8 The Daily Tar Heel Monday, October 6, 1986
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Jim Zook, &&or
RANDY FARMER, Managing Editor
ED BRACKETT, Associate Editor
DEWEY MESSERxxoorf Editor
Tracy Hill, News Editor
Grant Parsons, university Editor
LINDA MONTANARI, City Editor
JILL GERBER, State and National Editor
Scott Fowler, spom Editor
KATHY PETERS, Features Editor
ROBERT KEEFE, Business Editor
Elizabeth Ellen, Am Editor
DAN CHARLSON, Photography Editor
A quiet departure
George Gamble, as he prepared to
leave a University job from which he
was so rudely dismissed, remarked last
week that, "The administration has
new students who not only don't know
who George Gamble is, or was, they
may not even know what the Campus
Y is." Indeed, Gamble's last days as
associate director of the Y weren't
marked by the student outrage that
followed his initial firing almost a year
before.
That's when officials in the Division
of Student Affairs told Gamble to
leave, without giving him or the
many students who felt Gamble was
an able administrator a specific
reason for the dismissal. Gamble's
superiors objected to protests demand
ing such reasons be known; they
pointed to a clause in his contract that
allowed them to fire Gamble virtually
Mat-will."
Since then, there's been much ill will
between Gamble and Student Affairs,
and students and Student Affairs. But
the controversy might yet yield pos
itive results: Perhaps University offi
cials will at least consider student
opinion before summarily firing a
University employee whose job
involves considerable contact with
students. And maybe theyll recognize
the indignity of "at-will" clauses.
Credit union a credible idea
During an era when funding a
college education is becoming increas
ingly difficult, students and their
parents need to be able to turn to the
University for help. Traditionally,
"help" has come solely in the form of
dollars.
The Office of Financial Aid is
investigating ways to offer broader
financial planning services to assist
students. Student Government's pro
posed campus credit union could serve
as a tremendous complement to that
process a complement that could
yield profits for all students.
Todd Hart, Student Government
executive assistant, noted that students
from any economic background could
potentially benefit. Needy students
could have an alternative source for
loan applications, perhaps at a more
manageable interest rate. Students
from middle class backgrounds that
just miss qualifying for federal support
could borrow tuition money to pay the
University upfront, then repay the
credit union in monthly increments
throughout the semester. More affflu
ent students may find this a safe,
appealing investment that provides
assistance for fellow students.
Receiving information on debt
management and financial planning is
not the only potential student invol
vement. Hart said that properly
trained students could assist other
students chart out their college finan
ces. The work experience would be
invaluable.
A campus survey conducted last
week shows student response to be
eager and impressive. Hart said that
42 percent of the 357 respondents were
interested in investing in the union.
About 125 students gave specific
amounts they would be willing to
pump into the venture a whopping
$150,000.
Just imagine if this possibility were
opened to all students or alumni.
Era of uncertainty for the Court
The highest court in the land sails
into uncertain waters today as the U.S.
Supreme Court starts its new year with
a controversial leader at the helm,
William Rehnquist. What kind of chief
justice will Rehnquist be, and in what
directions will he lead the High Court?
The answer, as even Justice William
Brennan told The New York Times
Magazine recently, won't be easy to
come by. Brennan said he didn't know
if the country was about to experience
momentous change as Rehnquist
stepped into Warren Burger's shoes,
although "a conservative has been
replaced by another conservative.
"In an institution this small," he
continued, "personalities play an
important role. ... How those people
get along, how they relate, what ideas
they have, how flexible or intractable
they are, are all of enormous
significance.''
Which is reason to worry about the
new leadership role of Rehnquist, a
man whom law professors across the
country have accused of breach of
ethics and a man who has repeatedly
offered shaky denials about a ques
tionable past, a past that indicates
racial intolerance. Unfortunately,
Rehnquist's confirmation hearings
failed to fully address many of these
important questions. Starting today,
Rehnquist is afforded the opportunity
to dispel those criticisms.
The Daily Tar Heel
Editorial Writer: Kathy Nanncy
Editorial Assistant: Nicki Weisensee
Omnibus Editor: Sallie Kxawcheck
Assistant Managing Editors: Jennifer Cox, Amy Hamilton, Donna Leinwand and Regan Murray.
News: Jeanna Baxter, Andrea Beam, Stephanie Burrow, Chris Chapman, Paul Cory, Sabrina Darley,
Kimberly Edens, Michelle Efird, Jennifer Essen, Jeannie Faris, Scott Greig, Maria Haren, Nancy
Harrington, Suzanne Jeffries, Susan Jensen, Sharon Kebschull, Michael Kolb, Teresa Kriegsman, Laura
Lance, Scott Larsen, Alicia Lassiter, Mitra Lotfi, Brian Long, Justin McGuire, Karen McManis, Laurie
Martin, Toby Moore, Dan Morrison, Felisa Neuringer, Rachel Orr, Fred Patterson, Liz Saylor, Sheila
Simmons, Rachel Stiffler, Elisa Turner, Beth Williams, Robert Wilderman and Bruce Wood. Jo Fleischer
and Jean Lutes, assistant university editors. Donna Leinwand, assistant state and national editor. Cindy
Clark and Ruth Davis, wire editors.
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: Jessica Brooks, Julie Braswell, Eleni Chamis, Robbie Dellinger, Carole Ferguson, Jennifer
Frost, 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 Dcifell, Janet Jarman and Julie
Stovall.
Copy Editors: Karen Anderson, assistant news editor. Dorothy Batts, Beverly Imes, Lisa Lorentz, Sherri
Murray, Sally Pearsall, Marielle Stachura 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, Kelli 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
Cobey: Stands on record
In the 4th Congressional District, which
includes Orange County, Republican incum
bent Bill Cobey is seeking his second term
in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Cobey, former UNC athletic director,
discussed major campaign issues with The
Daily Tar Heel last week.
What campaign issue is most important
to you?
"The fact that I have kept my commitment
to the people of the 4th District. The first
commitment I made was to be an active
and accessible congressman.
"I was one of the advocates of work to
put a stop to a study of high-level nuclear
waste site in our district. ... I was also
active in getting the funds restored for law
enforcement around Jordon Lake . . . and
funding for group homes for cerebral palsy
victims.
"There was a proposed 60 percent cut in
Agricultural Extension and I led the forces
up here to make sure those funds were
restored. The time when farmers are in
trouble and need all the help they can get
is not the time to cut its (the Extension s)
funding.
"Congressional records show 1 was
present for votes 98 percent of the time.
That's one of the highest records in the
House of Representatives.
"A second commitment was to work to
reduce the deficit and balance the budget.
IVe also worked to maintain economic;
prosperity and promote jobs in our area of
North Carolina. One thing IVe done is work
to keep the deficit down and that's an
important vote for small business. IVe also
been trying to protect the bmall Business
Administration from elimination because
that's an important advocacy agency. I
worked to protect (programs which provide)
venture capital for small business.
"I think it s important when it came time
for House committee appointments that I
got myself placed on the Science and
Technology Committee, which are areas so
important to the District. I also got placed
on the Small Business Committee.''
What issues have you found students to
be most concerned about?
"I find that students are concerned with
about the same things my constituents in
general are concerned about. They're
concerned about the federal deficit, they're
concerned about the economy, they're
concerned about human rights. The students
of today are very sophisticated.
"They're also concerned about student
loans and student aid. We're out there trying
to make the system better, to ensure (that)
those (who) need the funds will receive or
continue to receive them, while eliminating
the burden on the system of those who can
afford to pay."
What are the greatest differences between
' "
if ife lllll
"I have kept my commitment
to the people of the 4th District.
The first commitment I made
was to be an active and
accessible congressman."
BISI Cobey
you and opponent David Price?
"He has no public record, first of all,
whereas IVe voted nearly a thousand times
and my record is there for all to see. He
did make some statements when he was a
Democratic Party official, he opposed
President Reagan's tax cuts in 1981. And
early this year, he said he would support
a tax increase. I not only oppose a tax
increase, I supported Ronald Reagan's tax
cuts in 1984. Basically, my opposition has
not been very specific on issues. He talks
in very general terms."
You voted to sustain President Reagan's
veto on economic sanctions against South
Africa. Could you explain your position?
"First of all, I find apartheid to be totally
repugnant. I just don't think that the House
of Representatives and the Senate should
get so deeply involved in foreign relations.
The Constitution says the responsibility for
that goes to the President and I think we
should respect that.
"Second of all, we have been a force for
good. The American companies have helped
ease the situation for blacks, both socially
and economically in South Africa. The
moderate black leaders oppose sanctions.
The estimate is that 600,000 blacks could
,lose their jobs with sanctions.
"I think it's correct, as the President said
this week, to only have investment with
companies that follow the Sullivan Princi
ples. It's wrong to cut and run. To destroy
the economy is to hurt the very people
struggling for equality.
"If we look at our own civil rights struggle
in this country, I think if somebody had
suggested that sanctions from foreign
countries would be the right thing to do in
that instance, that civil rights leaders would
have cried out against it."
What do you think of the current tax
reform legislation?
"I voted for it. It's a bold step and it offers
a potential of greater economic growth in
the future. The short run is a little risky
and I don't think we know how it is going
to affect the economy.
"On the negative side, I think it was
absolutely wrong to (include certain provi
sions and exemptions). Some transitional
rules are needed, . . . but some are just plain
abuses of power up here. There was
something in there to do with a few stadiums,
like the Tampa stadium got a special favor.
I think the Merrill Lynch building is in there
too, and the Gallo Brothers Wine received
a special exemption."
You vote very closely with Reagan
administration policies. Are there issues on
which you disagree with the president?
"I fought him over the trade bill. I don't
think some of our easy trade policies are
very fair to our own exporters, who have
to face unfair trade policies abroad.
"You're right, though. They rated me as
supporting him (Reagan) 80 percent of the
time in 1985. That was tops in North
Carolina."
' Combatting drug abuse is a popular
campaign issue this year. What are your
views on the president's drug policy?
"I voted for the drug legislation that came
out of the House. I'd like to see mandatory
testing, but I think the president would like
to go further than I would.
"I would like (mandatory testing) to be
done where you believe there's cause for it
to be true. There are exceptions, such as
public safety and health, where you might
want more widespread testing. I want to be
restrained in the area of mandatory testing.
That may be Big Brother government.
"(Drug abuse) is a complicated issue. The
more I look at it, the more it seems to go
back to the breakup of the family, a lot of
hurt, which leads to drug abuse. WeVe got
to have a balanced approach. The key is
to bring what I would identify as four
different institutions into play: the church,
community groups, government and
schools. TheyVe all got something to do.
And weVe all got to try to see that parents
and relatives spend more time with children,
more loving time."
Bill Cobey was interviewed by Editorial
Writer Kathy Nanney.
Price: We need effective leadership
David Price, a political science professor
at Duke University, is the Democratic
candidate for the 4th Congressional District
seat. He discussed major campaign issues
with The Daily Tar Heel, last week.
Which issue do you consider most
important in your campaign?
"There is no single issue. This is a very
diverse district; areas in the eastern part are
primarily agricultural. Therefore, the decline
of the farm economy during this adminis
tration is a prime issue. Areas in the western
part of the district are largely dominated
by textiles, so the decline of this country's
trade position is a major issue. Here in the
central part of the district, we're concerned
about the competitiveness of our high-tech
industries, about the quality and the pace
of economic development, about renewing
our commitment to public education, so all
those are major issues.
"What cuts through all those issues, I
believe, is the question of what kind of
leadership you want to have in the Congress.
We have a member in Congress now who's
often voted wrong, I believe, on issues of
importance to this district. In this campaign
he seems to tend to throw labels around
and deal in stereotypes. I think what the
people in this district want is an effective
kind of leadership, a representative, who
reflects the openness and diversity of the
district and the kind of person who takes
to public policy.
Which issue will affect students the most?
"The first thing that comes to mind is
student loans. I have administered student
loans myself. As director of graduate studies
and political science at Duke, I understand
how those programs work. I also understand
that for the most part they're well
administered and there aren't nearly enough
funds to go around. I think proposals to
cut student loans are terribly shortsighted.
They should be regarded as an investment
in our future. WeVe come awfully close to
enabling kids to aspire to an education,
regardless of the economic circumstances,
and I donl think we should default on that
commitment.
"I think students are extremely sensitive
about the whole range of personal liberties
and the threat from the far right to restrict
those liberties. My position on the various
constitutional amendments, be they anti
abortion or school prayer,- has been very
sensitive to that; the necessity to preserve
personal choice.
"I find students these days are very
sensitive to questions of foreign policy also.
Students today are not just focused narrowly
on themselves. I spoke here a couple of
weeks ago for the Young Democrats and
IVe not spoken anywhere where there was
a broader range of questions raised. ... I
wish all voters had that same degree of
interest in a whole range of issues."
.
5 J s",'-::
"I think what the people in
this district want is ... a
representative who reflects the
openness and diversity of the
district and the kind of person
who takes to public policy."
David Price
The House of Representatives has over
ruled President Reagan's veto of a bill
imposing economic sanctions on South
Africa. Cobey supported the veto. How do
you feel about this?
"I disagree with Mr. Cobey very strongly
on that. Our policy of passivity with regard
to South Africa has not worked. I do not
think sanctions are a 'quick fix.' If they will
make a difference, then I think we must
apply those sanctions and put some pressure
on that government to dismantle the
apartheid system."
On what other issues do you and Cobey
disagree?
"There are many differences. There is no
race in North Carolina this year that offers
a clearer choice. One of our differences has
to do with the rate of military spending.
I support a steady and sustainable level of
military spending, Mr. Cobey has backed
the highest proposed increases in Star Wars
year after year and has gone against the
majority of both Democrats and
Republicans.
"Former Secretary of Defense James
Schlesinger has said there's no way to wisely
and efficiently spend those kinds of
increases. Yet Mr. Cobey's been willing to
vote for excessive increases in that spending.
That has promoted an unrealistic view of
Star Wars as a failsafe defense system. I
think the way Star Wars can best work is
by giving us bargaining leverage in an
attempt to reach an arms control agreement
with the Soviets."
How do you feel about the tax reform?
"I have backed the tax reform throughout
the campaign. I think it's an important step
forward. It lowers tax rates, it closes up
productive loopholes and it makes sure that
wealthy corporations and individuals don't
escape taxation. I think it makes our taxes
fair for four out of five taxpayers.
"Mr. Cobey voted against tax reform in
the House and he refused President Reagan's
pleas to keep tax reform alive. He did
announce one week before the final vote was
taken that he was for tax reform after all,
so he did vote for the reform two weeks
ago. I had a news conference when he
announced his vote and I presented him with
a football, saying: 'Well, Bill, we're now on
the one-yard line. Take the ball and run with
it.' My point was that we needed leadership
throughout the whole battle, not a last
minute declaration of allegiance with the
vote."
As far as campaigning goes, where do you
draw the line between stating political
differences and negative campaigning?
"WeVe seen a lot of the wrong kind of
campaigning in this state, courtesy of Jesse
Helms and the Congressional Club, but we
mustn't necessarily conclude that politics is
all sweetness and light. There are differences
that . . . ought to be discussed straightfor
wardly and honestly ... I don't think
records ought to be distorted and I don't
think people ought to be attacked person
ally, but I do think we (candidates) ought
to have a vigorous debate on the issues."
What do you think qualifies you most
to represent the 4th District?
"I dont think it would take me a couple
of years to learn how to be a Congressman,
I think I'm ready right now to do an effective
job. For one thing IVe worked in Washing
ton, IVe been a legislative aid in the Senate
and I know how the process works. I was
the lead staff person writing the Radiation
Protection Act and for four years IVe taught
and studied the Congress and written several
books on the Congress. I also understand
education and education policies. .
"In addition, I have solid political
experience. IVe worked at the precinct level,
the county level, IVe served at the state level
as chairman of the N.C. Democratic Party
and I served at the national level as the
director of the National Commission on
Presidential Selection. So, all that adds up,
I think, to giving me a good knowledge of
the district, a good knowledge of the issues
and a good knowledge of Washington.
That's why I believe I'm ready to go to work
right now."
David Price was interviewed by Editorial
Assistant Nicki Weisensee.