Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / March 18, 1987, edition 1 / Page 8
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y . , ii ,i. r.r,.i r,.- yyi-'r'''''"!'''! " r' r"t""T''"""'"1" r'"'r,"y yyyyi. ,.. y. , firo,..p. lllllHlll.,.1. p, ,, j , ,n , n t , m,ii -I,-, ) -j p nuij !- .ir, i , i.., ,, ( -, p - t - ... 8 The Daily Tar Heel Wednesday, March 18, 1987 4" mf m Satin Star lHwl V5 K'tfr of editorial freedom Jll.l.CiLRBLR, ywr Amy Hamilton. Managing lUitor SAI.I.Y Pl.ARSALI., N ir J liA N l.l ITI-S. ( hiivenity V.Jito, OONNA LLINWANI). JLANNIL PARIS, City lidilor J AMIS SlIROWIlCKI, .Nri Jirfr FlI.ISA NlURlNC.lR, t l-Xilnr JlM.li: BRASWlil.L .ir F.II.AMTH El .I.I-N.. Ir. ifr GiARi.orn: Cannon, PhtnKr.,phr i;.Mtr KATHY PlTLRS, Omnibus lidimr R EdntoirnaDs Much ado about nothing On Friday the Student Supreme bOctfd Court will deter- mine whether or OpifllOn not the 68th Stud ent Congress had the authority to pass a bill at its last meeting on Feb. 18. The problem is that the 69th Congress had already been inaugurated when the old congress passed the bill. Also, Brian Bailey, who had already been inaugurated as student body president, voted on the bill as an official member of the old congress. Resolving these questions involves only elementary logic. If the 69th Congress had been inaugurated, then the old congress was defunct and had no power to pass any bill. The tradition of clearing up old business before the new congress takes over should be done before the inauguration. Although Bailey was an official member of the old congress, as the chief officer of the executive branch of Student Government he should not have had the power to vote in the congress. Voting on bills should be the exclusive right of the legislative branch, not the executive branch. Congress member Guy Lucas (Dist. 1 9), who brought the suit, has correctly charged that the vote on the bill is null and void. The reasons are like ticky-tack fouls in a basketball game. These minor points of dispute can be easily cleared up by the congress, merely by reword ing the Student Code to be more explicit about the transition process. A new vote should then be taken on the bill in question, since the first vote clearly violates basic democratic principles. This raises the question: What's the big deal? There is no need to bring this before the court when any 8th grader could figure it out. Wading through all the bureaucratic red tape is a waste of time. Also, even if the court does rule the bill void by interpreting the "elected" clause in the code, the congress can stilly go back and rewrite the clause to fit its own aims. The congress is like a kid asking Mom for an excuse note from school, knowing he's going to write his own version anyway. Clearly, the congress should straighten its own procedural policy before it can create policy for the rest of the student body. The congress should simply fix this minor mixup itself, with a minimum of hoopla, and shift its energies from internal haggling to campus issues. Education must foe accessible There are over 200 self-declared handicapped students at UNC. These students face barriers that most of their peers never consider. Many buildings are totally inaccessible to wheelchairs. Of the 29 residence halls on campus, only five are access ible to students confined to wheel chairs. In some of the halls, these students can get in the buildings, but bathrooms, kitchens and other facil ities are inaccessible. Students are not the only ones to overlook the needs of the handi capped. No money has been spent on barrier removal since 1982. Since then, the N.C. General Assembly has cut money for these improvements from its budget for the 16-member UNC system. Due to this lack of funding, the estimated cost for needed repairs and other necessary safety and health modifications has risen to well over $1 million for the University alone. Often new structures have been planned without consideration for the needs of handicapped students. The Smith Center is a prime example. Its bathrooms did not provide adequate room for the handicapped, who were also unable to see through the people standing in front of them. Some of these problems have been corrected, but parking for the handicapped remains inconvenient: Such a lack of consideration and forethought by the UNC administration is inexcusable. The University should do more to correct problems that occur every day, such as torn up sidewalks and obsta cles created during construction. It's too easy for the non-handicapped to forget about the overhanging tree limbs and curb ramps full of water that pose problems for the handicapped. The doors to the Robert B. House Undergradate Library, Student Stores and the Walter R. Davis Library are heavy and not automated, causing difficulties for the handicapped. It is especially difficult for the wheelchair- bound to open the doors. The General Assembly should not be allowed once again to discriminate against the handicapped through inaction. Students can write state legislators and become involved with Students for Educational Access, a group dedicated to insuring equal educational opportunities for all students handicapped by either phys ical or financial disabilities. The problems of being handicapped are great enough without the physical and bureaucratic obstacles posed by indifference and inconsideration. J.F. The Daily Tar Heel Editorial Writers: Chris ChapmanJames larrcr, Michael Krass, Brian McCuskey and Grant Parsons News: Holly Baker. Jeanna Baxter. Matthew J. Bivens, Eric Bradley, Tom Camp, Paul Cory, Meg Craddock, Phil Craig, Laurie Duncan, Kimberly Edens, Michelle Elird, Mark Folk, Kristen Gardner, Laura Grimmer. Maria Haren, Nancy Harrington, Lindsay Hayes. Suzanne Jeffries, Susan Jensen, Kelly Johnson. Michael Jordan, Sharon Kebschull, Robert Keefe, Michael Kolb, Jennifer Klump, Laura Lance, Cornelia Lee, Brian Long, Mitra Lotfi, Tom McCuislon, Leigh Ann McDonald, Justin McGuire, Dan Morrison, Lee Ann Necessary, Rebecca Nesbit, Mary Paradeses, Laura Pearlman, Becky Riddick, Debbie Rasa, Andrea Shaw, Clay Thorp, Eltsa Turner, Neil Watson, Nicki Weisense and Bill Yardley. Jo Heischer, assistant university editor. Ruth Davis and Michael Jordan, wire editors. Sports: Bob Young and Patton McDowell, assistant sports editors. Mike Berardino, Greg Cook, Phyllis Fair, Scott Fowler, Paris Goodnight, Scott Greig, Laura Grimmer. Dave Hall. Greg Humphreys, Lorna Khalil. Andy Podolsky, Jill Shaw. Chris Spencer and Langston Wertz. Features: Jessica Brooks, Lric Chilton, Hannah Drum, Carole Ferguson, Jennifer Frost, Melissa Furr, Laura Jenkins, Jeanie Mamo, Corin Ortlam, Lynn Phillips, Anne Raugh and Kathy Wilson. Arts: James Burrus, Scott Cowen, Andrew F.dmonson. David Hester. Marty Michaels, Beth Rhea. Kelly Rhodes, Alston Russell and Rob Sherman. Photography: Charles Carriere, Dan Charison, Tony Deifell and Julie Stovall. Copy Editors: Lance Ashdown. Karen Bell, Julia Coon, Anne Isenhowcr, Lisa Lorent. Toby Moore Belinda Morns, Shern Murray, Marielle Stachura and Kaarin Tisue. Cartoonists: Adam Cohen, Bill Cokas and I rip Park. Campus Calendar: Mindelle Rosenberg and David Starnes. . Busi , s and Advertising: Anne Fulcher, general manager: Patricia Benson, advertising director; Mary I ear.se advertising coordinator. Angela Ostwalt, business manager; Cammie Henry, accounts receivable i Anderswn. Michael Benfield, Jennifer Garden, Ashley Hinton, Kellie McElhaney Chrissy Mcnnitt, 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 Chanel Hill Newspaper Second language key to snaccess I he study of lb reign languages should be taken more seriously in the United States. Today, the ability to compre hend a second language is a very valuable and important asset. The study of a second language should, therefore, begin in grade school. By studying a foreign language in grade school, it would be much easier for students to actually learn and master the language, which would not only help them later in high school and college, but also in their careers and social life. Primarily, studying a foreign language in grade school would benefit the student by supplying him or her with six more years of study in addition to the two years required in high school. Continuous repetition of any subject imbeds the information in the student's mind. These six additional years of study would also help emphasize the importance of a second language. Most students do not realize that the knowledge of a foreign language creates job opportun ities and greatly helps them understand the world around them. The overwhelming majority of students who study a language for only two years quickly forget the information learned. These students are simply memorizing the material because they do not consider it to be oi any importance. Jay Funderburk Guest Writer Teaching fore:gn languages in grade school would also give students the ability to master the basics in their younger years. Students are taught the basics of math, science and English early in life to help them grasp a basic understanding of the discipline involved in each. Teaching the disciplines of foreign languages should also be stressed early, since it is a high school requirement. Understanding the basics of a foreign language will help the student build an interest for the language. This understanding would help limit the number of students who just learn enough to get by because they are not interested in the course. Mastering a second language can create various career opportunities. Learning a foreign language in grade school would increase the possibility of the student to actually master the language. Today's highly advanced means of transportation and communication have created careers with a need for bilingual employees. Positions ' in both diplomatic relations and international business can be acquired if a second language is mastered. ;; The ability to understand a language other than English would also help the student relate to the world around him. Once the student has mastered a second language, he can better comprehend the cultures of many other nations as well as many of America's sub-cultures. America is a land with many minorities who speak languages other than English. In the southern and western United States, there are Spanish speaking Amer icans, and in the northern portion there are many Italian, Greek, and French speaking citizens. The study of these languages would help unify America. American students would greatly benefit from a policy requiring the study of foreign language inv grade school. Such a policy would make mastering a second language more realistic. High school and college foreign language departments would become more productive, and many oppor tunities would become available to the student. Jay Funderburk is a freshman Radio, Television, and Motion Picture major from Greensboro. Hands off 'Old' dorms To the editor: T his letter is in response to the article "Old East Plan Under Scrutiny," (March 16). Last year's attempt to make Old Last and Old West offices failed, so now the administra tion has decided that the next best thing is to make the two dorms honors facilities. Stu dents involved say, "No way!" As former presidents of Old East and Old West, we think that there are several problems with the article, such as who were the sources? Dean Cell is the only source mentioned for the article. It appears that she has taken out an advertisement in the DTH in support of her proposal. Where is the journal istic credibility of the DTH? Why is there only one source? Did Dean Cell call the office and request an article in sup port of her proposal? Other problems occur as a result of the quotes by Dean Cell. Did she poll each and every one of the Arts and Sciences faculty about her ideas? Who exactly are the "several students" who support her plan? None of the students involved with the Old East Old West Task Force have sup ported such a proposal. None of v the dorm officers of the preceding two years have liked the idea and none of the preced ing three governors of the STOW residence area have approved the plan. Where is the student support? Why does the administration ignore the advice of the students directly involved with the issue? These questions are not answered in the article. There are also several prob lems with Dean Cell's proposal. AND N0M: TRMPIHG WITH HO&Teej. First and foremost, the prop osal ignores the tradition and history of Old East and Old West. Any change in the makeup of the dorms repres ents not only a disruption of the buildings' traditions, but a breakup of the entire STOW foundation. Also, the effect of the isolation of campus leaders has been underestimated and underemphasized by Dean Cell. Such a separation of leaders would endanger cam pus harmony and leadership, disrupting the on-campus com-, munity. Thirdly, there is the initial problem of a lack of enthusiasm and artificiality clouding the new honor facil ities. Lastly, the thought of copying the University of Vir ginia's "Lawn" is repulsive to any Tar Heel proud of Carolina tradition. Who would want to live there? Not us . . . TIMOTHY TULLOCH Senior English GEORGE ROWLAND Senior International Studies Editor's note: Tim Tulloch is last semester 's Old East pres ident and current STOW area governor. George Rowland is last year's Old West president. , Why mention race? To the editor: To Tom Camp ("Quick flash leaves lasting burn." March 16) what was the race of the waitress at Denny's? Of the bag lady at Denny's? Of you and your "roomie?" Of everyone lying in the sun at the beach? You seem to feel that it was important to tell us that a black man was involved in an appar ently degrading sexual episode with a white woman. Why was the race of the victim, and the victimizer, so important to you? Had it been a black woman, or a white man, would it have been any worse or perhaps better? DEBORA L. BARNES Graduate Epidemiology Letters policy All letters and columns must be signed by the author, with a limit of two signatures per letter or column. 'B All tetters must ne typed, double-spaced on a 60-space line, for ease of editing. A maximum of 250 words is optimol. Students slighted in dormitory incident To the editor: As a campus minority who looks forward to a little entertainment every now and then, I am eagerly awaiting the building of the new Black Cultural Center or some place where 1 can gather with my friends without being harassed or looked upon as a menace to society. I'm sure some people are already thinking, "Oh, no! Another minority unsatisfied again!" But with what happened Thursday night before break, 1 must voice my opinion (obviously it made me angry if 1 get back to school and write about it). Let me reconstruct the scene: It's the Thursday night before break and everybody is ready for some serious par tying. Around 11:30 p.m. the word gets around that a fraternity is having a party at the South Campus "sweatbox,". the Upendo Lounge. To our dismay, the party has ended as quickly as it had started. So . . .several people decide to take their fizzled but potentially reignited party spirits to Hinton James Residence Hall. Friends meet other friends and so on. After a while, a small crowd, all dressed up with no place to go, gathers in the James lobby. Now, I don't know who the desk monitor is, but he breaks out in a cold sweat, starts shaking, and stutters, "Uh, you . . . people had be . . . better take your party elsewhere or I'm calling the police, 1 swear!" After his gallant statement, he quickly returns to his office and slams the door while watching us nervously. Echoes of "Chill" and "Take it easy, all right" fill the lobby . as minorities . . . excuse me, UNC residents move their party to a dark airtight corner room. Someone gets some cheap stereo equipment and everyone tries having fun until a few people try to reenter the building. It seems our monitor has locked all the outside doors! , lobby once again. And guess what occurs next? Mr. Monitor has had enough. He stands up and proclaims, "If you people don't leave in five minutes, I'm calling the police!" Then, he lowers himself back into his room, pulls down the window and nervouslv neers out at the stunned crowd. The ending? Being the law-abiding students that we are, everybody leaves. Now, I'm sure certain people are saying, "Give him a break. He was only doing his job" or "You minorities, you are always crying racism" But, as a UNC black, typical incidents like these make me wonder. 1 attend classes like you, and I pay just as much tuition as you. yet I feel like an outsider. Somebody needs to be enlightened. Maybe a letter like this will be the first step.. Well, luckily some diplomatic students . convince him to open the door and soon the bored party crowd takes itself to the : SHARLENE DAVIS . Junior Political Science Speech aver: So be good for goodriess' sake Editor's, note: this came in the mail from Indianapolis Monday, addressed to our managing editor. We usually don't run incoherent, paranoid rumblings such as this, but in the interest of your personal safety, we felt you should be informed. To the editor: T he Ordered Society 1 00 percent full employ mem, old age social security, old age health care protection. The engineering of all soils and lands using soil sciences or agronomy, i ne applications of all 13 plant chemical nutrients plus flourine as listed in the chemical periodic table for the maximum productions of food, fiber and forests. All sandy soils can be engineered with the application of clays. The engi neering of all fresh water bodies for maximum production of aquatic life, fish, algaes and seaweed with NHa ammonia and dolomite limestone. The maintainance and preservation of national ores as listed in the chemical periodic table. The elimination of air soil and water polution by engineered sys tems. The national defense of an resources, people and social philosophy. The maintainance of social and environmental positive benefits for future generations into infinity. Pol itical considerations are prim arily secondary considerations of empires that wish to exist into infinity. The maintainance of positive beneficial effects to future generations by applica tion of exact sciences, agron omy, chemistry, biochemistry, medicine. Mechanical and elec tricial and chemical engineer ing, math physics and other sciences. All else becomes secondary to empires guaran teeing existence for millions of years. To do otherwise is to be led by fools!!! Any political entity, fascist, democratic communistic or theocratic that qualifies will be enduring. This also includes monarchies and dictatorships. Do print this in your news paper. The general public must be informed. ANONYMOUS Indianapolis, Ind. Addendum to editor's note: This is a one-time only thing. In the future. Vie Daily Tar Heel will not print such ravings. i
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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March 18, 1987, edition 1
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