Greg Porter
Editor
Ben Cornelius, Managing Editor
Ed Rankin. Associate Editor
Lou Biuonis, Associate Editor
..
Laura Scism, University Editor
Elliott Potter, City Editor
Chuck Alston, State and National Editor
Sara Bullard, Features Editor
Chip Ensslin, Arts Editor
Gene Upchurch. Sports Editor
Allen Jernigan, Photography Editor
The boy who cried 'water'
The scariest, most critical, thing about the water crisis this year is that
nobody really believes there's a crisis. There have been six droughts in the
last nine years, so the situation no longer seems unusual or even
dangerous. In all six of these previous droughts Chapel Hillians have never
came to the ultimate crisis wondering where their next drink was coming
from. Thus, all the conservation efforts of the past as necessary as they
were somehow seem in retrospect to have been unnecessary because
we've never seen the town really dry up.
For these reasons, we in Chapel Hill have become like the people in the
old nursery story, "The boy who cried wolf." Cries of "water crisis," like
cries of "wolf, wolf," have lost all their impact. No matter how much we
scrutinize the figures which prove irrefutably that we are in really bad shape,
no matter how many threats are made, we can't get excited about a water
crisis. The rain that fell Thursday washed away the last little drop of healthy
panic most of us had left.
So we go on using 1 5 per cent more water per day than we were using last
year. We squander our water even though the lake that supplies us has
reached a point as low as the lowest point reached last year, even though less
water is coming in from Durham now, even though the forecast for rain in
the coming months is dismal.
In spite of ourselves, we cannot reach the peak of crisis psychology we
reached last year. Not until the danger of our faucets running dry becomes
evident will we respond as we did last year. Crisis psychology is a funny
thing. It's just not designed to come about on a regular, yearly basis.
Because we can't find that crisis psychology again, we may find ourselves,
like the people in the nursery story, complacently listening to cries for help
while the crisis is really going on outside.
Grade inflation cloud passes
It is with great gladness that we receive the news that the crest of grade
inflation is broken. For the first time in 14 years, the average QPA at
Carolina has decreased. Although the slight downward slide from 2.742 in
the spring of 1976 to 2.738 last spring may seem insignificant, it might be the
one thing that will put an end to the preoccupation with grades that has
swept this campus since the "grade inflation" scandal hit the national media
just two years ago.
Instead of positive goals like internship programs, increased flexibility in
the curriculum, four-course or variable-credit schedules and improved
teaching quality, the campus has been obsessed with the negative: How will
we restrict the dropping of courses? How will we cut down the percentage of
As? How can we weed out slide courses? .
The passing of the cloud of grade inflation is a welcome forecast.
TV novels
Fact and fiction don't mix
Television's new "novel" Washington: Behind Closed Doors has
come and gone after six consecutive evenings of national exposure, but its
role as a harbinger remains indelible.
Following in the footsteps of the award-winning Roots and hundreds of
psychohistories, Washington is the latest manifestation of America's new
reporting, the nation's revolutionized record-keeping. We no longer have to
wait for events of historical consequence to be logged in scholarly volumes;
the American thirst for entertainment has brought us a powerful concoction
of social and political trauma that all too often disregards the truth.
Although Washington was combed for libelous content, its portrayal of
the Nixon Administration in the name of entertainment is nevertheless
exaggerated, decorated and distorted. Surely, the John Ehrlichman novel,
The Company, upon which the series was based, was clearly classified as
fiction. But Washington's nebulous mixture of fact and fiction moved
viewers to an acceptance of the entire dramatic representation as an
accurate version of history.
As a work with theatrical aspirations, Washington boasts some
wonderful successes. Although interrupted by blatant bathos and
sensational sex, Jason Robards carefully developed the image of a dictator,
while Robert Vaughn created a hard-nosed chief of staff who was awesome.
But the "television novel's'' historic pretensions by design or
interpretation are dangerous. The electronic media cannot slide into the
realm of the historian while attempting to satisfy the whimsical appetites of
a nation of viewers. The public record cannot be mixed with alone
replaced by a soap opera series.
This new reporting, which mixes fact and fiction, has certainly introduced
many an American to heretofore important but undiscovered concerns. But
the populace must clearly understand that the true record is not to be found
in a commercial, 12-hour venture designed to hold millions of viewers.
The Daily
Ncwi: Tony Gunn, awimnt editor; Mark Andrew, Jeff Collins, Meredith Crews, Shelley
Droescher, Bruce Ellis. Mary Gardner, Grant Hamill, Stephen Harris. Kathy Hart. Nancy
Hartis, Keith Hollar, Steve Huettel, Jaci Hughes, Jay Jennings, Will Jones, Julie Knight, Eddie
Marks, Amy McRary, Karen Millers, Beverly Mills, Beth Parson, Chip Pearsall, Bernie
Ransbottom, Leslie Scism, Barry Smith, David Stacks, Robert Thomason, Howard Troxler,
Mike Wade and David Watters.
News Desk: Reid Tuvim, assistant managing editor. Copy chief: Keith Hollar. Copy editors:
Richard Barron, Jeff Brady, Amy Colgan, Dinita James, Carol Lee. Michele Mecke, Lisa
Nieman, Dan Nobles, Dawn Pearson, Melinda Stovall, Melanie Topp and Larry Tupler.
Sports: Lee Pace, assistant editor; Evan Appel, Dede Biles, Skip Foreman, Tod Hughes, Dave
Kirk, Pete Mitchell, Ken Roberts, Rick Scoppe, Will Wilson and Isabel Worthy.
Features: Jeff Brady, Zap Brueckner, David Craft, Debbie Moose, Dan Nobles. Lynn Williford,
Peter Hapke, Tim Smith, Etta Lee, Kimberly McGuire, and Ken Roberts.
Arts and Entertainment: Hank Baker, Becky Burcham, Pat Green. Marianne Hansen, Libby
Lewis and Valerie Van Arsdale.
Graphic Arte: Artists: Dan Brady, Allen Edwards, Cliff Marley, Jocelyn Pettibone, Lee Poole
and John Tomlinson. Photographers: Fred Barbour, Allen Jernigan, Mary Rench and Joseph
Thomas.
Business: Verna Taylor, business manager. Claire Bagley. assistant business manager. Mike
Neville, David Squires and Howard Troxler. Circulation manager: Bill Bagley.
Advertising: Blair Kleitsch, manager; Dan Collins, sales manager; Carol Bedsole, assistant sales
manager; Steve Crowell, classifieds manager; Julie Coston, Neal Kimball, Cynthia Lesley. Anne
Shcrril and Melanie Stokes.
Composition Editors: Frank Moore and Nancy Oliver.
Composition and Makeup: UNC Printing Dept. Robert Jasinkiewicz, supervisor, Robert
Slreeter. Geanie McMillan, Judy Dunn. Bctly Fcrebec, Carolyn Kuhn, Joni Peters, Steve
Quakcnbush, Duke Sullivan
85th year of editorial freedom
Tar Heel
'Snow cone' the answer?
Dorm Messiah serving the lost youth of today
By JEFF TAGGERT
For some people, being alive is a
struggle. Not everyone is hippity
hopping along the trail to a worthwhile
life, a secure future, and a meaningful
death. There are those of us who know
anxiety and despair yet reject the
"traditional" forms of help such as
primal scream and organic shampoo.
High in a tall, unnamed dorm lives a
bright star, a life guide, a human being
of unremarkable proportions to whom
hundreds of secret wrecks turn for a
brief word of encouragement or a long
belch of indigestion. Born a dreamer, a
skylight over his crib, our counselor
gave up a promising career as a house
painter in Dayton, Ohio to live out his
"golden years" a servant to the lost
youth of today. He's known as the
"Dorm Messiah." His name is Aloysius
Fibb.
1 came to Al Fibb suffering from a
number of unverified and dubious
complaints, including loneliness and a
neurotic fear of beef pot pies. He was
most understanding. And he didn't try
to press one solution on me. He is
known, in fact, as the "M ultiple Choice
Messiah" because he lays out a whole
range of swell options to regain
normalcy. 1 was therefore free to reject
his First suggestion that I take up
"Outboard Motor Dueling." I said, no
way, man. this is wasteful of petrofuel
and it pollutes, too. And he simply
SIM
mst
maWM
""i .mil vn
Lack of bike
To the editor:
Being a new resident of the area, I have
observed several biking conditions in both
Chapel Hill and Carrboro which are
deplorable.
The lack of bike lines forces cyclists to
compete with motorized vehicles. Such
frequently traveled streets as Rosemary,
Weaver, Main and Franklin desperately
need bike lanes to minimize this
competition. There are few, if any, back
roads connecting Chapel H ill and Carrboro,
forcing cyclists to use major streets and
increasing the risk of serious bicycle
accidents.
North Carolina traffic laws treat bicycles
the same as motorized vehicles, thus giving
cyclists full rights to ride in the middle of a
lane. Most drivers of motorized vehicles are
not aware of this fact and easily become
annoyed at the slower pace of bicycles.
(Those feelings are justifiable and reinfoice
the need for bike lanes.) To facilitate traffic
flow and to minimize accidents, many
cyclists feel most comfortable riding next to
curbs. Unfortunately, this only creates more
problems for Chapel Hill-Carrboro cyclists.
Not only does glass and other litter
accumulate next to curbs, but cyclists must
constantly wrestle with "killer grates." I have
observed that the drainage holes often not
only parallel the curb, but are large enough
to easily devour a bicycle tire. This signifies
ooservea mat tne drainage noies ouen not lose me iuu aeposn we gave to me dui next summer wneninearougm win oc i icpresem ine opinion oi tni
only parallel the curb, but are large enough distributor. This is an open plea for their worse, and water will be scarcer, will the contributor only,
to easily devour a bicvele tire. This signifies return. Please simply leave the keg at Q town and University be able to turn dollar I
'Bareboat' charter passenger may find himself stuck at sea
Editor's Note: Tins advice is prepared should be insolvent, an injured
by Student Ugal Services which passenger would be unable to recover
by Student Ugal Services which
maintains an office in Suite C of the
Carolina Union. UNC students have
pre-paid for this service and may obtain
advice at no additional charge.
Lured by thoughts of sunny shores
and salty breezes, students frequently
spend money for vacations that turn out
to be more than they bargained for.
Students should carefully investigate
any individual or company that offers
charter cruises or vacation packages to
learn if the promoters have necessary
liability coverage, operator's license and
charter agreements (express contracts
by which the owner lets a vessel to
another for a specified time or use). A
"bareboat" charter is created where the
owner of the vessel completely and
exclusively relinquishes possession,
command and navigation ol the boat
and, as a consequence, the legal
liabilities of ownership fall upon the
"bareboat" charterer. If the charterer
leaned back and smiled.
I asked "Wishes:' "How do you
handle that trace of north wind that
Autumn brings? What of this bodily
flux, the smell of burning leaves. . ."
"I jus.t close the window, young one,"
he replied, putting down the science
fiction book he was reading.
". . .and those tiny, beautiful human
females in gym shorts, ten stories
below?"
"I just pull down the blind." he
gurgled back.
"Seriously. Al!"
"Well. OK ." he said. "I can see a hjnt
of turmoil on your exterior trim."
" You could skip this
berg, a block of blue
"My exterior. . ."
"In your eyes, on your lace: the
wrinkles and the look. What you need is
a hobby to.
"1 have a hobby." 1 interrupted.
"Sewer riding on my Honda."
"You have much to learn." he
whispered in an incredible way.
"Oh. teach me. Don Fibb!" Boy. was I
excited at the possibility of experiencing
a new awareness.
"Do you know where I have been this
afternoon." he queried.
"Walking your dream?"
lanes pits cyclists against
to me a tremendous lack of concern for
cyclists' safety by the highway department.
To my fellow cyclists, I would like to
remind you that we are required by law to
observe stop signs and traffic lights. How
can we expect motorized Vehicles to respect
our rights when we ignore traffic laws?
In an era of environmental and energy
concerns and increasing bicycle use, 1 would
hope that this community be more
responsible about cyclists' safety.
Emily Untermeyer
39 Fidelity Court
letters to
Keg request
To the editor:
Friday night, Sept. 8, several friends and 1
had a party outside our apartment at Royal
Park. The next day we discovered that
someone had made off with one of the empty
kegs and a tap. We are hoping that this is
someone's idea of a practical joke albeit one
which I find little humor in, as we stand to
lose the $100 deposit we gave to the
distributor. This is an open plea for their
return. Please simply leave the keg at Q
damages from him.
Federal law does prohibit the
negligent operation of a vessel and
prescribes criminal penalties for grossly
negligent operation. But that is of little
comfort when you, the passenger, find
yourself adrift in an unseaworthy boat.
The charterer frequently becomes
"unavailable" when return of the charter
price is demanded.
ADVICE FOR THE DAY: I) When
vacation shopping, deal only with
reputable charter and cruise companies.
2) Demand specific details of cruise
(ports, name of boat, sailing dates,
captain, etc.)
The Daily Tar Heel needs editorial
assistants to help research editorial ideas
and issues. Anyone interested in the
position should contact Lou Bilionis or
Fd Rankin at the Daily Tar YeWotlices.
J
"No. I've been to the Freedom of
Sexuality Clinic."
"I...1 don't understand. .."
He hissed, "You could become a
woman, if you wish. ..."
"1 don't play tennis," I hissed back.
He went to the window, closed it, and
pulled down the blind. "National
Socialism has a lot to offer," he
hiccupped.
"No thank you. sir."
"The Bayonet Club?..."
"Please!" 1 giggled.
"Have you tried 'Neural Drain' yet?"
he asked, more concerned now.
"Never heard of it. Could you
nasty era as a human
ice"
demonstrate, please?" I was genuinely
curious.
"Affirmative, amigo," he answered. 1
watched . in awe as Aloysius Fibb
inverted himself onto his head and
stared at me upside down. His mouth
looked alien as he explained neural
drain: "See. you stand on your head and
allow the neural forces that make you
sad and desperate to drain away in a
totally natural way. You commune with
lost ancestors when you do this.
Wearing Earth Shoes and eating
Granola doesn't hurt, 1 can assure you."
v, t
building Royal Park or call me at 942-2496.
No questions asked.
Kim S. Bowman
Q5 Royal Park Apt.
Dollars into water?
To the editor:
To Jeff Moore ("Citizens responsible,
too," Letters, Sept. 9):
As a citizen, 1 have done my part to
the editor
conserve water. I have made suggestions to
those in power positions on solutions to the
water crisis. So 1 have the right to chastise.
Rational problem solving will never occur
until sacrifices are made by all involved. It is
true that the University and the town could
not afford to postpone the opening of
school. And now the rains have solved short
term problems.
But next summer when the drought will be
r .. .
A profound peace engulfed his rapidly
reddening countenance.
"That looks a bit strenuous to me," 1
ventured.
The Dorm Messiah toppled to the
floor, rubbed his eyes, and looked sadly
at me. "You are a difficult case. . ."
"1 know."
"You don't want to become a Tar
Heel Storm Trooper?"
"No."
"Then there is only one hope for you,"
Fibb pronounced, plopping a Dynamint
into his mouth. "To the fridge!"
"Say what?"
"How would you like to be a 'Hum.
Berg-erT
"Is that any relation to the
Whopper?" 1 asked innocently.
"No. no, not a hamburger, a Hum.
Berg-er. lad!" he roared, waving his
arms. "You could skip this nasty era as a
human berg, a block of blue ice. It's all
part of your student fees.
's
"Yep.'
As we walked to the Chiller Building,
where the "vats" are located, Fibby
.explained the prerequisites for the
treatment. Physical or emotional
handicaps, bad zits, multiple
personality, extreme drug dependence,
addiction to Armour Hot Dogs,
spiritual void any of these problems
will get you "in."
1 commented, "Do you think they'd
freeze meV
The Dorm Messiah looked over at
me, raised his eyebrows and said,
"Doubtless."
Still, I received a cool reception at the
Department of Student
Refrigeration. . .1 guess they didn't
believe a young, virile genius such as
myself would want to be served on the
rocks. 1 indicated that this was my
desire, that 1 wanted to be frozen like a
mackerel for a minimum of two
centuries and then thawed when the
world was beautiful and had regained its
soul. The DSR people assured me that
this was not in the least unusual, and
that they had been turning misfits into
"snow cones" for years. Yet, 1 hesitated.
"I don't know if I could go frozen
turkey," I said. What could 1 tell my
parents? What would the neighbors say?
What would my professor say when I
handed in a paper 400 years late? Here
the wisdom' of Fibb eased my brain.
"Being a Tagsicle is nothing to be
ashamed of," the high-rise Hero assured
me.
That clinched it. I will take the Nestea
Plunge! ' " -
Jeff Taggert is a graduate student in
city and regional planning from Ann
Arbor, Mich.
motorists
bills into glasses of water1? 1 hope so.
Dan Ariali
1 100 Roosevelt Dr., Apt. 3
Confident contestant
To the editor,
1 gladly accept Prof. Schroeer's sporting
offer, provided he eats the two rotten
bananas after I win.
David Craft
1211 Granville West
Columns?
The Daily Tar Heel welcomes columns
and letters to the editor. Letters must be
typed, double spaced on a 60-spa line
and are subject to editing for libelous
content, bad taste and wordiness.
Letters are subject to condensation for
length purposes and should be mailed to
the editor. Daily Tar Heel, Carolina
Union.
Unsigned columns on this page
represent the opinion of the Daily Tar
Heel. Signed columns or cartoons
represent the opinion of the individual
ft