WEEKLY, SUMMER ED
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100th Year of Editorial Freedom
Est. 1893
Serving the students and the University community since 1893
1992 DTH Publishing Corp.
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Thursday, July 2, 1992
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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BuatnetaAdvrrtittlnit 962-1 161
volume ivv, issue xiiursuay,
UNC-system schools
i i
may e in jeopardy
after court decision
""""TTTT"" " " " exnect the Mississinni decision to ha
By Peter Wallsten
Editor
A recent U.S. Supreme Court deci
sion citing the University of
Mississippi's failure to fully integrate
its eight-campus system could impact
the UNC system, which has five histori
cally black colleges and 1 1 predomi
nantly white institutions.
The 8-1 decision, rendered Friday,
concluded that Mississippi courts must
take a closer look at admission stan
dards, mission assignments, duplica
tion of programs at black and white
schools, and the continued operation of
all its schools. Experts said the ruling
could have far-reaching effects in states
with dual higher-education systems.
Fifteen states, including North Caro
lina, have university systems with sev
eral historically black schools.
North Carolina's majority-black col
leges, like others throughout the South,
were created to educate the state's non
white residents during decades of legal
ized segregation. The Civil Rights Act
of 1964 and the 1954 Brown vs. Board
of Education Supreme Court case both
concluded that the concept of "separate
but equal" education was illegal.
UNC-system officials said it was too
early to tell what effect the decision
would have. "It's going to take us a
while todigest this decision," said Eliza
beth Bunting, special assistant for legal
affairs to system President CD.
Spangler.
Bill Little, UNC-system vice presi
dent for academic affairs, said he didn't
Officials unsure about
By Dana Pope
City Coordinator
An apparent lack of communication
between the N.C. Department of Trans
portation and the area transportation
advisory committee could leave $56
million in state and federal funding for
transportation projects hanging in the
balance.
The DOT recently indicated that it
would withhold the money after the
Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Trans
Military policy banning gays
washes out capable soldiers
Editor's note: This is the first in a
two-part series on gays in the mili
tary. By Anna Griffin
Associate Editor
: Joseph Steffan was a sophomore at
the U.S. Naval Academy when he first
realized he was gay.
"At the time, I came out only to
myself," he said. "It was very frustrat-.
ing not being able to talk to anyone.
But of course, the Academy isn't the
best place to admit you're a fag."
In 1987, six weeks before gradua
tion, Steffan finally confided in two
close friends, fellow midshipmen in
his class who had seen him rise to
battalion commander the highest
student rank in the Academy in
four short years.
Steffan was a model soldier and ;
one of the top students in his class. :
Two years before, he had been chosen
to sing the National Anthem at the
annual Army-Navy football game be
cause he was, as a superior officer put
it, "what the Naval Academy is all
about"
But shortly after that late-night talk
with his two friends, Steffan's dream
of a long and illustrious military ca
reer turned into a nightmare. One of
his friends told his girlfriend. She just
happened to be the daughter of the
Academy commandant's top legal
aide. The daughter told the aide and
he, in turn, told the commandant.
Seven days later, Steffan was asked
to resign his commission.
'It was scary as hell how quickly it :
happened," he said recently. "It was
beyond my worst dreams. It was like
my world was caving in. I was the
same person I was the day before they
kicked me out but that didn't matter to
them."
Today Steffan, who just completed
his first year of law school at the
University of Connecticut at Hartford,
expect the Mississippi decision to have
any impact in North Carolina. "I don't
think the cases are comparable," he
said.
Black schools may be jeopardized
Some black educators fear the re
quest for state officials to study the need
for program duplication and extra cam
puses could endanger predominantly
black schools.
In the high court's decision, Justice
Byron White said majority-black
schools in Mississippi existed only as
remnants of segregation.
"The existence of eight instead of
some lesser number was undoubtedly
occasioned by state laws forbidding the
mingling of the races," he said. "And, as
the District Court recognized, continu
ing to maintain all eight universities in
Mississippi is wasteful and irrational."
But the Constitution may not require
closing schools, White said. "Though
certainly closure of one or more institu
tions would decrease the discrimina
tory effects of the present system, ...
based on the present record we are un
able to say whether such action is con
stitutionally required," he said.
The UNC system's predominantly
black schools are N.C. Agricultural and
Technical State University, N.C. Cen
tral University, Elizabeth City State
University, Fayetteville State Univer
sity and Winston-Salem State Univer
sity. The decision could have repercus
sions on their futures, some said this
See DECISION, page 2
portation Advisory Committee left the
widening of U.S. 15-501 fromPittsboro
to Chapel Hill off its list of proposed
transportation improvements, although
one member of the committee said he
had not heard directly from transporta
tion officials.
"We have had no official contact,"
said Chapel Hill Mayor Ken Broun, a
committee member. Broun said the com
mittee would be willing to negotiate
with state officials, although they felt
strongly about their choice not to in
is busy preparing for this fall, when the
U.S. Supreme Court will hear argu
ments in his case against the federal
government and the Department of
Defense.
For Steffan, and thousands of men
: andwomenlikehimjifeinthemilitary's
four branches can be a living hell . a
constant struggle between serving the
nation but, at the same time, "denying
yourself," as Steffan described it.
In recent months, homosexual rights
activists have begun working to keep
what happened to Joe Steffan and thou
sands of others from happen ing to a new
generation of soldiers. Their goal is to
force the Defense Department to repeal
the military directive that forbids ho
mosexuals from serving in the armed
forces.
According to Defense Department
estimates, more than 1,600 men and
women were discharged in 1991 be
cause they admitted to being homo
sexual. Steffan said he believed total
number of soldiers forced out each year
because of their sexual orientation actu
ally may be as high as 4,000.
"They have different ways of getting
you out," he said. "Voluntary retire
ment, resignation because of family,
etc. They try very hard to get you to
leave quietly.
"Of course sometimes, like in my
case, they don't succeed."
Steffan has pledged to go down fight
ing. A year after he was forced to resign
his commission to Annapolis, he filed a
class-action lawsuit against the federal
government, claiming his constitutional
rights were violated.
'They did not catch me in any sort of
compromising position," Steffan said.
"The Navy conducted an investigation
on me that turned up nothing unusual.
All they have on me is that I said I was
gay."
When Steffan discovered in April
1987, through another friend at the
Academy, that he was being investi
lam 83 years old. I cannot remain on this
Hardin refutes allegations
of civil rights negligence
iVv 1 1
DTHErirt Randall
Paul Hardin (center) laughs with attorneys Lars Nance (left) and Alan McSurely
future of funding for 15
clude the widening of the section of
U.S. 15-501.
But Dan Thomas, a state transporta
tion engineer, said the committee had
been informed of the Department of
Transportation ruling before a June 25
public hearing. "That was the exact
recommendation," Thomas said.
Broun said the committee thought
other alternatives were available be
sides the widening of U.S. 15-501, in
cluding park-and-ride lots and increased
transit service.
gated, he confronted the comman
dant, demanding an explanation. "He
asked me if I was gay," Steffan said.
"And I told him that I was."
Within seven days, Steffan was
: stripped of his insignia and asked to
leave Annapolis. Steffan, a native of
Minnesota, has written a book, "Honor
Bound" about his experiences. The
book is due out this fall.
Despite the publicity surrounding
his case, Steffan is not alone. Just this
month, Greta Cannenmeyer, the top
nurse in the Washington State Na
tional Guard, was given a dishonor
able discharge after admitting she was
a lesbian. Cannenmeyer, who left her
husband and children five years ago,
said she was shocked by the decision.
"I have given this country every
thing I have, everything I am," said
Cannenmeyer, who has served two
decades in the military. "Now they
are taking away my life."
The Defense Department's policy
has drawn the ire of the American
Civil Liberties Union's gay and les
bian project which, in recent months,
has begun an effort to convince col
lege and university presidents to kick
Reserve Officer Training Corps pro
grams off campus because of the
military's anti-gay policy.
"The military tries to instill
homophobic tendencies in its recruits
just in boot camp. They try to instill
homophobic feelings in students
throughROTC'saidJimHoIobraugh,
a spokesman for the ACLU. "If we
can't get the policy changed, we can
at least try to get this intolerance off
college campuses."
The question according to one Coast
Guard ensign who is gay, is not
whether homosexuals are serving in
the armed forces. "It's not a question
of whether we're in the force," said
the ensign, who spoke on the condi-
See MILITARY, page 4
"We listed our priorities, and our
priorities did not-include the 15-501
widening," Broun said. "We think there
are some alternatives. We feel very
strongly about it, but we're willing to
talk."
Another alternative, which has
sparked controversy in Chatham
County, is the proposed use of Jack
Bennett Road as a bypass through the
northern part of the county.
The road would bypass Chapel Hill
on its route to Durham and the Research
Literary magazine to explore black perspective
By Janet Engelke
Staff Writer
, The Sonja H. Stone Black Cultural
Center will expand its resources next
fall to include a new literary magazine
tentatively named Pya Sauti, Swahili
for "The New Voice."
Renee Alexander, a sophomore En
glish major from Charlotte, began to
organize support for Pya Sauti this spring
to meet a need on campus for a literary
magazine designed to express the black
perspective.
The magazine, which will come out
sometime in October, offers opportuni
ties for writers, poets, photographers
and artists to express themselves,
Alexander said.
"The magazine offers anotherchance
to define yourself," she said, adding
that the University's other main black
student publication.The Black Ink, does
not deal with the same issues as the
literary magazine will.
"The Black Ink does not cover liter
ary issues," she said. "It may have pho
tographs, but they aren't presented in an
artistic manner."
Alexander said she hoped that Pya
Sauti would help both blacks and whites
better understand the black experience.
Because a literary magazine provides
more opportunity for writers and artists
to express their innermost feelings, the
magazine may improve race relations
on campus, she said.
"There is a difference from saying
that I feel segregated on campus than
actually feeling this in poems,"
Alexander said.
Marion Phillips, associate dean of
the UNC School of Medicine and editor
of the magazine, said he found
Alexander's spirit and optimism refresh
ing. "I am attracted to her energy level,"
he said.
Phillips,apoethimself,said he would
help Alexander with the review process
and offer moral support. "I'd like Caro
lina to be the kind of environment that
supports this kind of bold adventure,"
he said.
Phillips said he would encourage stu
dents to follow Alexander's example
and get involved in the new magazine.
"Tradition built on and extended in
court forever...
By Anna Griffin
Associate Editor
HILLSBOROUGH Chancellor
Paul Hardin testified Wednesday that
he never discriminated against UNC
Pol ice Officer Keith Edwards and that
he made every effort to follow up on
her complaints of retaliation and ra
cial and gender discrimination.
"Everyone who works for me
knows that I want a fair workplace,
and that we not have discrimination
based on race or sex," said Hardin,
one of seven present and former UNC
officials charged with racial and gen
der discrimination by Edwards, an
18-year veteran of the UNC police
force.
The trial, which began last Tues
day in Orange County S uperior Court,
may last at least another week. De
fense attorneys hope to begin present
ing their case Monday.
In testimony this week, Hardin and
two other defendants denied that
Edwards had been the victim of dis
crimination. The defendants and their
attorney, special deputy attorney gen
eral Lars Nance, claim Edwards has
had many opportunities for advance
ment within the department but has
failed to apply for them.
"She never applied for any other
the promotional opportunities that
became available," testified former
Director of Public Safety Robert
Sherman. "She fell though the cracks
because she failed to take advantage
of opportunities that were available."
See EDWARDS, page 5
- 501 work
Triangle Park.
Thomas-said he was waiting to re
ceive the Transportation Improvement
Program from Durham before making a
final recommendation to Secretary of
Transportation Thomas Harrelson.
"If it does not include (the U.S. 15
501 widening), I will send it to the
secretary and ask that it not be ap
proved," he said, adding that the $56
million would be withheld until state
officials approved a local Transporta
tion Improvement Program.
Renee Alexander hopes students will show
bold new ways controlled by students is
the same kind of ground breaking done
by Jean Toomer, Zora Neale Hurston
and James Baldwin," he said. "No one
in America, regardless of class, ethnic
group or genderhas not been influenced
by the enormous contributions of Afri
can Americans that are now the main
stream." Alexander said she was pleased with
a strong student response, but was not
f MB, -
1 r
Justice Harry Blackmun
Group to
draw plans
for BCC
Students still desire
free-standing center
By Gerri Baer
Staff Writer
Following a tense meeting last week,
University officials and students have
agreed to prepare plans for an expanded
black cultural center, either in a free
standing building or in the Student
Union.
The students, part of a coalition sup
porting a free-standing BCC, and the
administrators, including Chancellor
Paul Hardin, agreed to assemble a group
of University planning officers and coa
lition members to discuss future plans.
"I hope to form this group in the next
several weeks, and plans should be un
derway in the fall," said Donald Boulton,
vice chancellor for student affairs. "It is
not easy to get a group together during
the summer."
The group will draw three or four sets
of BCC plans, Boulton said.
At the meeting, which took place
June 24 at South Building, coalition
members clashed with Hardin about the
necessity and feasibility of a free-standing
BCC. Hardin told the group of about
15 students, administrators and profes
sors that he wanted to expand the present
BCC in the Student Union.
"I think it is a good idea to expand the
Union for lots of student organizations,"
Hardin said in an interview this week. "I
personally have not been convinced that
free-standing is the way to go."
At the meeting, Hardin revived the
idea of letting the student body vote on
a referendum to increase student fees to
fund the BCC. Student members of the
coalition opposed the idea, citing lack
of student support and administrative
recognition of the proposed referen
dum as reasons for thelf opposition.
"I haven't considered the idea of a
referendum," said Ruby Sinreich, presi
dent of the Student Environmental Ac
tion Coalition and a BCC coalition
member. "Referenda are not a powerful
tool of students on this campus."
Interim Black Student Movement
President Charles McNair said such a
referendum wouldn't pass. "The BCC
See BCC, page 2
V
. x 1 3 .iHmtej , ..iMHtmm
HA
OTHTodd Scott
an interest in her new literary magazine
yet satisfied. "I welcome any help," she
said, adding that interested students
should stop by the BCC for more infor
mation on how to get involved.
Some student response has already
confirmed that Pya Sauti has potential
to exist as a literary magazine with
visionary purpose, Alexander said. "I'm
getting a lot of people that I didn't know
were artistic or literary, but they are."
she said.