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The Ked and Black. Wednesday. May 1, 1974
BILL KING
THE OPINIONS OF
THE RED AND BLACK
'They were all so cute'
r
Student judiciary
The Student Judiciary has
been getting quite a bit of
exercise lately with the suits
against the Black Student Union
and Young Socialist Alliance and
with all the questions about the
Student Government elections.
Along with these cases came
publicity and many students
realized how little they actually
knew about the student judicial
system, how it works, what
questions it decides and how
binding its decisions are.
We hope readers have paid
close attention then to the series
concluding on the front page
today about the judiciary. We
hope it informed students as to
the functions and limitations of
the judiciary and its relationship
to students.
The judicial system for all its
anonymity, is quite an operation.
It is one of the few places on
campus where one can find
students making decisions about
other students. The Student Body
Constitution and a resolution of
the University Council grant the
Student Judiciary the "authority
to conduct hearings and to adju
dicate cases arising under Uni
versity student regulations.” So
as far as abridgements of Uni
versity regulations go, the judici
ary has total power of decision
making in student cases.
With that much power, it
seems that students should be
much more aware of how the
judicial system works. Perhaps
now that an amendment to the
Student Body Constitution was
approved by the students in the
recent election providing for
open hearings of cases unless the
defendant requests otherwise,
more students will have an op
portunity to sit in on the proceed
ings of the judiciary and learn
how it is operated.
They say that nostalgia is valuable
because if we look at what we were in the
past, we might be able to see what we
will be in the future. If that is so, the
generation that grew up on the television
of the 1960’s could
end up as a very
strange group. In
fact, we may aiready
be that way.
It's hard to believe
that the sixties are
already part of that
misty-eyed realm
known as "the good
ole days " When I
think of nostalgia. I
normally think of the
various fads glorifying the roaring twen
ties, the old movie stars, etc. of the
forties and, of course, the fabulous fifties.
But that is not OUR nostalgia, not those
of us who came in on the tail end of the
baby boom (around 1952) and grew up
with JFK, LBJ and Walter Cronkite.
Those of us who revel in those other
eras from the past are borrowing the
nostalgia of our parents and older
brothers and sisters W.C. Fields, the
Marx Brothers, Harlowe, and even Elvis
belong to the others. We have The
Beatles, The Man from U.N.C.L.E , The
Flintstones. Captain Kangaroo and Wally
and Beaver.
(We all share Dick Clark and in all
probability, he will be part of the
nostalgia of the seventies and eighties,
too).
While music is a part of our nostalgia,
it is not quite the same thing After all. a
song is a golden oldie six months after
it’s released No, the true barometer of
the growth of the children of the sixties is
television, for better or worse.
We are the first generation to grow up
completely on television and that fact has
undoubtedly had its effect on the way we
think and act. We watched television and
thought of it as some sort of mirror of
American life. The problem was, the
image reflected by that mirror was
distorted.
The shows that probably had the most
insidious effect were those that supposed
ly portrayed contemporary life. We
watched those situation comedies like
“Leave It To Beaver" and "My Three
Sons" and saw Hollywood's version of the
American Family. We unconsciously took
in what we saw as the ideal, the way
things are supposed to be. but in reality,
things never were that way.
It s like growing up seeing nothing but
the airbrushed beauties in Playboy
magazine. Things just aren't that way in
real life Those are not REAL women,
and a child who thought they were would
have distorted values and a distorted
view of the opposite sex and would
We are glad this amendment
passed, of course, since the
hearings may now be open to the
press, but also because it will
give students this opportunity to
have a deeper working know
ledge of the judicial system
which presides over the Univer
sity community.
Open records
We are pleased by Student
Government Association Presi
dent-elect J Rivers Walsh’s an
nouncement yesterday that ON
WARD will release a complete
record of all its campaign expen
ditures and a list of those people
involved in Friends of ONWARD
next week.
The controversy surrounding
Friends of ONWARD and the
party’s expenditures caused the
candidates in the runoff to focus
on charges and counter charges
of foul play rather than address
ing the issues. Left unexplained,
the controversy would spoil any
chance ONWARD has of success
fully leading SGA in the coming
year because SGA's effective
ness largely depends on the
amount of trust the student body
has in its officers.
So, along with the lists we hope
ONWARD plans to give us an
adequate explanation of the role
FOO played in the election, how
and where ONWARd got its
contributions of money, beer and
transportation, and why the In
terfraternity Council allowed
contributions to ONWARD to be
channeled through it.
When ONWARD’s case involv
ing FOO and expenditures comes
before the Student Judiciary next
week these questions will be
answered. It would be to ON
WARD’s distinct advantage to
answer them before that time.
We hope ONWARD gives us
adequate answers soon.
letlersSlelleis
YSP continues to fight for change'
TO TIIK EDITOR:
Thu Young Socialist Party candidates
for SGA office in last month's election
fought an aggressive and principled
campaign, centered around program of
struggle They pointed out why SGA is
powerless (which everyone admits), what
students should do about it. and what
program SGA should press for We of the
Young Socialist Alliance, who fully
supported the YSP campaign effort,
regard the campaign as a valuable start
in the building of movements for social
change in this part of Georgia — the
women's movement, the black struggle,
the tight of workers to defend their jobs,
and the struggle of youth for a useful
education.
Other election campaigns are going to
continue these struggles. We don't mean
the campaigns of the democratic and
republican politics that will come waltz
ing onto the campus promising us ' law
and order'' and "clean government.'' We
mean the candidates of the Socialist
Workers' Party: Vince Eagan for Gover
nor. and James Harris for fifth District
Congress. Elizabeth Lariscy for Senator
and Anne Teesdale for Lt. Governor.
Like Eve Allen, the socialist candidates
will be offering the voters a program of
struggle They will be telling the people
what they can do to defend their rights
and incomes from attack, no matter who
is elected
The socialist candidates support the
repeal of the anti-labor “right to work''
law. automatic wage increases to com
pensate for price increases, neighborhood
committees of workers and consumers to
regulate price increases, a crash program
of public works (schools, hospitals,
parks, and mass transportation systems),
and the abolition of all discriminatory
hiring practices.
Despite all the rhetoric against "forced
busing.' none of the hacks running for
office this year is willing to give the
Black people of this state any voice in the
projects and policies which are supposed
to benefit Blacks the most The socialist
m
THE RED AND BLACK
Susan Wells, editor
Rrck Monroe
Business manager
Bill King
Executive editor
Joyce Murdoch and Jo Hutto, news editors. Deborah Blum and Edie McLaunn
associate news editors; Michelle Green, feature editor. Meryl Nash, associate
feature editor; Ed Kimble and Laurie Gregory, city editors; Len Pagano state
editor. Tony Biancardi. sports editor; Steve Bums, associate sports editor;
Allyn Roland, copy editor; David Breslaucr. photography editor Ed Parker
wire editor. Brad McColl, art director; Brad Bledsoe and Robin Sherman
production managers
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candidates call for all public works
programs, schools, and police units in the
Black communities of this state to be
controlled by officials democratically
elected by the community.
Despite all the rhetoric against high
taxes, the socialists stand alone in calling
for the abolition of all taxes on incomes
of less than $15,000 a year and a 100
percent tax on all incomes over $30,000 a
year.
The socialist candidates support the
passage of the Equal Rights Amendment
(ERA), free abortion and contraception,
and free 24-hour child care controlled by
the women in the community that use it.
The platform of the socialist candidates
calls for a too percent tax on the profits
of industries which collaborate in the
rape of our natural environment. Pollu
tion standards should be set and enforced
by committees of workers and consumers.
The party which nominated Eagan.
Lariscy. Teesdale. and Harris, the Social
ist Workers' Party, has been subjected to
severe harassment by Federal Agents
ever since 1945 It has been admitted by
the government in recently released
documents that the SWP has been
harassed by government informers; bug
ging. illegal break-ins. and burgalaries of
campaign headquarters. FBI "inter
views" of relatives of party members;
and tampering with mail addressed to
SWP offices
The party, jointly with the YSA. is
suing to have these practices stopped If
the suit is successful, it will be a victory
for the rights of every political organiza
tion in this country The Political Rights
Defense Fund (PRDF) is raising money
and seeking endorsements to build public
support for the suit. YSA members on
this campus will be staffing a PRDF
table in front of Memorial Hall this week
and next week Stop by and rap with us
about how you can help change the
svstem.
that student rights come before all else.
Sorry that not enough realized how
desperately we need a black cultural
center. Sorry that everyone didn't realize
that each student is a minority, and to
discriminate against one is to open the
door for discrimination of all
1 also feel sorry for Paula Cheatham.
She labored through the entire campaign
under the misconception that issues
speak louder than personalities, that a
strong stand is worth a thousand beers;
and that you don’t have to grow a beard
to become President.
We may have lost the election We may
have a minority in the Senate But
Coalition, now as always, stands ready to
fight for the rights of the individual
student. Our stands may not be the most
popular, but I. for one. am glad — no.
not glad. Proud to be a member of
Coalition
could show you the pictures I have.
2) The veterinarian who they did get to
work there . quit because of a conflict
with the County Commissioners.
3) The County Commission has prom
ised action to the Dog Control Advisory
Board but has done very little it
anything.
Okay, here is a worthwhile cause. And
there are many more one of which is the
Athens Zoo So, lets see how good you
people are at acting and working for a
cause instead of bitching about things.
This world needs help Put your beer
cans down, get off your butt, and work at
something worthwhile, or forever hold
your peace.
People interested in the Animal Shelter
can reach me at 549-5713 or through the
R&B
WALLY IILGGINS
CARL SCOTT
Work will
improve world'
Activities need
better coverage'
TO TIIE EDITOR:
TO THE EDITOR:
STEVE CROSS
Coalition stands
student rights'
TO THE EDITOR:
As a member of Coalition I was deeply
disappointed in the election results of last
week I was sorry; however, not for
myself, but for the students of the
University. Sorry that only 1700 realized
A couple of days ago. I wrote a letter
which was written not so much to defend
Nixon as to arouse people to the fact that
there is work to be done at all levels to
clean up and better this country.
It is a little known fact, that Watergate
is not the only news worthy event Nor
should we spend our time digging at the
past of any individual searching for
faults I was very tempted in my last
letter to mention the names of both
Democrats and Republicans who have
been guilty in the past of anything from
cheating on tests to receiving hush
money
Some of the names may have surprised
you and could possibly have helped prove
my point that Nixon didn't invent or even
practice dishonesty to the extent that
some other people did
These people are still in office today In
any case, our energies should be mainly
focused on the vital work to be done both
in Athens and the rest of the world
Example: The Clarke County Animal
Shelter is in need of a great deal of atten
tion and hard work My information is
spotty and incomplete but let me tell you
what I know in a concise list
1) The place is a disease trap; ! wish 1
probably become disillusioned by the ■
truth. Life is not a pair of 48's.
In the same manner, life is not Wally
and Beaver and Ward and June. No
family ever really acted like that. #
“Leave It To Beaver” was American life,
but airbrushed beyond recognition.
Ward, the father of the Cleaver clan,
alternated between being portrayed as«
very wise and very foolish (mostly the
latter). June's characterization as the
mother consisted of wearing dangling
earings (all the time) and setting the ,
table. She was real good at setting the
table.
Wally, the older brother, was perfect.
He didn’t smoke, drink, cuss or "mess,
around." He was an all-star athlete and
everything else an American boy should
be.
Beaver was the typical cute little kid.
He was a little sloppy and he didn’t talk
too-good, but that didn't matter because
he was SO CUTE! The only problem was,
Beaver started to grow up and then he
wasn't so cute anymore, so the series
was canceled.
While it was on though, it gave us the
picture of American family life as it
should be, even if it wasn't. Ward worked
in a nondescript white collar job and
always came home at the same time. He
always wore a coat and tie at the dinner
table. June was always dressed to the hilt
and when she wasn’t setting the table,
she told Ward how worried she was about
the boys.
The boys were always getting into*
some difficulty (like getting caught in a
white lie) but things always worked out
in the end Remember, boys will be boys,
and besides, Beaver was cute. *
Eddie Haskell, the only semi-normal
character in the whole show was, of
course, portrayed as the ultimate rat.
Then there was the situation in “My •
Three Sons." in which Fred MacMurray
played widower (and later remarried)
father to an ever increasing brood. By
the time the series had run its course,*
Fred had about four generations of his
family all living happily under the same
roof. And guess what...they were all cute,
too! •
There were two story lines used in this
show (one more than Lucy ever used). In
the first, Steve (Fred) was out of town
until the end of the episode when he«
would come home and solve whatever
that week's problem was in the last -two
minutes of the show. The second storyline
consisted of Steve being befuddled He.
was supposed to be an aeronautical
engineer, but he still managed to be
befuddled a lot.
Kind old Bub (and later Uncle Charley),
was always there to give sage advice, but
wasn't good for much else. They used to
get one of the daughters-in-law to set the
table.
And who could forget Ozzie and
Harriette and Ricky and Dave? Ozzie
(who in the umpteen years the show was
on the air never went to work) spent his*
days wandering around in his comforta
ble old sweater. He whispered a lot.
Harriette was extravagant and the
boys (especially Ricky) were talented ,
And cute They were all cute In fact, the
family seemed to live on the money Rick
made by singing and being cute.
Most situation comedies of the sixties,
followed along the same lines. The father
was a fool, the mother was beautiful and
dumb, and the kids were cute. Also, they
all had a dog The same dog. He made a,
killing.
It was all very enjoyable and very cute
and very safe and very unreal. It was
pablum. and we were brought up on a*
constant diet of it.
Our families weren't like the ones on
TV. No families were like the ones on TV.
Yet because the indoctrination went on*
nonstop for so long, a lot of kids grew up
thinking that something was wrong with
their families because they weren't like
the Cleavers or the Nelsons or the,
countless other TV families
Other attitudes were pounded into kids,
like mothers having nothing better to do
than set tables while father knew best*
(even if he was a fool). And who knows
what other damage was done to countless
little impressionable psyches?
Obviously, our nostalgia does not really„
indicate what we were, only what we
were exposed to Hopefully, we weren't
damaged too badly by what we saw on
TV Golly gee, I sure hope I wasn’t,
affected!
On Saturday. April 27. the annual
Sigma Chi Derby Day competition took
place at the Clarke Central High School
football field Members of 17 sororities
and numerous fraternities on campus
either actively participated in or viewed
the events With streaking and campus
elections being notable exceptions, no
other campus participatory event has
drawn such a crowd.
Therefore, 1 considered that Sigma Chi
Derby Day should be classified as a
newsworthy event Apparently The Red
and Black did not agree with my opinion
There has been no mention of Derby Day
activities at all
1 contend that this is a serious omission
of an extremely newsworthy event. While
some would disagree with its newsworth-
yness because it was a totally Greek-ori
ented activity that served no obviously
useful purpose. I should point out that it
is newsworthy because of the large
number of University students who
participated.
In the future I would suggest that The
Red and Black make the effort to be
aware of and to have adequate coverage
of all types of significant campus
activities. After all, it is students who
compose the majority of your readers
Letters Policy
Letters to the editor
should:
• Be typed, double spaced,
on a 60-space line.
• Be brief, to the point.
JENNIE (FIG) NEWTON
Pi Beta Phi
• Include name, address
and phone number of contri
butor.
Names will be withheld for
good reason upon request,
but must bear the above
information.
Letters are subject to
editing for style and libel
laws as well as for space
limitations.
Mail letters to The Red and
Black, 130 Journalism build
ing, University of Georgia,
Athens, Ga. 30802, or bring by
130 Journalism building