The Daily Tar Heel Tuesday, February 16, 19889
ectioos Foranm
For student
Beasley
To the editor:
For the past three weeks, we have
heard where each student body
president candidate stands on the
issues. Knowing how to effectively
address the issues is important in the
election, but the most important
qualification in this race is experience.
And the candidate that clearly has
the most experience within Student
Government is Jody Beasley.
Having served as both Student
Congress Finance Committee chair
man and student body treasurer, Jody
has managed the budgets of nearly
every major campus organization, an
experience that has given him a clear
understanding of issues that are
important to these groups.
It is important that the next SBP
be a resourceful person one who
has established contacts with a broad
' range of people. Having worked with
Jody this year as executive assistants
of minority concerns, we often
depend on his experience and rela
tionships with others to get things
done for our committee. And since
the majority of the issue-oriented
work within Student Government is
carried out by executive assistants, we
need a president who has a broad
enough resource base to effectively
deal with the needs and concerns of
his executive assistants.
Lastly, UNC needs a student body
president who understands the work
ings of government and the people
Lewis
To the editor:
The office of student body pres
ident is one of the most thoughtful
and demanding jobs any student at
this university will ever undertake.
The candidate who wins this highest
' office has to have a sincere concern
for his fellow students and must
possess strong leadership qualities.
Brien Lewis exudes all of these
characteristics.
Lewis consistently has proven to
be an active member of congress by
initiating an open door policy. He has
taken it upon himself to man a
Student Congress constituency booth
in the lobbies of Morrison, Ehring
haus and Hinton James. From time
to time, Lewis has even manned a
congress booth in the Pit. In addition,
Lewis has worked closely with the
South Campus Outreach Program of
Student Government and the Mor
rison Legislative Council.
Lewis continually has shown a
willingness to fight discrimination by
shunning proposed legislation to
defund the CGLA. Other student
leaders have followed the popular
trend of attempting to cancel the
funds of this minority organization.
' Lewis has worked to support the
rights of all student groups. He has
also indicated plans to increase
minority recruitment.
This is truly a unique candidate.
He has consistently demonstrated a
Martin
To the editor:
We need Kevin Martin as student
body president. He has the best ideas
of any candidate in the race, ideas
which can truly improve student life
for all of us. Kevin also has the ability
to carry his platform out to the fullest
as a strong, organized and practical
" leader of students.
We need an experienced leader as
SBP, and Kevin is just that. Just ask
his colleagues in this year's executive
. branch, where he served as a presi
dential aide, and in the judicial
branch, where he served as Honor
Court vice chairman. They are likely
to tell you about his hard work,
, creativity and diplomacy.
! We need a leader to logically and
'.directly address tough student con
cerns such as minority affairs, the
I academic environment and the devel
: opment of an affordable campus food
I service. Kevin confronts these prob
lems with clearly defined and work
Table solutions, the only candidate to
:do so.
: The cost of the campus food service
lis far too high, and Kevin has a plan
"to bring it down. We could consol
idate all of the campus' food services,
convenience stores and concessions
services under one company. Lower
food prices on campus would be
.achieved.
To learn to our fullest capabilities,
we ought to be able to fully under
stand our instructors' English. Kevin
,is the only candidate to address this
'often neglected academic problem,
;with his call for minimal English
fluency requirements for all
Maynard
To the editor:
" ' As members of the UNC Student
Congress, we see the need for a
president who fits this description.
After carefully reviewing each of the
candidates, we have decided that
David Maynard is our choice for
SBP.
We have worked with David on
Student Congress and witnessed the
results of his hard work and aggres
body president
who are most influential in maintain
ing its effectiveness in addressing
student concerns. We need a presi
dent who can provide continuity for
the programs established by the
executive assistants of previous
administrations. Jody has the know
ledge and experience to make these
things happen, which is why we
encourage you to elect him our next
student body president.
DARRIN POOLE
Senior
Economics
PAMELA BREWINGTON
Junior
Speech Communication
Economics
To the editor:
1 feel that Jody Beasley is the right
person to fill the position of student
body president, and I urge everyone
to check out his platform.
Living in the same suite with Jody
for two years is an experience I wish
everyone could have. What IVe seen
is a student who has contributed
much to this university in the short
time he's been here. Becoming a
South Campus representative his
freshman year, he has worked his way
up to the position of student body
treasurer. I have been around few
other people who have the dedication
and sheer energy that Jody has. The
guys joked that he never slept. He
was always working on a project for
willingness to work with people and
has exhibited a natural concern for
students. While other candidates
merely talk about a willingness to
provide better conditions, Lewis
already has proven his dedication
through action. For these reasons,
remember to vote for Brien Lewis for
student body president today.
DESMOND WALLACE
Sophomore
Political Science
CHARLES MILLS
Junior
RTVMP
To the editor:
As Student Congress members
who have worked with many of the
candidates for student body presi
dent, we know one who clearly stands
out. All of the candidates have shown
a commitment to student concerns,
but Brien Lewis has displayed the
firmest grasp of the administrative
aspects of a job that entails being the
chief student administrator.
Perhaps of foremost importance to
the workings of Student Government
is good communication. Brien's
proposed administration had been
designed with the specific goal of
improving communication within the
Executive Branch, and between the
University administration and Stu
dent Government as a whole. This
increased awareness between student
instructors.
Kevin has an active, reasonable
solution to help end racial alienation
and tension on campus. Let's push
the administration to establish an
administrator to coordinate minority
affairs for students and the Univer
sity. This person could act as an
adviser for minority programs on
campus, as well as a recruiter for
minority students.
We need Kevin for his ideas and
his active and refined leadership. I
know he can make student concerns
into University concerns through his
assertiveness, diplomacy and com
munications skills.
DAVE BROWN
Senior
Political Science
To the editor:
Many decisions during the
remainder of this semester will impact
the black student community for
years into the future. For example,
the director for the Black Cultural
Center will be selected and will begin
official programming next year. With
the resignation of Dean Hayden
Renwick from the Office of Student
Counseling, black students are left
with a feeling of uncertainty as to the
future of such programs as the
Minority Advisers Program, the
Minority Tutorial Program and the
Minority 3.0 Reception.
The next student body president
should be knowledgeable about these
issues, aware of the concerns of black
students and willing to communicate
those concerns to the administration.
The BCC has been a long-standing
concern of black students. Kevin has
sive tactics. For example, last spring
David successfully led the battle to
defund the Student Consumer Action
Union (SCAU), which was wasting
thousands and thousands of student
dollars each year. SCAU was riddled
with corruption and waste, and David
was the chief proponent of disband
ing this problematic organization. As
a member of the Finance Committee,
David has carefully scrutinized each
campus organization and has assisted
in the funding of specific groups.
Student Government or doing school
work. Most of the time these projects
were self-initiated. Jody really wants
to do something for the University
and the students.
As lieutenant governor of Morri
son Residence Hall while Jody served
as a Student Congress representative,
I saw the kind of leader he can be.
As a South Campus representative,
he founded the South Campus
Forum an organization designed
to get the residents in touch with the
representatives. It has since grown
into the South Campus Outreach
Committee, an executive branch of
Student Government. This is only one
example of how Jody initiates ideas
and carries them through.
One thing I really like about Jody
is his ability to work with others. I
always felt at ease when I had to work
with him and knew he listened to my
ideas. He periodically took polls to
find out what South Campus students
thought of ideas or happenings. Jody
listens to all the evidence before
making decisions.
There are plenty of good candi
dates in this year's student body
president race, but none come close
to Jody in experience and determi
nation. If students have any concern
at all for what happens on this
campus, they will give a serious look
at Jody Beasley.
JAMES PARRISH
Junior
Speech Communication
and university leaders would better
enable Brien to enact such programs
as student-funded, need-based scho
larships, a board plan option from
Marriott Dining Services, a long-
range parking proposal and a more
accessible library system.
In the past year, as a Student
Congress member, Brien has set the
standard for representative contact
with his constituents. He held a
"constituency booth" three times a
semester in each dorm in his district
to assess his constituents' needs and
answer their questions. Brien also
authored a resolution that led the
congress members to hold office
hours in the Pit on meeting days, thus
making them more accessible to the
student body at large. Brien not only
listened, but he also acted, working
with South Campus Outreach to get
a bus shelter and voicing his constit
uents concerns in congress and
Student Affairs Committee meetings.
Lewis has both solid ideas to
improve the quality of Carolina life,
and the ability to administrate effec
tively. We wholeheartedly urge you
to vote today, Brien Lewis for student
body president.
LAURA MORRISON
Senior
English
BROCK DICKINSON
Junior
English History
read the original BCC proposal and
talked with past and present student
members of the Black Cultural Center
Committee. He recognizes the prim
ary goal of the center as that of
providing a black cultural resource
for black students and the University
community. He is committed to
attending BCC committee meetings,
and has mentioned that the imme
diate concerns of the center include
hiring a dedicated and qualified BCC
director and acquiring adequate
programming funds from the Univer
sity. Kevin is dissatisfied with the
space allocated in the Student Union
for black student leaders and
administrators.
Last year, incidents such as racial
slurs directed toward a black MBA
student and the carving of KKK on
a black student's door in Joyner were
addressed to Dean Renwick. His
resignation leaves a void. Kevin feels
that an oltice solely dedicated to
minority affairs could address this
void. Kevin has proposed an admi
nistrative and student task force to
study this issue.
To effectively serve the Universitv
community, the next student body
president must be sensitive to these
issues. All candidates agree that
minority recruitment and retention
are crucial issues. Kevin recognizes
this can only happen through improv
ing the University environment for
black students namely through a
strong BCC and an office addressing
mmonty concerns.
ROCHELLE BRANDON
Senior
Chemistry
David was also appointed by his
fellow congress members to serve on
the Student Educational Broadcast
ing Board and the Media Board.
Through his active participation in
student government, David has
observed the problems that exist in
the university community. For
instance, David sees a lack of com
munication between students and the
executive branch. One of his solutions
is a monthly column in the Daily Tar
Heel in order to better inform
students about the problems being
considered and the actions being
taken by Student Government.
In addition, David realizes the
importance which we, as students,
should have in the decisions made by
the town of Chapel Hill. His solution
is to actively pursue the registration
of each student to vote in Orange
County and then to lead the students
in a unified attempt to have a major
impact on local politics. We believe
that David Maynard is the most
capable candidate to continue the
work of past and present SBPs to
find the solutions.
ANNA BAIRD
Student Congress
District 1 1
GENE DAVIS
Student Congress
District 18
To the editor:
The low level of student input in
Poston
To the editor:
As a senior, I have seen many
student body presidents come and go
with very little, if any, impact on me
as a student. Perhaps that is why so
few students usually vote on election
day, because they see no need to put
forth the effort. But this year is
different. We do have a candidate
who cares about working for the
students, one who will make a
difference if elected today. That
candidate is Keith Poston.
I have known Keith two years now,
and I can tell you that he is concerned
about the wasteful spending by
Student Government, about the
difficulty the majority of students
have m finding part-time employment
and about the image this university
has. His specific proposals concern
ing expansion of Student Part-Time
Employment Service, as well as the
cooperative education program with
the local secondary school systems,
address these concerns.
Even with such good ideas, it takes
more than that to be an effective
Rierson
To the editor:
This letter is an endorsment for the
candidacy of Sandy Rierson for
student body president. Although I
have only known Sandy for a year,
she impresses me as someone who is
sincerely concerned with the interests,
problems and issues facing this
campus. A clear example of her wish
to lead this school in the right
direction is a question she asked me
when she was trying to decide whether
or not to run for SBP. She did not
ask "What can I do to win?" or "Do
you think I have a chance?" Rather
she asked: "Do you think I could do
a good job?" and "Am I really the
right person for the job?" Much
careful deliberation went into her
decision to run for this very important
office.
As for her qualifications, Sandy
Rierson was awarded the Truman
Scholar Award this year, was nom
inated to represent North Carolina
at a government convention in
Arizona this summer, was executive
assistant to former SBP Bryan Hassel
and is president of the UNC Young
Democrats. But it is personal char
acteristics which make her the best
candidate for this office. She is one
of the few people I know who can
say with complete honesty that she
Yelverton
To the editor
Bill Yelverton has the experience,
the ideas and the vision it takes to
be an effective student body
president.
As one of my executive assistants,
Bill helped initiate some exciting
projects, including the UNITAS
living learning program and a Stu
dent Government voter registration
drive. He also participated in a
"strategy group" that dealt with many
of the broader issues that the student
body president faces. He is very
familiar with the way the executive
branch of Student Government
functions and the kinds of concerns
it addresses on a daily basis.
Significantly, Bill has also had a
year of valuable experience as co
president of the Campus Y, making
him the only candidate who has been
the chief executive of a large student
organization. The student body
presidency cannot be a one-person
show; a critical quality is the ability
to motivate others to act. Bill has
spent the past year doing just that.
His creativity and energy are conta
gious, and by involving others, he
would make his presidency active and
successful.
Bill would translate all of this
experience into ideas that work. At
the top of his list are initiatives to
give students more control over their
academic lives. He wants more
student involvement in setting the
curriculum, in deciding what courses
we have to take to graduate. He also
stands for a greater student voice in
evaluating professors so we can
ensure that our faculty is committed
to teaching.
Bill's concerns go beyond the
university and town decisions should
be a big concern of UNC students.
In David Maynard, the student body
has an energetic leader who is
committed to bringing a stronger
student voice into the decision
making that affects each of us. The
town of Chapel Hill, its city officials,
businesses and residents often do not
take student concerns seriously.
Maynard will build a more active
Student Government, pushing for
greater influence in the university and
local communities.
Maynard has served his congres
sional district well this past year as
a vocal member of the finance
committee. His experiences with the
inner workings of Student Govern
ment have revealed to him many
weaknesses, including its low visibil
ity on campus and lack of power in
representing student concerns. As
student body president, Maynard will
keep the campus informed of govern
ment activities through a monthly
column in the DTH. He will empha
student body president. It takes
commitment, it takes creativity and
it takes a willingness to work hard
for all students. Poston possesses
these characteristics. I have come to
know Keith as a good friend. I urge
you, even if you have never voted
before, to take that extra five minutes
today and cast a ballot for Keith
Poston.
DAVID CODY
Senior
Pharmacy
To the editor:
There are approximately 22,000
students at this university, yet on the
average only about 10 percent to 15
percent vote in student elections. This
is a result of apathy, but this year
there is an issue that merits higher
voting percentages. That issue is the
funding of the Carolina Gay and
Lesbian Association. There is a
referendum on today's ballot pertain
ing to CGLA funding, along with the
names of seven student body pres
ident candidates.
The overwhelming majority of
students on this campus do not
puts 100 percent of herself into
anything she does. She has a genius
for being able to look at a problem,
immediately go straight to the heart
of it and develop a viable solution
that would be apparent to almost no
one else.
Her best qualification, however, is
that she cares, and has the ability to
translate that caring into an active
and effective administration.
Although there are six other well
qualified candidates running for this
office, there is no question in my mind
that Sandy Rierson is the best
candidate for the office of student
body president.
CAROLYN CORR
Sophomore
Political Science
To the editor
Sometimes you have to make a
strong statement. That's why I must
tell you about my good friend, Sandy
Rierson. Since my freshman year,
when we first had classes together,
Sandy has stood out in my mind. IVe
never known this Morehead scholar
to be afraid when asking a question
or abashed when giving her point of
view. That's not all. As president of
the UNC Young Democrats, Rierson
has been the driving force behind the
campus. He understands that many
students rely on federal aid and low
tuition to attend school, and he would
fight to keep both. To help us express
our concerns to local, state and
national leaders, Bill has several
proposals for making it easier for
students to register and vote, includ
ing his goal of creating an on-campus
poll site.
Bill has lots of other specific
projects in mind as well. But what
ties his candidacy together is his
commitment to being a student body
president who is first and foremost
a student advocate. Bill's vision of
Student Government is one of an
active, creative organization dedi
cated to making the student voice
count in concrete ways. And he has
the experience and ideas to put that
vision into action.
UNC is at a crossroads as it chooses
its new chancellor. Bill offers the kind
of leadership we need to ensure that
the student voice is a strong one in
this important transition. I urge you
to vote for Bill Yelverton today.
BRYAN HASSEL
Senior
History
To the editor:
This year's student body president
election presents us with an oppor
tunity to elect a leader with realistic
visions of how the SBP can efficiently
and effectively serve our needs. We
need someone who understands the
nature of the one-year term and the
potential and limitations that define
the job. We need an experienced
leader who knows the University, the
students, the faculty, the administra
tion and the framework in which they
operate. We need someone dedicated
size action in Student Government.
Plans include an AIDS education
program, a handicapped awareness
week, establishment of a centralized
election site in the student union and
a voter registration drive to elect a
student to town council. Maynard
will work to end the distancing of the
town council from the student body
in issues such as the noise ordinance
and the cancellation of Burnout.
Maynard's primary concern lies
with the students and what they can
do for themselves. He alone has the
ability to bring power back to the
position of student body president.
As president, he will be able to
recognize and act on the needs and
ideas of the students of this university.
ANDY ANDERSON
Junior
Chemistry Political Science
ROSS COULTER
Sophomore
Political Science
support such funding, yet five SBP
candidates support funding. There is
only one candidate who has made
CGLA defunding an important part
of his campaign. That candidate is
Keith Poston. Keith has promised to
veto any CGLA funding. We need
someone who will stand up for the
large majority of students who
disapprove of CGLA funding. Pos
ton is our candidate.
If you read his platform, you will
see that CGLA defunding is not his
only proposal. Poston has other
proposals, but it is his stand on the
CGLA that sets him apart from the
rest.
Are we going to continue to allow
our student fees to continue to
promote an immoral, perverted way
of life, or are we going to send a
message to Student Congress? Poston
needs your vote just as we need him.
I urge you to vote "no" to CGLA
funding and "yes" to Keith Poston
for student body president.
WILLIAM TAYLOR
Junior
Political Science
most active and respected political
club on the North Carolina campus.
Do you remember reading in the
DTH about when Lt. Gov. Bob
Jordan came and spoke? Or how
about presidential aspirant Pat
Schroeder, congressman David Price,
or Democratic Party Chairman Jim
Van Hecke? Sandy worked hard to
bring those political powerhouses to
UNC.
As vice president of the Young
Democrats, I know firsthand of the
energetic, hands-on leadership she
provides. Rierson impresses me with
her enthusiasm, her perserverance
and her ability to manage programs.
How about the student voter regis
tration drive that netted hundreds of
new voters? Sandy was a part of that.
Or the town council and mayoral
candidates forum in the Student
Union? She organized it. And not
once have I seen her get truly rattled.
It takes more than missing keynote
speakers or picketing prattlers to do
that.
To Sandy Rierson, now running
for student body president of one of
the finest universities in this country,
I give my highest endorsement.
PHILIP SHERIDAN
Junior
Political Science
enough to work hard, and qualified
to do the job well. Bill Yelverton is
all of the above.
By reading his statements and
platform, you know where Bill stands
on the issues facing UNC students.
You know Bill cares about the
University. Having worked closely
with Bill this past year as co-president
of the Campus Y, I can tell you that
beyond the paper you read, Bill is
eminently qualified for the position
of student body president. Bill knows
the University. Through his expe
rience as an executive assistant for
Bryan Hassel and his tenure at the
Campus Y, he has worked with
administrators and students from all
parts of campus. He follows through
on his word. His energy and inno
vation never end. As the Black
Student Movement has acknow
ledged, Bill's sincerity and openness
are the center of his inclusive lead
ership style. His experiences both
inside and outside Student Govern
ment give him a unique perspective
and knowledge base from which to
work. Yelverton is a wise choice for
our next student body president.
I encourage you to join me in
voting for Bill Yelverton for student
body president.
MARY SCHOLL
Senior
Public Policy Analysis
Don't be a
curmudgeon:
Vote today