumers want the
Arabs to raise oil prices?
The answer from federal officials is
that U.S. interests are not served by
Amy wMcli way
Scene: A dimly-lit, smoke-filled back room
of the seediest bar in Carmel. A jukebox in
the bar is stuck; it keeps blaring the same
song, "Play Misty for Me," over and over
again. The walls used to be pink, but they Ve
been so spattered by beer, grease and body
fluids, you can barely read the faded movie
posters on the wall. A light rain is breaking '
outside.
Characters: one woman and three men,
gathered around a poker table. The men, bid
and fat, are sweating heavily, puffing ner
vously on cigarettes. The woman, however,
mayor of the city, is utterly cool and collected,
looking with disdain at her "boys."
"Well, boys, what are you going to do about
him?" the dame says, as devoid of emotion
as the stuffed orangutang hanging above her.
"It's clear we have a problem. This is my,
town, or it was until HE came in. For years,
weVe been fixing elections to go my way
the way that's best for this city."
Kobody denied it. Everybody knew who
HE was. HE was Dirty Harry. ,
"Let's review our situation," she continued.
"We held a press conference so I could explain
how all those fake names got registered to
vote. Some Joe started asking too many
questions. So you, Bobby, tried putting the
muscle on him."
"It would have worked, too," "Prince"
Louie nervously sputtered. "I warned the Joe
that his kid could get awful sick real quick
if he didnt go back home to her, where he
belonged. He was just about to give up, too,
when Harry came out of nowhere and told
M7jQQK, Editor
STUART TONKINSON, Associate Editor
Grant Parsons, university Editor
Bryan Gates, News Editor
KERSTIN COYLE, City Editor
JILL GERBER, State and National Editor
Scott Fowler, sports Editor
DENISE SMITHERMAN, Features Editor
ROBERT KEEFE, Business Editor
Elizabeth Ellen, Arts Editor
DAN CHARLSON, Photography Editor
Randy Farmer. Production Edit
shortcuts between the brick walkways.
Students no longer walk to class they
trailblaze their way. In fact, this has
become such a popular way to travel
that these blazers soon gain followers.
These paths are pounded day after day
until the students' final goal is completed
a permanent dirt path in the most
convenient direction.
The construction across from Hec
tor's, where an old highway of sorts was
covered with bricks, is just one example
of the problem that these trailblazers
cause. It is absurd that some find it
necessary to travel tangential to the 50
miles of brick paths already on this
campus. If the Physical Plant workers
must continue to brick the trails because
of lazy walkers, the only natural sur
roundings that will soon remain on
campus will be a few traffic islands of
trees and shrubberies.
Pride in campus beauty needs to be
reevaluated. The campus1 is for the
students to enjoy physically and
visually. The maintenance crew will
continue patching up the grounds that
students destroy, without warning. But
when Carolina's campus looks like the
urban N.C. State campus, only the brick
masons will have no regrets.
not oil barons
extremely low oil prices. Yeah, right. The
more immediate danger is to the interests
of U.S. oil companies. It seems oil
companies aren't making enough money
to continue drilling.
So, the United States is now in the
business of rescuing floundering oil
companies are these the same guys
who are always buying each other out,
the same ones who could afford to retire
the national debt? No, didn't think so.
Because OPEC raised its productivity
last fall, it is directly responsible for the
falling prices. And because this lowers
their profits, one begins to wonder just
what those Arabs have in mind. Many
senators, including Idaho Sen. James
McClure, chairman of the Senate
Energy and Natural Rescources Com
mittee, have said they fear the Saudis
are lowering their prices now only to
raise them later.
If this is true, why is the United States
encouraging them to manage their
businesses well? Why are we helping
them make money? In the 1970s, the
price of a barrel of oil increased by 400
percent. It just doesn't make sense for
these United States of America, home
of the Cadillac and other gas-guzzling
V-8s, to fight for higher gas prices.
Let OPEC suffer for its avarice, and
let the'oil companies feed off themselves
for a change.
y 00 lose
Ytto Ct22ifi Lino
me to just shut my face. Nobody's ever talked
back to the 'Prince' before."
"HE doesnt play by our rules," Her Majesty
said. "WeVe got to shake him, somehow,
that's the bottom line."
"Maybe if we told HIM we'd get the studio
to jack up the syndication rates for 'Rawhide'
... " Louie's voice halted with the sudden
impact of a match being lit.
"Just try it, Louie," Dirty Harry said. "Just
try it." Next to him stood no, not Sonya
Locke - a meek, frightened man holding a
polling booth. The "boys" scattered.
"See this, Ms. Mayor?" Harry asked,
pointing to the man. "It's a Voter, with a voting
machine. And it's got the power to blow you
away, like you never knew what hit you. The
way I see it, there are two things you can
do. One, you can admit your government is
fraudulent, pull out of the race and leave town
on the next train. Or, two, you can try to
make a break for it, hoping that you get to
your paid-off police buddies before this guy
casts his vote, legally knocking you out of
office. What's it gonna be?"
The lady of ice started melting under the
hot glare of Harry's eyes. She ran for the door.
Harry's eyes squinted. Nothing could be
read in his face no joy, no remorse, no
human feelings. He turned to the loyal citizen.
"Go ahead," he said. "Make my day."
. S.T.
I 3
Committees1
Are you frustrated with the irritations of
University life lack of parking, high
textbook prices or a shortage of financial
aid? Do you often wish there were some means
whereby you could express your opinion and
know it will be heard? If so, apply to be a student
representative on the committees listed below for
the 1986-87 school year. Consisting of students
and faculty members, these committees meet to
discuss specific University problems and formu
late policy recommendations. All students are
eligible to apply for positions on the committees.
Undergraduates willing to serve on the commit
tees, including student members of the 1985-86
committees, must complete the applications,
available in Suite C of the Student Union, by
April 10. Graduate students must apply through
the Graduate and Professional Student
Federation.
Listed below are the committees, the number
of students appointed to each and a brief
description of their individual functions.
Chancellor's Committees
Buildings and Grounds two undergraduates
and one graduate; involves the development,
improvement or replacement of new and existing
physical facilities on campus.
Calendar two undergraduates and one
graduate; studies the current academic calendar
and makes recommendations for alterations.
Established Lectures two undergraduates
and one graduate; makes arrangements for
University lectures.
'Winter' talk
To the editor
The concept of nuclear winter
presents an exceedingly bleak view
of what the world would be like
after nuclear war even a very
limited one. In view of the fact that
we have based our national secur
ity in great part on nuclear wea
pons, it is important that everyone
be aware of the likely consequen
ces of their use. This topic will be
discussed at a very important
conference to be held in 104
Howell Hall from 2 to 4 p.m.
today.
The conference is co-sponsored
by UNC's School of Journalism
and a national organization, the
Scientists' Institute for Public
Information. The program
includes some of the best-informed
authorities on this most timely of
all subjects. If you have an interest
in your own welfare and future,
your attendance at this conference
is of utmost importance.
Charles Jenner
Professor
Biology
Petty protest
To the editor:
Recently, I have observed stu
dents protesting the University's
South-African investments by
building shanties outside South
Building. This has disturbed me
due to the fact that these protesters
are claiming to "live" as the blacks
live in South 'Africa. This is quite
ridiculous, because there are many
. items in these "houses" that would
be non-existent in a typical black
South African house, which these
shanties represent. I went by the
shacks Tuesday night and
observed that they were covered
with plastic so that the protesters
would not get wet due to the rain.
I also heard Jamaican music
coming from an American radio-'
cassette player with batteries. In
addition to this, I did not observe
any evidence of any human waste
in the area, so I must assume that
these protesters have the use of
modern toilet facilities.
I say all this to make one point:
If these people want to protest, the
least they could do is protest
correctly. If they do not like the
policy of this university toward
South Africa, then there are surely
other public institutions of educa
tion, that would be willing to
accommodate both the protesters
and their views on the subject
without making any major
changes. If they feel so strongly
that what the University is doing
is so wrong, why do they attend
this institution in the first place?
Most students at this university
have pride in this school due to
its heritage and standard of aca
demics. These people must have
no pride in their school, otherwise
they would find a way of protest
ing that would not bring embar
rassment to their school and
would not disturb the atmosphere
that is an integral part of this fine
university. t
In addition to these complaints,
I must say that the situation in
South Africa is not as bad as the
protesters would claim. They
make themselves out to be experts
on South Africa, so I will ask if
they have ever been there, and
or do they have friends there? If
not, why are they telling us what
it is like to live there? I have several
friends from South Africa from
both inside and outside the govern
ment and I received the same
information from both. They say
that the situation in South Africa
is improving and that the current
slow transition of power from
white domination to intergrated
. n n n
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.jy u y
coMmMfiedl to.
Guest Writer
Scholarships, Awards and Student Aid
three undergraduates and two graduates; helps
set policy in these areas.
Traffic and Parking Appeals two under
graduates and one graduate; hears appeals from
decisions made by director of security services.
Student Awards three undergraduates;
oversees the chancellor's student awards cerem
ony, which is held annually.
Vice Chancellor for Business
and Finance's Committees
Energy Conservation one undergraduate
and one graduate; assists in the development,
coordination and implementation of energy
conservation programs for the University.
Food Services Advisory five undergradu
ates and two graduates; provides advice to the
vice-chancellor and the director of the campus
food service on the policies and procedures
established by the University administration and
food service management.
Student Stores Advisory three undergrad
uates and two graduates; provides advice to the
vice-chancellor and the Student Stores manage
ment on policies and procedures established by
Student Stores management.
fJ01iGEc!
BEER
s
SPRING BREAK.
levels is beginning to work. (To
those who claim that no such
policy exists, I request that they
read the Constitution of South
Africa.) I. tend to think that my
friends are correct due to the fact
that we have heard very little on
South Africa from the news media
lately. With the American media
"no news is good news," so maybe
the South Africans are doing
something right.
In closing, I would like to
challenge the protesters to do
something to benefit those that
they claim to help, such as joining
the Peace Corps or some other
voluntary aid organization. By
protesting in such a manner, these
people are doing nothing to help
the people in South Africa. They
are just drawing attention to
themselves!
Robert Medford
Freshman
Political Science
Register today
To the editor:
May 6 is just around the corner.
While many of us will have already
left the Hill by then, the May 6
primary will still go on! It is during
the primary that voters will choose
the final candidates, such as
congressional nominees several
of whom we will elect in
November. These officeholders
will be making decisions that affect
our UNC community. Therefore,
we need to consolidate student
interests in Chapel Hill. As our
first step, we as students should
register to vote.
According to Special Registra
tion Commissioner Joe Herzen
berg, those of us who won't be here
May 6 can go to the Chapel Hill
" Municipal Building to vote on an
absentee ballot as early as April
15. He also claims that the Orange
County tax board does not use the
lists of registered voters to track
down tax evaders.
How can you register? It's
especially easy, since student
government is bringing the regis
ters to you today, from 10 a.m.
to 2 p.m., in the Pit. Bring an I.D.
and a letter addressed to you at
your local residence. If you forget
the letter, a friend can vouch for
your school address. If youVe
already signed up at home, re
registering in Orange County will
just invalidate your previous
registration. ItH only take a few
minutes for you to swing by the
voter registration table today.
Kim McCombs
Sophomore
Chemistry Sociology
Another 'nam
To the editor.
Reagan's policies regarding
Central America are cruising a
perilous course. Although any
American president should, as a
top foreign policy priority, pro
mote programs to suppress the
spread or threat of communism,
I disagree with Reagan's means of
achieving this fundamental and
very important goal in Central
America.
Reagan wants Congress to
approve his $100-million Contra
aid program, which, if approved,
would almost certainly lead to the
further disbursement of millions of
dollars in taxpayers' money to a
cause that, under Reagan's poli
cies, would inevitably mean that
U.S. troops would be sent to
Central America. (Incidentally,
the Contras have already spent or
misused $70 million in U.S. aid
since 1981.)
I advocate that the money be
used to assist the struggling class
in America such as the small
farmers and the economically
deprived blacks all of whom
are neglected by the conservative
administration in Washington. So,
in my judgment and that of the
Democratic leadership in the
House and Senate, peace through
effective negotiations would lead
to a settlement of the existing
problems involving the Sandinis
tas and Contras. This is also what
Sen. Ted Kennedy advocates.
Nonetheless, Reagan's plan
would lead to a dead end and thus
exacerbate tensions in other Cen
tral American countries. In regard
to negotiations, Latin American
countries such as Venezuela and
Mexico favor this method for
solving the dispute. Military air
strips are being built in Honduras
by the United States to supply
groups in their efforts to over
throw the Nicaraguan
government.
Are you willing to risk your life
in Central America when intensive
military confrontation is unneces
sary? On March 24, Reagan
charged that Sandinistas were
pushing into Honduras. He was
glad to hear this report confirmed;
it gave him hope for more support
for his Contra aid program. This
proves that Reagan is trigger
happy. Meanwhile, Reagan's
request for increasing the number
of U.S. advisers and U.S. invol
vement in combat is threatening
staffleinitts
Traffic and Parking four undergraduates
and one graduate; advises the vice-chancellor and
the director of security services on the policies
and procedures established by security services
concerning traffic and parking.
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs'
Committees
Student Health Services Advisory three
undergraduates and two graduates; reviews
existing health programs and policies, identifies
and makes recommendations for solving health
service concerns.
Additional Executive Appointments to
Committees
General Education one undergraduate;
reviews course proposals and discusses educa
tional undergraduate issues.
Audit five undergraduates; oversees the
operations and policies of the Student Activities
Fund Office.
Student Educational Broadcasting two
undergraduates; oversees the operations of
WXYC in accordance with Federal Commun
ications Commission standards.
Apply today and increase student impact on
campus issues.
Marta Ackers, a junior Latin American studies
major from Shaker Heights, Ohio, is the
chancellor's committee coordinator for Student
Government.
to lead to another Vietnam.
I don't understand how the
Contras could actually overthrow
the Sandinistas when hundreds of
Sandinistas are disguised as Con
tras and the Sandinistas far sur
pass the Contras in guerrilla -warfare
experience. Interestingly
enough, however, many of the
Contra forces have been directly ,
linked to the Somoza regime.
Reagan certainly doesn't deserve
the requested $100 million for the
Contras.
The CIA may make the mistake
of overthrowing a legitimate .
government and replace it with a
dictatorship, as it did in Guatem
ala in 1954. Former President
Jimmy Carter believed the Sandi
nistas were legitimate, while the
Contras have a very bad record
regarding civil rights.
4
John F. Kennedy, the greatest
of the American presidents, once
said, "We should never negotiate
out of fear, but never let us fear
to negotiate." The Sandinistas
want to negotiate, but Reagan
broke off negotiations with them.
I advocate that Americans should
take a neutral and . mediating
position to encourage needed
negotiations. Now, isnt this better
than going to Vietnam pardon
me, Central America just to be
shipped back in plastic bags? This
would severely damage America's
prestige.
Keith Cooper
Sophomore
International Studies
Letters policy
Wanna tell the world your side
of the story, how it really hap
pened? Write us well listen. The
following is The Daily Tar Heel's
policy for "Letters to the Editor":
Each person whose name
appears must include a phone
number, year in school and major.
We maintain a limit of two
signatures per letter. If the writers
hold positions in an organizaton
relevant to the letter, they should
include those positions in addition
to the information above, i
Letters must be typed,
double-spaced, on a 60-space line
(set your margins on 12 and 72).
Please turn in letters by noon the
day before publication date.
4 pi SSNSfc