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10 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2003 BOARD EDITORIALS ONE STEP FORWARD Installing sprinkler systems in bars and nightclubs makes safety a high priority, but officials should include all establishments over time Chapel Hill officials are hoping to put out a fire before it starts. After the fire that claimed about 100 lives in a Rhode Island nightclub earlier this year, the Chapel Hill Town Council has moved in the right direction to ensure that a simi lar scenario does not take place here. Officials are smoothing out the details of a pro posal to require bars and nightclubs to install fire sprinklers. The latest proposal up for discussion would require sprinklers in all ground-level businesses that hold 200 people and any business above or below ground that can hold 150 people. But like many things in Chapel Hill, this change has not come without controversy. Bar owners have cried foul over the economic strain that would be placed on the businesses to install a sprinkler system. Many believed that the sprinklers would be too costly and could force them to close their doors. The council appears to have taken some of their objections in mind by tripling the threshold from the original 50-person capacity. However, it is important that protecting a busi ness’ financial risk not take complete priority over the potential loss of human lives. While it is admirable that council officials are pay ing attention to business owners’ concerns, officials should not let the issue of bar safety die. Bars and nightclubs carry with them a degree of A RIGHT TO DECIDE University officials should be given power to accept and then rescind offers of admission in order to assemble a competitive student body. For many high school seniors, there is no greater thrill or source of pride than finding out you have been accepted into college. But for a few students each year, that pride can turn into anguish after an admissions offer is rescinded. Mark Edmonson, 19, of Greensboro, was admit ted to the University in April. However, admissions officials rescinded his offer in a July 30 letter after discussions about a slump in his grades during his final year of high school. Last month, a judge denied Edmonson’s request to force the University to admit him when classes began on Aug. 26. He and his family have since announced that they will continue to pursue legal action against the University. For many, the true debate lies less in Edmonson’s individual lawsuit against the University than in the controversial policy of campus officials being able to rescind an offer of admission. With many more students seeking admission to the University than there are available spaces, it is widely important that campus officials have as much discretion as needed to assemble a quality student body. At the same time, they must take steps to ensure that any student seeking to enroll at the University is made aware early enough in the process that aca demic success is a priority for campus officials. By requiring that any student seeking admission to the University maintain the same level of aca demic rigor that led officials to consider them for enrollment, campus leaders are reaffirming that commitment. Jerry Lucido, UNC’s director of undergraduate admissions, even writes in a letter to all accepted students that “we expect you to continue to achieve at the same level that enabled us to provide this offer of admission; we also expect you to graduate on time.” There is no question of Edmonson's academic abilities. He scored a 1600 on his SAT and earned an advanced placement diploma. But there is also little doubt that Edmonson’s pre viously high academic success suffered during his final year in school. Edmonson’s final grade point average fell from an unweighted 3.22 to 2.75 after he EDITOR'S NOTE: The above editorials are the opinions of solely The Daily Tar Heel Editorial Board and were reached after open debate. The board consists of eight board members, the assistant editorial page editor, the editorial page editor and the DTH editor. The 2003-04 DTH editor decided not to vote on the board and not to write board editorials. (Tltp Daily Sar tfrrl PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS STAFF Business and Advertising: Janet Gallagher-Cassel, direc tor/qeneral manager; Chrissy Beck, director of marketing; Lisa Reichle, business manager; Tiffany Flomo, retail sales man ager, Customer Service: Amanda Taylor, senior representative; Kimberly Craven, Judy Pham and Kia Thacker, representa tives. Display Advertising: Kate Bingham, Melanie Brooks, Elizabeth Crutcher, Megan Gilchrist, Annie Godwin, Matt Eagle, Andy Lunnen, Shannon Plummer, Kelsey Scott and Anne EDITORIAL STAFF Assistant Editors: Phillip McFee and Michael Pucci, arts & entertainment Nick Eberlem, Jenny Huang and Ryan Tuck, city; Chris Coletta, copy; Orla Buckley, Randi Demagistris and Nicole Neuman, design; Colin Sutker, editorial, Kristin Becker, features, Adam Shupe, online, Audrey Butler and Lmdsey Beth Ellison, graphics, Kate Blackman and Garrett Hall, photography; Michael Clarke, Jacob Karabel! and Brandon Parker, sports; Emma Burgin, Elliott Dube and Laura Youngs, state & national; Jenny Immel, Emily Steel and Nikki Werkmg, university. Arts & Entertainment: Kemp Baldwin, Diane Eikenberry, Tacque Kirksey. Kristen Williams, Brandon Whiteside, Thomas Previte and Gerald Johnson. Cartoon: Selena Beckman- Harned, Fitz Holladay, Andrew Johnson, Danny Rosenblutt and Andrew Stevens. City: Shannan Bowen, Sarah Corica, Susie Dickson, Jenni Norman, Elizabeth Sherman, Emily Vasquez and Jordan Woodard. Copy: Meqhan Greene, Megan Putnam, Christina Rexrode and Jordan Williams Design: Daniel BeDen, Jessica Giroux and Tiffany Ward. Editorial: Latrice Brockman, Ryan Fischer, Jeff Kim, Nico Pandi, Dave Seigel, Jeff Silver. editorial board, Billy Ball, Michael Davis, Nathan Denny, Mike Gorman and Brian Millikin, columnists. Features: India Autry. Caroline Lindsey, Kelly Ochs, Lauren Rippey, Alison Ross, Ami Shah, Amy Thomson, Kirsten Valle. Graphics: Lora Davis, Sara Longecker Online: Samira Akpan, Southey Blanton, Katherine Christian and Heather O'Kelley. Photoqraphy: Sara Abrons, Kimberly Craven, Joshua Greer and Joanie Tobin, senior pho tographers, Kristin Ashton, Gillian Bolsover. Elspeth Callahan, John Dudley, Beth Floyd, Kristin Goode, Leah Latelle, Greg Logan, Allison Money, Laura Morton, Rachel Schockley, Gabi Trapenberg, Ashlie White and Liz Winter. The editorials are approved by the majority of the editorial board, which is composed of the editor, editorial page editor, assistant editorial page edi tor and eight 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. OFFICE: Suite 104 Carolina Union CAMPUS MAIL ADDRESS: CB# 5210, Carolina Union U.S. MAIL ADDRESS: P.O. Box 3257, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-3257 risk to the consumer. Although accidents rarely occur, the impact of one incident is more than enough justification for a sprinkler ordinance. Becuse of the high cost of installation, the council was right to target larger businesses that could han dle the expense better. With the proposal as it stands, only three bars would be affected immediately. But that does not mean that smaller businesses should be let off the hook. If those businesses are exempted. Chapel Hill will have learned nothing from the past. Smaller bars and clubs pose the same amount of risk that their larger counterparts do and the pro posal should take this into account. Officials should require a phase-in of sprinkler installations in smaller businesses over time. This would give these businesses more time to better plan for a heavy expense and lead to greater safety in Chapel Hill’s bar scene. By expanding the proposal to extend to a majori ty of bars and nightclubs, Owners and officials would be taking the proper steps to ensure that history does not repeat itself. While owners may feel the pressure of installa tion, making Chapel Hill a safer place should take precedent. A friendly bar may value service and the presence of their patrons, but unless sprinklers are in place these bars do not value their lives fully. received an F, a D and two C’s during his senior year. Although no one can surmise what Edmonson’s academic progress would have been had he enrolled at UNC, campus officials were right to raise ques tions after reviewing his final transcript. Again given the intense competition for the 3,500 seats in the freshman class, it would be unfair for campus officials to let a student whose commitment to education appears somewhat shaky to enroll at the University when there are many other students eagerly wanting to fill the spot. Some might argue that the University could alle viate any concerns with its ability to rescind offers of acceptance by setting concrete rules on what would or would not raise a red flag for admissions officials. However, that again would be problematic. University admissions officials and campus lead ers always have stressed that there is no set formu la or criteria necessarv in order to gain admission to UNC. Everything from SAT scores, extracurricular activities or even a place of residency can factor into whether or not a student in accepted to the University and no two students’ applications fairly can be considered the same. Given all the variables that go into admissions decisions it would be difficult, if not impossible, for admissions officials to pinpoint a specific rule for when a student’s admission could be rescinded. Still, the University must do everything in its power to ensure that prospective students are fully aware that their acceptance to the University is in fact a conditional agreement. Admissions officials should consider placing their expectations for accepted students in a more promi nent location in future acceptance packages. The policy should be reiterated during any correspon dence to accepted students between the day that they are made aware of their acceptance to the day they enroll. In addition, campus officials could stress to high school guidance counselors the importance of letting students know that their academic success is impor tant throughout their entire senior year. By bringing some attention to the issue now', admissions officials can attempt to prevent any con fusion down the line. READERS' FORUM University needs to be more receptive to workers' needs TO THE EDITOR: When it comes to dealing with the low paid, the chancellor is a man of few words and less action meaningful action, that is. He is very adept at substituting words for action when required, as are many members of the University administration. Back in 2001 when the housekeep ers tried to catch his ear at his inaugu ration, he said they would have their time to speak; they are still waiting. More recently the Summer Reading Program waxed eloquent about its desire to “enhance a sense of commu nity between students, faculty and staff.” Fine words that the administra tion did nothing to live up to. When discussion leaders with more insight asked to include low-paid workers in their groups, Cynthia Wolf Johnson, associate vice chancellor for student learning, personally vetoed that idea, fearful that real nickel and dimed workers would intimidate deli cate fresh men and women. It seems we cannot have you being intimidated while being “indoctrinat ed.” Lower down the pay scale, we are obviously not regarded as “staff” mere ly workers, and scary ones at that. Earlier workers announced their own teach-in to discuss the issues in the book. Moeser declined their invita tion to participate but quickly announced his own task force, which Tackabery, account executives Advertising Production: Penny Persons, manager, Kathryn Klein and Karen Stone, assistants. Classified Production: Cindy Henley. Projects Team: Jamie Dougher, Matt Hanson, Suzanne Presto, Joe Rauch and Lynne Shailcross Sports: Jamie Agin and Aaron Fitt, senior writers, Sarah McConnaghy and Carrie Sasser, sports copy; Jeremy Borden, Tyler Dancy, Gabrielle Deßosa, Mike Martinez, Hunter Powell, Will Robinson and Randy Wellington. State & National: Adjoa Adolfo. Alexandra Dodson, Margaux Escutin, Alex Granados. Jack Kimbal and Kathryn Roebuck. University: Will Arev, Laura Bost, Brian Hudson, Rachel Hodges, Caroline Kornegay, Mary McGuirt, Joe Saunders and Arman Tolentmo. Editorial Production: Stacy Wynn, manager. Printing: Triangle Web. Distribution: Triangle Circulation Services. ISN #10709436 Editorial Page ON THE DAY S NEWS “Probable impossibilities are to be preferred to improbable possibilities” ARISTOTLE, PHILOSOPHER EDITORIAL CARTOON By Selena Beckman-Harned, sebe@email.unc.edu \fu ffp §pjj> DUE TO RISING TEXTBOOK COSTS. STUDEMTST ARE TURNU/fr TO QUESTIONABLE SOUPCFJ... ? UNIVERSITY Segregation poses threat to campus, student experience Throngs of students crowded South Road two weeks ago for the University’s annual Fall Fest, revealing a diverse stu dent body comprising many dif ferent races and backgrounds. As these students enjoyed back-to school festivities, a disturbing sit uation easily became apparent to the casual onlooker. On one sidewalk, a smattering of black students could be seen. Across the road was a group of white students. A few tables down, a few Asian students clus tered together. Interaction between the assort ed groups was minimal, if not nonexistent. Self-segregation can be seen frequently around UNC’s campus. Whether traversing the Pit or standing in line for banana pud ding at Lenoir Dining Hall, it becomes quickly and painfully obvious that the many varieties of UNC students don’t necessarily get involved with each other as often as opportunity allows. At such a rich, diverse campus as UNC’s, this phenomenon can interrupt the University’s obliga tion to its students providing access to the oft-mentioned “mar ketplace of ideas.” The U.S. Supreme Court recently affirmed the importance of maintaining access to diverse ideas on college campuses. In upholding the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor’s use of race in the school's admissions process, the Court brought into the main stream the idea that diversity is good for higher education. According to the majority opinion in that case, diversity serves as a “compelling state interest” when admitting prospective students and shaping an intellectual climate. would not deal with the most relevant issues, such as pay and benefits. Faculty had their “Faculty Salary Equity Study.” We have a task force with two low-paid “workers” and over 20 white-collar “staff” that will not address our most pressing issues, pay and benefits. The token proletarians might tell the chancellor that free donuts on Friday count for nothing. It is doubtful whether the task force’s token proles will say anything as truthful as Employee Forum member Mary Johnson when she pointed out Wednesday that UNC is building a Master Plan “on a foundation that is about to crumble.” Fairness and equity is what we need, and actions speak louder than words. Dave Brannigan Grounds Worker Facilities Services Task force to carefully consider any security camera proposal TO THE EDITOR: Security cameras in residence halls may seem drastic; however, the Security and Safety Task Force is inten sively investigating their effectiveness on other campuses. Initial exploration shows promise as the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia saw a 62 percent drop in robberies after installing cameras in residence halls. Proposing that the mere considera tion of placing cameras in halls is an X * I JH IHg NATHAN DENNY UNDER THE WELL UNC —and its entire student body has a great deal to gain by bringing in a diverse student pop ulation. Drawing more minorities is one w’ay UNC enriches that marketplace of ideas, promoting a “robust exchange of ideas,” as it was called by former Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell. UNC does an admirable job of bringing in minority students and has consistently is recognized by The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education and Black Enterprise Magazine for its commitment to forming a diverse student body. Last year black students con stituted 12.4 percent of the fresh man class, ranking highest among the nation’s top universities. But all this progress is mean ingless and our efforts hollow if our diverse student groups fail to interact with each other. Many people have repeated the cliche that you learn much more from your group of peers at college than you learn in the classroom. The University community is, then, as important a factor in our education as the courses we take. But if our peer groups are made up of students just like us, we will not enjoy the full benefits of the diverse community to which we are exposed at UNC. Self-segregation is a barrier to that marketplace of ideas. If the University brings many perspec tives into this marketplace and the exchange of ideas is not so overreaction contradicts the goals of the task force, which w r as formed to investigate potential ways of making students living on campus safer. Security cameras in halls is just one idea the task force has been working on since last spring. Other proposals have included increasing lighting on campus, remov ing shrubs to increase visibility at night, revamping warning signs posted outside entrances and initiating a Week of Safety sponsored by the Department of Housing and the Residence Hall Association to inform students of how to be safer while on campus. During the next several weeks, the Task Force will investigate thoroughly and discuss the camera issue while always keeping in mind residents’ safe ty and privacy. However, any final decision will be made by top administrators in the Housing department. Will Hall Senior Psychology TO SUBMIT A LETTER: The Daily Tar Heel wel comes reader comments. 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 guaranteed. 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 them to editdesk@unc.edu. Hath} (Tar Ifori “All students enjoy the benefits of a deeply diverse intellectual climate” robust, then everyone stands to lose. All students enjoy the benefits * of a deeply diverse intellectual cli mate. White students in the majority are better educated when offered ' ideas and dialogue from minority students to which they might not have been previously exposed. Likewise, minorities at UNC black, Asian and all others learn more from interacting with students who are not like them. So what should be done to pro tect that exchange of ideas? Solutions are not easy to find, and placing blame for the prob lem should be avoided. Self-segregation is not perpetu ated by only white students or Asian students. It is kept alive by all students and stands in the way of the education of each and every student at the University. And the only way to remove this obstacle is by acknowledging and making it a prominent part of campus discussion. But the issue of self-segrega tion is not one that should be dis cussed only at our all-black or all white lunch tables in Lenoir. If we hope to find a solution improving the quality of educa tion given to all UNC students, this issue must remain at the forefront of University dialogue. Contact Nathan Denny at ndenny@email.unc.edu: Established 1893 110 years of editorialfreedom ulhp SaiU} (Tar Hrrl www.daiiytarheel.com ELYSE ASHBURN EDITOR, 962-4086 OFFICE HOURS 2:15-3:15 PM MON., WED. DANIEL THIGPEN MANAGING EDITOR, 962-0750 JENNIFER SAMUELS PROJECTS MANAGING EDITOR. 962-0750 APRIL BETHEA EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR, 962-0750 BROOK R. CORWIN UNIVERSITY EDITOR, 962-0732 KATHRYN GRIM CITY EDITOR. 962-4209 CLEVE R.WOOTSON JR. STATE & NATIONAL EDITOR, 962-4103 BRIAN MACPHERSON SPORTS EDITOR, 9624710 MICHELLE JARBOE FEATURES EDITOR, 962-4214 NICK PARKER ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR, 962-4214 ALEX OBREGON COPY EDITOR. 9624103 BRIAN CASSELLA PHOTO EDITOR. 962-0750 MICHELLE KUTTNER DESIGN EDITOR, 962-0750 MICHAELA IDHAMMAR GRAPHICS EDITOR, 962-0750 KRISTEN OLIVER ONUNE EDITOR, 962-0750 BEN COUCH SPORTSATURDAY EDITOR, 9624710 JOHN FRANK PROJECTS TEAM LEADER, 962 -0246 ERIC GAUTSCHI OMBUDSMAN II you have any concerns or comments about our coverage, please contact Ombudsman Eric Gautschi at gautscbiOemail.unc.edu or 918-1311.
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