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8 Thursday, July 7, 2000 Brian Frederick EDITOR Jonathan Chaney MANAGING EDITOR' Board Editorials Red Light North Carolina proudly continues its tradition of zero-tolerance for drunk driving with new laws that recently went into effect. North Carolina’s roads are a little bit safer thanks to much needed laws cracking down on habitual drunk drivers. The laws, which were passed last year by the General Assembly, took effect July 1, 2000 and will affect drivers convicted of DWI offenses after that date. They reduce the legal alcohol concentra tion from 0.08 to 0.04 for drivers who have been convicted of one DWI and conse quendy reinstate their driver’s license. They also reduce the legal alcohol limit from 0.04 to 0.00 for those convicted of a sec ond DWI, thus making it a “two strikes, you’re out” zero-tolerance policy. The new laws also require the installation of ignition-interlock system for drivers who show a wanton disregard for human safety by being convicted of having an alcohol con centration of 0.16 or greater. The system will force drivers to breathe into a breathalyzer type device to start their car in order to assure they have no alcohol in their system. These new laws send a strong message that North Carolina will not tolerate repeat drunk drivers. And considering the costs in human lives that drunk driving has pro duced, such a strong message is warranted. “The problem of habitual offenders tends to be growing. Those folks tend to be the most dangerous,” said Wake County district attorney Colon Willoughby. According to statistics compiled by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, of the 41,471 traffic fatalities in the United States in 1998, 38.4 percent of them were alcohol related. Two Faces of AI Vice President Al Gore consistantly trumpets himself as a passionate environmentalist. Yet his stock portfolio tells a different story. It is extremely difficult to take anything politicians say at face value. And Vice President Al Gore has made that painfully clear. The supposed Democratic heir to the pres idency has shaped his campaign around the theme of continued economic prosperity in a clean environment. But the Gore family has substantial holdings in an overseas oil com pany, making his position on the environ ment hypocritical. If Al wants Democrats to take him seriously and at his word, he should drop those oil stocks immediately. The company, Occidental Petroleum, is currently in a land dispute with U'wa tribe in Columbia over its plan to drill for oil on ground sacred to the tribe. The situation is so dire that the 5,000-member tribe has promised to commit mass suicide if their land is desecrated by the company’s drilling. However, the Gore family, which controls at least $500,000 worth of Occidental stock, stands to make a pretty penny if the compa ny goes forward with the drilling. It is esti mated that 1.5 billion barrels of oil are stored beneath the sacred territory. It all boils down to politics and money. Gore stands to potentially double his hold ings in the company if the drilling goes through. That’s certainly an incentive to look the other way on this particular environ mental issue. Though Gore spokesmanjames Kennedy has referred to the events in Columbia as out of bounds, saying it is “an internal domestic matter and the United States does not have the unilateral authority to intervene in it,” Washington politics are undisputedly inter twined in this messy situation. The administration is pushing a $1 billion aid package to Columbia that will help to tTltc flatly uar Heel Business and Advertising: janet Gallagher- Cassel, director/general manager; Chrissy Beck, director of marketing; Laurie Morton, dassified/custormer service manager; Lisa Arts/Features: Kit Foss, Ariadne Guthrie, Karen Whichard and Michael Woods. City/State & National: Karen Brewer, Rebecca Farthing, Kate Hartig, Russ Lane and Tykesha Spivey. Copy: Katie Young. Design/Graphics: August Jenkins, Ashley Jones and Zetteng Xiao. The editorials are approved by the majority of the editorial board, which is composed of the editor and the managing editor. The Daily Tar Heel is published by the DTH Publishing Corp., a non-profit North Carolina corporation, Monday-Fnday, according to the University calendar Callers with questions about billing or display advertising should call 962-1163 between 9 a m. and 5 p.m. Classified ads can be reached at 962-0252. Editorial questions should be directed to 962-0245 In North Carolina, 32.1 percent of the state’s 1,596 traffic deaths in 1998 were alco hol related, making it well below the nation al average. The numbers indicate that North Carolina’s tough stance on drunk drivers is helping, and these new laws will only improve the numbers. Millie Webb, national president of MADD, agrees. “North Carolina has histor ically demonstrated leadership by initiating progressive legislation and strong enforce ment to address impaired driving. As the voice of two million MADD members and supporters, I commend the state of North Carolina for responsibly addressing the seri ous threat to society that impaired driving poses, and taking proactive steps in order to protect the citizens of this great state.” The new restrictions give police officers a new tool in the fight against drunk drivers, adding protection to North Carolina’s roads -as well as adding peace of mind for its dri vers. “With this new legislation in hand, law enforcement will be able to crack down hard er than ever on those who mistakenly choose to get behind the wheel after drinking,” state Secretary of Transportation David McCoy boasted at a news conference in Raleigh last week. Though the laws that just went into effect will not be a cure-all for the problem of drunk driving, it is another positive step towards keeping destructive drivers off our roads. These repeat offenders must not be cod died if the problem is ever to be improved. combat guerrillas who are attacking the gov ernment. It just so happens that the insur gents have also been striking Occidental’s pipelines, cutting into the company’s profits. Also, Gore and Occidental seem to have been swapping employees. Scott Pastrick, former treasurer of the Democratic National Committee and Gore fundraising ally in 1996, landed a job with Occidental to pro mote the drilling project a year later. And Energy Secretary Bill Richardson hired for mer Occidental lobbyist Theresa Fariello, who lobbied for the drilling project, last year. Surely, these personnel moves are not mere coincidences. With this connection to a major oil com pany, Gore no longer has the moral author ity to lambaste Republican George W. Bush as a puppet of “Big Oil” if it is lining his pock ets as well. “It takes somebody who is independent from ‘Big Oil’ to take on ‘Big Oil’, and I’m independent from them,” Gore proclaimed last week. Give us a break, Al. If Gore is independent from “Big Oil” interests, he would have no problem speak ing out against Occidental’s upcoming pro ject. If you are truly the passionate environ mentalist, who has not had any qualms about chastising other foreign nations over their environmental records, why stay silent about Occidental, Mr. Vice President? With a bully pulpit, an informed national audience and more sway in international and domestic affairs than any other vice president in recent memory, it would be in character for him to speak out against Occidental. But Mr. Gore has two faces, one environ mentalist and one investor. It makes one wonder which Al the public is voting for this November. Professional and Business Staff Reichle, business manager Display Advertising: Katie Bawden and Skye Nunnery, account executives. Advertising Production: Penny Persons, man Editorial Staff Photography: Alexis Richardson Sports: Adam Hill and Hal Wansley, University: Michael Abel, Jeremy Bradley, Jennifer Brawn, Tommy Johnstone, Craig Ledford, Chris ISN #10709436 Office: Suite 104 Carolina Union Campus Mail Address: CB# 5210 Box 49, Carolina Union U.S. Mall Address: P.O. Box 3257, Chapel Hill, NC 27515 3257 (Thr Daili| (Tar itel Established 1893 ■ 106 Years of Editorial Freedom wwv.unc.edu/dth Worth Civils CITY/STATE S NATIONAL EDITOR Courtney Mabeus UNIVERSITY EDITOR Classified Production: Sheila Lenahan Stegali and Mark Thomas. Editorial Production: Stacy Wynr manager. Printing: Triangle Web. Editorial Justin Winters AR TS/ENTERI AINMF.NT EDITOR Will Kimmey SPORTS EDITOR Choose a President, Choose a Court When I was younger -and some might say dumber - I lived the wild life in Seattle for a while. I had dyed-orange hair and a nose ring, and if the WTO had come to town while I was there I probably would have been out with the rest of the wild-eyed anarchists, throwing rocks and vandalizing McDonald’s. I lived in a communal house near the University of Washington campus and I worked at a cooperative restaurant that didn’t pay cash but let you eat for free instead. The food was organic so I figured I was getting a good deal. In the room I shared at die communal house with my friend West Coast Dave we had a poster taped to the door: “Top 10 Reasons Not to Vote.” In particular, I still remember number 2 on the list: “Voting for the lessor of two evils is still voting for evil." Dave and I were so contemptuous of poli tics that during election season we would ridicule anyone who talked about voting as a pawn trying to exercise an empty and useless right. Since that time, I’ve been through several years of college here at UNC - you can’t wash dishes forever no matter how good the free organic tofu is - my hair has returned to its natural color and I’ve removed all my piercings. These days I wear a tie to work and although I’d probably watch folks smash up a McDonald's if I had the chance, I doubt I’d throw any rocks. I’ve even voted in the last two elections and sometimes 1 read and enjoy a columnist like George Will - only occasion ally, though. Still, no matter how much my politics have changed since the Seattle days, something about “voting for the lessor of two evils" still rings true, especially considering the upcom ing presidential elections. To lead the richest, most powerful country in the world, voters in the United States are faced with a choice between Al Gore and George W. Bush. Either way, things don’t look good for the ballot in November. There’s George Bush, a man who looks and Daily Kansan Writer Reflects on Roy Dreaming is a powerful thing. Just ask Roy Williams. I still recall talking to Coach Williams after a game when 1 was in eighth grade. I told him 1 planned to play for him after high school. He encouraged me to follow my dreams, study hard and keep up the good work. While I didn’t fulfill my end of the bargain, mostly due to a lack of basketball talent, he has always kept his promises to Jayhawk fans. He’s turned down offers to coach for NBA teams 23 times, he’s turned down numerous offers from other schools and he’s fought off rumors of going back to North Carolina too many times to count. We’ve worried that someday the rumors would be true. But he’s always been honest with us. Always. He’s also blessed this University with one of the finest basketball programs in the nation. He gave us the winningest program in the ’9os, signed McDonald’s All-Americans and his teams compiled 62 consecutive wins on the Allen Fieldhouse floor. No coach has matched the overall success that Williams has given Kansas in his 12 years as coach. Williams brought Kansas basketball to a pinnacle of success that no one could have imagined when he was hired as an unknown assistant coach at North Carolina 12 years Mike Ogle SPORTS EDITOR Caroline Hupfer DESIGN EDITOR . \ I ** - BILL HILL POINT OF VIEW acts so much like the fabled missing link that I’m surprised he hasn’t been snapped up for study by an anthropology department some where. Unbelievably, he appears to be even more empty-headed than his father, ex-President George Bush, which is no small feat. In an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer earlier this year, George Jr. got stumped when he was asked what he thought about the 14th Amendment. For the record, number 14 is pretty impor tant as far as constitutional amendments go. You should check it out if you haven’t already. Then ask yourself: don’t you think a man who hopes to someday swear to uphold the Constitution should know a little bit about it first? Let’s not forget about Al Gore, the man who claimed to have invented the Internet. I hear he was going to take credit for Saran Wrap, French kissing and the wheel but his aides talked him out of it. A few weeks ago the networks were abuzz with the news that Al Gore wears make-up. It’s true: Al supposedly brushes his face with foundation every morning. At first, I found these hints of cross-dressing troubling. Then I realized: the White House could use someone with a really keen fashion sense. Just think what he could do with those horrible gold drapes behind the president’s desk in the Oval office. Yet even in the face of such mediocrity, I’ve found some good reasons to get out and vote this year. Nine good reasons in fact: namely, the Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. ■ CHRIS WRISTEN KANSAN STAFF COLUMNIST ago. He came to Kansas dreaming, and he allowed us to dream with him. He has allowed us to dream of national championships, streaks, big wins and victory celebrations. He has also turned Kansas basketball into a national model for respect. Coach Williams has built a program that all fans can be proud of. Williams should be proud of it too. Besides, it is his program. He’s said so himself. “For the first three years here I felt like I was walking into the office of a head basket ball coach, and since then I’ve felt like I was walking into my office,” Williams said al his press conference Friday. He has also said many times that his finger prints are all over the program and that it is his program. Now, Williams’ dream has become like a nightmare. With the resignation of North Carolina basketball coach Bill Guthridge on Friday, Williams is now the speculative front runner for the job. “For 12 years this is a day I hoped would never come,” said Williams. He’s trapped in a battle of loyalties, and the decision will be difficult for Williams. He is ahr Daily (Ear Hrri Emily Schnure PHOTO EDITOR Josh Williams ONLINE EDITOR If only one or two justices retires during the next four years, the president we elect will be able to leave his mark on America for decades after he leaves office. Chiefjustice William Rehnquist and Justice Antonin Scalia have both mentioned retire ment, and Justice Ruth Ginsburg has had health problems. Sadly, barring a nasty autoerotic asphyxia tion accident, we’ll be stuck with Clarence Thomas for another 20 years - we can thank George Bush Sr. for that one. Regardless, the next president will have spaces to fill on the Supreme Court and these new judges could change the outcome of important cases. This session alone the Court has decided cases on freedom of religion, freedom of asso ciation and Miranda rights. Over the next few years the court could face more abortion cases as well as gun con trol issues. Even one new judge could make the difference and provide the swing vote in important cases. Asa result, the upcoming election isn’t just about the president, it’s about the Supreme Court as well. Whether you are a woman who believes she has the right to choose, or a God-fearing gun nut who thinks there is a Constitutional right to own machine guns, you should pay careful attention to the upcoming election. The way you cast your vote will decide whether the next appointment to the Supreme Court is a Thurgood Marshall or a Clarence Thomas. Orange-haired anarchists, starched-shirt wearing bankers and rebel flag-waving 4x4 drivers alike should listen closely to Bush and Gore and their plans for the Supreme Court. This November, vote conservative, vote liberal, hell even throw in a couple of goose stepping votes for Pat Buchanan, but whatever you do, be sure to vote. If you don’t, the rights you take for granted today might be gone tomorrow. Bill Hill is a senior anthropology major from Raleigh. He can be reached at wbhill@unc.edu with any questions, comments or concerns. only asking for patience from the fans who have offered heart felt support throughout his tenure. “I will owe Bob Frederick for the rest of my life for giving me the chance and the opportunity, and that friendship will be there regardless,” Williams said. He also got a little choked up at the press conference when speaking of his players and a pair of glasses that Eric Chenowith gave him. It’s the people that are important to Williams. But then there’s that dream. “When I was a kid I dreamed of playing at North Carolina and of coaching at North Carolina,” Williams said. “But it was always of coaching under Coach Smith, not as head coach.” Yes, Williams has given us a lifetime of dreams and memories. Now it’s our turn to let him do some dreaming of his own. We owe it to him to grant his wish of patience while he dreams for a little bit and makes his decision. Honestly, I can’t blame him for considering it, although I’d hate to see him go. Just like everybody else, I hope he stays until he retires. But remember, he did say he dreamed of coaching at North Carolina as an assistant under Coach Smith. He’s lived that dream already. We’ll soon find out what dreams lie in the future for Williams, but I believe his skies will be gleamingjayhawk blue by July 7.
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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July 6, 2000, edition 1
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