North Carolina Now; 4023; Interview with UNC Chancellor Michael Hooker

It's Wednesday July 30 for us tonight. Female candidates breaking new year medical ground in North Carolina now. Good evening everyone I'm reading it right welcome to this Wednesday edition of North Carolina now. The chancellor of USC Chapel Hill will be here this evening. Dr. Michael Booker is going to talk about his efforts to bring the problem of substance abuse on the Chapel Hill campus under control. And more and more women are slowly entering the world of politics in our state. Shannon victory will take a look and it has been a busy day at the General Assembly with lawmakers taking a giant step towards reaching a final budget deal. We'll have more on that in our upcoming news segment. But first another issue has also received a lot of attention today down at the legislative building. There is mixed reaction to yesterday's

court decision giving lawmakers until next April to redraw North Carolina's congressional districts. Attorney Robinson Everett who challenge the constitutionality of the current district before the U.S. Supreme Court says he hopes to appeal that decision. Everett wants to have the new boundaries for the congressional districts drawn before the November election. And this legal wrangling is underway because the U.S. Supreme Court decision in June which ruled our state's 12th District unconstitutional because according to the court the boundaries were drawn primarily on the basis of race. Much of the reaction at the General Assembly today as you might expect was along party lines. Here's what some of the lawmakers had to say about the rolling. I think the decision was a very good decision a very sound good is made as good chaos if we do this it was good to go. Think about it. Just because you think you districts are clearly unconstitutional in that

respect it's disappointing that we did not go ahead and correct the situation. But that's the court's decision and we'll just make plans for me to begin to do it. There had never been a case where primary candidates had already been selected and the court forced new primaries. This would have been the first time that had ever been done and the court decided not to break precedent and in order for a fair election process to occur we were talking to coalitions life for example the Black Caucus to see if they were going in and presenting a plan. And so we were ready. The court had given us to greenlight. It could be done. There are certainly maps out there that are already drawn. Understand there were maps that were available to the judge panel so it's not an impossible thing we can do that which I think that we'll be able to draw a better plan this time.

The Justice Department forced us to draw the districts that we drew last time. So we'll now have a little freer hand to draw districts that are more compact that have more complete counties. And I think the people will be happier with the new plan we come up with in 1997. I guess if you had to say there was a loser it would be people. North Carolina congressional district the Supreme Court. I think people don't have to go through. I think it's certainly to their advantage because they wanted to wait. They feel like it's probably to our party because I have every reason to believe that we can hold all of those congressional people that we elected in the 12th district Congressman Mel Watt has issued this statement in reaction to yesterday's court ruling.

Quote I am delighted that the Court has delayed a redrawing of North Carolina's congressional districts until 1997. Citizens of North Carolina deserve to have the districts drawn in a thoughtful and deliberative manner and not in a crisis like atmosphere. Now on to other information on the political front. Last May more than 100 women were candidates and primaries across the state. Many of those women won and are now campaigning for the general election this November. At the same time a national organization called women's vote 96 is calling for North Carolina women to become more politically active. In fact organizers say Tarheel women could decide who is elected to the state's top positions. But as Shannon Vicary reports some women who are already politically active say that when it comes to politics and North Carolina Women are often under represented. Well I'm not running for council of state because I'm a woman to win a gold medal because on the first woman to be elected. But it is way past time that North

Carolina be represented by a woman qualified woman on the council of state this November. And Duncan is one of two women who hope to do what no other North Carolina woman has ever done to get elected to the Council of State. North Carolina is ready. And North Carolina. I don't believe have has a problem with women serving. I think women have just not run enough for these offices because it is awfully expensive to run statewide and it's a real commitment. I mean ha you really is I mean I know you're right Secretary so didn't you. Democrat Elaine Marshall is also running hard for the record books. She wants to become the first woman to be elected as secretary of state and that means campaigning at Bestival all across North Carolina like this one in Johnston County. Oh a lot of people ask why do you think women are getting a slow start and what have you and it's frequently because

women have dual roles in society that society hasn't decided are always compatible. Think women feel a double bind. Frankly I think for younger women particularly women who have families there is a double standard for men who are the same age group who decide to run for office having children isn't an issue. If you're a woman and you want to run for public office I think that's something that you feel you have to apologize for or explain in some way. Mary Dalton is president of the North Carolina Women's Political Caucus It's a nonpartisan group that's trying to recruit rural North Carolina women to run for political office. Women are half the population roughly. And that that's the sort of representation that we need at all levels of state and local government. But Dalton admits North Carolina has a long going to go to reach that point. According to the latest census data women make up more than 52 percent of the state's population. However when it comes to representation in the North Carolina Senate

only seven out of 50 senators or 14 percent are women. That in who is right or to your senator Betsy Cochran we found a lot of women get involved in politics because of a special. Problem or something that they are advocates for and they see this as the venue for actually implementing what they as an advocate thinks can make a difference. But Cochrane says the majority of women still seem to work mainly in local organizations with few crossing over to elected office. Even in the North Carolina House of Representatives only 22 out of the 100 20 representatives 18 percent are women. Well I think that a great number of women feel that it is just a it's a man's thing that it's an area for men. There are very qualified women who are out here in our communities who could go and do a real good

job. But they don't want to take the the ridicule that they sometimes get from Mina which say is that it's not time for women the same type of ridicule McAlister received back in 1980 when she made her first bid for the North Carolina house. She says some people have been down at her because of her gender and her race. There were those who felt that. It just wasn't time for a woman and I was actually told this is not one point it is not time for a black woman. McAllister is quick to point out that Tarheel women have made large strides over the past few years when it comes to the political arena. She herself is currently campaigning for a fourth term but is it enough. Based on our population in this state I do feel that women are under-represented. I feel that it is hopefully as we move on into the 21st century that more women will

be convinced that they can run and win and will want to have some input into legislating for our constituents and for the people of North Carolina. Thats where the North Carolina womens political caucus and state leaders say they are. Must you the most about argument convince here men are women are to seek him like an office. No when women feel less comfortable saying here I am I'm a candidate worth a thousand dollars and I contribute this to the campaign because I'll be a great person without once I'm elected. When for some reason our are less comfortable initially doing that than men seem to be. It's an uphill battle for women but as you can see out of the 22 we have there are some women who are committed to proving that they can go and serve in the house and as the seven women who were in the Senate and regardless of party preferences they all say

women play a special right and I don't like process I think to bring our perspective to the process. I think women by and large are more consensus builders. They like for agreement to be reached. We are less confrontational. The lived experience of women is different than the lived experience of men. That doesn't mean that it's better or worse it doesn't mean that women are uniformly better candidates. My argument is that women bring a different set of experiences to the plate to the table and that for us to get a variety of perspectives when we're looking at these issues that are important to all of us it is necessary for us to include the experience of women in those deliberations and come this November talking to voters have a chance to add even more to those deliberations perhaps even some impositions never before held by a woman. If you're interested in learning more about how North Carolina women feel about the

issues affecting our state during this election year a coalition of women's groups is holding a seminar called making democracy work for women. On Saturday August 24th in Greensboro and if you would like more information call 9 1 0 3 7 3 2 3 9 0. Later in the program you would see a Chapel Hill chancellor Michael hooker talks about his newly established substance abuse task force. But before we get to our interview segment it's time to check in with Michel Louis at the North Carolina now news desk for a summary of today's STATE not wide news including the latest from the legislature Mitch. Thanks Maria. Good evening everyone. The end may be in sight for the special session of the General Assembly. House Speaker Harold drew Baker and Senate President Pro Tem Mark bass tonight said today they believe they can iron out the remaining details of a budget plan by this Friday House and Senate conferees took a big step in that direction today with an agreement on a tax plan. The proposal includes a provision to cut the state's food tax from 4 to 3 percent beginning January 1st of next year. The corporate income

tax would also be reduced from seven and three quarters percent to six point nine percent over a four year period. Businesses would also receive incentive tax credits for hiring new workers worker training research and development and new equipment. There are also unconfirmed reports that the two chambers are very close to agreement on the issue of pay raises with teachers getting a 5 percent raise and other state workers getting a four and a half percent raise the increases would take effect on September 1st. An escalating battle between the state chapter of the end of a CPA and members of one of its founding families has taken on new proportions. The Alexander family is no longer allowing the North Carolina chapter to use the name of Kelly Alexander Sr. and promotions and colluding a major service award named in his honor. Alexander was president of the state chapter for 36 years as well as a strong influence in the national organization before his death in 1985. Kelly Alexander Jr. says his father would be loyal to a mission not an organization. The junior Alexander

had been state president for 12 years but was suspended this past May on the grounds he used an authorized checks to pay the state's organization's bills. Alexander Jr. denies the allegations. The 16 campuses in the University of North Carolina system are looking for ways to head out head off for other future overcrowding. The General Assembly last year requested proposals from the schools on ways to accommodate an extra 40000 students by the year 2005. Campus planners are considering offering more summer school weekend and night classes as well as off campus degree programs. Each school must submit two plans one of which assumes no funds for buildings to us the president seating Spangler by the end of August and over crowd crowding is also a problem at the Duplin County Smart Start program. Some of the programs children and parents will be without daycare tomorrow because the Duplin social service department recruited twice as many students or children as it can afford. The program is meant to help the working poor provide quality daycare

for their children. The Duplin County program's director says some of the people losing daycare will be forced to quit school or their jobs. Army investigators say two recent graffiti incidents involving swastika like symbols are unrelated swastikas were found painted on a number of doors in a barracks on July 16th. Last Sunday swastikas and other white supremacist graffiti were painted on the floor and walls of a gas station during a robbery. The break in is being treated as a theft and the symbols as evidence. The president of the Fayetteville chapter of the end of the peace says he's satisfied with the Army's response to both events. And now for a look at tomorrow's weather a comfortable mid 80 degree day is predicted for much of the Tar Heel State. Highs around 85 should be felt around Charlotte eastward to the coast the mountains could be a full 10 degrees cooler variably cloudy skies and a 30 to 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms are forecast across the state. And in business news a U.S. district court judge has blocked the North Carolina railroad company from

implementing a new lease agreement with Norfolk Southern Corp. the state controlled railroad lacked the required quorum of outside shareholders when it approved the agreement last December. That ization may open the door to a stock buyout that could cost North Carolina 65 million dollars. Furthermore it could force the state to return seventeen million dollars to Norfolk Southern. The lease concerns three hundred seventeen miles of track with a current real estate value of over 500 million dollars. And Glaxo Wellcome is reporting a strong earnings increase with the first six months of 1996. The pharmaceutical giant had a 32 percent gain and profits to one point six billion dollars. The company's chief executive says the earnings confirm the payoff of Glaxo is hostile takeover of rival welcome in March of 1905. The American headquarters for the British company are based in Research Triangle Park. And now here's a look at what happened on Wall Street today. Addressing the problem of substance abuse on the campus of Chapel Hill is

the goal of a task force recently formed by chancellor Michael hooker task force includes 31 members representing faculty administrators and students. Here to tell us more about it is Dr. Michael hooker the chancellor of u and C Chapel Hill doctor. Thanks for being here. Thank you. I realize you have a very busy schedule and we appreciate you filling fitting us into that time. The tragic fire that took place on graduation Eve this past spring is of course what prompted this past. Well we've been looking at the issue of excessive drinking and substance abuse for the past year. It's been a focus of minds really since I came on campus. It is a problem all over the country it's not a problem just to Carolina but obviously the fire. Heightened their sensitivity to these issues not because the alcohol caused the fire or because alcohol caused the deaths they didn't but we did discover in the post-mortem autopsy that the students are at least four of the five who died were intoxicated. And these were some of the

brightest and best students that we have. And for me especially that it was so so tragic because students shouldn't be drinking to excess like that I mean there's just no reason for it. It is not healthy. It's not the kind of thing that we want. Carolina students to do it is not the kind of thing that they should do. We are not preparing them for life. If we allow this kind of culture to develop and to perpetuate itself without our trying to do something and that's of course the purpose of the taskforce you had mentioned that drinking takes place everywhere across the United States substance abuse was certainly a problem when I went to school in probably as well when you went to school. What makes you optimistic that this task force is going to make a difference. Actually a good deal older than you are and I don't think when I was a student at Carolina substance abuse was as much of a problem certainly drugs hadn't been discovered yet when I was a Caroline or were just coming to be discovered. But alcohol was in my recollection not nearly as great a problem and I think in part

because the drinking age then was 18 so everybody every student Carolina typically turned 18 in the freshman year and could go any place on Franklin Street and have beer and pizza and it was not a big deal it was not the forbidden fruit that it is now and it has acquired this character of something that is. It's cool to do. It starts in junior high school and it's a it's a sign of rebellion it is also unfortunately a way to become socially accepted among your peers. To drink to excess and it's a terribly dysfunctional aspect of the teenage culture that we have developed. But it is there and we have to do something about it. Drinking age was 18 when I was in school too but that's a whole nother topic. Let's talk about what you hope that this task force will accomplish what specific areas are you looking at. Well we recognize that we could impose a lot of draconian rules. It's been done before. It won't work. What we have to do is to

change the culture we have to to bring students awareness to the fact that it is dumb to drink to excess. It is dumb to take drugs it's illegal in the first place and one shouldn't be breaking the law but students know that. That is they know that it's illegal and they know that it has injurious consequences but somehow students of this age regard themselves as invulnerable and that that's terrible it's tragic and we've got to somehow crack that mentality so that we can begin to get students to buy into the solutions. And that's what I look to the task force to do to recognize that more rules will help. We've had rules. We have rules. That's not going to do it. We've got to get students to buy into the idea that this is not wise that is drinking to excess or taking drugs. It's just it isn't wise they shouldn't do it it's not what we want Carolina students to do. And we want them to have that value or that attitude themselves. Task force may help we hope it will. So you're looking more at establishing some sort of Education Project

processes or freshman orientations things that you've got to bring about value change attitudes change behavior change on the part of the students you cannot do it by imposing draconian rules from outside. It's going to have to be an internal change. And the only way that I know to bring about internal change is through some kind of education that gets student by hand. And that's what we'll be looking to for the to the task force to do. What about stricter enforcement of the current rules that are already there. Well we have last year we changed the rules on drinking substantially I mean no kids. Many changes we change the rules on fraternity rush this year for example this fall. So we've changed the rules already it's probably too soon to see whether those rule changes will make much of a difference. But I don't held out a lot of hope that changing the rules making them tougher is going to make it a great deal of difference I think it's the right thing to do. But we got to get student buy in with our students accepting the solutions the solutions will not have the effect that we desire for them.

The fraternity and the sorority houses are off campus any consideration there as to maybe buying up that land or doing something to bring those houses on to campus so you can have more control. Well we do. We do control the fraternities through recognizing them that is. University of North Carolina recognized student organizations. They do come within our purview in a way that an off campus apartment building wouldn't. So I don't want to pretend that we don't have the control we do have. On the other hand it is true that they are separate corporations they they own their own houses and we literally cannot impose rules on them that I don't think is of much of a problem as I say it's not about rules it's about attitude values and behavior. And there I think we have as much influence over the fraternities and sororities as we need. All right Dr. hooker I want to thank you so much for your time this evening. Thank you for coming out. Thank you. Another Tar Heel has grabbed the gold medal at the Summer Olympics in

Atlanta. Wrestler Kendall Krause of Raleigh claimed the top prize in the 125 pound class Cross had to defeat four opponents over two days to win the gold medal. Cross said he wouldn't be happy with anything less than the gold and he got as a wish. Congratulations Kendall. And that wraps up tonight's edition of North Carolina now thanks for being a part of it. Tomorrow as we kick off the month of August legislative correspondent Sonya Williams will tell us about the avenues lawmakers are exploring to improve the problems of domestic violence in our state. And Audrey Cates Bailey will take us on a tour of another of North Carolina's wonderful state parks. Enjoy the rest of your Wednesday evening and please make plans to join us tomorrow for another edition of North Carolina now. Goodnight everyone.