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The Red and Black. October A. I97H
‘Perceptions;
Treating symptoms
J
The committee hearings on the Atlanta Federal Penitiary.
aren't going to bring about positive reforms to the prison if they
continue their present course.
The forum, headed up by Sen. Sam Nunn, has been hearing
witnesses, prisoners, guards, and officials, tell the story of what
has been going on behind the walls of the prison.
The story they have been reciting tells of massive drug deals,
with some convicts making up to $50,000 yearly, prisoners
fearing for their lives if they talk to officials, and convicts
fashioning crude weapons made while attending “rehabilita
tion" classes at the prison.
The news of hearing that a convict is making tens of
thousands of dollars selling heroin and other drugs to fellow
inmates within the prison is shocking but what is more horrific
is that there would be such a demand for drugs from the
prisoners.
Think of being in a cell scarcely the size of a dormroom nearly
Hi hours a day Then take away all the extras you’d find in a
dorm. Next think about being in that room for two years, seven
years, or a litetime and then you'll start to realize what it’s like
for a prisoner.
It should come as a small surprise that the great majority of
' -c people would choose to try to make the hours and days
• md years pass quicker by injecting their bodies daily with
drugs to make them forget the realities of where they are.
1’hese men aren't being rehabilitated as the goals of prison
reform intend them to be They aren't even staying at the same
point Instead, and we can gather this from some of the
poignant letters being sent from the pen by inmates, they’re
thinking of ways to get revenge on the system that is
responsible for putting them through hell.
The violence is only a more desparate means of showing the
incredible fustration felt by the inmates as they try to set up
power structures similar to those in the “outside world" leading
one prison official to call the pen “a scaled-down ghetto."
The problem of helping these prisoners isn't going to be
solved by a special committee dealing with the immediate
problem, as Nunn's group is doing. The results likely to come
out ot the hearings are the prosecution of several guards, the
intruduction of more rehabilitation programs, and possibly even
a major shake-down of the top prison officials.
These reforms are going to be temporary however. The
guards will be changed but they’ll probably still come from the
same backgrounds as the previous ones, new prison officials
might come in but good management alone isn't going to
account for the improvements and any new rehabilitation
prograW will -probably find itself hard pressed in two to three
vears to. get funding for another year.
Nunn s committee can't be satisitied making the usual
improvements but instead strike at the root of the problem
Conditions need to be improved. We're not talking of making a
prison a luxury hotel but we are talking about conditions that a
human being can't only survive in but mavbe even improve
himself in.
Nunn needs to forget about prison reforms tried by other
states which have obviously haven’t worked; operating on the
principle that if done correctly they would work. Instead the
committee needs to bring in concrete proposals and, to take it a
step further, follow up into the prison improvements or
troubles every six months and keep the public informed of the
conditions inside the Atlanta Pen.
(
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The news from the Department of Public Safety this week is
that 53 times the parking barriers which keep us less fortunates
from parking in certain lots around campus have been knocked
down, broken and otherwise destroyed.
Officials there seem to think that the whole thing is just one big
series of accidents. They say that obviously a car couldn’t slow
down and just had to drive through a ten foot long wooden barrier
or that they didn’t realize how close they were to that brightly
painted pole until a couple of inches away and therefore just had
to keep on going.
We get the impression that the barriers are being broken down
purposely by the lower class of the population, mainly those
without key cards.
And while we don’t advocate destroying University property we
really can’t say we blame them. Nothing is more frustrating’than
driving around campus vainly looking for a parking space and
seeing five on the library hill blocked only by a simple wooden
barrier.
Officials here admit that parking conditions are bad. They say
that there are 10,000 spaces and 30,000 cars and we tend to believe
them. So whv not utilize all the spaces? Why should special people
get to draw a little magnetized card out of their pocket every day
and drive into a lot nearly always with available spaces?
If the parking problem is that bad then let it be a free for all and
let some of the top administrators on campus know what its like to
sometimes not even be able to find a place in X zone.
Letters
Fall is in
the air
Brian O’Shea
Those of vou meandering across campus the past few days may have noticed
the added crunch underfoot Although it took its time coming, fall is here at
leal
If you want to pick nits, fall came to the Classic City on Sept. 23 at 6:56 a m,,
and it was ignored in all the excitement over the Georgia-Baylor game, but
that’s another matter.
Fall in Athens is a very special time of the year In a week or two. the leaves
will take on the traditional autumn colors and really improve the looks of the
place. And as I said before, some of the leaves have already begun to fall
making walking on the campus just that much noisier
The only bad thing I can say of fall is that it precedes winter, or as it is
affectionately called, the Athens monsoon season.
If you've never seen Athens in the fall, you're in for a treat The best rule is
just to spend as much time as possible outside, and more importantly, don’t
leave your windows open and your fans running at night. There is a chill in the
air.
Outdoor concerts and lunches spent outside are also nice during the fall.
Knjoy it while von can
Brian O'Shea is campus editor of The Bed and Black
..NOTES AM) COMMENTS: The Red and Black has been having trouble with
Ma Bell lately, as you may have noticed if you tried to call. We have three lines
up here and until last week, one of them was broken which caused the phones to
give a busy signal to anyone who called don’t ask me how. but that's what
happened. Anyway, the telephone repairman was out last Tuesday to fix the
broken line and he did except for one minor problem Somehow, through the
wonder of modern technology, they tied our line in with the Reed community
office, which makes things fun So if you have plans of tapping our phones, save
yourself some trouble Just go to the Reed office and listen in.
And. if Reed starts putting out a daily news report, we just wanted you to
know why
IIAVIMi A BAI) DAY?: It could be worse The Atlanta Constitution reports
that a man in Augusta had a very bad day recently. Officers said the man, who
appeared to be under the influence of intoxicants walked up to a teller in an
Augusta bank and handed her his driver's license Then he handed over a note
demanding money.
While the teller studied the note, he evidently changed his mind and fled
empty-handed from the bank, leaving the startled teller holding his driver’s
license and the note
Officers arrested him later and charge him with attempted robbery by
intimidation.
Umbrellas are obstacles at Sanford Stadium
Campus buses
•
a conspiracy
Mike Roberts
V \
I he Rod and Black has learned the slowness of campus busses in reaching
then ap|Miintcd Mops around the University during class breaks is not
d. Hal. bill .1 part of a plan to upgrade the health of the student body
\n ordmg i- one high-ranku" administration source, this plan entails getting
MudenIs to walk more and to eat less neavilv.
\ou-\o read all the statistics You know people in this country do not get
enough exercise We thought by coordinating the busses to run slightlv off*
schedule we would get the students walking." the source said.
lie added, I in sure you've seen how. occasionally, the drivers will pull over
or wait at a stop long after the last passenger has boarded You've also
probublx seen how he keeps in touch with the other drivers via his radio."
I hat •> the method we use to miss schedules Sometimes we authorize drivers
purpose* ' 0 * ^ ° r 10 rU " ° m ‘ behi " d an ° lher These »’«>•* s <™ the same
Mike Roberts compiles I’CiA Today for the Red and Black
Whrn asked how running busses off schedule would get students to eat less
heavily, the source said. It forces them to walk to Bolton or Snelling By the
time they get there, the line is so long they decide not to eat at all."
The source was asked about those students who did decide to eat in spite of
th“ line lie said That's a problem we are in the process of solving Plans are
in the works to coordinate the health program with the Registrar's Office
That was. we can schedule every student with a third, fourth and sixth
period class Under this system, if students elect to stay in the line, they will
either have to be late to their last class or miss it entirely
\Ne have done surveys which show most students despise walking into class
late and having everyone look at them like thev had never before seen a human
being
Thus, they have a choice They can either skip class or drop the course "
The source was asked if the University's new plan might lead to the dropping
ot Mime P h classes The source denied this but said additional phvsical
training would be provided by building layout.
V\e plan on building more complexes with ihe layout similar to the
Journalism School You know, with five floors and no elevators." the source
said
The source also said a freshman from the Georgia Institute of Technology
would tie chosen to draft plans for an\ new campus buildings
of course, any building contracts will hace to be approved by the Board of
Regents Thev'll also have to ok the Georgia Tech student," the source said
No one at the board could be reached for comment According to a Southern
Benn official, the toll free line from the University had been severed
No explanation for the cut line was available' but a Metropolitan Atlanta
Rapid Transit Authority crew had been reported in the vicinity of the line
TO THE EDITOR:
I would like to bring up a point that is
considered worthwhile by many, and that
is UMBRELLAS at the football games in
Sanford Stadium. 1 feel the banning of
these obstacles would be the best thing
for spectators of rainy, home game
football.
This point is vivid in my inind now
because we just came back from
Columbia. South Carolina (umbrellas are
forbidden in the William-Brice Stadium),
where it rained through portions of the
game The fans knew it was going to
rain and came prepared with ponchos,
rainsuits. raincoats, etc. It was very nice
for l(to be able to see the game, 2(the
rain not to be pouring off of the umbrella
in front of you onto your lap, and 3< the
spikes not to be poking in your shoulders,
or better yet, your eyes. I could go on but
you get the point.
Yes. I firmly believe umbrellas should
be banned from our stadium. Now, I
don't want arguments from Mr. or Ms.
Fashion-conscious because people con
and will dress stylishly for these rainy
day games
Beverly J. Ko/lowski
Communiversity
organizes
TO THE EDITOR:
Oct 913 is Communiversity Week at
the University You will notice postes and
fliers around campus, and you might
hear Mayor Bentley make a proela*
mation at Memorial Plaza Monday You
might even get some cake and balloons
at our rally Wednesday on the plaza But
what really is Communiversity?
Communiversity is a major volunteer
organization on campus It is organized
by students, run by students, and manned
by students However, we are not a
small-time student civic club Last year.
Communiversity was given an Honorable
Mention as one of the top service and
civic oriented organizations in the state
of Georgia Our volunteer handbook is
being copied by simildr organizations on
college campuses across the United
States But we are more than that
Communiversity is talking to a child
and seeing him smile. It is going with
him to a Braves game, eating lunch with
her on top of Stone Mountain, or visiting
a nature center together. It is wearing a
dumb costume to a Halloween carnival
for the kids, or acting like a kid yourself
at a Communiversity field day. Comm
university is showing a sixth-grade
student that he can learn to read after
all, or it’s visiting a future friend at a
pursing home, or working with a
Brownies troop, or helping at the Cancer
foundaUon, or a myriad of other
possibilities. It is meeting and working
with people who are devoted to helping
others. Above all Communiversity is
caring, and trying to make a difference.
We believe you are for us—why not see
if we are for you? Give two hours a week
of your time. Make a difference. Come to
Communiversity’s orientation meeting
Thursday. Oct. 12. 7:30 p m at Memorial
Hall
Dan Jacobs
Tutoring Coordinator. Communiversity
Thanks for
the help
TO THE EDITOR:
I would like to express my support and
appreciation to all those responsible for
making the Rosh llashana (Jewish New
Year) services which were held on
campus this year possible.
For those who could not be at home to
worship with their families, the services
were a pleasant and meaningful
alternative. They were very thorough and
well organized
Rosh llashana services would not have
happened without the cooperation of
concerned citizens of the Athens
community and the University. Many
thanks go to all these people for making
it possible to attend the religious services
of my people on this New Year.
Barbara Lynn Freedman
IT1 Red and *BlacK
Staff
Hitor Hope IMun<i0ma
> editor Tor. Lotnry
t.eoeral Mi»4«rr E«1 Sun«tr
mM*|M 'liarles Kum*II
<«•* Torn KrOrv Tammy Savage
Mike ltah»r»» Tim Sneenry
oIhm Brian Tt'Shra
1 li» editor Vinme Papstdrro
IVairrri editor Rum Greer
I nlrruinmrm cellar Hohby K*rif
N»«rt* editor Steve Burges*
Photo editor Donna Mimr>
\unUM umpo editor* Skip lluleO Kill Krueger
V»«i*tant rfc* editor* Kathy Stanford Nita Birmingham
\*%Ktaat feature* editor t;ar> fault
Vuntaat *a«ri. editor Warren Rar>
\**i*tam photo editor David Tulis
hditorial nihUM <»err> Komano
ld\eru*i«g taletprnM Mai Pace Donna Pea\ •> Dnnna Ratchford [loud Soutar Leslie Whitlow
tla**ified advertising manager St»an Turner
Production Manager Seal Kuna"«k*
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