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Pane \.\ The Ki d and Black. Thursday. August 8. 1974
BILL DURRENCE, MITCHELL SHIELDS
THE OPINIONS OF
THE RED AND BLACK
Resignation ?
In the last day or two a
number of rumors have been
heard concerning the possible
resignation of President Richard
Nixon. While we believe that at
this time it would be best for the
nation to have someone other
than Nixon as President, we are
wary of his possible resignation.
This could be used to prevent
further investigation into his
activities, and this should not be
allowed.
Criminal neglect
Last week a reporter from The
Red and Black took off part of
two days to travel around cam
pus in a wheelchair. The purpose
of the experiment was to disco
ver what problems would face a
handicapped student, and the
results were both discouraging
and encouraging.
It was encouraging to find
that, despite the large number of
hills on campus, it is not impossi
ble to get around at the Universi
ty. It may take a handicapped
student extra time to get up the
hill that leads to south campus,
but it can be done. And it can be
done without help.
It was also encouraging to see
the reactions of University stu
dents. People were more than
willing to go out of their way to
help someone with a handicap,
and the help was rarely of the
patronizing sort. Most students
simply saw another student with
a need, and tried to fill it.
It was discouraging, however,
to see that even after overcoming
the natural barriers on campus
the handicapped student would
be stopped short by manmade
ones. Throughout the University
are numerous obstacles that the
average student doesn’t even
notice, but which can make the
difference between going to
school or staying out.
Things like stairs without
ramps: even if a student in a
wheelchair pulled himself up the
hill beside the library and made
it to north campus, he would still
be unable to enter the Academic
building, or Old College, or
Demosthenian Hall.
Things like high curbs without
sloped sections: it’s hard enough
to get a wheelchair up on a high
curb, but coming off is even
worse. !t can lead to sudden,
uncontrollable movement of the
chair or being spilled out on the
street.
Things like bathrooms without
special stalls, getting off is one
thing, getting back on another.
Things like buildings designed
for the handicapped, but which
can be reached only by stairs:
Park Hall is fine if you can get to
it.
The most discouraging thing
about all these problems is that
they are ones that can be easily
solved. Flattening a hill would be
difficult, but sloping a curb
would not.
John Cox of the Office of
Student Affairs is presently see
ing what could be done to make
the University more accessible
to handicapped students. He is
THE RED AND BLACK
Bill Durrence, editor
Eddie Brock Mitchell Shields
Business manager Executive editor
Carolyn Tatum, news editor: Tim McBrayer and Nancy Black, associate news
editors; Miriam Pace, feature editor: Rick Franzman. sports editor: Rowena
Andrews, photo editor: Thomas R Franklin, copy editor; Brad McColl, art
director: Stacv B McDani-l. production manager
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Inquiries concerning ads enniag mould ke
made at Ike katktett number <142-3411 >.
Ill cerretpoadrace should ke addressed la
Ike appropriate editor at 111 Journalism
BuiMing l nit rrslt> of Georgia. Ukeot. Geor
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regreseatallt e is Naliaoal Hoc at tonal Usee
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hakncriptlna Is tie pee seer.
Atmosphere of fear prevails
presently receiving information
from other schools and preparing
a report on what they have done.
The report will go to the Dean of
Students and from there, Cox has
said, it’s up to the administra
tion.
Cox has also said that even
were the administration to begin
alterations this fall it would take
up to three years for the Univer
sity to be completely accessible.
The question is why haven’t
these alterations been made in
the past? Building a ramp beside
a stairway — or in place of a
stairway, since non-handicapped
students could walk up it easily
— is no problem, and neither is
sloping curbs.
The problem seems to have
been with the members of the
student body, faculty and admi
nistration, For a long time there
has been very little awareness of
the handicapped person’s pro
blems, and, according to one
administration official who com
plained that his colleagues sim
ply “didn’t seem to care that
these people can’t get around,”
that awareness may still be
lacking.
It’s too late to help the handi
capped Georgia residents of the
past who were unable to go to
college because money wouldn’t
be spent to renovate buildings
and sidewalks. It’s too late to
help most people that are pre
sently of college age. But it’s not
too late to help the handicapped
student going through high
school.
It is criminal to keep someone
from the University because of
race or religion. It is no less
criminal to keep people out
because of physical capabilities.
The money for change is availa
ble now, but it is being used for
things like the renovation of
Conner Hall and the Fine Arts
Building. These are noteworthy
things, and the buildings need
improvement. But when priori
ties are drawn the handicapped
student should come first. It is
simply a question of which is
more important — to inconveni
ence a few students for awhile,
or continue to shut out complete
ly one entire segment of the
population.
We believe the worse crime is
the latter, and urge the Universi
ty administration to look closely
at Cox's proposals and institute
the ones that seem workable
immediately. We have already
wasted close to 200 years since
the University’s founding. We
cannot afford to waste any more.
There is on this University campus an
atmosphere of fear, a strong and perva
sive underflow that winds quietly through
and around the actions of faculty and
administrators Like most atmospheres
this fear is difficult
to pin down. It slips
quickly and surely
from any attempt to
grasp it. But it is
there, just as obvi
ous and cloying as
an invisible could of
carbon monoxide —
and quite as deadly.
As an underflow the fear identifies this
institution, and students attending here
for four years come to associate the
University with it. If it were to disappear
students returning at a later date would
feel vaguely lost: feel as if some sight so
common as to become invisible had been
removed, leaving them stranded in an
improved but unfamiliar land.
The fear has no
name or. rather, so
many names it has
lost identification. It
can be seen in the
profile of a teacher
who balances the
promotion guidelines
in his palm and
grimaces when ask
ed if they mean anything It can be seen
in the calm resignation of others, and all
too frequently it has. if no name, a place
of origin. More often than not, that place
is Old College.
A university should be a place for a
completely open exchange of ideas, a
place to learn and grow. The University
of Georgia unfortunately can’t complete
ly fulfill those requirements. Many of the
faculty and staff of this institution will
not look sideways unless they have
permission and approval from their
superiors first.
Whether or not this atmosphere of
restraint is an official policy of the
University, it is a real factor to contend
with because many people feel like there
CINDY POSTELL
is such a policy, although unwritten. It's
a little like a psychosomatic illness. Even
if il is an imagined condition, it's no less
real.
The evidence is everywhere. Commit
tee meetings wind up being closed
sessions. A professor in the law school
asked by The Red and Black for his
opinion on building a law school in
Atlanta wouldn't talk. He wasn't asked
about the law school's official position or
the University's. Just his opinion. But he
was afraid to have one.
The Red and Black office gets a
number of calls from people with
information on stories, and sometimes
the information is really good. But the
source won't identify himself. He's afraid
of losing his job
A professor from south campus was
talking with a Red and Black reporter
one day. queslioning why northcampus
faculty had such a hard time with the
University administration. He went on to
tell how independent they were on his
pari of campus and how they had no
trouble from the administration. After
Ihe conversation was over and the
reporter was leaving, the professor added
a fool note. "By the way. none of this is
for publication." No wonder he doesn’t
have any trouble.
In spring quarter of 1973, the faculty of
Ihe journalism school voted 25 to eight
asking for the dean's resignation. After
all lire smoke cleared from the executive
sessions and comittee meetings and the
president's meetings with all of the
University faculty some of the more
naive expecled miracles of communica-
lion lo begin taking place between Old
College and Hie rest of the campus. But
in Ihe coi ners, in hushed tones the word
whitewash kept popping out.
A little over a year later in the
journalism school things haven't changed
much. Or maybe they have. One of the
more adamant leaders of last year’s
"insurrection" now adamantly defends
(lie school against critical comments. He
lias seen the lignt and apparently it
UGA not very easy
tor black students
What makes college life?
You and I, me and you;
Sin, women, men, brew;
Fun, games, tricks to do ;
Pot, acid, smokes, glue.
You picture yourself in a certain
situation, and ask yourself, what is it like
to attend the University? The University
has a big reputation. It is one of the
largest educational institutions in the
nation, and has se
veral fields of study
that a student can
pursue. Even though
a large number of
people attend this
college, out of ar
approximate 22.00(
enrollment, only 50t .
of these students an *
black, a ratio of 1:44 With a comparison
like this, a student wonders what the life
of a black person on this campus is like.
Some students have said that it is
easier for a black person to "walk
through an eye of a needle than to come
to this college " It is not implied that a
black student won t be successful here,
but just that a black student will have a
TIM MCBRAYER
hard time while attending this college
The black students here are in a peculiar
situation, a handicapped one.
From student government elections
held last year, there were not enough
blacks here to endorse at least one
candidate into office Sure, several
blacks ran in the election, but none were
elected If all the black students voted for
a black candidate, there still would not
be enough votes to put a black into office.
What is 700 votes or 300 votes compared
to 2000 or 3000 votes? The people in power
certainly do not appeal lo the interests of
the blacks on this campus I'm not saying
it is altogether a bad political party, but
it's going to be pure fire for blacks under
the ONWARD party this fall.
It's hard to find anything about Athens
which appeals to blacks. Because there is
no radio station owned by blacks in this
city, black students do not have a wide
selection of music and must take whate
ver comes Surprisingly, several busi-
noses still tend to be discriminatory in
their actions Actually, a student will get
a picture of the situation for blacks in
Athens like that in the early sixties.
It s up to you
For many of you this coming fall will
he Ihe firsl quarter Dial you will have
attended litis University.
I've been here for lltree years and I
must admit I'm nnl looking forward to
my last year with
any joy.
It's not because I
dislike Georgia but
it's heeuuse l know
that when litis com
ing June mils a-
rnund I will be al
the end til one mad
and ready In change
lo another.
Now. I don't consider myself the beer
drinking, hell raising Georgia student
wlm permeates the football games and
local drinking establishments. My loyal-
lies are more tow ard I he atmosphere Ihe
University creates — to Ihe friendships it
leads lo and lo Hie experiences it
provides for. And I'm bothered by the
though! ot leaving it
Bcvottd this dread ot leaving something
which 1 have grown to appreciate is a
greater dread of leav ing behind so much
mat I have'l taken the lime lo enjoy.
The word enjoy means a lot of different
tilings In different people but lo me it
means to experience tilings and be
tnanklul for having the chance to do so
And there are so many things on and
around Hits university campus to exper
ience You can choose lo become a part
ol organizations ranging from political
parlies to environmental clubs lo sport
ciulis to debating clubs lo chess elute to
llie National Organization for Women
\ W llll K H U K a group of friends and
myself were talking aboul the past three
years winch we had spent going to the
University. All of us admitled lo having
nol taken advantage of so much that was
i i We would remind each other of all
nt t -i nights when we would be back at
me duns nr apartment playing cards or
emanates from a green sheet of paper
wilh number on it
But fear is nol limited to faculty and
staff. Many studenls complain about
being second class citizens in this college
community. And lo a point they're right.
But the way to end that is not by burning
buildings or some other drastic measure
Every individual has a lol lo do with the
way iie is treated. If you act intimidated,
you will be. If you send letters to the
editor of The Red and Black and don’t
even have the nerve to sign your name to
your complaint, why should anyone listen
io Mr. or Ms. Anonymous.
If you don't like something, or don’t
understand something say "Why?" dam
mit. The lash wenl out years ago. The
potential for restriction lo your dorm is
gone loo. They can’l punish you for
asking questions.
The University, like any other college
or university, is here for Ihe primary
purpose of providing an education to
studenls. PERIOD. Any other function it
may serve may be well and good, but il
is definitely secondary. Research, foot
ball if know that's sacrilege), wild
parties or any other activity comes as i
result of the institution being here. It wai
put here to serve students. And somi
people need to be reminded of that ever;
so often.
As a slate supported university, Geor
gia is funded primarily by your tuitior
and tax money paid by you and youi
parents That makes the people that worl
here accountable to you and the taxpay
ei s of this state. As 18 year olds in the
slate of Georgia you are legally adults
In loco parentis" is no longer a valic
concept for a university to use in
supervising students. You have a righl
and a responsibility to know what it
going on around here. So, if you have •
question, ask it. Don’t hesitate. Don’t be
-intimidated.
And if you can't gel an answer from a
teacher, go lo your dean. Or ihe dean of
Student Affairs. Or the provost. Or even
President Fred Davison They work for
you loo They just need reminding
sometimes.
The University is your school. Make
the most of il Make it yours.
PAT MCGEE
watching TV. Meanwhile around the
campus things were going on which we
would never have a chance to get
involved in unless we look (lie lime (o do
Il lilt'll.
There had been so many concerts,
speakers, hints, recitals, seminars, fairs,
discussions, etc . Ilial we had neglected
lo lake Hie lime lo even investigate.
Of course there were Hie occasional
Cornells like Isaac Hayes. Chicago and
Elion John which almost all students
went to Bui Hie vast majority of us have
gone In lillle else.
Even though tills column may sound
like a commercial lied more lo ihe
administralion than lo students, that
actually isn't Ihe case simply because
studenls are Ihe creators and presenters
ot Ihe large majority ol these activities.
I also realize Hits column may read like
a confession. And in a way it is —
because many limes confessions are
made lo keep others from making Ihe
same mistake.
And h would be a mistake for you. the
freshman. nr you Ihe student who still
has a year or two lo go before college life
ends, lo nol lake Hie lime lo look into
some of the tilings ilia! are happening all
around you
YOU CAN get involved in different
things. No one can do it for you. The
notices will appear. Ihe ads will run and
me activities will occur with or without
you Only you can decide lo gel involved.
College only comes aboul once a life
lime. Even though while we are here
most of us like lo say how much we
dislike Hie place, we know deep down
inside dial Hus campus is like a haven.
We don'i have lo worry aboul a lot of the
problems which we will have lo worry
about when we graduate This is logical
bui it's also something which we don'i
lake advanlage of. Whether or not you
lake advanlage of your opportunities is
up lo you.
It's time for the big
University breakout
Even within a stale penitentiary, there
are varying degrees of confinement.
There's Hie prison itself, the yard, the
cell blocks. Bui if you're nol careful, you
max gel rcslrictcd lo a slill smaller area
— the special cell
block, all lour or
five stories of it.
where they keep the
troublemakers If
that's Hie case, then
all you'll see Is your
own special exercise
yard and your cell.
Tlie cell itself has
enough room for Iwn
bunks along Ihe wall, a sink, a toilet and
lillle else.
Yet some inmates prefer to remain in
prison even with restriclions such as
these. For some it is a more familiar,
more comfortable world than the one
outside, one they can deal with heller
As the doors clanged shut behind me on
my way out of prison. I shuddered for
lliose who remained inside. I had
"served" only one afternoon there, and I
was inside on business rather than at the
requesl of the state On the other hand. I
served four years at the University Now
I'm back again, which I suppose makes
me a Iwo-lime loser, and I've discovered
certain similarities between Ihe two
stale-supported institutions
HERE, TIM), there are varying degrees
of confinement ThetV5 the town, the
campus, tlie schools And here, if you're
nol careful, you may restrict yourself to
a still smaller area — a department, a
dorm, a house, an apartment or, smallest
ol all. yourself.
Each ol these offers Ihe same satisfac
tions that prison offers inmates — a more
luitnliar, comfortable world that's easier
to deal with (There's always less risk'
living williin walls, bui less excitement
as well.)
Most of my first stretch at the
University was served in the worst kind”
ol confinement - solitary. Some of the
worst walls are the ones you build
you* self, and I built plenty. They were
constructed mostly out of fear - fear of*
rejection, of making an ass out of myself.
And my walls served their purpose I
seldom got rcjecled and seldom made an
assoul of myself (vegetables seldom do).'
Bui I wasn't very satisfied, either
Psychic masturbation is as lonely as any
oilier kind.
In llie years since I was first here, I've
learned lo be more open I’ve taken quite
a lew knees in llie psychological groin as
a result, but the memories and the
expectations more than make up tor it. I
tmd Ihe open stance is much more
comfortable than sitting with my nose in
my navel and my thumb up my ass
Bui I'm sure I'll still wind up spending*
some time in self-inflicted solitary All I
can do is watch myself and try to keep
the walls down.
A final word to my fellow inmates,
some of whom seem lo be as ttghtlv
wal.ed In as I always used to be- It's
time tor Hie big break-out Pass it on