V
8 The Daily Tar Heel Thursday, September 8, 1977
Greg Porter
Editor
Ben Cornelius, Managing Editor
Ed Rankin, Associate Editor
Lou BiL!ONis,.4Morij Editor
Laura Scism, University Editor
Elliott Potter, City Editor
Chuck Alston, State and National Editor
Sara Bullard, Features Editor
Jeanne Newsom, Arts Editor
Gene Upchurch, Sports Editor
L.C. Barbour, Photography Editor
Stye
Sailjj
85th year of editorial freedom
The race for middle ground
There was a touch of irony, if not surprise, yesterday as Luther H odges J r.
announced his candidacy for the Senate seat Republican Jesse Helms now
holds. The former NCNB chairman has been running unofficially for eight
months and the media have touted him as the Democratic heavyweight for
more than a year. So the campaign kickoff was routine rather than
shocking. As he moved from the Research Triangle Park to Eden to
Charlotte, the candidate took the expected swipes at Helms.
"Helms' voice is weak," Hodges said. "And when it is heard, it is always
saying the same thing 'No!' He has said so much that whenever he
proposes anything, the rest of the Senate says 'no' to him," Hodges said.
The ironic element of the maiden voyage of the campaign was the send
off. Luther Hodges Jr. opened his campaign in the midst of the industrial
and academic research complex his father built. The Research Triangle
Park, the fastest-growing center of its kind, is the very impressive
handiwork of Luther Hodges Sr., who many observers say was the best
governor in the history of the state and went on to be U.S. Secretary of
Commerce under John F. Kennedy.
This is the mantle Luther Hodges Jr. carries into the Senate battle as one
of his most effective weapons. In this state, only the name Sam Ervin rivals
the impact of the venerable Luther Hodges Sr. It is this impressive calling
card, along with Luther Hodges Jr.'s administrative skills and huge
financial base, that make him the Democrats' most potent challenger to
Jesse Helms.
Hodges is io risk to alienate conservative Democrats with a liberal
platform. He is a safe bet to follow in his father's footsteps as a
"businessman in the state house." His moderate stance should consolidate
his party and make Helms' strident right wing views seem all the more out of
the mainstream. Hodges' approach was clear in yesterday's comments.
"If I were a United States Senator I would be talking about tobacco as
opposed to the Panama Canal," Hodges said. "I would be knowledgeable
about the canal, but I wouldn't be paranoid about it."
In the inevitable race for the middle ground, Hodges should have an
advantage. He's much more at home in the middle of the spectrum than the
ideologue Helms. He and his father have held down that spot for almost
three decades now.
Night taxi service a failure
University and town officials are obviously having problems
communicating these days on a bus contract acceptable to both parties.
Judging from the misunderstandings that have cropped up over improved
night service for students and faculty, it's clear that Vice Chancellor for
Business and Finance John Temple was correct in refusing to sign a
previously agreed-upon contract Tuesday.
The present transit system offers no fixed route night service necessary for
students traveling to and from campus. Temple said yesterday that he
received a letter in June from Town Manager Kurt Jenne that promised
night bus service. Jenne said he remembers no such letter or ever having
promised night bus service.
The letter may remain a mystery but one thing is clear the shared-ride
taxi service that replaced the night bus system is not working. Taxis are
supposed to transport riders in areas within one-fourth of a mile of any bus
route except in Carrboro and the core of the campus. Even town officials
have admitted the taxi service has not had an auspicious beginning.
This is not the first snag that the U niversity and town have hit over the bus
system. The University announced plans earlier this year to pay $338,000
rather than the $400,00 that had been agreed to tentatively. After the Board
of Aldermen stubbornly voted to repeat the town's request the town and
University agreed upon a compromise of $366,000 negotiated by Mayor Jim
Wallace.
The night taxi service should be an addition, not substitute, for night bus
routes. Town and university officials, however, will have to reach the same
wavelength before a beneficial agreement on the level of night service is
signed.
Chapel Hill's parking problems
letters to the editor
University officials should come in out of the rain
To the editor:
To Dean Boulton: 1 am so glad you are
keenly aware that there is a water shortage.
And better still, that you realize that there is
friction between the town and the
University. Knowing these two facts, let's
look at the problem which exists and try to
find those really responsible for the friction
you outlined in the Daily Tar Heel ("Boulton
suggests orientation to ease Chapel Hill
friction," Sept. 6).
Anyone living in Chapel H ill this summer
came to realize that there would be a
shortage this fall. It didn't take too much
insight. One needed only to look outside the
window day after day to determine that rain
was not falling. And even if you were on
vacation or living in a windowless room, a
quick call to the weather bureau or a glance
at the newspaper would have revealed that
there was indeed a serious problem
emerging.
All the more reason for the University to
allow 10-20.000 students to come to Chapel
Hill. I guess you thought that your Indian
war dances and divining rods would bring
the "great rains" and hidden springs to the
students. But. alas, that did hot happen.
So in closing. Dean Boulton. please don't
pass the buck on to the citizens. They have a
right to be angry. They should not be angry
at the students. Students were not told that a
serious crisis existed. And who's fault is that?
It all boils down to you. So simply accept the
responsibility and blame that goes with last
minute efforts and poor planning.
When it rains, it pours, so it might be time
to pull out your umbrella, or better still come
in out of the rain.
Dan R. Ariail
1 100 Roosevelt Dr.. Apt. 3
Bottoms up
To the editor:
Police Chief Herman Stone's act of
arresting students in front of Kirkpatrick's
last week is an example of an annoying
regression to conservatism this town has
displayed in the last two years.
I can remember a time when carrying a
beer down the street was legal or at least
tolerated (sigh).
Perhaps several points should be brought
to Mr. Stone's attention:
First, police and town have traditionally
been tolerant of student activities. Since
most have to work hard here, since beer is
cheap and since on-campus beer sales are
non-existent, many patronize bars when it's
time to play, i admit Carolina students can
be loud but they have enough class to
conduct themselves better than those in
other college towns I've seen.
Second. Stone said students were causing
a safety problem on public property. Does
this mean he will arrest people for drinking
at campus mixers which are held on or near
public property? He would anger a lot of
students if he tried. If Mr. Stone saw
Kirkpatrick's during the NCAA finals, he
must realize these "illegal" crowds will
continue on occasion simply because there is
no where else to put them.
Third, don't bite the hand that helps feed
you! Beer sales in this town are among the
highest in the nation for its size. This means
money. It seems foolish to endanger this
revenue by hassling those who generate it.
Fourth, with all the cars racing down
Rosemary St. like there's no tomorrow, are
the crowds endangering or endangered?
I hope there will be a sensible solution to
this controversy, but in the meantime.
bottoms up Mr. Stone!
John Johnson
1 16 Lewis
The Daily Tar Heel welcomes
contributions and letters to the editor,
letters must he signed, typed on a 60- .
space line, double-spaced and must be
accompanied by a return address.
Letters chosen for publication are
subject to editing.
Fee Increase justified
To the editor:
This is in reply to the charges by Bruce
Tindall ("Increase in student fees this year's
unnatural act?" Letters. Sept. 6) concerning
student fee increases. Anyone belonging to a
campus organization seeking help from
CGC this past spring can well remember the
struggle for necessary monies. This student
fee increase would help ease the problem of
funding all the campus groups that come
before the finance committee in March. I
urge all students and especially those
belonging to a campus organization funded
by CGC to wholeheartedly support this
increase. I hese student fees have not been
raised since 1957 and the money received
now cannot properly fund all groups. In
regard to Mr. Tindall's accusation that CGC
is considering salaries for themselves, I, as a
CGC member declare that his statement is
false. Our job now and when we ran for it
was understood as being unpaid. So I ask
you once again to help us help you, by
supporting this increase in badly needed
student fees.
Sonya Lewis
207 Whitehead
CGC representative. District 12
Night rider
To the editor:
Recently I purchased a semi-effective
bicycle to ride those distant treks. After just
moments of night riding I realized that
several passers-by had insisted upon
headlights for my new bicycle. 1 know they're
recommended but are headlights a steadfast
law in Chapel Hill for bicycles after dark?
Kip Pearson
528 Ehringhaus
Jesse and friends can guard canal themselves
To the editor:
As of late. President Carter has been
enlisting support from all across the political
spectrum for his proposed Panama Canal
treaty and for two good reasons.
First, the president and his negotiators
have produced a workable treaty as a means
of attempting to solve a crucial and growing
problem.
Secondly, treaty ratification in the Senate
is unsure at best. Many junior John Waynes
like Senators Jesse Helms and Strom
Thurmond still cling to the old "We bought it
so we're not gonna give it up" theory.
This Victorian mentality practiced by
some of our congressmen is indeed
unfortunate. Teddy Roosevelt's "Carry a big
stick" diplomacy of the 1890's cannot be
applied to the politically volatile I970's.
But more than the politics of a few
senators is at stake. The Panama Canal issue
has all the makings of another Vietnam if not
dealt with efficiently. Even hardline
conservative Barry Goldwater has endorsed
the proposed treaty as a means of avoiding
another Vietnam.
The really ironic twist here is that if it were
ever necessary to send troops into Panama
due to the troubles that failure of ratification
might bring. Senators Helms and
Thurmond, Governor Reagan, and all their
hawk friends will be sitting safely in the
states while young people like myself will be
sent to war.
1
si i.
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8
Plwto by ChwlM Hardy
Sen. Jesse Helms
I love this country and if it were ever
attacked maliciously and deliberately as in
World War II, I would be the first to fight for
it. But I will not die in a Vietnam-type
conflict to protect Jesse Helms' outdated
political ideals. . ,
If Jesse, Strom, and Ronnie want to keep
the canal, buy them a gun and let them guard
it.
Robert Wells
303 Stacy
Advice to bikers
Prevention is the best cure
Editor's Note: This advice is prepared by Student Legal Services, which
maintains an office in Suite C of the Carolinu Union. UNC students have pre
paid for this service and may obtain advice at no additional charge.
Student Legal Services has encountered a large number of students who
have been injured in biking accidents. The typical case involves a bike and car
encounter, with the cyclists sustaining serious physical injury.
Cyclists are required to observe all traffic regulations and, as a practical
matter, should practice defensive driving at all times. Even if the car is
"mostly" at fault, the cyclist may wake up in the hospital to learn that his
"contributory negligence" will let the car driver off the hook for the med'eal
bills. Cyclists are urged to shop for bike with safety features which at a
minimum meet the mandatory safety standards issued by the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission. Bicycle frames, steering systems, wheels and
brakes have to meet rigid tests for safe construction, strength and
performance.
Advice for the day: 1) In the event of an accident, call the police and be
certain to get the motorist's name and insurance information. 2) If you feel the
motorist is at fault, tell your observations to the police officer. 3) Seek legal
advice ii you feel that you are being treated unfairly by either the police
department or the insurance company.
Gradual restraint of traffic flow through campus area may be the answer
The system has two immediate results. First, it is areas on the campus would be closed in sequence and X II
ByK. KERR HOLLIDAY
With the recent change in Chapel Hill's parking
ordinance for the streets around the campus, the
parking problem has again been brought home to the
campus commuters. With more and more cars coming
to Chapel Hill each year the parking situation does not
seem to be getting any better. And of course everyone
asks why Chapel Hill is reducing the number of
parking places when what we need is more parking.
To begin with, the parking problem in Chapel Hill is
not past the point of being solvable even given the
increasing number or cars and a static, or perhaps
decreasing, amount of real property available for
parking. Many people point out that the Bell Tower lot
could be a massive parking deck. Of course those same
people are not interested in paying for it. A new
parking deck has been proposed for the hospital, and
perhaps, if it is used for visitors, the deck is needed. The
cynics among us point out the solution is really quite
simple. They smile and tell us to just outlaw cars. While
it is certainly not politically advantageous to suggest
outlawing cars, some type of traffic restraint is going to
be the simplest and very likely the least expensive
solution.
One system tried in some European cities with
varying degrees of success is a traffic restraint system.
The traffic restraint system does not outlaw cars; the
system merely makes it more attractive to ride the bus.
In fact, cars and trucks need occasional access to the
business district to at least make deliveries. But how
does the system work? Picture a central business
district surrounded by a loop road, something like a
very large traffic circle. Now divide the business district
into sections like a pie. The traffic flow is designed so
that cars and trucks can enter any pie section from the
loop road but cannot go from one pie section to
another without going back to the loop road.
easier to walk in the business district since pedestrians
do not have to dodge cars. Second, buses can keep to
schedules more easily because there is less traffic.
A traffic restraint system would certainly be too
severe for a town like Chapel Hill. But it would be
practical to borrow the basics of a traffic restraint
system and apply them to Chapel Hill. We would need
a system that drastically reduces traffic but at the same
time does not reduce access. The system would have to
work with the bus system and at the same time make a
dent in the parking problem. The system would have to
be easy to implement (political considerations aside)
and most importantly the system would have to be
inexpensive.
A system that would meet all the requirements
would be a Franklin Street mall and a complete
elimination of commuter parking on or near the
campus.
Franklin Street should be blocked off from Raleigh
Street to just past Granville Towers. Rosemary Street
could handle westbound traffic. Eastbound traffic
would be a bit more difficult: Cameron, South
Columbia, South Road and Raleigh Street would
handle eastbound traffic. Cameron Street through the
campus should be closed. The result would be a large
traffic circle to move through traffic quickly and
provide a pleasant mall area for students or residents to
shop. The mall would not have to be expensive, the
streets would be blocked off and the pavement could be
left intact.
But what about the elimination of parking? If
removing five hundred parking spaces causes such a
flap, what would it be like to remove all commuter
parking?
The solution presented is just the obvious extension
of providing express bus service to and from fringe
lots. The parking could be gradually phased out so the
switch would not be so abrupt. Individual parking
the people who had decals for those areas would not be
allowed to get a decal for another area. More fringe
lots and more buses could gradually be added as
needed. The system would not eliminate parking but
would just move it out of town and provide buses to get
to the job. The key to the whole system is that
everyone, from the Chancellor on down, would have to
ride the bus.
Many people point out that it is not nice to require
people to support the Chapel Hill bus system,
especially since the people supporting it would be
commuters, presumably from out of town. Of course,
it is somehow nice to charge them an exorbitant fee to
park a car on campus and pay for the privilege of
fighting traffic. Others say they should not have to sit
on a bus for forty-five minutes on their way to work.
Instead they would rather sit in their cars and inhale
the sulfur dioxide the car in front of them is exhaling.
Of course there is always the Equal Protection
analysis. But I feel it is rather unwise to introduce the
interstices of the Fourteenth Amendment to an already
overburdened traffic system. Especially since even the
, Supreme Court has trouble with the Equal Protection
Clause.
I have not offered the ideas here as a solution to
Chapel Hill's parking and traffic problems. But rather
I offer the ideas as a starting point to begin to plan for
Chapel Hill's future. I designed the downtown "mall"
in twenty minutes and 1 am sure that a traffic engineer
would tear it to shreds, but while he might destroy the
method he would not destroy the idea of some type of
traffic restraint for Chapel Hill and the University.
The problems are serious and not getting any better.
Until the University and Chapel Hill realize that traffic
restraint is the only practical solution, Chapel Hill will
continue to wallow in cars.
K. Kerr Holliday is a second-year law student from
C hapel Hill, N.C.
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A traffic restraint system like the one above could solve Chapel Hill's parkina
problem, encouraging bus ridership and parking on the perimeter of the campus
Traffic would flow in a counter-clockwise manner, as shown by the arrows.