8The Daily Tar Heel Tuesday, January 26, 1988
Satlg
uFar
95th year of editorial freedom
Bill necessary for fair debate
Last Wednes-
day, Student Con
gress rejected a bill
that would have
prohibited "dis- "
board
opinion
crimination against an organization
for purposes of funding or defunding
that organization on the basis of the
race, creed, sex (except where exemp
ted by law), sexual preference, national
origin, or handicap(s) of its members
by the Student Congress.
While specific objection to the
inclusion of "sexual preference" was
raised, it is important to realize that
the bill was not rejected solely by the
congress members who wish to defund
the Carolina Gay and Lesbian Asso
ciation. There were not enough anti
CGLA members to defund the group
last fall; thus, some of the members
who voted down this bill must have
been pro-CGLA. The bill then must
have been rejected for reasons other
than the sexual preference clause.
The objection to it was that such
a restriction would limit debate about
a group in the funding process. In the
most obvious example, congress
members opposed to the CGLA would
be unable to voice their moral concerns
about homosexuality. Their freedom
of speech would be taken away. They
would sit bound and gagged, unable
to defend their position. This objection
applies to discussion about any group,
not just the CGLA.
This is a slightly paranoid misinter
pretation of the text. The bill would
not restrict debate on an organization;
Cut costs, highlight issues
As the presidential race moves,
beyond the first pleasant round of
photo opportunities into a harsher
look at the candidates, allegations
continue to grow over unlawful
dealings in campaign contributions.
Democrat Gary Hart tried to defend
himself over the weekend against
charges of taking improper donations.
Employees of video producer Stuart
Karl say they were pressured into
contributing to Hart's campaign and
were later reimbursed by Karl.
Hart and other candidates have
protested loudly that press criticism is
unfair because they cannot have
complete control over their volunteers.
The contributions to Hart's campaign
amounted to $750, hardly a huge sum
in the campaign, and Hart complained
that he could not begin to screen all
his volunteers.
Maybe not, but his aides should
have known not to let this happen.
Controlling all volunteers is impossible
for the candidate, but not for his staff.
Instead of offering a solution, Hart
continues to complain and defend his
integrity. He and other beleaguered
candidates should be paying more
attention to the problem of huge
financial obligations that is sure to
grow as campaigns get bigger and start
earlier with every election.
The Daily Tar Heel
Editorial Writers: Matt Bivcns, Sharon Kebschull, Brian McCuskey and Jon Rust.
Editorial Assistants: Gary Greene, David Lagos and Laura Pearlman.
Layout: Cara Bonnett, Peter Lineberry, Joe McCall and Mandy Spence.
News: Kari Barlow, Jeanna Baxter, Laura Bennett, Lydian Bernhardt, Brenda Campbell, Jenny Cloninger, Staci
Cox, Laura DiGiano, Carrie Dove, Lindsay Hayes, Kyle Hudson, Helen Jones, Susan Kauffman, Will Lingo, Barbara
Linn, Lynne McClintock, Brian McCollum, Myrna Miller, Rebecca Nesbit, Helle Nielsen, Susan Odenkirchen, Cheryl
Pond, Amy Powell, Beth Rhea, Becky Riddick, Mandy Spence, William Taggart, Clay Thorp, Jackie Williams and
Amy Winslow. Mark Folk and Justin McGuire, senior writers. Juliellen Sarver, wire editor. Brian Long, assistant
business editor.
Sports: Chris Spencer and Jim Muse, assistant sports editors. James Surowiecki, senior writer. Robert D'Arruda,
Steve Giles, Dave Glenn, Dave Hall, Clay Hodges, Brendan Mathews, Patton McDowell, Keith Parsons, Andy Podolsky
and Langston Wertz.
Features: Laura Jenkins, Jim Mock, Corin Ortlam, Leigh Pressley, Kathy Wilson and Julie Woods.
Arts: James Burrus, senior writer. Scott Cowen, Stephanie Dean, Kim Donehower, David Hester, Julie Olson, Kelly
Rhodes, Alston Russell and Richard Smith.
Photography: Christie Blom, Tony Deifell, Janet Jarman, David Minton, Elizabeth Morrah and Julie Stovall.
Copy Editors: Karen Bell and Kaarin Tisue, assistant news editors. Cara Bonnett, Carrie Burgin, Julia Coon, Whitney
Cork, Bert Hackney, Lisa Lorentz and Sherry Miller.
Cartoonists: Jeff Christian, Bill Cokas and Greg Humphreys.
Campus Calendar: Mindelle Rosenberg and David Starnes.
Business and Advertising: Anne Fulcher, general manager; Patricia Glance, advertising director; Joan Worth, advertising
coordinator; Peggy Smith, advertising manager; Sheila Baker, business manager; Michael Benfleld, Lisa Chorebanian,
Ashley Hint on, Kellie McElhaney, Chrissy Mennitt, Stacey Montford, Lesley Renwrick, Julie Settle, Dave Slovensky,
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advertising representative; and Kris Carlson, secretary.
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Delivery David Econopouly, manager; Billy Owens, assistant.
Production: Bill Leslie and Stacy Wynn. Rita Galloway, Leslie Humphrey, Stephanie Locklear and Tammy Sheldon,
production assistants.
Printing: The Chapel Hill Newspaper.
Jill Gerber, Editor
Amy Hamilton, Managing Editor
Sally Pearsall, News Editor
KRISTEN GARDNER, University Editor
KlMBERLY EDENS, University Editor
LAURIE DUNCAN, State and National Editor
Leigh ann Mcdonald, cuy Editor
MIKE BERARDINO, Sports Editor
Feusa Neuringer. Business Editor
Hannah Drum, Features Editor
Elizabeth Ellen, Am Editor
Charlotte Cannon, Photography Editor
Cathy Mchugh. Omnibus Editor
it would merely prevent its member
ship from coming under attack. The
bill clearly states: "of (the group's)
members." This clause protects the
individual members, while leaving the
stated purposes of the group open for
debate.
Arguments concerning moral ques
tions of the CGLA would not be
restricted, as long as these arguments
would apply to the group's intentions
and activities. This means organiza
tional activities not the personal
activities of any members. In the
budget process, congress members
should evaluate the programs and
contributions of the group, not the
private lives of the individuals.
Anti-CGLA congress members
should ask themselves this: If the
CGLA were composed of heterosex
uals doing the same things (educating
the campus about AIDS, providing
support for alienated homosexuals,
etc), how would these congress
members argue their moral position?
Such an argument would be far more
stable than merely attacking the
personal habits of the members.
With proper interpretation of the
text, the danger of limiting debate is
non-existent. Without the text, the
door is left open for irrelevant and
discriminatory personal attacks. All
organizations are required to follow
an anti-discrimination policy to be
considered for funding. Student Con
gress would be hypocritical not to
implement the policy for itself.
The great expense of presidential
campaigns puts extreme pressure on
candidates, their volunteers and other
supporters to raise money in whatever
ways possible. Mostly because of TV
advertising, campaign costs have
soared, and this can only encourage
more improper dealings. The lingering
debts of 1984 candidates are outstand
ing proof of how ridiculously expen
sive campaigns, even winning ones,
can become.
But while they may support a
reduction in theory, candidates are too
often reluctant to allow limits when
it comes to their own campaigns. The
massive expense of TV advertising
becomes the focus of every campaign.
Slickly presented candidates win on
the basis of their video presence, not
their platforms or even their personal
warmth. The traditional pressing of
the flesh has taken a back seat to the
cold TV image.
A call for a reduction in campaign
spending should come from the can
didates themselves. A reduction would
lessen the problem of a lack of strict
controls over contributors and volun
teers. More importantly, it would push
candidates to worry more about the
issues and less about how they appear
before the camera. Sharon
Kebschull
University should promote black culture
To the editor:
Heather Vandine's letter ("Equality
works both ways," Jan. 14), seems to
suggest black students should stop moan
ing and do more for themselves by getting
involved. Just for the record, self-help has
long been a tradition in the black com
munity. Perhaps we could do more, but
that does not mean we are willing to allow
our rights to be overlooked. Of three
conclusions we are certain: first, Vandine
has a Utopian perception of UNC race
relations; second, she perceives black
student cultural concerns as radicalism;
and third, she refuses to see the Black
Cultural Center as of any importance.
Vandine started by questioning the idea
that most campus activities have little or
no appeal for UNC's black student
population. She then asks what standards
would be suitable to gain black student
participation. As black students, we are
attracted to organizations that appeal to
our interests and possess an appreciation
for different cultures. We are not suggest
ing royal treatment but respect for all
issues. In 1988, as sad as it may seem, one
cannot be sure when racist behavior will
head the agenda. The 200 campus clubs
and organizations are not the problem
exclusively. Instead, it is the organizational
culture that exists within them. As black
people, we question if whites ever stop to
think about the implications of their
responses to us. The implied often speaks
louder than that which is stated.
V
Who cares
who's who
To the editor:
When you live in a university
town, fraternities are one of the
things that you put up with, like
the prevailing odor if you live
in a town with a paper mill.
Sometimes fraternity members
do very good things, sometimes
they commit reprehensible acts;
often fraternities fade into the
background, perhaps less often
they offend taste and sensibil
ity. But, regardless, they are
part of university life, and the
DTH performs its role well in
presenting the positive and
negative side of Greek life.
Normally, I am happy to
ignore fraternities, but John
Parham in a letter of Jan. 21
("Media sensationalize frater
nity problems") has quoted
some statistics that seem to
imply causality between mem
bership in fraternities and
success in America. I will not
address the issue of the degree
to which membership in a
fraternity (or a country club,
for that matter) assures one
entry into corporate board
rooms, though I suspect there
is a connection here that has
more to do with cronyism than
the principles which accrue to
fraternity membership.
.However, the statistics Par
ham presents are interesting.
He says that all but two pres
idents since 1825 were frater
nity men. Now I seriously
doubt that anywhere near this
number were fraternity men in
Parham's sense of being under
graduate members of a Greek
organization. Consider this: Of
the 33 presidents, three were
service academy graduates (no
fraternities there) and (by my
recollection) eight did not
attend college. So, assuming
every other president did join
(and six attended Harvard,
Yale or Princeton, where fra
ternities traditionally have been
supplanted by local non-Greek
clubs of one sort or another),
then at maximum two-thirds
were fraternity men. It is true
that all but one president since
mi
Commiimisinni feeds on U.S. tolerance
Iwas impressed that Brian Bailey, our
student body president, had the oppor
tunity to meet Mikhail Gorbachev. I
am glad that this type of opportunity has
been extended to college students. I feel
compelled to voice a reminder of the
responsibilities that we have as the budding
leaders of our nation.
It appears that many of our countrymen
have been mesmerized by a Soviet leader
in Western garb who can smile and shake
hands. This is shown by Gorbachev's being
Time magazine's "Man of the Year," and
among the most admired men in the world.
My concern is that people have not looked
past him to the ideology and reality that
he represents.
We must remind ourselves of what a
former Soviet leader prophesied, that a
shot would not have to be fired when the
Soviets take us over, but that we would
give ourselves into their hands. Will you
let this happen?
There are alarming indications that this
could be a possibility: the growing trend
of tolerance for the sake of tolerance, the
concept of peace at all costs, no matter
what the terms or conditions, and a refusal
to actively embrace the values and prin
ciples which birthed and preserved the
tenders' Foramm
This is our third year at UNC. Had it
not been for the efforts of Dean Hayden
Renwick, Donella Croslan, assistant dean
of the General College, and the Office of
Student Counseling, we certainly would
not feel this university has been particulary
interested in making black students an
integral part. For example, this is evident
in Smith Center programming. Past
performers such as Lionel Ritchie and
Whitney Houston are not known for their
"soulful" sounds. And just because the
Monkees appeared at the Smith Center for
homecoming does not mean that black
students would flock to the ticket offices.
One of the first things that we learned
in our AFAM courses was the differences
between being encultured and being
assimiliated. To be encultured is to
maintain one's cultural heritage, yet remain
part of the majority. To be assimilated is
to refuse one's heritage by immersing
oneself in the dominant culture. It seems
that we are expected to forgo our heritage
and remain silent. Attending UNC does
not mean that we are willing to ignore that
which makes us "black."
Vandine asserts that minority is not
synonomous with "black." We agree. Yet,
we are the largest ethnic group in this
country. The appellation "minority "dilutes
blacks as a people.
Third, her attempts to belittle the BCC
and, inadvertently, black students' con
cerns, only demonstrates a resistance to
1
1825 were white, male and
Protestant. That seems a much
better affiliation than a
fraternity.
Why does he limit his kudos
to presidents and the corporate
world? How many fraternity
men have been Miss America?
Have won a Nobel or Pulitzer
Prize? Have won the American
League batting crown? Have
been a secretary general of the
U.N.? Have paintings hanging
in the Metropolitan Museum of
Art? Have won a gold medal
at the Olympics in luge? There
is a lot of good statistical
research to be done here.
Finally, he says that 71
percent of those listed in
"Who's Who in America" were
fraternity men! What sort of
sick mind would count the
number of fraternity members
in "Who's Who"?
P. GEOFFREY FEISS
Associate Professor
Geology
Give people
right to die
To the editor:
Euthanasia is not murder
("Euthanasia covers for
murder," Jan. 21). Yes, there
is the potential for abuse, but
that potential exists for every
thing. Because some people are
are imprisoned unfairly, should
we eliminate the prison system?
The fact that euthanasia could
have the potential for abuse
means that there should be
strong safeguards to any volun
tary euthanasia law, such as
counseling, a waiting period, a
second doctor's opinion, etc.,
in other words, the safe
guards that California wants to
build into its law.
I work in a hospital, and I
have seen a lot of terrible things
there: one woman rotting, her
skin literally rotting away, from
AIDS; a man on a ventilator,
catheters in and out of his body,
getting dialysis three times a
week. They finally took him off
of dialysis after "living" this
way for a year it took him
three very painful weeks to die.
A man who worked as a volun
teer for the hospital when he
was well, dying of cancer,
screamed in the night, "God, let
me die! Make the pain go
away!" He was on huge doses
of morphine at the time. He
lived several months in con
stant pain before he died. And
there were others.
This is not life. These people
were not living. I don't think
that giving people like this the
right to end their pain is going
to turn doctors into ogres. No
doctor wants his patients to die.
But sometimes death is better
than life. I don't really think
Thomas Jackson
Guest Writer
freedom we cherish. As a generation, we
stand at a crossroads. We must decide that
the freedom and liberty with which we have
been entrusted is worth preserving, and
decisively preserve it, or agree to bondage,
cast aside freedom and embrace chains and
fetters.
A deceptive lie has been propagated
which says that there are no absolutes, that
all things are relative, depending upon your
perspective. This lie says that we should
be open-minded and see the good in
everything and everyone, like Gorbachev,
or Stalin, or Lenin, or Marx, etc. This lie
seeks to destroy the very foundation and
fabric of our nation. If freedom is not better
than bondage, then cast it aside.
My plea is that we look a painful truth
in the face, as Patrick Henry did in his
day: "It is natural to man to indulge in
the illusions of Hope. We are apt to shut
celebrate all that is black America. N.C.
State University has a cultural center
comparable to the size of the Student
Union. Having this center represents an
administrative commitment to black
students' interests. To have a center larger
than a room would allow space to
permanently house African and Afro
American paintings, sculpture, literary
works and musical collections, as a start.
Conclusively, as black students we
should continue to make this university
aware of our needs and concerns. Only
when we forget where we came from do
we become blinded by candy-coated
promises and allow our importance to be
trivialized. We have been just as, if not
more than, instrumental in the making of
this great country. But since we as a people
were not allowed for some time to be
educated, we could not write the history
books to tell future generations of our
accomplishments. The BCC would be a
place to showcase those who achieved. We
are not using the BCC to segregate
ourselves, but instead, to preserve and
celebrate who we are.
MIA DAVIS
Junior
Journalism
RICHARD WHITE
Junior
Political Science
families are going to try to get
rid of their relatives by convinc
ing them to kill themselves.
Think about yourself. If your
mother were dying, would you
really be pressuring her to kill
herself so your bills would be
lessened? I doubt it. Most of
the families I have seen are
much more afraid of their
relative's death than the person
is himself.
I don't want anyone to die
who has a chance to live. I don't
want society to become callous
about death. But I don't want
to see people suffering weeks
or months of horrible pain,
with no hope of ever feeling
better or living another year. I
don't think people should be
forced to live in pain. Shouldn't
they have the chance to end
their suffering if they so choose?
LYNN SPROTT
Junior
Psychology,
Letters policy
B All letters and columns
must be signed by the author,
with a limit of two signatures
per letter or column
B All letters must be typed,
double-spaced on a 60-space
line, for ease of editing. A
maximum of 250 words is
optimal.
our eyes against a painful truth, and listen
to the song of that siren 'till she transforms
us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men,
engaged in a great and arduous struggle
for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the
number of those who, having eyes, see not,
and having ears, hear not, the things which
so nearly concern their temporal salvation?
For my part, I am willing to know the
whole truth; to know the worst, and to
provide for it."
My fellow students, please hear my
heart. As countless individuals throughout
history have shown, an individual can
make a difference. Hitler made a difference
in his day; Martin Luther King made a
difference in his. Let us, like King, have
a dream in our hearts, that our grandchild
ren will have the opportunity to preserve
the freedom we make possible for them.
Not to do so is selfish and short-sighted.
We, as a new generation, must dare to
answer the call that destiny has placed
upon our lives, and preserve the inalienable
rights we enjoy for our posterity.
Thomas Jackson is a senior history
major from Black Mountain.