Th
le Blue Be
"Where there is an open mind, there will always be a frontier
mn
— Kettering
er
Volume XVII, Number 8
The University of North Carolina Asheville
October 25^ 1990
Helms and Gantt compete
for student votes
LeeAnn Donnelly
Staff Writer
When thousands of North Carolina college students go to the polls
Nov. 6 to cast their vote in the U.S. Senate race, they will choose
between Democratic challenger Harvey Gantt and Republican
incumbent Jesse Helms.
The Blue Banner invited each candidate to give his views concerning
financial aid for college students and to explain why he should get the
college student’s vote.
Gantt told the Blue Banner he thinks the government is responsible
for helping parents who can’t afford to send their children to college.
"The federal government ought to be making an investment in the
future by investing in our youngsters. We need our young people to
be more knowledgeable," he said.
Beth Burrus, Helms’ press secretary, responded for Helms, who
was attending to Senate business in Washington. She said college
students should vote for Helms because he believes they can benefit
from less government.
"Harvey Gantt stands for bigger government, more taxes, and
inevitably, less opportunity," Burrus said.
Gantt said he thinks it is important to make college loans available
to anyone who wants to further their education.
"I hope to increase making universal college student loans and
grants to eligible youngsters who are able to get into a four-year
college, a junior college, or a vocational school," he said.
According to Burrus, Helms says funding for our college students
is available and that it should come from people who haven’t paid off
the balance of their student loans.
"Loans can be provided if the government will make a better effort
to collect the $2 million in college loans that are being defaulted one,"
she said.
Gantt said students who find it difficult to make their loan payments
should have options.
"If you can’t pay the loan back the normal way, you should be able
to engage in some kind of community service," he said.
Gantt said college students should vote for him because of his
emphasis on education.
"I feel it is important to have a highly-trained work force," he said.
According to Burrus, Helms thinks students have a big stake in a
strong economy, and will suffer after graduation if the national debt
and high taxes are not reduced.
"Sen. Helms is working to strengthen the economy so jobs will be
available when students graduate," she said.
UP’S role in
benefit
questioned
Steve Peake
Staff Writer
Legalization of drug advocated
Photo bv LeeAnn Donnelly
Jack Merer speaks to a group of students Wednesday
on the benefit s pf.Jegalizitig marijuana.
$60,000 given
to research
program
Leslie Gilliam
Staff Writer
Jack Herer spokesman for
H.E.M.P. (Help End Marijuana
Prohibition) spoke to UNCA
students Wednesday on the
benefits of legalizing marijuana or
hemp.
According to Herer, hemp can
take the place of trees in the
manufacturing of paper. "One acre
of marijuana can make as much
paper as four acres of trees and
produce one-fifth to one-seventh
less pollution," Herer said.
Herer said the depleting ozone
layer is a partial result of trees
being lumbered for paper and
paper products. He said America
could halt the ozone layer
depletion by planting and
harvesting hemp instead.
He also said hemp could replace
fossil fuels such as coal and oil
and be used in place of plastics
and synthetic fibers.
According to Herer, hemp also
has medical benefits which have
been supported by government
studies, yet not revealed to the
public.
"Pot is actually going to extend
my life," Herer said. "I would live
longer if I smoked marijuana every
day than if I didn’t do any drugs
what-so-ever."
Herer also said studies show
daily marijuana smokers live eigh
to 24 years longer than dailj
tobacco and alcohol users.
Herer believes hemp aids tht
body by lowering blood pressure
easing tensions and relieving pain
He also said hemp was safe for
the body to use and had no
adverse side-effects on the brain,
"You don’t lose brain cells,
Herer said. "You gain brain cells
(by smoking hemp)."
He said certain brain cells can
only be activated by hemp,
According to Herer, these cells
cause the brain to have
psychedelic experience which he
said is nothing more than a mind
expanding experience.
Herer believes the U.S.
government is refusing
acknowledge hemp’s potentia
benefits to the earth. "Oui
government, for whatever itf
reason, lies about the No. 1
product probably on earth for
paper, fiber, fuel and food," Herer
said.
"Hundreds of thousands of
people have had their properties,
crops and children t^en away
from them because of marijuana
usage," Herer said. "In any sane
society they would have been
rewarded."
Vicki McCoy
Editor
Glaxo Inc., a pharmaceutical
manufacturer based in Research
Triangle Park, has donated $60,000
to UNCA’s Undergraduate
Research Program, according to
John Stevens, director of the
program.
According to Stevens, the
funding stemmed from a visit
earlier this month from Thomas
Haber, Glaxo’s senior vice-
president for finance and
administration and a member of
UNCA’s Board of Visitors.
"The Undergraduate Research
Program takes a lot of community
resources," he said. "There are
other parts (of the program) in
need of funding, but we aren’t able
to get support because our first
priority is the research fellows."
Stevens said Glaxo’s contribution
will alleviate UNCA’s need to look
outside the Asheville community
for funding. "The contribution is
$60,000 less that we have to look
for in the surrounding areas," he
said.
Haber said his company believes
in the future of UNCA’s
UndergraduateResearch Program.
"Providing original research
opportunities for undergraduates
is an excellent way to create a
meaningful college experience,
Haber said. "UNCA has created a
program we believe is a model of
the nation."
Please see RESEARCH. page 5
The role of Underdog
Productions (UP) in an Oct. 27
fund-raiser for U.S. Senate
candidate Harvey Gantt has drawm
criticism from some members of
the UNCA community, who say
UP’s involvement suggests partisan
politics.
College Democrats, a student
organization, and UP are jointly
sponsoring "Gantt Thing," a
planned 12-hour concert featuring
six bands, along with a scheduled
appearance by Gantt.
According to advertising, cost
of admission will be $5 for
students and faculty, and $7 for
others. All proceeds from the
event, say the ads, will go to
Gantt’s campaign.
UP provided College
Democrats with a loan of
approximately $500 to cover start
up and advertising costs of the
event. That loan has prompted
questions about campus funding of
political events.
"It’s ethically objectionable for
student fees to go to the
sponsoring of a political event,"
said Rob Young, a senior
philosophy major. "By putting the
UP logo on the poster, they imply
that they’re for Gantt."
Young helped organize
Students For America, a UNCA
student organization that supports
Republican candidates in local and
national elections.
William Thurman, professor of
classics and ancient history, said
he is opposed to UP funding for
any partisan group. "Where
student fees are mandatory, we’d
be better off not spending any
funds on anything even remotely
involving a conflict of interest."
U.P. receives its funding from
the Campus Commission, which,
in turn, draws its budget from
student fees.
The fact that some of those
funds were lent to College
Democrats, said Hampton
Hopkins, UP advisor, does not
mean that UP is endorsing Gantt.
"The College Democrats
^ approached us with a proposal.
We decided, based on the fact that
they are a recognized campus
group, to accept their proposal,"
said Hopkins. "We did, however,
stipulate that the money was a
loan to be repaid on the day of the
event, so there wouldn’t be any
question about UP’s involvement."
Hopkins said the amount of
the loan was "about $500."
Hopkins also cited the fact
that six bands are set to perform.
He said that UP had to look at
"Gantt Thing" as an entertainment
event, as well as a fund-raiser.
College Democrats were not
singled out for funding, said
Hopkins. "We’ve never turned
anyone down. Any other campus
organization with a valid reason
can bring it to us and we’ll look at
it. We even offered to help
College Republicans with a similar
event, if they were interested."
"College Republicans was'
offered equal treatment," said
Young, "but it was decided to
decline the offer. For one thing,
College Republicans were
contacted at a time when it would
have been difficult to organize an
event, this being so close to the
election."
Young characterized UP’s
loan as "giving money to special
interest groups," but William Sabo,
associate professor of political
science, offered another view.
"There are many
ideologically-oriented groups on
campus who benefit from Campus
Commission funds. The Baptist
Student Union, for instance, is
another ideological organization
on campus. The university permits
all sorts of organizations. It’s
public property. I really think this
question is a relatively minor
point."
"It’s not like we’ve endorsed
anyone," said Traci Ross, president
of UP. "We will get paid back, but
that’s not the point. UP is here to
offer support to campus
organizations. The Campus
Commission supports everything
from the Chemistry Club to
cheerleaders."
"Gantt Thing" is scheduled to
kick off Saturday at noon. The
concert will last until midnight,
according to handbills posted
throughout the campus.
The campaign trail pwo..
Harvey Gantt campaigns in an Ashevilie neighborhood.
AT&T sponsors
nationwide
contest
Beginning Nov. 1, more than 15,000 students from
over 500 universities and colleges nationwide will
begin competing in the Third Annual AT«feT
Collegiate Investment Challenge.
During the next four months, each student taking
part in the Challenge will be set up with a fictional
brokerage account worth $500,000. Participants will
purchase stocks through a toll-free service line
provided by AT&T.
Every Monday, USA TODAY, a co-sponsor otthe
event, will provide coverage of the competition in
their Money section.
Over $200,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded.
The ten students with the highest portfolio values
will win Bahamas vacations.
Ten cash scholarships will also be awarded, with
the top student receiving $25,000. MontWy prizes