Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Feb. 18, 1976, edition 1 / Page 8
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B n X m a 1 t i j n ' ! 1 j i - i' y n ' C r f ) i j if i f - The Daily Tar Heol continues today a now traditional policy which allows each candidate the opportunity to write an 80-line column expounding his platform and qualifications for office. The two editorial candidates and five of the eight presidential candidates have their statements in today; the threo remaining presidential candidates will have their columns in Thursday's issue. The order of presentation has been determined by a random lottery of the statements submitted Tuesday. Obviously some candidates chose not to write as many as 80 lines, which has also had some effect on placement on this page. Read these statements and make reasonable choices, if you want to insure reasonable editorial policy and student government action. Cole C. Campbell Editor lailu 83rd Year of Editorial Freedom Dan Besse Life at this University from the classroom to Town Hall to Carmichael Auditorium can be full and exciting. It's easy to spend so much time getting there that we forget where and why we're going. Then, at the end of four years, we realize that all the decisions have been made for us, and it's time to be gone. If that thought doesn't bother you, then you might as well work the crossword puzzle, because this column won't interest you. I'm running for student body president because l realize that the decisions made during our college years will shape the rest of our lives, and I believe that Student Government can be shaped into a tool through which we can be a part of the decision-making process. If we learn how to make our voice heard in our community now. we can use that knowledge wherever we go.' ' -..- - To fulfill its potential. Student Government must concentrate its effort in a few major issue areas, aiming at increasing student influence and involvement. There are presently three areas which are in greatest need of immediate action. ACADEMIC POLICY: Proposed grading policy changes and improvements in course registration and drop-add are among the issues here which need student attention. Student influence can be increased by expanded lobbying and cooperation with the Faculty Council, the academic departments and the offices of records and registration. For example, if course registration numbers were set four semesters in advance, students could plan when to take hard-to-get courses and avoid drop-add more often. UNIVERSITY HOUSING: We must work to change the paternalistic manner in which housing policy is set. Information on problems like room sign-up. Title IX regulations, and room rent should be released early enough for all interested residents to have input into the final decisions. (As an example of a way to alleviate excess demand for university housing, more freshmen who so prefer could be allowed to live off-campus, opening up a i Jim Roberts For yet another year, the issues being bandied about by students and candidates in the race lor the Dailty Tar Heel editorship' seem to be centering on the choice between campus and national news and the newspaper distribution problems. ' Both issues are intimately tied to a third problem, that of the Tar Heel's financial situation. With finances in their current pitiful condition, the editor is faced with innumerable choices of what to emphasize in a six- or eight-page newspaper, especially the choice between campus news and national news. As a candidate for DTH editor, I am totally comittcd to maintaining the Tar Heel as a forum for student-oriented topics, such as academic affairs, student groups, equal and unequal rights and the environment. To validate my expressed commitment is a DTH column written by myself last August, prior to my second month as Daily Tar Heel news editor. In the column, I stated that in past years, the DTH has "overemphasized national news and should attempt to provide more coverage of campus and University events." To accomplish this, the news department, under my direction, set out to remove most national news from the front page, relegating it to a column of briefs on an inside page. By placing the national news tneondensed form we were able to give more coverage to Wednesday, February 1C, 1S7G Greg Porter Managing Editor Joyce Fitzpatrick Associate Editor Art Eisenstadt News Editor George Bacso Features Editor Susan Shackelford Sports Editor Bruce Henderson Public Affairs Editor Charles Hardy Photography Editor spaces for returning upperclassmen.) CO'MM UNITY AFFAIRS: Many issues affect both students and townspeople as consumers and citizens, and must be addressed by both student and town government. (For example, the Carrboro aldermen have approved the holding of a referendum on the funding of extending the bus system to Carrboro. However, if students are not reminded and encouraged to vote in it, many apartment dwellers will still be left without a ride home.) More individualstudents could have their college experience enriched, and simultaneously aid the community, if a Student Volunteer Referral Service is created to help interested students link up with community groups that need volunteer help. To work effectively in these areas (and1 others like campus security improvement and athletic facility use), Student Government must avoid the infighting of this year. In my two years of work in Student Government, 1 have learned how it works, how it should work and how to avoid the traps that keep it from working. My experience in this system will enable me to do the things necessary to free it from fruitless internal bickering. Keep politics out of the treasurer's office by hiring a non-political, technically experienced treasurer, and so avoid playing games with the students money. Get the executive and legislative brances working together by . bringing Campus Governing Council members into policy forrnulation, rather than handing out already rigid proposals and forcing polarization. Improve direct communications with students by such methods as encouraging CGC members to set up communications committees in their districts (and setting up executive branch committees in districts where the CGC member doesn't). By eliminating internal tension and concentrating our issue efforts, Student Government can be an effective avenue for the student voice. I can offer only experience and a quiet voice in pursuit of these goals, but with your support, we can reach them. Dan Besse is a junior political science major from Hickory. student events and University and local information, while still demonstrating that a world exists outside the isolated Utopia of UNC and Chapel Hill. The philosophy behind this move holds true today. Since there is no feasible way for a paper the size of the DTH to provide an adequate coverage of national events and still present local news from its domain, then why even pretend to? If the DTH is to remain at its present size, which seems the case in view of the financial situation, its editor must make a choice as to what sort of coverage it provides. The Daily Tar Heel is the only medium for student-oriented topics, and as a student newspaper, it has an inherent obligation to provide as much student coverage as possible, leaving general national and international news to the condensed capsules and to the statewide newspapers and television networks. Another daily concern of students voiced perennially at election time is the DTH distribution system and its problems. Because of limited finances, the DTH prints, on a good day, 17,500 newspapers, although the actual number reaching students is quite smaller. With a circulation of 2,500 less than the number of enrolled students, it is of tantamount importance that these papers be distributed equitably. To insure fair distribution, the DTH must have student input to know where more newspapers are needed and where they are in ' excess. Obtaining this type of input would require having a distribution manager hold Billy Richardson On Feb. 15, the Tar Heel called me and informed me that 1 had 80 lines, due in a day and a half, in whichto inform students about my campaign for student body president. So in a late night rush I will attempt to inform you about what I stand for. I propose to offer a sensible government. As students we are members of the University community. The problems withm the University affect us. We are the ones who wait in the lines, who take the courses, who eat or don't eat the meals, w ho park on or off campus and who receive the grades. Therefore, we must contribute towards solving these problems. I feel it is Student Government's role to initiate student participation and achievement in issues which affect us all. I wish to offer an issue-oriented administration; an administration which provides services to students, which advocates programs in academics, which insures input in administrative decisions, which stimulates leadership, which opens channels of communication with the administration, the faculty, with the campus organizations and with the student body and finally which initiates reform in the Undergraduate Court, budgeting procedures and in student government itself. The president not only needs experience; heshe must be able to work with all elements of the University and be capable of involving competent students from all areas of the campus. 1 have worked hard towards establishing a good platform and involving many people in my campaign. A president must work effectively in all these areas to be successful. To be effective a James Harkins What factors influence a student to seek the office of student body president? Some would reply for the acquisition of power. Others might answer as a stepping stone to bigger and better things (i.e. law school, a top rated graduate school, or other political offices). My motive is to transform the present system of student government with regards to student input by increasing the channels through which they can participate. My proposal consists of five channels for student input. 1) Specific office hours one hour per day devoted to students and organizations. 2) Executive council consisting of one presidential representative for each student organization. Their role would be to keep the president informed of activities of the organizations and provide a direct ear to the president. These representatives would also listen to the individual club members to insure both organizational and individual input in the decision making process. These representatives would also explain the rules and regulations of Student Government to reduce problems that might arise because of misunderstanding of these rules and regulations. 3) Trouble shooting committee The purpose of this committee would be to investigate any problems or controversies that might arise and make recommendations to the' president. 4) You and Me basis The president would spend at least one hour per day listening to students in informal surroundings around the campus on a one-to-one basis to get a personal view of the students' needs and means to satisfy these , needs. 5) Scheduled residence visits Visit each residence hall once per month explaining what is happening in Student Government and to listen to their views on these matters. In the decision making process, students' voices are seldom heard because they aren't informed of student government activities. This lack of student input can be resolved by asking the students to voice their opinion. My five channel system will correct this problem. During the last week and a half, my staff and I have talked to a large number of students on a one-to-one basis. The students office hours at least twice weekly to hear student complaints and make distribution alterations accordingly. Another way to afford students better access to the Tar Heel would be, ideally, to print more copies. But without increased revenue, this is impossible. One way to increase newspaper revenue, and at the same time distribute the paper more equitably, would be to solicit subscriptions from individual faculty members and administrators who now make free use of the same newspaper students are required to pay for. To further improve the DTH 1 propose to? Give more sports coverage to other ACC teams. Vary editorial page comment by hiring at least one editorial writer to complement the efforts of the editor. Establish and maintain a crusading perspective on campus news by increasing investigative and informative articles on topics like basketball ticket distribution and grading changes. Use more part-time reporters to give a broader coverage to campus events and student groups, and to afford more students newspaper experience. If this is the type of newspaper you want the Daily Tar Heel to be, you should reconsider seriously my candidacy for editor. It's a decision that will matter five times a week. Jim Roberts is a junior journalism major from Richmond, Va. president must have a good know ledge of the structure of the university. I have served as the executive assistant to the student body president and on the Food Services Commission. This past November, I attended the student-faculty-administration conference held at Camp New Hope. Currently, I am lobbying for administration approval of the Student Bill of Rights and Responsibilities. As I have mentioned in my platform, I cannot promise you that I w ill achieve all the goals in my platform. However, I will promise you an issue-oriented administration; an administration w hich will challenge problems affecting us. by stimulating leadership and involving a diverse group of people in the University Community. With my experience and dedication I feel I can offer you a good administration. A quotation by Bill Russell is appropriate for this election year. He stated in a speech on campus: "Think and participate: a person who participates without thinking is a fool, but a person who thinks and does not participate, dies!" Students need to think and participate in campus affairs and in this election. Our government has been inactive for too long! Billy Richardson is a junior political science speech major from Fayettevilie. 4 P- L f V- 4WZ$ " todvJeigoih&to a j L ZJKtCTS oF SPRING-. WEATHER. J r 1 . Xr&li - go ) i I I xrO v.. i. l,. . .L, - ' - , i ; 7Z . ' . .. l;..u. i-i-..-.-.i.-.'-n Li. .i.mi i um, . I.,.,,, - , ', . . - 7Z ','?...' :; - " . " TIT-, The incH-a. 218 response to this type of communication has convinced me that this is the only direction student government can follow if it is to be representative of student views. The government must actively seek student participation instead of passively waiting for students to come to the government. James Harkins is a junior inter-disciplinary major in "The Behavioral Economic and Cultural Foundations underlying Marketing and Advertising" from Chapel Hill. The signed columns on this page represent the opinions of the individual contributors only. Unsigned or initialed editorials represent the opinion of the Daily Tar Heel. The Daily Tar Heel welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be typed, double spaced, on a 60-space line. They must be signed and should not run over 40 lines or 300 words. Letters are published according to timeliness, general interest to the student body and University community, and the spatial limitations of the day. the Daily Tar Heel reserves the right to condense or edit letters for wordiness, libelous1 content or bad taste. Alan Murray Obviously, the function of a newspaper is to present the news in its domain. But the important question to consider is: What comprises news? Last semester the definition of news that guided the Daily Tar Heel was severely limited. The play-acting of student government dominated the paper while other issues and events of greater concern to students were neglected. Bill Bates name appeared on the front page of the paper 465 times, and Mike O'Neal's name, running an extremely close second, appeared 407 times. Student government serves a purpose on this campus, but that purpose is hardly so important as the Tar Heel makes it seem. The people making news judgments for the paper seem to be caught up in the crusading fervor that is left over from Watergate. They see themselves as Woodwards and Bernsteins searching out corruption in government. But Student Government is not the campus analogy of federal government. Its power and influence at this university are not great, and much, if not most of what it does is of little concern to the average student. The space in the Tar Heel can be put to better use. My platform, which I have repeated in abbreviated form below, shows how this space could be used to achieve a broader perspective on the news. Consumer news Most UNC students live on tight budgets and need to know where they can get the most for their money. I intend to appoint a consumer news reporter -who will research and write articles to help 0 B 30 US SS Dave Johnson Please take a minute to think objectively. Think about the idea of Student Government. Don't let the government part trap you into thinking that "government' means big words, promises to make our government politically effective, commitments to improve the overall integrity of our people and other stuff like that. That kind of talk does not mean much to me. I honestly don't feel it will get us anywhere either. It's vague. It's second level. It won't ever reach us and will really do little for us. I'm not speaking with big words to try and sound impressive because I don't want to so a lot of people tell me I'm not acting like a politician and I'm not being serious. Why should I act like a politician? I think the big problem around here is people are trying to act like politicians. We shouldn't , have "politicians" in Student Government; we should have people. Wc should have people who want to work for goals, but we should have the kind of people who want to work for goals that are realistic and can affect the people living here. I think all the candidates for student body president are serious about their Paul Stanley Well, to tell you what I'd like to do as your Student Body President, I've wanted to stay away from the conventional manner of parroting platforms and proposing promises, and instead just tell you the truth. To recall the past three years in Student Government one president went off to Oxford with the help of his undergraduate position, one I never did hear much about and one I'm hearing too much about. I, myself, have no plans for post graduate study. . As your Student Body President, HI be able to represent you not only with myself, but with the help of my appointed staff. Also, being an ex-officio member of the UNC Board of Trustees, I will be able to take advantage of that position in your favor. Concerning my opposition, some have made great promises out of their jurisdiction. Power of the president has limits, and when the situation involves non UNC type people and businesses, this is a whole new ballgame. Some of my opposition have either been a representative or obtained a high position on the CGC for several years. They had as much say on matters then as they would if elected president, because the president is an ex- J student consumers. This reporter will work with the Student Consumer Action Union and provide comparisons between, for example, prices at the various record stores or food stores in Chapel Hill. In-depth features and freelance articles Articles that take a close look at events and issues affecting students should be the real substance of the paper. Unfortunately, these have been neglected. The features editor tends to spend most of his energy and space on articles concerning entertainment. I will appoint a new staff editor whose sole function will be to solicit in-depth features and freelance articles. National news The first priority of the Daily Tar Heel is, of course, campus news. But it is a fact that the majority of UNC students only read one newspaper in the morning, and that paper is the Daily Tar Heel. Therefore, if something big happens on the national or international scene, the Tar Heel must let students know about it. Last semester the policy was to keep national news off the front page. This is nearsighted news judgment. 1 will see that the most prominent national and international news events (which usually average two to three a week) are reported on the front page. Distribution The Daily Tar Heel has long needed a distribution manager who could study the distribution system, find out where there are too many papers in the morning and where there are not enough, and help insure that all students who want a paper get one. Finances The financial problems of the Daily Tar Heel are complex and can neither be explained or solved in a twenty-ftve-word-or-less platform statement. However, commitment and would putt nr. e and energy into being president. The difference will be the output that comes from that energy and how it will affect you as a regular old student. Think about that. Take a minute sometime to look at some of these real impressive, professional looking campaign posters. Break them down word for word, and see what they're saymg. I think the goals are vague. I think they are abstract. They seem very impressive if you read them back to back. But when I take a minute think about the goals by themselves, I can't see how they are going to happen. The decision of what will be is ultimately left up to you w hen you vote. You can vote to work on Suite C reform or you can vote to work for a concert in Kenan Stadium. You can vote for striving to unite the faculty and students or you can vote for entertainment in the Pit that both faculty and students can enjoy. You can vote for rewording the constitution, or you can vote for working to accomplish tangible and realistic goals that affect us directly. I hope I have made you think a little about Student Government. If you don't care about it, you should. Student Government could do something for us, but I think we've got to change its attitude. I'd like to try. Dave Johnson is a sophomore speech major from Avon, Conn. officio (voting) member. An issue brought up in the CGC takes a two-thirds vote to carry. So, what's to say next year will be any different. I'm a simple, common-type person, and that's the way I'd like to see our Student Government run. By reducing complexities and teaching the intellectuals how to speak English, this can be done very simply. Our' Student Government constitution is just as pure, plain and simple as you please. It points out the positions and their duties, so when a problem concerning the active body arises, it can be dealt with in a simple, organized, but efficient manner. I hope at this point you're beginning to learn a little about Paul Stanley, and what I want to do. I also hope that one day maybe, I could talk and meet with each person that's reading this. Meeting new people is always interesting and beneficial to an office holder. Anyway, to get next year off on a good start, go vote and tell your friends to, also. If you want to vote for me, fine, but vote for someone, that's what matters. There are some good people running but the students have the privilege to make the decision. Thanks for reading this and take a hand in your Student Government. You, the student body, can make all the difference. Paul Stanley is a junior industrial relations major from Marion. my experience as business manager of the New Carolinian, and my knowledge of the workings of the Daily Tar Heel will enable me to work effectively with the business manager of the Tar Heel and the UNC Media Board to alleviate the present problems and work toward a larger, and eventually independent newspaper. Editorial Stance The editor of the Daily Tar Heel is elected by the students to provide a voice for the student body. Therefore it is the editor's responsibility to take a forceful stance on campus issues. Plus My platform also includes: making Campus Calendar and Kaleidoscope regular and reliable features instead of fillers; adding a television section to Kaleidoscope to provide information on special programs and movies; printing box scores for the semi finalists and finalists in the intramural programs; publishing more challenging crossword puzzles that will last through an entire Tuesday or Thursday class; and encouraging more creative photography. Qualifications I have worked on the Tar Heel for over two years, primarily as features editor. Last semester 1 left the Tar Heel to become co-editor and business manager of the New Carolinian magazine, an independent, triangle area quarterly which appeared in December and will come out again in March. As an American Studies and English major with extensive journalism experience, I am well qualified to run the .Daily Tar Heel and to provide it with the broader perspective ft needs. Alan Murray is a junior English American Studies major from Lookout Mountain, Tenn.
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Feb. 18, 1976, edition 1
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