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6The Daily Tar Heel Wednesday, September 24, 1986
lailu
94th year of editorial freedom
JIM ZOOK, Editor
Randy Farmer, Managing Editor t.
ED BRACKETT, Associate Editor
DEWEY MESSER, Associate Editor
Tracy Hill, Ne Editor
GRANT PARSONS, University Editor
Linda Montanari, city Editor
JILL GERBER, State and National Editor
Scott Fowler, sports Editor
KATHY PETERS, Features Editor
ROBERT KEEFE, Business Editor
Elizabeth Ellen, Am Editor
DAN CHARLSON, Photography Editor
Martin's test a failure
" seems profoundly inappropriate to
think of the University's budget as
though it contains millions of dollars
of expendable items. "
Chancellor Christopher Fordham
Gov. Jim Martin and the State
Budget Office don't seem to agree with
this statement. Their order to prepare
for a proposed 3 percent budget cut
in the UNC system has caused an
uproar among the system's academic
leadership. And it may well be for
naught.
Martin and the State Budget Office
have requested that each institution in
the UNC system present two budgets
this Friday one that includes all the
funds needed from the state, and
another reflecting the proposed 3
percent cut. Their reason is nothing
more than to instruct the universities
on how to exercise "fiscal
management."
Professors are the ones who will be
affected most. Department chairmen
have already cited that the number of
graduate assistants will decrease, as
will time allotted research leave for
professors. If a faculty member is
burdened with an onerous workload,
or has too little time to devote to
research, then the classroom perfor
mance will likely suffer also. This
would surely have an adverse affect
on students.
The search for the coming year's
faculty must begin a year in advance.
The hiring process fills positions
vacated by professors who have retired
or gone elsewhere. However, the
University will not be notified until
February if the budget cut will be
levied. By then, many top-level pro
fessors will be headed for another
university's classroom.
Subsequently, the quality of stu
dents UNC will attract may decline.
There has been a rise in average SAT
scores in the past year, indicating a
higher caliber of students. These
students are sought by many univer
sities, and many will opt for a school
with the financial support to provide
the best education available.
Martin's request for a budget cut
may only be a test, but it's a test with
serious ramifications. The State
Budget Office's cut-the-fat attitude
treats the University as a private
business. But the education of tomor
row's leaders deserves an approach
that's concerned with more than the
balance sheet.
Prisons create outside threat
A Central Prison inmate was
recently sentenced for the fatal stab
bing of a fellow prisoner. And while
prison violence is almost expected, the
testimony that came out in Mark A.
Vechnak's hearing should concern
those on the outside, too.
Vechnak, who was serving a sent
ence of life plus 14 years for rape,
sexual offense and armed robbery,
pleaded no contest to second-degree
murder and received an additional six
years behind bars. He stabbed inmate
James E. Harris about 25 times Oct.
13, 1984. Harris died nine days later.
Vechnak's sentence was light
because of circumstances which
emerged during the hearing. He
testified that Harris had repeatedly
threatened to kill him or to rape him
and make him his "boy." The testim
ony was supported by other inmates
who said they had also been Harris'
victims, or had heard him threaten the
defendant. For Vechnak to seek help
either from inmates or prison officials
would have meant further harassment,
he said. Finally, he couldn't take it
anymore.
This is not a sympathy plea for
Vechnak. But there is cause for
concern which, ironically, was illus
trated elsewhere at the same time as
Vechnak's hearing.
In a two-week period in Asheville,
two women were raped, two others
assaulted. The women later identified
a suspect who was charged with two
counts of first-degree rape, two counts
of kidnapping, and one count of
assault. The suspect had recently been
paroled from Craggy Prison after
serving eight years for rape.
Under the barbaric conditions
described by inmates during Vechnak's
hearing, such incidents are no surprise.
Violent criminals cannot be released
and expected to once again become
useful members of society after living
under such conditions. Many would
argue that violent criminals should be
permanently imprisoned, but North
Carolina is under federal mandate to
reduce overcrowding now. That man
date makes the idea impossible, at least
for the time being.
Whether or not the noble idea of
rehabilitation is supported, North
Carolinians must acknowledge the
prison system's troubles. It needs
immediate attention. And it will need
money, whether for more prison
facilities or for better conditions and
rehabilitative programs.
But the funds would benefit those
on the outside as well as the inmates.
The Daily Tar Heel
Editorial Writer: Kathy Nanney
Editorial Assistant: Nicki Weisensee
Omnibus Editor: Sallie Krawcheck
Assistant Managing Editors: Jennifer Cox, Amy Hamilton, Donna Leinwand and Jean Lutes.
News: Jeanne Baxter, Andrea Beam, Chris Chapman, Paul Cory, Sabrina Darley, Kimberly Edens,
Michelle Efird, Jennifer Essen, Jeannie Faris, Scott Greig, Mike Gunzenhauser, Maria Haren, Nancy
Harrington, Suzanne Jeffries, Sharon Kebschull, Michael Kolb, Teresa Kriegsman, Laura Lance, Scott
Larsen, Alicia Lassiter, Mitra Lotfi, Brian Long, Guy Lucas, Justin McGuire, Karen McManis, Laurie
Martin, Toby Moore, Felisa Neuringer, Rachel Orr, Fred Patterson, David Pearson, Liz Saylor, Valerie
Stegall, Rachel Stiffkr, Elisa Turner, Beth Williams, Robert Wilderman and Bruce Wood. Jo Fleischer
and Jean Lutes, assistant university editors. Donna Leinwand, assistant state and national editor.
Sports: Mike Berardino, James Surowiecki and Bob Young, assistant sports editors. Bonnie Bishop,
Greg Cook, Phyllis Fair, Laura Grimmer, Greg Humphreys, Lorna Khalil, Eddy Landreth, Mike Mackay,
Kathy Mulvey, Jill Shaw and Wendy Stringfellow.
Features: Jesica Brooks, Julie Braswell, Eleni Chamis, Robbie Dellinger, Carole Ferguson, Jennifer
Frost, Amy Hamilton, Jennifer Harley, Jeanie Mamo, Corin Ortlam, Lynn Phillips, Katie White, Mollie
Womble and Susan Wood.
Arts: James Burrus, David Hester, Alexandra Mann, Rene Meyer, Beth Rhea, Kelly Rhodes and Rob
Sherman.
Photography: Charlotte Cannon, Larry Childress, Jamie Cobb, Tony Deifell, Janet Jar man and Julie
Stovall.
Copy Editors: Karen Anderson, assistant news editor. Dorothy Batts, Beverly Imes, Lisa Lorentz, Sherri
Murray, Sally Pearsall and Joy Thompson.
Editorial Cartoonists: Adam Cohen, Bill Cokas and Trip Park.
Campus Calendar: Mindelle Rosenberg and David Starnes.
Business and Advertising: Anne Fulcher, general manager; Patricia Benson, advertising director; Mary
Pearse, advertising coordinator, Angela Ostwalt, business manager; Cammie Henry, accounts receivable
clerk; Eve Davis, advertising manager, Ruth Anderson, Jennifer Garden, Kclli McElhaney, Chrissy
Mennitt, Beth Merrill, Anne Raymer, Julie Settle, Peggy Smith, Kent Sutton, Ashley Waters, and
Layne Poole advertising representatives; Tammy .Norris, Angie Peele, Stephanie Chesson, classified
advertising representatives; and Mary Brown, secretary.
Distributioncirculation: William Austin, manager.
Production: Elizabeth Rich and Stacy Wynn. Rita Galloway, production assistant.
Printing: The Chapel Hill Newspaper
Gravity: Newton never felt it like this
It has been over 80 years since man first
flew, and boy howdy, things have
changed. The Wright brothers' first
flight lasted a mere 12 seconds. Nowadays
airplanes can fly for hours and days on end,
except when there are complications. And
during the past few years, it seemed as if
every flight had complications.
Last year was undoubtedly the worst year
in aviation history, but it is not unexplai
nable. I can explain 1985's rash of air
accidents in just one word: gravity.
From 1903 onward, planes became faster,
heavier and more numerous, and began
flying longer and higher. The skies became
extremely crowded. At this time, gravity was
thought to be a constant, something
scientists can plug into a formula, like the
speed of light. But little did scientists and
aviators know that with each flight, precious
gravity was being wasted.
As more and more gravity was destroyed,
it became easier for such things as satellites
and manned rockets to leave our planet.
With these types of flights, huge amounts
of gravity were destroyed. By 1985, it was
taken for granted that flying was a simple
and safe mode of transportation.
But during 1985, the earth was given a
new and undetected dose of gravity. As
H alley's comet made its way toward earth,
it released shot after shot of gravitational
force. It is obvious that Halley's comet is
Dsn VJtysor
Guest Writer
a mass of unadulterated gravity, not dust
and ice. It is powerful gravity, it is visual
gravity, it is touchable gravity, it is gravity.
Because the gravity increase was unno
ticed, aviators and such did not make the
necessary adjustments for takeoffs and
landings. Thus, as many final approaches
were made, gravity sucked the planes down
into concrete, fields, mountains and residen
tial areas.
Another reason I believe gravity has
become stronger is the increased number of
diet plans that have been introduced in the
past year. This is an illusion: people arent
getting heavier, they just think they are,
because gravity is stronger and pulls on their
bodies more than before.
According to anthropologists, man was
short and fat up until the 20th century. (If
you question this, refer to any art from
centuries past and notice how corpulent the
subjects were.) This chubbiness is under
standable, for during this time there were
no planes to diminish the abundance of
gravity.
A question that some cynics might raise
is how planes could have flown in the few
years after 1909, considering the fact that
Halley's comet passed by the earth that year.
Let me explain how the planes got airborne.
It's simple: between 1903 (when the Wrights
flew) and 1909, so few planes managed to
get aloft that very little gravity was
destroyed. Because of this, fluctuations in
gravity had no effect on whether the planes
took off.
Another point is raised here for the cynics
to ponder: in 1909, when Halley's comet
pelted the earth with another dose of gravity,
how could man fly? Wouldn't it have been
impossible for planes to get into the air if
the earth received so much more gravity,
even though it had not yet used up any?
To these cynics I say imagine the earth as
a beer mug and Halley's comet as a pitcher
of beer. Just as the mug can hold only so
much beer, the earth can hold only so much
gravity. When Halley passed the pitcher in
1909, the earth's mug was full, so the extra
beer er, gravity floated off into space.
Kind of sporty, isn't it?
But there is really no reason to fear this
new and improved gravity, because over the
next year or so, many flights will be
attempted and more gravity will be used up.
Flight will once again be safe. That is, at
least until 2063, when Halley's comet comes
this way again.
Ben Wysor is a junior dropout who hopes
to return to school and continue his studies
in the field of gravity.
Airing concerns
To the editor:
If campus policies peeve you
or if you are tired of the
bureaucratic bump, the Grie
vance Task Force may have the
solution for you. The GTF is
an organization of the execu
tive branch of Student Govern
ment that is designed to facil
itate students in solving their
own problems.
Our goal is to help students
help themselves. The GTF will
discuss the complaint with the
student, offering him or her a
plan of action. Depending on
the grievance and the number
of students it affects, the GTF
may also work directly on the
grievance. For instance, the
GTF is researching the possi
bility of longer hours at Davis
Library.
If you have a problem that
you think is appropriate for the
GTF, fill out a grievance form
at the the GTF drop boxes at
the Union desk, the exit of
Davis, the Undergraduate
Library and in Suite C of the
Union. A member of the GTF
will contact you within four
working days to further discuss
your grievance.
Last spring, members of the
GTF met with key campus
administrators and liaisons
from various campus organiza
tions. This served to lay the
groundwork for this semester's
grand opening of the GTF. If
you would like to work with
the GTF, have a grievance with
which you would like our help
or would like some more infor
mation on the GTF, stop by
the Pit between 10 a.m. and 2
p.m. on Wednesday or Thurs
day to talk to GTF represen
tatives, or drop by Suite C.
KIM MCCOMBS
Junior
Sociology
THERE GOES STfoK
OF MY HAIR!
1 WHEEEEEEEEE Lmif
7 M L vNUCLEARv r
- rr facility!
Outrageous
To the editor:
I would like to point out a
facet of the UNC experience
which is only mildly amusing.
The UNC Student Stores has
some highly questionable prac
tices besides the suspicious
disappearance of book supplies
in the more popular classes
(done mainly to irritate
students).
The stores sell used books for
more than the new prices.
These books might sell for a
quarter at the local flea market.
They also sell brand new books
for more than the marked
prices with the excuse that the
publishing firm increased the
price. Sure. I'm positive that the
firm will not take inflation into
account and print the wrong
price on every book they sell.
And finally, the stores are
making a gross profit (excuse
me) by selling complimentary
copies of books (e.g. free
copies) for used book prices.
Take a look at the stamp under
the "Another Quality Used
Book" sticker on your Econ
books. Does Waud know
about this? Do the publishers
see any of this money?
If anyone can answer these
questions, please do. And if I
can get a share of the profits,
111 keep my mouth shut.
ROBIN MIZE
Sophomore
Journalism
For t h3 Record
In the Sept. 23 issue of The
Daily Tar Heel, an editorial
said that the average SAT score
for members of the 1986 fresh
man class, 1,085, is the highest
in the University's history. It is
the highest at the University
since 1977; the highest was
1,150 by ' a freshman class
during the 1960s.
The Daily Tar Heel regrets
the error.
Pillow talk: respect your bedfellows
There is an issue that needs to be dealt
with that lies on the lighter side of
importance of our turbulent and not-so-"soft"
issues today. It pertains to
something that could be used to crack
someone over the. face with, but at the same
time could hold the warm and delicate life
of an infant on a brisk October night. And
before sinking down into the treacherous
breeches of poetic license while still hanging
onto the subject at the same time, the issue
here is, of course, pillows.
No one ever gives them a second thought.
And very little respect is credited to their
harmless lifestyle. But at the same time, a
certain air of insecurity seems to come about
whenever one brings up the issue of pillows
within mixed company.
But everyone does have them. Some
people have one, some have three or four.
And I'm willing to guess that there are a
few sickies out there that have five or even
six tucked around them while dozing.
And what credit do pillows ever get? Wake
up tomorrow and look around yourself. If
a pillow is not tucked under the bed or
crammed up against the wall, there'll
probably be one or two folded painfully
enough, four or five times over, wrapped
under a knee somewhere.
The whole point of pillows is, of course,
something soft upon which to lay your head.
But there are some people that have these
kinds that have about four or five cinder
blocks in them. Which I guess is fine, except
you can always tell these people from others,
because they walk to their 8 a.m. with half
of their faces pressed in with a red tinge
to their cheeks.
But apart from the context of the personal
relationships people have with their pillows
- taking them on trips, holding them in
front of a movie on TV, etc. there are
those that feel the need to batter and abuse
them, helpless as they may be. You may
Trip Park
Staff Cartoonist
very well be a culprit also. Just think of
the times you've punched them into the
bedsprings after a swell exam or thrown
them across the room after a spat with a
date.
Yet, through it all, our pillows never get
up and leave us. But what thanks do they
get? They are left alone, disregarded by the
world. And while some may have the
decency to walk their dates home in the
morning, pillows are neglected and never
walked anywhere. In fact, some may never
see outside the four walls of your bedroom.
And while comparing pillows to dates,
there is another thing they have in common.
While some girls can turn around on you
and be just as cold as anything, I guarantee
if a pillow is ever turned around, there is
a coldness that we wouldn't trade for front
row tickets behind Dick Crum during the
Florida State game during the second
quarter (if you know what I mean).
Maybe if we just looked at our pillows
just a little differently the next time we slam
face first into them, I think the world in
general would be a better place in which
to sleep. And when is the last time you woke
up next to a pillow that had bad breath
anyway?
Trip Park is a sophomore journalism
major from Ithaca, N.Y.
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