$The Daily Tar H$?l Friday. April 4, 1986
J. 1 . J ' l-ii, JL." J. '.
I lU'-i.L..l ..x.. L.I.I.UJ, IIU .JIUUIU
f 3
94i .year of editorial freedom
Idlotf0(o3lls
Support divestmen
There's somethin' happenin' here,
what it is, ain't exactly clear ....
Last month, the UNC Anti-Apartheid
Support Group did something that
inspired some people, caused others to
laugh and infuriated others still. The
group built a community of hovels and
plopped them right in the middle of one
of UNCs busiest walkways, this one just
a stone's throw from South Building and
the University administration housed
there.
Earlier this week, the College Repub
licans and Students for America built
a "Berlin Wall" to protest the anti
apartheid group's protest, and also to
protest communist aggression every
where an obvious poke at high
minded idealism. The anti-apartheid
group protested the wall protest, saying
it was an unjustified protest of their
protest.
In the midst of all this protest and
counter-protest, something unexpected
happened: the University responded (in
part thus far) to student wishes. The
University Endowment Board decided
to hold its all-important next meeting
today instead of waiting until next
month (when most students would
conveniently be on summer hiatus and
out of the administration's hair).
The meeting's purpose is to discuss
the shantytown and wall demonstrations
and to consider full d ivestment from
companies with South African holdings,
not the partial divestment the board
opted for in February. The board is
A party pooped?
Cold, sudsy brew flowing from 50, 60,
maybe as many as 100 kegs, blasting
rock 'n' roll and a mass of humanity
basking in the late August sun. UNCs
younger hell-raisers have envisioned
such a scene as a kind of ceremony
paying homage to those grand ol' days
of legality.
But it won't happen.
Is that so bad? Not really.
A proposal currently before Chancel
lor Christopher C. Fordham III to raise
the legal drinking age on campus from
19 to 21 two-and-a-half weeks before the
state age hike has elicited student
criticism. The most notable vocalizing
came in the nearly unanimous approval
of a Student Congress resolution
Wednesday.
If approved (a strong possibility),
there won't be the festive melee of an
on-campus Prohibition Party. But take
a deeper look. This small loss will
actually benefit students in the long run.
This proposal is just one part of the
new alcohol policy awaiting Fordham's
okay. As Student Body President Bryan
Hassel and Residence Hall Association
President Ray Jones note, the loss of
Investigators
Airline investigators are finding incriminat
ing evidence that links Col. Moammar
Khadafy, Libya's chief bedlamite, to the
in-flight bombing of a TWA jetliner Wednesday.
The blast punched a hole in the fuselage of the
Boeing 727 en route from Rome to Athens,
killing four passengers, including three Amer
icans. Seven other passengers were wounded.
The Arab Revolutionary Cells, yet another
little-known Palestinian group involving itself in
international terrorism, claimed responsibility
for the attack. The Cells said the action was in
retaliation for U.S. "arrogance" in last week's
clash with Libya. Italian police now suspect that
the mastermind behind the bombing is Abu
Nidal, an internationally renowned terrorist and
one of Khadafy's closest allies.
The timing of the attack just one week after
the Gulf of Sidra affair is the clearest
indication that Khadafy's retaliatory threats were
more than mere tyrannical ravings. Although
many young Libyans celebrated a victory over
the United States, Khadafy no doubt realized
he was humiliated and wanted revenge.
Nidal and Khadafy have been directly linked
to numerous terrorist acts, including the Rome
and Vienna airport bombings last Christmas.
Khadafy termed those attacks as "heroic," but
is denying any involvement with Wednesday's
SniARTTONKINSON. Asfoffulc llditor
Grant Parsons, University Editor
Bryan Gates, Nm -r
KERSTIN COYLE, City Editor
JlLL GERBER, State and National Editor
Scott Fowler, sports Editor
DENISE SMITHERMAN, Features Editor
ROBERT KEEFEf Business Editor
Elizabeth Ellen, Am Editor
DAN CHARLSON, Photography Editor
Randy Farmer, Production Editor
taking steps in the right direction, but
as usual it's moving at a turtle's pace.
With good reason, perhaps. Deciding
what to do with $8.8 million the
amount of University investment in
firms involved in South Africa is no
easy task. But the board has had ample
time to consider alternative investments
for the University.
However, complete divestment from
such firms is not without its .consequen
ces for the University community, as
board members realize. Selling millions
of dollars of stock will affect the
University's endowment for better or,
most likely, for worse. And selling the
stock by no means guarantees that the
affected companies will get the message
and actively work for the abolition of
apartheid.
But many students have repeatedly
shown their disdain of apartheid and
their emphatic approval of divestment
as a means to fight it via referendum
and protest; Also, many apparently are
willing to face whatever problems
divestment may bring to the University.
They know that any gesture to help
oppressed blacks in South Africa, no
matter how small, is a step in the right
direction.
No government that regularly, sys
tematically discriminates against 80
percent of its subjects (the term "citizens"
is a misnomer) deserves any kind of
support. So why the delay, board
members? Tell Exxon, IBM, General
Motors, et al, that UNC demands a
change in South Africa. ,
one tremendous bash is a minor con
cession when considering the overall
policy. Alcohol will still be allowed on
campus for legal drinkers in dorm rooms
and dorm television lounges. Those 21
and over will have the right to consume
alcohol on Ehringhaus Field. Finally,
student fees can still be used to buy
alochol served to legal drinkers.
' Besides, the vast majority of the
under-21 drinkers in the student body
will drink a beer or two regardless
of the legal age. Beer may be a little
inconvenient to acquire and drinkers will
have to be more discreet, but they will
drink.
The most unsettling result of this may
be that there will be a Prohibition Party
off campus which will involve driving.
But Hassel and Jones both said when
such a party is organized, all necessary
efforts to coordinate shuttle buses or get
breaks with taxi companies will be
pursued,
A final on-campus free-for-all was
sure to be a titillating experience. But
don't sweat it just move to Franklin
Street.
'siuispect Klhadaffy retaliation
WgoEi ion H6v3gi,,j-
deaths. After the bombing, Khadafy said he was
totally against any terrorism against a civilian
target.
And if you believe that, . . .
Shultz urges quiet diplomacy
Secretary of State George Shultz urged the
United States and the Soviet Union to refrain
from waging diplomatic relations in the press.
In the past few months, there have been
numerous surprise announcements from both
sides and Shultz has said he wants a resumption
of secret negotiations. ,
The message came after Mikhail Gorbachev's
offer on Soviet television Saturday to meet with
President Reagan anywhere in Europe to discuss
banning nuclear weapons testing. Shultz says the
Soviet Union started the trend toward public
diplomacy, but such methods are not productive
because they do not allow either side time to
consider appropriate responses.
G opihradictSpinis afflict aparttoeM' pro teste
I he efforts of some UNC students to create
a dialogue on campus concerning South
African apartheid and divestment are
increasingly visible to all of us. On Friday, March
21. I stopped on my way to class to listen to
a demonstration at South Building. 1 thought
that since 1 didn't have any concrete opinions
on disinvestment, I'd listen to what was said and
then maybe make up my mind on the matter.
The first and second speeches I heard seemed
directed at establishing the deplorable nature of
apartheid, something 1 already recognized for
myself. But the deplorableness of apartheid does
not automatically lead me to believe divestment
will bring an end to it. So, I listened for something
more.
1 was told that the anti-apartheid leaders in
South Africa want the United States to divest
because it would cause an economic crisis,
making it impossible for the current regime to
govern. Now, I don't know if the South African
anti-apartheid leaders actually feel this way, or
if so. that they are right in their estimation of
Prayer's no joke
To the editor: ,
1 found your parody of Sen.
Jesse Helms' fictitious letter to
God to be highly impious and
offensive ("Absurd and alone, but
strong in faith." March 27). In the
first place. Helms does not purport
to speak for God. Certainly, the
senator's views on "right to life"
or "school prayer" are shared by
many Christians; however, his
stance on economic policies, gun
control and tobacco support have
little or no relation to morality.
Helms' statements and actions,
like those of all of us. are not
beyond reproach.
It is a belittlement of the nature
of God to say that anyone can
represent God consistently under
all circumstances, yet I hope we
still have men from both sides of
the political spectrum who make
this their goal. Nonetheless, as
President Lincoln said, "The
question is not whether God is on
our side, but whether we are on
His?"
My primary objection to the
article, however, pertained to the
manner in which prayer was made
an object of mockery and derision.
Most would agree that there are
some things which are too special
and sacred to ever become subjects
of ridicule and debasement. Prayer
and one's relationship to God
most certainly fall within this
category. Prayer involves personal
and intimate contact with God and
is one of the gretest privileges
afforded mankind. To make light
of prayer is to deny one's greatest
needs the need to worship God,
to discover His will, to submit to
His direction and to find help to
assist in facing life's struggles and
challenges.
Steve Matheny
Second year
Law
Franklin frolickin'
To the editor:
1 hope many of you will be
playing in downtown Chapel Hill,
today, participating in the Frank
lin Street Frolic. You will be
taking advantage of an event that
is sponsored by the Senior Class
of '86.
In writing this letter, I first want
to call attention to the fact that
Franklin Street Frolic is not just
for seniors everyone can par
ticipate. Secondly, and more
importantly, 1 want to use this
event to call attention to, and
thank, some special members of
the Senior Class of 6 for all their
efforts this past year.
Aside from making this year a
little more memorable for all of
us seniors, the Class of 6 officers,
marshals and committee members
have re-established the senior class
Secret contacts have been the norm in the past,
often yielding good results. In the early 1970s,
SALT I and the ABM Treaty were concluded
through a secretchannel between Soviet
Ambassador to the United States Anatoly
Dobrynin and Henry Kissinger, who was then
President Nixon's national security advisor.
Dental records identify Mengele
With the discovery of new dental records, U.S.
and Brazilian scientists have concluded that the
skeleton exhumed in Brazil last year was indeed
that of Josef Mengele, the Nazi war criminal.
Evidence had surfaced in recent years that
Mengele was living in Brazil, where investigators
discovered he had been living since 1961. The
former Nazi doctor had assumed several different
names and was buried as Wolfgang Gerhard.
At the Auschwitz death camp, Mengele often
selected which Jews would die in the gas
chambers. He also performed cruel experiments
on prisoners, including inhumane testing of twins
for pseudo-scientific purposes war crimes for
which he successfully eluded Nazi hunters.
The Week in Quotes
"Here on Easter Monday, University students
Phil S!:illman
Guest Writer
the political and economic effects of American
divestment. However, because these leaders are
closer to the situation than I am, 1 was willing
to accept this as a good reason to adopt
divestment as a policy that might ultimately bring
an end to apartheid.
Then, a third speaker rose. He began by saying
he would like to express his solidarity with the
Nicaraguan Sandinistas in their struggle against
the Contras. I asked him. if this wasn't a
contradictory stand to that which he espoused
concerning South Africa. Wasn't he calling for
intervention against one totalitarian regime in
South Africa while opposing intervention against
another in Nicaragua? He and the activists called
back that disinvestment was not intervention.
7 ..Otete BWv Urol CHAl Hill's ' 7
airi Offlca ft, w is army"- Jmu
as an extremely visible and active
organization.
Franklin Street Frolic is an
example of how the Class of 6
has involved all of Carolina. I feel
proud to be a member of the Class
of 6, and to those seniors who
have made this year great for our
class thanks for all your hard
work.
Betsy Arledge
Senior
English
Kicks in the SAC
To the editor:
As a former three-year member
of the New Bern Senior High
Bruinettes and a three-year vete
ran of the UNC Flag Team, I
would like to comment on the
article "Drill team still kicking,"
March 26.
I have always hoped there
would be a dance team here at
Carolina, and 1 congratulate
Kimberly Benfield and Christina
Waller on having the guts to do
it.
However, as a veteran of the
UNC Flag Team, part of a 300
plus membership band, there is
hardly room on the field as it is
now. Our captain has fought many
a battle with the majorettes,
percussion section, sousaphone
section and individual band
members.
By the way, have you seen
Eastern Carolina University's field
at half-time? It's a mess! Although
each individual performance
group had a good routine, it was
too much on the field.
Benfield suggested alternating
half-time appearances so they
would not "trv to outdo each
other's routines." 1) The issue here
is not performance quality, it is
field position. 2) There are only
six home football games. These
are the only times, with the
exception of a couple of away
games, that the flag team puts a
whole semester's work toward
performing. So, if the flag team
alternates half-time with the other
performing groups mentioned,
they could expect to perform a
maximum of three games a foot
ball season.
The flag team and majorettes,
however, do not, and do not want
to, perform during basketball
games. I feel the "High Kicking
. Heels" should funnel their energies
into this time.
If the dance team does two
routines, it would only take about
four minutes on the court
plenty of time for those other
presentations to be given.
In high school, we were able to
do the neater routines during
basketball season, because the
court is a much better dance floor.
I think the "High Kicking
Heels" would be an asset to the
boring half-times in the SAC.
Good luck, girls!
P.S. Goto hell. State!
Cindy Lackey
Senior
Early Childhood Education
Divest now!
To the editor:
Racism, racial segregation and
apartheid are moral crimes. So is
in TWA airline bombm
are demonstrating against South African
oppression and oppression by Eastern-bloc
countries. 1 think that's pretty gratifying."
UNC Chancellor Christopher C. Fordham
III on student protests in the quad. A "Berlin
wall" was built Monday by members of UNC
College Republicans and Students for America
as a protest of the UNC Anti-Apartheid Support
Group's nearby shanties, which were built earlier
to protest UNC investment in companies doing
business with South Africa.
"Obviously I'd give my right arm to play in
the NBA, but there's not much call for a one
armed player."
Duke eager Jay Bilas Sunday on the
prospect of playing for the National Basketball
Association. Bilas. along with three other Duke
starters, will graduate next month. His remarks
came a day before the Blue Devils lost the
national championship to Louisville.
"Those five bullets gave me a thorn in the
flesh as they did to the Apostle Paul. And I
prayed that it should be removed, but it would
not."
Alabama Gov. George Wallace Wednesday
on the attempted assassination of him during
his 1 972 presidential campaign, an incident which
The speaker further explained that the Sandi
nistas were an elected government. And who,
he asked, votes in South Africa? I had to concede
that only the white minority does.
I have come away from this all-too-brief
exchange still believing that there is a contra
diction in the foreign policy stands of this group,
as expressed at the demonstration. First, both
the South African and Nicaraguan regimes are
undemocratic; the first for its elitist and racist
voting base, the second for its failure to hold
regular elections since it betrayed its original
campaign promises. Most importantly, both
countries are undemocratic because of their
constant and excessive violations of civil liberties
and human rights. Furthermore, disinvestment
most certainly is intervention, since it is designed
to pressure and perhaps topple the South African
government, just as aiding the Contras is hoped
to do the same in Nicaragua.
Phil Skillman is a junior political science major
from Asheville.
any support of racial segregation
and apartheid. It is my sincere
opinion that UNCs policy allow
ing investment of approximately
$5.7 million in companies which
invest in South Africa demon
strates moral criminality
indeed, demonstrates nothing less
than racism itself.
Bishop Desmond Tutu, an
example of moral immensity, has
asked for complete divestment in
South Africa as long as apartheid
exists. Continuation of UNCs
investment policy links the Uni
versity with apartheid and racism.
Thus, in extension of Bishop
Tutu's request, I hope and ask that
all alumni and friends of UNC
withhold contributions to the
University until it adopts a div
estment policy.
1 feel that the University's
investment policy tells us that
UNC is a racist institution. Please
prove me wrong, Chancellor Chris
topher C. Fordham, Chairman J.
Clint Newton and UNC Board of
Trustees. Please divest
immediately.
Martin Warner
Junior
Religious Studies
Letters policy
Each person whose name
appears must include a phone
number, year in school and major.
We maintain a limit of two
signatures per letter.
Letters must be typed,
double-spaced, on a 60-space line.
left Wallace crippled for life. Wallace announced
he will retire from politics when his current
gubernatorial term expires.
"The difficulty is that a lot of times people
think the best way to get from point A to point
B is a straight line, and they don't step over
the extra two feet to use a brick walk."
. UNC Dean of Students Frederic Schroeder
on the existence of worn paths off University
sidewalks. Physical Plant officials said the paths
hurt campus beautification efforts. Maintenance
and cohstruction of the brick walks costs about
$100,000 a year.
"How about all this political activism on
campus? We have the Johannesburg shantytown
and the Berlin wall on the south lawn and the
line of death in Lenoir Hall."
UNC graduate student Timothy McMUlin
during Tuesday's David Letterman contest
sponsored by Student Television. McMillan,
who won the contest, will host next week's
Letterman show on STV.
Compiled by editorial writers Ed Brackett, a
senior journalism major from Hendersonville.
and Dewey Messer. a junior journalism major
from YVhitiier.