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The Red & Black
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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1992 « ATHENS, GEORGIA » VOLUME 100, ISSUE 12
Commission to try to define ‘family’ tonight
Normaltown roomies fight for the ‘right to light’
By MELISSA COLLINS
Staff Writer
Since they moved into their Normaltown home
on Boulevard Ave. in July, third-year law student
Pete Theodocian and his two roommates have had
to step over masses of extension cords just to take
an ice-cold shower in the dark.
“1 never thought you could have a problem that
effects everything you do," Theodocian said.
Although the students are complying with the
current "definition of family" in a single-family
residential zone - no more than four unrelated
people living within a single dwelling - the three
cannot get electricity in all the rooms of the house.
Georgia Power will only turn on one of the
three electric meters, because more than one elec
tric meter classifies a dwelling as multi-family.
The residence was used as a triplex in the
1950s, but the neighborhood’s zoning was changed
from multi-family to single-family dwellings in the
1980s. And although the house was protected
under a grandfather clause and allowed to contin
ue functioning as a triplex, it was abandoned for
more than a year while more than $70,000 in ren
ovation was completed.
Under a current ordinance, a house that is
abandoned over one year must comply with cur
rent zoning ordinances, which means the house
may no longer be used as a triplex.
But Theodocian said they function as a “fami
ly" and use the kitchenettes in each of the rooms
only as storage. “We have only one entrance and
only one set of keys," Theodocian said. How they
can say we are living in a triplex is beyond me."
The Athens-Clarke County commissioners
have turned deaf ears to Theodocian’s numerous
pleas for help, and the power company said the
only thing to do is convert the three meters into
one at a cost of over $2,000.
Ron Evans, president of the Boulevard
Neighborhood Association, said while it is a bad
situation, his sympathy is limited because every
one must comply with the ordinance.
“We simply want to keep our neighborhood sin
gle family and we just want people to go by the
rules everyone else is going by," Evans said.
David Griffeth, a local attorney and nephew of
the owner of the house, said he plans to file suit
against Athens-Clarke County and the commis
sioners before the first of the year in attempt to
operate the residence as a triplex.
Griffeth said the county forced his aunt to buy
three electric and water permits, but won’t allow
all of them to be used, a mistake he said they will
pay for when he takes them to court
The commission is going to be eating some
crow when the state Supreme Court embarrasses
them by overturning the ordinance," he said.
Gwen O’Looney, Athens-Clarke County CEO,
Mike Raeser (I), Jeb Murray and
Theodocian are in ‘electrical hell.’
however, contests that the house was built as a
triplex illegally and nothing can be done.
The difficult challenge for the community is to
balance the need to protect the single-family com
munity and the need to protect private property
rights," OLooney said.
But Theodocian said, The only way I think the
commission would appreciate the situation is to let
them take a few cold showers, not be able to cook
and walk around with a flashlight at night."
By MELISSA COLLINS
Staff Writer
Cars and trash clutter the neighborhood streets that once housed only newly
married couples and elderly widows. Now, these neighborhoods are a magnet
for students who would rather have a front porch than thin apartment wall*.
But their move has caused an outcry from long-time residents of these sin
gle-family homes because they say students bring turmoil to their once quiet
neighborhoods.
Teople are being driven out of these neighborhoods by conditions which are
simply incompatible to the nuclear family lifestyle," said John Barrow, 4th
District commissioner.
Tonight, the Athens-Clarke County Commission will attempt to merge the
last of the recently unified city and county’s separate zoning ordinances by vot
ing on the definition of “family." The old city definition allows no more than
four unrelated people to live in a house located in a single-family zone, and the
old county ordinance allows no more than two.
The zoning conflict that pits student against citizen does not only reside in
Athens.
Bradford Price, group manager for development and conservation in East
Lansing, Mich., said a task force was formed just last month to review the cur
rent zoning restriction of four in the town that is home to Michigan State
University.
Price said the high number of cars parked along the side of the road block
traffic and the frequent parties produce too much noise.
“It’s getting to where the conventional family simply just doesn't like to live
in these areas anymore," he said.
With just over 40,000 students attending MSU and a population of about
50,000 in East Lansing, Alex Johnson, an MSU senior, said the long-time res
idents should be grateful for the students.
The reason East Lansing is here today is because of the University,” he
said.
Johnson said he could not afford to pay rent if it weren’t for his three other
roommates, and even then, it puts a strain on his pocket
“Basically the regulations really suck because rent is so expensive up here,"
he said. “I already pay $300 a month as it is.”
There have been “definition of family" cases, though none involve students,
that have been appealed and declared unconstitutional by state Supreme
Courts across the country.
Take Santa Barbara, Calif., for example.
Santa Barbara’s assistant planning and zoning director Larry Carter said
the city’s definition of six was challenged in 1980. California’s Supreme Court
declared the city “can’t control the number in a family, related or unrelated."
In Delta Township, Mich., two families living together for “religious rea
sons," challenged the limit of two before the Michigan Supreme Court and won.
Jim Smith, a University law school professor, said like many issues, there
are plausible arguments on both sides.
The problem with extending the number to four is the increase in noise and
traffic," Smith said. “But then again, is it proper for the government to restrict
the use of private property?"
Winfield Abbe, an Athens resident and owner of several pieces of rental
property, said it is not In fact, he became so upset at the prospect of the gov
ernment limiting the number to two, that he sent a letter to University
President Charles Knapp requesting his help.
“As president ... you possess an important position of leadership for the
University," the letter states. “Yet there is a deafening silence from you regard
ing an issue crucial to the students you represent and their well being ..."
But Public Information director Tom Jackson said Knapp has not taken a
position on the matter.
John Bradberry, president of Student Government Association, said he
thinks Knapp should have supported the students.
“He is the chief trustee of the student interests and this is something I think
he should side with,” he said.
Jackson said members of SGA will be present at tonight’s commission meet
ing to speak in favor of limiting the number to four.
The meeting is at 7 p.m. in City Hall.
Rapid ear
movement
Russell Webb, manager of
Turtles’ Alps Road location,
shows off R.E.M. discs before
going on sale Monday night at
midnight. Album review
appears on page 5.
Wigginton to plead not guilty at hearing
By LORI WIECHMAN
Staff Writer
Eliot Wigginton, Foxfire founder
and University guest professor,
will plead not guilty today to
charges of child molestation at his
arraignment in Rabun County,
attorney Dennis Cathey said.
Wigginton was indicted with
child molestation of a fourth grade
boy from Athens’ Chase Street
School by a grand jury in Rabun
County last month. He was
released on $10,000 bond the same
day.
A trial date will also be set
today.
“We will announce the plea of
not guilty," said Cathey, an attor
ney working with Wigginton’s
lawyer. “We’re going to demand a
speedy trial and hope the whole
story can be told."
Wigginton is in his second year
of a three-year contract with the
University's College of Education,
but has been removed from both
his teaching responsibilities at the
college and at Chase Street, where
he worked as a part of his contract.
Currently, he is researching and
consulting with professors in the
college.
According to a statement pub
lished by Wigginton in September,
the supposed incident occurred last
May at Wigginton’s home in Rabun
County. Wigginton took two boys
from Chase Street to the annual
Foxfire picnic and planned for
them to stay overnight at his
house, with the permission of their
guardian.
The statement reads that one
boy went to bed at 11:30 p.m.
Wigginton took the other boy
upstairs an hour later, where he
took off the boy’s sneakers and
jeans.
The boy’s guardian claims that
Wigginton “improperly fondled" the
second boy when he put him to bed.
The Foxfire program is a 25-
year-old nationally known teaching
series involving small group learn
ing and student involvement.
During the years, the program has
led to a magazine on mountain folk
life written by students, and a
series of books. “The Foxfire Book"
has sold 4 million copies.
Still, professors in the
University’s College of Education
believe that these charges will not
affect the program.
“Eliot Wigginton has a very high
standard and is held in high
regard,” said James Deegan, an
elementary education professor.
“’Die Foxfire method is a part of a
legacy to all teachers."
Knapp, Barber letters example
of public forum for issue debate
By THERESA WALSH
Staff Writer
University officials said a corre
spondence published in a local
newspaper between University
President Charles Knapp and Vice
President for Business and Finance
Allan Barber were not a public air
ing of dirty laundry, but instead a
clarification of issues to the public.
Don Eastman, vice president for
Development and University
Relations, said printing Knapp’s
and Barber’s letters served several
purposes.
“We’re not only making sure
that we’re on the same page, but
that the public had the same
understanding,” Eastman said.
The misunderstanding was not
between Knapp and Barber. The
misunderstanding occurred in the
newspaper."
Barber said he sent a letter on
Sept. 28, asking the president to
clarify to him, as well as to the pub
lic, “erroneous" information in an
editorial on Sept. 20 by Rick
Parham, managing editor of the
Athens-Banner Herald.
Barber wanted it made clear
that he was not reprimanded for
his part in the investigation of
stolen funds from the botany
department by Katie Bishop, and
he was not guilty of ignoring those
or any other improprieties.
“I wanted to direct my request
for clarification to the president
because he is the president,”
Barber said. “I wasn’t trying to go
around the president. The proper
channels for me would be to work
through the president."
After the president had respond
ed to the vice president’s letter,
Eastman, Barber and Knapp decid
ed to ask the Athens-Banner
Herald to publish them.
Barber said he felt it would be
more credible if the two letters
appeared together, one supporting
the other.
Parham, who wrote the editori
al and agreed to publish the
responding letters, said he didn’t
have a problem with providing the
forum for the letters.
“I think the gist of the editorial
was still correct," Parham said. “I
do fee! that I should have been
more specific."
Eastman agreed with Parham
that the paper was an appropriate
forum to explain the situation for
the public.
“In other universities, it is quite
an accepted way to try to clarify
complicated issues,” he said.
Barber said everyone has been
cooperative in clarifying comments
from the editorial.
“There are no ill feelings.
There’s never been a problem with
the president,” Barber said. “I’m
not upset. I’m not mad."
Eastman said there is no prob
lem in the president’s and vice
president’s working relationship
and the letters reflected that.
“I think it’s full of professional
respect and curiosity," Eastman
said.
Proposal would make SGA
By CATHLEEN EQAN
Staff Writer
The president of the Student
Government Association may be able to
become a member of the University
Council, if a proposal submitted by an SGA
senator is approved by the council’s execu
tive committee.
The proposal is to include the president
of the Student Government Association as
an ex-officio member of the University
Council and the University Council’s
Executive Committee," said William Perry,
the proposal’s author. “And in order to do
that, the University Council has to amend
the University of Georgia’s statutes and the
by-laws of the University Council."
The University Council is a governing
body comprised of students, faculty and
administrators who decide changes in cur
riculum and policy matters. Past actions
made by the council have included forming
an academic dishonesty committee and
admitting new majors to the University.
Perry said because he is an SGA mem
ber and on the University Council, as well
as a student, he sees his plan as a benefit
for SGA, the University Council and
University students.
There are three advantages to this pro
posal," he said. “First is that it would be
advantageous to the Student Government
Association because it would be able to
communicate what we’re working on to the
University Council. Second is that it bene
fits the University Council in the same
degree - they would have the student gov
ernment president there and could better
explain a proposal that they might have
questions about. And third, it benefits the
student body because it would give us one
more student on the council, making that
from 19 to 20."
Betty Jean Craige, adviser to the coun
cil and chair of the executive committee,
said Perry’s plan shouldn’t run into any
problems unless student representation on
the council outweighs the number of facul
ty and administrative members.
“What many faculty may wish would be
to have (the SGA president) become one of
the student members but not to increase
the number of members of the University
Council,” Craige said.
The only objection would be if there’s
an increase in the student ratio over the
faculty. If there’s not an increase in the
number of students on the council, then I
don’t see anything wrong with it,” she said.
Perry said that while the student to fac
ulty ratio on the council would be slightly
larger if the proposal is approved, the ex-
officio member would not have any special
privileges.
The SGA president would be like the
president member of University Council
other representatives on the council,” he
said. The president would have the oppor
tunity to serve on a committee as well as be
a member of the council, but there would be
no special authority other than being a
member of the council."
SGA President John Bradberry said he
is in favor of the idea and feels this is the
first step toward students having more say
in policy and governing decisions.
The reason we’re doing this is to get our
foot in the door, because the ability of stu
dent power to affect campus policy is dilut
ed," Bradberry said. “One of the best things
that could be done would be to have SGA
senators in the University Council.”
The proposal has already been passed
by the student government’s senate but
now must face the executive committee of
the University Council.
Perry said he has no doubt the proposal
will make it past the next stage.
“I really don’t anticipate much of a prob
lem," he said. “I feel pretty confident that
they wouldn’t vote it down. They will prob
ably vote to send it to the next council
meeting or send it to the by-laws commit
tee."
If passed by the executive committee,
Perry’s recommendation must then move
up the ranks - from the University Council
to University President Charles Knapp and
finally to the Board of Regents.
William Perry (r) shakes hands with Max Cleland.