Newspapers / University of North Carolina … / April 11, 1985, edition 1 / Page 2
Part of University of North Carolina at Asheville Student Newspaper / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
2/Thursday, April 11,1985/THE BLUE BANNER EipairBiBaAi Housing rouses protests Students today don't demonstrate much. One might think campus cafeterias have been lacing their fare with increased doses of apathy since the early 70's. Certainly many college administrators must sleep better and take fewer antacids than they did fifteen or twenty years ago. However, today's student still finds a spark of the fires of revolt glowing within when he is personally touched by what he feels is the heavy hand of the powers that be. Such a hand seemed to be pressing UNCA students to action yesterday over the university's plans to in crease campus housing next school year. This plan calls for 74 more bodies to be pushed into the already bursting Village dorms. Not only will these bodies further strain already inadequate bathroom facilities in these residences, they will also, according to the plan, be forced into the 12x9 foot living space already occupied by corner room dwellers. Naturally these dwellers are upset by the choice of either having to give up rooms they have spent time and money making livable, or spend months tripping over someone they may detest. It's a rough choice. In yesterday's crowded open forum with housing and administration, students vented their frustrations, often with considerable fervor, at the double occupancy proposal. They also suggested some practical alternatives, the best of which seems to be to renovate unused space in the Village to make at least 25 new rooms. These rooms would be at least as large as the present corner rooms and could be made to accommodate two people, thus giving new students roommates and allowing most current Village students to continue living alone. This, of course, does not solve the overall crowding problem; that will take the planned new dorm. Nor does it. provide space for all the expected new students. But it would be a step in the right direction. It would be an act of good will on the part of the administration to give in a little where it can. After all, a man's home is his castle; and a student's dorm room is his home nine months of the year; and human beings instinctively seek to protect their turf. Students may not have time in the scramble for grades to demonstrate about Nicaragua, but there are rumblings that UNCA students might show in a tangible way their extreme unhappiness over the housing decision. Indeed, some are already showing it by kicking in the stone walls along the Village walks, and by knocking out doorknobs in the dorms; stupid acts, yes, but signs of extreme frustration. So why not try bending a little, administration? Otherwise, be ready to break out the Mylanta. : AmaMatmWt NemBditor „..,Pm*yKramp Sports Editor ' OakMi£(rHh Featuret editor ' Arts/£nf»rf0i{iment£dtt0r Photography Editor CirafhtionandPromotioafManogfir.,'. 0mnaJmr9it Advertising Manager Kar^f'^ii&^ ‘Adyifor Phil Alexander Jennifer Meglor CothyJamet Leslie AteCultough Coiin White THE «Kh Thwudajr flxfiop) mam Mask attd h ffanamties Bu-Wing, 208-A, Phon#i (704) 358'6586 or 258-6$?}. ♦tcrff, the twr A«eS¥i&^ EdiW* f epretent Ihe opttAon of a majority oC *e ttdttoftoi bobtd. wriumm., cwtoom and r«v«ws repreteni mly the vn»n of ihetr oiMhort. Itw ecStorfat bocH^i moiMt 4he final ^ Th* BANhUES v ba^«f a«*r«t, Due to limited space, letter and opinion writers should restrict their submissions to 500 words in length. Loss of educational freedom, no idle threat By Bill Kramer A national organization. Concerned Citizens for Public Education (CCPE), is currently distributing what is known as the Eagle Forum letter in high schools across the country. The CCPE, headed by Phyllis Schlafley, is strongly supported by right wing fundamentalists such as Jerry Falwell»s Moral Majority. The letter lists almost 1.5 pages of topics which may not be taught unless the teachers have shown the materials to parents and received their approval. Excerpts from a copy sent to the Enka High principal include: . Psychological and psychiatric examinations, tests or surveys that are designed to elicit information about attitudes, habits, traits, opinions, beliefs, or feelings of an individual or group; . Values clarification, including use of moral dilemmas, discussion of moral issues, standards, role playing of situations involving moral issues, open-ended discussions of moral issues...; • Education pertaining to alcohol and drug abuse; . Instructions in nuclear war, nuclear policy, and nuclear classroom games; . Education in inter-personal relationships, including family life, discussions of attitudes toward parents and parenting; . Education in human sexuality... . Organic evolution... • Political affiliations and beliefs... • Personal religious beliefs and practices... . Log books, diaries, personal journals, autobiography assignments. The letter also states that "Under that law (the Hatch Amendment to the General Education Provisions Act, which became effective Nov. 12, 1984), no student shall be required as part of any program administered by the U.S. Department of Education to submit without prior written parental consent to psychiatric or psychological examination, testing, or treatment in which the primary purpose is to reveal information in specified sensitive areas. Full details of the new regulations are contained in the Federal Roister for Sept. 6, 1984." I think most people will agree that some consideration of most of the topics listed above is necessary for young people to have an understanding of life and the world around them. While the Eagle letter does not say that these items can not be taught, requiring parental consent makes it very difficult for educators to present these subjects so they meet the approval of each and every parent. Also, to propose a curriculum that is "morally correct" from every parent’s point of view is nothing less than impossible. Teachers are professionals, and it would be foolish to allow any special interest group the power to permit or deny the presentation of material that these groups find "morally incorrect." The Eagle letter itself is not without problems. The letter is obviously written so as to suggest legal backing by Federal law. The reader is referred to the Hatch Act, but the actual Hatch Act concerns itself only with psychological testing and not with the majority of items listed in the Eagle letter. The letter also mentions witchcraft, psychodrama, pornography and the like. Very few high schools, if any, teach these subjects as courses. This serves as a scare tactic used by the CCPE, "Suggestology" appears on the list, but is not even an English word. In closing, Phyllis Schlafley*s group represents a clear and present danger to educational freedom in this country, if not to freedom in general. Cabe calls for student input Dear Editor: On March 25 a memorandum was issued to all UNCA resident students from the director of housing regarding sign-ups and room cancellations for the 1985 Fall Semester, The memorandum explain ed several changes in the housing pro gram, including the doubling of comer rooms in the Village and altering the 7th floor of Highrise to make it a 24-hour quiet floor. I am opposed to these two changes, and would like to address the issue of a 24-hour quiet floor in the Highrise. I realize that the administration per ceives a need to make campus living more conducive to studying, I agree. The purpose of this campus is to sup port and promote scholarly endeavors. However, the Highrise dormitory houses 302 students this semester, and as a Highrise resident of three years, I know that the building cannot be noise free. My criticism of the administra tion's efforts lies not in their attenq>t to reserve housing space for those who desire 24-hour silence, but rather in their neglect to seek student input into this decision to make hous ing changes, I question the administration’s research regarding this issue: 1, Did they survey Highrise residents to determine the need for a 24-hour quiet floor? 2, Did they consult with 7th floor residents to gain their opinion of the proposed change? 3, Have they conducted any research to determine noise levels in the Highrise in order to find the most appropriate floor for 24-hour quiet? The changes stated in the March 25 memorandum came as quite a surprise to those students who will be forced to move or find alternate housing as a result of tlje administration’s deci sion. I suggest that, in the future, the administration have a higher regard for student opinion before making decisions that directly affect UNCA students, Pat Cabe SGA Vice President
University of North Carolina at Asheville Student Newspaper
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
April 11, 1985, edition 1
2
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75