10The Daily Tar Heel Thursday, November 19, 1987
latig
(Far Heel
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 FARIS, City Editor
JAMES SUROWIECKI, Sports Editor
FEUSA NEURINGER, Business Editor
JUUE BRASWELL, Features Editor
Elizabeth Ellen, Arts Editor
CHARLOTTE CANNON, Photography Editor
CATHY McHUGH, Omnibus Editor
Winning doesn't equal success
board
Two students
eating lunch in
rwp Hall Wed
nesday articulated Op-H-On
popular sentiment
on the fate of UNCs head football
coach. Hey, man, IVe got an idea for
the card section Saturday," one said,
laughing over his cheeseburger. We
can spell out Tire Crum.' "
With the rumors this week that Dick
Crum may lose his job after the Duke
game this weekend, many students
have become zealous in their desire to
see it happen. For them, the only
criterion for a football coach is his
ability to win, and Crum's 5-5 record
so far this season merits nothing short
of dismissal.
The view that a coach merely
operates a machine designed to pro
duce victory after victory is appallingly
narrow. Crum's responsibilities extend
far beyond his wins and losses.
In the past few years, the football
program has raised its academic
standards, largely due to pressure from
the Board of Governors. Among the
UNC-system schools, Chapel Hill has
maintained the highest graduation
rates and lowest number of admissions
exceptions.
Of Crum's football players who
entered the University in Fall 1981, 68
percent graduated by 1986. Consider
ing the rate for the 1980 freshman class
was only 32 percent, the increase was
drastic.
The men's basketball team, often
praised for its exemplary academic
record, graduated 60 percent of its
1981 freshmen class within five years.
For the same period, the rate for all
recruited athletes was 65 percent.
Although the football program's
graduation rate should be higher, it
approaches the rate of 71.3 percent for
all students over the same period.
For admissions exceptions, the
picture is less rosy but has improved.
This fall, seven football players were
admitted as exceptions, and no excep
tions were made for men's basketball.
From 1980 to 1984, the yearly average
of football and men's basketball
players admitted as exceptions was 17.
Besides academics, a coach is
morally obligated to run a clean
program. While its football record has
been unspectacular of late, UNC-CH
has yet to join the ranks of schools
on probation for illegal recruiting or
giving improper benefits to athletes.
Those who point to a mediocre
record as the basis for a coach's
dismissal should realize that a loss
from one who shuns shady methods
is infinitely more valuable than a
victory from a coach with a win-at-all-costs
mentality.
Whether Crum should be fired or
not, students should understand that
being a good coach involves more than
racking up points on a scoreboard.
Those who adjust their level of school
pride with the success or failure of an
athletic team are more of an embar
rassment to the University than a 0
1 1 football record.
Media's priorities misdirected
Pat Robertson won a straw poll in
Iowa this fall. His victory stunned
most political pundits. Robertson,
dismissed by many as a right-wing
zealot, exhibited unforeseen grass
roots strength. Instead of discussing
the merit of his views, the media
concluded that Robertson's organiza
tional skills demonstrated the viability
of his campaign.
The 1988 presidential campaign is
steadily gathering steam, but the press
focuses on the meaningless minutiae
of individual campaigns. While pre
sidential aspirants eagerly vie for
attention, the press rarely probes a
candidate's views.
Little-known candidates, such as
Democrat Bruce Babbitt and Repub
lican Pierre "Pete" du Pont, attempt
to woo supporters by discussing issues,
but the press chooses to report on their
stagnant campaigns.
The trend in presidential politics is
to judge a candidate on his campaign
ing skill, not on his ideas. The media
tend to regard obscure candidates,
such as Babbitt and du Pont, as
hopeless dark horses. They are dis
missed not because of their ideas, but
because they lack money and name
recognition.
Cable News Network broadcasts
"Inside Politics W nightly. Typical
for this show are graphs describing the
number of staff members each cam
paign has and which states they are
in, the amount of money raised, and
each candidate's standing in the latest
Iowa poll. No other show has ever had
such appeal for political junkies, but
the program does little to add to
undecided voters' knowledge of can
didates views.
The media are misdirected in their
coverage. They trivialize the people
who run for office and the positions
which they seek. While two or three
would be easier, the media's claim that
12 major candidates are too many to
cover is bosh.
While Robert Dole has been work
ing to forge a bipartisan plan to reduce
the deficit, the media concentrate on
his allegedly disarrayed campaign.
While complaining that they cannot
adequately cover a dozen candidates,
the media waste time describing a
nonissue.
As long as the media consider
polling results, fund raising, and
breadth of organization more impor
tant than issues, Americans will have
only superficial images from which to
pick a president. Eric Fullagar
1
The Daily Tar Heel
, Editorial Writers: Eric Fullagar, Sharon Kebschull, Brian McCuskcy and Jon Rust.
Editorial Assistant: Julia Coon.
Assistant Managing Editors: Cara Bonnett, Melissa Daniels, Peter Lineberry, Joe McCall and Mandy Spence.
News: Kari Barlow, Jeanna Baxter, Laura Bennett, Lydian Bernhardt, Matt Bivens, Brenda Campbell, Jenny Cloninger
Staci Cox, Sandy Dimsdale, Carrie Dove, Mark Folk, Alissa Grice, Lindsay Hayes, Kyle Hudson, Michael Jackson
Helen Jones, Susan Kauffman, Hunter Lambeth, Will Lingo, Barbara Linn, Mitra Lotfi, Lynne McClintock Brian
McCollum, Justin McGuire, Stephanie Marshall, Laurie Martin, Myrna Miller, Smithson Mills, Lee Ann Necessary
Rebecca Nesbit, Susan Odenkirchen, Cheryl Pond, Amy Powell, Charla Price, Becky Riddick, Guinevere Ross, Andrea
Shaw, Sheda Simmons, Mandy Spence, William Taggart, Clay Thorp, Nicki Weisensee, Jackie Williams, Amy Winslow
and Lisa Wynne. Angela Joines and Helle Nielsen, wire editors. Laurie Duncan, assistant state and national editor
Brian Long, assistant business editor. Leigh Ann McDonald, assistant city editor. Kimberly Edens and Kristen Gardner
assistant university editors.
Sports: Mike Bcrardino, Patton McDowell and Chris Spencer, assistant sports editors. Robert D'Arruda, Steve Giles
Daw Glenn, Dave Hall, Clay Hodges, Brendan Mathews, Jim Muse, Keith Parsons, Andy Podolsky, and Langston
Ee?tUr:-,HannS CaroIe Fer8uson. Laura Jenkins, Corin Ortlam, Lynn Phillips, Leigh Pressley, Karen Stegman,
Katny Wilson and Julie Woods.
Arts: James Burrus, Scott Cowen, Stephanie Dean, Kim Donehower, David Hester. Julie Olson, Beth Rhea Kelly
Rhodes, Alston Russell and Richard Smith. 3
Photography: Tony Deifell, Gretchen Hock, Janet Jarman, David Minton, Julie Stovall and Brian Whittier.
Copy Editors: Karen Bell, Cara Bonnett, Carrie Burgin, Julia Coon, Whitney Cork, Laurie Duncan, Bert Hackney
Lisa Lprentz, Sherry Miller, Rachel Stiffler and KuzrinTisM, assistant news editor.
Cartoonists: Jeff Christian, Bill Cokas and Greg Humphreys.
Campus Calendar: Mindelle Rosenberg.
Business and Advertising: Anne Fulcher, general manager; Patricia Glance, advertising director; Joan Worth, advertising
coordinator; Peggy Smith .advertising manager; Sheila Baker, business manager; Michael Benfield, Lisa Chorebanian
Ashley Hinton. Kelhe McEIhaney, Chnssy Mennitt, Stacey Montford, Lesley Renwrick, Julie Settle, Dave Slovensky
Dean Thompson. Amanda Tilley and Wendy Wegner, advertising representatives; Stephanie Chesson, S
advertising representative; and Kris Carlson, secretary. '
Distribution Tucker Stevens, manager.
Production: Bill Leslie and Stacy Wynn. Rita Galloway. Leslie Humphrey. Stephanie Locklear and Tammy Sheldon.
production assistants. 3
Readers' For y mm
Tortmure continues past Middle Ages
Torture. The word calls to mind dark
medieval dungeons, the leer of an
armed torturer with whip in hand
and the other tools of his trade nearby
thumb screws, boiling oil, an iron maiden
and the rack.
The medieval torture chambers are gone,
but torture itself has remained. In fact, it
persists to the present decade. It is
happemng even as you read this. Do you
doubt it? Listen to the victims:
"The interrogation continued, accom
panied by hard blows to my face and body.
They applied intense electric current to my
hands ... On each of the first 14 days
which followed my arrest I was subjected
to both physical and psychological torture
. . I was seen by the doctor after nearly
all the torture sessions ... I was given a
document to sign which stated that I had
been well treated. It also contained
statements . which I had made under
pressure, and included others which I had
never made at all. When I refused to sign
I was threatened with further torture.
Under such circumstances, I had to sign."
(Chile, 1982)
"The tnftazin (stelazme) made me
writhe, and my legs began to twist about
in a ridiculous way. I lost the ability to
walk while simultaneously feeling very
restive and also feeling sharp pains in my
buttocks at any movement a result of
the sulfazin. The pain prevented me
sleeping or eating. The sulfazin made my
temperature rise, and it then stayed around
40 degrees centigrade. Sometimes I expe
rienced slight shivering and my tongue
Charlie Loeb
Guest Writer
hung out
(Soviet Union, 1980)
"Then I was tortured again. The beatings
on my soles had made my feet swell and
under the ensuing lashes they burst open
and became open sores. At this time they
also pushed a police truncheon into my
anus. At the same time they tortured my
wife with electric shocks in the adjacent
room. I heard her scream. They told me
that they had stripped her naked . . . They
undressed me and began to apply the
current. One of the wires was attached to
my toe they applied the end of the other
to my earlobes and nipples. They applied
another wire to my anus. They brought
my wife beside me and put her under the
current, threatening me, saying they would
assault her if I did not talk." (Turkey, 1980)
These victims come from only three
countries, but the same stories could be
repeated by the citizens of over one-third
of the world's nations. Despite this poor
record, torture is condemned by all
governments, at least in public. When
allegations of torture are made, the guilty
parties immediately issue denials, fearing
the revulsion of the international commun
ity. In the modern world, torture can
flourish only in the secret prison cells and
detention centers from where the screams
cannot be heard.
In the United States, it is easy for us
to ignore torture. The victims seem far
away, descriptions of the process tend to
be gruesome and painful. To avoid the pain
we close our eyes and ears, not wanting
to deal with that reality. Unfortunately, the
victims are not so lucky, and by closing
off the images and the sounds we also
effectively hamstring efforts to help them.
Torture can persist only while the people
of the world allow their aversion to the
issue prevent them from seeing the
horrifying abuses.
Since no government is willing to justify
torture, exposure is often sufficient to limit
the abuse. If people are willing to open
their eyes and ears, torture can be ended.
I invite the campus and community to take
the plunge, to risk facing some unpleasant
sights and sounds on behalf of the victims.
As part of Human Rights Week, today
at 5 p.m. in 206 Student Union, Amnesty
International will present the video
"Torture in the Eighties, which includes
Amnesty International's response. For
those interested in personal testimony, this
evening at 7 p.m. Veronica de Negri, a
former Chilean torture victim and the
mother of Rodrigo Rojas (who was burned
to death by Chilean police), will speak
about her experiences in Hamilton 100.
Informing yourself is the first and easiest
practical step you can take toward ending
torture forever.
Charlie Loeb is a senior history and
math major from Chapel Hill.
Innocent until
proven guilty
To the editor:
Occasionally, someone
writes or says something suf
ficiently provocative to stir me
from my last semester, alcohol-
induced haze. Lams Wilson has
managed just such a feat with
his letter Tuesday about soccer
coach Anson Dorrance and his
player Stephen Dragisics
("Conduct spoils team
victory).
It seems that the basic ques
tion is whether by becoming an
athlete, one surrenders his
constitutional right to be pre
sumed innocent until proven
guilty. I submit that such is not
the case; an athlete is still a
citizen and does not forfeit
rights and privileges simply by
choosing to participate in
sports.
I don't know Dorrance or
Dragisics. Further, I realize
that people are not commonly
arrested for drunk driving
without some cause. But I also
know that I am not a judge.
I also suspect that Dorrance
isn't, either. That being the
case, I cannot see how his
failure to act on second-hand
evidence constitutes a moral
indiscretion, as Wilson argues.
In this case, presumption of
innocence is a simple concept
coaches should coach, play
ers should play and the rest of
us should fight for fairness, not
waste time trying to sit in
judgment.
CRAIG PARKER
Senior
Business Administration
New committee
battles CIA
To the editor
As this is Human Rights
Week I feel it is appropriate to
point out a new group on
campus, the CIA Action Com
mittee. Many have heard of one
of its earlier actions when the
CIA came to recruit on cam
pus. Six people were arrested
while about 50 people held a
teach-in at Hanes Hall on Oct.
28.
"Why such drastic mea
sures?" many have asked. The
CIA, a group representing the
United States "best interests,"
has time and again violated
human rights in Chile, Iran,
Nicaragua and the Philippines.
The list goes on. Jt has sup
ported coups which have
resulted in oppressive dictator
ships; it has initiated violent
riots; it has been linked to
assassinations of political and
ideological figures; and it has
deceived the American people.
How? Why? When? Where?
The committee has made it a
priority to answer these ques
tions and to educate the stu
dents of UNC. We hope to
make everyone aware of the
CIA's covert and terrorist
activities.
At 12:30 p.m. in the Pit
today, the Stinson Street Play
ers, a drama group, will present
"Human Rights: A State of
Confusion." Following, the
committee will speak: "CIA
A Present Day Horror."
Anyone interested should
watch this presentation. It is
one of the committee's first
steps to make people aware of
the CIA's violation of human
rights.
JOEY TEMPLETON
Sophomore
Drama Political Science
Athletes deserve
equal treatment
To the editor:
As fellow athletes, we feel
Steve Dragisics of the UNC
soccer team did not need his
personal problems put in the
headlines of The Daily Tar
Heel on Nov. 12. It was in bad
taste for the DTH to publicize
this fact and make one of
UNCs athletes look bad. We
are not only voicing our opin
ions, but the opinions of many
other athletes and students. We
are in no way defending Dra
gisics' actions because he broke
the law and should pay the
consequences, but the fact that
the DTH put this in the paper
is an injustice to him.
This incident had nothing to
do with UNC soccer. Yes,
Dragisics is an athlete and is
looked up to by many. We have
all heard this a thousand times,
but he is also like any other
human being. Everyone makes
mistakes and there is no reason
why those of any athlete should
be put in the headlines. There
were probably many other
drunk driving arrests that
weekend, which weren't in the
headlines.
Dragisics feels bad enough
and will have to go through a
lot to overcome this incident.
From now on we think the
DTH should refrain from writ
ing about the negative aspects
of athletes' lives, and let us get
through our problems like any
other people.
CHRIS LAURIA
Senior
Biology
ROB KOLL
Senior
Psychology
Letters policy
H All letters and columns
must be signed by the author,
with a limit of two signatures
per letter or column.
B The DTH reserves the
right to edit for clarity,
vulgarity, disparity and
verbosity.
We goofed
Wednesday's letter
"Smokers should indulge with
consideration" should have
read, "You may choose to
sleep on a bed of nails for all
I care. That's your business.
Just don't expect me to lie
down next to you ..." The
Daily Tar Heel regrets the
error.
Coaching involves more than winning
To the editor:
This letter is in response to increasing
reports that UNC has fired head football
coach Dick Crum. Let me begin by saying
that I have been a strong supporter of
Crum for many years. However, I aban
doned my support for him somewhere
between the Auburn and the Wake Forest
games. It wasnt one game or even two
games that caused me to end my support;
my decision had been building for years.
My support was based on Crum's
attitude toward his players and his
emphasis on their potential in the class
room. There are not many coaches who
will place the kind of importance on
building character in a student-athlete that
Crum obviously has. But winning is part
of his job. Unfortunately, some would say
that winning is his only job.
During the pre-season this year, many
were saying that this team would be the
best ever. With our extremely tough
schedule, Carolina could have been in a
position to win the national championship
or, at the very least, an ACC champion-
ship. But this was not to be. In fact, we
weren't even close. Most, if not all, of the
blame must rest on the shoulders of the
head coach. But other factors must be
taken into consideration (e.g., injuries,
non-returning players and extremely high
expectations).
At any rate, UNC should not fire Crum
or any coach just because of a nearly losing
record. We are 5-5 this year, not 0-10.
Crum is the winningest coach in Carolina
history, although that may not say much
for the history of the program. If he had
exhibited dishonest recruiting techniques,
absence of disciplinary action against those
who miss buses, or a lack of personal
character1, then he should have been fired
regardless of his record.
Unfortunately, winning in college athlet
ics and other levels of competition is
becoming a win-at-all-cost situation. My
hometown high school football coach has
been touted as one of the best coaches in .
the state. Two years ago, he admitted to
changing grades of one of his athletes and
was relieved of his duties. Most of the
townspeople cried that firing him was an
injustice to him and the town. Within one
year, he was back at the head coaching
position because he won football games.
I wonder where he would be if he had gone
winless? This is the injustice.
Firing a coach only on the basis of his
mediocre record not only looks bad, it is
bad. Carolina sets standards that others
try to follow in every field. If Crum wants
to leave, that will be fine with me and
probably an overwhelming majority of the
fans. But let's allow him to leave if he feels
it is necessary. I would rather have a coach
who goes 5-6 than one who gives us a bad
reputation.
Let's continue to show our class. If it
proves to be too late for Crum, let's set
our priorities straight and realize that
winning isn't everything, nor is it the only
thing.
MARK GUNTER
Senior
Political Science Economics