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16 Monday, April 3, 2000 Concerns or comments about our coverage? Contact the ombudsman at tudman(°\mc.edu or call 605-2790. Scott Hicks EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR Katie Abel UNIVERSITY EDITOR Jacob McConnico CITY EDITOR Board Editorials Housing Equity UNC needs to get with the 21st century and offer campus residents the option of rooming with someone of the opposite sex. The University should get with the times and start giving students the option of living on campus in coed-by-bed arrangements. Administrators at Tufts University in Boston recently denied a gay student’s pro posal for mixed-gender residence hall rooms. A pilot program would have allowed 20 rising sophomores to live in 10 coed rooms on campus. Gay students risk getting a homophobic roommate of the same gender under die cur rent policy at UNC, which has a single-sex housing policy identical to Tufts. In addition, gay students who are forced to live with someone of the same gender might be put in situations that become sexually uncomfortable. If students had the option of living with someone of the opposite sex, gay students wouldn’t have to worry about their roommates thinking they were constandy hitting on them. Wesleyan University, located in Middletown, Conn., has offered coed rooms to all students except freshmen for the last six years. Mandated single-sex housing “is hetero- Fix the Glitches Now SBP-elect Brad Matthews must keep the pressure on the Elections Board to make sure the transition to online voting is seamless. Computers are no more perfect than the people who use them. That said, the ElectioßS E'Oard must proceed cautiously as it gearfSfp to bring online voting to next year’s student elections. The board needs to take advantage of the next 11 months to work out all the technical and ethical kinks sure to surface. History shows that student elections here are anything but perfect. Year in and year out, it seems, something always goes wrong. This year, the database that supports the scantron machine responsible for counting ballots failed. Last year, the Elections Board chairwoman and candidates for Residence Hall Association president faced off in Student Supreme Court over how to count graduate students’ votes. Three years ago, it took 72 hours to count Student Congress votes because the scantron machine broke. That’s not a pretty record, and bringing online voting to campus should help the board rein in some of die technical glitches. The other problems - who can vote in what race, ensuring that poll workers check all voters’ UNC ONE Cards and enforcing campaign rules - will, of course, take a big chunk of human effort. That’s why it’s espe- The Daily Tar Heel welcomes submissions from its readers for its Viewpoints page every Monday. Guest columns should be about 800 words, written by no more than two people and discuss an issue relevant to DTH readers. Submissions should be e-mailed to editdesk@unc.edu and are due by 6 p.m. the Wednesday before the column will appear. Publication is not guaranteed. For more information, contact Editorial Page Editor Scott Hicks at 962-0245. tTlie Sally (Tar Heel Business and Advertising: Janet Gallagher- Cassel, director/general manager; Chrissy Beck, director of marketing; Laurie Morton, classified/customer service manager; Lisa Reichie, business manager; Jennifer Mackey, assistant business manager; Elizabeth Martin, retail sales manager. Marketing Group: Cindy Rice, specialist; Assistant Editors: Ashley Atkinson and Danielle Eubanks, arts & enter tainment. Ginny Sciabbarrasi and Jason Owens, city; 'Allison Boone and Meredith Werner, copy; Adrienne Coppetnoll and Caroline Hupter, design; Kelli Boutin, editorial page; Rachel Carter, features; Dana Craig and Saleem Reshamwala, graphics Josh Williams, online, Sefton Ipock and Jeff Pouland, photography; Will Kimmey, Mike Ogle and Bret Strelow, sports; Lucas Fenske, Kathleen Hunter and Cheri Melfi, state & national, Lauren Beal, Km Minugh and Alex Molaire, university. Arts & Entertainment: um Martin and Erin Wynia, senior writers, Shindy Chen, Jeremy Hurtz, Carl Jacobs. Russ Lane, Josh Love, Matt Mansfield, Ferris Morrison, Joanna Pearson, David Povill, Alison Rost, Justin Winters, Carmen Woodruff and Lindsey Zuckerman. Cartoon: Suzanne Buchanan, Teng Moua, Adria Mueller, James Pharr, Zach Warkentin, David Watson, Jim Williams and Michael Wlodek. City: Robert Albright, Tricia Barrios, Sarah Brier, Theresa Chen, Erica Coleman, Lisa Crist, Kellie Dixon, Amy Dobson, Nishant Garg, Kate Hartig, Walter Herz, Sabina Hirscnauer, Jon Hoffman, Anjali Kalani, Enyonam Kpeglo, Kevin Krasnow, Kathryn McLamb, Joseph Pardington, Jenny Rosser and Heather Tart. Copy: Lani Harac, Stacey Hartley, Melissa Lentz, Laura Mayhew, Phil Perry, Terri Rupar, Susan Willetts and Katie Young, Design: Denise Barnes, Beth Buchnolz, Jamie Davis, Cobi Edelson, Catherine Jamison, August Jenkins, Lisa Kopkind, Brianne Stethers and Karen Williams. Editorial: Brandon Briscoe, Jonathan Chaney, Nora El Khouti, Brian Frederick, Erin Mendell, Cameron Mitchell, Joseph Monaco, Amol Naik, Tara Robbins, Mark Slagle, Jennifer Smith, Jenny Stepp, Laura Stoehr and Jonathan Trager. Features: Megan Butler, Jermaine the editorials are approved by the majority of the editorial board, which is composed of the editor, editorial page editor, assistant editorial page editor, cannon editor and seven editorial writers the Daily Tar Heel is published by the DTh Publishing Corp, a non-profit North Carolina corporation, Monday-Friday, according to the University calendar Callers with questions about billing or display advertising should call 962-1163 between 8:30 a m and 5 p.m Classified ads can be reached at 962-0252 Editorial questions should be directed to 962-0245 Rob Nelson EDITOR Office Hours Friday 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. sexist in nature, and we want to be inclusive of students that are gay, lesbian and bisexu al,” said Jeff Ederer, director of residential life at Wesleyan. But coed housing isn’t just for gay stu dents. Heterosexual couples also could choose to live together like gay couples can already. It’s understandable that some students might feel uncomfortable living on halls that have coed rooms even if they live in a single sex room. The bathrooms on such a hall would probably have to be coed as well. Housing officials should start letting stu dents check off a box on their housing con tracts that says they want to live in not only a coed residence hall but also a coed room. At the same time, the Department of University Housing should also offer stu dents the chance to say they don’t want to live on a hall or in a residence hall that con tains coed rooms. This should be easy to accommodate because students can already request single sex residence halls or floors. It’s time for UNC to get with it. daily critical for the Elections Board and stu dent government to use the next 11 months productively and earnestly, to cut down the chances that its bad recoraTollows it into the cyber age. Putting the Elections Board on the road to redemption is going to require strong lead ership from Student Body President-elect Brad Matthews. He must choose a dedicated and effective board chairperson as soon as he is elected. Then, he needs to mount a major publicity and public relations effort to entice students into joining the board and then tak ing its work seriously. Once the board is selected, it’ll be Matthews’ job to make sure they stay pro ductive throughout the year. The board is going to have to new rules to keep candidates and voters from abusing the system. N.C. State University Student Body President Raj Mirchandani, for example, passed out fliers in campus computer labs - where potential voters were a mouse click away from voting for him. Computers often create more problems than they fix. Here’s hoping that the Elections Board keeps that in mind -and does something about it. Professional and Business Staff Carrie Davis, Ben Hartmere, David Huffines and Ashley Ryneska, associates. Customer Service: Holly Herweyer, Locoya Hill, Courtnee Poole, Kelly Russell and Ashley Ryneska, representatives. Display Advertising: Julie Roper, Andrea Van Hoever and Catherine Wilkins, senior account executives; Katie Bawden, Katelyn Bottoms, Editorial Staff Caldwell, Eleanor Cameron, Stuart Crampton, Erika Detmer, Kim Droznek, Rudy Kleysteuber, Alicia Peters, Moira Vanderhoof, Jennifer White and Patricia Wright. Graphics: Jason Cooper, Dan Helias, Hannah Hollar, T Jay Richards and Heather Todd. Online: Wendy, Photography: Cara Brickman, senior photographer; Valerie Bruchon, Elan Dassani, Alison Domnas, Katherine Eaker, Laura Giovanelli, Martha Hoelzer, Meredith Lee, Kate Mellnik, Kaarm Moore, Christine Nguyen, Casey Quillen, Emily Schnure, Margaret Southern and Greg Wolf. Special Assignments: Geoffrey Graybeal, Kaitlin Gurney, Chris Hostetler and Courtney Weill Sports: Evan Markfiefd, Brian Murphy and Hugh Pressley, senior writers; Brad Broders, Joe Disney, James Giza, lan Gordon, Adam Hill, Roland Hoffman, Ted Keith, Kelly Lusk, Adam Pohl, Man Terry, Umur Tuncer and John Zhu. 15N# ’ 0709436 Office: Suite 104 Ctrollna Union Campui Mail Address: CB# S2lO Box 49, Carolina Union U.S. Mall Address: P.O. Box }2S7, Chapel Hill, NC 27515 5257 (Tin' Hath} Star Jtel Established 1893 • 107 Years of Editorial Freedom www.unc.edu/clth Matthew B. Dees STATE & NATIONAL EDI LOR T. Nolan Hayes SPORTS EDITOR Leigh Davis FEATURES EDITOR Jackie House, Kelly McKellogg, Skye Nunnery and Jenn Tyburczy; account executives; Eleanor Cameron, Tonya Day, Locoya Hill, Nathan Mayberry and Melissa McDaniel, assistant account executives. Advertising Production: Penny Persons, manager; Lauryn Mitchiner, assistant. Classified Production: Melanie Todd State & National: Kristina Casto, Jessica Chism, Worth Civils, Anne Fawcett, Alicia Gaddy, Kimberly Grabiner, Jennifer Hagin, Lani Harac, Alex Kaplun, Taena Kim, Kristian Kordula, Rachel Leonard, Jonah Mitry, Jonathan Moseley, Deepika Narasimhan and Gavin Off. Tech: Jennifer Fauteux, Alex McAllister and Eric Williams. University: Arman Anvari, lason Arthurs, Elizabeth Breyer, Allison Ford, Will Foushee, Jennifer Heffernan, Harmony Johnson, John Maberiy, Courtney Mabeus, Kate Macek, Derick Mattern, Katy Nelson, John O'Hale, Beth O'Brien, Shahrzad Rezvani, Brooke Roseman, Denise Scott, Matthew Smith, Aisha Thomas, Maik Thomas, Jamila Vernon, Geoffrey Wessel and Karey Wutkowski. Editorial Production: Stacy Wynn, manager. Printing: Triangle Web. Distribution: Triangle Circulation Sen ces. Opinions Robin Clemow ARTS is ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Carolyn Haynes COPY DESK EDITOR Miller Pearsall PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR llglJ U.S. Needs a Dose of Gun Control Last week, the good folks in your White House called for the return of “natural quiet” to the Grand Canyon, announc ing rules that will limit the noise of sightseeing and commercial flights over the area. With ideas like that. I’d settle for “natural quiet” in the White House. Actually, I don’t mind a little noise on important topics - like President Clinton’s recent assault on the National Rifle Association. The advantage of a wounded, lamfcjduck president is that he can quack with conviction without worrying about re-elec tion. "An ugly duckling myself, I once gave a speech calling for a ban on handguns to my eighth-grade class nearly seven years ago. Call it prophetic wisdom. That was long before towns like Littleton, Paducah and Jonesboro became part of geo graphic consciousness. In fact, later this month will mark the first anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre. Likewise, it was prophetic wisdom that inspired the adoption of the Constitution’s Second Amendment, which says roughly: A well-regulated mililia being necessary for the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. Such simple language, unlike the wordy nonsense lawmakers write today. It’s amazing what it takes these days just to get even a little “natural quiet.” But in that simple language, one word stands out like 7-foot Brendan Haywood in a class full of kindergartners. Militia. I might not have a problem with the Second Amendment if every gun owner signed up w ith the National Guard, which does a fine job of “militializing” for my money. But with most gun owners not enlisted, I wonder whom these patriots plan to fight. The U.S. government? I’m afraid that Smith & Wesson won’t quite match up against a Tomahawk cruise missile. If you ask the NRA, the enemy is violent Readers' Forum DTH Article Right On In Heralding Visibility As Priority for GLBTs TO THE EDITOR: 1 must commend The Daily Tar Heel for the March 23 article “Tearing Down the Closet.” You pinpointed the most pivotal issue within the gay movement: visi bility! As Audre Lorde said, “ ... the vis ibility which makes us most vulnera ble is that which is also our greatest source of strength.” The “closet” has perpetuated homophobia and discrimination for much too long. Nonetheless, “coming out” is still very difficult for many gays, lesbians, bisexuals and trans genders (GLBT). It still carries the possibility of discrimination, violence or exclusion. This is a point in which allies can also make a difference. By actively supporting the GLBT community and condemning discrimination, allies serve as a catalyst for increased visibility by making it safer for those who are “out.” So GLB T and allies, let your pres- Vicky Eckenrode & Cate Doty MANAGING EDITORS Thomas Ausman DESIGN EDITOR Megan Sharkey GRAPHICS EDITOR William Hill ONLINE EDITOR BRANDON BRISCOE VOICE OF REASON crime. They’ll rattle off statistics about h’eroic gun owners preventing crimes daily. Yet for each such tale of heroic glory, there is a matching story whose tragedy is far greater. During my Spring Break in New Orleans, a man used a legally owned weapon to stop a carjacking. An off-duty police officer arrived on the scene to see the man firing at the ban dits racing off into the night. The officer, a 12-year veteran of the force, used his own weapon to shoot the would-be hero in the head. An awful lot of shooting because of a car. Sadly, violence begets violence, and we have too much of both. Removing guns from our streets will leave fewer crimes that need prevention. The president has called for more licensing and waiting periods and background checks. He even held a press conference last month to gloat when Smith & Wesson agreed to a settle ment in a lawsuit filed by several cities against gun manufacturers. Hypocritically, one mayor took pari in the festivities even though his city sold confiscat ed guns back to a manufacturer. One gun was later used in a crime. But while Clinton’s work is all nice and good, it won’t do the trick. Clearly, criminals are not buying their guns at their local hunt ing shop. In fact, many simply steal them from law-abiding citizens who bought a gun for protection in the first place. More than trigger locks and paperwork, we ought to roll back the number of guns lying around the country. Handguns are destruction ence be known! Celebrities are increasing visibility on the national level; now it’s our responsibility to promote the person al connections which spread accep tance. A great opportunity for this is coming up during Celebration Week, today through April 7, sponsored by Queer Network for Change. The National Day of Silence will be recognized Wednesday to protest the oppressive silence forced on GLBT in the form of the closet, as well sexual assault and domestic vio lence survivors and numerous other oppressed groups. Then on Thursday, a Visibility March will be held between classes, a perfect opportunity for GLBT and allies to make their presence known. We will congregate at 12:10 p.m. in the Pit and march at 12:20 p.m. There will be tons of Pride and Allied posters provided. So come out and show your sup port! Shannon Graham Senior Women's Studies and Political Science Terry Wimmer OMBUDSMAN and grief waiting to happen, and their sale in this country should be drastically reduced. Every handgun in an American home is a threat, not to criminals, but to innocent peo ple. Some will point to statistics from other countries to argue that the presence of guns doesn’t necessarily yield violence, although the murder rate in France hardly seems rele vant to you or me. Others will say that this is a matter of per sonal liberty - that we need to keep “big brother” from infringing on our rights. Meanwhile, to promote safety in this cul ture of violence, we install security cameras and metal detectors in our office buildings, courthouses and schools. Oh yes, we are certainly shielding our selves from prying eyes. Ironically, many students must pass well paid security officers and expensive security systems to get into a school where they find un-air-conditioned classrooms, antiquated textbooks and underpaid, poorly trained teachers. Indeed, defending the Second Amendment is not defending our rights - it’s trading them. And it’s a bad trade at that. Let’s not be foolish, however. Obviously, we’ll never remove all the guns, and not all guns are bad. Hunters have a legitimate right to own a rifle or shotgun, and most use them appropri ately. Fire at will, Elmer Fudd. And we will never rid ourselves of violence or crime, at least not by simply taking away guns. True, the problem runs deeper. But guns add unnecessary fuel to the fire. Put simply, their benefits do not outweigh their cost. We should reduce the prevalence of guns and restore some real “natural quiet” in this country. Brandon Briscoe is a junior journalism and mass communication major from New Orleans. Send him tips and comments at brandon__briscoe@unc .edu. Area Lucky to Have Chapel Hill Transit’s Quality Bus System TO THE EDITOR: In response to Thursday’s “Mass Transit Gift,” I would like to comment that experimenting with free transit over the holiday season is a good idea. However, the editorial seemed to undermine the quality of the exist ing transit system. 1 think every stu dent at this University, as well as every Chapel Hill and Carrboro res ident, should be grateful for the sys tem we have. Other college towns do not benefit from such a service. For example, stu dents at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va., must rely on a yellow and green painted school bus to take them around campus. Whereas I would not complain if mass transit in the area were free, I would rather pay 75 cents to ride than not to be able to ride at all. Dawne Howard Junior Journalism and Mass Communication and History ahp Hatly Glar Hwl I® £n The Daily Tar Heel wel comes reader comments and criticism. Letters to the editor should be no longer than 300 words and must be typed, double-spaced, dated and signed by no more than two people. Students should include their year, major and phone number. Faculty and staff should include their title, department and phone number. The DTH reserves the right to edit letters for space, clarity and vulgarity. Publication is not guaran teed. Bring letters to the DTH office at Suite 104, Carolina Union, mail them to P.O. Box 3257, Chapel Hill, NC 27515 or e-mail forum to: editdesk@unc.edu.
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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April 3, 2000, edition 1
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