Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Feb. 25, 1974, edition 1 / Page 8
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7 r f II ! if i I j i it t r kmf. L f1 t! (fir mifi 52 Kfarr.v 0 Editorial Freedom El Libre Opinions cf The Daily Tar Heel Ere expressed on its editorial page. All unsigned editorials are the opinion cf the editor. Letters and columns represent only the opinions of the individual contributors. Susan Miller, Editor j.- : O On February 25, 1974 i The editorial page is different today. It isn't supposed to be an attractive page nor is it supposed to be entertaining. The purpose of today's editorial page is to present a forum for the platforms and opinions of the 10 candidates on the ballot for student body president. The general student body elections are Wednesday, so the time is short for voters to make up their minds. While door-to-door canvassing has been going on for a couple of weeks, not to mention lystery itico The Great Debate (too hot for the DTH to handle) will be at 4:00 today in the Pit. Kiss your favorite politicos goodbye. Consider my opponents ... Murray Fogler's only issue is some stupid food co-op which is illegal in North Carolina, to begin with. Yes. Foglernation, is as brilliant as the Russian Wheat Deal. Of course, what can you expect with Fogler's right-hand man Seth Effron. He has brought the Daily Tar Afield right up among the leaders with Grit and Midnight. As for Hackney, too bad this isn't Whittier or they might let him play football. The dark horse joke, Lloyd Scher, hopes to edge out his opponents at the tape, by a nose or on his nose. Richard Wil mot-Smith is using a gimmick. He speaks with a British accent, and came over like a Tory rat deserting a sinking ship. His big attribute, running the International House of Pancakes, like Pillsbury's Pdppin" Fresh. Of course, he probably knows about government look how well England's doing. These candidates, if you must, and their loyal hocks who fart in harmony, have directed their hostility towards Mystery Politico. Why? Because Mystery stands for the faceless students, who are just numbers to the administration, and just a vote for the politicos. Not out for profit or gain. Mystery will let the issues speak for themselves. Student government salaries will be abolished, allowing most money to be used for the initiation of campus escort service. His salary will be used differently. Each month, a lottery will be taken of those students w ho 'voted in this election, and the winners each month will receive fifty dollars. Mystery will get the state Attorney General to expose a "watergate mess" m which the administration has been taking student funds for years, in order to expand the Union. By now, they have enough to build TWO NEW UNIONS. The greatest Mystery since Politico is what they did with our money! I will unmask myself if and only if elected. Whereas, my mask will be retired in ceremony at Carmichael Auditorium. ID I hillip s Student Government is the only input we have into the administration and the only control we have over all the money we spend in student fees, bilt it always seems to be too involved in its own politics to represent the needs of students. It needs a redirection toward this basic responsibility. My main priorities will be to provide direct services to students and to involve them in the decision-making processes that affect them. '. I'd like to use the Faculty Council as a resource that's rarely been tapped, having students go to individual faculty members and gain support for important programs. The issues I'm concerned with include: A complete examination of university housing policy, especially the new housing contract. 1 want to be sensitive to individual complaints (such as students who have been forced to pay double room rent when their roommates moved out) and work closely with RHA to protest dorm overcrowding and help expand coed living opportunities. Revoking the Union Snack Bar's contract, which comes before the Board of Trustees this spring. Academic reform. An extention of the pass-fail sign up period, support for four is spring. Academic reform. An extention of the pass-fail sign up period, support for four course load, and the development of an experiential learning program. The creation of a student ombudsman committee, which would research the channels of the administration and work closely with faculty and administrators to increase student input. Reinstitute the student locator service, expanding it to an information and counseling referral service. The main emphasis of my campaign has been on personal contact and door to door canvassing, I intend to work toward those issues I've mentioned whether elected or not. leaflets and other politicking, many students are still unaware of what the candidates" platforms are and what are the issues of the campaign. So today's Tar Heel allows the candidates to speak for themselves. Batlg (Far Urel Susan Miller Editor Cathy Farrell, Managing Editor Bill Welch, News Editor David Eskridge, Associate Editor Nzncy Pate, Associate Editor Kevin McCarthy, Features Editor Elliott Warnock, Sports Editor Tom Randolph, Photo Editor Ernie Pitt, Night Editor I do not read the editorial page of the Tar Heel; however. I understand some people actually do. Therefore, when one of my aides notified me that the Tar Heel greatly desired an editorial by El Libre himself, I agreed. I must confess, however, great reluctance to associate myself with a publication described by Friedrich Engcls in 1894 as one of "revisionist, nosepicking mediocrity." The lies of the Tar Heel are limited only by the incompetence of the Tar Heel. This "newspaper" quoted me out of context as saying I am running "mainly to have fun." Lest the people be misled, let me say now, I am running because of my selfless, angelic love for the people of UNC; and because of my bitter hatred for the bourgeoisie and their running dogs. Who are the bourgeoisis? They are the exploiters, the bloodsuckers, the parasites, who feed upon us, who eat us, growing fat on our labor. They grip us. they choke us, they regulate our very bowels. They prey upon the bodies of women. And who are their running dogs? They are the student government lackeys, the brown nosers, the pigs, chatting about their pantywaste "academic reform,", smugly contemplating their law school applications. I spit upon them. People ask me, "El Libre, but would you abolish Student Government?" And I say "No. comrade!" I seek not to abolish, but to "create. Student Government, as it exists, is just so much bullshit. You can go up to Suite C and inhale the stench of it. El Libre would eliminate the bullshit, and give the.people strength the strength of radical force. And I would turn Suite C over to the people, and make it a place where you can get free tequila and cigarettes anytime. Yes, Susan Miller, I ' believe in having fun; 1 drink a lot of tequila. Regarding you, Susan. I quote Marx: "The bourgeois press is so stiff that one could not drive a slender steel rod up their orifice with the sledge hammer of the proletariat." Finally, let me emphasize that, the Tar Heel has seriously distorted the realities of this campaign. Their lies, their censorship, thtir lethally boring editorials are all designed to undermine the cause of the people. In response, we will show a previously unreleased CBS news documentary dealing with El Libre. In the Union Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. arren The visibility and credibility of Student Government is now very questionable. The President and his staff must make themselves available to the students by visiting dorms to explain what Student Government can do for them. Students' concerns and problems must be met firsthand. Only then will Student Government establish the credibility that is currently lacking. As a member of the Executive staff and through working with the University Administration, I gained considerable insight into the proper administration of the Executive Branch. This administration's mistakes of mismanagement, lack of visibility, tokenism, and unconcern for many issues and programs that effected students can be corrected. To the best of my ability I will work for the following: Including students with a wide variety of backgrounds as Advisors to the President (Women, Blacks, Greeks, Graduate Students). Work against University Parking proposals that place to great a financial burden on students and severely restrict resident parking. ' Effectively represent the Academic Reform Proposals to the Faculty and University Administration." Support and expand the services of the Student Consumer Action Union so that they can become the viable economic protector of students. Increase student input in town decissions. Work for campus housing improvements. "Have members of the staff serve as contacts and watchdogs for University Administrators and Faculty. There must be no excuse for a lack of student input. Reinstitute the Telephone Locator Service, including a brief student directory, during the first few weeks of the semester. Reestablish Student Government's visibility by visiting dorms. Cooperate with the Union Board of Directors to ensure a music program that appeals to students. With a diversified and effective staff and with your support we can accomplish these goals. TT1T cKiiev Jvicintyr Q Running for President of the Student Body is at best a contradictory task. On the one hand the candidate is expected to bring forth proposals to better the lot of the students at UNC, on the other hand the candidate is villified for being serious enough about the role of Student Government to take the campaign as more than an annual joke. I'm serious about running for two reasons. I sincerely believe that Student Government can have the capacity to help students through their years here, and 1 believe that people, particularly college students, are intelligent and mature enough to consider those things which affect their lives and their money in a serious light. 1 believe that Student Government should be basically service-oriented, that Student Government should try to provide as many services to as many students as our funds ad our energies allow. Services like the Student Consumer Action Union and the Human Sexuality Counseling Service are, arid should be, the business of Student Government. In order to expand the services that SG offers students 1 am proposing two that I think can be extremely beneficial to all students. .The first of these is a housing locator service. The housing locator service would be a Student Government funded and run list of all available housing in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, what it costs, how far it is from campus, and whether or not it is vacant. Student Government can keep the list constantly updated, so that when you want to find a place to live you can call the locator service and they can tell you where to find what you want with a minimum of effort. The housing locator service offers the advantages of convenience to the housing hunting student and of being the only practical way to strengthen the student's position as a consumer in order to bring down the rent levels that afflict us. The typing service can utilize typewrtiers that SG owns already to provide jobs for students on Work-Study programs as well as to provide a much needed service for the many students who can't type. Limitations of space prevent me from adequately explaining the typing service or the rest of the things I've been talking about during the campaign, but 1 would like to ask you to consider the candidates carefully During this campaign. I have stressed two main areas of concern which I would concentrate in if I became president. Here. 1 would like to reiterate these concerns. First and most important is the general nature of student government. In the past, neither student government nor the president have been open to all the students when they were in need of help. Therefore. I see the main issue in this campaign as being that of opening up Suite C so that any student at any time can feel free to get in touch with the president if he or she feels that the president can be of some service. I have tried to conduct my campaign in as personal manner as possible by placing my phone number on all campaign literature and by talking to as many students as possible w hile going door to door. I can assure you that if elected. 1 will make the presidency an office that any student on this campus can feel free to turn to when he or she needs help. My second major concern is in the area of academic revisions. Although some candidates have stressed other areas, it is my belief that academic changes are needed most because it is these concerns that affect students the most. Our exam system has not been evaluated closely enough. I would like to see a more structured mid-term schedule so that students with several courses which have mid-terms do not have to cope with all of their exams in the same week. In relation to final exams, the same problem exists. Too many students work very hard for three months only to have their grades ruined by a poor exam schedule. One alternative-that I see as feasible but not without its- administrative problems is a system where th? regular schedule is planned as it is now but in addition to this, have each professor give one alternative time for his final exam. Under this system, each student would have ten possible exam time choices instead of being forced into five times where the student's main goal often shifts from learning and doing well on exams to only getting through with them. 1 have not tried to give a brief review of all my proposals because the amount of space provided here will not allow that. If you have any questions or suggestions concerning my campaign or the election itself, feel free to call me at 929-7271. 60f TMV BlTINCr THIS. VgRK ! . .. r i u Co t c, -pur, r a. i, (iX Scher Fogler Williams I have made no promises to the students here at the university. What I have said is thatJ will do my best to serve you the student. I will make the campus safe for all students by changing the lighting around the campus to day-lights, which are cheaper and , much brighter. 1 will do my best to increase fiancial aid to all students through the financial aid office. I will also try to establish a book policy in which the student does not have to buy a new book every semester for continuing courses. This year book policy will put the burden on the professors to request the right books for courses. Drop-Add, and Pass-Fail should be extended further into the semester for the conveniance of the students and professors. I would investigate the possibility of a 4-1-4 Semester system. Here the student could take a month off from school or study abroad or study on one course that the student has trouble with. 1 would also work for a 4 course semester load. I hope that the students will consider me for president. 1 have been involed with student government since high school and at Miami Dade Jr. College. I have worked with some of the current state officals so I will have contact in Raleigh which I hope to be able to use for the students benefits. Finally, 1 have not used any campaign material; because of the paper shortage and the waste on the ecology that it would have caused. When you vote "on Wednesday, please consider Lloyd Scher for Student Body President. Use your vote wisely and 'consider all the candidates. I would here like to discuss two neglected issues: the administration's slow progress in ending racial and sexual discrimination in the enrollment of students (through the Desegregation Plan) and in the employment of faculty and non-faculty' staff members (through the Affirmative Action Plan). Both plans were written without any student input; indeed, very little effort has even been made to inform students of the implications and progress of each Plan. These Plans directly affect students not only because they affect the composition of the student body and the faculty, but also because they represent the University's alleged "good faith" in taking action to correct some blatant problems. They, like every proposal considered by the administration, exemplify the lack of communication between the administration and students. What can a president do to correct this situation? I find this to be the central question of the campaign. We, as students, are weary of having decisions handed to us with total disregard for our interests. The president, who represents 20,000 students and thus has the most influence of any student with the administration, must be the forceful advocate of the students interests. Surely the president can work, to establish legitimate means for students to participate in making policy decisions. Let us not be naively optimistic about the speed with which this can be done the University is a gargantuan bureaucracy but let us not be so frustrated with its slowness that we stop trying. There are things we can do without administration or student government approval. My proposal for a student-run food co-operative is one example. We can take action now to protect our rights as consumers through the co-op, students can purchase groceries at 20-30 below retailer's prices. All the research has ben done and a group of students are ready to begin implementation (since it is based on already successful co-ops in the area, it is very feasible). With this, as any proposal, I think we will learn that there is power in our numbers. During my entire campaign I have stressed "Progress. Through Interaction." Hopefully my platform, designed to stimulate and aid interaction among' all levels and groups at this university, has become known to all of you. But now let me explain why this theme was important. First, there has been blatant procrastination and callous indifference by the administration in drafting an Affirmative Action Plan at least acceptable to HEW standards. UNC is generally thought to be the most "liberal" institution of higher learning in the South. It seems contradictory that our administration cannot (or will not) draw up a suitable plan of Affirmative Action. Secondly, the recent decision to abolish the co-educational mode of. living, as existing on 2nd floor Winston, was a direct slap at the integrity of both the participants in this living experiment and the entire student body. It's quite another thing however, when the administration implies ignorance of the whole experiment as they did a few Sundays ago in a state newspaper (i.e. The Durham Morning Herald), and suggests that it sneaked past South Building through the efforts of a small group ot students. Both of these decisions were made by the administration with a minimum of, or no student input at all. Why is it that the administration is so preoccupied with not hurting the feelings of the people of North Carolina, and apparently are not the least bit concerned with the feelings of the students? I ask you, who could possibly be affected more by administrative decisions concerning students than the students themselves? Aren't you tired of your interests and needs being ignored? PROGRESS THROUGH INTERACTION. Accomplishing interaction will take more than rhetoric. It will require direct planning by the student. A prime example is my proposed "Rides Coordination Office." Here, a student needing a ride or a rider anytime can be matched with another of the same destination. This office could be expanded to other institutions in the Triangle area. Ride On! Wilmot-Smith Student Government does not exist, therefore students have no power to influence what directly affects them. This means that each election every year is a repeat of the one the year before, with the same platforms, the same people and the same joke candidates. "Student Input" is useless unless it has the power to go with it. The administration has thrown off the only two student members from the academic reform committee, has announced the ending of the second floor Winston project with neither student approval nor acknowledgement, and judicial reform is dependent solely on what the Chancellor will accept and not what students think is basic to good justice. Student Government is an impotent body with no influence in any of these decisions. We can abolish either the whole thing, or we must fundamentally change the way such decisions are made. If we remodeled University government around a University Forum (13 faculty, 13 students, and 13 administration) which decides University policy, we will have gone a long way towards getting Student Power. The Forum would decide all policies now made unilaterally by various Deans and offices, so everyone affected by a decision would have an opportunity to discuss and vote on it. This Forum is neither new nor radical. German Universities are run by such forums and work well. Students have the power of initiative and reform and can vote down detrimental administration proposals. I do not promise the immediate creation of the Forum, for much ground must be covered before that happens. But I do promise that my administration will go about its business with the establishment of the Forum as its ultimate goal. I will not participate in a beauty contest of pet projects, which, sound impressive but rarely get implemented, because at present the students simply do not have the power of such implementation. The Forum is not only feasible, it also goes a very long way to giving students the essential power to make student action count and make student government genuine.
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Feb. 25, 1974, edition 1
8
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