The North Texas Daily (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 68, No. 110, Ed. 1 Friday, June 14, 1985 Page: 2 of 8
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The North Texas Dally
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Editorials
President's choice
President A1 Hurley has once again reaffirmed his
commitment to NT and this time he has done it in a way
that should leave no doubt that he is serious when he says
he intends to stay here for a long time.
Hurley recently had a chance to place his name in nomi-
nation for the presidency of the University of Texas. He
declined.
Hurley’s decision to decline a nomination for a posi-
tion that would have brought him more prestige and money
is a decision that proves Hurley’s honesty, integrity and,
above all, his commitment to NT.
Hurley became president in February 1982 just five
months after the resignation of Frank Vandiver, who left
NT to accept the presidency of Texas A&M University.
Vandiver’s departure after just a little more than a year
as NT’s president seemed to indicate that Vandiver viewed
his NT position as a mere stepping stone to a better position.
When Vandiver left, the university was put in the posi-
tion of choosing someone who would become NT’s third
president in as many years and the committee charged
with choosing that successor no doubt wanted to find some-
one who would stay at NT long enough to enable the
university to expand and better its image.
They found that person in the school’s vice president
for adminstrative affairs, Alfred F. Hurley. Hurley told
both the committee and the Board of Regents that he was
indeed committed to NT. At his inauguration Hurley pledged
to stay at NT so long that future inaugural committees
would have trouble remembering his inauguration.
Since that time Hurley has said that he is committed to
staying at NT for at least 10 years. Last spring Hurley
told the Daily "There’s no better place than North Texas
and no one has ever been happier to be the head of an
institution than I am. I said when I became president that
the good Lord willing I hope to be here 10 years.”
At that time, Hurley’s statements were merely words.
They sounded nice, but then Hurley didn’t have anywhere
else to go. Now,, however, Hurley has proven that he
meant what he said. He chose to stay at NT and give up
any chance of advancing to the UT presidency.
Hurley has brought to NT a commitment to growth
and excellence that will no doubt serve the institution well.
In the three years that Hurley has been president, he
has demonstrated his dedication to NT in several ways.
He has helped further NT’s expansion into the high tech
industry of the Metroplex.
Along with Bill Mercer of the public affairs office, he
has instituted a series of public service announcements
shown on television channels throughout the state. The
spots are designed to help inform the public about the
variety of programs offered at NT.
But perhaps most important of all, Hurley has recog-
nized that students are the purpose of a university. When
he became president, Hurley began hosting student cof-
fees each semester. The coffees are designed to give stu-
dents a chance to express their concerns to Hurley. In
addition. Hurley established a committee of student leaders
to give him opinions on campus issues.
And Hurley recognizes the importance of the Daily in
communicating with students and addressing student
concerns. He has never failed to return a phone call to a
Daily reporter no matter how busy his schedule.
With his past record of student concern and dedication
to NT, one can only assume that the future of NT is in
good hands with Hurley as its leader.
Perhaps the nicest thing Frank Vandiver ever did for
NT was to resign so NT could have a president commit-
ted to NT and not just to advancing his own career.
Page 2
Friday, June 14, 1985
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A political Joe Piscopo
The path less paved
It has been less than a year since NT banned bicyclists
from riding across its campus. Until then, kamikaze cy-
clists had been allowed to wreak havoc on unsuspecting
pedestrians as they hurried to classes.
Last summer however, the Denton City Council ap-
proved a proposal to eliminate street parking on several
streets bordering the campus thus paving the way for NT’s
new bicycle path.
Starting last fall, the anxiety level on NT’s sidewalks
fell a notch and increased on Denton’s streets as bicyclists
began to try to manuever on the new path.
The path is blocked off from motor traffic by a solid
white line. The path itself is eight feet wide and is di-
vided into two four-foot lanes for two-directional traffic.
Motor vehicles are not allowed to park in the lanes and
traffic bumps, reflectorized buttons, along with the solid
white line, are supposed to keep motor traffic out of the
lanes.
However, even before the path became a reality, condi-
tions of the pavement on many of the streets intended for
the path was poor. NT Police Chief Dan Martin said that
in the future the pavement would have to be replaced.
Today, in some places, the conditions have grown worse.
Areas where the curb and pavement meet have cracked
and created pot holes and cracks large enough for a bicycle’s
tires to wedge in and throw a cyclist off into the streets
and potentially into the midst of motor traffic. This is
especially true along West Hickory Street.
As the path meanders along Avenue B, past the new
Science Building, and along West Mulberry Street, loose
gravel and sand impedes the flow of bicycle traffic. There
is one point at Avenue C and Highland Street where the
curb has crumbled into the lane.
One bicyclist said that he felt the path was too danger-
ous to ride on and that he stayed off of it. “It’s not too
bad if you have a mountain bike 1 guess, but if you have
a 10-speed then it’s not too good.”
The bicycle path was a good idea and, overall, is in
good shape. However, the few places where it is in poor
condition could easily lead to an accident.
Starting this week NT will begin to repaint the path,
but repavement is on hold, NT parking supervisor David
Parkhill said. He said three things have held back repaving
the lanes. First of all, they are city streets and he said
that the city is hesitant to tear up the streets around campus.
Secondly, NT is already low on funds and finally, there
is a question as to who should pay for the job. “No one
wants to take the blame,” Parkhill said.
Someone needs to take the blame. Sand and gravel near
past and present construction sites such as the Science
Building and the parking garage should be cleaned up.
The city should fill the potholes and cracks in the path as
well as the streets. It doesn't have to be anything we can
eat off of, just a little safer.
"D <11 Stark is an intelligent, dramatic.
D humorous and preppy 14-year-old who
just finished his eighth-grade year at
Paulene G. Hughes Middle School in Bur-
leson. With a little more training and given
a few years to reach 5'5” he could become
the Sunbelt version of a political Joe Pis-
copo. He is conservative, stubborn and re-
ligious. He is a debater and, therefore, one
should never ask him what is on his mind.
I’ve known him for almost a decade. I
know as well as his parents that Bill was
much easier to deal with when he was
younger.
I made the mistake one day after church
of mentioning a few of my political obser-
vations to him. I did not know that my
little political Piscopo had joined the de-
bate team and was, therefore, warped for
life. He was destined to never again think
like a normal 14-year-old. Bill would never
know the pleasure of caring about nothing
past his next love or the newest release by
Katrina and The Waves.
that the group who has won the struggle is
self-serving. Therefore, it matters not
whether the Democrats or the Republicans
are in power, both are concerned only with
their desires. Neither cares about Ameri-
cans as a whole. Republicans care about
Republicans and Democrats care about
Democrats,
Reagan, Bill’s "Man of the Year," cares
not about Americans as a whole either.
Reagan cares about the power of his office
and remaining in the heart of the Ameri-
can people. His beliefs as a person do not
enter into his political career.
ALSO, 1 CONTEND that Reagan used
Christianity and patriotism to win his elec-
tion. I contend that he did not use it be-
cause he wanted to express his own per-
HE WAS SENTENCING his teen-age
years to Blair Lybbert, the Burleson de-
bate coach, who has a tendency to take
perfectly normal students and create
dangerous, politically-minded minature
lobbyists with a tinge of sarcasm laced into
every sentence. They talk about international
politics like a housewife talks about soap
operas. They talk about Reagan's budget
cuts like their normal counterparts would
talk about allowances from their parents.
And while Bill will probably win many
national debate awards while at Burleson
High School (Lybbert has a knack for pro-
ducing a nationally recognized debate team),
he will never know the joy of watching
“Hail to the Chief” without trying to find
some sort of irresponsibility in the satire.
Well, this is my reply to my little Piscopo
who has learned the art of debating so well
that he can take a simple statement about
marriage and turn it into a well-performed
speech about beneficial capitalism.
I have never stated any hard-core politi-
cal beliefs, mainly because 1 am the citi-
zen who believes that any political activity
is based on a survivial of the fittest and
Lora
^ Bernard
sonal beliefs but that he used it to reach a
specific audience, namely the "conservative
Christians," who happen to have a special-
interest group named the Moral Majority,
which happens to give Reagan a lot of
money and support. In a sense they helped
to buy Reagan the chance to win two terms;
therefore, Reagan owes them. If the Moonies
had given Reagan that same money, he
would owe them the same support he now
owes the Moral Majority.
1 wonder what Reagan’s stand on moral-
ity and religion would be then. But, that is
how the game of politics is really played.
Bill believes that Reagan is the answer
to saving the country's moral fiber. In his
opinion, Reagan’s conservativeness stems
from Christianity and the fact that I ques-
tion his policies means 1 am a disloyal citi-
zen who cares nothing about the country
or teaching Christianity to all those poor
teens who think abortion is the latest fad.
Actually. I am not liberal. 1 consider my-
self moderate. I don’t vote unless I totally
understand who and what I am voting for
because I think an irresponsible!vote is worse
than no vote at all.
That is another issue Bill wanted to ar-
gue about. According to him, the fact that
I did not vote in the presidential election
was to be taken as a terrible and mortal
sin.
Bill said that our founding fathers died
for my right to choose who to vote for.
Granted, this is true. But they also died
for my right to choose whether I want to
vote.
IN RUSSIA the citizens not only have
one person to vote for, they must vote for
him.
Not voting also means not caring. Bill
said. This is not always true. I know many
political scientists who do not vote, yet are
well aware of the activities of our country’s
government and are informed enough to
make very intelligent comments about them.
1 am aware of what my country is doing
and I’ve gone a step further, 1 am aware
of how and why it is doing it. Once one
understands these two concepts, it is diffi-
cult to trust or vote for a politician without
questioning his real motives. I’m sure one
will not find any geniune concern for Ameri-
cans in those motives. What he will find is
that the special interest groups arc helping
the politicians so that the politicians will
help them.
My advice to Bill is to leam more about
the hows and whys of government and de-
bate on that with your best debate enemy.
(My little Piscopo. you'll win.)
Reagan, Bill’s “Man of the Year,” says
he is against abortion, but for capital punish-
ment. I cannot judge his Christianity. I
wonder, though, how he can justify such
positions as stemming from Christian be-
liefs when Christ himself said "the second
greatest commandment is this: that ye love
one another." Sentencing someone to death
is not in accordance with the greatest com-
mandment. And I wonder how Bill cannot
wonder about it himself.
But. nonetheless, I applaud Bill’s interest
in society. Given a few years he will be a
terrific little Piscopo.
A sobering look at handgun violence that plagues
A fter the invention of the wheel lock,
a small firing mechanism that could
ignite gunpowder, the world's first handguns
were produced in the early years of the 16th
century.
Since the pistols were small enough to
be hidden on the body, the handgun be-
came a common weapon of assassins. For
that reason, the manufacture of handguns
was outlawed by Emperor Maximilian of
the Holy Roman Empire in 1517.
In England, handguns quickly became
the weapon of choice among highway rob-
bers and thieves. The resulting wave of
crime and violence alarmed Parliament,
which passed the first handgun control laws
in 1542.
Now. 443 years later in the United States,
handguns are still responsible for an in-
credible amount of bloodshed every year.
An estimated 25 percent of aggravated
assaults, 34 percent of robberies and 51
percent of homicides are committed with
handguns in the United States each year.
Statistics for 1980 are a sobering indicator
of the handgun violence that plagues the
United States each year.
In 1980. handguns killed 24 people in
Switzerland, 23 in Israel, 18 in Sweden,
eight in Great Britain, eight in Canada, four
in Australia and 11,522 in the United States
Guess which of the above countries has
the weakest handgun control laws?
What few controls the United States does
place on handguns are ineffectual and filled
with loopholes. One example is the 1968
Gun Control Act, which was passed shortly
after the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy
firms are able to import the parts and as-
semble the guns in the United States.
The two main opposing sides in the de-
bate over handgun control laws are the Na-
tional Rifle Association and Handgun Con-
sociation would have people believe, Hand-
gun Control does not advocate police kicking
down peoples' doors and confiscating their
guns.
Marc McDonald
DESPITE FREQUENT SURVEYS that
indicate over three-fourths of the U.S. popu-
lation favor controls on handguns, the United
States still has the weakest national handgun
control laws in the world. We also have
the highest rate of handgun crime.
and Martin Luther King Jr.
This law bans the import of the small,
cheap pistols known as Saturday Night
Specials. The law does not prohibit the
import of the parts for these guns, so gun
trol Inc. These two organizations, which
each claim more than a million members,
are fiercely competing with each other in
their lobbying efforts in Congress.
Contrary to what the National Ritle As-
HANDGUN CONTROL’S GOALS as
outlined in its literature are:
• Hailing the manufacture and sale of Sat-
urday Night Specials—that favorite weapon
of assassins which was used to kill John
Lennon and wound President Reagan;
• To check out handgun purchasers to make
sure they do not have a history of mental
illness or a criminal record;
• To put behind bar^ anyone who uses a
handgun in a crime;
• To tighten control over the 170,000
handgun dealerships in America, and to get
pawnshops out of the business of selling
handguns; and
• To make tracing handgun ownership as
quick and easy as automobile ownership
These goals represent a sane and respon-
sible program for curbing handgun abuse.
After all, if we register automobiles and
license drivers shouldn’t we do the same
for an instmment as lethal as a handgun?
Opponents of handgun control often rally
around the Second Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution, which they claim guarantees
the people’s “right to bear arms."
In five separate decisions, the U.S. Su-
preme Court has ruled that this amendment
is intended to be a privilege for a "people's
militia," rather than for individuals. The
actual amendment reads:
“A well-regulated militia, being neces-
sary to the security of a free State, the right
of the people to keep and bear arms, shall
not be infringed."
The North Texas Dally
68tti Year
North Texas State University Denton, Texas
Printed by the North Texas State University Printing Office
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The North Texas Daily (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 68, No. 110, Ed. 1 Friday, June 14, 1985, newspaper, June 14, 1985; Denton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth723855/m1/2/: accessed August 15, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.