Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Feb. 16, 1988, edition 1 / Page 8
Part of Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
W1 8The Daily Tar Heel Tuesday, February 16, 1988 Saily 95i f ar of editorial freedom Jill Gerber, Editor Amy Hamilton, Managing Editor Sally Pearsall, News Editor KRISTEN GARDNER, University Editor Kimberly Edens, U nit er sity Editor SHARON KEBSCHULL, State and National Editor Leigh ann Mcdonald, City Editor Mike Berardino, Sports Editor FELISA NEURINGER, Business Editor HANNAH DRUM, Features Editor Elizabeth Ellen, Arts Editor Charlotte Cannon, Photography Editor CATHY McHUGH, Omnibus Editor CGLA deserves student fees . . . Since its inception, the Carolina Gay and Lesbian Association has come under frequent attack by students unwilling to have their student activ ities fees allocated to the organization. Now is the time to end the controversy surrounding this question. When voting today, be sure to support CGLA funding. The purpose of the group is to educate the student body about homosexual issues, to protect the rights of homosexuals and to provide a support group for the gays and lesbians on campus. The CGLA provides educational pamphlets, spon sors lectures 'and panel discussions, and runs the CGLA Outreach pro gram, which helps health education and psychology professors teach students about homosexuality. The group's information is readily availa ble to all students, gay or straight precisely how many are affected by issues such as the spread of AIDS. A vote in support of the CGLA is a vote in support of AIDS education and of homosexual rights. To vote against funding is to suppress infor mation and education about issues affecting both homosexuals and heter osexuals, and to suppress basic human freedoms. The issue is one of education, not morality. CGLA opponents argue that the group advocates homosexuality, that student fees are somehow prom oting gay sex. The fact that some people find the sexual act itself offensive should have no bearing on whether the CGLA receives funding. Similarly, a vote in favor of the group has nothing to do with the sexuality of the voter. It has everything to do with his or her concern for constitu tional freedoms and public education. The group's opponents do have the right to believe that homosexuality is immoral or offensive, but they do not have the right to shut down a group that strives to educate the campus about concerns important to all students. Defunding the CGLA would not eliminate homosexuality, it would only breed ignorance. Students should use this referendum to show they will not tolerate either this ignorance or the suppression of human rights. Vote in support of CGLA funding. . . . and so does STV The Student Television referendum appearing on the ballot today deserves careful consideration. The organiza tion is seeking a one-time only increase in student fees of one dollar per semester for a year. The increase, which would come to about $39,000, would go to purchasing new equipment. Students may ask why they should support a group that doesn't even reach on-campus residents. But pass ing the referendum is crucial to future student broadcasting endeavors. STV is in a catch-22 situation. It can't draw an audience without improving pro gramming, but can't improve pro gramming without new equipment. The group has explored other ways to raise money, and clearly, raising student fees is the only feasible way at this point. An obvious means of fund raising, advertising is illegal under a contract between Carolina Cable, STV's access channel, and the University. So far, none of the group's fund-raising efforts have raised the amount needed for new equipment. STV provides a valuable service to both its viewers and its participants. It produces a campus news program, a comedy show and a soap opera. The students who help with production receive hands-on experience not gained through an RTVMP major. One problem the organization should consider, however, is that many students don't have access to its broadcasts. In exchange for $35,000 of student activities fees, STV should continue its crusade for cable on campus, including residence hall lounges and the Student Union TV lounge. But without better equipment, STV can't improve the quality of its programming. And without quality programming, accessibility is irrele vant. A dollar per student is little to ask for a communications medium that could help unify the student body, if only given the chance. 'Yes' to the rest of referendums The CGLA and STV referendums aren't the only ones on the ballot. Two of the referendums deal with the structure of Student Government, another deals with obsolesence in the constitution, and a fourth addresses the question of a fees increase. The referendum that seeks to elim inate from the constitution the names of obsolete student organizations is useful and should be passed. The constitution is inconsistent, naming certain organizations and not others. Thus, trimming these references would be a step toward uncluttering and consolidating the document. The role of the student body treas urer is too expansive, and so the referendum seeking to curtail that power should be supported. The treasurer is appointed and has no vote in the congress, but he otherwise has all the privileges of a congress member, and therefore can speak on matters that have nothing to do with finance. Those privileges are irrelevant to the office, which should be solely con cerned with financial questions. The referendum would limit the treasurer's role to advising on such questions. The referendum seeking to change . the dates of inauguration of all elected ' officials is the most important on the ballot. The bill, which exempts the Daily Tar Heel editor, seeks to move inauguration to the first Tuesday in April. Now, officials are inaugurated within 15 days of their election. The bill would ease the transition into office by giving officials time to understand the responsibilities of their new offices. More importantly, the bill would remedy the evils of the system. Upon their election, Student Congress members are thrust into the budget process, the most important and most complicated part of their jobs. By pushing back their inauguration, the bill would ensure that congress members would only be involved in the budget process after having spent months in office. Certainly six weeks is a long time to wait for an elected official to assume power. And a candidate should be ready to take office upon his election. But inexperienced congress members are ill-suited for creating a budget, and any attempt to make smoother the transition of power should be applauded. Finally, the congress seeks a $1.25 increase in student activities fees. The request is reasonable. The last fee increase came over a decade ago, and since then inflation has weakened the dollar's buying power. In 1984, stu dents approved a similar request, but too few people voted for the increase to take effect. In the midst of various other specific requests for money, this referendum is long overdue. Like the other three, it demands approval, and approval by enough students so that it will be enacted. ectioiros Foranm For Daily Tar Heel editor Leinwand To the editor: To be editor of The Daily Tar Heel requires determina tion, intelligence, patience and, above all, dedication. After working as a state and national news writer under Donna Lein wand, I know she possesses all of these traits and would undoubtedly be the best pos sible candidate for the job. As one of Donna's writers, I came to respect her tremend ously for the rigid policies she set and guidelines we all knew we had to follow if we were to write for her desk. I believe the DTH could benefit greatly from Donna's ability to set rules and to create a more organized atmosphere in which more could be accomplished. Among Donna's goals for the DTH are a special projects desk, which would report on human issue topics such as rape and homelessness; a special "sports box" containing general information on games; and increasing the international, national and business news articles in the DTH. During Donna's three years on the staff, she has worked as a staff writer, assistant manag ing editor, assistant state and national news editor and recently resigned as state and national editor to run for editor in chief. Also, Donna received professional experience with The Virginian-Pilot last summer. After working for Donna, I fully realize she is the most qualified candidate for the job. While she sets her expectations and remains determined to meet her goals, her most out standing qualities are her deter mination and understanding. In a job as high-pressured as DTH editor, I feel these last attributes that she possesses would make her an outstanding editor for our University's newspaper. While students have tradi tionally depended on the DTH for reliable news, they must also choose a reliable and capable editor to carry on that tradition. I am positive that choice should be Donna Lein wand. Vote Donna Leinwand for DTH editor. LEE ANN NECESSARY Junior Journalism To the editor: The heated race for Daily Tar Heel editor continues, and one of the brightest and most vocal candidates is Donna Leinwand. Since her freshman year, Donna has gained inval uable experience by working on the DTH staff, including serv ing as the state and national editor. She also worked as a reporter at The Virginian-Pilot last summer and was recently selected as a summer intern for The Baltimore Sun. In addition to being qualified for the job, Donna also pos sesses an unprecedented dedi cation to the DTH. Spending long, late hours at the office doesn't bother her in the least, for she settles for nothing short of absolute accuracy and excel lence. Along with her experience and keen appreciation for accuracy, Donna also stresses innovation as a major compo nent of her campaign. Included in her plans are expanding our knowledge and awareness by devoting an entire page to national international issues, and increasing campus cover age to give more equitable representation to university organizations than we have seen in the past. Therefore, a vote for Donna Leinwand for DTH editor is not only a vote for experience, accuracy and innovation, but also for supreme quality, fair ness and honesty. It would be disappointing to see our stu dent body settle for anything less. CHRYSTAL REDDING Senior International Studies Lutes To the editor: As we approach election time once more, I'd like to endorse Jean Lutes for Daily Tar Heel editor. I am glad Jean has decided to run, because I think the campus newspaper is an inte gral part of university life, and I know Jean is an integral part of the DTH. Her boundless creative energy awed staffers when she served as university editor last year, and it would be indispensable to DTH growth in the coming year. She knows how to enhance the paper's strengths and how to improve on its shortcomings. Jean's main goals in improv ing the DTH would revolve around expansion of the staff, as well as certain desks. She wants to improve and broaden state and national news coverage because she realizes some students read only the DTH, and if they don't get the news there, they won't get it at all. She also would like more coverage of Chapel Hill and Carrboro, because that's where most students live. Crimes being committed and laws being made in our communities affect students, as well as year round residents. Jean knows students' inter ests are varied, so she plans a weekly look at the business world on a separate page, featuring a stock market column by an MBA student, for students interested in the field. And she'd like to make Omnibus an entertainment guide featuring reviews and previews of special events for those ready to relax. This more concentrated coverage would be more convenient, because readers would know exactly where to look for what they want to know. Jean would like to strengthen the editorial page by running board opinions on a case-by-case basis rather than every day. Another new feature would be a "Group Focus" on a campus organization each week. But the best part is that this is only a sampling of Jean's many fresh ideas. And she's ready to hear other people's opinions, too, because her main goal is to make the DTH a newspaper students would want to read. For the best campus cover age, vote Jean Lutes for editor. SANDY DIMSDALE Junior Journalism To the editor: In the campaign for the DTH editor, many themes for improving the paper run com monly among the candidates. From increasing the staff and revamping Omnibus to making the paper more attuned to the needs of the whole student body, all three candidates are on target. But as a former editorial writer who has seen Jean Lutes in action, I know she is the best person for the job because she will get the job done right. Jean Lutes would improve Omnibus by jazzing it up as an entertainment guide, instead of making it a political lampoon. She would increase national news coverage without sacrific ing student writing to the Associated Press machine. She would organize business arti cles on a weekly business page. The most significant differ ence, however, is an intangible. A successful DTH editor must have the ability to attract and then coalesce a diverse writing staff. Lutes has that quality. Through her intense com mitment and dedication to the paper the past three years, she has developed a powerful lead ership style that is respected by all who work with her. Without a doubt there are three talented journalists seek ing the editorship. But all the plans mean nothing if they cannot be implemented. The paper cannot be allowed - to stagnate and lose more readers. Jean Lutes can solve this prob lem, because she is more than a journalist. She is a deter mined leader. JON RUST Sophomore English Peters To the editor: Perhaps the greatest chal lenge to The Daily Tar Heel editor is representing the diver sity of people and ideas on this campus. Yes, we need an editor with past experience and known dedication. Yet, a greater need is to elect a role model who respects and repres ents the UNC community. A clear choice is Kathy Peters. You have already met Kathy. She has gone door-to-door in every dorm and has also spoken with many groups off campus. She believes in student contact. By diligently talking with peo ple, Kathy already has and continues to gather student input and ideas. Yet she has a direction for these ideas a student-focused direction. Kathy would listen to us. The above evidence of her charac ter, plus her creativity, accents the innovative ideas she could bring to the DTH. Her realistic and flexible goals are not only For C AA president Geer To the editor: When we view the races for various offices on campus this year, it is clear that many qualified people are vying for many campuswide offices. However, one of the most important, the office of Caro lina Athletic Association pres ident, has only one person running for it. How could this happen on such an involved campus? The reason lies in the fact that this lone candidate is CAA President Carol Geer, the person responsible for the surge of activities seen all over cam pus in the past year by the CAA. This year Carol has initiated many new programs that have gotten students involved across campus and ignited a school spirit that has been dormant at this university too long. Carol ina Fever has more than 600 members. Its pep rallies and spirited appearances at all athletic events have brought about much of this new-found solid but truly attainable. Her participatory leadership style would enhance her relationship with writers and would develop her platform goals into realiz able work. In all, Peters is the role model needed for DTH editor. Her experience is plenty; her ideas, endless. Kathy would undoubt edly strive to address the major issues and concerns. For a publication that is widely read, we need an editor who reaches out and makes us feel we have been heard. Kathy Peters is the editor who would listen. LISA LADD Junior Accounting To the editor: The Daily Tar Heel editor ship is one of the most impor tant positions on this campus. The new editor will lead an organization responsible for the dissemination of informa tion to the entire student body. In considering such qualities as leadership, experience and representation of all campus views, Kathy Peters is the clear and obvious choice. Kathy is an effective leader because she communicates well with her co-workers. Because communication is such an important part of leadership, Kathy plans to focus on it, particularly between desk edi tors. She is easy to talk to and has, as an editor, handled difficult situations with her writers. Finally, as Kathy has moved up from one position to another, she has trained her replacements. This aspect of leadership is one in which Kathy excels as she plans to take her teaching certification. Kathy would also bring a great range of experience to the office. She was editor of Omni bus magazine. This experience is very similar to putting out a miniature paper. She has also worked as a desk editor, a writer and a layout designer, which gives her a complete understanding of all the aspects of running a paper. In her campaign, Kathy has spent quite some time going door-to-door, and has found that people like the changes she wants to make in the DTH. More than that, though, Kathy has proven she can listen to people not associated with the paper. She wants to make the DTH responsive to students because she says the paper is for students. In keeping with this viewpoint, Kathy also plans to open up the staff .by actively recruiting writers from as many different parts of campus life as possible. Kathy is the best choice for DTH editor for these reasons. She is a good leader, she has feasible ideas and the expe rience necessary to make them work, and she is willing . to listen. Vote for a DTH editor who will be responsive to student concerns; vote for Kathy Peters. CHARLES MOORE Junior English Chemistry rsJ a VJhv are our Camouc, Plpr-fUnd ( v urea v r Radar TO: OF DELAYtD STRESS SYiou ! P I A.Iowa iocsnt get to Voe first spirit. The "Carolina Sports Outlook," an informative boo klet, was presented to all enter ing freshmen and junior transfers as they arrived last fall. The booklet contained information on all the sports opportunities available on campus, highlighted all intram ural, club and varsity oppor tunities and explained ticket policies and gave facility hours. Though these issues were the most obvious, Carol was there to fight for the students when there was danger of losing the Hinton James tennis courts to a parking lot. She also has pushed hard to make the Par Course Fitness Trail and a new student weight facility a reality. These examples only touch the surface of what the CAA has done under one year of leadership with Carol Geer. Next year should be even better, as her hard work, deter mination and dedication to work for the concerns of stu dents would bring the CAA .to new heights not yet imagined. JAMES FREEMAN Senior Political Science 1 100m00
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Feb. 16, 1988, edition 1
8
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75