COVER STORIES
March 29,2000 • theSeahawk
5
N.C. hxes presidential primary vote
BICYCLE, from page 1:
dent Government Association (SGA),
to examine the one-mile radius policy.
The committee examines safety issues
and concerns and helps prioritize these
issues.
“Armed with that, we can begin to get
these things taken care of,” Scott said.
The university is looking into pur
chasing new signs for crosswalks lead
ing off campus that read “Walk” and
display a countdown. According to
Scott, the problem many students en
counter when crossing busy streets like
College Road is that the signs flash
“Walk” for eight seconds, and then flash
“Don’t Walk” for another forty seconds.
This became a point of confusion for
students trying to get across, because
they didn’t know whether it was safe to
continue across the street, or if they
should turn back.
In order to qlear the confusion, the
UNCWPD contacted the DOT and asked
that the time on the “WALK” signs be
extended so those students can safely
cross the road.
Under North Carolina state law, cy-
DISNEY, from page 1:
However, the protest continued with
out incident. Lopez said, “I’m kind of
surprised the police showed up.” Sopho
more Tim Hennie called the police pres
ence a ‘scare tactic.’ He said, “You see
a cop, you’re more apt to think you’re
doing something wrong.”
Associate Dean of Students Brian
Hemphill was on hand to witness the
protest, and supported the students’
right to assemble.
“We feel very good about students
speaking out about an issue. We (the
university) believe in free expression.”
He called the police presence a “routine
patrol,” not specifically aimed at the
protesters.
Carolyn Ward, the Disney represen
tative who gave last Thursday’s presen
tation, said she had not dealt with any
protesters herself, although demonstra
tions have been held at other universi-
clists must walk their bikes across cross
walks, and bicyclists riding in a cross
walk do not have the right of way. Ac
cording to Donaldson, bicyclists are not
protected under the rules regarding a
crosswalk if they fail to dismount their
bikes, and can even be found at fault if
an incident occurs between a pedestrian
and motor vehicle.
Donaldson said the biggest danger
to cyclists on campus is not a certain
area, “it’s an attitude. Bicyclists tend
to think the have the right-of-way when
they don’t”.
The number of reported incidents
involving motor vehicles and bicycles
has been relatively low. During 1999,
only two such accidents were reported
on campus, which accounted for 1.3%
of the total of reported accidents for the
year.
“We need the student body to con
tinue [to] voice their support for the
need of a city wide bicycle network that
is safe for everyone,” said Cooper. “Re
member that cyclists have a legal right
to the road...don’t let the road rage of
Wilmington scare you off the road.”
ties. She was prepared for that eventu
ality, and handed out some literature
supporting Disney’s position on the is
sues.
“I know very little about (the issue
being protested). We’re there to offer in
ternships,” she said.
“They have every right to protest,”
said Assistant Director of Career Ser
vices Karen Thompson, “I wish they
stayed outside the building.” She said
her main concern was keeping the situ
ation peaceful. “We want to protect the
students who do want to hear what
Disney has to say,” she said.
P.E.A.C.E. was organized in early
February by about 15 students, accord
ing to Lopez. She said the group was
formed to protest various injustices in
America and abroad, and she expects
participation to grow.
“I think there’s students out there
who want to get involved,” she said.
by ANNA C. BROOME
Staff Writer
North Carolina voters lost their oppor
tunity to contribute their voices to the
presidential primaries because the typical
six-month long series of debates between
candidates was cut short.
On Tuesday, March 8, 16 states held
their presidential primary elections. Due
to the results, both Senator John McCain,
who beat Bush in only four states, and Bill
Bradley, who fail to beat Vice President
A1 Gore, dropped out of the race. When
Bardley and McCain left the race. Gore
and Bush were virtually guaranteed their
party’s nomination.
North Carolina’s primary elections are
May 2. The results of the tallied votes,
rather than helping to determine the can
didates, benefit mainly the politicians ea
ger to know their standing in a given state,
not the citizens of North Carolina.
“I was all ready to vote for Bradley,”
said senior Kim Schuerger, “I don’t like
things being decided for me. This is the
first election for which I am old enough
to vote, and because of our primary date
being so late, I am silenced.”
According to an interview conducted in
Time magazine, a shorter primary season
changes the strategy of the election. Now,
it is “start earlier, build a huge bankroll,
and stick to a few simple issues that cut
across geographical boundaries (mostly
the old standbys - right to life, eliminat
ing poverty, tax cuts, etc.).”
Many Americans are not concerned
with the campaign this early or at all.
Thomas Patterson, co-director of the
Vanishing Voter Project and Bradlee Pro
fessor of Government and the Press at
Harvard University’s Kennedy School of
Government, said, “The notion that vot
ers latch onto a candidate, and hold on to
that choice, describes only a few citizens.
For many, candidate preference is fleet
ing. The tendency reflects the fact that
most Americans are only somewhat inter
ested in presidential politics at this point
in the campaign.”
It is not only that people are not in
volved in this presidential race at this time,
but in fact, their attention can not be drawn
at all. Consistent with recent polls, Ameri
cans simply don’t care in this selection
process.
Dr. Roger Coyle Lowery, a UNCW po
litical science professor, said, “It is peace
and prosperity in America, so many are not
concerned right now. The middle-aged
and the elderly make up the largest per
centage of the voting public. The middle-
aged because they are settled with fami
lies and businesses. It is to their advantage
to vote. The elderly, however, realize that
disaster may happen at any moment. They
lived through World Wars I and II, The
Great Depression, Korea, Vietnam, the
Cold War and the Gulf War. They know
that it is not a matter of if a crisis happens
but when will it happen.”
A recent poll, conducted by The Joan
Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics
and Public Policy, said 42 to 51 percent of
young adults think the election outcome
has a substantial impact on the future of
this country. However, only 32 percent of
the eligible 18 - 24 year olds voted in 1996.
“The youth of America have only
known good times. If the draft was rein
stated and young men were dying over seas
by the thousands, I guarantee their politi
cal participation would increase,” said Dr.
Lowery. “As it is, they have no reason,
that they can foresee, to be politically
motivated.”
Although North Carolina citizens no
longer may have an impact in the primary
elections, their state elections are still on
May 2, as well. "I have heard a lot of
people say they are not going to vote on
May 2 because it no longer matters. Bui
it is very important not to get wrapped up
in the presidential campaign and forget our
state elections,” said Miguel Bordo, a re
cent graduate with a degree in political
science. “Remember, politicians certainly
don’t mind if you stay home, but you can’t
complain if you don’t participate.”
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