Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Jan. 15, 1987, edition 1 / Page 11
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The Daily Tar Heel Thursday, Janaury 15 19879 A hunger f or knowledge gives scholar satisfaction By CORIN ORTLAM Staff Writer To speak of Michael Hooker is to speak of a man with a thirst for knowledge. Graduating from UNC in 1969 with highest honors, Hooker has since carved his life and livelihood out of academia. Hooker is now the chancellor of the University of Maryland at Baltimore. His birthplace in the mountains of southwestern Virginia and coal mining family background made for an unlikely springboard for this scholar. Hooker said he realized the way to leave the coal mines of Virginia was through hard work toward scholarly pursuits. "When 1 was a kid," Hooker said in an Oct. 1 Christian Science Monitor article, "1 worked. 1 came home; I worked after School. 1 worked weekends had a part-time job and if 1 wasn't at my part-time job I was mowing the lawn or taking out the garbage or doing something around the house." That work ethic is evident as he continued his education after UNC. by earning his doctorate in philo sophy at the University of Massachu setts. He taught at Harvard, was an academic administrator at Johns Hopkins and in 1982, became pres ident of Bennington College in Vermont. Hooker is also an editor of books on Descartes and Leibniz. "In Defense of the Principle for Deduc tibility of Justification" was his first published essay. He subsequently wrote a chapter titled Deducing and Explaining the Character, of Substance." But this description of a Chapel Hill success story might possibly called meaningless by Hooker. His concerns are much deeper and broader. Debut albums hit right note Straight from Chatham County, N.C., and Hoboken, N.J., come stunning debut albums from two premiere bands. For locals. End lessly Rocks the Cradle is Other Bright Colors' first release since its 1985 single "Circle Square." From Hoboken, Leaving Time is Winter Hours' fourth release in 12 months and its first full-length album. Both albums capture the power, beauty and emotion the bands express in live shows. TW. GUITARS DRUMS KEYBOARDS ELECTRONICS LESSONS WE'RE SELLING IT ALL TOO CHEAP As a leading scholar, Hooker was one of the modern thinkers assembled for a conference this fall on the "Agenda for the 2 1st Century." One of Hooker's concerns is reflected in a passage from a speech he delievered in that conference on universities in the 21st century. "We need to think about metaphysics," he said in the Monitor article. "We need to confront questions on a broad scale that we have never confronted before such as 'What makes life worth living? What makes it mean ingful? What is its human purpose?' And these are, of course, religious questions." In the future, Hooker foresees a world that will be a high-tech won derland with fewer diseases, less pollution and more comforts. Hooker is encouraged by these new developments, but he is also con cerned with people leading incom plete, unchallenging lives because of the spare time the technological advances will bring. In short, Hooker said that human existence is not one of survival but rather the question of how one will spend his free time. "What I'm concerned about is the people who don't dwell on the meaninglessness of their lives, or the meaningfulness of it who just pursue mindless entertainment," he said. Hooker sees evidence of the pur suit of "mindless entertainment" in today's children. "Kids today don't have that necessity of occupation," Hooker said in the Monitor article. "So an emptiness creeps in. That doesn't mean that my life is more meaningful than their lives. It's just that I had activity to fill it, so I didn't have time to dwell on the meaning lessness of my life, if you will." Observing behavior at shopping malls. Hooker said that he was concerned about the emptiness in the lives of today's teen-agers. Alison Howard Albums "Endlessly Rocks the Cradle" continues the bright folk-pop sound introduced by OBC on the "Circle Square" single. It continues some songs as well: "Circle Square" and "Stands to Reason" are both RiddJJSOC LOFT "The shopping mall is a contem porary opium," Hooker said in the Monitor article. "Half of the kids that are there are stoned anyway, but the other half is stoned by the mall. The mall provides a kind of transfixing environment which takes their minds off of whatever their issues are. They walk around you look in their eyes, and there's nobody home." While Hooker was in Chapel Hill, his lifestyle was similarly reflective and concerned. Having attended the University during the Vietnam era, Hooker was deeply committed to both its protest and the protests of other controversial topics. When the food service workers were exploited, Hooker helped to organize a takeover of the old Law School building to establish an alternative food service. Campus officials bargained with Hooker and his followers, and the workers were given their jobs back, though the University later switched to another food service. Hooker was active in getting a lounge for honors students put into the library as well. However, Hooker said, "My most valuable service was as an intellectual." He and his friends professed what he called an "alter native lifestyle." They were beatniks, Bohemians, cultural revolutionists and political activists involved in the free speech cause and any other movement they deemed worthwhile. Hooker still holds fond memories of UNC. "It may sound corny, but the campus contains a kind of magic that is very real." As a student, Hooker found inspi rations for his philosophy papers by walking all over campus. "1 imagine that 1 was quite a spectacle in my Bohemian dress." Even now he likes to slip into Chapel Hill unnoticed and walk around to "absorb the feeling." He can only describe what he feels as a "metaphysical experience." back on this new vinyl. "Stands to Reason" has aged well and remains the jangly piece that first thrust OBC onto the Chapel Hill music scene. "Confounded" is another jangly OBC tune that appears on its new album. A tight song, it is laden with See ALBUM page 11 We only lookjscpensive our jewelry is very affordable BAUM JEWELRY CRAFTSMEN I OS W. Franklin Chapel Hill I ALL PURPOSE DESKTABLE I E-Z CARE TOP CHOICE OF LEG COLORS o 18 to 48" VARIABLE HEIGHT o ADJUSTABLE ANGLE , 30" x 48" TOP Ram's Plaza 15-501 Bypass Chapel Hill Credit Terms Available jWiTi -Oifvt- (Tvjsi ' ilTi f U$ fcJ i Tt i w-, V; - V' ' .StlJinlSV Vi,1l ft Ml 'Mill ,TpT5 ?l(Vit&it iWfS. mini Wt 'TRIPODI'SII Uptown Deli Delicious and Delightful! Come in to see our 12' display case of cheesecakes, cakes, tortes, pies, strudel, cream horns and Pattis popular sour cream chocolate squares 36 Deli Sandwiches . Strombolj Croissant Sandwiches Italian Sausage Potato Burger . Meatball Bounce Muffeletta Reuben Turkey Reuben Italian Sub Hot Roast Beef Knockwurst Blintzes Knishes Fresh Baked Croissants Franklin Centre Lower Level 942-4616 adj. Vj HEIGHT MM'E-Z FURNITURE AND ACCESSORIES M-F 10am-6pm 967-7060 Sat. 10am-6pro Sun. 1pm-5pm i VTi I ') frt f-."i i ti il iVC ' V1 iyfit t fTi k -! - ft S fti f J i if i mm -.!!H and Restaurant Omelettes Bagel Melt Pizza Bagel German Band Deli Plate Kielbassa Bagel Eggel Latke MON, TOES, SAT 10-6 Close to UNC 968-aan . 500 E. Mam St Xarr borer - WED.'THURS, FRl rO08, 9:30-5:30 929-0286 t .
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Jan. 15, 1987, edition 1
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