8The Daily Tar HeelWednesday, September 16, 1992
Established in 1893
JOOth year of editorial freedom
PETER Wallsten, Editor Office hours: Fridays 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
ANNA GRIFFIN, University Editor ASHLEY FOGLE, Editorial Page Editor
Dana Pope, City Editor REBECAH Moore, State and National Editor
Yl-HsiN CHANG, Features Editor WARREN HYNES, Sports Editor
ERIN RANDALL, Photography Editor DAVID J. KUPSTAS, SportSaturday Editor
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JOHN CaSERTA, Graphics Editor
A center to educate, not separate
"The Sonja Haynes Stone Center for the Study of
Black Culture."
That's what the sign above the doors to UNC's
newest addition to its main academic quad should
read, and that's what UNC's students and adminis
trators should aim for in their deliberations about the
future of the black cultural center.
Nobody can disagree with the fact that the BCC
currently located in a cramped corner of the Student
Union needs better and larger facilities.
, African Americans, who always have been perse
cuted and culturally oppressed in America, make up
the largest minority in the state and at UNC. The
atmosphere on campus for blacks is intimidating as
predominating forces serve to drown out calls for
students to learn more about black culture.
, A new building is needed to serve as a learning
base for students and others throughout the state to
study African-American culture. This university
THE University of North Carolina has the oppor
tunity to lead the academic community in creating a
model for the region and the nation.
: Throughout the debate about the future of a cul
tural center, one fact remains clear: Chancellor Paul
Hardin and the students agree that UNC must expand
its BCC. With that common ground in mind, it seems
clear that both sides could agree on a center that
would educate and tolerate but would not separate.
A new building an academic building could
do those things while helping to create an open
(atmosphere for black students at the region's premier
institution of higher learning.
After all the hostility, the politics and the inept
answers to pressing questions, it's time the students
demanding action on the BCC issue and Hardin see
a concrete proposal on why UNC and the state of
North Carolina both need a center for the study of
black culture. Constant discussion about the same
issues and the same ideas over and over again
much like the arguments presented in the guest
column appearing today by Student Body President
John Moody has made this campus thirst for
innovative solutions.
It's time to answer th questions and to put a
proposal forward for discussion.
The concept: A cultural study center
The center for the study of black culture should be
an academic building, complete with an auditorium
and a stage (for classes, lectures and performances),
classrooms, a museum area and a library. This build
ing would serve not only the University community,
but also as a center of African-American culture for
the state and the entire region.
Much like the Institute of Government serves as
the center for the study of state government, the BCC
should act as a magnet for exhibitions, lectures and
performances about African-American culture.
; But more important than that, the center should
serve as an academic mecca for students and faculty
studying black culture. Its library which should be
funded and operated by the University's library
system should house required readings for Afri
can and Afro-American studies courses in addition
to books about black issues in history, sociology,
political science, public health and religious studies
courses. It will provide the perfect environment for
interdisciplinary studies about African-American
issues by students of all races and cultures.The
building also should serve as a cultural center for the
campus, as the library and lounge facilities will be
available daily for use by students, staff and faculty.
The site
Because the building would be academic in nature,
it must stand alone at the heart of campus, much like
Davie Hall stands alone for the study of psychology
and Wilson Library stands alone for special collec
tions. Students have supported placing the building on
the empty space between Dey Hall, Wilson and
Kenan Labs, where there is little more than mud,
sidewalks and several trees.
Granted, it's important to maintain the beauty of
this campus by refraining from the destruction of
trees. But in this case, the benefits far outweigh the
costs. The chancellor has expressed concern about
placing more "footprints" on campus, and, once
again, his fears of destroying the environment are
valid. We only wish such concerns would be ad
dressed when decisions are made about parking
decks and athletic facilities.
In the case of the BCC, however, the state of
intolerance on this campus is indeed an environmen
tal issue. And a new building dedicated to the study
of the black experience would benefit UNC's envi
ronment more than the small number of trees cur
rently residing at the cultural center's future site.
Funding
The argument that funding is not available holds
no water. The money's there: The Michael Jordan
Foundation has pledged it. Hardin would be foolish
to turn down any donation, and we're sure he'll
accept the Jordan money.
After construction, though, the University should
be responsible for upkeep and operations within the
building. That's why it should control the building
and take charge of its daily operations as an academic
and cultural center.
The separatism question
Hardin's concern about whether a stand-alone
building would cause separatism is both sincere and
valid. But he must realize that an academic cultural
center would not separate the student body. Rather,
it would serve to bring people together by enriching
their experiences at UNC and by educating them
about a culture's influences on society.
With the inclusion of classrooms and an extensive
library of books about the black experience, the
center would attract students of all backgrounds
whom Hardin fears would stay away from the BCC.
In addition, the University would have the respon
sibility to ensure that the building stays open and
available for everyone. It can do this by sponsoring
lectures, performances and discussions. Student
groups of all kinds should have access to the center' s
facilities for meetings and programs.
The present BCC is indeed open to all students, but
its small size impairs campuswide visibility. The
glass-enclosed room near Union Station serves more
as a display that students look at than as a cultural
center in which real progress can occur. An entire
building on the main quad would allow the BCC to
better reach out to the public and could be a common
( gathering place for many students, faculty and staff.
The University already suffers from rampant sepa
ration. A new building would not perpetuate that, but
would help legitimize African-American culture on
campus and would help end the separation by educat
ing a broad base of students about the necessity of
tolerance and openness.
Members of the campus communiiy should re
member and learn from past mistakes (segregation),
but should not let their fears obstruct the next step of
creating a center on campus with a foundation built
with respect, understanding and education.
Time for a solution
While nobody should expect Hardin to respond to
ultimatums and blatantly unfair charges of racism,
it's clear that he does have a responsibility to resolve
this crisis.
A new academic building a Sonja Haynes Stone
Center for the Study of Black Culture would
enhance the campus experience for all students while
helping in the battle against the injustices that histori
cally have separated this campus along racial lines.
(That's why a new building was promised to the
students 15 years ago.)
Until such a center is created at UNC, Hardin's
fears of de facto segregation and racism will continue
to be the norm at the South' s premier university.
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SBP: Free-standing BCC wont help relations
As the debate over a free-standing
black cultural center has degen
erated into a shouting match, the
real issue has been buried under a lot of
exciting but ultimately misleading rheto
ric. Many people seem to be answering
the question, "If we were building a
university from scratch, would we in
clude a free-standing black cultural cen
ter?" Since it is pretty unlikely that we'll
ever get to build our own university,
I'm going to shelve that question for
now and instead answer the one actu
ally facing us: "Given the campus's
current state of development, how can
we responsibly and effectively help stu
dent groups crammed into inadequate
facilities?" It's a tough question, but an
examination of current plans and pro
posals makes one thing clear: A free
standing BCC is not the answer.
Consider the plot of land between
Wilson Library and Kenan Labs, where
the Black Awareness Council held its
groundbreaking ceremony this past sum
mer. The site is in many ways ideal. It
would, for example, maintain the prox
imity to the centerof student activity the
BCC currently enjoys. Like many free
standing BCC advocates, I am wary of
any effort to banish the BCC to a forgot
ten corner of campus. Unfortunately, if
we insist on a free-standing BCC rather
John Moody
Guest Columnist
than a larger complex capable of nurtur
ing many student groups, we will be
guilty of grossly underusing a precious
resource: well-situated land. The
Johnson, Johnson & Roy Land Use Plan,
which was accepted by the Board of
Trustees in 1 988 as a guide to the physi
cal development of our campus, pro
poses a 110,000-square-foot building
for the land west of Wilson Library.
Those advocating a free-standing BCC,
which would include a library, recep
tion gallery, media room, multipurpose
room, musicdance studio, 14-16 of
fices and supportservice space, have
suggested that a 23,000-square-foot
building would be adequate. Even after
adding in other possible features like
offices for a new African-American
studies department it is difficult to
see how the total could come close to
110,000 square feet. To underuse so
severely the last piece of undeveloped
land in the heart of campus is to suggest
to all the other divisions of the Univer
sity who struggle with substandard fa
cilities that they do not matter. I'm
certainly not prepared to do this, and I
don't think most students are either. I
am prepared to try to do something
about the hostility and mistrust that
pervade the current debate on the BCC.
We seem to have slipped into a cycle of
accusations and name calling that is
both dangerous and counterproductive.
By refusing to accept that those we
disagree with are acting in good faith to
improve race relations, we are condemn
ing ourselves to failure. Supporters of a
free-standing BCC must abandon the
notion that Chancellor Paul Hardin is a
racist bent on oppressing the African
American community. Similarly, op
ponents of a free-standing building must
accept the premise that the BCC needs
greatly expanded facilities. Otherwise,
we risk turning the BCC into a symbol
of racial hatred.
Rebuilding trust will require a little
give and take and a lot of open
mindedness on all sides. I am calling on
other campus leaders to look beyond
narrow disagreements and at least re
open a constructive dialogue on student
needs. (I mean that literally, too. As
soon as I finish writing this, I am going
to pick up the telephone.) Although I
know what "non-negotiable" means, I
hope they will help me.
Student Body President John Moody
is a senior chemistry major from Greensboro.
Campus needs more call
boxes, better lighting
Editor's note: A copy of this letter
signed by approximately 90 students
and faculty members was sent to Chan
cellor Paul Hardin.
To the editor:
We, the undersigned, are concerned
about the increasing number of violent
attacks on campus, particularly against
women. While some measures have
been taken to improve campus security,
including increased shuttle service, we
think further measures should be taken
to deter violent crimes. We recommend
that you implement the following mea
sures: .
1. Increase the number of security
service foot patrols on campus, espe
cially after dark.
2. Place emergency call boxes in the
following locations (There may be a
need for ones at additional sites, as
well.):
the parking lot facing Dey Hall
in front of Manning Hall
the parking lot between Bynum
Hall and Steele Building
in front of Steele Building
beside the Old Well
along Manning Drive near the hos
pital in front of Hill Hall
in front of Pettigrew Hall
between Smith and Person Halls
in the parking lot between Ackland
and Evergreen House
the parking lot between Caldwell
Hall and Bynum Hall
behind the School of Public Health
the area in front of the Newman
Center, Wesley Foundation and Hillel
3. Improve the lighting between
Manning, Murphey and Saunders halls.
4. Make readily available to students
a map indicating the location of call
boxes.
Thank you for giving your attention
to this matter. We would appreciate a
response from you concerning these
suggestions.
CHERYL BLOCK
Graduate
Romance languages
LAURIE COSGRJFF
Graduate
Classics
Women's soccer coach to
host Pit chat Thursday
To the editor:
The Carolina Athletic Association
has announced the second event in the
"Chat with the Coach" program. I feel
privileged to have been selected as the
coach for this event.
At noon Thursday, just two days be
fore the Carolina Classic, our women's
soccer toumey with four nationally
ranked teams, I will talk in the Pit. I'll
talk about his weekend's tourney, and
then I will turn the floor over to you, the
students. I hope that you will have a
number of questions concerning the
1992 women's soccer team.
For further information, please con
tact either Tracy Kirincich or Stefan
Shepherd at the C AA office, 962-4300.
I hope to answer your questions on
Thursday, and please come out to Fetzer
Field this weekend to support your Tar
Heels.
ANSON DORRANCE
Head Coach, Women's Soccer
University safety services
aren't working effectively
To the editor:
I am a freshman here at UNC, and
until recently, have had nothing to com
plain about.
Last week (Sept. 3), a friend of mine
came to my Mid-Campus dorm to study.
When she was ready to leave for her
North Campus dorm, it was about 10
p.m., so she decided to call SAFE Es
cort. There was no answer.
She then tried the point-to-point
shuttle number, but it was busy. When
we finally got through, we were told
that we would receive a call in 5 min
utes telling us when the driver would
arrive.
The call came 45 minutes later, after
my roommate and I had walked her
home.
That performance was repeated
Thursday. SAFEEscort'sline only rang,
and point-to-point was busy.
With all the security measures in
place here, one would think that SAFE
Escort and point-to-point, two programs
that UNC has promoted greatly, would
be in working order.
My roommate and I (women) should
not have had to walk my friend home.
Those lines should have been answered.
If the University is not going to deliver
on its promises of safe passage, then it
should not make such promises.
Such behavior is absolutely uncalled
for, and could put someone in danger.
ROKIATU E. RAHIM
Freshman
Biology
Media misunderstands,
misrepresents India
To the editor:
This letter was inspired by a fairly
innocent news item that appeared in the
DTH Sept. 8. The item was titled "India
seeks weapons and close ties with Mos
cow." The article was a routine AP release
about the visit by the Defense Minister
of India Mr. Sharad Pawar to Moscow.
What intrigued me was how the news
item suddenly creeped up on me as I
flipped to page 2.
There it was with the title in bold
letters. India, which is seldom on any
newspaper except when a Sikh militant
holds up a bus and guns down 25 people
or when hundreds die in yet another
natural calamity, is suddenly news when
the defense minister makes a friendly
visit to neighboring Russia.
This was, however, only half the
inspiration, for I also ran into a quota
tion from the popular American Vice
President Dan Quayle. He said, "Now
that New Delhi is no longer a client of
Moscow, we can do business with
them."
This to me is surprising, because
India has never been averse to doing
business with the United States.
On the other hand, India has been put
on the trade black list for purely politi
cal reasons, one of them being it refuses
to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty.
This is in contrast to China, which in
the face of gross human rights viola
tions has been awarded the Most Fa
vored Nation status.
In the 12 years since Ronald Reagan
assumed office, the U.S. administration
has pursued a policy that is clearly meant
to destabilize the Indian sub-continent.
The justification for selling combat
trained F-16s to Pakistan in the early
1980s was the Soviet presence in Af
ghanistan. This was considered very curious by
many Asia-watchers because many
thought that the only use the weapons
would find in the hands of then martial
law administrator Gen. Zia-Ul-Haq
would be for launching a preemptive
strike against India.
This was in addition to the clandes
tine development of a nuclear weapons
program (commonly called the Islamic
Bomb) by the Pakistani government.
Mr. Reagan chose to ignore all that.
Now, in conditions such as that, the
only big brother India could look up to
in the world of imperialist bullies was
the Soviet Union, if only to deter any
ambitious military generals in Pakistan
The American policy makers have
never liked nor bothered to recognize
India's desire to be non-aligned.
In the 12 years since the Republican
Party has taken over the reigns in the
White House, not a single U.S. presi
dent has visited India.
This in spite of the fact that India is
the largest democracy in the world.
To further worsen the situation, the
American news media have only con
tributed to this misconception of India
being in a "Soviet Bloc."
India has always pursued peaceful
relations with all countries, with the
only understanding that no one country
will impose its interests over another.
LAKSHMAN RAMAMURTHY
Graduate
Biology