Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Sept. 18, 2000, edition 1 / Page 13
Part of Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Ufyp oaily (Ear TUwl Service Another Valuable Element of Education If you’ve watched the news lately, you’ve undoubtedly seen our leading presidential candidates speak about the happy state of our prospering nation. When I listen to them, I get die glowing feeling that we’re doing OK. Everyone has a job, senior citizens are going to get prescription drugs somehow, and soon, the only thing left for us to do will be to pay off the national debt to improve our international ifidit rating. %Are you skeptical? Read on ... vLast week, the Children’s Defense Fund ipnsored a conference at Davidson College, mjirian Wright Edelman, the organization’s and president, spoke about the chal- Hjges that face children today and ratded off sjitistics that I found troubling. are from CDFs Web site: Every four minutes in America, a child is for drug abuse. Every day, 1,540 babies are bom without health insurance. J* ■ Every two hours, a child is killed by a firearm. * ■ Every day, on average, 218 children are arrested for committing violent crimes out of the 5,044 children arrested during that 24-hour {A Modest Proposal' for UNC It is a sad sight for those who walk through this great town when they see the streets, the dorms and the dining halls crowded with teenagers fresh out of high school. These chil dren, instead of being in a more struc tured learning environment, are free to move about the campus grounds with out any real purpose, other than to consume massive amounts of Lenoir arid Chase food, while annoying their busy elders. I think it is agreed upon by nearly all parties that this overwhelming num ber of young students living amongst veteran scholars is more than just an unnecessary nuisance. And it is also commonly thought that whoever could find a cheap and easy method of mak ing these children sound, useful mem bers of the University, would deserve to have a statue dedicated to him or her. ' For my part, I have for several years turned my thoughts toward this subject and have maturely weighed the merits of quite a few schemes. A freshman only sector of the University would iso late this group and leave the develop ment of their social skills at the mercy of similarly underage peers. Forced labor would draw the ire of numerous campus organizations. And compulso ry travel abroad tor two terms is sim ply too expensive. Therefore my conclusion is one that, instead of allowing them to drain food resources from the rest of the University, would on the contrary give freshmen the opportunity to contribute to the feeding of the upperclassmen. Thus, I humbly propose my own thoughts, which I hope will not be liable to the least objection. We, as sophomores, juniors, seniors and grad uate students, must unite for a greater cause. We must eat the freshmen. Revisiting the Tuition Hike It’s interesting how an issue can capture the attention and emotion of an entire university community, then slowly fade into the background until it is finally filed away with contempt under the tide “Shit Accepted With Resignation.” One such issue is the war over last year’s tuition increase. I’m sure nearly everyone, even freshmen, remembers the endless debate that continued day after day on the front page of The Daily Tar Heel, through the quad and straight to the five o’clock news with video clips of outraged students waving signs as the academic powers-that-be destroyed the purpose of a public university education. I know I had my fair share of hissy fits. Asa card-holding member and proud daughter of the much discussed “lower economic strata,” I raged each day for months about the injustice of it all. At the time, fueled by the primal instinct to protect my pathetic bank account, I didn’t understand the need to take money from the students in order to turn around and give it to professors who already made quite a nice salary, so I’ve beard. And constandy reading that the average annual salary of a UNC student’s family was somewhere around SBO,OOO, followed by the necessary statement that, of course, for the lower-class student money from the tuition raise would be pumped into more grants and scholarships, just made me bitter. Frankly, I didn’t believe it. * Furthermore, I felt that if more funds were truly needed, then they should be received through taxes. After all, my parents and I pay taxes just like everyone else, and many UNC graduates are sure to contribute to the growth and prosperity of this state and nation. However, I think it might be time to reexamine the whole issue. Almost a year later, I still don’t claim to understand the intricate logic behind every part of the tuition increase, nor do I know yet if I believe that a beneficial amount of the money is being used for more financial assistance. But I hereby resign my right to bitch and complain about it, at least for now. The fact is, this year, on top of two federal grants, I RUDY KLEYSTEUBER POINT OF VIEW period. ■ Our country spends more in one week on our military than we spend in an entire year of Head Start programs, and we still can’t meet the demand for them. So maybe it shouldn’t surprise us that in this century, we have lost more children to gun vio lence than we lost soldiers to the Vietnam war. The statistics are certainly troubling, but we’ve all heard similar numbers thrown at us before. It’s often hard to sift out meaning and logical action from figures that are meant to affect you emotionally. Sometimes, we need a simple, logical ques tion to help us. Ms. Edelman measured the state of our nation with a question that should have been rhetorical: “Can’t we guarantee the safe passage of our children to adulthood?” My experiences as a mentor in the Campus Y’s big buddy program and, later, as co-presi dent of the Campus Y, have taught me that DAVID LAWSON POINT OF VIEW Of the 3,400 newly arrived, starry eyed urchins who have not yet had their spirits crushed by the sheer strain of college life, an estimated 1,500 will put on something approximate to the dreaded “Freshman 15.” But now, this extra baggage is a ben efit. An average female weighing between 120 and 160 pounds, and the average male weighing between 150 and 200 pounds, will provide 150 pounds of meat just between the two of them. This number is arrived at after subtracting bone, inedible organs, etc. With this being the case, most upper classmen will be able to obtain all nec essary protein for an entire semester thanks to just two or three freshmen. Why not sophomores, you ask? Well, by the time a third semester rolls around on this campus, the majority of these returning students have worked themselves into a state of chronic fatigue, while the muscles within their bodies have become stringy and thus chewy and tasteless. Adding to the detracting factors is my observation that many of these stu dents are now with child or at least well on their way to it. To rob young, love-struck couples of an offspring that may become food for our own children is simply selfish. Many of you may have your doubts concerning taste, texture and, of course, how this will affect the food chain, ecosystem, what have you. Asa concerned environmentalist, I assure you that we are actually helping the welfare of our state. The need for pigs, and thus the problem of nasty river runoff will be eliminated. Our younger comrades shall take their place, with- DOROTHY BRACKETT POINT OF VIEW Yes, I am still bogged down with two hefty loans that will be used to buy food and books and other basic necessities of living. No, I don’t know if the increase in aid was a result of money garnered from the tuition increase. In fact. I’m almost sure it’s not. But what I do realize is that, just as the original price tag didn’t stop me from coming here as a freshman, the tuition increase didn’t stop me from returning as a sophomore. I’m forced to admit that both our govern ment and academic administrators seem to be doing every thing they can to make sure that quality higher education can become a reality for anyone, regardless of his or her economic class. Truthfully, looking back, I feel a bit guilty and ashamed of my passionate protests; underneath it all I understood that quality professors are extremely important in maintaining the prestige of this wonderful University I call home. As for my argument that the increased pay should come from tax payers, I must admit that taxes can only go so far, and as it is, they are doing a very poor job of paying public elemen tary, middle and high school teachers. At the same time, I do not intend to speak for everyone, only myself. If there are other students who truly are strug gling more due to the tuition increase, then I reserve this space to angrily state that I’ve been deceived by those slimy bureaucrats once again. I’m sure one day I’ll again be whin ing even more profusely as I’m repaying my loans, but I’ll also know that it was worth it. I encourage all others like me to reexamine the tuition increase and perhaps lay your protests to rest, or at least refile them under “such is life.” Dorothy Brackett is a sophomore Russian language and lit erature and modern European history major from Fayetteville. Reach her at dbracket@email.unc.edu. Viewpoints even within our own country, we’d be lying if we said we could. Today, we can’t guarantee that a child with an ear infection won’t suffer hearing loss because he can’t get a basic antibiotic. We can’t guarantee that a student will get the glasses she needs to see the blackboard in class and learn to read. We can’t promise that babies will get the nutrition they need to grow up healthy, even if their family can’t afford it We can’t say for sure that public schools are safe, equitable or even effective. “The only thing,” Ms. Edelman continued, “our nation will guarantee a child is a jail or prison cell after they get into trouble.” Here’s Ms. Edelman’s point. It’s not that we can’t promise any of these other things. It’s just that so far, we’ve chosen not to. And that’s where this becomes a political question. We haven’t yet found a way to feed, clothe, shelter and care for even our own nation’s most defenseless populations. We haven’t found the need to ensure that our comfort in this country doesn’t rest on the sweat and tears of people elsewhere. And we certainly don’t think of ourselves as stewards to out rolling around in mud all day and eating their own waste. In terms of the plausibility of actual ly eating a student, the palms of the hand are a delicacy befitting a king, and, much like a chicken, leg, chest and wing (arm) meat, constitute a healthy and hearty centerpiece of an evening meal. But the pressing question of how to avoid a revolt of some sort is one that certainly deserves answer. Our male specimens will be treated to a “Free Beer Social” that provides just that - all the beer they can drink. Of course, these drink., contain a knockout agent and render the young men helpless. The stronger elders, and those with a good bit of endurance and a good stomach, will then haul the bodies to a cow farm for a simple, painless anal electrocution. The female specimens will be given unlimited access to anew kind of tan ning bed, one that demands a lengthy stay, but yields a deeper, darker tan with no exposure to harmful, carcino genic radiation. The comforting warmth will lull the subjects to sleep, but at the right moment, the heat is drastically increased, providing the perfect tan, right down to the bone. Now, both male and female speci mens arrive cooked and well tender ized, ready for our gluttonous enjoy ment. And, with any questions as to my reasons for this, in the sincerity of my heart, I profess that I have not the least personal interest in endeavoring to promote this necessary work. I have no other motive than the public good of my University. David Lawson is a junior English and political science major from Kernersville. Send cannibalistic recipes to drlawson@email.unc.edu. received a UNC scholarship of SI,OOO more than the one I received last year; those completely covered my tuition, room and board. My roommate’s financial aid also increased substantial ly- equitable worldwide devel opment. So here’s where I pose my question to you: What have you chosen to do with your years at Carolina? Many college students today don’t like to think about the problems in the “real world.” It’s not that we’re not informed; it’s just that if we choose, it’s easy to forget the problems of the outside world in the everyday mix of class es, clubs and keggers. Some of us, after arriving at Carolina, choose to continue our high school practice of commu nity service, for various reasons, and through various oudets. Many do serve through organizations like the Campus Y, through fraternities and sorori ties, through events like last year’s Project UNC or through activist groups like Students for Bdonomic Justice. But service without a coupled action for reform does little. “We cannot wait, because Ghandi and Dr. ' AAAUXM-s Sports Infatuation; Not Media, At Root of Violence in Society Every time we turn on the televi sion, we hear about how some scrawny little boy got picked on at school and responded by shooting down a dozen of his more popular classmates. We hear about women being sexual ly assaulted by men in bars. We hear about gays being beaten to death by homophobes and about people getting road rage after some guy cuts them off in traffic. The violent nature of our society has often been blamed on slasher movies and video games. Vice presidential hopeful Joseph Lieberman has made a big deal out of our need to “clean up” Hollywood. What no one seems to pay attention to is the violent (and destructive) nature of sports. Our whole nation would be better off if college and pro fessional sports were completely non existent. I know that I just made a ton of ene mies with such a bold statement (espe cially at this University), but hear me out. Maybe I can un-brainwash all of you sports fanatics out there. The recent (and justified) firing of Indiana University basketball coach Bob Knight is just more proof that sports bring out the very worst in people. The psychotic Knight was fired for being physically abusive to his players, as well as for assaulting an assistant coach and a team spokesman in the past. He actually went into multiple mindless rages because of a game where people toss an orange ball back and forth down a court. Soccer fans aren’t any better. There are constant reports from Europe of “football” fans having terrifying stadi um riots. One of the worst stadium riots ever recorded happened in 1985. At the Heysel Stadium in Brussels, fans of rival teams were mistakenly sealed too close to one another. The result? More than 400 people were injured, among them 38 people who were kicked and beaten to death. Are these petty rivalries really worth it? Instead of eliminating violence from R-rated movies that young children cannot readily see anyhow, shouldn't something be done to take all this sporty violence off of television? I would personally start with the most annoying professional sport of all “Many college students today don’t like to think about the problems in the ‘real world. ’... If we choose, it’s easy to forget (them) in the everyday mix of classes, clubs and keggers. ” JIMMY AUTREY II POINT OF VIEW wresding. Robert H. Durant, a psychologist from Wake Forest University, recendy did a study on the effects of watching professional wresding on children. He went to a middle school in Winston- Salem and found boys physically hurt ing each other by imitating wresding moves and even some boys who body slammed girls and called them “bitch es” and “hos.” It’s obvious he found the connecdon he was looking for. The psychotic nature of sports fans is evident everywhere. Parents of little league players tear apart their children’s self esteem by shout ing out obscenities at their games. High school jocks are treated like gods, while their honor student peers are treated “What no one seems to pay attention to is the violent (and destructive) nature of sports. Our whole nation would be bet ter off if college and professional sports were... non-existent." like outcasts. People scream until their throats get raw at baltgames (or in front of the TV), attempting to prove to everyone else just how “serious" of a fan they are. Simply put: It disgusts me! Sports fans remind me of a par k of 12 year old girls at an *NSYNC concert they’re completely irrational The power of sports ovei tin- psychi of then fans is uudeiuable Just listen to the sounds on the hallway of your dorm during a ball game (and it does n’t even have to be a lai Heel game; You’ll hear a bunch ol maniacs st mam mg their lungs out in rage bei ause someone on dieu favorite team was fouled, cheated or whatever You dou’t see lans of •'hotly tin Vainpue Slayer” going uitu ahymm al frenzy when Butty manages to stake a bloodsuckei And you didn’t see “Dawson’s Creek” fans loiiei papenqg trees when Joey decided to date IWy instead of Dawson ain-i lasi season's finale. bports tans are uniquely obsessive about dieu te ams to tin point that j have to question then sanity But what u then- to ire obsessed with? My first guess would be that pcupL Monday, September 18, 2000 King are not coming back,” Edelman said to the hushed room. ‘But we can do it, if we care, and if we are willing to serve* College is a great opportunity to build on everything you teamed in high school. Calculus builds on geometry and Faulkner builds on Fiosl So why not add one more element to your education, and let intelligent social awareness and action build on soup kitchens? Ms. Edelman said last week that she ‘used to think, as an idealistic young person, that if you just told the truth, people would do what's right.” Ms. Edelman, we still do think that. And we care. And we are willing to serve. Rudy Kleysteuber is a junior biology major from McLean. Va. He’s co-president of the Campus Y. but denies that this is a shameless recruiting plug. He can be reached at rudy tootie@hotmail.com. identify with teams that they have some sort of tangible connection to. Not! Professional athletes usually have nothing to do with the cities for which they play. More than 90 percent of the Tar Heel fans I know didn’t even go to college, much less know some one that did when they first became fans. Sports become dangerous when fans actually start to identify themselves with the jocks they see on the screen. The winner of these games is com pletely irrelevant in die grand scheme of things, but fans never seem to see that. They spend millions of dollars to watch other people (people whom they don’t even know) play ball and have fun. And when their favorite team doesn't come through, many lans go into a < omplete down ward spiral That’s t/uig i ojirge cam fight* wtlb (am <A rival teams My advu* to all those smutty ,m is (ui you to to tin j Hirir' Uo kqp4*J ttm*Ms Um OPEN TO ill; &£*s* ite well uMMk tfIMfPT MttMMMM Ibw Ak Ml HMM*'liifl(|f HfMMrt* AH optima* w fMM it Va Iff hi |p 13
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Sept. 18, 2000, edition 1
13
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75