8 The.Daily Tar Heei Monday. November 5. 1979
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Zty i?LL DURHAM
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David Stacks, Editor
John Hoke, Managing Editor
George Shadroui, Associate Editor
Allen Jernigan, Associate Editor
Cynthia Prairie, News Editor
Eddie Marks, University Editor
Michael Wade, City Editor
Kathy Curry, State and National Editor
Reid Tuvim, Sports Editor
Michele Mecke, Features Editor
Ann Small wood, Arts Editor
Andy James, Photography Editor
Dinita James, Weekender Editor
U x . ; 4
67j jear o editorial freedom
Ihe Kemeny report
In an attempt to give its members time to study the 44 changes
recommended in the Kemeny report, the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission has declared a moratorium on granting licenses to nuclear
power plants. The NRC's decision will stall the construction of seven
plants at a cost of $8 billion, but it is the only acceptable decision the
NRC could make in light of the findings of the presidential commission
that investigated the Three Mile Island accident.
Although the Kemeny report neither favored nor opposed the
continued construction of nuclear power plants, it did recommend the
implementation of numerous changes to keep the risks of nuclear energy
within "tolerable limits."
Among the most important changes suggested were: abolition of the
NRC and establishment of an executive branch agency with a single
head; formation of a presidential oversight committee to monitor
performance of the new agency and the design, construction and
operation of future nuclear plants; a requirement that the federal
government approve and all local and state emergency plans before
giving any utility an operating license for a nuclear plant; and increasing
the training and education given operators, for human error has been
the cause of many nuclear accidents.
While many opponents will say the report highlights the shoddy
operating procedures of the present nuclear system and ignores the
danger of high level nuclear waste, proponents will maintain that the
report cites no overriding public risk in the continued development of
nuclear power. And even if the NRC takes to heart the changes
recommended in the Kemeny report, there still will be no guarantee as to
the future safety of nuclear power.
In the meantime, as the pros and cons and changes are debated, the
energy situation in this country continues to deteriorate for lack of
direction. The changes advocated by. the Kemeny report might make
nuclear energy safer; they might not. Unfortunately, it seems apparent
that many in this country will not actively pursue alternative energy
sources which, after all the haggling is over, would be safer, cheaper and
more efficient.
The 'crash' of '79
Is America's economy in a recession? Some say yes, some say no. One
group of analysts asserts that the country took on recessionary traits last
springy another group says that America only now is crossing that fine
line between prosperity and poverty. There is much disagreement over
just what kind of shape the economy is in, but most analysts agree on at
least one point: few similarities exist between economic conditions
today and the catastrophe of the great stock market crash of 50 years
ago.
The years following the Wall Street disaster of 1 929 were frightening.
The gross national product fell by almost a third; nonfarm
unemployment spiraled to 36 percent. People who had lived in
penthouses and rowhouses found themselves together in hunger
marches parading the cold streets of America's cities. Veterans
advanced on the White House. Thousands of vagabond children
roamed the countryside. There was no unemployment compensation,
no social security, no old age insurance; even government aid for the
unemployed was prohibited by social more: And as conditions grew
worse, no one knew what had gone wrong, for the national leadership
seemed unable to take command of the situation. There was even talk of
armed rebellion and establishment of a new economic order.
In retrospect, the great crash of 1929 seems to have passed
comfortably into the history books. Observers agree that October 1979
was a tough month for investors, even though irdid not nearly approach
the catastrophe of October 50 years ago. Events of October 1929 sent
the whole country into an almost unimaginable frenzy; events of
October 1979 merely separated the long-term investors interested in a
sound economy from the short-term speculators looking for quick
profits.
Welcome change maybe
The days when the FBI used derogatory information to combat
advocates of unpopular causes have long since passed. We are out of
that business forever.
FBI Director William H. Webster
It has been almost two months since the FBI conceded that its agents
sought to discredit actress Jean Seberg because of her support of black
nationalist causes in the early 1970s. And since FBI Director William H.
Webster's acknowledgment of the bureau's counterintelligence efforts
against Seberg, attempts to reform the atmosphere in which the bureau
once operated have become apparent.
For example, the bureau's proposed new charter, now under review
by the Senate Judiciary Committee, would give agents administrative
subpoena power to request financial records from banks and other
institutions in addition to outlining more clearly the bureau's
functions. This attempt to delineate the agency's operations is
commendable; as Webster himself said, any organization not certain of
its mission is likely to exceed permissible bounds simply because it
doesn't know what those bounds are.
But the new charter may turn out to be little more than a rubber stamp
condoning the bureau's past notorious behavior. The chief witness
testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee two weeks ago.
University of Illinois Professor David Linowes, pointed out that the
proposed charter, as it now stands, contains "several ambiguities and
conflicts, which if not corrected, could result in effectively reducing
some of the existing privacy protections in the1 law." Linowes
recommended that the charter require FBI agents to obey the Right of
Financial Privacy Act, notify an individual of a pending investigation of
personal records at least 20 days before the probe begins, and restrict the
information that agents can make available to other government
agencies.
Enactment of some set of guidelines is necessary; but the proposed
charter as it now stands, might be a step backward. History has
illustrated painfully that the FBI never lets trifling documents such as
The Bill of Rights impede its zealous quest to get its man. We hope that
the proposed charter, with appropriate chanties, w ill be an exception.
For those of you who spend hours on the sidewalk in
front of Purdy's under the stern gaze of the imposing
doorman, pitifully panting for a glimpse of the legendary
Top Step, the news that there is a new hot spot in town
should come as a welcome surprise.
This "new" hot spot actually has been around for quite
some time, but a recent resurgence of chic, elegant
patronage, combined with a floorshow studded with
mind-boggling exotica, has brought it once again into
prominence.
This den of delights goes by many names. Some call it
"Bizarre Bob's." Others, "The House that House Built."
To freshmen and chemistry majors, unfamiliar with the
mysterious rites of the socially elite, it is known simply as
the "Undergraduate Library."
Never one to miss out on an opportunity to expand
my horizons, I recently took my roommate and his
girlfriend to the Thursday night show. It was billed as an
extravaganza of spectacular proportions, - featuring
several acts with top-flight imported talent, all
culminating in the haunting "Dance of the Baggers."
We arrived fashionably late only to find the place
swarming with people clad in a variety of evening dress.
As we stepped through the door into the spacious entry
we were met by the maitre d a short gentleman in tails.
Flashing my student I.D. (no charge for students), I
boldly announced that we would like a table for three
near the dance floor.
"Ah, m'sieur," he oozed, "ze show, she goes on all
around you. You are, in fact, standing on ze dance floor
zis minoot."
Astounded, we looked around us only to discover that
he was absolutely right; intermingled with the other
guest were unmistakable showpeople, clad in
wonderful costumes. "To the table," 1 announced.
As we followed the maitre d' through the crowd 1
marveled at the ingenious decor. Amid shelves of w hat
looked like books were several carrel-type desks and
flat-topped tables; this place obviously catered to the
intellectual stratum of Carolina society. As if to prove
my point, several dancers suddenly pranced out from
behind a bookshelf, twirled in step and trilled, "We've
been studying oh so hard It's time for us to take What
comes for us on the half hour: Another STUDY
BREAK." And with that they cartwheeled through the
door to the applause of the other guests.
The maitre d then led us to a stairway leading to an
upper and lower floor, and stopped to ask, "Would you
like to sit upstairs, downstairs or on zis level?"
"Let's go downstairs" 1 suggested. "We've already
seen most of this level."
As we descended the staircase we dimly saw through a
thick haze a bustle of movement. Simultaneously we
heard the excited voices of many people. Wading into
the smoke, I began to make out the forms of people
-rushing back and forth, stopping to exchange rapid
comments in shrill voices.
This certainly is a change," I exclaimed, my eyes
watering. I noticed that the maitre d' had placed a pair of
letters to the editor
swimmer's goggles over his eyes.
"Down here we have a special show," he wheezed.
"Please come zis way."
We followed him over to the side of the room, where
the clatter was loudest. Dimly, I began to discern the
forms of people talking on telephones and then rushing
off. There were long lines for the telephones composed
of even more dancers gesturing excitedly and taking
notes.
"Zis is ze 'Smoke Filled Convention Room,' "
coughed the maitre d "We have, at specially-designated
places in ze room, people who smoke three packs of
cigarettes per hour."
"Don't you think they're overdoing it?" 1 asked,
breathing through my tie.
He didn't bother to reply, stepping hurriedly to the
side as two performers sprinted in step past him from the
telephones. They stopped and gesticulated feverishly to
a girl sitting on top of a desk, and then all three walked
away on their hands while clapping their feet.
"Follow me please," croaked our host, staggering
toward a door marked "Honors Reading Room." "In
here zere will be less smoke." He was right; as we pushed
open the door and stepped into the dimly lit room there
was a noticeable ease in' breathing. There were but few
people in the room and, squinting into the gloom, I
noticed that they were engaged in deeply passionate
activity. We stayed only long enough to take several
deep breaths, then opened the door and sprinted to the
top of the stairs.
"Ze top floor has pure air and is much more subdued,"
gasped the maitre d "Let us proceed."
We walked carefully up the stairs, keeping close to the
rails to avoid the dancers pirouetting down the center.
As we neared them we heard the rhythmic one-two-three
pop-fizzing of diet soft-drink cans, keeping time. My
roommate grabbed his girlfriend and waded into the
fray; as we watched them disappear the maitre d' tugged
at my elbow and s;:id, "For those who do not dance we
have a special show. Please come this way." He led me
over to the wall where there was a pencil sharpener and
water fountain.
Suddenly there was a whistle and eight or nine dancers
charged toward the wall from all directions. In a
whirlwind of carefully choreographed activity they
swarmed the pencil sharpener and water fountain. Scir.r
tugged violently at the handle of the sharpener, creating
a jagged roar. Others battered the water fountain,
slurping noisily. Still others lounged in line, giggling and
pointing.
"Zis occurs every 30 seconds, with slight variations
each time " lisped my host. He looked at his watch and
exclimed,"Oh, no. It is almost midnight. Quick, down ze
stairs or we will miss ze widely acclaimed 'Dance of the
Baggers. " As he saw me peer into the now shagging
dancers he said, "Do not bother; you will never find
them now." Grabbing me by the arm he 'hustled me
downstairs.
Just as we reached the ground floor there was a
sudden silence, and then a fanfare of pencil sharpeners
and Coke cans. The floor cleared, and into the space
minced three lines of dancers wearing identical
costumes, each carrying one thin spiral notebook. They
reached the middle of the floor in step, then spun off into
three groups, fluttering their notebooks. They then
regrouped and linked arms, hopping rapidly in circles.
Then dropping to their knees and tossing away their
notebooks they did somersaults, rolling in a complex
formation.
"In just a moment zey will do zeir famous 'Libation,'"
the maitre d' whispered, his eyes alight with anticipation.
The Baggers were now hopping on one leg with their
fingers in their ears. As if by magic, they suddenly
stopped and reached into their capacious pockets to pull
out 16-ounce beer cans. Pulling the tops off with one
practiced flip of the wrist, they held the cans aloft, and to
the gasps of the awed audience poured the beers on their
heads. Then, tossing the now empty cans to the
audience, they flitted out, squealing "Stroh a party" in
high-pitched voices.
I looked at my host, who was limp with rapture, as was
the rest of the crowd. I looked up to the upper floor,
where there was the heavy pop-fizz of the disco rhythm.
Wisps of smoke were drifting up from the murky melee
below. The incarnation was complete, and I walked
through the doorway into the cool night beyond.
Bill Durham, a sophomore English major from Athens.
Greece, is a staff writer for The Daily Tar Heel.
Cohen supported in mayoral election
s
To the editor: .
1 viewed with dismay your failure to
endorse Gerry Cohen for mayor of
Chapel Hill. It was suggested that Gerry
could not work well with others' in the
community. As a member of the
Carrboro Board of Aldermen, I can attest
to his proven ability to deal with elected
officials. He has a close working
relationship with most of our board
members and has assisted the Carrboro
Community Coalition for many years.
Gerry Cohen has been in the vanguard
in establishing and defending student
rights, and encouraging their
participation in government. He has also
shown himself to be versatile and
concerned for all segments of the Chapel
Hill community. '
He has also been an ardent supporter
of the public transit system,, and has
worked to make the bus system meet
people's needs while still getting the most
for the tax dollar.
Gerry Cohen is an able, capable leader
for all the community and he deserves
your support.
Doug Sharer
115 Pine St.
, ' Carrboro
More on Cohen '
To the editor:
I'm a junior at UNC and a member of
the Democratic County Executive
Committee. My brother is Gerry Cohen,
candidate for mayor.
I was surprised to read in Thursday's
DTH that the paper would not support
Gerry for mayor. The editorial failed to
mention anything that Gerry has done for
students or the community. When a
group tried to stop student voting in
1978, Gerry hired a lawyer and helped
research the brief the Supreme Court
cited in expanding voting rights. When
voters were challenged. Gerry mailed a
memo to 2,500 voters explaining how to
defend the challenge. In contrast, the
DTH cited Joe Nassif as an advocate of
student voting, when in fact, since 1972,
the only election when registration was
not allowed on campus was when Joe
Nassif was on the Board of Elections.
Gerry Cohen was an advocate of the
bus system long before it was popular. He
helped get the federal grant to expand bus
service this fall. Ihe DTH is always
writing editorials asking for more bus
service, yet it endorsed for council Jimmy
Wallace who led the fight to cut bus
service 30 percent in 1976. Now. the DTH
refuses to support Cohen for mayor. This
makes no sense, and makes me wonder
howthc DTH has chosen its set of
candidates.
Stephen Cohen
216 E. Rosemary St.
RCP cls!m disputed
To the editor:
This letter is in reference to a letter
published by Bob Sheldon on Oct. 30. I
think it's great that he got press coverage
for the RCP. but onl because I feel this is
a tree country and believe in the First
Amendment!
He speaks of "unbalanced coverage".
i
1,
INTO THE WILtTOSS,! Sg, AND INJWTOiviS7;'
"shoddy journalism" and an unbalanced
negative coverage." If this is the case, why
was his article published in the first place?
After all. would a communist country be
so liberal as to publish a "capitalism
article?" Dubious indeed. Mr. Sheldon.
Why is coverage of U.S. activities and
western "capitalism" so limited and
censored in communist countries? If Mr.
Sheldon has heard any of the radio
broadcasts from the U.S.S.R. and
Eastern Europe, he should know that if
this country were so bad as all of that, he
would not only be deprived of media
coverage, but would find himself behind
bars without so much as an ounce of
publicity.
What of the human rights issue? Take a
look at what happens in Communist
countries when anything is written which
is derogatory toward the government. Is
the media not under strict censorship in
the People's Republic? It was even worse
when Mao was dictator. Would his
regime have published "shoddy
journalism?" Of course not. but would
they publish anything without political
overtones and propaganda-saturated
nonsense? Not in my opinion.
Your wonderful-sounding communist
perfection sounds great on paper, yet
none of the communist nations have been
successful in producing true communism
because this is impossible! Take a given
situation: Whcver three people are placed
together, one will dominate. Tfus is
dictatorship, and that is what Mao Tse
tung was in the truest sense of the word.
True communism isn't possible, because
humans can't be reduced to the state that
ue find in lower animals.
I do feel Mao did much to alleviate
suffering and hunger in h country. Yet
Mr. Sheldon and hiscronies tail to realize
one l.ict I his IS nut China and our
problems are as far from those of the
People's Republic as the United States is
from them geographically.
Bill Brown
Chapel Hill
Life of Brian
To the editor:
Yeah! Let's hear it for religion. The
same people who put the guilt in sex arc
now trying to ruin something almost as
fun. Who needs censorship when we have
the church? Monty Python's Life of Brian
is not a commie pinko atheist plot to
seduce good old American values. It is
satiric entertainment; in fact much more
entertaining, not to mention meaningful,
than any sermon I have ever heard.
How many of these holy rollers have,
been to sec the movie they so heatedly
condemn? What is so threatening about
Life of Brian that they must attempt to
prevent its showing? Maybe it farces
them to recognize, to think about for
once, the blindness of their faith. Worse
yet. maybe their parishioners start to
think. Attendance and. still worse,
contributions might drop off. Surely
there is no difference between the great
Shoe vt Gourd debate and the
Fundamentalist s Revisionist clashes. I
heard somewhere that Christians were
supposed to turn the other cheek. Are
these the type of people who never eaU
the first stone! It seems like the Christian
are playing the lions these days.
People who take themselves too
seriously are always ripe for satire.
Freedom of religion des not mean
religious freedom tu oppress. Whether or
not the picture is sacrilegious is fur the
individual to decide. How can that
decision h made ! he cun'l svtf the nus ic '
What is j?ikI tor the masonn ts no
concern of an uninformed minority. That
is a fact the Church has ignored
consistently throughout its 1979 year
history. The Romans thought they knew
what was good fr; everyone and tried to
stomp out Christianity. Maybe they were
right.
Ashley Burnham
714 Morrison
Y sponsors fast
To the editor:
The Hunger Action Committee of the
Campus Y is sponsoring a Fast for a
World Harvest on Nov, 15. In
conjunction with this, Scrvomaiion has
agreed to let all meal planners tome by
their office in Chase between K a m. and 5
p.m. on this Wednesday and Thursday,
Nov. 7 and 8. and have a many meals av
that person cares marked off for Nov, 15.
Servomation will then send the money
that would normally be spent preparing
the food for these meal to the Y, We at
the Y will then, in turn, send this and all
other proceed! from the fast to Oxfam
America. a self-help developmental
agency based in Boston.
For more information on tt.it rebate
plan. Oxfaro or the fjt in general, f
would encourage everyone to Unp by our
table in the Pit trm or r.ct week.
Servomation ha been very cooperative
in this project, and f would hke to tin X
them publicly for this cooperation.
The problem of world I,
1 V
cnormouv. but not untonqrahlv. I
encoura? all thoe on the r..-.o pan to
take this opportunity to help allrvii'.e
what b a way of hfe for orse-fourth of th?
workfi population , . , .
1 Dan Smr.ghclJ,
C'-tharpcison. Mur f
Actum Committee