Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Sept. 11, 1989, edition 1 / Page 8
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8The Daily Tar HeelTuesday, September 5, 9Q9 Sat Ig Star m$ 97th year of editorial freedom LE5S0N 1 : pL,T A FRAME AROiWD A Playboy mcj to Confuse a Campus Liberal . Sharon Kebschull, Editor WlLUAM TACGART, Managing Editor MARY Jo DuNNINGTON, Editorial Page Editor JUSTIN McGuiRE, University Editor TAMMY BLACKARD, State and National Editor TOM PARKS, Business Editor DAVE GLENN, Sports Editor MELANDE BLACK, Design Editor Julia Coon, News Editor JENNY CLONINGER, University Editor CHARLES BriTTAIN, City Editor CAR A BONNETT, Arts and Features Editor Kelly Thompson, Omnibus Editor KlM AVETTA, Design Editor DAVID SuROWIECKI, Photography Editor Managing our money Hardin's proposals a solid first step board opinion Paul Hardin, in -one of his first major initiatives as chancel lor, finally proposed to the Board of Trustees last week a series of proposals that would give the university system more autonomy and fiscal respon sibility. The proposals have been floating around for quite some time, but the long term nature of the problems the universi ties are having makes it tempting to shove them aside. But, as Hardin said, the univer sity needs to continue to support higher faculty pay and consider tuition increases to keep the system top-rate, along with requesting further financial independence. Since his report, however, Hardin has been criticized by UNC system President CD. Spangler for his push to raise tuition and by Board of Governors' Chairman Robert "Roddy" Jones for his attempt to convince legislators to let state campuses keep tuition revenues. Jones said that if the state allowed that, lawmakers would proba bly cut the system's total appropriations so that the campuses would not really get more money. Unfortunately, none of the university officials who have spoken up so far seem able to reach a happy medium. It was important that Hardin get the discussions rolling, but his proposals are a bit optimis tic, while Jones and Spangler seem hesi tant ta take the major steps that will even tually improve our university system. Hardin's suggestion that campuses be allowed to set their own tuition is not only unlikely but unfeasible and unfair. Under standably, Hardin has felt locked in and ' unable to take many new initiatives be cause of the state control, but to expect the system to do without some sort of central control over tuition simply won't work. However, Hardin's call for tuition in creases is feasible, and the campuses should be given more control over such increases. The legislature may be unwilling to give up all the money that students pay, but campuses should ask for at least any reve nue from future increases giving both the state and the universities some control. Along the same lines, the system would work better if Jones' call for the BOG to be granted authority over line-item transfers is approved. But his proposal needs to be thoroughly studied while it may be good to take that control away from legis lators, the BOG may not be the best place to put that control. All of these proposals will, of course, demand a great deal of time and study. In the meantime, however, one proposal from Hardin must be implemented: higher pay for faculty. His support of faculty in his speech to the trustees was heartening; it should be acted upon immediately. None of the other proposals will mean anything if we can't convince faculty that we want them here and are willing to pay them a salary that recognizes their importance to the country's future. Hardin's proposals were a good first step, but they were only the beginning. The BOG and trustees need to study his sug gestions and prepare for a protracted lob bying effort that emphasizes a balance of power among the state, the various boards and the campuses. As it is, all the sugges tions seem slightly out of whack. WW IT'S Flesh! A FEW GOOD AtiD LOTS OF FLZSH WHAT BlMBQ5( THNX; 6RAT INTER VIEWS DID WE MENTION FL3H? ,v rx 9 M IT'S DEGRADING TO WDMFNl TTS lr.K AMn DAti&ezousL. NO, WAIT! JX ART1. J- WANT IT IN W LIVING ROOMl LL WV 10,000.... H0 I UIDN1 oty THAT!... PLEASE, 7 take ir Away MY HEAD HURTS, lul " 1' I Readers9 Foram "Baron" jousts Duke University taken by show of wealth Guess who I am? Daddy owns a chain of cafes in Long Island and has a seat on the New York Stock Exchange, and my lovely Mummy is the treasurer of the neighborhood Garden Club. I chose to attend Duke University since my great-grandfather on my father's side, both of my grandfathers, six of my uncles, two of whom are twice removed, and at least 12 of my cousins are upstanding alumni of the univer sity. Thank you. Who am I? Well, my name is Kennedy, or is it Rockefeller or maybe I used the last name of Carnegie... now what last name did I put on that appli cation? Our prestigious neighboring university the one with the time-worn walkways (erected in 1924 but looking like it origi nated in 1624) and that unique mixture of Gothic and Georgian architecture got it self in a little trouble this week. One of its most highly revered more income than families at any other univer sity? Although Duke's tuition is a costly $12,800, the consideration of money from the admissions office view should be nominal. However, the incident with the Baron is not the first time Duke has been deceived or maybe blinded by false financial back grounds. Four years ago, David Bloom gradu ated from Duke, using his new college educa tion on Wall Street to swindle investors out of millions. Unfortunately, Duke, which had been promised a sizable donation, was left empty- handed, while Bloom's hands were placed in The incident with the baron is not the first time Duke has been deceived or maybe blinded by money. students, The Baron Maurice J.L. de Rothschild, son of the French financial success Baron Guy de Rothschild, was just discovered after two years of attendance to be a fraud, not truly related to the European banker and not truly a legacy to his multi-million dollar fortune. How could something this scandalous happen at the Ivy League school of the South? While universities across the country are suf fering from accusations that they bent admis sions standards for athletes, could Duke be using special admission standards for the espe cially wealthy, or is it more than a coincidence that the average Duke student's family rakes in handcuffs. Duke appears to be awed by the smell of large sums of money, perhaps feeling trapped by its relative youth. Because the university does not have those integral ties to old money like its compe tition at Harvard and Yale, it apparently tries to restore that missing component by accepting to the university the nouveau riche. While perhaps this will one day transform into "old money," like when the sidewalks really are time and weather-worn, Duke University cannot be overwhelmed by this money issue. For the time being, it should be kind of fun to play make-believe at Duke. Attending Duke among all those amazing combinations of bril liance and wealth would make a person want to be somebody special. Maybe the cousin of Prince Charles or the adopted child of the Hearst family or maybe ... Jennifer Wing Sexism a reality on UNC campus To the editor: I am tired of the appalling and destructive portrayal of women on this campus. Two days ago I sat through an entire class behind one of the " 1 2 reasons why beer is better than women" T-shirts. For an hour and 1 5 minutes, I could do nothing but internalize its degrad ing message. In that same class my chemistry professor explained a principle of repelling forces with the example that "you guys would flee from a fat date in the same way." The DTH's irresponsible decision to print a full-page, color insert advertising Playboy (Sept. 8) has only reinforced the theme that women are (in Playboy's words) "Entertainment for Men"). In reference to Michael Berard's letter to the editor (" 'Top ten' T-shirt won't hurt Code," Sept. 6),.I refuse to accept any of these statements as humor. Sex ism is real. The presence of date rape and sexual violence on this campus is a severe concern. Women and women's bodies are not objects. I refuse to accept the packaged image of women on this campus. I am repeatedly bom barded with the message that the Carolina woman should be attrac tive, luring and willing. I refuse to accept. The DTH has effectively en dorsed and expanded on this de structive image by running the advertisements for Playboy. I am not in favor of censorship. I op pose Jesse Helms' efforts Co de fine and restrict what is accept able art. However, I perceive an important distinction with the Playboy ad. The DTH states in its own advertising policies that "The Daily Tar Heel reserves the right to reject advertising which it considers objectionable. Adver tisements that discriminate on the basis of race, creed or sex will not be accepted." In light of the recent Playboy advertisement, this state ment states a blatant lie. For a $900 profit the editors of the DTH endorsed an offensive publication and committed a slur against all the women on this campus. I ref use to accept. LISA ABBOTT Sophomore Biology Playboy insert had no place in DTH To the editor: Like many other UNC students, I was appalled to find a Playboy insert in the Sept. 8 issue of the DTH. It was surprising to see sexist advertisement in a college news paper with a female editor. Undoubtedly, most of the DTH staff would hate to write for a paper that propagates the physi cal, visual and psychological exploitation of females. Without question, most students are op posed to letting sexism help pay for their campus publication. Obviously, the insert had no place in the DTH. Of course, we all cherish basic liberties like the freedom of the press. We also would not like to see our right to unlimited con sumerism curtailed. If somebody want to read Playboy, for democracy's sake let them. But there is a fine line between using our rights and violating the dig nity of another person. By adver tising sexism in a partly-funded student newspaper, the DTH has crossed that line. Let's hope that this was a singular incident. The Daily Tar Heel should offer an apology to the students at Caro lina. , JURGEN BUCHENAU Graduate Latin American History Exercise right to reject degrading ad To the editor: Of course Playboy magazine has the right to advertise. And of course the Daily Tar Heel has the right to accept such ads. But the Daily Tar Heel also has the right to refuse them. Assuming, with good reason, that the Daily Tar Heel would surely refuse to accept a full-page color insert from a magazine degrading and insulting to blacks, Jews or other minority groups, one wonders why the Daily Tar Heel did not exercise its discre tion and refuse Playboy's ad on Sept. 8. Isn't it peculiar, and sad, that many people still don't place women's sensitivities on the same footing with other historically oppressed groups? SETH COHEN Graduate Law Playboy ad makes a tasteless breakfast To the editor: I don't usually read Playboy before breakfast. But a glossy insert fell out of my DTH the other day (Sept. 8) an ad featuring the cover of October's issue. So I took a look at what kind of messages the DTH is helping this magazine send to the men I work and socialize with daily. "Entertainment for men" is Playboy's subtitle. Does this mean that women, like the one pouting on the cover, are entertainment for men? Or maybe the caption refers to the entire magazine, implying that the "award-winning fiction. Stimulating style. In-depth interviews" are of no interest to women. A red banner proclaiming "ON SALE NOW covers the model's breasts and thighs, which are bared on the actual issue. What is on sale a magazine, or women's bod ies and sexual favors? Note that the magazine has interviews with "fascinating people," and pictures of "the most beautiful women in the world." So a person is someone you talk to and a woman is someone you take pictures of? And what about the most beau tiful women in the world? The four women in the ad are all white. Three of them are blond and blue eyed. They are all heavily made up and posed with lips parted in .expressions of naivete and vul nerability. Is Playboy suggesting that this WASP stereotype of babydoll passivity is what women should strive for and men should admire? These messages disturb me. I especially don't like the sugges tion that men "start a long-term relationship with Playboy," as if these banal, two-dimensional images were comparable to the emotional complexities and re wards of real human sexual inti macy. I am disappointed that the DTH, the majority of whose target read ership is female, ran this ad. I believe that our student newspa per should not promote a maga zine that invests in the perpetu ation of sexism. The DTH editors should recon sider their decision in accepting the ad. An apology to the commu nity is in order. As a gesture of good will, the DTH should donate the proceeds of the ad to an or ganization that combats sexism and works for understanding be tween the genders. The Orange County Women's Center, the Rape Crisis Center, the Battered Women's Coalition or the capus SAFE escort service are some that come to mind. I am not calling for censorship of any kind. Rather, I am express ing my own personal sense of hurt and outrage. I ask that anyone who is likewise offended by such materials to speak out, to say to their promoters: Your message is hurtful and unacceptable. Please don't send it to me with my morn ing coffee. RISTTN COOKS Senior Interdisciplinary studies If disrespect must : exist, make it equal To the editor: , , Friday morning on our way to class, we opened our trusty Tar Heel and to our surprise and disgust we were confronted with an ad for Playboy magazine. How could the DTH be so tasteless as to not in clude Playgirl? Remember, this university is more than 60 percent female. If you are going to promote disrespect toward women, you should also promote disrespect toward men. Why not make all things equal? .t We've also wondered how; the Undergraduate Library can justify housing Playboy magazine. We even called and asked. The circula tion department seems to believe it is a good source for articles and interviews. This may be true. However, we believe that college students can find better sources for information. When asked why they did not house Playgirl as they do Playboy, the Undergrad did not seem to know if Playgirl contained credible literary articles. Why not? They sure seemed to find Playboy's articles up to their literary stan dards. Personally, we don't feel that the DTH or the Undergrad should sup port either magazine. But if they are going to promote one magazine, they should promote both equally. Women's needs must be met, too! TRACI HOPKINS Senior Public health ANN MARGARET HOOVER Senior Elementary education Letters policy The Daily Tar Heel welcomes reader comments and criticisms. When writing letters to the editor, please follow these guidelines: All letters must be dated and signed by the author(s), with a limit of two signatures per letter. All letters must be typed and double-spaced, for ease of editing. Most letters run from one to two pages, but longer letters may be run as guest columns. The Daily Tar Heel Sous groups Jack- true spirit KeSig Editorial Writers: James Burroughs and Jennifer Wing. Assistant Editors: Jessica Yates, arts; Jessica Lanning, city; Myma Miller, features; Staci Cox, managing; Anne Isenhower and Steve Wilson, news; Lisa Reichle and Richard Smith, Omnibus; Andrew Podolsky, Jay Reed and Jamie Rosenberg, sports; Karen Dunn, state and national; Will Spears and Amy Wajda, university; Writers: Craig Allen, Kari Barlow, Crystal Bernstein, Sarah Cagle, Brenda Campbell, Terri Canaday, James Coblin, Blake Dickinson, Mark Folk, Julie Gammill, Jada Harris, Joey Hill, Susan Holdsclaw, Jason Kelly, Lloyd Lagos, Tracy Lawson, Rheta Logan, Jeff Lutrell, Alan Martin, Kimberly Maxwell, Helle Nielsen, Glenn O'Neal, Simone Pam, Gus Papas, Tom Parks, Jannette Pippin, Karl Pfister, Mike Sutton, Laura Taylor, Emilie Van Poucke, Stephanie von Isenburg, Sandy Wall, Sherry Waters, Chuck Williams, Nancy Wykle and Faith Wynn. Sports: Neil Amato, Mark Anderson, Jason Bates, John Bland, Christina Frohock, Scott Gold, Doug Hoogervorst, David Kupstas, Bethany Litton, Bobby McCroskey, Natalie Sekicky and Eric Wagnon. Arts and Features: Cheryl Allen, Lisa Antonucci, Randy Basinger, Clark Benbow, Ashley Campbell, Diana Florence, Carrie McLaren, Elizabeth Murray, Leigh Pressley, Hasanthika Sirisena and Kim Stallings. Photography: Evan Eile, Steven Exum, Regina Holder, Tracey Langhome and Kathy Michel. Copy Editors: B Buckberry, Joy Golden, Angela Hill, Susan Holdsclaw and Clare Weickert. Editorial Assistant: Mark Chilton. Design Assistants: Kim Avetta and Melanie Black. Cartoonists: Jeff Christian, Pete Corson, David Estoye and Mike Sutton. Business and Advertising: Kevin Schwartz, director; Patricia Glance, advertising director; Leslie Humphrey, classified ad manager; Kirsten Burkart, assistant classified ad manager; Amanda Tilley, advertising manager; Sabrina Goodson, business manager; Allison Ashworth, assistant business manager; Lora Gay, Kristi Greeson, Beth Harding, Lavonne Leinster, Tracy Proctor, Kevin Reperowitz, Alicia Satterwhite, Pam Thompson and Jiil Whitley, display advertising representatives; Kim Blass, creative director; Pam Strickland, marketing director; Sherrie Davis, Ingrid Jones, Shannon Kelly and Tammy Newton, sales assistants; Jeff Carlson, office manager. Subscriptions: Ken Murphy, manager. Distribution: RDS Carriers. Production: Bill Leslie and Stacy Wynn, managers; Anita Bentley, assistant manager; Stephanie Locklear, assistant. Printing: The Village Companies. Last week I attended a Campus Crusade for Christ meeting. I am not a Christian, nor did I have any desire to be converted as such. I simply thought it would be interesting to observe the practice of a religion with which I was not entirely familiar. I went in with an open mind and hoped for a thoughtful, en lightening experience. I was deeply disap pointed. The guest speaker was a pastor who spoke extensively about his views on religion. He proclaimed that Christianity was singularly the path to salvation and anyone who didn't follow it was damned to hell. He renounced Buddha, Mohammed and Taoism in one breath. He warned the students to be wary of professors and friends who would encourage them to be more tolerant and understanding of others' beliefs. The response from the stu dents was frightening, almost cult-like. The Christian church has, since its concep tion, proclaimed itself to be superior to all other religions. A church need not, however, Shilpi Somaya Guest Writer claim exclusivity in order to have a strong and faithful following, unless, of course, it has some doubt as to whether it is strong enough to survive otherwise. By warning students to ignore the opinions of professors and peers, the pastor is encour aging a dangerous attitude of close-minded-ness and ignorance. On a university campus such as ours, where education is supposed to be the focus, I would hope for something a bit more. Although the pastor undoubtedly has the First Amendment right to speak about what ever he believes in, community leaders should realize their unwritten ethical obligations when those beliefs are used manipulatively or trans lated into missionary work. Although mis sionaries may, in their own minds, believe that they have been ordered by their god to convert others, responses from China, India and other countries in the early 20th century clearly prove that the rest of the world prefers to live without their interference. I am not asking for acknowledgement of other beliefs from the pastor or groups such as Cam pus Crusade. Most world religions were founded centuries before Christianity and have never, nor will they ever in the future, need the approval of anyone to be considered valid, and in fact, followed by a majority of the world population. Rather, I would hope that in today's world, where health, environmental and political prob lems are not limited to, nor can they possibly be solved by, any one nation, race or religion, campus groups would act in the true spirit of the beliefs they are trying to promote. Shilpi Somaya is a sophomore economics and international studies major from Toronto, Canada.
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Sept. 11, 1989, edition 1
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