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Not Quite
Colorblind
On Campus
Just as many thought Americans
were shifting toward a sense of
national, colorblind unity, recent
incidents at Auburn University show
just how far we still have to go.
On Monday,
Auburn officials
temporarily sus
pended student
chapters of Beta
Theta Pi and
Delta Sigma Phi,
two predomi
nately white fra
ternities, after
the discovery of
controversial
images of several
of the groups’
members on the
APRIL BETHEA
STATE &
NATIONAL
COLUMNIST
Web site http://www.partypics.com.
The photos, which were taken at
two Halloween parties sponsored by
the fraternities, showed white students
from the fraternities in blackface and
wearing Ku Klux Klansman robes.
In one photo, a student was shown
wearing blackface with a noose around
his neck while another, cloaked in a
Klansman robe, stood by.
In another photo, students were
shown in blackface and wearing shirts
bearing the Greek letters of Omega Psi
Phi, a traditionally black fraternity.
Omega Psi Phi members were noti
fied of the offensive photos last week
end and copied the images onto their
university-sponsored Web site before
they could be taken off the Web.
Fraternity members then showed
the photos to Auburn administrators,
who suspended the fraternities pend
ing a full investigation into whether
the photos might have violated
Auburn’s anti-harassment and discrim
ination policies.
Monday night, Delta Sigma Phi
expelled two members and suspended
four others in connection with the
photos. As of Wednesday, Beta Theta
Pi had not taken any disciplinary
actions against any of its members.
The decisions to punish those stu
dents involved with the Halloween
incidents is commendable and defi
nitely appropriate.
Still, one must question what would
have provoked the students to think
that their costumes and behavior were
appropriate.
As Auburn vice president of student
affairs, Wes Williams, told the
Montgomery Advertiser, “Thirty-seven
years after the passage of the Civil
Rights Act, there is no acceptable expla
nation for the appearance of students in
Ku Klux Klan robes or blackface.”
But the harsh reality is, similar inci
dents have occurred numerous times
during the past decade at various uni
versities across the country.
In 1991, two Kappa Delta sorority
pledges at the University of Alabama-
Tuscaloosa sparked national contro
versy after it was discovered that the
students wore Afro wigs and black
face during a sorority-sponsored
theme party called “Who Rides the
Bus?”
And just last year, the Kappa Alpha
Order fraternity at Emory University
came under fire after a student discov
ered a photo in the 1998-99 edition of
the university’s yearbook, allegedly
containing a Kappa Alpha member in
blackface at a Halloween party.
A group of Emory students called
for the removal of Kappa Alpha’s
charter on the campus for the photo.
But the fraternity was eventually found
not responsible for the photo’s appear
ance in the yearbook in late 2000.
Although all of the above incidents
occurred at predominately white cam
puses in the South, that does not mean
these are the only places where dis
crimination can occur and that black
students are the only ones targeted.
Discrimination can affect anyone in
all parts of the nation. So everyone
must work together to overcome it.
Each of these incidents should serve
as a wake-up call that more needs to
be done to make our nation more
open and comfortable for everyone.
Cultural diversity courses, such as
those offered at UNC and other col
lege campuses, are a good first step in
fostering communication and under
standing among all groups of people.
But tihe strongest weapon in the
fight racial discrimination and hatred
must come from within. People must
be willing to declare that they will not
tolerate any acts of hatred and com
plete ignorance of other cultures.
Anyone affected by discrimination,
whether it is the Auburn incidents or
the unfair treatment of some Muslim
citizens after the terrorist attacks,
should stand up and challenge anyone
who finds such offensive actions to be
acceptable behavior.
Complacency will not bring about
change.
Columnist April Bethea can be
reached at adbethea@email.unc.edu.
BOG Committee Approves Disaster Institute
By Julia Lamm
Staff Writer
At a Board of Governors planning
meeting Thursday, UNC-system offi
cials approved two initiatives intended
to extend the reach of the university
beyond the 16 campuses.
The committee approved a proposal
for an Institute of Disaster Studies and
endorsed the adqption of anew UNC
system strategic initiative that makes
internationalization of the system a pri-
■•lf m : ’* s
, DTH/PATTY BRENEMAN
World War II veteran Dan Murphy salutes the flags at the Annual Veteran's Day Ceremony.
The ceremony was held in Polk Place on Thursday afternoon.
New Constitutional Society Hosts Kick-Off Event
By Joe Monaco
Staff Writer
The American Constitution Society
For Law and Policy hosted a kick-off
event Thursday evening for the society’s
new UNC and Duke University law
school chapters.
Titled “Taking Back the Constitution,”
the program, which took place at the
UNC School of Social Work, featured
speeches from a number of prominent
attorneys, including the society’s founder,
Peter Rubin, counsel to former Vice
Booker Embraces Solidarity; Heritage
By Emily Fleming
Staff Writer
Set apart from most UNC students,
senior Kristi Booker wore a black arm
band Monday in support of the
University’s first recognized
Black Solidarity Day.
Booker, president of the
Black Student Movement, is
aiming to establish Black
Solidarity Day as an official
University holiday.
ryv yv
1
But her mission extends beyond one
day. Booker wants UNC to be a com
fort zone for black students.
And November is BSM Month, a
time when Booker says this can occur.
Attention Freshmen or Sophomores
interested in o science major
You might be interested in the Bachelors of Science
in Public Health (BSPH) in Environmental Science
(Environmental Health) major
Recent graduates are working for environmental consulting firms in RTP;
Washington, DC; Richmond; Raleigh; and Atlanta. Some are in graduate
school at Harvard (3), Emory, Notre Dame, Massachusetts, Delaware,
Georgia Tech, Florida, and UC Santa Barbara. Two are in law school
(Boston and Tulane). Two are in medical school (UNC and Wake Forest).
Come to the Information Session
Thursday, November 15, 7pm
Bosenau Hall (School of Public Health) Room SSS
Need more information?
Contact Dr. Don Francisco, 966-563f don_francisco@unc.edu
ority. The proposals will now head to
the full BOG for approval today.
The institute would study all aspects
of disasters and seek to alleviate the dev
astation of natural and technological dis
asters through communication.
The proposal approved Thursday
would not establish the institute but
rather establish a committee to plan it.
Although the institute received com
mittee approval, some BOG members
were hesitant about the idea.
BOG member Ray Farris raised con
President A1 Gore in the two Florida elec
tion cases heard by the Supreme Court.
Other speakers included Walter
Dellinger, former acting U.S. solicitor
general; Theresa Wynn Roseborough, a
former attorney with the Department of
Justice; and lisa Brown, Gore’s former
chief counsel.
“There’s been incredible excitement
about, thirst for, desire for, an organiza
tion like this,” said Rubin, ACS founder
and a professor at Georgetown
University Law Center. “And we’re very
excited about what’s happening tonight.”
Attending high school in Charlotte
with only six black students, Booker
was not as active in the black commu
nity as she would have liked.
The sense of black student solidarity
at UNC encouraged her to get
involved.
Asa freshman, Booker joined
Ebony Readers/ONYX Theater,
. a BSM subgroup that explores
Us. black culture through perfor
ijL mance literature.
“It was comforting to find
1 an organization that gave black
students an oudet to come
together," she said.
Over the next three years, Booker
increased her role at the BSM, includ-
News
cem about the need for the institute.
“The same services could be provid
ed using the faculty at one of our insti
tutions," Farris said.
He pointed out that the Institute of
Disaster Studies might be more effective
if it is placed under the control of an
individual institution. “Why would the
Office of the President be more capable
of coordinating this than one of our insti
tutions?” Farris asked.
The president’s office might not have
permanent control over the institute,
Campus Service Pays Tribute
To Veterans of 20th Century
Servicemen and ROTC cadets met
in Polk Place on Thursday to hear
speakers as four helicopters flew in
"missing man" formation overhead.
By Rachel Clarke
Staff Writer
Hundreds of servicemen and servicewomen
stood at attention on Polk Place for an hour
Thursday afternoon as a part of a ceremony paying
tribute the veterans of every war of the 20th century.
The ceremony, held annu
ally on Veterans Day, was held
early this year because the hol
iday falls on Sunday, said Lt.
Coi. Bruce Anderson, an assis
tant professor of military sci
ence. To honor the veterans,
several speakers commended
them, a wreath was dedicated
to them and four Apache heli
copters buzzed over Polk Place
in a “missing-man” formation.
“Today we pause to thank those who have gone
before,” said Master of Ceremonies Julia Bryan, an
Army cadet and a senior biology major.
Bryan spoke standing next to 11 chairs on the
steps of South Building. Eight of the chairs were
filled with veterans, each representing a war or con
flict since World War 11. One of the remaining
empty chairs was draped with black cloth to repre
sent those missing in action, she said.
A second empty chair represented the veterans
of World War I because “we have no local veterans
remaining from this war,” Bryan said. The third
was supposed to be filled by a soldier representing
the peacekeeping mission in Yugoslavia, but he was
called back to active duty - which is a perfect rep
resentation of life in the military, Bryan said.
About 200 ROTC cadets were present in three
The ACS, formed in 1999, is a
national organization of law students,
law professors, lawyers, judges and oth
ers that seeks to revitalize and transform
legal debate from law school classrooms
to federal courtrooms, Rubin said.
The organization works through local
chapters of law students, faculty and
attorneys to promote its values. “We have
over 40 (student) chapters nationwide so
far, and there are over 40 more that are
in the planning stages,” Rubin said.
Rubin spoke positively about his
organization’s two newest chapters, say
ing a stint as executive assistant.
Booker, a Spanish and communica
tions major, took the final step by run
ning for BSM president. “I want to set
the foundation for future accomplish
ments for the BSM,” she said.
As president, she coordinates 15
BSM committees and five subgroups,
aiming to educate people about issues
facing black students.
“I want to help empower students
and show them that one person really
can make a difference,” she said.
Under Booker’s leadership, the
BSM has secured a pledge of SIO,OOO
from the Office of the Provost for a
See BOOKER, Page 8
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said Russ Lea, UNC-system vice presi
dent for research of academic affairs.
“This won’t be housed in the Office
of the President.... It will be located and
administered at a campus,” Lea said,
adding that several institutions have
shown interest in housing the institute.
The Office of the President will over
see the program while it is in the plan
ning stages so the institute doesn’t get
buried among other activities, Lea said.
He said this institute is similar to some
already established in North Girolina,
“I salute the (ROTC)
students, the staff and
the faculty associated
with those programs.
James Moeser
UNC Chancellor
won $250 and the Veterans Academic Achievement
Award for earning a 4.0 grade point average, the
highest in all three divisions of the UNC ROTC. The
award is given annually to a student veteran who
attended college using the Montgomery GI Bill.
Jones was a senior airman at Seymour Johnson Air
Force Base in Goldsboro before he came to UNC.
The ceremony concluded with corps of cadets
marching out of Polk Place while the band played
taps and the veterans stood to salute the students.
“We as a university play an important education
al role through our ROTC programs,” said
Chancellor James Moeser. “I salute the students, the
staff and the faculty associated with those programs.”
The University Editor can be reached at
udesk@unc.edu.
ing he has high expectations for both. “I
hope that the Duke and UNC chapters
will be bulwarks of the American
Constitution Society,” he said. “It’s cer
tainly true that North Carolina has a
great, great, great and nationally impor
tant progressive tradition, and we hope
that they would be really leading fights.
“It’s great that they’re working togeth
er - usually they’re just eyeing each other
suspiciously across a basketball court.”
Ashley Huffsteder, president of the
new UNC chapter, said she understands
the importance of getting the chapter up
jj ill*-
DTH FILE PHOTO
Kristi Booker stands on the steps of South Building with Provost Robert
Shelton on April 2 after a march against institutional racism.
Friday, November 9, 2001
naming the Highway and Research
Center and the Highlands Biological
Research Center - both of which UNC-
Chapel Hill co-hosts with two other sys
tem schools -as other examples.
The idea for the institute first
emerged years ago, but specific plan
ning is just now beginning, Lea said.
BOG member John Davis said there
also is national interest in the institute.
“I think it will attract a lot of attention
See BOG, Page 8
distinct blocks - the Army in green, the Air Force
in blue and the Navy in black.
UNC Director of Athletics Dick Baddour, a
retired colonel, spoke to the crowd about his 31 years
of Army National Guard experience. “I’m not often
referred to as a colonel on this campus,” he said.
But Baddour said his time in the service played a
huge role in his fife - the experience taught him lead
ership, loyalty and focus, qualities he’s found useful
in his civilian fife. “As Chancellor (James) Moeser
and I went out to find the new football coach, there
were a lot of things going on around us, but our mis
sion had to be to find die new football coach,” he
said, saying he was able to focus on that mission
because of his military career.
The ceremony also hon
ored eight survivors of the
USS Growler, a World War II
submarine that sunk on Nov.
8, 1944, after its crew earned
two Navy Crosses and the
Congressional Medal of
Honor for sinking enemy
ships in the Pacific.
Michael Jones, who
enrolled at UNC in 2000, also
and running.
“We were all excited by the kick-off
event that happened at Georgetown this
summer, and we had decided that we
really wanted to build a very strong
foundation (at UNC),” she said. “I think
the most important thing is that people
know what we are, what we do.”
Rubin said an important goal of ACS
is to foster debate about differing ide
ologies. But he and the other speakers
also used the event to promote the lib-
See CONSTITUTION, Page 8
3