Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Sept. 21, 2000, edition 1 / Page 14
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14 Thursday, September 21, 2000 Concerns or comments about our coverage? Contact the ombudsman at cxntudsinan@Unc.edu or call 9334611. Kelli Boutin EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR Kim Minugh UNIVERSITY EDITOR Ginny Sciabbarrasi CITY EDITOR Board Editorials Muy Bueno Latino Night, a program geared toward Spanish-speaking parents, should be emulated by other schools in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Que bien escuelas publicas de Chapel Hill! Monday night, Frank Porter Graham Elementary School held its first Latino Night of the school year. The program is invaluable to the growing Hispanic population in Chapel Hill and Carrboro and should be emulated by more local schools. Latino Night is geared toward Spanish speaking parents. Several important issues such as vaccinations, school policies and PTA events were presented entirely in Spanish, offering non-English speaking parents and their children a chance to interact with school officials and gather information. Latino Night is an excellent example of events meant to include the growing Spanish-speaking population in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Recently, a large number of Latino immigrants have moved to this area, including families with school-age children. The influx of Spanish speakers can be seen at Frank Porter Graham, where 77 non- English-speaking students are enrolled. Moving to a country without being fluent in its language can be an intimidating expe rience. That’s why programs such as Latino Night offer a worthwhile service to Hispanic families. It allows them to play an active role in their children’s schooling without feeling uncomfortable about the language barrier. Wes White Editorial Notebook Going Down The constant state of disrepair of the down escalator departing Top of Lenoir is a baffling mystery that annoys students. UNC has long been known as one of the nation’s top research universities. We are on the cutting edge in fields such as medicine, biology and physics. Soon, UNC will have anew provost in place who must share in the responsibility of insuring that the University sustains its excel lence in research and problem solving. And our provost will immediately be con fronted with a problem requiring hard work, dedication and perhaps new research. It could be the University’s biggest quandary: the down escalator at Lenoir Dining Hall. The escalator’s schizophrenic reliability has been a concern for many UNC students. It works at lunch and is suddenly out of com mission at dinner. It might work one week and be shut down the next. All the while, its counterpart, the up escalator, never falters. Indeed, the down escalator predicament has eluded some of the most brilliant minds at UNC. Day in and day out, the mainte nance men toil and labor on the escalator, but to no avail. They have many more questions than answers. Are students eating so much at Top of Lenoir that the escalator can’t handle the extra weight? Or are students trying to run Readers' Forum Sports Violence Concerns Raised in Column Merit ‘Serious Discussion’ TO THE EDITOR: Jimmy Autrey’s column on the relation ship of violence in sports and society at large (“Sports Infatuation, Not Media, at Root of Violence in Society” Sept. 18) is thought-provoking and worth serious dis cussion. To my mind, Mr. Autrey misses the mark somewhat by placing organized sports at the root of societal violence, sub stituting one “root cause” for another. Societal violence is too broad a problem to have one single cause, and it may be impossible to decide whether WWF, World Cup soccer or any other sport is the cause or the result of a world view that holds vio lence toward others as acceptable. Sports are probably some of each, and serve, per haps increasingly, as surrogates for warfare. Phrases such as “attack,” “defend” and “enemy territory" are common in sports lingo. Mr. Autrey hits a bull’s-eye, however, in calling attention to the behavior of many coaches, players and so-called fans. We have become far too accepting of violence Matt Dees EDITOR Office Hours Friday 2 p.m. -3 p.ra. Kathleen Hunter STATE & NATIONAL EDITOR T. Nolan Hayes SPORTS EDITOR Will Kimraey SPORTSATURDAY EDITOR But Frank Porter Graham Elementary has not stopped there. The school has created a hotline for Spanish-speaking parents, estab lishing a consistent flow of information aimed at answering their questions. And the school also has taken steps to create English classes for the parents. In trying to offer English classes, the school is helping Spanish-speaking families ease into American life -a reality of which is that English is the primary language. If the school can get the program off the ground, it would be an incredible resource for Spanish-speaking parents. By making a concerted effort to commu nicate with all parents, even those who do not speak English, Frank Porter Graham is working to ensure that all families have an opportunity to get involved with their chil dren’s education. The school has recognized the need to reach out to Spanish-speaking families who have moved into the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area. And they have acted accordingly by starting Latino Night. But this program is only a beginning. More schools in the area need to consider the rapidly growing non-English population and institute programs aimed at this group, simi lar to Latino Night. Because all our towns’ children deserve an enriching educational environment. up the down escalator in an effort to avoid the expensive dinner price? Unfortunately, there are no answers. UNC’s incoming provost should immedi ately begin recruiting new minds to come to UNC. The most respected think tanks in the United States should be called in to help. Call on the people who helped split the atom, who helped wipe out polio and who put a man on the moon, for God’s sake. Something must be done before it’s too late. Perhaps UNC can incorporate some of the technology being developed for the country’s new missile defense system. Maybe cameras should be in place to monitor the escalator during all hours of the day. If a lack of funds is the problem, then there shouldn’t be a problem in getting the BOG to recommend another tuition hike. In the meantime, I urge everyone to vote for the bond referendum in November. It will allocate a large sum of money to the University, some of which can be used to pay for these new brilliant minds that UNC is in dire need of. After all, it is your down escalator. Now, if we can just do something about the Bell Tower’s silence, we’ll be in business. and bad behavior, on and off the field or court, by people involved at every level of organized sports. Sadly, colleges and universities are not immune to this degradation of manners and good sense. Bobby Knight should have been booted years ago for acting like a jerk and discrediting the University of Indiana, but he had a winning tradition and the administration listened to the boosters more than to their own consciences. Mike O’Cain got the axe at N.C. State last year for not winning enough games, and Carl Torbush was being prepped for a quick departure at UNC until an eleventh hour reprieve. In neither case was their on or off-the-field demeanor in question. But for both, this season is likely a make-or break one. Yet UNC and N.C. State are quick to brag on their “flagship” status and rank themselves among the top institutions of higher learning in the country. Somehow there seems to be a discon nection here, and Mr. Autrey has pointed at least part of it out in a clear and cogent way. Charles Murphy Assistant Professor School of Medicine The length ruie was waived. Opinion (Hie !a% HM Established 1893 • 107 Years of Editorial Freedom www.unc.edu/dtb Jermaine Caldwell FEATURES EDITOR Ashley Atkinson ARTS St ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Carolyn Haynes COPY DESK EDITOR ‘-t*- =?. j-±7 Campus Groups Equal Safe Havens There is strength in numbers, or so the saying goes. I have always thought that phrase had a certain degree of merit to it. Just look at the insect kingdom or a family of bunnies. What strength, what numbers! Heck, I live on South Campus, as do lots of football players. There’s your strength, there’s your numbers. OK, I don’t choose to live here. But this strength in numbers bit makes me feel better about this life of squalor down here. Anyway, I think a large part of college is joining groups. Perhaps this being the first time most of us are out on our own, we feel the need to clump together and get involved in something to replace the homes we have just come from. I am not going to write a column on the bizarre psychological implications of joining Students United for a Responsible Global Environment, but I just thought I would throw it out there. With this in mind, and because I am always curious to see how campus groups work, some friends of mine and I decided to check out the College Republicans’ meeting last week (their sign said it was the best party on campus - unfortunately, once I got there, I realized this was a pun). The meeting was an interesting spectacle in itself. I think I have been to country clubs that have had more people of color in them. I asked Craig “I moonlight as a Tuesday colum nist” Warner, who is also the chairman of College Republicans the question, “Where are all the black people?” Craig replied there was a Black Student Movement meeting that night. I got the feel ing African-American outreach was not very high up on the College Republicans’ priority list (probably in between supporting die arts and saving trees). Fast-forward for a second to this Monday night when I went to the Yo La Tengo concert at Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro. Hoboken, NJ.’s finest rock ’n’ roll export attracted an interesting audience as well, although I am sure I was the only guy who Recent UNC Graduate Promotes Positives Of Teach for America TO THE EDITOR: Asa recent graduate of UNC, I am delighted to write to you about the possi bility of joining Teach For America. Although I graduated from the Kenan- Flagler Business School last year, I chose not to follow the traditional postgraduate business path. Rather, I am writing to you from my desk in a 3rd grade classroom in inner-city Atlanta. For at least the next two years, I will be investing in the lives of all the students who walk through my doors as a teacher for TFA. TFA, which has been at the heart of urban educational reform for a decade, recruits outstanding leaders from colleges and universities throughout the country to teach for two years in under-resourced schools in both urban and rural sites across the United States. UNC students have a strong tradition and a national reputation for being com mitted to social justice. This year, in fact, UNC boasts one of the highest number of participants in TFA. What better way to spend two years of your life than to “ensure Sefton Ipock PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Cobi Edelson DESIGN EDITOR Saleem Reshamwala GRAPHICS EDITOR WILLIAM MCKINNEY CROSSWORD PUZZLE went to both the College Republicans’ meet ing and the concert. Most of the guys and gals there looked like they could have been having coffee in Greenwich Village before coming down to hear the concert - black-rimmed glasses and goatees dominated the fashion scene, just as knit shirts and belt buckles were the acces sories of choice at the College Republicans meeting. When I was at the College Republicans meeting, I thought I could have been listening to a remix of the Michael Jackson hit “You Are Not Alone." Every two or three minutes some speaker would rise and be so happy to see that s/he was not the only conservative on campus. The meeting took on a Sons of Liberty feel ing for me. Back before the Revolutionary War, the Sons of Liberty, led by noted states man/brewer Sam Adams, would hold meet ings in secret locations to talk about the over throw of their own repressive regime. These kids at the College Republicans meeting also seemed more bent on revolution than on politicization. I half expected them to take up arms right there on the spot and take over South Building. Here in this back room of the Student Union, this little group of conservatives were meeting to (I’m not kidding, they really said this) “free the student body from being held under lock and key by a liberal faculty and liberal administration.” I also asked Craig when the College Republicans would release us from being held in this liberal fortress, as well as what our fib- that one day all students in this nation will have the opportunity to receive an excel lent education?” This has been the most challenging, yet the most rewarding, experience of my life, and I trust that you would find the experi ence fulfilling. On behalf of Shontavis, Gerald, Talib and all of my other students whose fives you might touch in the future, please take the time to attend the UNC information session at 7 p.m. on Sept. 27 in 306 Hanes Hall. David femigan Class of 2000 Columnist’s Definition Of Feminism Warrants Added Clarification TO THE EDITOR: It frightens me that clarification is need ed on such a topic, but I felt that Anne Marie Teague’s column (“Feminism Destroyed Dating Game” Sept. 20) could not escape comment. The fact that her dating woes are appar ently what passes for editorial content in a newspaper now is disturbing enough. But that she holds such deep misgivings about Cate Doty & Lauren Beal MANAGING EDITORS Josh Williams ONUNE EDITOR Brian Frederick OMBUDSMAN Laura Stoehr SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS EDITOR eral “prison wardens” had done this week to keep us under their thumb. But he didn’t give me the answer I was looking for. The meeting focused on activism on cam pus, getting conservatives on The Daily Tar Heel and into student government. I have always thought conservatives in government never made much sense myself. If you are really against big government, take yourself out of it. Then it’s already smaller. While I was at the rock concert the next Monday I felt a little of what I think those College Republicans were feeling. At the Cradle, amongst all of these mellowed out and bespectacled fans, I felt like I was back in my middle school clique. I felt like I had just found them like I had left them, hiding out, away from the fight waiting for the bullies and cool kids to pass them over. Together they could escape, commiserate, feel good about themselves. Strength in numbers. I think the College Republicans had the same notion going for them. All these differences made me begin to think to myself, “Will, these groups are actual ly quite similar.” In their rooms, away from the maddening crowd, both groups could relax in a way, rec ollect and regroup. In actuality, the bullies were probably not really coming after us all the time in middle school. I am sure they also had girlfriends and parties to keep them busy when they were not putting us in lockers. And likewise, in reality, Chapel Hill isn’t looking to have a McCarthy-style witch hunt for conservatives. Neither group is really per secuted or kept down here. But let me tell you there is nothing like white males complaining about their lot in fife to create sympathy. William McKinney is a textile management and poultry science major from Greenville, S.C. He likes patty melts and cheeseburgers on toast wait that is a patty melt! Reach him with recipes at wmckinne@email.unc.edu. feminism and blames these for the reason she is single disturbs me even more. Feminism does not equal “man-hater.” The concept that a woman who takes con trol of her fife and fights for equality “hates” men, as a hard and fast rule, is ridiculous. I do not know what kind of experience Ms. Teague has with feminism. I urge her to do some reading or take a class about the different kinds of feminism in order to edu cate herself about the women who call themselves feminists. We are many, and as diverse as any other group. There are extremists, just as there are in any move ment, but they are just one of the groups of people who make up the movement. I am a feminist. I have dated my fair share of people. I never dated anyone who didn’t treat me with the respect deserved by any human being. Some of them opened doors for me, some did not. If I want to open my own door, I will. That’s what feminism means to me. The brave women that came before and got us the right to vote and the abilities you are so “thankful” for opened doors for me, so that if I chose to, I could open my own. Shelley Franklin Senior Communications iailg (Har MM j? 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, doublespaced, 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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Sept. 21, 2000, edition 1
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