J
10The Daily Tar Heel Tuesday, March 7, 1989
OJi latlg uFar
97th year of editorial freedom
A thousand words on avoiding a camera
One of
eterna
to coi
Sharon Kebschull, Editor
WILLIAM TAGGART, Managing Editor
LOUIS BISSETTE, Editorial Page Editor
JUSTIN McGUIRE, University Editor
TAMMY DLACKARD, State and National Editor
ERIK FLIPPO, Business Editor
CARA BONNETT, Arts and Features Editor-
Julia Coon, News Editor
MARY JO CUNNING-TON, Editorial Page Editor
JENNY CLONINGER, University Editor
Charles Brittain, aty Editor
Dave Glenn, sports Editor
James Benton, Omnibus Editor
DAVID SUROWIECKI, Photography Editor
Kelly Thompson, Design Editor
Congress constricts Yack
board
opinion
There is a fine
line between
responsible finan
cial influence and
ecfitorial control.
Student Congress crossed that line this
weekend with its decision to decrease
funding of the Yackety Yack.
Congress decreased the Yack's
funding because members decided it
wasn't "representative" enough of the
entire student body. Congress
members primary objections con
cerned the $85 cost for a group to have
its portrait printed in the book and
the predominance of white Greek
organizations at the expense of
smaller, more diverse groups.
Members also objected that students
have to "pay" for the book twice,
through student fees and the cost of
the book itself, and said the staff
should try harder to raise its own
money.
Several issues are at work here, but
the predominant one is congress
conception of representativeness: the
book isn't what congress thinks it
should be. Several members said they
had no intention of completely demand
ing the Yack. Clearly, the issue is not
financial independence, but editorial
freedom.
Perhaps congress members are right
that graduate students and others are
underrepresented in the book. The
editors should make an attempt to
rectify that problem. But no one has
come to the editors of the Yackety
Rack holder not needed
Yack to complain or make suggestions
about the inclusion of graduate
students, student groups or anything
else. Those students who are sup
posedly underrepresented also seem
unconcerned.
Regardless of whether the problem
exists, Student Congress should not
use, its funding power as a method of
coercion. The representatives are free
to make suggestions, but it is up to
the staff to make the final decisions.
The congress is playing a power game
with the yearbook: "Do what we say,
or well take your money away.""
The Yackety Yack is in a difficult
position as a UNC publication because
it must charge a fee for its service;
publishing a yearbook is prohibitively
expensive. But just because the Yack
must charge for its publication does
not mean congress should tell it what
to do with that money, just as congress
has no power to tell The Daily Tar
Heel what not to write in its editorials
or The Phoenix what to put on its
cover.
Congress member Jurgen Buchenau
(Dist. 3) said he could not approve
increasing the Yackety Yack's funding
until it changed its format. This is a
blatant attempt to restrict the year
book's editorial freedom. It is not
congress job to try to mold organ
izations. The yearbook provides a
necessary service to students. It should
be funded based on that service, not
on whether that service is performed
in a way congress deems appropriate.
the quickest ways to earn my
I eternal hatred and general disgust is
come anywhere near me with a
camera. Especially one with a flash attached.
This comes to mind because last week, my
house was treated to a free group portrait
with some kind of traveling photographer.
In order to get the free group portrait, Jon,
resident organizer, had to give this shady
photographer the names of 10 people to
contact who might be interested in getting
their photographs taken, too. I don't think
it's such a bad deal, really I mean, a free
group sitting in exchange for 10 friends
you can't beat that with a stick.
As 1 sat in the corner of the studio nursing
my flashing eyes, 1 pondered many things.
I pondered why was there having my image
preserved for posterity with such a motley
crew that included a blockhead who would
actually leave 10 of his friends at the mercy
of a traveling photographer. I pondered the
phrase "make love to the camera." Boy,
whoever came up with that one was a real
sicko either that or I have certainly missed
out on some of the finer points of posing
for a picture. But mostly I pondered why
1 would harbor such bitter feelings toward
anything remotely having to do with my
getting a picture taken.
The photographer is usually some joker
with an economy of words that would rival
Shakespeare's. Haven't you ever noticed that
every time you get your picture taken, the
photographer is compelled to make you look
as stupid as possible by engaging in absurd
verbal banter?
"Say 'spring break! m
"Say 'beer !m
"Say 'get out of my face with that damn
camera!'"
At first I thought my bitterness reared
its ugly head during puberty when I felt so
awkward and unattractive anyhow, but then
Laura Pearlman
Casting Pearls
' . Anyone who braved the rain during
the past week to venture up to Franklin
Street may have noticed the new multi
newspaper rack holder with the word
"newspapers" emblazoned across the
top.
The Chapel Hill Appearance Com
mission Ad Hoc Committee is respon
sible for the holder, which is supposed
to organize and improve the appear
ance of the abundant newspaper racks.
The Chapel Hill Newspaper's circula
tion manager, Marty Durrence, des
cribed it as "cute." Commission
member Richard Guthridge, a retired
architect who first presented the idea
for the multi-rack holder, is also
pleased with the result. Others don't
see what the big deal is all about.
Granted, Chapel Hill's appearance
is important. Certainly, Franklin
Street would not be so popular if
residents did not care how things
looked; indeed, residents should work
to reduce clutter and eliminate eye
sores. But the current concern over
newspaper racks is of questionable
merit.
The committee has established a list
of guidelines for newspaper rack
conditions and plans to have periodic
inspections to ensure the maintenance
of standards. However, the multi-rack
holder seems a trivial investment of
the town's time and money.
Chapel Hill's Public Works put up
the wooden holder now standing in
front of Taco Bell, although Guthridge
said future holders should be metal to
minimize potential vandalism damage.
Local newspapers are adamant about
not getting stuck with the expense,
which leaves it up to the town to foot
the bill. With Chapel Hill Town
Manager David Taylor already talking
about the need to raise local taxes just
to maintain the level of services
residents currently enjoy, newspaper
rack holders should be low on the
town's priority list.
Another disturbing aspect of the
situation is some committee members'
desires to limit the number of racks
on Franklin Street, a move which
newspapers would oppose. For a free
publication such as the DTH, a certain
number of racks are necessary to make
available a budgeted number of copies.
For other newspapers, who are fight
ing both for profits and circulation,
each rack makes a difference. And
limiting the number of racks a news
paper can place violates the First
Amendment, so there is a constraint
on how far the committee can go.
The committee's desire to clean up
and maintain the town's newspaper
racks is admirable. But investing in
special rack holders and trying to limit
the number of racks are not worth
while goals. Mary Jo Dunnington
The Daily Tar Heel
Editorial Writers: Kimberly Edens, Chris Landgraff and David Starnes.
Assistant Editors: Jessica Lanning, city; Myma Miller, features; Slaci Cox, managing; Anne Isenhower and
Sieve Wilson, news; Andrew Podolsky, Jay Reed and Jamie Rosenberg, sports; Karen Dunn, slate and
national; James Burroughs and Amy Wajda, university.
News: Craig Allen, Crandall Anderson, John Bakht, Kari Barlow, Maria Batista, Crystal Bernstein, Heather
Bowers, Sarah Cagle, Brenda Campbell, James Coblin, Staci Cox, LD. Curie, Blake Dickinson, Jeff Eckard,
Karen Entriken, Deirdre Fallon, Lynn Goswick, Susan Holdsclaw, Jennifer Johnston, Tracy Lawson, Rheta
Logan, Dana Clinton Lumsden, Helle Nielsen, Glenn O'Neal, Simone Pam, Tom Parks, Elizabeth Sherrod,
Nicollc Skalski, Will Spears, Larry Stone, Laura Taylor, Kelly Thompson, Kathryne Tovo, Stephanie von
Isenburg, Sandy Wall, Leslie Wilson, Jennifer Wing, Katie Wolfe and Nancy Wykle.
Sports: Mike Berardino, senior writer. Neil Amato, Mark Anderson, John Bland, Christina Frohock, Scott
Gold, Doug Hoogervorst, David Kupstas, Bethany Litton, Brendan Matthews, Bobby McCruskey, Natalie
Sekicky, Chris Spencer, Dave Surowiecki and Eric Wagnon.
Arts and Features: Leigh Ann McDonald, senior writer. Cheryl Allen, Randy Basinger, Clark Benbow,
Adam Bertolett, Roderick Cameron, Ashley Campbell, Pam Emerson, Diana Florence, Laura Francis, Jacki
Greenberg, Andrew Lawler, Julie Olson, Lynn Phillips, Leigh Pressley, Anna Turnage and Jessica Yates.
Photography: Steven Exum and David Minton.
Copy Editors: Karen Bell, B Buckberry, Michelle Casale, Yvette Cook, Joy Golden. Bert Hackney, Kathleen
Hand, Angela Hill, Susan Holdsclaw, Karen Jackson, Janet McGirl, Angelia Poteal and Clare Weickert.
Editorial Assistants: Mark Chilton and Anne Isenhower. Amy Dickinson, letter typist.
Design Assistants: Kim Avetta, Melanie Black, Del Lancaster, Nicole Lutcr, Bill Phillips and Susan Wallace.
Cartoonists: Jeff Christian, Adam Cohen, Pete Corson, Bryan Donncll, Trey Entwistle, David Estoye, Greg
Humphreys and Mike Sutton.
Business and Advertising: Kevin Schwartz, director; Patricia Glance, advertising director; Joan Worth,
classified manager; Chris sy Mcnnitt, advertising manager; Sabrina Goodson, business manager; Dawn
Dunning, Beth Harding, Sarah Hoskins, Amy McGuirt, Maureen Mclntyre, Dcnise Neely, Tina Perry, Pam
Strickland, Amanda Tillcy and Joye Wiley, display advertising representatives; Leisa Hawlcy, creative
director; Dan Raasch, marketing director; Stephanie Chesson, Alecia Cole, Genevieve Halkett, Camillc
Philyaw, Tammy Sheldon and Angela Spivey, classified advertising representatives; Jeff Carlson, office
manager and Allison Ashworth, secretary. .
Subscriptions: Ken Murphy, manager.
Distribution: David Econopouly, manager; Newton Carpenter, assistant.
Production: Bill Leslie and Stacy Wynn, managers; Anita Bentley, Stephanie Locklear, Tammy Sheldon and
Leslie Sapp, assistants.
Printing: The Village Companies.
I realized that puberty couldn't mark the
start of my animosity. You see, from the
time I was 13 until about 17 or 18, there
really is no photographic record of my
existence. Ah yes, these were the years of
braces, training bras and acne two of
which I have yet to outgrow, but my teeth
sure do look pretty when 1 smile. But as
I sat in the hotel room that was the
photographer's studio, I knew that my
bitterness ran back 21 years that for me,
it's a fact of life.
Back in fifth grade when we were learning
about the facts of life, one of my friends
brought in pictures of herself being born.
Her father had taken actual pictures of her
being born Now personally, if I were her
mother and I were the one lying on that
table having the baby, I would have plenty
to say about my husband setting up a studio
and getting in the doctor's way and quite
possibly cutting off access to the anesthetics.
Those are the thoughts that cross my
junior-in-college mind when 1 recall those,
pictures. To my fifth-grade mind, taking
pictures of a baby being born was some
where along the lines of kissing Mike
Summey it simply wasn't done. Her
parents' liberal attitude, however, was pretty
interesting 21 years ago. Today, people send
those photographs out as birth announce
ments. My mom is still trying to get over
my cousin's open invitation to come watch
and participate in the birth of the newest
addition to the family.
My earliest picture, on the other hand,
is the one taken hours after I was born. This
type of photograph is even worse than the
"birth in process" shot because at least in
that picture you have an excuse for looking
deformed and mangled. In the "after the
birth" shot, you still look deformed and
mangled, only now you're clean. So when
I look at this picture and see the pruiie1
faced infant staring back, I see the seeds
of camera loathing sown in the earliest hours
of my existence.
But as I got older, the pictures didn't get
much better. There's the photo of me force
feeding sand to my sister. And there are the
mandatory school pictures, the inevitable
one or two with eyes closed. College pictures,
are gems as well. The picture on my ID
was taken about a week after 1 first arrived
in Chapel Hill; it was probably about 1 17
degrees outside, and 1 had to run around
for half a day before I even found where
they were taking the ID pictures.
The way I see. it, getting pictures taken
is a fact of life, and all I can do is resign
myself to dealing with cameras and anything
associated with them. I think that if families
want records of momentous events, the best,
thing to do is hire a scribe to be present;
at life's milestones. Instead of photographs;
in the den, we could all have pages of every
embarrassing moment we've ever lived,
through, a chapter-long dissertation on our;
first prom and the stain left on our attire,
after a nervous date spilled his rum and Coke,
all over the place or an expository piece on
a new bride and groom stuffing wedding,
cake into one another's mouths. It would,
be great. And we would all be safe from
self-motivated people like Jon turning our
names in to shady individuals who want to
take our pictures.
Laura Pearlman is a junior English major
from Asheville.
Readers9 Forann
Spoof insults
homosexuals
To the editor:
Since I came to this univer
sity three years ago, the DTH
has always been supportive of
the concerns of lesbian and gay
students on campus. So I was
surprised at the second article
in "The Comical," the DTH
spoof of the Duke Chronicle,
titled "Fairy, Queen share hair
care and Vaseline" which is an
obvious attack on gay students.
The "joke" in this article is
that "Fairy" and "Queen" are
gay. The article is full of sexual
innuendos about the "relation
ship" between these two indi
viduals. Although the article
makes a few references to their
quest for "good looking girls,"
the article is supposed to be
funny because of the implica
tion that they're gay (such
implications include . the . fact
that "queen" and "fairy" are
commonly used to insult gay
men, Queen's comment that
"Dannyboy is always there in
my time of need, etc.).
This is not funny. Calling
someone gay should not be
presented as funny or insulting
there is nothing wrong with
being homosexual and most
gay and lesbian people are
proud of their sexuality. Had
this article referred to any other
minority besides homosexuals
in such a demeaning manner,
sensitive individuals would
have recognized the article as
an attack and would never have
printed it.
In Monday's DTH, there
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was an article about students
being harassed by people pres
enting themselves as CGLA
members. Individuals not affil
iated with CGLA call or write
to students not affiliated with
CGLA and imply that the
student is gay or lesbian. The
DTH presented this accurately
as harassment and was suppor
tive of CGLA's attempts to stop
it. This kind of harassment
works because being gay or
lesbian is considered an insult.
Articles like "Fairy and Queen
. . ." perpetuate this ideology,
known as homophobia, that
there is something wrong with
being lesbian and gay.
Because of society's homo
phobia, lesbian and gay people
are often victims of verbal and
physical abuse and discrimina
tion. North Carolina had the
highest rate of anti-gay violence
last year. This article acts to
legitimate such violence.
The DTH editors should be
embarassed that this article was
printed and should reaffirm
their support for lesbian and
gay rights in the future.
PIPPA HOLLOWAY
Junior
Music history
Letters policy
a All letters must be signed,
by the author(s), with a limit
of two signatures per letter.
B All letters must be typed
and double-spaced, for ease- of
editing.
a Place letters in the bdx
marked "Letters to the Editor "
outside the DTH office in the
Student Union.
a Students should include
name, year in school, major,
phone number and home
town.
Campaign criticism not constructive
"e welcome the opportunity to clear
up many questions raised by last
Thursday's board opinion ("Vio
lations plague elections". Mar. 2). Not only
did the opinion display great levels of
ignorance and inaccuracy, it also showed a
remarkable degree of insensitivity to the
hundreds of students involved in candidates'
campaigns.
The first fact the board presents is totally
inaccurate. It stated that "the Student
Supreme Court decision handed down two
weeks ago essentially nullified the (Elections)
Board." Had the editorial board asked the
reporter who covered the Student Congress'
February 22 meeting, it would have realized
that the passage of SL 70-053 approved the
appointment to the Elections Board of the
four graduate students necessary to legitim
ize it. Thus, contrary to the editorial board's
assertion, the Elections Board was validated
in time to certify the results of the general
election and to conduct the run-off elections.
The editorial board then forwards the
argument that the recent elections were
plagued with "obvious (campaign) viola
tions." However, any research by the
editorial staff would have shown that
convincing evidence exists to suggest that
far fewer questions of election law violations
occurred in the past elections than in those
of recent years. But just for fun, let's look
at what evidence the editorial board did use
to support its charge. First, the board
opinion states that "campaign staffers were
obnoxious at some candidates' forums."
Aside from being an inane point, this is
hardly a violation of the election laws.
Nowhere in the Student Code is anybody's
behavior at public forums dictated.
Next, the board asserts that persons
campaigned within 50 feet of polishes. While
such offenses almost certainly occurred last
Tuesday, the editorial board would be naive
GreenwoodHathaway
Guest Writers
to presume that these improprieties were
unique to this spring. But more importantly,
campaigns often involve more . than 300
students each spring. The board was petty
in its condemnation of isolated incidents in
the midst of hundreds of other students
abiding by the Student Code while cam
paigning, and completely unjustified in
generalizing a few students' actions to
include the entire campaigns.
The final charge used Election Board
Chairperson Wilborn Roberson's statement
that he could only fine a specific student
body president candidate five dollars for
improperly placing a banner between two
trees. Yet the DTH editorial board failed
to mention that Roberson reportedly told
a member of the candidate's campaign staff
that the banner's placement was legal. In
fact, the editor of the DTH was specifically
told by that student body president candi
date that his campaign workers were under
the impression that their actions were
correct. That the editorial board chose not
to report at least the confusion in the matter
is irresponsible journalism, and raises
serious questions of whether the board is
publishing its honest opinion or mere
sensationalism.
The generalizations the board makes in
trying to create a point for their opinion
is a slap in the face of every candidate and
campaign worker who took the time and
effort in trying to make a difference on this
campus. By concluding that "most of the
fault (of the elections' problems) must lie
with candidates and their campaign
workers," the board does these people the
greatest disservice of all. As voter turnout
indicates, apathy pervades this campus; that
students will vote at UNC is unlikely (a one
in four chance), and that some students will
actually take the initiative to work in a
campaign or run for office is nothing short
of miraculous. Yet the editorial board, rather
than even mentioning the sacrifices of such
students, instead chose to highlight the most
negative aspects it thinks to have seen in
the elections.
The editorial board's final point, that
"immaturity marred (the) elections," , Is
simply the height of hypocrisy. Any con
structive value the board's opinion could
have had is destroyed by gross distortions
of the truth, unjustified and sweeping
generalizations, and a complete lack of
understanding of its topic. In the final
analysis, the DTH editorial board has
ucmuimiaicu inai us inieiesi in maKing a
story has overridden its duty to construe-
who ran for office in the recent elections,
the hundreds of students who took the time,
to involve themselves in the various cam
paigns, and the entire campus deserve far
better from the DTH editorial staff. Last
week's board opinion should have been a
tribute to the thousands of students who
in one way or' another expressed geniurie
concern for this campus.
Steven Greenwood, a junior economics
major from Farmington, Conn., was co-
campaign manager for student body
president-elect Brien Lewis.
Stuart Hathaway, a junior history major
from Charlotte, was co-campaign manager
for student body president candidate Trey
Loughran. '