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The Red and Black. Thursday. April 3, 1075
PRESTON LEWIS ±
SGA can be made effective •
THE OPINIONS OF THE RED AND BL ACK
Ask Talmadge
U.S. Sen. Herman Talmadge
will be on campus today to be
inducted into the Alpha Zeta
agricultural fraternity. He will
also be available at several
locations on campus during the
day to speak and answer stu
dents’ questions.
Talmadge is in an excellent
position to be informed about the
issues, both on a national and
state level, that have an effect on
the people of Georgia and this
University. He has been active in
the Senate for a good many
years and has served on a
number of its committees.
One of the best ways to learn
about anything is to ask ques
tions of someone who is an
authority. Yet, probably all stu
dents heard talks where no one
will ask questions of the speaker,
despite the opportunity provided.
Whether from fear of embarrass
ment, or lack of interest, there
are merely blank stares and
coughs when questions are called
for.
By bringing Talmadge to the
campus, The University Union is
providing students with a good
opportunity to get out and ask
questions of someone who should
have some answers.
All students who are interested
in today’s political and economic
situation and who want more
information than they can get on
the 6 p.m. news should make an
attempt to hear Talmadge, ask
him some questions and make
his visit to this campus a
worthwhile one.
There is little doubt in my mind as to
how students at this University view their
Student Government Association Most
students, or rather those who voice their
opinion through campus media, deem the
present SGA struc
ture as inadequate
and not representa
tive of student view
point Perhaps their
criticism is justified,
and perhaps we
should attempt to
abolish our present
system in favor of
an unproven and untried alternative It is
my contention that SGA. as it presently
exists, can be made more effective and
more responsive to the needs of students
by establishing stronger lines of commu
nication with the University administra
tion Having served in the Student Senate
for the past two years. I realize that SGA
powers are severely limited However. I
also realize that nothing can be accom
plished in the interest of any students,
whether in the majority or the minority,
wihtout the support of the administration.
As SGA presidential nominee for the
FOCUS party. I have encountered per
sons who believe that FOCUS is a
continuation of last year’s ONWARD
party. Any statement to that effect is a
falsehood and perhaps a result of the
misconception that the FOCUS leadership
is made up of individuals who comprised
last year's ONWARD leadership I ran
for the Student Senate last spring on the
ONWARD ticket. I had absolutely no
input into the ONWARD platform or into
the selection of the ONWARD executive
nominees I chose to run with the
ONWARD party mainly because of its
philosophy which favored working with
the administration rather than against it
in order to effectively represent and
protect the interest of students. I empha
size my desire to work for students
through the administration and not for
the administration
I sometimes feel that people consider
me to have been one of the “ONWARD
leaders" in this year’s Student Senate. I
think this feeling is based on the fact that
I held the office of senate treasurer
during the Walsh administration My
election to that position was a point of
grave political controversy between the
Preston Lewis is FOCI'S' candidate for
president of the Student Government
Association.
ONWARD and Coalition forces in the
senate. I was elected treasurer on two
separate occasions, as injunctions were
filed in the student courts protesting my
initial election These injunctions, sup
ported by the Coalition leadership,
charged that my election was in violation
of the Student Body Constitution which
required the treasurer of the senate to
have served one full term in the senate.
The courts upheld this interpretation and
ruled that all acts performed during my
tenure were to be declared null and void.
Severe criticism was directed at me as
well as the "ONWARD-controlled” senate
for efforts to postpone another election
until I had an opportunity to examine the
possible avenues of appeal. It was the
feeling of a majority of the senate
membership, the elected representatives
of the student body, that I should be
afforded the opportunity of appeal and
that this question should be put to the
entire student body in the form of a
referendum. The referendum of last Nov
7. which provided that the president and
treasurer of the senate would not be
required to have served a full term in the
senate, passed by an overwhelming
majority. I was re-elected treasurer,
despite constant ridicule by my political
opponents for alleged manipulation of the
constitution by an “ONWARD-controlled’’
senate. I contend that it was the
responsibility of the senate to elect a
person they felt most capable or most
able to work in the best interest of all
students I would have never assumed
the office, however, had I not believed
myself to be constitutionally eligible.
Furthermore. I cannot understand how
my election could be so violently opposed
by the Coalition leaders as they nomi
nated and supported me for the office of
senate vice president following the 1974
spring SGA elections My political philo
sophy has indeed not shifted to the right.
I am often labeled “conservative." just
as I am often stereotyped “Greek " My
membership in a fraternal organization
has never influenced or affected my
political philosophy and my desire to
work for ALL students My voting record
in the senate, as well as all acts
performed by me as treasurer, exemplify
the fact that I have never acted against
' minority interests and have always sup
ported majority will
As is always the case in political cam
paigning, voters are constantly flooded ^ %
with suggestions regarding proposed
reforms that would make needed contri
butions to their welfare. It is the opinion
of many that political campaigning is # ^
based entirely upon issues. In the
University community, issues are coordi
nated around student needs and prefer
ences Therefore, if these needs and 0 M
preferences remain fairly constant, as is
often the case, perhaps candidates will
not be judged solely on issues, but also on
attitudes and approaches to these issues
I base my candidacy on positive ap- s
proaches in hopes of establishing strong
er communication between students and
administrators. Some strides in this ^
direction have been made this year and
hopefully, in bringing the administration
closer to the students, we will enhance
communication between students and t
provide more adequate channels for
student input If we prove ourselves to be
realistic in our approaches to solving
problems, perhaps SGA will be delegated
additional powers and responsibilities. * *
Admittedly. SGA is currently in many
ways inadequate, and perhaps at best
merely a channel for student input into
the University System. There are some #
positive aspects which command my
support, especially the SGA powers of
allocation of student activities monies. In
our efforts for reform and modification of #
the present system, let’s take due caution
not to destroy the rights, privileges and
responsibilities we now possess. Support
of my candidacy and the FOCUS ticket 0
will be an expression of desire to build a
stronger and more effective SGA through
positive and realistic approaches.
JIM MARIETTA
From farce to joke
The Hoot Hound Party has been a
relative unknown in the sideshow that is
campus politics until now. we hope
While other so-called political parties
have been spending Big Bux in a craven
attempt to garner support among the
disaffected. the
Greek, the neo-facist
and the stoned, the
Koots have been run
ning a low-key. cam
paign among the
cognoscenti, quietly
garnering support,
admiration and. yes.
even adoration. Any
way. we haven’t had tacky posters
printed, nor hav**»e dunned the party
faithful to buy radio time, so thanks, to
the good offices of this august Journal of
Prestige, we invite you to read of the
party of eclectic neo-surrealism, the koot
Hound Party.
The Koot Hounds promise, if elected, to
dedicate their efforts to the following
1) Removing from the masthead of The
Red and Black the words “Georgia’s only
collegiate daily newspaper ’ No publica
tion issued four times a week can
truthfully call itself a "daily.”
2) In an effort to reduce student health
fees, we plan to move the University
campus to Palo Alto. Calif, (with a pit
stop in Steamboat Springs. Colo, to get in
a little skiing) Milder weather will
Jim Marietta is the Koot Hound Party’s
candidate for president of the Student
Government Association.
decrease the amount of illness suffered
by students and your health fees can be
cut drastically.
3? Free beer, etc., in MemormL
4) Better allocation of student activity
•fees. Special interests have long control
led the dispensation of the vast amount of
your money collected each quarter
Professional and graduate schools have
been slighted A more efficient distribu
tion would permit a full range of
sponsored social events, with plenty of
funds left over for specialized activities
and the Memorial Hall Rathskeller. Only
the friends of currently powerful political
parties will suffer.
5) Memorial must not be demolished. A
new student center is needed but not at
the expense of destroying this architec
tural landmark
6) The Koot Hound Party is a
non-political, political party. Once voted
into elective office, the Koots will
dedicate themselves to constructive go
vernment and non government. No longer
will The Red and Black be filled with the
twaddle of political infighting and accu
satorial rhetoric, but there will be ample
space for poetry and other laconic drivel.
Because the executive slate of the Koot
Hound Party is new to campus politics,
we would like to introduce the candidates.
Jim Marietta, candidate for president,
is soft-spoken and has a red beard
Kxecutive vice presidential candidate
Art Chimes’ mother never forgave him
for declining the nomination for seventh
grade homeroom treasurer, and she
would be pleased if he won this election.
Martha Miller is our token woman, and
she’ll make a fine administrative vice
president She wears Earth Shoes.
This is clearly the greatest gathering of
minds assembled since University Presi
dent Dr. Fred C. Davison dined alone in
his office.
The Koot Hound Party will, with your
support, raise the level of student
government at this university from a
farce to that of a joke We. the
intellectual hedonists of campus politics,
pledge to you. our fellow students, the
kind of serious campaign and government
the SGA deserves
Letters Policy
Letters to the editor should:
•Be typed, double spaced, on a
60-space line
•Be brief, to the point
•Include name, address and phone
number of contributor
•Be original, rather than duplicates
of letters to other presons or publica
tions.
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.
lelteis^lellers
FOCUS already destroying credibility'
TO TIIK EDITOR:
In the current political campaign for
student government offices, the two
major parties have repeatedly focused on
the question of corruption in previous
SGA administrations Candidates from
both Coalition and FOCI’S have advo
cated the restoration of credibility to
student government After w itnessing the
radical alteration of a political billboard
near the main library on Monday night,
we can only conclude that one party is
already failing to maintain its alledged
credibility.
At approximately to p in on Monday
we noticed a trio, one of whom we
recognized as a FOCUS senatorial candi
date. engaging in the wholesale displace
ment of the opposition's posters to the
outer fringes of the board With the
central area exposed, they established an
imposing block of FOCUS posters. Their
intent was obvious
Though not entirely familiar with the
SGA election code, we must question
FOCUS' actions as a breach of the spirit
of campaign ethics, if not a legal
violation of the election code.
GRKGORY C ARSON
JEFFREY HARRIS
'Night spots
not educational'
TO TIIK EDITOR:
Now Coalition wants to spend my
money — and yours — giving students
bus rides to night spots. According to
their latest brochure, they are working
on a nighttime bus route linking the
campus and Milledge with such centers
of civilization as The Station and B&L
Warehouse
They seem to have forgotten that this is
a university, not a day care center for
idle young adults. The function of
entertaining students in their idle mo
ments is not the main function of the
University Certainly, we have activities
fees, but these are supposed to sponsor
cultural and entertainment activities
within the context and orientation of the
University Transporting students for
bacchanalian evenings is hardly an
educational endeavor, and I don't want to
have to pay for it.
MICHAEL A. COVINGTON
'Incensed
and offended'
TO TIIK KDITOR:
I am incensed and offended by the
UAP's claim to represent the "organized
will of the majority." I am a white
anglo-saxon and consider myself a "ma
jority" student, but refuse to allow the
fascists of the UAP claim me as one of
their constituents.
The latest edition of that party's yellow
rag. the so-called People's Observer
mentions that "vile posters" will soon be
springing up on campus They seem
already to have sprung I have never
seen posters more vile than those which
the UAP has seen fit to litter about
Perhaps the most telling poster to
appear to date was centrally located on
the campaign board in front of Memorial.
It depicted the UAP's patron saint.
Adolf Hitler, in his familiar Sieg Heil!
stance The caption read “Vote UAP,
that's the way I wanted it.” To coin a
phrase, the truth will out
Whether your politics lean to the left,
the right or down the middle road, you
have a responsibility to decry such
reactionary rhetoric I refuse to agree
that a measurable minority, to say
nothing of a majority, of the students on
this campus support the unenlightened
and irresponsible stance of the UAP.
We must apply a dose of truth to the
UAP's "Big Lie" just as we would take a
large shot of penicillin to cleanse our
selves of any other social disease Given
their election track record, no lie is
bigger or more central than their claim
to represent the majority of students on
this campus
I urge you to consider the truth of the
UAP - that they are an elitist group of
bigots, fascists and uncontrollable fanat-
tics. Let's exercise our power at the
ballot box and vote the UAP out of
existence They deserve nothing less, and
this should be the final recognition they
are afforded
W ARREN BUCKINGHAM
'Campus
being ignored 1
TO THE EDITOR:
There's a new campus political party
which has emerged, espousing two views
that are near and dear to the hearts of
most American college students: legali
zation of marijuana and majority rule by
total referendum. Our question in regard
to these matters is "What do they plan to
do about it?”
There are so many issues on this
campus which affect students daily: why
have a student GOVERNMENT which is
going to be concerned solely with one
issue How does the PPP think that they
are going to change marijuana laws?
Sure, most of you might agree that the
laws do need changing concerning posses
sion of marijuana What we're saying is
don't let this strike an emotional string in
your heart There are other issues in this
campaign, and PPP has not stated a
position on one of them
PPP advocates total referendum. Ra
ther than going into a philosophical
discussion of majority rule and individual
liberties, we would like to say one thing
about total referendum — it just won't
work The administration is not going to
give credence to the results. What does
the PPP plan to do if it rains on
referendum day and only 1500 students
vote? What issues are they going to
include on the referenda? How do they
plan to establish effective communication
between SGA and the students?
Besides these objections, we feel that
there are some things which should not
be included on referenda. Since PPP has
not said what things they will include
how do we know that they won't ask
questions like "Are women inferior to
men?" Surely they wouldn’t do this, but
what if they did?
In the past, it uas been a problem to
get students out to vote? How do they
plan to get a big voter turnout?
PPP has left too many questions
unanswered. Total referendum is not
going to work, especially when the people
involved in student government would be
focusing most of their attention towards
outside problems. We have problems on
campus We need an effective student
government to deal wtih these problems
We don't think PPP even recognizes any
campus-related problems other than the
stand they have taken on marijuana, >
LYNNE ANDERSON
WALTER HANLEY 111
m
THE RED AND BLACK
Thomas R. Franklin, editor
Eddie Brock, Miriam Pace,
Business manager Executive editor
Paul Curtis and Edie Mcl*aurin. news editors: Steve Burns, copy editor Kathy
Hogan. Nancy Rogers and Buddy Waller, associate news editors. Deborah Blum,
city editor. Rob Massey, associate city editor. Rick Franzman. state editor.
Victor Hall, associate state editor: Bob Longino feature editor; Lynn
Plankenhorn. associate feature editor; Terry Gibney. LOOKOUT! editor; Robert
Pusey. photography editor. Rick Millians. sports editor. Bill Eichenberger.
associate sports editor; Karen McKay, wire editor; Brad McColl. art director;
Tom Bradford, production manager
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