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10The Daily Tar HeelFriday, February 27, 1987
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(Ear Mnl
95 th year of editorial freedom
or
Amy Hamilton, Managing Editor
vSALLY PEARSALL, News Editor
JEAN LUTES, University Editor
DONNA LEINWAND, State and National Editor
J E ANNIE FAR1S, City Editor
James Surowiecki. sports Editor
FEI.ISA NEURINGER, Business Editor
JULIE BRASWELL, Features Editor
Elizabeth Ellen, Arts Editor
Charlotte Cannon, Photography Editor
KATHY PETERS, Omnibus Editor
Editorials
Lab Theater needs support
The Lab Theater is the only student
acted, directed and produced drama
organization on campus. Founded in
1 946, it has grown from sporadic
productions a few times a year to a
lull-time production schedule of seven
shows each semester. It is also the only
outlet on campus for student play
wrights to have their work produced.
From Shakespeare to Stoppard, the
Lab consistently provides a variety of
plays for the University. It is an
experimental student theater, and
while not all of its productions sparkle
with brilliance, the important thing is
that they are done at all.
The Lab does this at no charge to
the public. Yes, Virginia, there is a
Santa Claus of sorts working here.
But now it is time for the public
lo start doing the gift giving. There
is no reason for a Lab show to play
to a full house of 40 people or so, and
then receive only 5 or 6 dollars in total
contributions afterwards. The
audience is taking the organization's
generosity lor granted, a trend which
must be reversed. A movie costs $5
surely just a dollar per person would
be easy to cough up for an evening's
entertainment at a Lab show.
And that dollar apiece would help
enormously. This year the Lab
received $1,000 from the Department
of Dramatic Art. However, because of
the larger number of shows being
staged and the increasing complexity
of production, this money does not
cover all costs. Consistent donations
are needed, however small, to continue
providing an opportunity for under
graduates to become involved in
dramatic productions and see them at
no cost.
This year is the first that the Student
Congress has officially recognized the
Lab as a student organization. This
means that it is eligible for funding
next year. Without question, the
congress should grant this funding, be
it $100 or a thousand. The congress
supports a number of creative organ
izations, including two literary mag
azines, STV. and the Fine Arts
Festiv al. The Lab. as the major student
drama organization, should also be
included on this list.
In the meantime, the people who
attend the productions must increase
their support to help the Lab develop.
Those who have been to a show have
heard this before, but it is worth
repeating "the change in your
pockets will make a difference'
B.McC.
The real American hero(ine
She's been on the front page of USA
Today twice this past week. She
similarly graced Wednesdays News
and Observer, in color, nonetheless.
Knight-Ridder News Service referred
to her as smiling "prettily" and
"blonded and permed, and speaking
pertly." And David Lettcrman has
even come up with a list of her top
ten turnons. She's Fawn Hall, and
she's America's newest sweetheart.
Hall, of course, is Lt. Col. Oliver
North's personal secretary, as well as
being a part-time model. The beautiful
27-year-old was catapulted into the
national spotlight last weekend when
Laurence Walsh, the special prosec
utor in the Iran-contra affair, granted
her immunity from prosecution.
Hall did not keep silent about her
boss, either. She reportedly told
investigators she and the rugged North
had shredded National Security Coun
cil documents and that she had
changed the text of four NSC memos.
What Hall said, though, has increas
ingly become less important than the
:way she looks. She is, to say the least,
rvery easy on the eyes, and her high
cheekbones and tear-filled eyes have
irnade her very easy on the eyes in
newspapers across the nation. She has
rector's note
Mange of change on edit page
Now that the back page is coming
together a little bit, I'd like to explain some
of its new features so that the reader won't
be unduly surprised when he subtly Hips
the 1)1 M over during his 8 o'clock class
in a maneuver to get to the crossword. The
three major changes:
0 Signed and "board opinion" editorials.
The decision to run signed edits came alter
a long discussion among the six writers and
me about reader interest. We decided that
the signatures will make the editorials more
reachable. Rather than read a conclusion
designed lo represent the vague, faceless
opinion ol an entity called "The Daily Tar
Heel." the reader can see that the edit was
written by a Icllow student.
1 he board opinions come in when issues
crop up that are significant enough to
warrant input from several people. These
edits will represent the DTH's view in the
form of a consensus among the editorial
stall '..The board meets every Sunday to
discuss potential -opinions, and during the
week as needed. Although we've established
quorum in voting on whether an issue
warrants a board opinion, we haven't had
an real dissension yet.
The policy on edit style will be lo write
in the objective tense, because using "we"
would imply that the DI M edit writers are
dictating how everyone else should think.
The objective ensures that an edit stands
as an informed opinion on an issue, rather
than an unyielding stance. It seems that the
reader will be more open lo an idea if he
isn't receiving a didactic "we think this, so
you should, too" message. Although the
signed policy isn't kosher journalistically,
it's fitting for a college newspaper because
the media and the audience are all on the
same level.
a Non sequitur. t his feature will appear
every Tuesday and Thursday in the bottom
left corner. By giving it a general albeit
nonsensical title, we hope that it'll
provide a space for writers to put those stray
ideas just too obscure to put in an edit.
We don't want to restrict this column to
humor, because it's hard to be funny on
deadline. It's important to have some off-the-wall
things on the page occasionally,
and we have people burning to write just
thai sort of copy.
o Scrambled eggs. Two staff members
(irant Parsons, edit writer, and Jo
Fleischer, assistant university editor
cnlerprised a weekly column that'll contain
observances of the campus. It'll run every
Friday on the bottom right side of the page,
complete with the all-new "eggs" logo. The
obvious question is the name. It comes from
the columns random arrangement of
descriptions, which the writers have taken
to calling "eggs." J.C
Annual Burnout is Carolina tradition
To the editor:
It appears that Chapel Hill tradition is
headed for the axe. The Phi Kappa Phi
Burnout, which has become as much a part
of spring in Carolina as warm weather, is
about to be snuffed by the Chapel Hill Town
Council. The reason is the typical Chapel
Hill residents' complaint of loud, drunken
college students disturbing their quiet
village.
1 will not argue against the fact that the
event causes some annoyance in the Finley
Golf Course area. However, is it really so
bad for these people that they cannot stand
one afternoon of mild discomfort (if any
exists) in order for this fund-raising event
to continue? lt is remarkable that this
"disturbance," which has been going on for
ten years now. is suddenly so horrible that
it cannot be overlooked for one day.
It is almost as if residents of Chapel Hill
are thinking they live somewhere else, a place
where there is no university or students. I
am not justifying behavior which is intrusive
on people's rights, but the people who have
chosen to live here must learn to give a little
if they are to enjoy this town. The students
in this University have always had to give
in to the residents' wishes. It is time that
the effort in living peacefully in this
cohabitation is shared by the Chapel Hill
residents.
The arguments raised in opposition to
Burnout are a fact of Chapel Hill and always
have been. This is primarily a college town
which depends upon the University in many
ways. I would like to stress that students
mean no disrespect to year-long residents,
but they must realize that for three-fourths
of the year we are also considered residents.
Therefore, as residents, why should we be
prevented from having fun at a charitable
and recreational activity at the end of the
vear?
T. JOHN POLICASTRO
Sophomore
Business Administration
probably gotten more men interested
in lranscam than the Tower Commis
sion ever could have.
Most intriguing has been the reac
tion of the media. TKe television
cameras have found a ready target in
HalFs charming smile, while the print
media's prose has reached new
excesses. Perhaps the best line in all
the coverage was, "Wearing a full
length blue tweed coat and looking
not at all traditionally tweedy."
For the most part the press coverage
has been harmless. After months of
nothing but old men who refused to
say anything, the appearance of a v
stunning young mystery woman who
was willing to spill the beans must have
seemed a godsend for the reporters.
The media glut has been out of
proportion to Hall's importance, but
such arc the vagaries of a free press.
If there is anything worrisome about
Hall's sudden fame, it is that her
beauty will obscure her revelations.
Her new-found glamor has served to
divert attention from the growing crisis
in the Reagan administration.
But when Hall is old news, lranscam
will be still in the headlines, and that's
one thing President Reagan cannot
forget. J.S.
Conservatives,
go home
To the editor:
Keith Poston. Rich Spargo
and whoever else has or
wishes to join the latest anti
civil rights Students for Amer
ica front group should leave
UNC (CGLA Funds Opposed
by Group Letter, Feb. 24).
Since their "Christian" convic
tions compel them to judge so
that they may be judged, the
final verdict is obvious. Carol
ina is a public institution, not
as they would have it a
right-wing fundamentalist pri
vate school. Poston. Spargo et
al should transfer to Jerry
Falwell's Liberty Baptist Col
lege in Virginia. They deserve
each other.
Perhaps Spargo doesn't
understand that his three-year
failure to del und the CGLA has
fared so poorly because many
people happen to disagree with
him. Some of us prefer a society
based on equal rights and
resources for all people.
Please. Keith, Rick and
whoever else threatened to
withhold their student fees until
the CGLA is thrown penniless
back into the closet don't
pay. Leave! (And pray for us.
hear?)
ASHLEY OSMENT
Senior
Historv
Reagan fights
for rights
To the editor:
When 1 read Wednesday's
article in the DTH (Group
holds vigil to begin fast) con
cerning the Carolina Commit
tee on Central America. I
almost became nauseous. You
people fail to realize that in
most, if not all. communist
countries citizens not are
allowed to protest their govern
ment's actions publicly without
fear of imprisonment. So don't
you see. the very thing the
Reagan administration is striv
ing for in Central America, as
well as other areas of the world,
is the right for people to be able
to stand up and express their
opinions in public without fear
of government oppression.
That's what democracy is all
about.
As of now. there are approx
imately 30 truly free countries
remaining in the world. That
leaves well over 100 which are
ruled by communistic or some
other oppressive-style govern
ment. When you get right down
to it, you people want all the
amenities of freedom but you're
not prepared to stand up and
fight for it.
In 50 to 75 years when there
are few, if any, free countries
remaining, our grandchildren
and great-grandchildren will
look back on Reagan as not just
a president but a national hero
as well: a man willing to make
the sacrifices to obtain free
dom. And when communist
tanks come rolling across the
Rio-Grande, they will have no
one to blame but the spineless
liberals of the mid to late 20th
Century.
GEORGE DOWDY
Senior
Economics
Let fans be
obnoxious
To the editor:
In response to David Hall's
article (Crowd Apathy, Feb.
19) and to the letters of Jim
McQuiston, Greg Faucette,
and Jeffrey Taylor on the same
date, I would like to say the
following: hogwash. Oh, there
is no doubt that there is an
embarrassing lack of fan sup
port in the Smith Center. The
reason is, however, that stu
dents are not allowed to cheer
unless they do it with "proper"
decorum. 1 submit that the
i blame for the crowd's apathy
at the Smith Center rests not
on the shoulders of the stu
dents, not on the shoulders of
the alumni, but squarely on the
shoulders of the Smith Center
powers that be.
Question: What place of
public assembly in North
Carolina is patrolled by walkie
talkie armed ushers whose
mission it seems is to quell any
signs of possible subversive
behavior before it can be
noticed? Give up? The Smith
Center. At every game this year
I have witnessed the following.
First of all, the summary con
fiscation of any and all signs
students bring in to hold up for
the TV cameras. The reason for
the confiscations? "It's policy,"
answered one of the ushers
when I questioned him. Well,
I guess we must have our
standards.
The second incident of note
occurred when the fans began
to chant an obscenity at a
questionable call by an official.
This time the cheerleaders
joined the ushers and Major
"Y" in motioning for the crowd
to stop its all too vocal protest.
They did. The message is that
we are to sit down and politely
watch as the Big Blue Machine
chews up and spits out the
oppostion. As a result, one
witnesses true crowd support
only when the game is in doubt,
or when there is a champion
ship on the line (the Clemson
game, for example).
College students have a right
to be irreverant, obnoxious,
immature, creative and loud. If
not now. when? We are sup
posed to produce noise only
when the sign says "noise," to
give each other "high fives,"
also as instructed, and to cheer
the same innocuous cheers until
we are blue in the face (if not
in our hearts). Some people
might ask if we have to sink
to the level of the Duke fans
to get some real support gener
ated for what we all hope will
be a national championship
team. I would answer that the
Duke students have set the
standard for fan support for the
country. Sink to the their level,
hell! Let's do a little climbing.
JOHN SHIELDS
Senior
History' Biology
Letters policy
B All letters and columns
must be signed by the
author, with a limit of two
signatures per letter or
column. Students should
submit name, year in school,
major and phone number.
Other members of the
I'niversity community
should provide relevant
information.
B All letters must be
typed, double-spaced on a
60-space line, for ease of
editing. A maximum of 250
words is optimal.
B The DTH reserves the
right to edit for clarity,
vulgarity, disparity and
verbosit v.
Big tmrinoiuit doesn't make protest
Tuesday, the Pit About 35 people have
been standing in a line facing Lenior for
about half an hour, demonstrating for peace
in Nicaragua. Fewer were here earlier, and
they have grown in numbers by convincing
friends walking by to come and stand with
them.
The sign in front of them says, "Join us
for a 24-hour fast and or vigil ( 12 to I today)
for peace in Nicaragua." One girl leaves the
crowd to talk to a friend.
"Are you in a hurry? We need you to
stand here."
"Well, yes I've got a ... I can come back.
How long are you going to be here?"
The girl looks confused for a moment as
she goes back to join the line. "Urn ... an
hour."
Earlier the people in line were standing
close together, but they're spaced farther
apart now to take up more space. Most of
them try to look angry, but a few talk with
the people standing next to them. One
person smokes.
Another girl calls to a friend. "What are
you doing at one?"
"Absolutely nothing."
She motions for him to come join the
line. He balks for a moment, then he
ceremoniously walks the three steps into the
Pit and takes a place in line. He takes a
sign describing the practices of the U.S.
Army in South America during the last 25
years. y
Another holds a sign saying, "It's 1987.
Do you know where your Army is?" Part
of the Army is in the crowd. Seeing someone
taking notes, he comes over and wants to
tell his side. He wears a U.S. Army
camouflage jacket with a patch that says
Scrambled wf
eggs Q jr
"Jungle expert."
He's spent a year w ith the Army in Central
America in 1984 ("mostly doing intelligence
work." he says). He says he can't talk about
most of it because it's classified, but says
the people he met were almost always glad
to see him.
"I've never been hugged so much in my
life,'" he says. "They just wanted to say
'thanks for being here.' "
Over by the Union, a Student Television
crew videotapes a WRAL crew videotaping
Susan Dahlin and Rick Williams for "PM
Magazine."
The next day. reports in the paper will
say the demonstration was successful
because so many people turned out to
protest.
Last week, snow removal Students brave
enough to attend class last week were less
hampered by the roads than they were by
the campus' brickpaths. Careful observers
noted a disturbing set of snow removal
priorities on the campus.
Brickpath shoveling, or'scraping, seemed
to start around South Building, extending
only to the north. By late last Tuesday the
only walkways cleared were the ones leading
from parking lots near Olde Campus to
administration buildings and a few
classrooms.
The same pattern was followed last
Wednesday, except walkways from staff
parking lots and class building steps were
cleared by evening.
Also, walkways leading to the Smith
Center were cleared by gametime Wednes
day, allowing fans to park and walk to the
game at their leisure. Several South Campus
dorm residents were not afforded the same
courtesy.
But the brickpaths used by students to
get to and from class, notably the ones
crisscrossing the South Lawn, were not
cleared until the sun had done most of the
labor-intensive work. It's clear students are :
a heartier breed more able to risk life and
limb on the ice.
Wednesday, South Lawn Aside from the
predominant flora and fauna now beginning
to erupt with the spring temperature, a new
form of campus wildlife was spotted last
week. A bunny rabbit was seen hopping
across the South Lawn in the evening. The
small fuzzy brown creature is a welcome
addition to our campus, unless it takes up
the squirrclish habit of pushing up bricks
on the sidewalks to trip unsuspecting
-humans.
Scrambled eggs, a nutritional part of your
complete breakfast.
i