Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / June 11, 1992, edition 1 / Page 8
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8The Daily Tar HeelThursday, June 11, 1992 0 Established in 1893 r ! 100th year of editorial freedom Peter Wallsten, Editor Anna Griffin, Associate Editor David J. Kupstas, Sports Editor Bryan Strickland, Sports Editor Erin RANDALL, Photo Editor MoNDY LAMB, Entertainment Editor Dana POPE, City Coordinator ALEX De GRAND, Cartoon Editor A 'bulTish idea in the legislature Yankee out-of-staters beware: the South shall rise again. That is if some members of the state legislature have anything to say about it. Some, like Rep. Frank Rhodes, R-Forsyth, have proclaimed that the Gen eral Assembly should increase out-of-state tuition not by 15 percent as proposed, but charge non residents $8,791 the full cost of their education here. "They say we need out-of-state students to bring more culture to this system," Rhodes recently explained. "I'd say a real naughty word for that one, starting with bull." Just another witticism from an ignorant legislator? Unfortunately, no Rhodes' comments illustrate a fundamental misunderstanding of the University's mission and a shortsighted disregard for its needs. Raising out-of-state tuition will generate much needed revenue for the state. But this may be accom plished at the risk of denying access to some of the best and the brightest from outside North Carolina. It's a matter of prestige. If UNC wants to keep its place as a top university, it has to be able attract top students and be affordable enough to get them here. Some claim that UNC doesn't need out-of-state students to improve its national reputation. But how can you build a national reputation without a cross section of students from around the country? It's is not that North Carolina doesn't have a wealth of talent to offer. That's not the issue. The University is competing with other schools, not other states. Students don't have to be Tar Heels born and bred to make valuable contributions to the University and the state. Conspiring to drive the "outsiders" out with a tuition explosion can only harm the University and its standing. , Rhodes and others rationalize that N.C. taxpayers shouldn't subsidize the cost of education for out-of-state students. Perhaps not, but by the same reason ing the state shouldn't subsidize highways that will invariably be used by residents of other states. Maybe we should just secede. That would keep those good for-nothing, out-of-staters out. Part of the mission of the UNC system is to provide the best possible education to residents of North Carolina at the lowest possible cost. This in no way implies that students from other states should foot the bill, though. Do Rhodes' constituents really have that much to lose from making the University accessible to all qualified applicants regardless of their statehood? UNC lobbyist Jay Robinson estimates that 40 percent of out-of-state students stay in North Caro lina and contribute to the state after they graduate. And when residents boast of their fine state institu tions, part of their pride is directly related to the quality of students recruited from outside the state, After all, a university is only as good as the students who attend it. Legislators also should keep in mind the results of a recent report detailing the University s impact on the state's economy. UNC generates nearly $800 million in business and creates more than 22,000 jobs in central North Carolina. Certainly, if legisla tors are concerned about the welfare of state resi dents, they can't ignore the money and prestige the University brings to the state. Out-of-state students, particularly graduate students, do contribute to UNC's nationally renowned success. Reducing the dilemma of affordable education in the face of state budget shortfalls to some sort of state rivalry is not just silly it's irresponsible. Legisla tors need to come up with some real solutions for funding higher education without placing the burden on one group of students and their families. The fact is, the state benefits from a strong, pres tigious University and the University benefits from being able to attract all of the best students, not just home-grown talent. There's a naughty word for Rhodes' plan, and it too starts with bull. Comics, cranks and craziness Cartoons are supposed to make people laugh, but sometimes readers' reactions are funnier. Take the case of the Chatham County man who recently complained that the "Doonesbury" comic strip contributed illegally to presidential candidate Jerry Brown's campaign. J. Edgar Williams, a 64-year-old retiree who re sides in Fearringtoh Village, contended in a letter to the Federal Election Commission that two of car toonist Garry Trudeau's strips amounted to millions of dollars in free advertising because they listed Brown's 1-800 number. Federal elections law limits an individual's cam paign contribution to $ 1 ,000 but exempts news cov erage and editorial comment not controlled by politi cal parties. It's safe to say political parties don't control the "Doonesbury" strip. Trudeau is an equal-opportunity lampooner. His cartoons have garnered com plaints from officials and readers across the political spectrum. Trudeau issued a statement saying he never in tended to help Brown's campaign. Far from it, Trudeau pointed out, long-time "Doonesbury" read ers should know he doesn't like Brown. The FEC summarily dismissed Williams' com plaint. Besides Trudeau, Williams contended "Doonesbury" distributor Universal Press Syndi cate, The (Raleigh) News & Observer, The (Durham) Herald-Sun and every other newspaper that carries "Doonesbury" were at fault. Imagine anationwide conspiracy to help Brown by ridiculing him, no doubt hoping Brown would be elected so Trudeau and other cartoonists could lam poon (or help?) him for the next four years. Amazingly, Williams said he had "a low tolerance for nonsense and silliness." The public, of course, can draw its own conclu sions. In the meantime, the FEC might consider taking action against Williams for providing Trudeau with invaluable free advertising. AIDS house a necessity Time and again, open-minded and intelligent people like most of the folks who live here in Chapel Hill have criticized the federal government for its unwillingness to properly fund AIDS research and to help AIDS patients. Many AIDS patients are left without hope, they say. But now Orange County residents have an oppor tunity to show their willingness to help AIDS pa tients by supporting plans to build a group home for those seeking treatment at UNC Hospitals. The AIDS Service Agency of Orange County, which is spearheading the efforts to open a home, needs donations to improve its credit line and to help it buy property for the house, which is sorely needed in the county. Raleigh, Durham and Charlotte al ready have such facilities, but Chapel Hill where more than 700 AIDS patients seek treatment at UNC doesn't have a home for patients. Orange County's facility would house only six people, but it's a start. About 40 AIDS patients live in the county, but countless others can't afford long term stays in the hospital, and the Inter-Faith Council shelter only provides a temporary housing solution. Let's hope residents this year don't respond like some in 1989 who expressed fear about living near a home for AIDS patients. Some said they didn't want their family members threatened by random syringes from HIV-infected neighbors. Of course, such fears are ridiculous. The presence of AIDS patients does not endanger anyone's well being, and the desire to isolate infected individuals reflects nasty, fascist-like tendencies. Maybe a few years more of education about the virus with the help of Magic Johnson, among others has cleared the air of hysterical fears. Perhaps a smooth road lies ahead for the Orange County AIDS Service Agency. When agency officials announce the AIDS house's location in several weeks, nearby residents and neigh bors should greet the idea with pride in knowing that their community is helping to serve the needs of others. Chapel Hill and Orange County residents pride themselves in their progressivism and open mindedness. Let's prove it this time. Editorial Policy The Daily Tar Heel's editorials are approved by the majority of the editorial board, which is composed of the editor, editorial page editor and seven editorial writers. Business and advertising: Kevin Schwartz. directorGeneral manager. 8ob Bates, advertising director, Leslie Humphrey, classified ad manaaer. Allison Ashworth. business manager. Buslnass staff: Gina Berardino, otfice assistant. Display advertising: Marcie Bailey, account executive. Advertising production: Bill Leslie, managersystem administrator. Stall writers: Gem Baer, Camille Blanton, Josh Boyer, Dale Castle, Kim Costelk), Richard Dean, Tara Duncan, Laura Ehrhardt, Janet Engelke, Jennifer Friedman, Jenny Ingram, Kathleen Keener, Michael LoParco, Debbie McMahon, Karen Peterson and Donna van der Dijs. Editorial writers: Matthew Eisley, Ashley Fogle, Alan Martin and Mark Shelbume. Sport writers: Michael Beadle, Rodney Cline, Michael Eatmon, Brian Gould and Ken Medlin. Graphics coordinator: John Caserta. Photographers: Dale Castle, Todd Scott and Jayson Singe. Layout: Stephanie Gardner. Editorial Production: Stacy Wynn, manager. . Distribution and Printing: Village Printing Company The Daily Tar Heel is published by the DTH Publishing Corp., a non-profit North Carolina corporation, Monday-Friday, according to the University calendar. Callers with questions about billing or display advertising should dial 962-1163 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Classified ads can be reached at 962-0252. Editorial questions should be directed to 962-02450246. Campus mail address: CM 5210 toi 4, Carolina Union Office: line 104 Carolina Union U.I. Mall address: P.O. loi 3257, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-3257 Thank Yahweh for sperm, other sexual delights On first inspection, a recent news article in the (Raleigh) News & Observer seemed to indicate that God of the Old Testament may finally get what's been coming to Him. An Associated Press wire story said, "Yahweh and 15 followers were ac cused of plotting 14 murders, two at tempted killings and the firebombing of a city block." Fourteen murders? Is that all? God wiped out the entire cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and directed the massacre at Jericho. What's this, a deific plea bar gain? And what about the plagues, the flood? No one doubts that Yahweh is ca pable of killing. Just ask Lot's wife. But firebombing a city block? Does this qualify Him for membership in Philadelphia's MOVE? Besides, whatever happened to Mul tiple Independently Re-entry Lightning? Yahweh and lOotherswerecharged with conspiracy and racketeering," the news story continued. Surprise, sur prise: God masterminded the plan from its genesis. Actually, the Yahweh mentioned in the article is Yahweh Ben Yahweh, a religious sect leader from Florida whose stage name means "God, Son of God." Modest fellow, that Yahweh. Did you hear the one about the man whose sperm is being held captive against his (their?) will? Seriously. Junior Lewis Davis, from Matthew Eisley Say the Word Mary ville. Tenn., is fight ing a court battle to keep bis ex wife from im planting or do nating the test tube embryos the couple con ceived three years ago before their divorce. Davis no longer wants children, and Tennessee's Supreme Court ruled last week that his privacy rights under the U.S. and state constitu tions outweigh his ex-wife's wish to give the embryos to an anonymous couple. In other words, the court ruled that a woman can't make her ex-husband a father against his will. Hmmm ... How might that logic play in the abortion cases before the U.S. Supreme Court? Meanwhile, the embryos (Lazy, Sleepy, Dopey, Frosty ... ) are chillin' out in liquid nitrogen. Iced, iced, baby. If you think your sex life is strange, consider the case of "Carlo," the 33-year-old hermaphrodite from the Phillipines. Carlo (not his real name) was born a man or so he and others thought only to learn that he was a she. She, you see, was born with two X chromosomes, just like normal girls. But because of an excess of male hor mones during fetal development, her clitoris grew so large it was mistaken for a penis. One may be tempted, after much frustration, to argue that no clitoris is too large. In Carlo's case there's no question it was. So Carlo had it re moved. (The pertinent clue about a hermaph rodites' basic gender, by the way, arises from determining whence the subject urinates.) In many cases like Carlo's, the sub ject also has testicles and a scrotum, apparently above the vagina. What a bargain. The doctors call it "ambiguous genitalia." The relevant point here is that Carlo, who has a normal female reproductive tract, may be living the life of every college guy's dream. With both sets of plumbing, one presumably could while away the hours in perpetual bliss. Not that Carlo has chosen that route. He got pregnant by his 22-year-old live in boyfriend and is more than seven months along. After changing his name and formal gender identification, Carta plans to settle down and have a family. She's considering having more kids. As they say, use it or lose it. Matthew Eisley, a senior from Al bany, Ca thinks he would like to be a hermaphrodite on a trial basis. Student body should turn whining to winning Editor's note: This is the final col umn in a three-part series on student government. The student body deserves the cali ber of representation that they have freely chosen to elect over the past few years. I've heard it argued on campus that students should boycott elections because campus politicos do not represent them. It seems to me that when the opposition to a candidate stays home, that candidate tends to win quite regularly. Instead of inaction, critics need to stop whining and start winning. New candidates and increased public debate are the keys to change. I ve listed some common excuses potential candidates use to talk them selves out of a race: 1. "I'm not smart enough!" Just because you're not the sharpest tool in the shed does not mean you are not qualified to serve in student govern ment. Once you get past committee speak and parliamentary jargon, stu dent government is not that difficult to understand. I assume everyone admit ted to this fine highly selective Univer sity has sufficient intelligence. I also reject the notion that campus politicos will make mincemeat of new comers. Students who care must re solve to teach themselves about gov ernment. The lessons learned will last a lifetime and are necessary for a free society. As James Madison once said, Knowledge will forever govern igno rance, and a people who mean to be their own governor must arm them selves with the power knowledge gives." 2. "I'm too smart!" Students in this group are afraid of being labelled a "student government type." Either that or they believe that they are more effective in other areas of the campus. I can't argue with the idea that talent needs to be spread among Mike Kolb Guest Columnist groups, but I'm offended by the blanket label. There are many wonderfully hon est people in student government trying their best to make UNC better. They need to have their numbers augmented. The really smart thing to do would be to organize like-minded individuals to run for office. The type of person who gives student government a bad name would probably not have any power if there was competition for positions. 2. "Campaigns are too expensive." Certainly some races such as for stu dent body president are prohibitively expensive if you are an unknown candi date. This unfortunate effect can be diluted if a vote total is high enough to qualify for some financial assistance. Most elections are very inexpensive. In Student Congress races,' the limit is set at $40. Since competition is minimal, a little money goes a long way in name recognition. For instance, without spending more than $1.50, 1 received over 100 votes last election. 3. "Nobody likes me." So what? Nobody likes me, either. Don't confuse campus elections with high school council races. If you have realistic ideas and show some organiza tion, you can win even if you're uglier than a mud fence dappled with a lizard. 4. "I seek real power." I don't buy this argument, either. Entrants in the exciting field of student government have the opportunity to work on their own projects with other students as well as with distinguished administrators (at least until the last one going to Pitt turns out the lights). Stu dent Congress has authority to allocate almost a quarter million dollars in stu dent activity fees. The Carolina Ath letic Association president controls ticket distribution and the Residence Hall Association president can work for changes for on-campus students. 5. "I don't have the time.'" If you really didn't have excess time you wouldn't be reading the summer DTH and certainly not this column. Obviously, some students have family or work commitments that make it un realistic to serve in government. As for the others, the time commitment is not severe. Hours vary according to the individual project in executive branch, but Student Congress requires about five hours in a fortnight's time. Re member, everyone has the same amount of time in a day. We all just allocate it differently. Conclusion There is no fatal flaw in our system. Student government should not be faulted for having no integrity. Instead we should consider the individual when deciding if there is a moral failure. The present condition of student govern ment is the natural result of rampant apathy. UNC's problem is that there is a dearth of volunteers willing to sacri fice not only time but also personal aggrandizement in order to work for the betterment of the student body. For too long student government has been a magnet for those who meet only half the requirements. When something is neglected, it will deteriorate and further neglect cannot reverse the process. Generations of stu dents have endeavored to build a sys tem that allows students be self-governing. It is time for a new generation of volunteers to step forward to not only repair the damage but to build anew. M ike Kolb is the speaker pro tempore of Student Congress-. Squatting president in cartoon lacks sublety To the editor: I asked myself: Would summer school be different? When I turned to the back page of the now-weekly DTH, would I see the same uninsightful, taste less, fourth-gradesque De Grande car toons that I'd been subjected to my first two years? Would I, for instance, see dancing and singing elephants and don keys with musical notes above their heads with the animals labeled "Repub licans" and "Democrats?" I hoped not. But congratulations! Last week hit a gray matter low. To refresh your memo ries, it featured a squatting, sneering George Bush shouting, "Bring me a global climate treaty ! I need to wipe my ass!!!" The cartoon captured my imagina tion, "This," I said to myself, "is the kind of satirical, consciousness-raising cartoon that makes a reputable paper like the DTH what it is." True, the Prez wasn't singing or making fun of any of the groups on campus, but it was hu morless and vulgar in the same tradition of his other cartoons that I had acciden tally read thinking that they were the "Family Circus" episodes in which Bill Keane's son supposedly takes over drawing for his Dad. Think of the possibilities! Next week he could have a squatting Dan Quayle shouting, "Bring me that completed "Murphy Brown' script! I need to wipe my ass!!!" Or a squatting Paul Hardin yelling, "Bring me a copy of the house keepers' demands! I need to wipe my ass!!!" Funny? No, Tasteless? To be sure. Alex, even some subtlety would make this cartoon less embarrassing to a school paper. How about simply, "Where's that global climate treaty?" I'm not saying I could do better, but yeah, I probably could. We could have a draw-off: Just me and that guy who incorporates toilets into political hu mor. DTH readers could decide which cartoon was better, or simply less juve nile andor inane. It's a standing chal lenge. I'm sure the cartoon would ap prove of my request ... Oh, I didn't realize ... ERIK LOHLA Junior RTVMP
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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June 11, 1992, edition 1
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