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10 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2003 BOARD EDITORIALS ADDRESSING NEEDS It is crucial that UNC officials begin taking concrete steps to improve workers’ conditions and not allow the issues to fall through the cracks. University officials are making efforts to accommodate staff members now, but UNC CH employees soon might have an even clos er friend in the administration. The Chancellor’s Task Force for a Better Workplace convened at a retreat last week to discuss ideas to improve the condition of workers at the University. The task force examined the results of a survey that polled employees. During the retreat, task force members voted on recommendations about how the campus should address several issues concerning employees and created a list of short-, medium- and long-term goals. Topping the list of short-term goals is ensuring the fair and consistent treatment of workers. The task force recommended the creation of a UNC ombuds man's office and a supervisor training initiative. The ombudsman’s office would act as a neutral party that would handle any issues faculty', staff or students might have, Employee Forum chairman and task force co-chairman Tommy Griffin said in Friday’s Daily Tar Heel. These recommendations show a good-faith effort by University officials and staff leaders to come to agreement regarding the issues surrounding them. An ombudsman’s office is a good idea to help focus the differences among the parties involved and would improve workers’ communication with the administration. It is also important that the ombudsman devel op a strong relationship with state lawmakers, who ultimately will make decisions affecting state employees. Griffin told the DTH that short-term goals such as the formation of an ombudsman’s office can be completed in three to six months. Although campus officials can begin work now on establishing the office, not all the ideas and issues discussed by the employee task force can be addressed immediately. Medium-term priorities discussed at the retreat include an increase in child-care subsidy money as well as the installment of a chief learning officer and a part-time degree program. Long-term goals include the development of a OUT OF BOUNDS Efforts to stop the airing of alcohol advertisements during televised college sports games are misguided and might not help solve problems. During the course of many televised North Carolina sports games, Tar Heel fans are bound to see commercials for beer running alongside ones for pizza and soft drinks. But if the Center for Science in the Public Interest has its way, there will no more talking frogs or frol icking blonde twins advertising alcohol during Carolina games in the future. The Washington, D.C.-based center has recruited former UNC men’s basketball coach Dean Smith to help in its campaign to ban the airing of alcohol advertisements during televised college sporting events. U.S. Rep. Tom Osborne, R-Neb., former foot ball coach at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, also has joined in the campaign. The center says airing alcohol ads promotes underage drinking —a major problem on many campuses. While Smith and Osborne bring some respectability to the plan, their endorsements alone will not make up for the center’s misguided efforts. For starters, many campuses already prohibit alcohol advertising on their own sports networks. For example, UNC officials don’t allow the ads on the Tar Heel Sports Network, which broadcasts foot ball and basketball games on the radio. However, although campuses generally have con trol of what is aired on their networks, national tel evision is a completely different matter. A large percentage of the audience of nationally EDITORS' NOTE: The above editorials are the opinions of solely The Daily Tar Heel Editorial Board, which 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. READERS’ FORUM Many groups on campus are working to help employees TO THE EDITOR: I would like address an omission in your Monday article, “Union ral lies for changes.” The first sentence mentions members of UE Local 150. While it is important to mention this group specifically, other indi viduals and groups were absent from the story. In fact, faculty, undergraduates and specific undergraduate and faculty groups were at the protest in plain sight. Some of us had large signs iden tifying ourselves and our groups, such as the one I carried for the Progressive Faculty Network. As faculty we know that we depend on the often invisible labor of those who work while we sleep. Furthermore, many PFN mem bers and other University faculty attended the worker-sponsored teach-in last fall and have support ed the worker-led effort to gain respect, fairness and living wages for all employees in the UNC sys tem. I hope UNC-system President Molly Broad as well as the UNC system Board of Governors will be proactive in addressing these con cerns. Professor Altha Cravey Geography tuition waiver program, an increase in health-relat ed benefits and the formation of an adjunct campus. In a meeting Wednesday, task force members also discussed employee salaries, health insurance and benefits issues the group deemed most important to University workers. These concerns initially were left out of discussions because UNC has limited con trol of those issues. Mike McFarland, director of University commu nications, said Tuesday that administrators are working on a report outlining the task force’s rec ommendations. Officials should do their utmost to stay focused on staff concerns and not let these recommendations get lost in the host of other issues with which the University is dealing. Expecting all of the recommendations to become reality immediately might seem somewhat lofty, but the administration might have the capability to meet them. University officials should work now to identify those issues on which they can begin work immedi ately until the final list of recommendations comes through from the task force. For example, administrators could serve in an ombudsman-like role until the office is ready to begin work independently. And although officials should not rush through the process of drawing up their recommendations, they still should make every effort to draft their rec ommendations expediently to allow' short-term pri orities to take off and make an impact. Griffin said some goals will require approval from the N.C. General Assembly, while the short-term ideas can be implemented more quickly. The task force will discuss the issues in more detail Dec. 8. Although progress in the General Assembly is dif ficult to predict, it is critical that University admin istrators make an honest effort to lobby for their employees. Employees are an invaluable asset to the University, but unfortunately, many of their needs aren’t being met. The recommendations from the task force are a first step, but they will mean nothing if officials don’t make the efforts to turn them into reality. televised games is above the legal drinking age, and by denying them the right to watch certain com mercials, campuses would be imposing unfair restrictions where they have no jurisdiction. In addition, the argument that airing beer com mercials during college sporting events increases underage drinking is questionable. It’s hard to believe that an underage drinker will pick up a bottle because he sees an alcohol commer cial during a Tar Heels game. Similarly, it is too opti mistic to assume that underage drinking will cease to exist if the ads are dropped. In addition, campuses have much to gain from airing alcohol ads on television. The ads bring in a significant amount of revenue to television stations nationwide, which is shared with the campuses with whom they have contracts. If alcohol ads were banned, television stations would be forced to find new' advertisers to make up for the loss in revenue advertisers who might not be willing or able to pay the high prices alcoholic beverage companies can afford. Leaders wanting to eliminate alcohol advertising should focus their attention more on finding more ways to reduce underage drinking instead of telling responsible adults what they can or cannot watch. One possible solution could include sponsoring educational programs on campuses. But telling television stations how they should run their business is going too far. Arguments against abortion at recent discussion flawed TO THE EDITOR: On Monday, Carolina Students for Life sponsored a discussion on abortion and related moral issues led by distinguished faculty from the UNC School of Medicine. I applaud and respect them for respectfully presenting their side of the issue and respecting the dis senting views in the audience. But I find many flaws and qualms with the arguments they presented. One argument is that people use abortion to escape responsibility. That may be so, but what about the woman who is raped and left impregnated by her rapist? And what about the psychological dam age to a child who is brought into this world unwanted and unloved? Another argument is that abor tion is linked to higher rates of breast cancer. Asa speaker said, this link is not proven. A final argument is that abor tion is murder. Maybe, but we also live in a country that regularly murders people through that sys tem we call the death penalty. If we take away a women’s right to choose what happens to her body, we’re only taking steps back ward, not forward. That’s why I’m proud to call myself pro-choice. Erika Stallings Freshman Biology Editorial Page Group unfairly targeted in freezing of speaker money TO THE EDITOR: “The evil right-wing conspiracy is alive and well,” or at least that is what the average student would conclude with the recent coverage of the controversy surrounding Ben Stein’s visit to UNC. I am very relieved that Student Congress’ Finance Committee came to its senses after consulting with the College Republicans to get the other side of the story. In an article Tuesday, The Daily Tar Heel stated that I initially refused to answer the committee’s inquiries. We did refuse to answer these questions for good reason: We had not received a formal explana tion of the charges levied against us. I find it ironic that we would be punished without trial or explana tion Stalin would be proud. There were also derogatory statements leveled against the College Republicans at the last committee meeting. Shouts of “Let’s crucify them” were appar ently necessary to assess the situa tion in an unbiased manner. We attempted to acquire the minutes of this meeting three times and received no response. The way in which this process was handled was completely unprofes sional and illegal (N.C. General Statute 143-318.10). Even more appalling is the provi sion used to justify the freezing of ON THE DAY’S NEWS “Change is inevitable in a progressive country. Change is constant” BENJAMIN DISRAELI, ENGLISH STATESMAN EDITORIAL CARTOON By Fitz Holladay, wfhollad@email.unc.edu COW , IVv ,He fiee/vT') FH-iUMOAf 6} LOCAL AFFAIRS Dear Krispy Kreme: Bring your sweetness to the Hill To the fine folks at the Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Corporation: You offer the world a valuable commodity, and you’re well aware of it. Yet you’ve never allowed fame to make you too big for your britches. Bom in Winston-Salem, your humble Tobacco Road roots have held strong for more than 60 years. Deep down, you’re still the same as always light and fluffy on the inside and warm and sugar-encrusted on the outside. You stuff your delicate treats with lemon and raspberry filling or smother them with chocolate, but we most yearn for the glazed variety and snatch ’em up faster than it takes to get a dozen of those bad boys from sugary show er to cardboard box. Over in Chapel Hill, your pop ularity is soaring as much as it is in New York or London, both cos mopolitan cities where you’ve set up shop to immense praise. Those moves were sound busi ness decisions, but we don’t understand why you haven’t established a foothold in our bustling college community. Right now the only way we can enjoy your fluffy goodness is by driving to Raleigh or by tolerat ing the semi-stale variety found at the grocery store or church narthexes. See, our “Southern part of Heaven” would love to boast your deep-fried, glucose-enriched manna. Not a week goes by that a friend doesn’t mention how much Chapel Hill needs a Krispy Kreme. The tone almost is one of disgust, as if y’all don’t know we exist. We walk by empty, dilapidated the organization’s funds, citing our failure to thank Congress for return ing student fees back to students. Committee member P.J. Lusk expressed his concern by asking Finance Committee Chairwoman Natalie Russell and Student Body Treasurer Alexa Kleysteuber, “Have we ever enforced this provi sion before?” This is selective enforcement of a minute provision in the code against a certain group. It can be summed up in one word: discrimination. It doesn’t take much research to find the strong political leanings of the Kleysteuber, who apparently used her “supreme authority” to freeze our funding. Prejudice, political agendas and bully tactics of this type will not be tolerated. For a group that ostensibly values tolerance, they seem to ignore it to achieve their own ends. There are many groups which are operating in violation of the same provision we were punished for but walk away unchecked. Feel free to e-mail me, and I will be happy to provide examples. I encourage students to become more involved in student govern ment by attending Congress meet ings, learning the process and forming your own opinions. Until next time, The People’s Republic of Chapel Hill continues its tyranny. Tripp Costas Chairman College Republicans Ss jt j*' 1 Wmi MICHAEL DAVIS OUTSIDE THE BUBBLE storefronts, shake our heads, rub our bellies and dream: “Oh, what I’d do for a box of twelve hot ones right about now! I sure wish we had a store in our town!” If you invest in town property, you would have an instant market of more than 25,000 college stu dents who would feast on your stuff. We eat around the clock if we can, and if you were stationed on Franklin Street, think of the hoards you’d attract. Late nights would be absolute ly incredible for your business. Where is that line coming from? Players? Top of the Hill? Nope, the Krispy Kreme Club. After last call at many downtown watering holes, folks would flock to your haven of nocturnal nutrition. You’d have to invest in serious WD-40, ’cause your cash registers would receive a constant workout. Ka-ching! Former Tar Heels would go wild when they return to town. Who needs to drop dough on UNC merchandise when they can get your dough right off the conveyor belt? Joe Alum might not wear that new Carolina T shirt in five years, but I bet he’ll remember those 30 glazed pup pies he inhaled during Alumni Weekend. Think of how far you could make your presence known by settling down in Chapel Hill. We Attention: Are you interested in occupying your very own soapbox once a week in the form of a weekly column? In influencing the stances of The Daily Tar Heel Editorial Board? In drawing editorial cartoons? If so, your time has come. The DTH editorial page now is hiring all positions for the spring semester. We will be hiring three news analysis columnists and two at large columnists. Positions as car toonists and on the DTH Editorial Board also are open. Applications are available at the front desk of the DTH office in Suite 104 of the Student Union. Applications are due in the DTH office by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24. Decisions will be announced on this page Monday, Dec. 1. If you have questions, please e mail Nathan Denny at ndenny@email.unc.edu. TO SUBMIT A LETTER: The Daily Tar Heel welcomes 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 num ber. The DTH reserves the right to edit letters for space, clarity and vulgarity. Publication is not guaranteed. Bring let ters 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. $1?? Hatly GJar HM “Think of how far you can make your presence known by settling dozen in Chapel Hill have folks from all over the nation and the world. If just one Krispy Kreme convert went home pro fessing the word of fried dough, you’d win even more followers because they too would insist on a piece of your empire. It’s that word of mouth fire power that allows you virtually to abstain from advertising. Much has been made of your press cam paign when you come to anew town. You distribute your delicacies to the media and hungry bystanders and watch with satis faction as their eyes glaze over in a sugary trance. I expect similar reactions here. If all of this doesn’t sway you, just consider the fact that there is a store in Idaho but not one in Chapel Hill. That’s just not right. Frying dough is no easy task, but you’ve made it an art. Southern fried glory, one glazed doughnut at a time. Coming to our town just makes business sense, and we could use something to get people excited about in downtown again com fort food tends to do that. Make Chapel Hill another sugar-packed pastry incubator. Our waistlines might not thank us, but our pallets sure will. Yours in doughy delight, Michael Contact Michael Davis at davismt@email.unc.edu. Established 1893 110 years of editorialfreedom ah? Daily aar Hrrl www.daiiftarfreel.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. 962-0372 KATHRYN GRIM CITY EDITOR, 962-4209 CLEVE R. WOOTSON JR. STATE & NATIONAL EDITOR, 962-4103 BRIAN MACPHERSON SPORTS EDITOR, 962-4710 MICHELLE JARBOE FEATURES EDITOR, 962-4214 NICK PARKER ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR, 962-4214 ALEX OBREGON COPY EDITOR, 962-4103 BRIAN CASSELLA PHOTO EDITOR, 962-0750 MICHELLE KUTTNER DESIGN EDITOR, 962-0750 MICHAELA IDHAMMAR GRAPHICS EDITOR, 962-0750 KRISTEN OLIVER ONLINE EDITOR, 962-0750 BEN COUCH SPORTSATURDAY EDITOR, 962-4710 JOHN FRANK PROJECTS TEAM LEADER, 962-0246 ERIC GAUTSCHI OMBUDSMAN If you have any concerns or comments about our coverage, please contact Ombudsman Eric Gautschi at gautschiOemail.unc.edu or 918-1311.
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Nov. 19, 2003, edition 1
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