10The Daily Tar HeelMonday, September 18, 1989
97th year of editorial freedom
Sharon Kebschull, Edfor
WlLUAM TAGGART, Managing Editor
MARY Jo Dunnington, Editorial Page Editor JULIA COON, News Editor
JUSTIN McGuiRE, University Editor JENNY CLONINGER, University Editor
TAMMY BlaCKARD, State and National Editor CHARLES BRITTAIN, City Editor
TOM PARKS, Business Editor CARA BONNETT, Arts and Features Editor
Dave Glenn, Sports Editor Kelly Thompson, Omnibus Editor
MELANIE BLACK, Design Editor KlM AvETTA, Design Editor
DAVID SuROWIECKI, Photography Editor
Leaders lack dedication
New trustees7 no-show disappointing
board
opinion
For a state whose -SAT
scores have hit
rock bottom in the
nation, one would
expect that people chosen to oversee our
public education system would work more
diligently than ever to improve education.
But on a political board such as the UNC
Board of Trustees, that commitment was
sadly lacking at a recent important meet
ing. The boards of trustees for the 1 6 UNC
system schools, along with the student
body presidents, chancellors and the Board
of Governors, which oversees the entire
system, were supposed to go on a retreat
last weekend in Boone. The retreat should
have been especially important as a train
ing and orientation session for new board
members. But only one of the three new
UNC BOT members David Ward
went on the trip, along with Student Body
President Brien Lewis, an ex officio
member of the BOT, and Earl "Phil" Phil
lips, who was just appointed chairman of
the board. John Medlin and Arch Allen,
Republican Party chairman for Wake
County who was appointed by Gov. James
Martin, failed to attend.
The meeting should have been manda
tory for new members and old alike this
chance to get everyone together from the
whole system comes around only once
every other year. This year, UNC Chan
cellor Paul Hardin gave a major report to
the conference on the financial state of the
University. The suggestions Hardin made
should spur some action from North Caro
lina' s legislators, who control the system's
finances, the Board of Governors and the
various boards of trustees.
But it will be difficult to touch off a
debate on UNC's BOT if the board's new
est members have missed Hardin's speech,
the chance to discuss it with other members
of the system's governing boards and a
more general orientation. To have at least
two of the BOTs 14 members not fully
prepared to deal with the challenges of the
University's future creates a serious
problem for the board.
In recent years, the board has approved
the site and plans for the Alumni Center,
turned down the building plans for the
WUNC broadcast facility, made extensive
recommendations on campus parking regu
lations and fines and created a search com
mittee for a new chancellor. Obviously,
this board has a lot of say over policy
matters at the University.
Ideally, the entire board should have
gone on the retreat. But since it is geared to
orientation of new members, it won't prove
to be as much of a problem as the new
members' absence. It is their absence that
suggests a lack of concern for and commit
ment to their new position. Granted, the
choices for trustees aare often madebased
on politics, but they should still focus on
those people who care the most about higher
education in this state not those who
give the most money to political campaigns.
Last weekend's attendance showed a dis
appointing lack of concern. We hope the
trustees will prove a stronger commitment
to the board and to UNC in the near future.
Goodbye Dr. Seuss?
Book banning limits kids' education
Imagine not growing up with the wonderful Educational Research Analysts, oversees which
rhymes and creativity of Dr. Seuss' books, texts are used in the state schools, obliterating
How about missing the river journey of Huck- many of them from the list because of such
leberry Finn? Although these denials may seem subjects as the benefits of medical drugs and the
unimaginable, conservative groups all over differences of racial groups. Other bcpks have
the United States are working to annihilate created conflict because they are "too soft on
these and other "controversial" novels from communism" or are "pro-ERA."
the reading lists of public schools. Clearly, these differences are weak reasons
The latest battle against literature rages in to censor a book from a required reading list and
Laytonville, Calif., where the chief industry of from a child's mind. Education should not pro-
the area the timber
industry accuses a
Dr. Seuss book of un
fairly condemning the
industry. "The Lorax"
is about a creature
called the Lorax who
unsuccessfully at
tempts to battle a fam
ily of environmental
misfits. The timber ""i
industry claims the book, which is required
reading for the second-graders in the school
system, biases the children against the key
money-making trade of the area.
The industry's demand to ban the book
from the reading list is ridiculous and unneces
sary. Seuss' environmental book may influ
ence the children of Lay tonville, but it will also
point out the devastating effects of careless
treatment of the land. During today's environ
mental education drive, this early teaching can
only cultivate positive results.
A 1974 book called "Sociobiology: The
New Synthesis" reignited the debate over how
human behavior developed. Anthropologists
labeled the book racist and sexist, claiming it
was only trying to justify human-inflicted in
justices like genocide and slavery. Although
their drive to censor the theory from the class
room was defeated, it showed how a small
group can dictate the education of many.
A radically conservative Texas group,
Education should not
produce homogeneous
kids who believe in the
same principles.
duce homogeneous
kids who believe in the
same principles, but
rather should challenge
their beliefs and pres
ent them with unique
cultures and theories
Libraries and school
systems cannot bend to
the outlandish demands
tmmmmumi and whims of this right
wing minority. Considering the recently pub
lished low SAT scores, the quality of education
cannot be restricted as these groups are trying to
do. Students need to learn how to think they
do not need constant reaffirmation of what they
have been taught since age three.
The Supreme Court ruled in 1982 that ban
ning books could be a violation of the First
Amendment but would be allowed for some
unspecified reasons. A certain group's tastes
cannot be the yardstick by which this is meas
ured. Groups countering those conservative
movements are integral in the fight to reaffirm
freedom of ideas as expressed through litera
ture. Most novels and theories are not created to
agree with the masses. Rather, they provide a
backdrop for debate and thought a challenge
to one's beliefs. Let's not replace green eggs
and ham with Jane, Dick and Spot. Jennifer
Wing
The Daily Tar Heel
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Wr times ,,( h? ffA. WYto
Readers9 Forum
Speculation about
assault unnecessary
To the editor:
It's certainly a shame that any
person would assault another,
much less someone who is handi
capped. We speak, of course, of
the unfortunate incident in the
parking lot of Big Fraternity Court
in which a handicapped student
was assaulted very early last
Monday morning.
It is also a shame that such a
crime is presented on the front
page of an award-winning student
newspaper with obviously
weighted implications.
The front page article ("5 at
tack, assault student," Sept. 13)
announced that "Chapel Hill Po
lice said ... they did not know if
the assailants were members of
the fraternities located in the court.
The Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Chi
and Sigma Nu houses surround
the parking lot."
We question the journalistic
integrity of such a statement.
Though where the offense oc
curred is useful knowledge, it does
not follow, as the article implies,
that the stated offense can be so
linked to fraternity members. For
example, if a person were as
saulted just outside of Ben and
Jerry's Ice Cream Store, no doubt
the DTH would report "... the
Chapel Hill Police do not know if
the cholesterol-stricken patrons of
Ben & Jerry's were involved."
The circumstantial possibili
ties are endless. If someone were
assaulted in front of the psyche
lab, would the DTH postulate
such criminals as deaf mice or
drugged pigs? If someone were
assaultedoutsideachurch, would
the DTH imply that we could
expect half-crazed, grinning
Friars fleeing from the scene,
their dark robes sweeping the
pavement? Perhaps the DTH
should print more about what
the Chapel Hill Police do know
rather than waste print on idle
inflammatory speculation.
Enough poorly written, obvi
ously biased articles.
GREGG A. HECTMOVICH
English
Junior
BROOK WINSLOW
Philosophy
Senior
Non-Christians need
to be tolerant, too
To the editor:
In response to Shilpi Somaya's
letter "Religious groups lack true
spirit" (Sept. 1 1), I would like to
submit a few ideas to ponder.
Somaya's letter claimed that
Campus Crusade for Christ lacked
the "true spirit of religion." I've
been happily involved with Cam
pus Crusade for Christ for the four
years of my collegiate career. I am
not, however, very surprised at
Somaya's response to our meet
ing. What I gather Somaya means
by the "true spirit of religion,"
although she never defines it, is
love, self sacrifice and toleration.
I hope she will correct me if I am
wrong. The speaker at the meet
ing Somaya attended was David
Chadwick (an ex-UNC basketball
player and now pastor). Chad
wick spoke on the topic of the
'Truth of Jesus Christ." The point
that I believe upset Somaya was
Christ's claim to be absolute truth.
This claim excludes other claims
as invalid if they do not match.
Her response is very common.
We've heard it again and again in
articles about Pit preachers and
the like. Somaya calls on Chris
tians to open their minds and to be
tolerant.
Too many times at Carolina I
have heard people label fellow
Christians as closed-minded, and
unfortunately that label was given
many times without an attempt to
listen to what they had to say. I
believe that Jesus Christ is man's
only hope in this world and after
this world. Some family members
of mine disagree whole-heartedly
with that statement, but I still love
them deeply and accept them
whether they embrace Jesus or
not. Am I guilty of intolerance
and close-mindedness?
At the meeting Somaya at
tended, the goals of Campus Cru
sade for Christ were clearly given.
We want to try to learn who Jesus
Christ is through an honest study
of the Bible and we want to give
others a chance to know Him also.
Intolerant? Close-minded? What
ever happened to freely exchang
ing ideas?
Somaya challenged Christians
to open their minds, tolerate and
love those who will disagree with
them. We as Christians need to
follow her advice. Let me turn the
table and also issue a challenge to
the students on campus. Listen to
what Christians have to say with
out dismissing them because of
presuppositions. More impor
tantly, investigate for yourself with
an open mind the identity of Jesus
Christ. Try to find out who He is.
It may be a life-changing experi
ence.
STEVE WILLIS
Religious studies
Senior
Focus social concern
on important issues
To the editor:
In her article "Religious Groups
LackTrue Spirit" (Sept. 1 1), Shilpi
Somaya wrote that she was disap
pointed that the speaker at the
Campus Crusade meeting was
closed-minded to other religions.
She says that the meeting she at
tended "was not conducted in the
true spirit of the beliefs they are
trying to promote." Does she know
then what Christianity is about? Is
it an invention of man designed to
help man to deal with the crisis of
his existence? The evidence would
point no, that Christianity is some
thing more.
The Christian holy book is
divided into two distinct sections,
the Old and New Testaments. Part
of the function of the Old Testa
ment was to mark and designate
the son of God for the time when
he would come into the world, so
that through the fulfilling of the
prophecy he might be known.
In the Old Testament there are
sixty major prophecies concern
ing the coming of the Messiah.
Among these prophecies was fore
told the lineage from which the
son of God would arise, the town
in which he would be born, that he
would as a babe be presented with
gifts, that he would be called Lord,
that he would be a prophet, priest,
judge, and king, be preceded by a
messenger (John), his ministry
would begin in Galilee, that he
would be betrayed by a friend for
thirty pieces of silver which would
be thrown at the betrayer's feet in
the temple and which would be
used to buy a potter's field, that he
would be mocked, spit upon, and
crucified, that lots would be cast
for his garments, that he would be
given vinegar to drink on the cross,
that his bones would not be bro
ken (as is wont in crucifixion), his
side pierced, darkness would come
over the land on the afternoon of
his crucifixion, and that he would
be buried in a rich man's tomb.
These prophecies were all fulfilled
in one man, Jesus Christ.
The Old Testament was being
translated from the Hebrew to
Greek about 250 years before
Christ was born, so the body of
prophecy was extant in its entirety
before Christ's birth. That pre
cludes any argument that the
prophecy was revised to jibe with
Christ's life. Could it then have
been a deliberate attempt on the
part of Christ to make his life con
form to prophecy? He had no con
trol over many of the fulfilled
prophecies, for example, that his
side would be pierced or his be
trayal. Was it merely coincidence
that the entire body of prophecy
was fulfilled in his life? The chance
of one man fulfilling even 48 of the
prophecies is astronomical, one
chance in ten raised to the one
hundred fifty-seventh power. Was
then the life of Jesus, as it was
recorded by the disciples, made to
because the testimonies of
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
were written and distributed net
many years after Christ's deathl If
their testimony as to the life of
Jesus was not valid, the disciple's
writings would have immediately
been attacked and discredited.
Christianity would never have made
it. Yet it stands. -
This is why Shilpi was not met
with an attitude of openness to all
philosophy, for Jesus has said,
"There is no way to the Father but
through me. I am the way, the truth
and the light." If Jesus Christ was
truly the Son of God then what he
said is true. God would not lie. So if
Shilpi would really be open-minded,
then I would urge her to ask herself
the question, "Is Jesus Christ who
he claims to be, the son of God?" I
would urge her not to take the ques
tion too lightly nor to answer the
question before she had given it a
fair hearing.
TOMMY BLANTON
Psychology
Junior
We goofed
In the editorial Friday "A hole in
the curtain: E. Germany needs to
learn tolerance," 1959 was given
incorrectly as the date of the crush
ing of the democracy movement in
Hungary. The correct year was
1956. The DTH regrets the error,
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.
Ask questions before judging Christianity
To the editor:
After reading Shilpi Somaya's warning on
the dangers of Christianity ("Religious Groups
Lack True Spirit," Sept. 1 1), I feel quite dis
mayed over such an unnecessary response to
this subject matter. Somaya apparently felt it
necessary to relate her new-found observa
tions on Christianity with obvious disgust and
repulsion. These attitudes seemed to root
entirely from a Campus Crusade for Christ
meeting she attended with an exploring and
"open" mind. Somaya felt that the speaker's
talk essentially preached closed-mindedness,
ignorance and complete arrogance of all
Christians. How one can draw such concrete
conclusions and inferences with an open mind
is beyond me. Yet I refuse to pick apart her
specific interpretations as I consider it a most
fruitless endeavor.
What disturbs me is that she suddenly forms
complete contempt without ever approaching
anyone, especially the speaker, with ques
tions which might clear up her misguided
conceptions. The fact that her letter in no way
reflected the theme of the speaker, or Christi
anity as a whole for that matter, definitely
reflects this negligence. I find it ironic that it
was the result of her own closed-mindedness
for failing to seek out the truth that has caused
her to charge Christianity for this same fault.
As a Christian, I do not disclaim anything
said by the speaker and would even com
pletely defend his point of view. But I only
wish that people who harbor disdain for Chris
tianity would approach a Christian with a true
open mind rather than run off and slander it
altogether.
As discouraging as Shilpi's letter was to
me, I know that many others share similar
opinions due to similar experiences. I encour
age all of them to re-evaluate Christianity for
the message it truly professes by discussing
the subject with a Christian. In fact, I encour
age all those who preach open-mindedness to
approach Christianity with this philosophy in
mind. Abusive editorials are not necessary and
even hinder the possibilities of any agreement or
understanding from occurring. I believe that if
Shilpi had taken this alternate course of action,
her fears would be put to rest.
In light of Shilpi's letter, it is true that it is
necessary for all Christians to respect and keep
an open mind to all beliefs and to focus on
educational matters that we might practice our
faith more effectively. This can be done without
compromise to the faith in which we profess. ;
It was good for Ms. Somaya to exercise the
right to voice her concerns, and I personally hold
no bitterness against Shilpi or others who main
tain what I believe to be unfortunately mis
guided conceptions of Christianity. It is, how
ever, necessary to discuss such issues as this in
a personal, less abusive manner.
In fact, Shilpi let's have lunch sometime.
THOMAS COX
Biology
Junior