Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / Sept. 16, 1987, edition 1 / Page 5
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*'tt7€'PgNbmUM' WednfekdaV SepteniBer‘'i6?'l987 ^ 5 OP-ED Do you want to live next to a dump? itudeii enter, By Robert G. Blake Wm. S. Long Prof. of English le frail lepar. creat ;iala one’ mCot lemte ?e, bii n all avail: rher How would you like to have a hazardous waste treat ment facility located less than three miles from Fon- ville Fountain? One that is designed to treat 90 million tons of dangerous contaminants per year? Until recently, such a question might have been taken as the beginning of a sick joke. But not now. Last January the N.C. Hazardous Waste Treatment Commis sion, whose task it is to select a suitable location for the facility, reduced the number of potenttial sites from more than 500 to 139. Since the the commission has systematically eliminated possible sites after applying iinai various criteria, so that as of this writing approximately >n R) only dozen sites remain on the list. Incredibly, Gibsonville is one of them. On the evening of Sept. 8 in a steamy Elon College gym, more than 2,000 people attended a public hear ing on locating the hazardous waste treatment facility on some 50 acres of land adjoining the Gibsonville Cemetary -no irony intended. Pbliticians, civic leaders, and medical doctors gave many reasons why the facili ty should not be located there. Rev. Clyde Christmas, director of Twin Lakes Center, was especially effec tive in describing the logistical nightmare of evacuating hundreds of elderty persons in the event of a catastrophic accident. Others spoke of the narrow, winding, dangerous ac cess roads from Interstate 85 to the proposed site, roads that are unsafe for the school buses that have to use diem and that are definitely not suited for the half dozen or more tankers that would be bringing in hazardous substances every day Still others deplored the drop in property values that would take place in precisely that part of the county that is the focus of future growth. The list of valid objections goes on and has been widely reported in the press. Suprisingly, nowhere have I seen any concern ex pressed about the effects that a hazardous waste treat ment plant in Gibsonville would have on Elon College, the institution. I should have expected the college to mount a vigorous public campaign opposing the Gib sonville site. Elon College has nothing to gain and much to lose from such a facility. Imagine the horrendous difficulties of evacuating the thousands of people at Elon College if a serious acci dent should occur. A hazardous waste treatment plant a few miles from the college would destroy forever the almost pastoral ambiance which this college enjoys and which has played no small role in its growth over the past decade. Even if the plant were totally safe (which of course it could never be) and caused no air or water pollu tion, there'would still be the knowledge that it was there. The psychological pollution in my opinion in my opi nion would devestate our image, hurt our future enroll ment and have a negative impact on every person who attends or works for Elon College. Elon College is on the move. Just witness the beautiful new Fine Arts Center A hazardous waste treatment facility in Gibsonville would stop that move ment dead in its tracks. I do not believe the facility will end up in Gibson ville. But 1 do not feel good about that assumption. 1 would never have thought that Gibsonville would still be on a list of about a dozen sites out of the initial 500. The North Carolina Hazardous Waste Treatment Com- mision is due to make a final selection on October 1. I will not rest until some other, more suitable, site is chosen. See Blake, page 6 COLD RING SALE *60 OFF 18K *40 OFF V»K *20 OFF lOK S.G.A. Elections Sept. 2 2-24 (Last day to file for elections — Friday, Sept. 18 at 3:00 p.m.) Positions Open Senior Class: Treasurer Junior Class: Treasurer Jostens Cold Sale. For one week only. Order and save on the gold ring of your choice. Senate Seats First Precinct: Up to Eight Positions Second Precinct: Up to Eight Positions Third Precint: Up to Eight Positions Sophmore Class: Treasurer Freshman Class: President Vice-President Treasurer JOSTENS AMERICA S COLLEGE RING™ Date: Time: Deposit Required: Payment Plans Avaibbie Place: ^ Meet with your Jostens representative for full details. See our complete nng selection on display in your college bookstore HOMECOMING COMMITTEE MEETING Wed, Sept. 16, 7:00p.m. Senate Room — 2nd Floor Long Student Center All Students Invited to Participate HOMECOMING QUEEN NOMINATIONS Due Friday, Sept. 25, in the S.G.A. Office—Long 204 Organizations and Residence Halls must submit black and white photo of canidate. Have Any Questions? Stop by the S.G.A. Office or call at Ext. 2333
Elon University Student Newspaper
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Sept. 16, 1987, edition 1
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