Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Nov. 21, 1989, edition 1 / Page 8
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QfThe Daily Tar HeelTuesday, November 21, 1989 97th year of editorial freedom Si iaron Kebsci iull, Editor MARY Jo DuNNlNGTON, Editorial Page Editor JUSTIN McGuiRE, University Editor KAREN DUNN, State and National Editor TOM PARKS, Business Editor Dave Glenn, Sports Editor MELAN1E BLACK, Design Editor TAMMY BLACKARD, Editorial Page Editor WILLIAM TAGGART, University Editor Jessica Lanning, City Editor CARA BONNETT, Arts and Features Editor Kelly Thompson, Omnibus Editor DAVID Surowiecki, Photography Editor Julia Coon, Neivs Editor V, , K f VERY NICE, BUT Foolish fans Getting tickets need not incite a riot In the wake of a " disappointing foot ball season, many UNC students have - board opinion been waiting anxiously for hoops to start. But they were apparently a bit too anxious, as demonstrated by the mass hysteria early Sunday morning, when passes for basket ball tickets were handed out unexpectedly. The mob scene never should have oc curred, had students been able to demon strate some sense of maturity and had the Carolina Athletic Association (CAA) made its policies clearer. The CAA seems deter mined to have its act together by the next distribution we hope students can, too. Although the Smith Center has a policy against camping out before 6 a.m., many students had lined up by Saturday after noon for tickets to the Duke and Virginia games. By midnight, when the tempera ture had dropped near freezing, many of the campers had had a good deal to drink, and they were walking around socializing. Although some had heard that CAA members would distribute passes shortly after midnight, others were suiprised and had to run back to their places in line. In the next few minutes, the mob of about 1 ,200 tightly-packed people was pushing its way toward the front, surprising the ticket dis tributors and ruining any sense of order. ' Part of the problem was the confusion over CAA policy, which some students thought said that passes would be distrib uted between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., while the CAA only said that passes would be dis tributed before 10 a.m. In response to the incident, CAA President Lisa Frye has taken steps to make the next distribution smoother. The passes will be distributed between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., at least one police officer will be present, and ropes to Mudslinging madness Pseudo-issues persuade the public Vote for me. I have a wife, two children and a dog and I love attending the local church on Sunday mornings. Looking at the other candi date, who apparently is going to allow Hindus to infiltrate all the churches and massively convert all us good Christians and who proba bly doesn't believe in neutering pets, I am the clear choice to address all of your concerns. Thank you for your support. Campaign smears and techniques like this fictional example seem to be the way of the political future with this year's elections as no exception. The small town of Boone, home of Appalachian State University, held its town council elections this month, but the elections were marred when voters received two anony mous letters defaming a Jewish candidate. After scaring the voters with the threat that the Jewish candidate planned to wipe out the Christian influence in Boone, the BHnMnnm " o Mudslinging has dents of negative cam- Paigning within the become the campaign past years easily come tomind,butbecauseof technique Of the the public's genuine interest in juicy rumors Hpoflp instead of the issues, -uculuc mudslinging tech- 1 mwmaMmmimmtmmmmmmmmmmmtm niques have become the campaign technique of the decade. - Saul Chase was running for re-election in the Boone Town Council race, projecting a win based on his open-minded stance on several issues stands that were attractive to many people. But after winning one of the top spots for a runoff election, Chase's chances were suddenly slashed after voter received an anony mous anti-Semitic letter. There is no proof that the letter was sent by another candidate, but investigators are following some leads. Chase did not indicated in his first term that he planned to wipe out Christianity in the strongly reli gious town, but voters did not return him to the council. ' The nationally-publicized Virginia guber natorial race pitted L. Douglas Wilder against J. Marshall Coleman and resulted in the first The Daily Business and advertising: Kevin Schwartz, director; Bob Bates, advertising director; Leslie Humphrey, classified ad manager. Business stafT:Sabrina Goodson, manager; Allison Ashworth, assistant manager; Dana Cooper and Kimberly Moretz, receptionists; Monica Paris, news clerk; Laura Richards, typist. Classified advertising: Kirsten Burkart, assistant manager; Janet Gordon and Angela Spivey, assistants. Display advertising: Amanda Tilley, advertising manager; Lora Gay, Kristi Greeson, Beth Harding, Lavonne Leinster, Tracy Proctor, Kevin Reperowitz, Alicia Satlerwhite, Pam Thompson and Jill Whitley, account representatives; Kim Blass, creative director; Pam Strickland, marketing director; Shenie Davis, Carole Hedgepeth, Ingrid Jones and Tracy King, sales assistants. Production: Bill Leslie, manager; Anita Bentley, assistant manager; Chad Campbell, Erika Campbell, Stephanie Locklear, John Nipp, assistant. Phone: Display advertising: 962-1163; Classified advertising; 962-0252 Distribution: RDS Carriers. Printing: The Village Companies. mark off the line may be used to discour age breaking in line. That's the best way possible for the CAA to handle what Frye called a "freaky" incident the policy has worked before and doesn't seem to need another major overhaul. What does need work, however, is student attitude. Most of the complaints Frye received were more concerned with other students in line and with how much they'd been drinking. It's impossible to expect stu dents to always act like mature adults after all, many are still teen-agers, and this is often our last chance to be somewhat immature. But being silly and acting child ish is one thing being downright stupid and irresponsible is another. If students can't hold their liquor and keep from turn ing into a mass of unthinking fans, they don't deserve the courtesy the CAA has tried to show in setting up a fair policy. Instead, administrators and police could use what happened Sunday morning as the perfect example of how students can't responsibly use the power granted them. When it takes calling the police to hand out tickets to a basketball game just a game, not a matter of life and death adminis trators have a right to be disparaging about students. It is doubtful that administrators will tighten their control over the CAA, be cause the organization has handled itself well and tried to prove how organized it can be and was Sunday night when the actual tickets were distributed. Students who spent Saturday night outside the Smith Center should be grateful for that, because they didn't exactly make students look very mature. In the next distribution, we hope students will prove that Sunday morning's fiasco was only a fluke. election of a black governor in this country. But this election also was not free of mudslinging. In fact, it donned the name "The Most Negative Campaign in Virginia's History" (although personal attacks rather than racial issues were factors in the race). While major issues were discussed in this campaign especially abortion they were often over shadowed in voters' minds. And of course, questions over Gary Hart's fidelity, the Kitty Dukakis interrogation and the most memorable mudslinging election between Jesse Helms and Jim Hunt can easily fit the sleaze campaign mold. But they are unlikely to stop, as the public voraciously swallows these attacks and the media serve as an open forum for these attacks. When plan ning a campaign, candidates realize that the issues are not attractive enough to hold the mmkkmmmbbmb public's attention. Opinion is based on sex scandals rather than education policies. Until voters show an interest in their futures, campaigns will remain unpleasant. If they are relevant to the office being m sought, personal issues can be helpful in elections. When candidates have cheated on their taxes or have problems with alcohol, for example, their opponents are justified in discussing it if the problems are relevant to the office. But when personal issues completely overrun an election, how can the public be assured that the elected candidate will be a good representative if they were not elected on the real issues? Boone has been characterized as an open minded community and Virginia has claims to clean, non-confrontational elections. But both were subjected to dirty campaigns dealing with untrue or irrelevant issues, proving that even the most liberal communities are not protected from close-minded attacks. In the next elec tions, voters must avoid believing in the reac tionary propaganda delivered by politicians of today and look behind the scenes to get the real picture. Jennifer Wing Tar Heel 1410 A (to mfik.(?"mr'M) Make yourself heard buy influence D' ear beloved people of the disappear ing East Bloc, You all must be excited by the de gree and rapidity of change occurring in your respective countries. Some of your govern ments are being more resistant to democratic reform than others, but we feel confident eve rything will work out look how fast things happened in Germany. At this pace, the Berlin Wall soon will be nothing more than a skate boarders' hangout for Berlin's junior high kids. How things have changed since John Kennedy charismatically proclaimed "I am a jelly doughnut" at the Wall nearly 30 years ago. (Some claim he said "I am a breakfast pastry," but it's immaterial.) We know you probably don't want to hear what we Americans think of all this excite ment y'all deserve the spotlight. But we have to give our opinions on important world affairs especially when we can take some credit for the improvement. Besides, we have more than 200 years of experience with de mocracy. Surely we have some insights which should help you along on the road to establish ing democracies. Your leaders undoubtedly feel apprehen sive. They know that you determine their fu ture. The power will soon be in your hands, and you must know how to make the democracy game work for you. MONEY. That's all you need. We've been working with this system, trying to figure out what makes democracy work, and after 200 years, the verdict is in. Money talks. Money is power. Political leaders will do things for you if you have money. Some examples to prove Rally coverage was yellow journalism To the editor: As one who attended last week's Democratic rally, I must express my contempt for the DTH's inflat ing the event into a "controversy" through their coverage and in Pete Corson ' s ed itori al cartoon on Nov. 16. Both the Young Democrats and the College Republicans behaved themselves during the event as stated in College Republican Scott Cole's Nov. 15 letter to the editor ("College Republicans receive a bum rap"). Yet, the paper failed to report this fact as well as the rea sons behind the rally the sub stance of Wayne Goodwin's ad dress ranging from education to the world's environmental destruc tion to pride in Democratic leader ship. DTH coverage only revolved around what it wished had oc curred: the type of embarrassing, childish, "knee-jerk" actions as falsely pictorialied in Corson's cartoon. Perhaps the very shouting Cor son depicts as DemocraticRepub lican comes more from yellow journalism and our own student newspaper wishing to be heard. DWID BRITT Raleigh Understanding won't end race problems To the editor: I am glad that Angela Tucker, who wrote the column "Meet the challenge instead of quotas" (Nov. 1 7) wants students to meet the challenge of ending racism on our campus, but it will take more than mutual understanding to make the necessary changes in blackwhite relations at UNC. Yes, understanding between people is the ideal basis on which sound, peaceful rela tionships are built. These are the kind of rela tionships people of different races should be able to enjoy. However, many white people still hold ingrained prejudices about black people; prejudices they express openly in light conversation or with jokes; prejudices that are reflected by the problems of race relations on the campus. These people probably feel they already have a clear understanding of blacks and their experience, when, in actuality, exter nal changes will have to occur before these long held prejudices end. If any given student were asked if he held prejudices about people of other races, chances Chris Landgraff Staff Columnist the point: Lincoln Savings and Loan. Their president knew how to play the game. Charles Keating, the owner of the S&L, was feeling some heat from Edwin Gray, the chief financial thrift regulator. Gray thought the bank was investing in too many speculative real estate deals and too many junk bonds, putting the customers at an unnecessary risk. The bank was under in vestigation for investment and operational problems, and Keating didn't like the tension, so he went to go see (and make) some friends on the Hill. (That's D.C.) He met with Sens. Dennis DeConcini, Alan Cranston, Donald Riegle, John Glenn and John McCain and asked them to "meet" with Gray and his advisers and encourage them to give Lincoln S&L time to reform. Sure, they were breaking the rules, but Keating said they were willing to change and these senators agreed. They lobbied (some harder than others) for the individual bank. As these five leaders fought for the exis tence of the bank, money began to flow into their war chests and special interest groups of their choice. When all was said and done, Keating had donated more than $1 .3 million to the accounts of these esteemed leaders. When Readers9 Forum American students lead sheltered lives To the editor: On Friday afternoon at 4 p.m., most UNC students must have already been indulging in their weekend activities, for they cer tainly were not at the discussion in Hamilton Hall on "Hope vs. De spair: China after Tiananmen Square" for Human Rights Week. It is sad that so little interest was shown toward a momentous and tragic event that involved a group of which we, at Carolina, are also a part university students. Although most have at least heard of the communist crackdown in China and the massacre in Tian anmen Square on June 4th, few know of the extent of the demo cratic student movement in China during the past two decades. Stu dents, not unlike ourselves, have been fighting and even sacrificing their lives for rights that most citi zens of democratic countries take for granted. Two of these were, specifically, the right of univer sity students to self-government in academic and social affairs and the right to produce a small and independent newspaper. These seemingly reasonable demands in our society were refused by the communist government in China, who stood by and watched as some of the country's brightest students starved to death, rather than con cede to demands for what we in the United States would consider basic human rights. Though the democratic student movement in China seems to have been quelled for the time being, the spirit of hope is still alive and another student revolt in the fu ture, perhaps of even grander size, is not unfeasible. In our sheltered and secure environment, it is easy to forget problems that occur else where in the world, but could indirectly affect us. The next time you pick up The Daily Tar Heel, or read of a bill passed by Student Congress, consider the many stu dents who gave their lives for democracy in China, and reflect on the freedoms that we, as stu dents of Carolina, too often take for granted. KAREN L. KO Freshman Business Editorial sensitively written and inspiring To the editor: Thank you for printing the edi torial on abortion ("Uneasy eu phoria: Having abortion rights is not exciting," Nov. 15). Sharon Kebschull moved me to read a view that expressed sensitivity to are the student would answer no. But despite the fact that most students don't admit to hav ing racist views, there is still a problem with racism. Blacks on the campus have recently expressed concern that black and white Uni versity staff are not receiving equal treatment. In Human Rights Week discussions on racism, students indicated that action needs to be taken to alter the conditions on campus apparently they are not satisfied with current race rela tions. I am saddened that such a comment as Angela Tucker's "Black people have emo tions, personalities and other characteristics similar to whites" would need to be stated. The fact that the writer felt a statement, that should be so ridiculously obvious, needed to be writ ten speaks of the size of the problem that still exists. It would be wonderful if whites "reaching out" to blacks and coming to a fuller under standing of their race could end our problems. But the hope of this alleviating racism simpli fies the scope of the issue. It took institutional questioned about buying influence, Keating responded that he hoped his money would do just that. Hundreds of thousands of dollars later, the bank was seized by the government at the mere cost of $2 billion for the taxpayers, but democ racy was served, because as the senators said, all their actions were in the service of their constituents. When you all make lots of money in the newly liberalized economy, you too can buy the power of representation. A final example: The HUD scandal. This is a classic example of money politics because it has so many facets and so many players. Chances are, if an Ameri can had a friend or two in high places at Housing and Urban Development during the happy Reagan years, she or he is very wealthy (or wealthier) as a result. Millions of dollars in contracts were given out to contributors to the Republican party and friends of the HUD sec retary. Again, Sen. Alfonse D'Amato claims he was "just doing his job" when he sought HUD contracts for friends and New York constituents. Both sides understand their roles in the America's game of democracy. The constitu ents know they can buy influence and the politicians know what to do once they see the green stuff. So take heart, citizens of East Germany, Hungary, Poland and maybe even Bulgaria. Make your voices be heard by pur chasing the politician of your choice. Chris Landgraff is a junior political science major from Atlanta, Ga. the emotional and ethical difficul ties of this debate. So often, one encounters harsh language and angry misunderstandings on both sides of the argument. Thank you also for printing an editorial that acknowledges rea sons why some of us oppose abor tion rights. While I, too, find hor rible the bombings, harangues and deceit that some who oppose abor tion practice, I often feel frustrated that very little press coverage acknowledges those who, after long struggles and much thought, come to believe abortion an act of violence, but do not support vio lent deeds or words as appropriate means to right this wrong. Many of us who hold dear women's rights believe that our Christian or ethi cal commitment to the poor, to the weak and to those living things that have no power and no voice must take precedence. These con victions lead us to oppose abor tion in nearly all circumstances. Some, rather than employing vio lent words or deeds, give up pri vacy, convenience and their spare bedroom for nine months to house and support a woman who chooses to bear a child she did not initially expect or wish to bear. LAURA FEITZINGER BROWN Graduate student English changes such as blacks being assured the right to vote to make many people realize it was a right they should have. Likewise, perhaps the enactment of changes now will be necessary to end the more subtle forms of racism that are still present. Student discussions last week were of ac tion. Only when action is translated into higher black enrollment, more blacks in leadership positions and equal treatment of black and white campus staff, will the still lingering prejudiced attitudes alter. Yes, please do reach out to people of differ ent races, understanding and embracing the differences that exist. But don't pat yourself on the back for doing so. Work for a time when people will need to be convinced to do so as often as they will need to be convinced that the earth is round. ROSALYN TANNER Class of 1989
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Nov. 21, 1989, edition 1
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