Letters to the editor
.Bikers need paths of their own
Opinions of The Daily Tar Heel are expressed on its editorial page. All
unsigned editorials are the opinioas of the editor. Letters and columns
represent only the opinioas of the individual contributors.
Harry Bryan. Editor
Saturday, September 13, 1971
.Bus fee decision
one for students
A bill calling for a referendum to
increase room rent by S3. 50 per
semester to subsidize a
campus-wide, unlimited use bus
system, is now in committee in
Student Legislature.
Legislature should pass the bill
in order to give students living in
University residence halls the
opportunity to decide the issue for
itself, but before such a referendum
is held, students should carefully
consider the arguments that have
been made for both and against the
idea.
According to the plan presented,
passage of the referendum would
result in every dormitory resident
paying S3. 50 per semester that
would provide unlimited use of the
bus system. Off-campus students
and University employees could
also buy semester passes for the
same amount.
Some students have questioned
whether it is fair or not for students
on North Campus to be forced to
pay for a bus system they would
rarely use. But others, however,
have countered with the argument
that many students do not live on
South Campus by choice, that they
are forced to live there due to a
lack of space on North Campus and
should not have to suffer because
their dorms just happen to be built
away from the center of campus.
Clayton Woodard, who
introduced the bill in SL calling for
the referendum, also made a point
The Daily Tar Heel
Awards of the Week
The Stitch in Time Kills Nine
Award- to N.Y. State Prisons
Commissioner Russell G. Oswald
and Gov. Nelson Rockefeller who
tried to save 37 hostages held by
Attica State Prison inmates by
storming the prison. Nine hostages
were killed when their rescuers
opened fire on everybody in the
yard.
The Sissy and Delilah Award -to
UNC head football coach Bill
Dooley who was reportedly
overheard telling his players, 'The
only people who h ive long hair are
women and HOMOSEXUALS."
The Robert Shelton Good
Neighbor Award- to Bob Jones
University which announced it will
begin admitting black students for
the first time-if they are married
and promise not to touch the white
women.
28jpSatla 5Iar2irrJ
7S Years i if Edit i mat Erccdorn
Harry Bryan. Editor
Mike Parnell Managing Ed.
Glenn Brank News Editor
Lou Bonds Associate Ed.
Lana Stames .... Associate Ed.
Mark Whicker Sports Ed.
Ken Ripley .... Feature Editor
Bob Chapman . . Natl. News Ed.
Bob Wilson Business Mgr.
Paddi Hughes Adv. Mgr.
that would eliminate that issue
entirely. Woodard said if students
ran the bus system, it could be
extended to include Eastgate
Shopping Center and University
parking lots, an idea that would
make such a system beneficial for
all.
However, at present
approximately 65 percent of the
funds financing the present bus
system come from student fares,
which would be eliminated. And
S3. 50 from each student for a free
bus system would not add that
much money to the coffers.
In fact, according to Bailey
Cobbs, student transportation
commissioner, S3. 50 from each
dormitory resident each semester
would only be enough to finance
the present bus system.
Cobbs and other students have
pointed out that if the extra
services were added, the fee per
semester would have to be higher.
Perhaps the fairest way to decide
the issue is to give students not
only the choice of whether they
want to subsidize an unlimited
service bus system, but also to give
them a choice of how much they
would want to pay if such a system
did go into effect.
No matter how the ballot reads,
however, the issue should be put up
to the student body, rather than
being blocked entirely by Student
Legislature.
The Spanish Flyswatter Aw ard -
to the University administration
and the School of Public Health
which refuse to fund the Health
Education 33 course in human
sexuality. Apparently they don't
believe the course is "to be used for
the prevention of disease only."
The Bedwetting Award to
Robert Kepner, director of
Residence Life, who refused to
allow waterbeds in University
housing even if they meet state
regulations.
The Lovelv Rita Meter Maid
Award- to the Chapel Hill
alderman who proposed the flower
ladies be relocated in a proposed
parking garage to be built
downtown. They may rent a space
for ten cents an hour, richt?
The "Oh Dad, Poor Dad"
Award- to Lester Maddox who
said Thursday the nation must "go
back to the death penalty" to
combat lawlessness and crime
whether the rapist, bomber or
wielder of the knife "be relatives or
friends of yours or mine."
Maddox's son has been arrested
twice for burglary.
The Your Number's Up Award
to Congress which voted down a
bill that would end the draft. If you
had passed it. senators, we would
have given you the Thanks For
Nothing Award.
The Today's Peace Corps Wants
To Join You Award- to Richard
Nixon who says he needs the draft
to insure the success of his "peace
initiatives."
The Bust of the Week Award -to
topless dancer Gigi who was
arrested three times this week at
the Golden Crown Bar for
"exposing her breasts at a public
nathcrinii."
To the editor:
The points made it. your editor.!',
entitled "Cyclists Could Be Mere
Considerate" are well taken. B-t
motorists could be more considerate. try.
I
sccvered t n: !
Tuesda-.
My- Yiif; Iq Ct-.T
campus Tuesday, so the two os us hiked
in from Carrboro during the morning rush
hour. I had a nut missing on my front
brake (it had fallen off Sunday I. but I
decided I could use the rear brake and get
a r.ut later m the day. I -a as to regret that
decision.
We were coming east on Cameron
Street. Jan was going to turn nght on
Pittsboro Street. I was m the lead and was
going straight through on Cameron.
Traffic was congested at the T-shaped
intersection of Pittsboro and Cameron.
Cars were led up on Pittsboro and had
trouble pulhng out to go left or nght.
Eastbound traffic was backed up on
Cameron, waiting for the light at
Columbia. Westbound cars were waiting
to turn left into Pittsboro.
As 1 approached the intersection, going
straight east, a westbound car started
turning left, to go south on Pittsboro
street. I had assumed that he would let
me have the right of way, since I was
proceding straight through the
intersection. (Also, I was wearing a bright
red shirt, and should have been easily
visible.) No such luck. He kept turning,
coming right at the spot toward which I
was heading.
I slammed on both my brakes
instinctively. The front wheel locked.
Over the handlebars I flew, and I
sprawled on the pavement. The offending
car drove on by. I looked around quickly,
to see whether any other cars were
coming at me. Fortunately, other drivers
were more courteous, so 1 picked myself
up and limped out of the intersection,
dragging my bike behind me.
I escaped with only a skinned knee. My
bike's front wheel, though, was bent
beyond repair.
I felt shaken. I was glad that I was not
seriously injured. And I kicked myself for
not having both brakes in good repair.
Then after these feelings had passed, I felt
indignant about the driver's action. I
asked Jan what happened to the car
which had cut me off, but she had been
too concerned about me to notice.
Several issues were raised by this
incident. First, I understand that I did
have the right of way. But it appears that
the cynical use of power overrides (no
pun intended) legal rights; at least it did
in this case. Bikes assert their rights
vis-a-vis cars only at great risk. So at this
point I issue a call for law and order.
Secondly, while this may not have
been strictly a hit-and-run accident, the
driver of the car who cut me off could
have stopped to see how I'd fared.
Ken Ripley
oml Food: person is important
"Some of these people who call
themselves Christians amaze me." she was
saying. "They spend all their time
worrying about their 'souls,' and
mine-and that's all. I don't want to be a
soul; I want to be me."
She isn't alone. Not too long ago a
black Christian, discussing racial
prejudice, told several Christians. "1 get
tired of being looked at as some kind of
sidembodied 'soul. as if my soul was
separate from my color, my manhood, or
my personality. Don't deny me the
privilege of being fully human. The
Gospel frees all of me. not just a part."
They've got a point. Too many times,
it seems. Christians are so eager to get
"converts" they manage to somehow plit
a person's personality. They get so lost in
the person's "soul" they become blinded
to the person. The joyful sharing of
"good news" becomes militaristic "soul
w inning." all too often losing the concern
and compassion for people that
supposedly marks Christian love.
And if that's all that being a Christian
means to us, then we've missed the point.
Thirdly, '-t :s v. til to keep one's bike in
repair. My rrae mairunctic red.
addir.2 to the se:
usnesi e: the ::ua:
In this I was wrong- But some sort -c:
accident would probably have occurred
anyway, given the circumstances.
Fourthly, the streets are dangerous,
especial!) at rush ho-ir. The recently
created sidewalk bike routes are or.?
alternative (and 11! be using them morel.
But pedestrian-bicycle conflicts are also a
problem, and curbs are a pain the neck. A
logical next step here would be ramp-type
curbs along sidewalk bike routes.
Finally, two complementary partial
solutions occur. At least one has been
suggested already-commur.:ty-v.:de bus
service for Carrboro and Chapel 11:11. This
would eliminate some of the need for
biking and for traveling by private car.
The other solution is to set aside
certain sidewalks (or m some cases
streets) as bicycle-only, with others as
pedestrian-only. This is most feasible on
campus, where there are many alternate
sidewalk routes to most destinations.
These should be clearly marked,
especially at pedistrian-bi cycle
intersections.
New York's parks (at least Centra! and
Riverside) have such a system, and I have
found it most coneenial. both as a biker
Evans Witt
U.S. commitments
President Richard Nixon has made
another of his politically brilliant
statements, containing just enough
wisdom to prevent them from being
called lies but with enough deception
mixed in to hide the wisdom.
In a press conference Thursday, Nixon
rejected the suggestion of many
politicians, including hawkinsh Sen.
Henry M. Jackson of Washington, that aid
to South Vietnam be cut off.
President Thieu's one man race for the
South Vietnames presidency, a farce by
even the loosest "democratic" standards,
has been given as the reason for the
proposed funds cut-off. "We would
have to cut off ais to two-thirds of the
countries in the world, if we were to
apply the standards that some propose
for South Vietnam," Nixon said in
response to the requests.
He went on to say that of the 1
nations in the world currently receiving
economic or military aid from the U.S.,
Loveless evangelism is a cruel mockery of
the way that Jesus moved among people
as he dealt with their problems, healed
their hurts, challenged their
complacencies and pointed to a new
relationship with God.
Jesus looked at the crowds and saw
people, not "disembodied souls." He was
vitally concerned with the souls of men.
to be sure, but in a way that sometimes
we forget.
"You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, and with all your
soul, and with all your mind." he said.
"This is the great and first
commandment. And a second is like it.
You shall love your neighbor as
yourself."
To be a follower of Jesus, as Jesus
meant it. does not mean merely to believe
a certain creed, follow certain prescribed
rules and religious practices, or to say the
right thing. Anyone can go to church. We
all have beliefs. When John the Baptist,
Jesus, and. later, the apostles, said
' 1
a rx'destr.an. The campus
amlccou to a park in enough ways that
it should work here.
Off-campus, though, the b.ker re.a;n
Urge!) a man or woman without a
unique, sale territory for h.:mel: and
others) in either street or s:dei'.k. Man t
a territorial animal. This applies to biker
as well as pedestrians and auto-?. B.kers
need paths of their own.
Sincerely vours.
John W. Mdnroy
;0 West Mam Street
Carrboro. N. C.
Campus food
service lousv
To the editor
The University seems plagued with
several persistent problems. Among the
most persistent is getting an adequate
food service to serve good quality food at
a moderate price.
It should be fairly evident to all
university officials and students that we
have another lousy food service on our
hands. For a non-profit company . our
food service certainly has high prices,
comparable with those food
establishments downtown. For a larce
only about 30 have freely elected
governments.
On the surface, Nixon seems to be
defending . the position that American
foreigh aid should not be used to
interfere with the internal politics of any
country. But the actions of the Nixon
administration demonstrate the policy of
the United States has not really changed
much since the "Big Stick" days of
Teddy Roosevelt.
The fact is American money, guns and
blood have propped up the South
Vietnamese government since it arose
from the diplomatic mess of the 154
Geneva Convention. Without American
help, the South Vietnamese government
might be very different from the current
Thieu dictatorship.
In the past six months, American
money has not only propped up a
non-representative government in
Vietnam it has specifically supported the
Thieu regime over Vice President Ky and
former General Minh. Formerly the
. As iA A
, AST N
"Repent," they didn't mean "get
religion."
Jesus wasn't trying to change beliefs.
He was trying to change people.
Christianity is concerned not only with
the soul, but with the ehart and the mind
of the w hole personality .
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,"
Paul wrote, "he is a new creation. The old
has passed away. Behold, the new has
come."
The power of the Gospel is th3t
through Jesus a person can be radically
transformed. Instead of being separated
from God and worshiping ourselves, we
are offered a new and dynamic
relationship with God. Jesus talks not
about a "self-help" theology, but about
the power of God to charge us if we want
to be changed.
The person who becomes a Christian
finds his beliefs changing, his attitudes
rearranged. "I have been crucified with
Christ." Paul wrote. "It is not I who live,
but Christ who lives in me."
But if Jesus talks about the "vjuI" of
man being 'ransiorrned. he also talks
Tgar.ira! or.. our food scrv.c does r.
"ovvde r.xxi quality food
The formation, o
to Lvk into the problem
ot our tvi
te: late than
r,fr:. I suggest their first investigation be
into what type contract Servo nation, bas
w.th the University and their second
efforts be directed into It rm natir jt that
contract
In the future, the Unuveriitv
ontract
fOvX
service .
That wav
again iousv . w t
that feeds us.
;an at least b.te the ha-d
Thomas Vas
Chap?! Hill
The Daily Tar Heel accepts ::
jx letters to the editor, provided they
:: are tvped on a 60-space line and
limited to a maximum of 300
v words. All letter must be signed
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: of the wTiter must be included.
The paper reserves the right to
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statements adn gosxl tate.
: Address letters to Aswiate y.
Editor. The Daily Tar Heel, in care
:: of the Student Union.
deceptive
Americans were glad to let the factions of
the South Vietnamese kill each other over
control of the government. But no
more-U.S. Ambassador I llsworth Bunker
and Nixon have decided that Ihseu is to
be president of the country.
With this backing Thieu felt tree to r:g
the elections to prevent any strong
candidate from opposing him. It
worked-now he is unopposed.
But Thieu made a big concession t
outraged U.S. public opinion last week
he said he would not consider himself
elected to another term unless he gels at
least 51 percent of the vole. Some
concession.
Simply stated, the Nixon
Administration wants Thieu to K
president of South Vietnam and wii! d.
anything to achieve that end.
Nixon is simply following the
Roosevelt extension to the Monro?
Doctrine of the 1800's:
"The U.S. can interfere jnywhere, at
any time, in the internal affairs of ny
country, if the Administration in power
at the time feels that intervention is
justifiable."
Lyndon Johnson proved in l'"5 that
the U.S. will certainly send troops to any
country in the Western Hemisphere th.it
might be in turmoil. The justification-a
shaky one at that-has been to save the
country from Communism. A more
obvious reason for sending troops into
such places as the Dominican Republic r
to protect the American money that lus
been invested there.
The American government ha
frequently been ready to put young
men's lives on the line to protect
American business interests abroad.
A part of the risk o foreign investment
should be the uncertainty over order m
the country and the stability of that
country's government.
But American businessmen feel tbey
can rely on the military might of the I S
to protect their invest ments-at least m
Central and South America.
Nixon's policy on foreigh aid goes
something like this:
"We interfere in the internal affair-, ot
the country when we feel like it: we deny
that we ever interfere when it suits our
purpose."
It's great to have such an intell:t'--r t
and enlightened foreign policy, isn't i! '
about-and demonstrates-that to re a
Christian goes beyond an inner
transformation.
Jesus emphasized that Christianity is
not a message to be be!ieved-it is belief
to be lived. Wherever men were cruel,
immoral, injust, Jesus was quick to speak
out. Instead, the early Christians were to
be sent out into the world not only to
"preach the Gospel" but to love their
neighbor, to practice righteousness and
justice. Not just on Sunday in church, but
dunngsthe week-m all that we do and
say.
The soul is important. The things we
do and believe can only come out of what
we are inside, and no amount of "doing
good" will make us "good," if we aren't
already. The power of the Gospel message
is th3t we can be changed, made whole,
transformed, as followers of Jesus Christ.
But if our lives don't change, if our
personalities remain untouched, if our
actions remain uncaring and unloving,
then not only have we "disembodied"
our soul, we have stifled it.