10The Daily Tar Heel Thursday, October 29, 1987
Daily
95th year of editorial freedom
JILL GERBER, Editor
DEIRDRE FALLON, Managing Editor
SALLY PEARSALL, News Editor
JEAN LUTES, University Editor
DONNA LEINWAND, State and National Editor
JEANNIE FARIsj City Editor
JAMES SUROWIECKI, Sports Editor
FELISA NEURINGER, Business Editor
JULIE BRASWELL, features Editor
Elizabeth Ellen, Arts Editor
Charlotte Cannon, Photography Editor
CATHY McHUGH, Omnibus Editor
Loudest voice always wins
board
opinion
; On Oct. 6, stu--
dents voteJ nearly
5 to 1 to increase
student fees by $5
for funding a
phone-in registration system. Because
J less than 10 percent of fee-paying
students voted, the proposal could not
Jbe instituted as a constitutional
S change.
. However, the administration, with
!the support of student leaders, is now
recommending the fee hike. If the
5 Board of Trustees and the Board of
j Governors approve the proposal, then
;the $5 raise will be implemented, and
!the new registration system installed.
This raises the question: If the
I administration can raise student fees
j regardless of a failed referendum, why
I was the student body asked to vote
ton the issue?
If a change in student fees is to be
initiated by the students, the 10 percent
j voter minimum must be reached for
ithe student constitution to be changed.
Then, the administration must
approve the changes. However, if the
administration wants to alter student
j fees, it can do so without any student
input.
. Because the administration is initiat
ing this fee hike, the referendum
becomes nothing more than a student
opinion poll. In this case, it is fortunate
that student opinion jibes with the
administrations actions.
This situation raises two problems.
Some campus organizations are con
stitutionally guaranteed a fixed per
centage of student funds the
Carolina Union, for example, gets one
third of all student fees. If the fees are
raised without changing the constitu
tion, the Union gets one-third of the
$5 increase. Thus, not all of the $5
will really go toward the new drop
add system. This problem is fixed
either by changing the constitutional
percentages through a referendum, or
by separating the $5 charge from the
rest of student fees.
The second problem is more serious.
This scenario illustrates how easy it
is for the administration to change
student fees without considering
student opinion. The referendum
process gives the illusion that students
control their fees, but in reality the
administration has the final word. In
this case, the student and administra
tive voices were in unison. But, should
the administration decide in the future
to further alter student fees, its voice
will always be the louder of the two.
Flag of reform flies in Beijing
The promise of China, a promise
born during the Communist takeover
of 1949, has remained as yet unful
filled. The excesses of Maoism, which
retarded the nation's growth, and its
belated entry into the world commun
ity postponed China's flowering until
an uncertain date.
Also of importance in this regard
was the conservatism that replaced
-Mao's radicalism in the years after his
death, a conservatism that in some
Respects reached to the nation's feudal
tradition. In so doing, it blended the
worst ingredients of that tradition with
the exaggerated hierarchy so charac
teristic of vanguard parties, and
produced an overweight, excessively
interventionist bureaucracy.
That conservatism, which was
rocked in the past year by social unrest
and dissent from within the party, may
have received its death blow. This
potential revolution was signaled by
acting party head and prime minister
Zhao Ziyang Sunday, when he opened
the 13th party congress in Beijing by
calling for radical reform as the only
means of rescuing China from its
economic woes.
Ziyang appears to have finally
subverted, or simply overriden, the
hard-liners who impeded his earlier
--attempts at change, for his two and
Pia half-hour speech resoundingly
'emphasized the need for the integra
tion of capitalist practices into the
economy. More surprisingly, Ziyang
called for a reduction in the state's
control of the means of production,
and for a reliance on the free market
as the best tool to set prices.
Ziyang levied familiar criticism at
the party bureaucracy, deeming it
bloated and inefficient, and called for
its restructuring. His proposal for such
a change, however, was far more
revolutionary than his criticism, as he
called for the establishment of a civil
service system requiring an examina
tion, and the creation of a state
administrative college.
Certainly one might dismiss
Ziyang's speech as merely an expres
sion of wishes that will forever be
unfulfilled. But Ziyang is now in a
position of considerable power. More
importantly, the reforms he proposes
are realistic and yet contain the seeds
for explosive economic growth.
The limited forays the Chinese have
made into entrepreneurial capitalism
have met with resounding success. As
the number of such forays increase,
so too will the number of failures. And
Ziyang seems to be committed to the
foundations of socialism. But if he is
successful in his attempt to diminish
the party's role in Chinese society, and
if the state yields part of its power to
the private sector, China may finally
discover the full power of its existence,
and socialism may, for the first time,
truly succeed as an economic way of
life. James Surowiecki
3'
non sequitur
Say Meeska-, Mooska-, Mbusketeer
0
f
Seniors, seniors: It's almost time for
graduation.
Well, not really but you're probably
apprehensive about the thought by now,
anyway. It must be wretched to dig out
that suit and tie or that business dress from
the bowels of your closet, dust off the old
resume and head for a power lunch with
a prospective employer.
But who says you have to enter the real
world, when the World of Disney awaits!
The news from Lake Buena Vista, Fla.,
is that the Disney talent scouts are
christening Tour 8 early this year. As they
breeze through 10 major cities in a three
month extravaganza, their quest is for the
most sickeningly perky, happy, bouncy
people alive.
Spin wheels over your assorted syllabi,
road trip to the Atlanta Civic Center (Room
201, 395 Piedmont Ave.,) on Oct. 30 and
launch your career as a Mouseketeer.
Sing and dance in the live shows of the
magic Kingdom, the Epcot Center, or the
Walt Disney World Villages. Who could
ask for more?
And the job benefits they're amazing.
Life, health and dental benefits; vacations
and sick days; relocation assistance; it's a
festival!
Not to mention the obvious joys of
working in Walt Disney World. For
example:
B wearing a wool body suit and a 50
pound paper mache mouse mask, in 1 10
degree weather;
B posing for pictures with sobbing,
runny-nosed children, their faces and hands
pink with sunburn and cotton candy;
B dealing with tourists clad in floral print
shirts, who have spent the day standing in
line and paying a month's wages for taffy
and soda pop;
a or hearing "It's a Small World After
AH" sung up to five times an hour.
Walt Disney World has a wild night life,
too. In your off hours you can go to a
luau in the Polynesian Village, go see
Michael Jackson in Capt. Eo or get drunk
on Tom Sawyer Island. ,
Truly a dream land. If you miss the scouts
in Atlanta, theyH'be back in the South on
Dec. 5, in the 'Tupperware Convention
Center in Orlando.
And while you're there, find out who
disfigures all of the bushes into little mice
and elephants, and tell him to stick to
mowing the lawn.
headers' Foirunra
outh African oppression persists
Wi
'ould you support Glenn Miller,
leader of the White Patriot
Party, for president? Would you
trust him to educate your children? Would
you invite him into your home? Most
people on this campus, without the
slightest hesitation, would cry out a
decisive "no!" Living under the cruel and
biased ideals of such a person would
threaten our existing freedom.
However, doesnt it seem hypocritical
that the first public university in this
democratic nation chooses not only to
support, but to benefit from, actions based
on the same concept of white supremacy
that Miller advocates? When the University
decided to invest its money in South Africa,
a moral statement was branded on the
foreheads of each person associated with
this institution: "We support the humiliat
ing and inhumane actions of the white
minority government of South Africa as
long as financial profit is the result." What .
an embarrassment to us, and what an even
greater tragedy for the native South
Africans struggling against apartheid. This
embarrassment exists as long as the
University has any ties with South Africa;
divestment must be final, not a fairy tale.
Is our university so concerned with
dollar figures that death figures are
overlooked? I am not denying that money
is an essential part of our university, but
must we sacrifice morals and the lives of
many innocent South Africans to obtain
this money? The University's investments
in U.S. corporations in South Africa
account for 4.5 percent of UNC's total
endowment. This $5 million is used for
educational purposes such as fellowships,
scholarships and the purchasing of depart
mental capital that is very beneficial to the
Dena Sawyer
Guest Writer
University. However, what pride can be
taken in the money that first must develop
in a country that imprisons Children,
abuses women and deprives people of their
basic human rights on the basis of their
skin color?
The UNC Endowment Board Has
attempted to eradicate this feeling through
desperate situation in South Africa
necessitates such dramatic actions.
These dramatic actions have, however,
proven to be somewhat successful in the
embittered battle between morals and
money at UNC, even though the board
claims otherwise. The announcement of
divestiture is only a small step toward
moral redemption for this university. In
South Africa the people know only of a
loss of revenue, however obscure. How
ever, here at home, we are humiliated by
the reasoning for the divestment. For the
board to plan divestment for purely
its suspicious announcement of plans to "nanciai reasons paints a degrading picture
divest funds held in companies operating of the students and the institution we pride
in South Africa. This alternative, some ourselves in. This is not enough; it's time
to accept the mistakes that have been made.
How long will we let the board dictate our
moral standards? How long will we wait
for final and complete divestment? How
long is too long?
in South Africa. This alternative, some
argue, serves only to destroy the native
South African further due to a loss of
financial revenue. What a ludicrous
statement! Do you not believe that since
these people are willing to risk imprison
ment, mental torture and possible death
in their fight against apartheid that the
simple loss of a job would be a welcome
answer?
We have at UNC a group that realizes
the horrible situation in South Africa and
thus fights at home the battle against
apartheid. For our brothers and sisters who
are slowly dying in their disease-ridden
society, Action Against Apartheid donates
time, energy and emotion three of our
most valuable resources to speaking out
against the board for its self-centered
financial investments. This group should
not be condemned for their actions but
praised for them. Their concern and
compassion guides their motives, not
money or ignorance. Although their
actions, at times, reach an extreme (i.e.,
shanty towns), their awareness of the
It is time to awaken the board to the
sentiments of the University as a whole;
the majority must speak. We must cease
to contribute to the social decay of the
South African natives and their country.
Let's save the reputation of our beloved
University, our reputation, and, most
importantly, the lives of the black South
Africans by demanding that all ties
between this distinguished institution and
the socially corrupt government of South
Africa be severed completely. We cannot
settle for the plans fordivestment; the
suffering of the South Africans cannot
wait! ;
Dena Sawyer is a freshman pre-law
major from Manteo.
Numbers are
just numbers
To the editor:
It is not necessary for a DTH
editorial to reach out to Little
Rock, Ark., for an image of
racism and segregation, ("Help
students make the grade," Oct.
26). The racial ratio at Chapel
Hill today is directly related to
the fact that the public schools
of North Carolina were also
segregated "three decades" ago.
Finding academically quali
fied black students is not the
problem. There are more than
a dozen predominantly black
colleges in North Carolina
filled with students qualified to
study at Chapel HillvThat they
don choose to do so is rooted
in North Carolina's history of
slavery, segregation and
racism.
There was a time when the
University had no interest in
black athletes. Luckily, that has
changed. Today we have no
trouble finding black students
qualified to keep the name of
this university on the front of
the nation's sports pages. If
there was the will to do so, this
University could make itself as
attractive to young black scho
lars as it is to young black
athletes. The only thing is
missing is the commitment.
To improve the racial statis
tics of this campus, we must
first improve the racial atmos
phere. That requires an
acknowledgment that there is
a problem, and that the prob
lem is not merely statistical.
ROBERT HINTON
Visiting Lecturer
Afro-American Studies
History
Something in
those reviews
To the editor:
Since it seems to be custo
mary this year to criticize the
critiques of local concerts, let
me jump into the fray by noting
a number of errors in your
James Taylor review ("Chapel
Hill's Sweet Baby James rocks
m
GentaaL Americanftace Priz.es-.
Ths
NOBEL
The
LENIN
concert audience," Oct. 21).
Taylor is a native of Boston,
not Chapel Hill, no matter how
much we may wish. His open
ing song, "Something in the
Way She Moves," is not a mid
708 work. It was included on
the album James Taylor
released on the Beatles' Apple
label on Dec. 8, 1968, in Bri
tain, and on Feb. 17, 1969, in
the United States. In fact,
George Harrison lifted the
lyrics for his own song "Some
thing" that was a Beatles hit
later in 1969. And I'm sure that
Chubby Checker would have
something to say about your
crediting "The Twist" to Chuck
Berry.
I would recommend in the
future having someone more
well-informed about music
covering concerts for the DTH,
although with schlockmeisters
like Bon Jovi, Whitesnake and
Heart dominating the charts,
that in itself may be a difficult
task.
CHARLES HELD
Carrboro
Put classes
in perspective
To the editor:
Attention seniors graduating
with a liberal arts degree: If you
haven't fulfilled your social
science perspective, start look
ing at summer school. Why,
you ask, looking at the long list
of classes that satisfy the
requirement? Of the 63 classes
listed, only 16 are offered next
semester.
Now think, of 3,326 seniors,
just how many of us need one
of those 16 classes? A little
more data: of the 16 classes,
eight are offered only at 2 p.m.,
so if you need to take a class
in your major at that time,
you're down to eight possibil
ities. Of course, if you're inter
ested in Psychology 24 (child
development), Psychology 28
(personality) or Psychology 33
(social psychology), you're in
luck; they're offered at most
any time. However, if you're a
psychology major, or if psy
chology doesn't ring your
chimes, you're left with some
very scarce options, as the
remaining 13 classes have only
one section.
Somehow it doesn't seem
right that a university the size
of Carolina can offer only 25
percent of the social science
perspectives the semester
before graduation. Did some
one just not realize how few are
being offered, or is this a
standard percentage? Maybe it
would be possible to open some
more classes, or broaden the
perspective a little? As this is
doubtful, it looks like well be
fighting it out for the big 16,
or we'll be seeing you in
summer school.
STACEY JONASZ
Senior
Journalism
CAROL OSBORNE
Senior
Political Science Psychology
Letters policy
The Daily Tar Heel
welcomes reader comments,
ideas and criticisms. We ask
only that you follow a few
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maximum of 250 words is
optimal.
CGLA gives valuable education, support
To the editor:
The Carolina Gay and Lesbian Asso
ciation has every right to receive student
fees. It is an energetic, active, valid student
organization with the purpose of educating
the student body about homosexuality and
the issues that lesbians and gays must face.
Its purpose is also to lend support to
lesbian and gay students who are going
through the often painful process of
coming out.
I am not surprised that two Student
Congress representatives are circulating a
petition to place CGLA funding on a
referendum. Over the centuries, lesbians
and gay men have been executed, castrated,
burned at the stake, thrown in jail, gassed
in. concentration camps, refused custody
of our children and other atrocities too
numerous to mention. The fact that two
people who are ignorant to lesbian gay
issues are trying to deny the validity of
an organization that represents over 10
percent of the student body is little more
than irritating in comparison to the larger
injustices we have fought against and won.
In response to David McNeill's assertion
that we are all in the closet, I should
mention that many CGLA members are
our parents, employers, classmates and
friends. Its members have marched in
Durham for the Pride March 6 and TH.
We have marched in Washington, D.C.,
and I was arrested at the Supreme Court
with 850 lesbians and gays to protest the
court's decision to uphold the doctrine of
"crimes against nature," better known as
sodomy laws. So much for closeted CGLA
members.
As for H.F. Watts' assertion that the
CGLA promotes the spread of AIDS, I
need only to invite him to our office to
look through bur AIDS education mate
rial. The CGLA does more than any other
student organization to actively promote
safe sex education, counseling and net
working with larger health education
projects. V
. Contrary to Watts' statement that
homosexuality is immoral for all religious
beliefs, homosexuals are embraced as
valuable people in certain denominations
such as Quakers, Unitarians, Universalists,
many Buddhists and other Eastern reli
gions, as well as a growing number1 of
caring people v in mainstream Christian
religions.
As for sodomy I practice it safely all
the time and defy, any law or court to
dictate my sexual behavior. However, the
CGLA does not promote any sexual act
or behavior. It is an Educational organ
ization and should be regarded as such.
My opinions are personal and do not
necessarily reflect those of the CGLA.
STEVE SULLIVAN
Evening College