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10 FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2004 BOARD EDITORIALS NOT WORTH SAVING West House adds an aesthetic appeal to the campus —but unless hinds can be found to move it, the Arts Common should replace it. In most cases, it is important to preserve history. Reminders of the past can serve to inspire us as we forge into the foture. But in the long run, not every long-standing land mark can be saved from bulldozers and demolition crews. Even the world’s most resonant structures won’t last forever. Sometimes, the new takes precedence over the old. Such is the case with West House, which has graced the northwest comer of campus for 69 years. The one-story structure, built in the 1920s by an industrialist to house his son while he attended UNC, shouldn’t be allowed literally to stand in the way of plans to build the new Arts Common. The visionary project, which had been in the plan ning stages for years, eventually will create more green space, parking spots and buildings to house UNC’s cultural departments and offerings. As West House now stands, it will conflict with an underground parking deck, a music building and utility lines yet to be built Thats wiiy UNC officials are intending to do away with it, and for good reason. A vocal contingent has asked for the house to be saved —but the request to leave the building untouched is unreasonable. The little building with the pretty garden has its fair share of support. The Save the West House Coalition has been trying to keep the minor land mark exactly where it is. State Sen. Ellie Kinnaird, D-Orange, has voiced her support for the group. In a letter to Kinnaird, Chancellor James Moeser explained why he didn’t believe that University trustees would consider a drastic alteration to Arts Common plans. He referred to West House as a “small and inter esting, if undistinguished, curiosity” that doesn’t compare well to some other campus buildings from architectural and historical standpoints. Removing West House won’t disrupt campus PARADE UNIMPEDED Town officials did well to grant a radio show host permission to have a heterosexual pride parade, even if the idea for it is in poor taste. Radio shock-jock Bob Dumas has generated plenty of controversy on the air. Now, he plans on bringing his brand of sensational ism to Chapel Hill. Dumas has organized a parade slated for Saturday to celebrate heterosexual pride in a route that wifi take marchers down the heart of Franklin Street. Town officials should be commended for doing their jobs and allowing Dumas and his self-described “flaming heterosexuals’ to hold their parade without incident • - ' ' The disc jockey used the proper legal channels to obtain permission to conduct the parade. Therefore, he has every right to celebrate his heterosexual life style on Franklin Street. With any luck, the event will turn out to be a peaceful, albeit callous, demonstration. It would have been unfair for the town to have denied Dumas and his followers permission to express their views while walking through the down town area, seeing as how other parades with differ ent objectives have taken place along the town’s most notable street In an intelligent move, police officers will accom pany the parade as escorts to ensure the safety of both the marchers and protesters who might show up to counter Dumas and his crowd. The law enforcement presence should guarantee that the parade sticks to its path and that marchers and potential protesters will maintain civility. There remains some question as to the purposes of the parade. Although no one can read Dumas’ mind and say with certainty that he is being insincere in his pur pose, the “hetero pride” parade appears to be nothing more than a stunt to get some extra attention for this particular radio personality. Dumas has established a reputation for himself 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 six board members, the editorial page associate editor, the editorial page editor and the DTH editor. The 2004-05 DTH editor decided not to vote on the board and not to write board editorials. READERS’ FORUM University should apologize to and recognize fraternity TO THE EDITOR: Chancellor Moeser and the University have no right to deny Alpha lota Omega binding based on its decision not to sign the anti discrimination statute for mem bership. For example, would the University quit funding a group for rape victims because it wouldn’t allow a convicted male rapist to be a member? Let’s be honest, folks, the issue isn’t the statute. The issue is that the organization is Christian —and recently, that is a no-no on this campus. Moeser needs to apologize and reinstate the fraternity. Richard Bean Junior Public relations Heterosexual pride parade doesn't demand equality TO THE EDITOR: The “Celebrating Heterosexuality” pride parade seems superfluous, consider ing that heterosexuals are free to parade up and down Franklin Street demonstrating their pride whenever they want. Hetero pride is on display every time a man and woman hold hands and don’t need to worry about life in any considerable way. The building currently houses the Carolina Asia Center, but the organiza tion likely can be relocated with relative ease. Moving the building from its current position to another location probably won’t become a reality. The estimated cost of such an undertaking is about $600,000 —a number that should give the coalition, no matter how zealous it might be in trying to save the house, a good deal of pause. It almost certainly is too much money for the coalition to raise, but UNC officials shouldn’t allow for the possibility of financing such a move them selves. The amount can be spent in much more use ful ways. In good faith, UNC officials perhaps should give members of the coalition time to look for sources of funding to preserve West House in some fashion. But it seems that members of the campus commu nity had enough time to raise their concerns before planning for the Arts Common was completed. To postpone development now would be inconvenient to planners and counterproductive. The best result would be for the coalition to find enough donors or sponsors to be able to afford relo cation costs. But Jeffrey Beam, a Couch Biology Library assistant who formed the coalition in the spring, said no one would pay such a high amount of money to move the building. West House has its merits. It’s aesthetically appealing and functional enough. But its historical value doesn’t really come close to rivaling that of UNC’s architectural treasures. Not even a century old, and created for the pur pose of providing special housing for a few UNC students, its importance diminishes in the shadow of the Arts Common’s potential. Ultimately, an integral part of the University’s future should not be put on hold because of this relatively insignificant part of its past. in the Triangle by way of his raunchy morning radio show, on which he has gone out of Ids way to offend a number of individuals and groups. His past actions include calling “American Idol” winner Fantasia Barrino “ghetto” and “low class” —and according to The (Raleigh) News & Observer, he’s also commented on “faggots,” “cracker snatch ers” and “the Jews in the front office (who) have the money.” It certainly seems that if the parade is success ful; it would boost ratings for“ShowgramDumas’ morning program on GlO5. But to do so in a manner that mocks people who have worked for a serious social agenda is in poor taste. To be fair, some of the marchers in Saturday’s parade could be concerned citizens who wish to express their strongly held views. If there is any question as to whether or not Dumas and company are indulging in a mockery of true belief, the answer should become obvious Saturday. In the meantime, Chapel Hill officials should not rest on their laurels. The town was right to grant parade participants the ability to march, but it is still responsible for monitoring the situation. Officials should work to ensure that the parade follows the same guidelines that have been required of every other similar demonstration that has taken place in the past They should work to guarantee that the public interest, with regard to safety, is main tained. Ideally, people on Franklin Street would witness a productive and educational demonstration that cel ebrates the pride of the heterosexual community. But if Dumas’ record tells us anything about what to expect, that outcome isn’t at all likely. stares and whispers, every time they kiss and don’t have to fear ridicule or worse. Why bother get ting a permit? DJ Bob Dumas claims that the parade isn’t about slamming groups it’s just about celebration. By all means, it’s important to celebrate one’s sexuality. But for heterosexuals specifically to stage a pride parade ignores the clear his tory of such parades as a source of visibility and a demand for equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgen der and queer people. It makes a mockery of that past and of the battle for justice that is still going on today. Every day is heterosexual pride day. Apparently, for some, this is not enough. But to belittle one group’s strug gle in order to reiterate heterosex ual power is not only unnecessary, it’s insulting. Inequality should never be cause for celebration. Jessica Albrecht Senior Political science UNC officials shouldn't back down due to FIRE argument TO THE EDITOR: Your August 25 article “Christian group to sue University” left out some pertinent details about the history between our University and the group that is suing it, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, or FIRE. Opinion A year and a half ago, FIRE threatened to sue the University when the Division of Student Affairs instructed the Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship to modify its charter to comply with a nondis crimination policy. In that case, Chancellor Moeser backed down at the threat of the suit and allowed Inter Varsity to keep its recognition despite its charter’s requirement that its student leaders uphold Christian values. UNC’s “Requirements for Official Recognition” states that “membership and participation in [an] organization must be open without regard to age, race, color, national origin, religion, disability, veteran status, or sexual orienta tion,” and without regard to gender unless exempt under Title IX. As it did a year and a half ago, FIRE expects UNC to allow one group in this case, the Christian fraternity Alpha lota Omega to exclude a sizeable portion of the University community from full participation on the basis of reli gion. FIRE will attempt to turn this issue on its head, claiming that the University is denying AIO recogni tion on the basis of its members’ religious creed —but in truth, it is AIO that intends to deny students membership on that basis and the University that intends to prevent it I applaud Chancellor Moeser for ON THE DAT S NEWS “Every man has the right to he heard; hut no man has the right to strangle democracy with a single set of vocal chords.’ ADLAI STEVENSON, U.S. STATESMAN EDITORIAL CARTOON By Douglas Anderson, douan@email.unc.edu . (s . /£> I In Najaf, a visit by Shiite cleric I \ ry I All Husseini al-Sistani has given If | <J^ 7 /a us some cause to hope fora j | l/T —3, J a * peaceful resolution... jl | /Ol f home > a visit of a very |°j I / diffen *nt type gives us little —1 1 rra Ha I rfFvi l jigi. j reason to hope for sanity. .. jjlflQf *T /j MPL ‘ items <0 csU COMMENTARY Women owe it to the past to use their hard-won right As the 84th anniversary of the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment passes, I’m reminded of an early 20th century editorial from the Hearst Newspapers. In the piece, famed editor Arthur Brisbane wrote: “Voting by women will improve humanity, because IT WILL COMPEL MEN TO SEEK AND EARN THE APPROVAL OF WOMEN.” And although that wisdom and those powers still hold true today, countless women of voting age stand consciously and idly by as those resources go untapped. Women have had the power to vote for less than 100 years. Let me say that again. WOMEN HAVE HAD THE POWER TO VOTE FOR LESS THAN 100 YEARS. It wasn’t until Aug. 26,1920, that the constitutional amend ment granting women suffrage in all 50 states became law. But history lesson aside, let’s think about this phenomenon in realis tic terms. Generations of suffragists from all walks of life petitioned, marched and lobbied for the cause. Women who had never acted out or spoken out protested and practiced civil disobedience. They donated their time and energy to a cause they deeply believed in —one they knew they might never see come to fruition. They did this because they believed that their words, their work, their blood, their sweat and their tears were as good as those of any man. Some waged hunger strikes. Others held silent vigils and parades. They were beaten, divorced, chastised, castigated and even jailed for their actions. These were our own grand- upholding the University’s stan dard of fairness, and I urge him to stand strong in the face of FIRE. Richard Finneran Junior Philosophy U.S. men's basketball team leaves much to be desired TO THE EDITOR: I think not, Mr. Karabell. The “Dream Team’s” weak show ing of enthusiasm during opening ceremonies —with the players’ “look at me, I’m great” attitudes left me thinking that I would rather be somewhere else than watching them on TV. If anything, we should wonder why our overpaid, million-dollar players are losing to foreign teams. Instead, consider watching the U.S. women’s basketball team, which has a better chance of taking the gold. Kirk McNaughton Research analyst Cell and Molecular Physiology Defense involving Greek GPAs doesn't make sense TO THE EDITOR: In the August 25 edition of the DTH, Hollis C. Konitzer, in defense of the Greek community at UNC, stated that its “average GPA con sistently exceeds the non-Greek community’s GPA.” EMILY BATCHELDER WHAT A FEMINIST LOOKS LIKE mothers and great-grandmothers, bom into a world where their passions and their intellect went unrecognized where they were considered unfit or unworthy of making political, and thus soci etal, contributions. Susan B. Anthony, who spent her entire life attempting to secure equal rights for women, touted the exuberance and the efforts of the suffragists. “Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their rep utation and social standing, never can bring about a reform,” she said. “Those who are really in earnest must be willing to be anything or nothing in the world’s estimation, and publicly and privately, in sea son and out, avow their sympathy with despised and persecuted ideas and their advocates, and bear the consequences.” Anthony stood by her words. She lived and died by them. She passed away in 1906, never able to observe die fruits of her labors . All this for a right that too many of us take for granted. Women, especially American women, are some of the world’s most amazing multitaskers. We find the time for pedicures, work outs and tanning. We balance chil dren, relationships and careers. We show up for games, work and meetings. We hit the parties, the bars, Cosmic and then bed and somehow still manage to arrive on time for that dreaded 8 a.m. class I’ve repeatedly seen and heard this odd defense, and it really doesn’t make much sense. It’s like saying that the Lucas Hammonds community’s GPA consistently exceeds that of the non-Lucas Hammonds community. Perhaps a better comparison would be the Greek community critiquing community’s GPA to the Greek community’s GPA. I am curious as to the results. Lucas F. Hammonds Senior Philosophy CLARIFICATION In the Monday editorial, “On the Law’s Side,” it was implied that Alpha lota Omega, a Christian fraternity, had received student fee money as an official campus organization. The fraternity hasn’t made use of University funds. 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 letters to the DTH office at Suite 2409, Carolina Union, mail them to P.O. Box 3257, Chapel Hill, NC 27515 or e-mail them to editdesk@unc.edu. ©fp Sar Bppl ... okay, usually. Yet die majority of us either cannot or will not find the time once every four years at the very least to take on our civic duty, one for which past generations of men and women fought and died. Open any newspaper or maga zine. Him on any news program or political commentary. Young, single women will make up a crucial portion of this election’s swing vote. Those who aspire to power want you to come out. They are courting us in any and every way possible. Relish this fact. Listen to the candidates and their platforms. With a swipe of a pen, they hold the future of your job, your education, your children and your body in their hands. I won’t tell you how to vote at least not yet. I ask only that you do. Vote on account of your experi ences, the way you were raised, the things you have seen and done. Vote according to your pas sions and your convictions. Vote according to your doubts and your fears. When Congresswoman Pat Schroeder was asked in 1972 by The New York Times Magazine about being both a mother and a member of Congress, she replied, “I have a brain and a uterus, and I use both.” Use both. Act with all the integrity, desire and enthusi asm that the women who came before you employed on that long and arduous journey. Pay your respects. You owe it to them. But more importantly, you owe it to yourself. Contact Emily Batchelder, a senior journalism major, at ebatchel@email.unc.edu. Established 1893 111 years of editorial freedom 18% ®ar Hppl www.dthonline.coxn MICHELLE JARBOE EDITOR. 962-4086 OFFICE HOURS 11:30 A.M. -12:30 PM MON., WED. CHRIS COLETTA MANAGING EDITOR, 962-0750 NIKKI WERKING DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR, 962-0750 ELLIOTT OUBE EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR, 962-07S0 EMILY STEEL UNIVERSITY EDITOR, 962-0372 RYAN C. TUCK CITY EDITOR. 962-4209 EMMA BURGIN STATE S NATIONAL EDITOR, 962-4103 JACOB KARABELL SPORTS EDITOR, 962-4710 KELLY OCHS FEATURES EDITOR. 962-4214 PHILIP MCFEE ARTS 8 ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR, 962-4214 KATIE SCHWING COPY EDITOR, 962-4103 LAURA MORTON PHOTO EDITOR, 962-0750 RANDI DEMAGISTRIS NICOLE NEUMAN DESIGN EDITORS, 962-0750 MARY JANE KATZ GRAPHICS EDITOR, 962-0750 BRANDON PARKER SPORTSATURDAY EDITOR, 962-4710 FEILDING CAGE ONLINE EDITOR, 962-0750 MATT HANSON PROJECTS TEAM LEADER, 962-0246
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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