Newspapers / Meredith College Student Newspaper / April 24, 1980, edition 1 / Page 2
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PAGE 2 / THE TWIG APRIL 24, 1980 THE MEREDITH TWie Editors Reporters Columnists Sports Editor Photographers Business Manager Circulation Editors Layout Editors Cartoonist Proofreading Advertising Editor Faculty Advisors COLLEGE Sonya Ammons, Deborah Bartlett Kathy O’Brien, Mai“lene Debo Beth Giles, Ann Earp, Kelly Stone, Jill Allen, Laura Moore Cindy Rinker, Regine Nickel, Ann Stringfield Darla Stephenson Paula Douglas, Lori Whittemore, Peggy Williford Leslie Landis Suzanne Hill, Margie Snell Deborah Bartlett, Sonya Ammons, Susan Jones Ann Beamon Ann Earp Mary Katherine Pittman Dr. Tom Parra more, Mr. Bill Norton Editorial Faculty vote appreciated Three cheers for the Meredith faculty! At a recent faculty meeting, the members were presented with a dilemma. In the past year, Meredith has demanded more money in repayment for insurance than the company receives; therefore, the insurance company is raising their rates to keep from losing money. The faculty members were presented with three alternatives wluch would involve less coverage at less expense for Meredith and a possible greater expense for the policy holder, the same coverage with a slightly greater expense for Meredith and a larger expense for the holder, and the same coverage with only slightly greater expense for Meredith and a significant raise in expense for faculty members. After some debate, which included a concern for the minimum wage faculty members who may not be able to bear the extra expense, a vote was taken. The final decision was to accept the change in policy which would involve the least in crease in expense for Meredith. A suggestion was made to look into a method to help provide the extra coverage for those receiving minimum wage. In essence, had the faculty chosen a more expensive method, the students would eventually have born the brunt of the expense in increased tuition. Students should be aware that the faculty vote indicated a willingness to prevent the students from paying any more than necessary, as well as a genuine concern for minimum wage employees. We should be proud of this awareness. Thanks! D. B. Stringspeak: A final note One thing I didn’t do last semester when I buried Nan Meadowline was to make an apology for any misun derstandings the column created. To be honest, I didn’t feel obligated to apologize or even respond to those misunderstandings; that was then. I should like to apologize not as much for what I said but the manner in which I said it. Constructive criticism is one thing, blatant cynicism is altogether another. It all has to do with becoming a part of humanity, rather than being on the outside looking in. I wish not to conform to humanity but merely to join it. One more thing: To the head flag girl, whoever you might be - I was first chair second clarinet, and I think discipline I attained through that experience has been more valuable than I realized... Hold the flag high. Special thanks to Mary Katherine Pittman for taking all the flak, to Tom Parramore for his stabilizing effect and very special thanks to Jack Huber for being himself. IVK.r AND FICTION by Cindy Rinker Various studies have been made in recent years on future power generation economics; the results of most of the studies indicate nuclear power as the most economic means of producing energy in the future. In 1977 nuclear plants saved the equivalent of buring 425 million barrels of oil which would have cost the U.S. $5.9 billion. In 1978 nuclear power generated more than 12.5 percent of U.S. electricity and saved 470 million barrels of oil. The U.S. Department of Energy has projected that nuclear power will provide 19 percent of U.S. electricity in 1985 and 26 percent in 1990. A nuclear fuel pellet weighing 0.29 ounce produces the same amount of thermal energy as 3.1 barrels of fuel oil or 1600 pounds of coal. If nuclear power plants are built and put into suc cessful operation, the future power generation economics looks positive. However, the cost of shutdowns may not have been accurately ac counted for in the “studies.” The expense involved in the evacuation of hundreds of people as a result of a nuclear accident may not have been accurately accounted for in the “studies.” At this point in the history of nuclear power, the economics of this energy source are not as predictable as was once thou^t. I hope that this brief look into nuclear power in the past weeks has stimulated interest in this important issue. For it is in the college student’s generation that the outcome of nuclear power will be determined. Editorial Is mudslinging an effective campaign strategy May 6 is quickly ap proaching and many Meredith students soon will vote in an election for the first time. Campus groups have already been working hard to increase student participation in our political process. In March campus Young Democrats and College Republicans sponsored Political Awareness Week, during which time students could meet candidates like Bob Scott and Beverly Lake, both gubernatorial candidates, and Senatorial candidate John East. Last week. Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s nephew, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., spoke to Meredith students and expressed the Senator’s need for votes in North Carolina. Candidates for local, state, and national offices are now competitively vying for... votes. The race is on. Unfortunately, this year’s campaign has been marked, as have many past cam paigns, by what seems a bitterness and immaturity among some candidates, demonstrated by a too great amount of mudslinging. In the gubernatorial race, the criticism centers on Governor Hunt. Each week The TWIG office receives press releases from gubernatorial candidate Beverly Lake that are more exciting than any edition of the National Enquirer. Each week. Governor Hunt’s evil corruption is further ex press^. However, in neither the April 11 nor the AprU 14 release, for example, is there a single word stating the qualifications of Beverly Lake for the -office of governor - unless having an overworked lust for scandal qualifies him. Former Governor Bob Scott began his gubernatorial campaign in a similar manner. According to Scott in seeking re-election, Governor Hunt is trying to gain too much power. Hunt made a wrong decision in attacking the Communists and the Ku Klux Klan. Hunt’s high school competency test is unfair. For a while it seemed that if Hunt parted his hair on the left, Scott would make a public statement that he parted his on the right. So, mission is ac complished. Suppose we all agree Hunt is corrupt and unjust. Where do we go from there? Insurance Commissioner John Ingram has been under attack for his inability to work with his staff. The number of employees who have either resigned or been fired is in credible. His opponents attack him violently on this issue. At a recent convention of North Carolina Young Democrats, for instance, all three of the other Democratic candidates for the position of Insurance Commissioner fiercely criticized Ingram. Each of them ended his attack by asking for support in his own campaign. Now suppose we all agree that Ingram is a scoundrel with whom no one can work. What then? The problem inherent in political tactics like mud slinging now can be seen. If the candidate’s criticism of his opponent does sway us to believe him, rather than merely turning us off, it still fails to leave us a clear alternative. The fiery can didate may convince the public of the inadequacy of his opponent. Unfortunately, he usually neglects to inform the voters why he would be any more qualified for office. By exerting so much energy toward destroying his op ponent, he allows his personal qualities to fade into the background. How, then, does the public know that the mudslinger is capable of holding the office for which he is running? Is he running for office based on the idea that any old codger would be better than his opponent. Perhaps, that is his theory. Whatever his reason for his campaign strategy, it is the respon sibility of the voters to carefully evaluate the can didate who uses such tactics. Is a candidate who bases his campaign on criticism of his opponent the type of leader that we need in public office? Will such a person be able to achieve goals in office, or will he merely blame his failures on others? Does such a person possess the positive attitude necessary to inspire his staff to accomplish difficult tasks? Is the candidate whose campaign platform centers mainly on criticism of someone else creative enough to find new ways to solve problems which may have seemed insurmountable in the past? Indeed, does the can didate who could seem to find no other way to win election than to attack his opponent possess the intelligence desired in a public official? May 6 will be here soon. As voters,' these are issues which we all must face. S.A.
Meredith College Student Newspaper
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April 24, 1980, edition 1
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