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TMill3L*»litllbJb_lMradiU. April 3. DILI
THE OPINIONS OF THE RED AND BLACK
Golden opportunity
DALE DAVENPORT
Open the
Editor's mile: Dale Davenport was a
Judiciary
Everybody gripes about Bax
ter Street, about the jumble of
signs, quick food shops, and
restaurants that make the street
an ecological eyesore.
Everybody gripes about them
as they cross Baxter Street to go
to supper.
These stores are convenient,
especially for dorm residents
who have no transportation.
Unfortunately, the requirements
of convenience and the normal
desire to live in pleasant
surroundings often conflict, and
deciding which gets top priority
is a tough decision.
This is a decision that the
Athens City Council must make
when it considers a bid by
developer Marion Cartwright to
have a lot on Baxter near the
University rezoned for a motel.
There are good arguments for
the motel, and equally good ones
for the apartment complex which
Cartwright says he will probably
build if his rezoning request is
turned down.
Cartwright argued before
Council that there is a real need
for the 80 unit economy motel
which he has in mind. Situated
on Harris Street behind the
laundry and gasoline stations on
Baxter, the motel would be a
service to anyone who needed to
walk to the nearby University
facilities, he said.
Cartwright holds that a motel
would generate less traffic on the
already crowded Baxter Street
than would the 30 unit apartment
complex he is considering as an
alternative. He is not planning to
include a restaurant in the
development, so the motel would
not attract business from native
Athenians.
Opponents of the idea argue
that living quarters within
walking distance of the Univer
sity are more needed than a
motel. And. regardless of how
well landscaped and screened, a
motel is a motel. It would bring
a steady turnover of strangers
next to what is not a residential
community and would add yet
another business to Baxter
Street.
The experts are divided on the
issue. The area planning staff,
which researches zoning requests
for the Athens-Clarke County
Planning Commission, recom
mended denial of the motel
rezoning bid. The planning
commission overturned their
decision with a unanimous vote,
and the whole matter, following
the normal route of zoning
changes, is now in the lap of
Council for a final decision.
Even the Councilmen of the
Third Ward, the area in which
the motel would be located, are
at odds on the issue; Paul
Oeland is behind the idea, and
Joseph Hooten is against it.
As it stands now, the whole
matter could go either way when
Council takes up the request at
its next meeting. The opinion of
students — pro or con — living in
dorms or in the residential areas
nearby could very well tip the
vote in either direction. So far,
only two students have appeared
before Council. Both argued
against the motel.
Anyone is invited to come
speak his or her piece before
Mayor and Council at the
beginning of each meeting.
Letters sent to the office of the
Mayor are also read during the
meeting and entered into the
minutes.
This seems a golden opportun
ity for students to make a
meaningful contribution to city
government.. and perhaps to
influence the development of a
business area close to campus.
It sure beats just griping about
Baxter Street.
member of Ihe Defender Advocate
Society and the Society's governing body,
the Defender Advocate Council, from fall
quarter 1!*71 until last quarter when he
and the other members of the council
resigned. He has worked as a defender in
numerous cases before the Student
Judiciary.
A recent vole by the Student Senate
indicates a desire to “open up" the
campus judicial system by improving the
method of selecting justices. The idea is
a step in the right direction, but much
more is needed to
bring justice to the
campus judiciary.
The present proced
ure of secret hear
ings which allows
the public to be
present only if de
fendant, administra
tion. and court a-
grees, must be chan
ged to provide that
all hearings be open.
The student judiciary is one ol the
best-kept secrets on campus. It is a
closed system and the average student
learns of its existence only when he is
within its grasp. Because of its
remoteness, the nature of the court
system is known only to those who are
part of it and have interests and egos
involved. Consequently, no objective
judge of the system can be found.
Open proceedings would let the entire
campus view and pass judgment on the
system. Any changes made would then be
more nearly the will of the community.
Dialogue and exchange of ideas are
preferable to the cloakroom decisions of
an unknown few. Open proceedings would
include the community in the system,
rather than alienate it. The people whose
rights are intended to be protected would
determine the usefulness of the system
for themselves.
An open system would have the
advantage of emphasizing the regulations
which are imposed upon students. Few
students realize that lending an ID or
entering a dorm through the wrong door
constitutes a serious violation of the
rules Publicity given open hearings
would be a constant reminder of the
i ules.
Furthermore, if the student body is
made aware of penalties incurred by
wrongdoers, a deterrant effect might
occur. Students might refrain from
breaking some regulations if they knew
of the possible consequences.
I'm system based upon the public
hearing would produce more consistent
input of charges against students. At
present, a student’s plight upon being
accused of cheating, for example,
depends on the policy of the particular
professor. A teacher may fail the student
on the test, paper, or course; give a
retest; ignore the problem — or refer the
case to the student judiciary. There, the
penalty for a student found guilty of
cheating is seldom less than suspension.
For Ihe sake of justice, consistency in
input is necessary, and consistency will
be encouraged by public hearings.
Many rules are imposed upon students
which probably are not supported by a
majority. Students really have no choice
in the matter, since no theory of
democracy applies to the situation, and
behavior is prescribed from above.
Nevertheless, under the present set-up,
no attention is drawn to the unwise rules,
and no call for change comes forth,
except from the pitiful and biased voices
of those condemned under them. Public
hearings would focus attention on the
unwise or repressive regulations, and
efforts to change them would be
forthcoming.
The best theoretical arguement for
public hearings can be shown by analogy
to the judicial systems of the state and
nation. The Bill of Rights guarantees a
public trial for good reason: only through
this procedure can the rights of the
accused and the interests of the
community be both ensured On this
campus, we must make use of the same
device for the same good reasons.
‘Some see merit in secret hearings,
because of the shield which they provide
a student's record against prospective
employers. This attitude denies the
University a realistic place in society. It
reluses to acknowledge that the
University experience is more than an
isolated period in one's life and an
indicator of one’s character.
The idea of secret hearings, when seen
in proper perspective, is an emotional
holdover from the days of “in loco
parentis" — when the school was taking
mom and dad’s place. But this is not a
community of children, and we need only
our own knowledge and resources to
ensure that our interests are protected.
Such cannot be done in secrecy.
IT happens here.
foradi
Not again
J
Campaign based on name-calling'
Defense Secretary Elliot Rich
ardson’s statements Tuesday
about the possibility of U.S.
re-involvement in Vietnam were
both alarming and discouraging.
It was alarming that Richardson
could predict the possibility of
renewed U.S. bombing or troop
involvement if the cease-fire
agreements are violated, when
the country is just now beginning
to breathe a sigh of relief that
the troops are finally out.
It seems that the whole
experience of the war has been
that we cannot really control
events in Vietnam — either by
fighting or by bombing. The
possibility of renewing policies
that are proven failures is
disturbing to say the least.
It seems that by insisting on
such an attitude the United
States is encouraging again a
return to conditions of the late
’50’s and early ’60’s, with the
definite possibility of repeating
the spiral of increasing involve
ment from which we have so
recently extricated ourselves.
It is doubly discouraging that
Richardson told the Congress
men before whom he was
testifying that Nixon would not
need Congressional authority to
re-enter the war — just as he
does not need congressional
authority to carry out the
current bombing of Cambodia to
“encourage compliance” with
the peace agreements.
It seems that the experience of
the war and its end have had
little impact on Executive
Branch policy-makers. The same
ideas of Presidential control, of
the lack of need for consulting
Congress or the people about war
policy, still remain dominant.
The same recourse to bombs,
despite the proven ineffective
ness of bombing in many cases,
remains a major element in
military policy.
The United States needs to
leave the administration of the
Vietnam peace to the Vietnam
ese people and to the internation
al commission that has undertak
en the responsibility of supervis
ing the cease-fire. The futility of
our involvement has been amply
demonstrated — surely we do not
have to go through the whole
thing again in order to convince
our oolicy-makers of that fact.
TO THE EDITOR:
In the past few days, Coalition, campus
political party, has issued several
position (propaganda) papers The most
recent was directed toward South
Campus students. Coalition took issue
with Bobby Tankersley’s (PSA executive
vice-presidential candidate) statement
that "Coalition has repeatedly failed to
meet the needs of the South Campus
Community.”
The Coalition position paper states that
PSA executive candidates Danny Hughes
and Bobby Tankersley voted against the
Day Care Center. The truth is that the
1971-1972 allocation for the Day Care
center was $15,744.31, while the request
for 1972-1973 amounted to $35,370 68.
Included in this request was an increase
in salary for the Director of the Center
from $10,000 to $11,000. Not only was this
an unwarranted increase in salary, but
because it amounted to a 10 percent
increase, it also violated the wage freeze
laws then in effect. Both Hughes and
Tankersley voted for the revised budget
of the Day Care center.
The second point is that Coalition seeks
credit for maintaining a minimum of two
senators per school. Coalition has
knowingly lied to the students on this
issue. On a roll call vote, the executive
slate of Coalition voted against each
school’s having a minimum of two
senators It was only after Danny Hughes
and Bobby Tankersley led the defeat of
the Coalition proposals for one senator in
the small schools that the alternate
proposal was passed The senate records
clearly show that it was Bobby
Tankersley who initiated the proposal
that would guarantee small schools a
minimum of two senators to represent
them
PSA administrative vice-presidential
candidate. Debbie Currier, has worked
diligently with Dr. Curtis toward the
implementation of spouse and dependent
Health Care services Patrick states that
Coalition was the first campus party "to
propose expanded health services. "
Who proposed the idea is not the
question, but rather who worked toward
the implementation of this goal It was
PSA candidate Debbie Currier and not
Coalition who sought the accomplishment
of this goal Finally, Coalition implies
that the Student Senate was the cause of
tuition assistance to campus veterans’
failure in the Georgia General Assembly.
It is an insult to the intelligence of the
student body for Coalition to make such
an unfounded statement In fact, it was
PSA Presidential candidate Danny
Hughes who proposed a resolution to
have the veterans' assistance plan cover
all veterans whether the veteran had
served in Southeast Asia or not This
resolution passed overwhelmingly in the
Student Senate
It is disgraceful that Coalition has
decided to run a campaign based not
upon the issues but upon "name-calling."
Why have they refused to run on the
merits of their platform? Perhaps it is
because the Coalition platform is
concerned with only small interest
groups rather than the majority of
students at the University of Georgia.
RALPH C. GARRISON
UGA doesn't gain
from Bridal Fair
TO THE EDITOR:
I wish to protest vehemently the use of
the Coliseum for such a commercial
venture as the Bridal Fair. The
University doesn’t benefit at all from
such medieval pandering Unless, of
course, the administration (or campus
ladies) believe the mission of a good
University is to provide Foster’s with
satisfied customers
RONNIE LECHA8CHE
Solution complex
to traffic troubles
TO THE EDITOR:
Coalition understands that a solution to
the present transportation problem will
be neither simple nor inexpensive. In
order to improve the overall transporta
tion situation at the University, Coalition
endorses the efforts of the Public Safety
Department to eliminate the present
parking system and replace it with a flat
fee to be levied on all employees and
students Coalition believes that admini
strators. faculty, and University employ
es must assume their share for the
improvement of the transportation and
parking situation The new fee will cover
the capital outlay for new buses and
improved and expanded parking areas
Coalition takes the position that because
much of this money will come from
students who do not own motor vehicles,
first priority should be given to the bus
system.
Specifically, in regard to the bus
system. Coalition will work for an
extension of the present bus lines so that
a bus serving the major dormitory areas
will take passengers to the downtown
shopping and business area In addition,
we hope to see more efficient use of the
present Milledge bus line (no more buses
immediately following another) and the
addition of an express South Milledge
Avenue bus. at least to Prince Avenue.
These changes will encourage people not
to bring automobiles to campus. To
further decrease the number of
automobiles on campus. Coalition will
also work to institute a centrally-located
carpool parking lot.
Coalition would like to commend the
Food Services for their marked
improvement over last year We still,
however, see room for improvement.
First, we would like to suggest a broader
menu Second, we feel that meal tickets
should be sold on a quarterly basis. We
feel that a quarterly meal plan will
provide a more flexible dining arrange
ment and better suit the changing needs
of students.
Coalition will investigate the possibility
of a twenty-four hour or, at best,
extended library services for Sunday
through Thursday and for the duration of
exam week. Coalition will also work for
the implementation of the new stream
lined check-out system at the soonest
possible date.
Coalition commends the exceptional
Health Service that is now offered to the
University community. However, we feel
that a serious inequity presently exists.
Although all Health Service facilities are
supposed to be free of charge, at present,
Pap tests and contraceptives are not. A
student can receive free continuing
medication for virtually any disease, but
not free pills for birth control. This
situation must be corrected.
Coalition will also work to expand the
abortion referral program and to insure
that all students have complete
contraceptive and venereal disease
information. It is necessary that a
venereal disease education program be
included as a part of the orientation
program for incoming Freshmen. The
responsibility for this does not lie entirely
with the clinic. Coalition will use the
resources of the Student Government
Association to help assemble and
distribute complete information concern
ing venereal disease and contraception to
all students.
A book store is not a referral service,
but a business established to meet the
needs of the. academic community
Coalition feels that faculty discounts and
charge accounts must be cut back and
kept current in order to prevent students
from having to bear the brunt of
maintaining base currency for bookstore
transactions Further, there should be a
student advisory committee for the
bqokstore staff to encourage policies of
stocking fewer items such as Bulldog
shot glasses and (tore reference and
general reading items. Coalition also
feels that the policy of stocking reference
books for one quarter only should be
changed; items of this nature should be
kept in stock until demand ceases
Finally. Coalition pledges to investigate
and revamp the book buy-back policy in
a manner that would provide more used
textbooks.
SUSAN FANSLER
What happened
to Mike Simpson ?
TO THE EDITOR:
I am inquiring into the absence of
Michael Simpson's editorial column this
quarter. I understand it was discontinued
because of his highly critical view of the
administration and Ted Kassinger’s
emotional remarks. It is indeed
unfortunate if this is the case. Too often
we as students fail to voice an opinion
unless it is negative. I believe Simpson's
comments were well written and should
be continued.
MARGARET MUNN
Editor's note: Michael Simpson, like all
other regular Red and Black staff writers
who are actively campaigning for a seat
in the Student Senate, was asked by the
editors to take a leave of absence from
the paper during his campaign. His
column will resume next week.
1000 accolades
to campus police
TO THE EDITOR:
We would like to thank the University
Public Safety Division for their recent
Seminar for Women. The Seminar, whose
goal was increased awareness for
personal safety, was informative and
helpful
A thousand accolades for all you
Campus Police whose care and concern
for us women make you strive to keep
the campus safe and crime free.
ELLEN FOWLE8
BONNY STRAKER
I Jitters should:
• Be typed, double spaced,
on a 60-space line.
• Be brief, to the point.
• Include name address
and phone number of contri
butor.