8The Daily Tar HeelThursday, September 13, 1990
Wip iailg afar HM
9Sri year of editorial freedom
Jessica Lanning
JENNIFER WlNG, University Editor
LYNETTE BLAIR, Forum Editor
Cameron Tew, City Editor
MYRNA MILLER, Features Editor
Jamie Rosenberg, sports Editor
EVAN EiLE, Photography Editor
Steve Wilson, News Editor
MELANIE BLACK, Layout Editor
and Kelly Thompson, Editors
NANCY WYKLE, University Editor
Crystal Bernstein, Opinion Editor
STACI COX, State and National Editor
CHERYL ALLEN, Features Editor
ALISA DeMaO, Omnibus Editor
JOE MUHL, Photography Editor
JoANN RODAK, News Editor
James Claude Benton, Ombudsman
Taking a tradition
Banning pledge process has its consequences
If you have ever wondered what a black
fraternity or sorority "pledge line" looked
like, you should have looked last year.
Starting this fall, young black men and
women dressed identically, marching in
single file lines according to height will be
absent from college campuses. The national
black Greek organizations in order to curb
hazing, banned "on line" activities and the
traditional pledge process this summer.
Undoubtedly, the decision was in the
best interest of pledges and the organiza
tions responsible for them. It is no secret
that some Greeks have taken pledging too
far to the point of broken bones, bruises
and even death. Some organizations are
facing major lawsuits, and many chapters
are on probation for hazing. Yet it is under
standable why some black Greeks are find
ing the new ruling a hard pill to swallow.
Iany found pledging, despite its flaws, a
valuable and enriching experience.
X One reason the pledge system will be
ro'issed is the tradition and heritage that
will disappear along with it. Black sorori
ties and fraternities have served as the
backbone of the black community since the
early 1900s. The respective founders
formed their groups as a chance for blacks
to gather and exchange ideas. The institu
tions assisted the black community socially,
culturally and economically.
As the founders began to induct new
members, a system evolved that created
bbnds between pledgees and their big
brothers and sisters. Many students who
v2ant to pledge have mothers, fathers, older
brothers or sisters that have "crossed the
sands." To be Greek in the same sense,
Playing petty games
Strong leadership
Just when you thought it was safe to go
back into Student Congress, the political
squabblers almost returned. Fortunately,
leaders in congress and the executive branch
iept the waters calm.
I Last week, representatives Todd Wyatt
(Dist. 4) and Jurgen Buchenau (Dist. 3),
financial committee chairman, refused to
grant Student Body President Bill
tfiidebolt's request for $400 to rent
Carmichael Auditorium for Monday night' s
student body meeting. Buchenau said
dongress discourages student organizations
from applying for funds after they have
already put on an event. Because Hildebolt
Scheduled the meeting before getting the
iponey, the executive branch would simply
ljiave to do without; Buchenau feared grant-
fg the request would set a bad precedent.
If Wyatt and Buchenau were so con
cerned about bad precedents, they should
have accepted the request to avoid setting
an even worse one. Refusing to pay for a
s udent body meeting contradicts what
c Drfgress is all about representing stu
d enfc. Congress members should promote
sucjl events in times of crisis, not turn them
ajwjy. In this case, the two representatives
seerf to have put procedure before its
f I B&l
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these hopefuls want to go "on line" also
Without pledging, the bonding that
pledges experience "on line" will be lost.
There really is a reason for pledges to walk
alike, shave their heads or refrain from
certain activities. By doing so, line mem
bers must cooperate closely, a process that
allows each person to discover strengths
and weaknesses about himself or herself.
There are no individuals; only the best
interest of the group matters. Many Greeks
feel this experience can apply later in their
careers and lives in general.
The pledge process serves as the final
test to prove who really wants to belong. It
is the time when potential members learn
the history and background of the organi
zation they seek to join. Now that the
pledge process is gone, when will the ma
terial be learned? Later or never? Black
Greeks don't want to see their chapters fall
into the hands of those who only desire to
wear letters or gain popularity. They want
members who know their organization's
past and thus can take it into the future.
Wiping out the pledge process will have
its consequences. This is not to say that the
decision wasn't right. Becoming a part of a
sisterhood or brotherhood shouldn't end in
tragedy. As one Greek put it, if just one life
is saved from the 'no-pledge' ruling, then
the change will be well worth it. And per
haps something even better can be found
that will not only be safe, but create strong
bonds between new members as well.
But for those who know the benefits of
the pledge process and what it is really
supposed to be about, it will be greatly
missed. Lynette Blair
may spare congress
purpose. Ironically, procedure should have
given executive branch the money.
Because there was little justification for
the denial, Hildebolt and Heyd feared that
Wyatt and Buchenau were playing politi
cal games, something congress members
such as former Speaker Gene Davis and
former Representative Jeffrey Beall did
frequently last year. Rather than continu
ing such games, the four leaders met this
week to resolve the issue instead of bring
ing it before last night s congress meeting
Student government is lucky to have
stronger leadership this year. Heyd said
last night that he refuses to tolerate such
game playing and that he wants to make
congress more task and goal oriented.
Student leaders should listen to these words
of wisdom and warning.
Campus organizations, especially
branches of student government, have little
time for games. More than ever before
student leaders must devote their time to
serving student needs and fighting budget
cuts instead of petty political squabbling.
Unity is crucial to saving this University's
existence. If last year's divisions in student
government continue this fall, students only
stand to lose. Jessica Lanning
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U.S. needs to keep an eye on judicial home front
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cially controversial during the last
couple of years. From the constitution
ality of abortion to flag burning, the Supreme
Court has made its share of friends and foes.
Many Americans are particularly concerned
about the balance of the court, because its
decisions have been increasingly conservative,
a result of several Republican appointments.
I was disappointed when I found out Justice
William Brennan was retiring from the court in
late July. This meant President Bush would
have the opportunity of nominating the fifth
justice, who would more than likely be con
servative. The Bush Court. Oh, woe is me and
the country, I thought.
The nominee to replace Justice Brennan was
announced days later. Did the name David H.
Souter ring any of your collective bells? It
didn't ring mine when I first heard of him,
either. So what makes this guy, a virtual un
known, especially qualified for the country's
highest court?
On a personal level, Souter is 50 years old
and bears a striking resemblance to the cartoon
character Mr. Magoo, especially when his hair
is oil-slicked to the side. He's never been
married but says he is not homosexual. He's a
quiet man who seems to be a slave to his career,
a career which is impressive.
Souter had been appointed to the U.S. Court
of Appeals just months before becoming a
Supreme Court nominee. He started as a pri
vate lawyer in Concord, N.H., then worked his
way up to attorney general and then the state's
Criticizing students
only hinders change
Editors' note: This letter is a
response to a Sept. 11 editorial
titled 'A missed opportunity' .
To the editors:
I wish the world were so simple,
but one meeting alone cannot de
termine that students are in an
"apathetic stupor," nor can it solve
the budget crisis. At the meeting
on Monday night, students, ad
ministrators and faculty presented
many excellent suggestions as to
what we can do and those who
attended benefited first hand. But
let those of us who went not waste
our time in a frenzy of self-congratulation.
Get off your soapbox
and get moving! Condemning and
alienating the student body is
pointless. Most of the work is left
to be done and we need everyone's
help to do it. Everyone should write
to their legislators, register to vote
and vote in November. Now is the
real test of apathy.
STEPHANIE VON ISENBURG
Senior
Art History
Writer fails to prove
point against Helms
To the editors:
As I was reading through The
Daily Tar Heel today, I noticed an
editorial entitled, "Helms ignores
purpose of art by targeting NEA"
(Sept. 12). As a person who is
growing weary of the constant
negative coverage this and many
other newspapers are giving Sen.
Helms, I felt that it was my duty to
respond to this article with a dif
ferent perspective on the issue.
Although I do not see the con
nection that Madison makes be
tween Spanish and Italian muse
ums that tastefully, not graphically,
display the human body, Sen.
Helms is not against art. He is
against the taxpayers spending
hard-earned money to finance
graphic images of homosexual
behavior. This is hardly art; this is
something off the smut rack at the
local convenience store. I have no
problem with a person viewing
such material; it is their right under
the Constitution to express them
selves in any legal way they see fit.
Kimberley Maxwell
supreme court. He is a graduate of Harvard
University, both for his undergraduate and law
degrees, and was also a Rhodes scholar.
The Iraq-Kuwait conflict has pushed this
Supreme Court nomination out of the head
lines. Although there is a possibility of war in
the Middle East, no doubt a few missiles and
gunshots will be fired in the Senate during the
Souter hearings scheduled to begin Thursday.
1 3ing (no pun intended) from Souter's
record, he is qualified for the position. But the
strategy President Bush used to select this
nominee is classic. I don't particularly care for
Bush, but I must give him credit on this one.
Souter's record on the more pressing issues of
the Court are unknown, just like he is. Initial
opposition to Souter was hollow because he has
not written opinions about the major judicial
controversies which would face him on the
Supreme Court. But it doesn't take a rocket
scientist to deduce that Souter's views are similar
to those of President Bush.
Sen. Joseph Biden, chairman of the Senate
Judiciary Committee, has said the committee
will ask specific questions about Souter's ide
ology in his conformation hearings. This will
directly challenge Bush's strategy of "pick a
quiet guy and let him slide through the confir
mation." And Souter, in anticipation for the
KEAEBEKS9 F0MJEU1
However, there are other people
who do not agree with the govern
ment spending money on the ad
vancement of the arts through such
artists as Robert Mapplethorpe.
There is also another point that
Madison made to which I see no
connection. That is concerning the
issue of censorship of music. His
attempt to parallel Hank Williams
Jr., who sings of love and how he is
proud of his southern heritage, and
such choice groups as 2 Live Crew,
who sing about graphic sexual re
lations with women and how
sexually stimulated they are feel
ing, was unsuccessful. If this was
made to be an effective point for
open-mindedness, then it was a
very futile one. Freedom of ex
pression is one thing, but freedom
of degradation is something that
cannot be allowed if this country is
going to uphold any of the moral
ity that our forefathers believed in
and fought for.
CULLEY CARSON
Freshman
Political Science
Charlotte residents
boast more than crime
Editors' note: This letter is in
response to a Sept. 12 editorial
'Bigger isn't always better' .
I am writing this letter to thank
Tim Little for his glowing review
of the city of Charlotte. Once again,
it seems as if there are always
people unhappy with Charlotte's
success. As a resident of Charlotte,
I would like to point out some
other areas besides population for
which the residents of Charlotte
are justifiably proud:
1. Schools The Charlotte
Mecklenburg school system is one
of the largest in the state. While
Little is quick to point out the acts
of violence that Charlotte's youth
are prone to, they are generally
exceptions to the rule. Our school
board continuously has discipline
as one of its highest priorities.
While our schools are relatively
very safe, can the same be said for
urban schools in c ; ,uch as
Atlanta or New Yoik
Many prominent Charlotteans
got their start in the school board,
i.e. Dr. Jay Robinson, who left as
superintendent to become vice
president of public affairs for the
UNC system. Charlotte also boasts
a fine collegiate atmosphere with
UNC-C serving as the centerpiece
for University Research Park.
UNC-C is quickly becoming a
quality academic as well as re
search institution.
2. Cultural Charlotte, because
of its size, is able to attract many
varied cultural outlets. The Mint
Museum of Art holds national
touring exhibitions on a regular
basis. Uptown Charlotte currently
offers Spirit Square, an arts-center
type facility, and will soon be able
to host events in a new arts center
facility to be built by the city. The
Charlotte Coliseum holds concerts
regularly and for those with more
acquired tastes, there is always the
Charlotte Symphony Orchestra.
We even acquired a drum and bugle
corps this summer.
3. Medical With recent ad
ditions to both Presbyterian Hos
pital and Carolinas Medical Cen
ter, Charlotte now has the finest
medical care available in the state,
excluding of course UNC Hospi
tals and Duke. We have the busiest
ER and trauma center in the state,
surpassing even Duke Medical
Center. This summer, Charlotte
received national headlines for the
first fetal heart transplant in the
region. In the next decade, Char
lotte will be able to hold its own
with such renowned hospitals as
Duke, the Mayo Clinic and others.
4. Sports The ACC Men's
Basketball tournament for the next
three years. NCAA Southeast
Regionals this year. NCAA Final
Four action in 1994. The Charlotte
Barons minor league football team.
NASCAR racing at the Charlotte
Motor Speedway. Charlotte Heat
team tennis. UNC-C basketball.
The Diet Pepsi Tournament of
Champions (which North Carolina
hosts this year). The Charlotte
Hornets NBA franchise. And, lest
I forget, the possibility of profes
sional football in our brand-new
uptown stadium as well as the
possibility of World Cup soccer.
All of this is possible because of
Charlotte's growth and population.
So, Mr. Little, you see that there
is more to Charlotte than just
numbers and massive crime sta
tistics. Yes, we did have a police
man get shot in the line of duty this
past summer. What you fail to re
alize is that police fatalities are
showdown on the Hill (Capitol Hill, not Chapel
Hill), has been studying the most current and
pertinent constitutional issues in private. He's
also been watching videotapes of previous
hearings, particularly those of Robert Bork,
Reagan's highly unsuccessful nominee.
As the media concentrate on Saddam Hussein,
many people seem to have forgotten the im
portance of Souter's nomination, and the fact
that this decision will change the direction of
the court.
I have no doubts that Roe vs. Wade (1973)
will be reversed, limiting or even outlawing
abortion. Other upcoming Supreme Court cases
will involve desegregation (a currently deseg
regated school system wants adopt a neighbor
hood attendance plan instead of busing stu
dents, which would probably cause
resegregation) and women's rights (a company
wants to exclude fertile women from jobs that
could damage the health of a fetus). These cases
directly challenge important, Constitutional
questions that will affect the majority of Ameri
cans. Perhaps the United States is headed for war
in the Middle East it's tough to tell. But one
thing's for sure. Souter's confirmation hearings
will be a "war" here at home, especially con
sidering that the future of the Supreme Court
will influence life in this country for years to
come.
Kimberley Maxwell is a senior journalism
and political science major from Marietta, Ga.
quite rare in our city as are any
injuries relating to the job. Compare
our crime statistics concerning
police with those of cities such as
New York or Ch icago and you w i 1 1
see quite a difference.
Just as in any other urban envi
ronment, crime is but one of a
number of problems. Massive
transportation difficulties, a heavy
influx of drugs and declining
educational scores are all problems
that Charlotte faces. But compare
that with the pluses mentioned
above, and you will see just a few
of the reasons why so many people
have decided to make Charlotte
their home. Charlotte has hung
together like a small town so that
we now have a nice blend of big
city feel with small-town
homeiness.
Thank you for your congratula
tions, Mr. Little. Charlotte has
come a long way. You should be
happy for our success instead of
focusing on a few bad apples. Af
ter all, the Queen City's success
and growth translate into added
success, growth and improved
image for North and South Caro
lina and that is something everyone
can be proud of.
MICHAEL TYE
Senior
Psychology
Pit preachers serve a
purpose on campus
To the editors:
I am more than a little tired of
the incessant "pit preacher" bash
ing that is printed on this page.
What is the problem here?
For the most part, pit preachers
are espousing their beliefs in a
confident manner in front of a
usually apathetic (and sometimes
hostile) crowd. We should admire
their courage and perseverance.
More basically, they do some
thing. They shake up the status quo
and remind us that some people are
still alive and showing some
emotion. To borrow from Kerouac:
We have enough people who
"yawn and some common-place
things"; we could do with more
who "burn, burn, burn, ..."
MICHAEL SHERMAN
Graduate
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