Callers

The idea that Baltimore County students who want to attend a school prom must participate with a parent in a drug and alcohol awareness meeting is favored by two-thirds of the callers to SUNDIAL. Of 303 callers, 204 say such meetings should be required in all county schools, while 99 callers (32 percent) disapprove of such a requirement.

Nearly 83 percent of callers to SUNDIAL think hospitals should not release information on patients' identities or injuries and think the public does not have a right to such information.Of 294 callers, 244 said hospitals should withhold the information from news reporters, and 50 callers (17 percent) said they should not. Fifty of 293 callers (17 percent) said the public has a right to know the information, and 243 callers disagreed."It's Your Call" represents a sampling of opinions from certain segments of the community, but it is not balanced demographically, as would be done in a scientific public opinion poll.

More than 87 percent of callers to SUNDIAL, or 275 of 314 callers, say Congress and the White House are not doing enough to help the economy. Thirty-nine callers, or 12 percent, are satisfied with their performance.Business, consumers and investors need to do more to boost the economy, in the opinion of 253 out of 316 callers (80 percent). Those three groups do not need to do more, according to 63 callers (19 percent)."It's Your Call" represents a sampling of opinions from certain segments of the community, but it is not balanced demographically, as would be done in a scientific public opinion poll.

Nearly 57 percent of callers to SUNDIAL, or 285 out of 502 callers, say Clarence Thomas should be confirmed as a Supreme Court justice. The 43 percent against confirmation represents 217 callers.Fully 69 percent of 499 callers, or 345, guess that Thomas will be endorsed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, and 154 callers (30 percent) say he won't."It's Your Call" represents a sampling of opinions from certain segments of the community, but it is not balanced demographically, as a scientific public opinion poll would be.@

The Federal Reserve Board's move in lowering the discount rate on loan interest to banks will not boost the economy, according to a majority of callers to SUNDIAL. Of 296 callers, 167 (56 percent) say the move will not help the economy, and 129 callers (43 percent) say it will.Of 295 callers, 190, or 64 percent, say they would not be encouraged to spend more if banks lower their consumer loan rate, while 105 callers, or 35 percent, say they would spend more.

Sixty-three percent of SUNDIAL respondents, representing 195 of 308 callers, say they do not donate blood, while 113 callers, or 36 percent, say they do.Of 190 non-donors who explained their position, 26 (13.6 percent) said they fear "contracting AIDS, etc." Twenty callers (10.5 percent) said they do not feel a compelling reason to give blood. Seven callers (3.6 percent) said they object on religious grounds, and 137 callers (72.1 percent) said they have other reasons."It's Your Call" represents a sampling of opinions from certain segments of the community, but it is not balanced demographically, as a scientific public opinion poll would be.

Callers to SUNDIAL, by a vote of 147 to 126, say TV and still cameras should not be allowed in courtrooms. That works out to 53 percent against, 46 percent in favor.In a stronger disagreement among 273 callers, 221 (nearly 81 percent) say jury selections should not be televised, while 52 callers (19 percent) would favor it. Of 270 callers, 205 (nearly 76 percent) say jury selections should not be photographed by still cameras, and 65 (24 percent) disagree.Courtroom trials should not be televised, say 151 of 268 callers (56 percent)

More than two-thirds of callers to SUNDIAL say they are not watching live TV coverage of the William Kennedy Smith rape trial, but most say they have seen video footage on TV news shows.Of 478 callers, 319, or 66.7 percent, say they are not watching the live trial, while 159 (33 percent) say they are. Of 476 callers, nearly 80 percent, or 379 callers, have seen TV news footage, and 97 callers (20 percent) say they haven't.In a close vote, 239 of 468 callers, or 51 percent, say the identity of the alleged rape victim should be withheld, and 229 callers, nearly 49 percent, say it should be revealed.

Investors should have a say in executive salaries, according to 88 percent of callers to SUNDIAL, or 228 of 257 callers. Twenty-nine callers (11 percent) disagree.Similarly, nearly 90 percent of the callers (227 of 253) say companies should disclose executive compensation, while 26 callers (10 percent) oppose the notion.A federal regulatory ruling giving shareholders of publicly held companies a say in executive compensation probably will make all corporate boards rethink the question of pay for top officers, in the opinion of 171 of 251 callers (68 percent)

Before a tentative agreement was reached yesterday over the two-day work stoppage by clerks of Local 953 of the International Longshoremen's Association at the Port of Baltimore, callers to The Evening Sun's SUNDIAL overwhelmingly felt the state should stay out of the dispute.The majority of the 1,392 callers (875, 63 percent) said Gov. William Donald Schaefer should not involve the state in the dispute, while 37 percent (517 callers) said the state should get involved.Sixty-five percent (896 callers)