Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Nov. 29, 1989, edition 1 / Page 10
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10The Daily Tar HeelWednesday, November 29, 1989 -rVe. be.cn txH&.cKzi well, qoiiy. m cvohA r)or much leV sve on Hie w infer,. 97th year of editorial freedom 4-1 Sharon Kebschull, Editor MARY Jo DUNNINGTON, Editorial Page Editor JUSTIN McGuiRE, University Editor KARliN DUNN, State and National Editor TOM PARKS, Business Editor Dave Glenn, Swfs Editor MLLANIE 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 SurOVVIECKI, Photography Editor JULIA COON, News Editor jVAV kJ"Z? V Cn Kill A In search of harmony Proposals could promote integration board opinion At the recent pro gram, "Racism: Our common bondage. How do we liberate ourselves?", students, faculty and other members of the University committee compiled a list of 1 1 suggestions which will be submitted to Chancellor Paul Har din, who so far has only spoken out against racism. The proposals, which outline ways we can fight racism on campus, include ideas that deserve immediate considera tion. Perhaps the most radical of these ideas is the recommendation that all freshmen be required to live in the same area. Perhaps the most blatant and insidious of the racial problems at UNC is the segregation that exists in campus residence halls. While North Campus remains predominantly white, 80 percent of the blacks who live on campus live on South Campus. This segre gation exists largely because many blacks do not feel comfortable living on North Campus. Short of establishing racial quotas for the residence halls, making all freshman live together is the only way to correct this problem. While freshmen would lose some of the contact with upperclassmen that (hey now have, they would gain needed ex posure to different races and could foster a sense of belonging to the same class. And because the logical place to house an entire class would be South Campus, the suite system would increase the chances of members of various races learning to inter act with one another. Once people can live together, there is more of a chance that they will work and play together elsewhere on campus. Another strong proposal is the creation of multi-racial "big buddy" teams to visit local elementary schools. This would benefit students by giving them another opportunity to meet and work with people of other races something students can already do at UNC, although too many still do not. It would be an excellent project for the campus to perform as a service to the community. And it would benefit the stu dents of tomorrow, whose ideas about race are often cemented by the time they leave elementary schools. While there are other solid ideas in cluded in the list, there are also a few that are not fully worth the energy they would require. One example is denying room mate requests for freshmen. This would create more problems between roommates than it would solve, and area directors already deal with a significant number of roommate problems. For some new stu dents regardless of race having a roommate they know helps ease what can be a difficult transition to college life. And as it is, a large number of freshman go "potluck" anyway. Another unreasonable idea is the sug gestion that all professors be asked to devote a class period during Race Relations Week to the discussion of race relations. Cer tainly race relations are not relevant to discussion in a chemistry class, and a geography professor trying desperately to squeeze all her lecture notes into the set number of class periods should not be forced to address an outside issue. In addi tion, there are many other problems be sides racism that could be addressed in such a manner, so many that it would set a bad precedent to mandate one. Despite the few weaker points, how ever, those involved in formulating these suggestions should be commended for their vision and effort to tackle racism at UNC. We urge the community to seriously con sider the benefits some of these proposals could bring about on this campus. Chan cellor Hardin should be especially grateful for this chance to take some concrete ac tion toward racial harmony, particularly in light of his University Day speech in which he vowed to fight' racism. It's time for Hardin, as well as the rest of us, to follow through on our noble talk. Doing unto others Christians need to accept others' rights Conservative Christians in Thomasville are threatening fire and brimstone after a decision to replace public prayer before high school football games with a moment of silence. While it is important to support personal religious .beliefs, Thomasville Christians should study the First Amendment and the lesson of do unto otheis ... before they ram religion down others' throats. Angry Christians came out preaching when the Thomasville school mhmhhmh superintendent and the school board voted to stop the traditional pi e game prayer. One foot ball fan wrote the local newspaper asking if anyone would "enjoy a game where Jesus is not welcome." Before they condemn the moment of silence, Christians in Thomasville need to ask themselves how they would feel if the tables were turned and by some twist of fate they were raised as Muslims, Jews or atheists in the Protestant-dominated South. How could they enjoy a game where their god or beliefs would be unwelcomed? Some of the protesting Christians argue that this country was founded on Christian prin ciples and these ideals should be reinforced in schools. The truth is that the founders of the United States believed in moral principles that are common to many different religions and saw the problems inherent in mandating one point of view. After all, the entire purpose of the religion clause of the First Amendment was to protect people from any state-established reli gion. Ending the pre-game prayer came after a local Thomasville lawyer brought to the atten- A moment of silence will not mean the collapse of Christianity or the morals of youth. tion of the school superintendent a recent U.S. appeals court decision against this tradition in a Georgia case. The U.S. Supreme Court let the decision stand despite protests from Christian groups, because the importance of a separate church and state and the respect of minority rights is a historic cornerstone of freedom. Ignoring minority rights for the sake of the majority sets a dangerous precedent that cannot be accepted, and the authors of the Bill of Rights recognized this. History books are filled with tales of torture, persecution and preju dice in the name of a god. Should we return to the ways of the Span ish Inquisition? A moment of silence allows all participants an opportunity to prac tice their own beliefs. This practice respects the rights of Christians and non-Christians without supporting one set of values as supreme. Chris tians in Thomasville should accept that this compromise will not mean the collapse of Christianity or the F nal corruption of American youth. The superintendent and the school board should be applauded for standing beside their decision while their neighbors accuse them of being anti-Christian. Many people may believe that a 30-second statement before an athletic contest may be an issue of small consequence, but when debating the protection of personal liberties and separa tion of church and state, no issue is too small. Conservative Christians need to remember their own Golden Rule before they try to turn back the tradition of acceptance and religious free dom. The saying "Love they Neighbor" means accepting and understanding everyone, not just Protestants. Charles Brittain The Daily Tar Heel The Daily Tar Heel is published Monday-Friday, according to the University calendar. Callers with questions about advertising should dial 962-1 1 63 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Classifed ads can be reached at 962-0252. Editorial questions should be directed to 962-02450246. The Daily Tar Heel's office is in suite 1 04 of the Student Union. The campus mail address is CB 5210 Box 49, Student Union. U.S. Mail may be addressed to P.O. Box 3257, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-3257. 1 H ociai oancin swear to the good Lord watching over us all that this is true. Unlike most of you lucky folks who get to take a pleasant car ride past Stuckey's and few Golden Skillets on 1-85 to get home to the waiting, comforting amis of your family, I have to climb inside a DC-10 and brave the tro posphere at 700 miles an hour. And I know all that glop about how I'm statistically better off than all of you stopping at Stuckey's and stuff, but there is something about that utter lack of control of one's destiny, like balding and Alzheimer's, that makes me wet my boxers. So there I am, strapped in my seat, nerv ously re-reading the same paragraph on effec tive sand-wedging in Golf Digest Magazine, comforted only by the thought that I was bumped to first class because of the Thanks giving rush on coach seats. As I look out the window, I'm reminded of a story my dad told me about how a plane was going over the Rockies, and the blue toilet water leaked from the bathroom through cracks onto the wing of the plane. Bit by bit, this sparkling refuse collected over the engine, where it froze into a big blue snowball and got sucked into the engine naturally, something exploded, and it sent the plane and hundreds of innocent people to their fiery deaths against the side of a mountain. You can imagine that these thoughts kept me from seeing what was going on in the cabin, so when I regained reality, I noticed that almost everyone sitting around me was about 7-foot-4. 1 looked in front of me, and I saw the back of this young, athletic-looking, bald black guy sitting in his seat. And in a rush, I looked around me again, saw all the tall guys looked at my ticket that said "Los Angeles International to Chicago O'Hare" and then I realized that I was sitting six inches from Michael Jordan. At first, I thought, "Well, geez, I don't belong here ... what if Michael wants to recline his seat back all the way? Besides, J need a painting ladder in order to dunk, and my three point shot totally sucks ..." but then I mustered the courage to talk to him. "Uhhh ... excuse me ... Michael?" I said, leaning forward. "Yes?" "I hate to bug yuu and all on a plane, but I just wanted to tell you that I'm a big fan of g 10 tl le air with Jordan j t r iiv- n'i tih' nts H Ian Williams Wednesday's Child yours and all that." "Thanks, man," he said, and then saw my college sweater. "You on Thanksgiving break or something?" "Yeah, I'm going back right now. I'm chang ing pbnes in Chicago." It was like a dream sequence. Nobody else seemed to be on the crowded plane but me and Michael. "Damn ... 1 wish I was going back there today," he said, and smiled. "Who did y'all play, the Lakers?" "Nah, the Clippers," he said and smiled more menacingly. "You a senior there?" "Yeah, fifth year." "Man, you have to get out of there. Why are you stickin' around?" "I'd feel pretty embarrassed telling you, Michael." "Nah ... go ahead." "Social Dance. I need one more gym." And he seemed to think this was fairly amusing, the fact that I couldn't get a diploma until I learned how to foxtrot. "Well, look," I said. "I was wondering if you could sign something." Then looked through my backpack for something for him to sign and found only my Poli Sci exam, an empty Fritos bag and my belated preregistration form. And then I had a brilliant idea. "Hey Michael, can you sign this blue form? Right up there where it says 'Adviser'." So he did, and as I gave him my Golf Digest Magazine in return, we started watching "When Harry Met Sally." I was floating like a song bird; I got to chat with Michael Jordan and now I knew the plane wasn't going to crash God obviously liked him too much. So I'm back at school the next day, and I decide it's high time I take care of my academic obligations, so I walk briskly over to Hanes Hall with form in hand. Having been here for so long, I not only should get all my classes but also be somewhere up in the line of presidential succession, right after Postmaster General or something but this semester I screwed up and signed up for all the wrong courses, guar anteeing me a front row seat in classes no one has ever needed. I walk into the Dragon's Lair of Preregistra tion and the lady eyes me venomously as I walk towards her desk, like I'd already ruined her day by being young and inquisitive. "Ummm ... I really need to get this dance class in order to graduate." "Well, sonny, it looked like you just missed the boat," she said, in a voice that was half Georgian, half circular-saw-through-raw-metal. "Look, all I want to do is-" "Who is your adviser?" she asked, looking at the form. They usually don't even look, but it hadn't helped that Michael had put "Best Wishes" by the Cashier Clearance square. "Michael Jordan," I said, triumphantly. "Is he your adviser?" I just about lost my burrito. "Is he my what?'1' "What department is he in?" "God ... geography, I guess." "Well, you're a psychology major. You'll either have to get your psychology adviser or a secretary at the psychology building to sign this." "What? This man can dunk from the three point line and makes 3 million a year and I need to take academic advice from someone who answers phones at Davie Hall?" "Besides, I can't take this anyway. Preregis tration ended last Wednesday, so you'll just have to try your luck next semester at regular registration." So I walked out onto the gray quad, alone and Social Danceless. And the moral of the story? Even Michael Jordan, God among Men, the man who won our national championship and our Carolina hearts, perhaps the greatest athlete that has ever lived, can't even get me a wimpy gym class! But I shall remain undaunted next semes ter, whilst I tango, while I dip a freshman from Tarboro, while I foxtrot across the crowded floor to my diploma, I shall think of you, Mr. Jordan ... Ian Williams is a senior music and psychol ogy major from Los Angeles who will swear again that this is true as the day is long. Readers' Forum Dean encouraged hiring black faculty To the editor: Criticisms of Gillian T. Cell, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, were recently published in the DTH. I think it should be known that Dean Cell was ex tremely helpful to our department and myself during the recent hir ing of a black faculty member. In my opinion, this hire would not have been possible without the direct involvement and active encouragement of Dean Cell, as well as the support of Provost J. Dennis O'Connor and Chancellor Paul Hardin. Dean Cell also pro vided money for several black undergraduate students to attend a national conference in our field last spring. While these examples of Dean Cell's support of black faculty and students may seem insignificant to some, I do not believe they are isolated instances, and while I share some concerns about the recruitment and reten tion of black faculty and students at UNC, I am not convinced that Dean Cell is either the best focus or a deserving recipient of many faculty and student criticisms. I believe she is part of the solution and not part of the problem. GORHAM KINDEM Chairman RTVMP Efforts to block Cell's reappointment unfair To the editor: In recent issues of the DTH a number of articles have appeared which focus on the efforts of black students to block reappoint ment of Gillian Cell, dean of Arts and Sci ences. The students are dissatisfied with Dean Cell's performance in areas of concern to them. One reason for their dissatisfaction is the lack of a chairperson of the Afro-American studies curriculum for the last four years. It is unfortunate that this is the case, but it is unfair to Dean Cell to suggest that she is responsible for this situation. During this time period, the dean received four recommenda tions from a search committee which she had established to fill the vacancy. Because it's desirable for the director of the curriculum to have a joint appointment in one of the depart ments in Arts and Sciences, it is appropriate for the dean to have the approval of that depart ment before any appointment is made. In one instance, the recommended candidate received the enthusiastic support of the department; the offer was made, but the candidate declined the position. In the other cases, the academic departments did not support the candidates recommended to the dean. In this university, departments, not the dean's office, originate recommendations for appointments. Under the circumstances, the dean was unable to make an offer to any of the three candidates. Students have also expressed concern that six black faculty members have accepted posi tions at other universities since 1985. During the same period, a substantial number of white faculty members also have accepted positions at other universities. While each individual's reasons for leaving one institution to go to another are personal, there is no doubt that common factors underlie the loss of both white and black faculty in recent years. The salary, fringe benefits and conditions at UNC com pare poorly to those which exist at many peer institutions with whom we compete for fac ulty. If UNC is to be successful in retaining competent and respected scholars, be they black or white, it must increase its competitiveness. By focusing on the number of black faculty who have left since 1985, students have ig nored the more serious problem which univer sities face today. That problem is the small number of black faculty available for recruit ment. The number of black graduate students enrolled in doctoral programs has been stead ily decreasing. The American Council of Education reported that less than 5 percent of college teachers in the United States are black. In 1986, blacks earned 820, or less than 4 percent, of the doctoral degrees awarded in the United State a decrease of 26.5 percent from 1977. Given the small number of black faculty who exist., this downward trend is exacerbating an already difficult recruitment situation. The solution to this problem lies with the career choices of black undergraduate stu dents. If there is to be an increased black faculty presence, it will be necessary for the most talented black students to seriously con sider pursuing academic careers. Unless and until a far greater number of black undergradu ates make this choice, universities will con tinue to raid each others' faculty. Students also cite the fact that only two of the 32 minority post-doctoral fellows in the College of Arts and Sciences have been hired at this institution. While this is a disappointing number, it is important to know how many of these individuals applied for positions here. How many positions were available in their disciplines when their fellowship year ended? How many received recommendations from their departments that they be hired as faculty? Finally, I want to comment on the tone which has characterized the protests against Dean Cell's reappointment. It seems to me that the atmosphere created by. this protest will make it extremely difficult for constructive dialogue to occur once the reappointment proc ess is concluded. It is my hope that in a spirit of reconciliation and an atmosphere free of threats, students, faculty and administrators can work together to address the legitimate concerns of the black student community. JOEL J. SCHWARTZ Professor of political science Director, Center for Teaching and Learning V
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Nov. 29, 1989, edition 1
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