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The Red and Black. Friday. March 2H, l»7H
RICK RICKS
Editorials
The Red and Black
SGA dying?
You've heard of people dying a
slow and painful death. It seems
that students here are about to
see an institution experience one.
As a story on our front page
states, the deadline for turning in
petitions for Student Government
Association (SGA) offices has
been extended due to lack of
people applying for Student Sen
ate and University Council seats.
Some schools don’t have a single
person running for their senate
seats, while the College of Arts
and Sciences has 18 students
running for 18 seats. That’s not a
lot of competition.
This is in line with the large
number of vacancies in the
senate during the past year.
People seemed to be continuous
ly vacating seats, leaving some
schools unrepresented.
Somewhere along the line
something has gone wrong. The
party system, which used to
supply competing candidates for
senatorial seats, has deteriorated
to small groups of what has often
been called "politicos.”
Members of parties seem to
have either graduated or have
decided student government is
not worth their time. Whatever
their reasons, the size of political
parties has shrunk considerably
during the past few years.
This leaves the field wide open
• for independents, and unaffiliat
ed individuals seem to have
responded to the challenge in the
executive race. However, disillu
sioned students who have not
seen any product of others’ work
in SGA have not collected the
signatures to qualify to run for a
senate seat.
Apparently, the majority of
students on this campus are
disillusioned with student gov
ernment. However, their apathy
can not be criticized—even those
within student government now
seem somewhat apathetic.
Those people within student
government need to evaluate
their roles, as they seem to have
lost student support. Perhaps
student government as u is now
organized is antiquated and inef
fective. A careful study of the
worth of the body is desperately
needed.
As things stand now, SGA is
slowly withering away.
Inbreeding among political par
ties and a lack of results from the
senate is choking off what is
supposed to be a representative
voice for students.
Student government is in trou
ble-even those currently involv
ed cannot really deny that with
out a smile on their face. What is
needed is a re-evaluation of goals
and means of reaching those
goals, and an attempt to reach
students to kindle interest in
what could be a powerful and
successful means for students to
realize their rights.
TUB HKD AND BLACK
Steve Burns, Editor
i
Lynn Plankenhorn, Mike Millions,
Executive editor Business manager
Joyia Anthony and Sandi Martin, news editors; Patricia Templeton and
Nancy Unkles. associate news editors; Lila Moore, feature editor; Matt
Kederspiel, sports editor; Melita Easters, copy editor; Jim Galloway, city
editor; Robert Alexander, state editor; Debbie Dance and Anne Jervey,
LOOKOUT editors; Bob Lyon, chief photographer; Mark Prevail, wire
editor; Randy Burroughs, art director; Jane McAlister, production manager.
Thr Mrd and Hbtk wludrnt nrwspwprr ol Ihr
t Hitrrxih ol I.t-ntgi.t \lhrtiv is pubhhrd
r«rMbt. Hr4nr«tl*t Thursday and Krida\.
cmrpt rfurinit rxaminalMMi and holidjv prrMHk.
wrrhlx dining I hr xunimri months SrtiMtd-
thiwk pmlrfgi' is paid at I In- \lhm* I'osl Ollier.
\lhmv I WMil
Opinions r\|Mr»srd in Thr Ifrd and Black,
other Ihan thr unsigned editorials. iirr Ihr
opinions ol Ihr writers ol sinned columns or
«ui tiMiiiists jnd are not necessarily those ol Ihr
I niversify administration, the Hoard ol Ite-
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Venable's Klan waning
Two blocks oft Main Street in Stone
Mountain stretches an old city road lined
with nondescript, middle class, white
homes. At the end is a larger one—two
stories with a smaller garage like build
ing at the back
Here lives’ James
(enable, directing a
rather healthy law
practice as well as
the National Knights
of the Ku Klux
Klan
Venable is an old
man now, old e-
nough to remember
old Doc Simmons.
the insurance salesman who supervised
the renaissance ol the Klan back in 1910.
The Klan was originally founded by
Conlederate Army Gen Nathan Bedford
Forest, but he disbanded the organization
when it became overrun by roughnecks
and criminals
And so the nation was without the
white patriotic " group until Simmons
decided that it would make a great base
from which to sell life insurance policies.
Ralph McGill once described Simmons
as having "bleacher sprung pants ” from
sitting in church and lodge pews for long
hours, his breath often reeked of cloves.
lighting to hide the smells of more tnan a
lew libations.
Doc was in as many lodges and organ
izations as would have him, patiently
awaiting his chance to sell a policy or
two.
So the Klan was a natural for him,
since it gave any patriot the chance to
protect the integrity of the white race for
the price of a bedsheet and $to yearly
dues. Once in the Klan. a member could
take advantage of the generous burial
plans that Doc offered.
The Klan was such a booming business,
in fact, that Doc incorporated the
organization under his own name. But
soon, Doc went the way of all insurance
salesmen, and the Klan banner was
carried by other, less colorful men.
Now. Venable runs the National
Knights from that small house in back of
the big one in Stone Mountain. Although
Venable is up doing legal casework until
two and three o'clock every morning, he
still manages to keep a tight grip on the
organization. Just recently he fired three
ol his Grand Dragons, one from as far
away as Maryland; he said they were all
Kick Kicks is a former executive editor
of The Ked and Black
I fVk\L , Its&een Spring Quarter For 3CWs AlreadV
/ And For WMAT ... HbTHIN(q... Remember Last Quarter :
/ the Sit-in ) the Demonstrations , ...the Resignation
- DemocrAsCV Revisited / And Nolo What? ... The
l SGA Election ? ... Do Voo Call That Democracy ?
\ HANG IN WERE MR JEFFERSON - DRCP-APD IS
\ALM0ST0VER/
C\
Nothin^ Tops A Hot Seer.
On A Rw Friday Like A Well
RtKtED, Nostalgic- Radical.
conspiring to dethrone him from his post
as Imperial Wizard.
But Venable and his group of Klansmen
—despite their machinations—are a dy
ing breed
To understand the psyche of the
average Klansman, one must understand
the social environment from which he
comes. Seldom docs the Klan mentality
attract the abstract thinker, much Jess
the well educated Instead the Klansman
comes forth from the ranks of the blue
collar worker: the less affluent.
A perfect example of the Klansman, if
there is a perfect example, would be
Georgia Realm Imperial Kleagle James
Lumpkin. Lumpkin works at the General
Motors plant in Doraville, spending most
of his free hours over at Venable's little
house doing work for the Klan.
Lumpkin is a soft spoken, pious person
who bears no great hate for any man. He
insists that the Klan is no longer racist,
but since the Negro is "inferior” the
white race must step up and bear the
burden of leadership Lumpkin is also
constantly preoccupied with the Jewish
“financial juggernaut," and the immi
nent dangers of communism. Yes, Lump
kin is the stereotypical Klansman: He is,
as Ronald Reagan often says of his
enemies, not ignorant. It's just that all of
the facts he knows are untrue
The Klansman sees others around him
rise to greater wealth, while he himself—
seemingly alone remains at the same
station. Seeking a reason for this, he
finds solace in the words of Venable and
other Klan leaders who blame white
unemployment on groups such as the
NAACP, saying that the job market has
been glutted by unqualified blacks.
Thus, the "persecuted" seek refuge in
the Klan. But he is not the problem; the
problem is the leadership of the Kla
such as Venable, who have no plausible-
reasoning for their actions But. then,
when a viable explanation comes along
a new leader to follow the rank and file-
will disappear, leaving the leadership to
their stagnation, for it Is there where the
hate lies.
LILA MOORE
Motivation an educated problem
I was furious. The nerve of that guy,
giving me a C after as much as telling
me that I had done the best paper in the
class.
Ready for battle, 1 cornered the
delinquent professor
in his office. 1 was
careful to use my
best "not that I real
ly care" attitude.
It’s definitely not
chic to appear too
concerned about
grades.
"I was just won
dering what criteria you used in deter
mining the grades I mean you seemed to
like the story I did and uh, well, I don't
think I made below a B on any of the
other assignments and I was just . ”
(And damnit I’ve always made A’s
before I)
He seemed surprised "What did you
expect to make?”
After a brief exchange, I found that my
grade, as well as those of other members
of the class, had not been based on the
quality of my work per se, but on the
amount of effort he felt I had exhibited.
"I just didn't think you really put your
heart into this class. You could write well
when we started and you can write well
now, but I can't see that you were
touched by tire class to any extent."
Hmmm That was interesting. I had
successfully completed almost 16 years of
schooling and never had I been evaluated
on the basis of the amount of "heart" put
into my work Indeed, such a pedestrian
method of measurement was against my
entire philosophy of least possible exer
tion.
My professor went on to explain what
he believed to be a crucial problem in
American education "We've developed a
generation of students who are quite
adept at taking accurate notes and
faithfully giving them back during exam
inations. but that's not what real edu
cation is all about.”
He mentioned writers who have a flair
for a certain clever, flippant kind of
prose. "It's a kind of writing that is much
in demand and it requires a talent that
can't be learned. Consequently it doesn't
require much effort from the writer.
That's fine, but it's often a substitute for
the kind of gut effort that makes for a
true education (or worthwhile person or
whatever)." He expressed a concern that
our schools are graduating a lot of
clever, but very shallow and superficial
people.
Well, I didn't get my grade changed
and I'm still somewhat discomfited when
I see the glaring C that shot my GPA, but
I've thought about what he had to say
and I stand rebuked
I've come to the realization that my
lata Moore is feature editor of Thr Itrd
and Black
years in'school have been characterized
not so much by the quality or amount of
knowledge obtained as by my efficient
adaptation to the ins and outs of being "a
good student.” That’s not to say that I
was a hard working, industrious student
Just that I was a successful one.
lenersSleiiers
’lIda I I's views were misrepresented'
TO THE EDITOR:
The background of Rep Moriis K
(Mo) Udall. D Arizona, was grossly
misrepresented in the letter to the editor
by Tim Ga.thany (March 2S>. In the
interest of fairness and accuracy. I’m
writing to correct these errors
Although Udall, a candidate for the
Democratic presidential nomination, was
raised in the Mormon Church, he has not
been an active member for more than 20
years.
Also. Udall has repeatedly repudiated
the Mormon Church's discriminatory
practices At the same time. Udall has
consistently voted for civil rights mea
sures that have come before the U.S.
House of Representatives
Udall is the most progressive Demo
cratic candidate in the race for the
presidential nomination. Julian Bond
knew this when he endorsed Udall Udall
is the candidate most likely to work for
the advancement of blacks, women and
other disadvantaged groups
I suggest Gathany become more famili
ar with candidates records before he
takes it upon himself to attack- them
! interned in Udall's congressional
office for six months in 1*7$ as a press
aide Therefore, I can say without
hesitation that Udall's civil rights record
is spotless
Bond's endorsement of Udall was a
wise choice
'Taylor article
was interesting 1
TO THE EDITOR:
I would like to thank Terri Van House
for her article about Livingston Taylor in
the March 11-17 issue of LOOKOUT It
was an interesting glimpse at some of the
thoughts and feelings of a most unusual
performer
DAVID T. PERKINS
'Thank you for
Brubeck help 1
TO THE EDITOR:
We would like to thank the following
people with whom we came in contact for
the help and cooperation they gave to
arrange for the Dave Brubeck concert to
be held in tlie Fine Arts Auditorium:
President Fred C Davison. Mr Ernie
Smith, Mr Billy Hudson. Mr Vance
Hasbrouck, Dr David Ledet, Dr. Olin G.
Parker, Sandy Evans, and especially Mr.
David Lunde and Mr Lary Graham We
appreciate the extra effort these people
exerted
DONNA CHRISTIAN
TOM GRANl'M
JANET HUGHES
'Crisis moral,
not financial
TO THE EDITOR:
Recently there has been quite a bit of
fuss made regarding the so-called finan
cial crisis at the University As a
graduate student at the Unversity, I am
aware that the upruar is to some extent
justified But there are other sides to the
picture which people have overlooked As
a student in the College of Business
Administration. I feel it is my duty to
bring out this overlooked aspect of the
financial crisis, as I see it.
Sometime ago. due to financial and
energy crisis, the University adminislra
lion decided to cut down on energy
consumption by having the number of
bulbs used in buildings, offices and
hallways This resulted in great difficulty
is so eager to cultivate, since they spend
the better part of their time looking at
the fine print in journals
However, there was no reduction in the
number of bulbs in President Fred C.
Davison's office, nor did he think it
appropriate to move out of the palatial
ivory tower he occupies on Prince
Avenue at the taxpayer's expense
One of the often mentioned reasons
contributing to the financial crisis was
the lack of funds to pay the five per cent
increase in salary to the employes of the
university, which was included in their
contracts The university and the regents
claimed they are unable to pay the salary
raise due to the lack of tunds.
At the some time, the Board ot Regents
is spending several million dollars for the
construction of an enlarged veterinary
hospital on South campus
Thus, the Board ot Regents and their
tool, Davison, is saying that we do not
have money for the betterment of faculty
and thereby the students (or the educa
tional system) ot Georgia, but we have
planty of money for the betterment of the
animals around us How typically South
ern'
One of the frequent excuses given for
reduction of graduate assistant-ships at
the University is also the financial pinch
However, this has not affected the assist
anlships of influential graduate students,
expecially in the College of Business
Administration Typical are those in the
college, where their fathers are impor
White and Assistant Dean James Ed
wards, author of the now famous text
book in accounting (made famous by a
recent article in The Atlanta Constitu
tion!.
There is also sufficient money to give
double assistantships and even full time
inslructorships to certain graduate stu
dents while there are others who are more
qualified to teach, not receiving any
financial help
Needless to say, we have a crisis I
would not characterize it as a financial
crisis. It is rather a moral crisis. The
decade of Watergate and its bitter
influence is still with us. What we see
here on the campus are teachers and
administrators who are willing to lie and
cheat because they have realized that it
is the only way to play the game and win.
Letters to the editor should:
o Be typed, double spaced, on a
60-space line,
o Be brief, to the point,
o Include name, address and phone
number of contributor.
o Be original, rather than duplicates'
of letters to other persons or publi
cations.
Shortly after the first grade I realized
that to make good grades, and thus win
the approval of family, friends, and
assorted others, 1 didn't have to neces
sarily do my best, just belter than the
other kids. I'm sure there are many other
adherents to the “get by with honors”
school of thought.
I don't know who should properly
receive the blame for the lack of motiva
tion that characterizes the American
student Perhaps it is the leveling process
that is inevitable in a large scale public-
school system or the lack of inspiration
from well qualified teachers Maybe
there is even a certain percentage of the
population that is born with an ambition
deficiency.
At any rate, it’s a shame. I’ve reached
the end of my student career and I
suddenly feel like being a student—a real
student, not a slick writer of formula
term papers and flippant test answers
It is significant that the professor I
mentioned was not a career educator, but
a loan from tjye real world He hadn't had
time to adjust to the comfortable
standards of University education. It
didn t take long, though I went by to
seen his most recent grade list. They
were almost all A’s and B's.
Evidently I wasn't the only one who
complained.
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,
309 Journalism building.
NAME WITHHELD
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