Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / March 2, 1987, edition 1 / Page 8
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8The Daily Tar HeelMonday, March 2, 1987 latly Slar JAM 95 th year of editorial freedom JlLLGERBER, Editor Amy Hamilton, Managing Editor Sally Pearsall, Neu s Editor Jean Lutes, University Editor D)NNA LEINWAND, State and National liditor JEANNIE PARIS, City Editor James Surowiecki, sports Editor FEI.1SA NLURINGLR. Business Editor JULIE BRASWELl., Feature Editor Elizabeth Ellen, Arts Editor Charlotte Cannon, Photography Editor KATHY PETERS. Omnibus Editor EdntoiTDaDs Buyer beware of South Africa The ingredients label on a Dannon boird yogurt container nrvnVin tells the customer Op.niOil exactly what hes getting. If hes dissatisfied, he knows where to turn because the Dannon Company Inc. also includes its White Plains, N.Y., address on every package. Knowing where a product comes from is part of being an informed consumer, or a "conscious buyer." The label in a wool sweater becomes important to a person who's allergic to wool. And the origins of a product can be important in other ways. As consumers for the University, the UNC Board of Trustees considered the "conscious buying" issue at a meeting Friday. The result will do nothing to promote the board's purchasing awareness. In an overwhelming majority, the board defeated a resolution that would restrict "wherever possible" the Uni versity's purchases from South African-related companies and public ize a list of the companies nationwide. This proposal would have been a minuscule step in the effort to under mine South Africa's institutional racism. If the University invested in the past without knowledge of com pany ties to oppressive regimes, the proposal would have ensured Reagan revival unlikely informed decisions in the future. Total divestment of the University's indirect holdings in South Africa would be much more significant than this proposal. And the two actions are not equal, as board member George Ragsdale argued. 11 board members were worried about taking too strong a stand on the divestment issue, the resolution's indefinite wording should have pla cated them. The phrase "wherever possible" would have given them complete license to find excuse for South African-related investments. Even without that slippery phrase, the resolution would have been a moral guideline rather than an absolute policy. The outcome of the meeting indi cates either that board members will give no leeway in their stance on divestment, or that they care little about the issue altogether. The latter seems more accurate; before the proposal even reached the board, a trustee committee eliminated a clause calling for complete divestment. Maintaining business sense is not much to ask of a body that makes investments for the financial good of a public institution. Students and faculty should work to keep the issue of apartheid foremost in the minds of the University's investors. One-third of all Americans think President Reagan should resign from his job, according to a Newsweek poll released Saturday. Only 40 percent of those questioned in the poll approve of Reagan's leadership of the country, an all-time low for him. Gone are the days of the Teflon presidency when Reagan's enormous personal popular ity seemed immune to any criticisms raised against his policies. Another administration bites the dust. The scathing Tower Commission report released Thursday lays much of the blame for the Iran fiasco at the door of the Oval Office. Investigators are now trying to establish whether Reagan knew more about the Iran contra affair, including the diversion of funds, than he has acknowledged. The commission uncovered a mem orandum intended for Reagan written by Lt. Col. Oliver North that describes the diversion of profits from the Iran arms sales to the contras. It is not known whether Reagan received the memo, which indicates that North seemed to think Reagan was informed of the deals and approved of them. Until recently, the question was whether Reagan would be able to put the arms scandal behind him. His popularity was based principally in the trust the public placed in his honesty and his integrity in the face of opposition. Reagan's new chief of staff, Howard H. Baker Jr., will try quickly to assemble a new regime in the White House, possibly a more moderate, less trigger-happy crowd than Poindexter, North and their buddies. No doubt, Baker will be more adept working with Congress than his predecessor, yet the task of resurrecting an effective Reagan presidency may call for more than the congenial pragmatist from Tennessee or anyone else can offer. Americans still warning that they do not want another failed presidency are speaking too late. The nails are in the coffin lid, and the investigations will continue, uncovering further evidence of misdoings and incompetence in the White House. Bringing back the Reagan era will take more than a few Republican leaders standing in front of the Oval Office door shouting, "Lazarus, come forth." It will take a true miracle. J.F. The Daily Tar Heel Editorial Writers: Chris Chapman, James Farrer. Michael Krass, Brian McCuskey and Grant Parsons News: Holly Baker, Jeanna Baxter, Matthew J. Bivens, Eric Bradley, lorn Camp, Paul Cory, Meg ( raddock, Phil Craig, Laurie Duncan, Kimberly Ldens, Michelle Etird, Mark Folk, Kristen Gardner, Laura Grimmer, Maria Harcn, Nancy Harrington, Lindsay Hayes, Suzanne Jetiries, Susan Jensen, Kelly Johnson, Michael Jordan, Sharon Kebschull, Robert Keete, Michael Kolb, Jennifer Klump, Laura Lance. Cornelia Lcc, Brian Long, Mitra Lotfi, Tom McCuiston, Leigh Ann McDonald, Justin McGuire, Dan Morrison, Lee Ann Necessary, Rebecca Nesbit, Mary Paradeses, Laura Pearlman, Becky Riddick. Debbie R.asa, Andrea Shaw, Clay Thorp. Eiisa Turner, Neil Watson, Nicki Weisense and Bill Yardlev. Jo Fleischer, assistant university editor. Ruth Davis and Michael Jordan, wire editors. Sports: Bob Young and Pattpn McDowell, assistant sports editors. Mike Berardino, Greg Cook, Phyllis Lair, Scott Fowler, Paris Goodnight, Scott Greig, Laura Grimmer, Dave Hall, Greg Humphreys, Lorna Khalil, Andy Podolsky, Jill Shaw, Chris Spencer and Langston Wert. Features: Jessica Brooks, Eric Chilton, Hannah Drum, Carole Ferguson, Jennifer Frost, Melissa Purr. Laura Jenkins, Jeanie Mamo, Corin Ortlam, Lynn Phillips, Anne Raugh and Kathy Wilson. Arts: James Burrus, Scott Cowcn, Andrew Edmonson, David Hester. Marty Michaels, Beth Rhea, Kelly Rhodes, Alston Russell and Rob Sherman. Photography: Charles Carrierc, Dan Charlson, Tony Deifell and Julie Stovall. Omnibus: Beth Buliington, Chris Cain, John Cobbs, Teresa Eatmon, Joanne Gordon, Angela Hampton, Sharon Kessler, Catherine McHugh, Memsy Price, Ellen deRosset, James Surowiecki and Bowen Vandcrberry. Copy Editors: Lance Ashdown, Karen Bell, Julia Coon, Anne Isenhower, Lisa Lorentz, Toby Moore, Belinda Morris. Sherri Murray, Marielle Stachura and Kaarin Tisue. Cartoonists: Adam Cohen, Bill Cokas and I rip Park. Campus Calendar: Mindelle Rosenberg and David Starnes. Business and Advertising: Anne Fulcher, general manager; Patricia Benson, advertising director; Mary Pearse, advertising coordinator. Angela O.stwalt, business manager; Cammie Henry, accounts receivable clerk; Ruth Anderson. Michael Benfield, Jennifer Garden, Ashley Hinton, Kellie McF.lhaney, Chrissy Mennitt, Anne Raymer. Julie Settle, Peggy Smith, Kent Sutton, Amanda Tilley and Ashley Waters advertising representatives: Tammy Norris. Angie Peele, Stephanie Chesson, classified advertising representatives; and Mary Brown, secretary. Distributioncirculation: William Austin, manager. . ' Production: Bill Leslie and Stacy Wynn. Rita Galloway and Lisa Poole, production assistants. Printing: I he Chapel Hill Newspaper Reactor Forainro Students-can protest fomdget cmt II you think thai Marriott's food service in depleting students' bank accounts, lake a look at President Reagan's educational budget lor fiscal year I9XN. Our president who once asked. "How can we afford to subsidize intellectual curiosity?" has asked Congress to cut overall spending on higher education by a whopping. 45 percent. Now that's no small potatoes. If this assault on federal financial aid is successful, not thousands, but millions of students will be completely cut out of benefits which now allow them to attend school. I or many, that won't mean working a lew more hours a week to make ends meet; lor the students who need the aid most, these decreases will' mean curtains lor their educational careers. On UNC's campus the final numbers are not yet in. but it looks like several thousand (students) will be affected. Now. this is not a good thing. With all l he talk in Washington about the importance ol economic competitiveness, you'd think I hat training America's future workforce would be a lop priority. With all the rhetoric we hear about national defense, it would seem logical that we would want to maintain and improve the ery things that we defend. However, if Secretary of Fducation William Hen net I has his way this year, a severe blow will be dealt to this nation's students. And it is today's students that will be the basis lor tomorrow's competitiveness and defense. Hut what about the budget deficit? Don't all segments of society need to "tighten their belts" and suffer a lew inconveniences? Well, maybe so. but Reagan's recommendations go lar beyond "inconveniences for students." Just look at a lew of these specifics. 1 think you'll find that the only belts being tightened around here -are around the necks ot students: Bryan Hassel Guest Writer B (her one million students would lose I heir Pell Giants. Pells go to the people w ho need -aid the' most.' not the stereo-buying "cheaters" who are allegedly ripping off the taxpayers. College Work Study, supplemental grants, and State Student Incentive (irants -would be eliminated completely.. Not cut. trimmed down, but utterly done away with. B Students with Guaranteed Student l oans would have to begin paving interest w hile in .school. Hut. don't worry, they'll be allowed to go into greater debt in order to cover the costs of such interest. And the list goes on. The bottom line is that federal assistance to students would be gutted: there's really 'no 'other word for the proposed cuts. Now. add in a few other factors. Scholarships and grants which exceed tuition and Ices are now taxable. So, regardless of your' need, a portion of the money you receive for housing or general living expenses is now claimed by Uncle Sam. Furthermore, with grants being taxed and on a decline in general, students are turning more and more to loans. The result: $9.N billion owed by five million students. That kind of debt makes a big difference for students making life decisions, such as Whether or not to take low-paying public service jobs. And all of this on top of a general attack on education programs by the president. The impact of such deep cuts is impossible to predict, but it is clear that a reduction in aid of this magnitude will severely restrict access to the educational svstem at UNC and across the nation. Ability to pay will supersede ability to learn as the prerequisite lor a college degree, to a greater extent than it already has. Our institutions of higher learning will once again become places for the elite lew, not the great providers of opportunity to all citizens. Hut enough rhetoric. We. as students, have to take action. No one else is going to. because no one else is going to be hit with the cuts like we are. The U.S. Congress may be far away, but there are a couple .of simple steps that you as an individual student can take to make difference. Write a letter to your senator or congressman. It doesn't have to be long or intellectual; it doesn't even have to be typed. Come by the Student Government Office ( 2 1 7 I J nion): we'v e got names, addresses, fact sheets, and sample letters you can use. l etters do get read, and they do make a difference. II the cuts will affect you, be sure lo say so. Join Students lor Educational Access. The key to influencing our leaders in Washington lies not only in individual letter writing, but in concerted group efforts as well. SP A meets every "Monday night at 7 p.m. in the Union and plans student action to light these cuts. We need your help to make new plans and implement them successfully. Students across the nation at many colleges and universities are again becoming active on the issue of education. Last year, student activism on a national scale was able to help restore large amounts of educational funding that had been cut. It is again time to renew our efforts. Bryan Hassel is a junior history major from Xashville. Tenn. Library snacking not smart I o the editor: While I am pleased that The Daily Tar Heel did an article on the food and drink problem in the libraries on this campus ("l-ood smugglers ignore rules." Feb. 2o). I am concerned that il told more about how lo smuggle food and drink into l hem than why the rules are necessary. The rules .were not made lightly. They are the result of long experience both here and at other campuses with the problems that food and drink can cause for libraries and the collections they house. We it re not just concerned about the building looking messy.- We worry about the insects and rodents that begin by feeding on the leftovers and go on to chew their way through inval uable books and journals, destroying them in the process. We worry about the expense of cleaning up the spills: we worry about the other kinds of dam age to library materials, some irreplaceable, which can resull from carelessness with food and beverages. l-'ood and drink is a real concern for libraries and we treat it seriously. I am afraid that your readers were given the impression that the libraries do very little to control food and drink. While il is true that the library staff is not a police force, we will 'confiscate food and drink. If the situation warrants. we will ask individ uals to leave the building and w ill take measures as necessary . We are not denying library users their food and drink. We are simply requesting a little cooperation, asking that they take their break at the Student Union or Lenoir, both right next door, and then come into the library to study. K AR I N S. SI I HI RT Associate University Librarian, Public Services Davis Library . ' o r i r -iAiV.J VXT YoULLJUSriMTO RzTHE BEST OU CAN WlTMltKIP...ITVIAS 0RIGIHA11Y PESlGHtP Fees mean big beefs I o the editor: I would like to commend Keith Poston on his stand on the issue of defunding the Carolina Gay and Lesbian Association. His recent letter to Chancellor Christopher Ford ham, in which he officially refused to pay student fees in the future without an assurance that his money will liot go to the CGLA. may well set a precedent in the handling of student fees at this University . In fact, I have been so inspired by his effort that I have put a few letters in the mail myself. For a start, as a strong supporter of animal rights, 1 am against the purchase of lab specimens for dissection. I feel a short film strip would suffice to familiarize the students with the arrangement of the anat omy and physiology of the body . Therefore. 1 have decided to refuse to pay student fees in the future until I receive an official guarantee that my money will not go towards the purchase of such specimens. Furthermore' as a member of the Flat Faith Society , I do hot wish my money to support the classes currently offered in the curriculum of geography at this University. All of these classes deal with topics based upon the supposition that the Faith is a three-dimensional sphere, while the conception of the Farth as a two-dimensional rectangle is completely ignored. On a broader level, I am also seriously considering holding back my federal taxes until I have received a few assurances from the federal government. For instance. I want to be guaranteed that my money will not be giv en to the Contras, for. as Poston so aptly put it. 1 consider their goals to be "both perverted and immoral." 1 feel, again in the words of Poston, that this organization not only "smacks people's religion in the face," but that it smacks the whole "American" way of life in the face. After all. our country is presumably based on freedom freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and free dom of expression which cannot in any way. shape, or lorm be seen as .serious goals of the murderous, power hungry, old Somoza guard that heads the rebel Contra organ ization. Hut let us not stray too far from the issue at hand. I urge all my fellow students to cease pay ment "of student fees until all our grievances have been rectified. DAVID McCOLLUM Freshman Chemistry Keep humming, 'born-againers' I o the editor: I n response to "CG 1 .A funds opposed by group letter."! Feb. 24) I am disappointed by peo ple who contend that their personal opinions represent the Christian point of view. If the eight people who signed the letter lo Chancellor Chris lophei Lordham truly believe their stand is Christian, then they would do well to follow what Psalm I says about con demning others. 11 they still think trvinti to withhold the 0.0002 " percent of UNC's budget that the CGLA repres ents is a good idea, then they should do il. i would like lo call their bluff. As lor being a born-againcr. "they will keep on humming about the second coining because thev probably missed I he first." MICHAFI HOYLFS Senior Statistics 'Christianity' does not mean 'evangelism' I o the editor.. I must admit that the Feb. 2( Omnibus magazine cover in the DTH really caught my eye. Right there with the Hible and a crucifix was a IV Guide and a bunch of $20 bills under an envelope addressed to the Rev. Oral Roberts. Asa Christian, in addition to mv curiosity, the article generated my frustration and .resentment at being lumped into the money hungry, fanatical TV evangelist stereotype. I he media's coverage of Roberts'dealh vigil and similarly controversial issues has led many people to make unfair generalizations about the rest of the Christian community. When we try to discuss our beliefs, many immediately throw up defensive walls simply because ihey are so conditioned lo the media's glib, scornful treatment of religious'" issues. Alter a rather sarcastic opening, the story. "I vangelism lor a Life." made several objective points v ia quotes from local clergy . However, the impression of "those crazy Christians" dominated the two-page spread with all the satire of the Doonesbury cartoons. Anyone who might have had any interest in religious fellowship would have been so turned off by the Oral Roberts article that the "round up" of religious opportunities a'l i'NC on the Opposite, page 'lost all its elleciivencss. .Granted. Roberts' death vigil is contro versial laughable to some and misguided theology - to more, serious thinkers. But Roberts is not representative of all Chris tians"! he D i ll's treatment' of the Roberts slory fosters the stereotype - of closed minded, helllire and brimstone TV evange lism where money is the main motivation, and this is both unjust and undeserved. My challenge to you is to give Christian doctrine the same fair shake that you give lo other important issues. To assume that every Christian is some sort of fanatic fundamentalist is to lose the opportunity to be well-informed and to make a fair judgment. As with most groups. Christians are not all alike. Perpetuating an unfair stereotype is a cheap, easy escape from dealing honestly with ihe very complex issue of Christian belief. HIT I N JONTS Freshman Journalism f J
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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March 2, 1987, edition 1
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