Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Feb. 15, 1988, edition 1 / Page 8
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8The Daily Tar HeelMonday, February 15, 1988 Satlg 95i jear of editorial freedom Bill Yelverton for SBP One of the most important qualities of a student body president is, simply, leadership. The ability to motivate students should be a prerequisite for the job. As co-president of the Campus Y the largest student organization on campus, with a membership of more than 350 people Bill Yelverton has shown a knack for inspiring and mobilizing students. With the coming of a new chancel lor, the next student body president has a unique opportunity. He or she will be the first student leader with whom the chancellor deals, and first impressions linger. The chancellor will respect an active, vocal and capable president. He will ignore and disregard a passive, incompetent or ill-informed one. The new chancellor will be a tabula rasa, upon which the official attitude toward the student body will be framed. These circumstances make the SBP's relationship with the chancellor the most important issue in this election. But of the seven candidates, only Yelverton has made this a pillar of his campaign. His emphasis suggests he has thought long and carefully about his candidacy, and shows foresight and vision. Along with several other candidates, Yelverton has called for reviving efforts to increase student financial aid. Working from the "think globally, act locally " credo of the Campus Y, he plans to build activism at Chapel Hill in concert with other area schools, strengthening the student message at For DTH editor, Jean Lutes The three candidates for Daily Tar Heel editor are all running on similar issues. Most of their approaches are on target. But with such a similarity in the platforms, the question becomes which candidate is best able to imple ment these plans. Jean Lutes is the candidate most qualified to initiate these changes and guide the progress of the DTH. Lutes has worked with all aspects of the newspaper writing, editing and production. She was a staff writer and layout assistant in her freshman year, assistant university editor1 and assistant managing editor as a sopho more, and university editor from February 1987 until she resigned to run for editor this January. Both other candidates have signif icant experience, but the university desk is the most important news desk, both in terms of front page stories and sheer volume of copy. The desk has more writers than any other averaging 15 writers compared to about 10 for other desks. Lutes' work on the university desk has given her the large-scale organizational skills the DTH editor needs. Lutes also has practical and realistic ideas about changing the direction of coverage. Expanding community news is necessary to remind people that The Daily Tar Heel Editorial Writers: Matt Bivens, Brian McCuskcy, Laura Pearlman and James Surowiecki. Editorial Assistants: Gary Greene, David Lagos and Mark Leeper. Assistant Managing Editors: Cara Bonnett, Teresa Kriegsman and Mandy Spence. Layout Assistants: Ashley Campbell, Catherine Hortenstine, Peter Lineberry, Laura Ross and Amy Weisner. News: Kari Barlow, Jeanna Baxter, Crystal Bell, Laura Bennett, Lydian Bernhardt, Patricia Brown, Brenda Campbell, Lacy Churchill, Jenny Cloninger, Staci Cox, Robin Curtis, Laura DiGiano, Carrie Dove, Laura Francis, Amy Grubbs! Lindsay Hayes, William Hildebolt, Kyle Hudson, Helen Jones, Susan Kauffman, Will Lingo, Barbara Linn, Steve Long, Lynne McClintock, Brian McCollum, Myrna Miller, Rebecca Nesbit, Helle Nielsen, Susan Odenkirchen,' Laura Peay, Cheryl Pond, Beth Rhea, Becky Riddick, Mark Shaver, Mandy Spence, Christopher Sontchi, Laura Summer, William Taggart, Clay Thorp, Amy Weisner, Jackie Williams and Amy Winslow. Mark Folk and Justin McGuire! senior writers. Juliellen Sarver, wire editor. Brian Long, assistant business editor. Sports: Chris Spencer and Jim Muse, assistant sports editors. James Surowiecki, senior writer. Robert D'Arruda, Steve Giles, Dave Glenn, Dave Hall, Clay Hodges, Ginger Jonas, Brendan Mathews, Patton McDowell, Keith Parsons! Andy Podolsky and Langston Wertz. Features: Jo Lee Credle, Grier Harris, Jim Mock, Corin Ortlam, Leigh Pressley, Carole Southern, Ellen Thornton, Linda van den Berg, Julie Woods and Holly Young. Arts: James Burrus, senior writer. Scott Cowen, Stephanie Dean, Kim Donehower, David Hester, Julie Olson, Kelly Rhodes, Alston Russell, Richard Smith and Michael Spirtas. Photography: Christie Blom, Tony Deifell, Janet Jarman, David Minton, Elizabeth Morrah and Julie Stovall. Copy Editors: Karen Bell and Kaarin Tisue, assistant news editors. Cara Bonnett, Carrie Burgin, Julia Coon, Whitney Cork, Bert Hackney and Sherry Miller. Cartoonists: Jeff Christian and Greg Humphreys Campus Calendar: Mindelle Rosenberg and David Starnes. Business and Advertising: Anne Fulcher, general manager; Patricia Glance, advertising director: Joan Worth, advertising coordinator; Peggy Smith, advertising manager; Sheila Baker, business manager; Michael Benfield, Lisa Chorebanian, Ashley Hinton, Kellie McElhaney, Chrissy Mennitt, Stacey Montford, Lesley Renwrick, Julie Settle, Dave Slovensky, Dean Thompson, Amanda Tilley and Wendy Wegner, advertising representatives; Stephanie Chesson, classified advertising representative; and Kris Carlson, secretary. Subscriptions: Tucker Stevens, manager. Distribution: David Econopouly, manager; Billy Owens, assistant. Production: Bill Leslie and Stacy Wynn. Rita Galloway, Leslie Humphrey, Stephanie Locklear and Tammy Sheldon, produc tion assistants. JlLL GERBER, Editor AMY HAMILTON, Managing Editor Sally Pearsall, nw Etaor KRISTEN GARDNER, University Editor KlMBERLY EDENS, University Editor SHARON KEBSCHULL, State and National Editor Leigh ann Mcdonald, aty Editor MIKE BERARDINO, Sports Editor Feusa Neuringer, Business Editor HANNAH DRUM, Features Editor Elizabeth Ellen, Arts Editor Charlotte Cannon, Photography Editor CATHY McHUGH, Omnibus Editor both the state and national levels. But it takes someone like Yelverton to organize an effective lobby of the legislature and inter-University pro tests. He has valuable practical expe rience with recruiting and organizing, through his work with the Campus Y and as an executive assistant to former SBP Bryan Hassel. Yelverton has other educational interests. His call for more student involvement in determining UNC curriculum and perspectives should strike a nerve with all who have struggled through courses they didnt want to take in other words, everyone. Although his proposals in this area show potential, they need more research to yield fruit. But Yelverton also wants to increase the student voice in tenure delibera tions for professors. While tenure committees should solicit student recommendations, tenure is not an area in which a student committee is qualified to participate. A student with two years at UNC has no business determining the fate of a professor with several years' experience. In setting out his agenda, Yelverton has weighed the merits of all issues facing the next student body president. He would be carrying a . full load of promises if he wins, yet has been realistic and careful not to overreach himself. With the coming of the new chancellor, UNC is at a crossroads: Yelverton's concrete plans for capital izing on this turning point are unpar alleled by his rivals. Chapel Hill is more than just the UNC campus. Establishing a business page would make such news easier to find, instead of scattering it throughout the paper. The business desk would be dissolved. Right now, business coverage overlaps with the university, state and national and city desks. The local business news not stock market analysis that the DTH covers is better dealt with by the individual desks. A university desk writer is more qualified to handle a story on divestment, simply because of his closer contact with university news. Making Omnibus more of an arts and entertainment guide would alert students to concerts, exhibits and the like that go on in Durham and Raleigh, as well as in Chapel Hill. Franklin Street is not the cultural center of North Carolina the new Omnibus would open students' eyes to a wider range of events. An editor is only as good as her staff. Lutes enjoys a large degree of staff support, although this is obviously impossible to measure quantitatively. This support would smooth the transition period between editors and facilitate the implementa tion of new ideas. A unified staff is vital to the paper's progress. SBP Jody Beasley Our next student body president should be dedicated to student development. All students are here for basically one reason: to study, to get an education that will develop them for a prosperous and satisfying future. I am concerned about that development, stu dent development. First, it is academics. Knowing class room, department and school policies and procedures, establishing services that can assist students in their classes and starting relationships with their professors, depart ment heads and deans of the various schools on campus. Second, it is emphasis on practical experience for each student. Education is never better than when it comes through experience, and Student Government has the ability to offer any student practical experience in his or her preferred academic area. I will provide an avenue, through the Caucus Board, for students to become active on personal Brien Lewis As your student body president I would have three main goals to work toward, with many specific objectives under each general goal. Goal One: Improving student life. Students on and off campus need strong representation and long-term planning to save us both headaches and dollars. B Marriott Food Service: Eliminate the $100 minimum and implement an optional board plan. B Parking: Work to keep student spaces and hold permit prices down. Develop alternative transit, such as shuttles and apartment van pools. B Security: Expand and improve the SAFE escort program. B The Alumni Center: Fight to keep it from being built in the woods. B The Black Cultural Center: Develop it into the diverse recruiting -and educa tional center it can be. ' B South Campus improvement: Plan more major events on South Campus, and Kevin Martin TTTT Tith so many candidates in this yy year's election facing so many V V issues, the individual voter finds it difficult to distinguish between one candidate and another. A key factor in determining who should be the represen tative for the student body in the coming year is style of leadership. Kevin Martin has the experience and the ability to be the best liaison between the students, town and university. As a presidential aide to Student Body President Brian Bailey, Kevin has been actively involved in negotiations between the town and Student Government, and has had direct experience in working with the University adminis tration. This experience gives him a unique advantage for a candidate in this year's election if elected, Kevin would not have to establish a new foundation with the administration and town, but rather, build Student Government upon the one which he has already begun. David Maynard Most of the candidates' platforms ask what the University can do for the students. Mine asks what we can do for ourselves. I have yet to suggest a program that calls for adminis trative approval. So how do my ideas let us help ourselves? First, let's address a problem that, as students, both you and I share the relationship between the town and the campus. In the past few years, both have been heading in different directions. The town wants one thing, while we want another. And, unfortunately, the town usually wins. Examples are the passage of the noise ordinance and the cancellation of Pi Kappa Phi's Burnout. The major part of my platform addresses these problems and their solutions. Most candidates have not addressed our problems with the town. And the ones that Keith Poston rf elected student body president, 1 would like to bnng two things to that .office. The first is understanding, and through that understanding, leadership. Understanding is realizing what students are really concerned about. IVe talked to hundreds of you since I began this campaign, and the problems IVe heard time and time again concern financing your education and finding part-time employ ment. These are two areas where Student Government can have a positive influence on our lives here. Each year, Student Congress allocates more than $500,000 of your money to itself, as well as a variety of other campus organizations. Last year, Student Govern ment itself spent nearly $40,000 just to carry out its business. That figure is not surprising, considering that our student body president appointed over 30 executive assistants, each of which represents another committee. I am the only candi date concerned with trimming away the Elections Foirminni platforms presented. concerns, with all of my support regardless of my feelings on the issue. We will become the most active student body that Carolina has ever seen. Student Government should be concerned about student development. I will pursue a new openness and direct communication with all campus organiza tions toward an "open door policy" that should directly impact how minorities are supported on this campus. When I speak of open door, I mean not only my door, but the doors of all figures and offices that must deal with the students on any level: faculty, administration and town. I believe that a person who actually lives and feels an issue daily will be much more effective in speaking, negotiating and promoting their specific concerns than any student body president. I owe you the chance to walk in the chancellor's office, any dean's office and my office to express the insight that you can share. This is the only way that we could ever come to fully understand each other and work together toward the ideal of plurality on this campus. Why would all of this come true? For the past two years, in roles such as the thoroughly address area concerns with an area council. B Library issues: Work for a snack area and a 24-hour study lounge. Goal Two: Protecting and developing educational opportunities. We come to UNC for an education, yet Student Government spends little of its time or resources on academic issues. It is time for academics to become a priority. B Establish an academic minor. B Co-op and job creation programs: Hands-on experience in your field is essential to being a "marketable" graduate. B Increase minority enrollment: Put the time, money and effort into it that is so badly needed. More recruitment programs and development of the BCC is essential. B The Student Assistance Fund: Fifty cents from an increase in each student's activity fees could help us help ourselves and show legislators in Raleigh and Washington that we are not just going with our hands out we are taking the initiative! Goal Three: Making Student Govern ment work. Kevin sees three specific areas in which a Student Government, led by a positive, experienced student body president, could make a definite contribution to the students. As president, Kevin would preserve a firm commitment to the undergraduate aspect of the University. He would work to achieve an optimum balance between athletics and education, town and Student Government, and research and undergraduate teachings. Communication is an often overlooked issue. Kevin can improve communication in three areas. First, as said above, Kevin's previously established foundations can give the students a better rapport with the administration. Second, Kevin's proposed Student Advisory Council would allow student leaders to meet with the chancellor once a month, increasing their commun ication with the administration, and would bring them together once a week in a forum, providing a much-needed increase in communication among student leaders. Finally, Kevin wants to increase the communication between the executive branch and the individual student by giving have believe they have all the right answers. I don't think they do. Their solutions involve a town council student liaison. A liaison has no power on the council, no more power than any citizen in the United States. A liaison does not have the power to speak, but the opportunity. I ask that you not sell yourselves short. We have 22,000 students, which equals 22,000 votes. Let's use them. My solution involves time. Our prob lems with the town cannot be solved overnight. I wish they could, but they can't. I have drafted a plan that would, within the next four years, get a student elected to the town council. You might remember that we tried to do this earlier this year. We failed. But we should not give up. What I plan to do is: B Set up a central election site in the Student Union. B Have massive voter registration drives. Within the next few years, I see freshmen Orientation Counselors taking fat in Student Government. My other six opponents in this race are proposing the creation of a total of 20 new committees, with one candidate proposing five new committees, plus another committee to monitor the work of the committees he just set up. This is ridiculous. I am also the only candidate opposed to using your student fees to fund the Carolina Gay and Lesbian Association, and will veto any budget that gives one single dime to the CGLA. It is time for us, as student leaders, to realize that funding of this organization with manda tory student fees forces many students on this campus to compromise their moral and religious beliefs, and also violates the Student Constitution by funding an organization involved in political activity. I believe the recent march by the CGLA against the funding referendum proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that this group is heavily involved in shaping policy and electing campus leaders. I have stated at various forums around campus that if the CGLA were just a support group or wanted student body treasurer, Finance Commit tee chairman and vice chairman of The Daily Tar Heel Board of Directors, I have done more day-to-day, face-to-face service than anyone else on the ballot. I know who to look to and who to look out for in being student body president the students. That is why, from my very first day in office, five students, our adviser from Student Affairs and one faculty member will serve as the Performance Assessment Committee (PAC) to focus solely on accountability. Now, when a student body president serves, there is no one to make sure that campaign promises and student services are actually delivered. The PAC, as an autonomous group, would make sure that if people call or come into my office, we would have answers. If committees are formed to address an issue, the members would deliver positive results. These three concepts: student develop ment and open doors for you, and accountability for me, are things that I live for every day in being the best choice for your student body president. Through my experience on Student Congress, South Campus Outreach and as Student Council president in high school, I have dealt with apathetic students and stubborn administrators, and I have met with success. B Restructure the executive branch: A chief of staff to run the office and a streamlined system of five or six cabinet departments would make government effective and efficient. B Improve communications: A minister of Intergovernmental Affairs would keep track of all governing bodies, from Congress to the town council. This way we would have no surprise issues, such as the noise ordinance. B Being a leader: We only have a one year term in which to act, so there is no time to lose. As an effective administrator and a good listener, I can solve problems before they start. Our greatest adversary is our own apathy. . Our greatest strength is a unified voice in Student Government. Please vote on Tuesday. a face to Student Government and making it more accessible. Finally, as president, Kevin could improve student life. His cooperative educational program would give students the opportunity to work part-time and stay in school, giving them not only practical job experience, but also helping them finance their education. Also, a consoli dated food service would mean lower prices and better food quality for the students. Kevin is a leader with feasible ideas and the practical experience necessary to implement them. The student body needs to respond to unfair policies established by the admin istration and town, but why allow those policies to be established in the first place? With his foundation, Kevin Martin could be active in the decision-making process, so there would be no need to be reactive to bad policies. With a new chancellor in the next school year, this direct, personal experience could be even more beneficial to the students than in any other election. Be active! their freshmen down to the Union to register. Every student would vote. B Most students have no idea what is going on around here. That's absurd this is Student Government, but the students aren't involved. That would change. I plan on having a monthly Student Government column in the DTH. Students need to know about the noise ordinance before it happens, not after. We are no longer a college town, we are a college and a town. The two must be united again. My platform is not limited to town issues. I have many solutions to problems that we have on campus apathy toward AIDS and the handicapped, parking, minority concerns, etc. I would like to talk about my accom lishments and other ideas, but space is limited. But remember. The town. The campus. The students. It can work. Please vote David Maynard. to have an AIDS education program, then I would support funding. But I refuse to believe that the majority of students on this campus want their student activity fees used to fund a gay club that promotes homosexuality as an acceptable, alterna tive lifestyle. I am proposing an expansion of the Student Part-Time Employment Service to include jobs for all of Chapel Hill and Carrboro, not just the campus. The majority of on-campus jobs are taken by work-study programs. I feel that if the area merchants knew that students use this service, they would come to us when they needed help finding employees. These are only a few of the issues I plan to address if elected student body presi dent. I don't believe we should dwell on past mistakes. Politics is about the future, and what we can accomplish together. I know that with your help, we can bring Student Government back to the students. I urge you to get out and vote on Tuesday, and bring your friends. You can make a difference! 1
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Feb. 15, 1988, edition 1
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