Newspaper Page Text
Wednesday. Feb. 8. IW4
The Red and Black
Page 3
Ed Tant: Athens’ advocate
By SHERYL ROEHL
RH and Black Senior Reporter
In a world of Polo buttondowns. Duckhead khakis and Hay-
Ban sunglasses, Ed Tant is an anachronism
Tant is a 1960s hippie in wire-rimmed glasses He has
shoulder-length hair and wears a hodgepodge of striped,
checked and colored polyester clothes
Tant was among the first writers for the Athens Observer
and the founder of the ill-fated "alternative newspaper.' the
Athens Advocate He has spoken before local chapters of the
Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi, and
accepted an award from the Western Circuit Bar Association
for his writings on human rights Tant is one of Athens'
radical journalists
Tant — writer, radical and nonconformist — has been a
familiar figure in downtown Athens since he moved here in
1972 He's more visible than usual these days because he
carries a Chow Goldstein's sandwich board sign, a job that
requires two hours of his time daily in exchange for $5 and a
meal
Tant s 36 years have been marked by hardships which have
been made more bearable by his enduring sense of humor
Tant says he developed his sense of humor earlv as a class
clown growing up in Fairbum, Ga
He says now that he rarely took school as seriously as he
wishes he had He calls his parents “average Americans "
For three and a half years, Tant attended West Georgia
College in Carrollton, where he became involved in politics
and worked as a feature editor for the college paper
His academic career ended suddenly in 1969 with an arrest
for possession of less than half an ounce of marijuana
Possession was then a felony in Georgia and Tant spent
nearly two years in Georgia prisons, first at Jackson, then
later at the Buford and Richmond county prisons.
Released in 1971, he went through a succession of jobs —
ranging from a telephone company assembly line job to a
maintenance job at Piedmont Park in Atlanta He moved to
Athens in 1972
It was then that he met Janet Farris, now an Athens social
worker and University student
"By accident we both rented the same room," Farris
recalled "Ed, being a gentleman, said I could stay there
And I being generous, said, 'Why don't you crash here until
you find a place to stay?”'
Farris said she and Tant have lived together for several
years since then
Tant calls the Chow Goldstein's sign he carries each
weekday the cross he has to bear He considers the job
temporary and is seeking work as a writer, copy editor or
any other honest work that will pay his $65 a month rent
Tant did have a steady job for three years with the Athens
Observer but he was laid off in an economy move
For Tant, it was more than the loss of the $4 50 an hour
proofreading job. It was also the loss of a necessary outlet for
his ideas.
Pete McCommons, the publisher of the Observer, says
Tant's contributions are still welcome at the Observer but
Tant says he won't write unless he's paid
"Publishers wouldn't think of asking a musician to per
form for nothing, or a painter to donate a canvas They still
take writers for granted," Tant says.
After he left the Observer, Tant created his own newspaper
— the Athens Advocate — that folded after just three issues.
Friends still consider Tant a great, even brilliant, writer
McCommons agrees
"He's bright, witty, engaging, well read and a very good
writer," he says
Tant calls himself a leftist radical
"That terms scares some people.” Tant says "But did you
know that radical and radish have the same etymology?
Meaning, getting to the root of That's what I try to do — get
to the root of social problems."
He considers himself a revolutionary in the Marx-Lenin
tradition That is, he says, Harpo Marx and John Lennon
Tant also says he is a socialist in the Eugene Debs
tradition "With a good, ole American tinge and more
compassion to it."
Tant dips a teaspoon of honey into a simmering cup of
coffee at his favorite haunt, The Bluebird Cafe, and
reminisces about the revolutionary 1960s
Were they a golden age'’
“The '60s — they weren't a golden age Any time that was
marked by the scent of marijuana, incense and tear gas was
no golden era." he says.
Has the country lost its revolutionary spirit?
“It's a myth that everyone was involved (in demon
strationsi," Tant says. "I'd say only 10 percent of students
and others were out demonstrating "
Tant says he thinks the 1960s movement, which called for
change, is still evident in the nuclear freeze campaign
Tant worries about what he calls the saber rattling of the
Reagan administration and Reagan's willingness to use force
before diplomacy
Tant claims no party affiliation, although he has written in
votes for Citizens' Party presidential candidates
"Because I'm so down on Reagan I may, emphasize may,
hold my nose and vote for Mondale," he says
Tant feels that because of his radical beliefs he has been
punished — left without a market for his ideas
"Instead of punishing journalists who try to raise hell and
tell the truth, we should be cultivating these people You need
all kinds of people in journalism, some gadflys You need
some journalists who will put a burr under people's saddle."
he says.
Kd Tant talks politics on College Avenue
WXAGhitsNo.2
By ELIZABETH SIMS
Ked and Hlack Contributing Writer
After less than two years
in operation, Athens' newest
radio station has reached the
number two spot in Nor
theast Georgia, according to
a station official
Marvin Nunnalty, the
station’s news and sports
director, said WXAG-AM
placed second in the 1983
Arbitron ratings for Nor
theast Georgia.
WXAG was second only to
the AM station WNGC,
Nunnally said
"Those ratings proved to
us that we were a buyable
market,” he said
Nunnally said the station
fills a gap for the black
population of Athens, which
makes up more than 25
percent of the town's
population
"The WXAG format takes
advantage of the wide ap
peal of artists like Stevie
Wonder, while blending in
traditional rhythm and blues
artists," he said
Athens attorney Michael
Thurmond, the general
manager of the station, said
WXAG's progress has been
consistent.
"We are confident of our
future progress," Thurmond
said "The station is a new
concept, being community
based not only to entertain,
but to educate and inform.”
Community oriented events
such as voter registration
drives are a main concern at
WXAG, Nunnally said.
The station also focuses on
the community by giving
airplay to little league teams
as well as area high school
sports.
WXAG is broadcasting a
10-week series of messages
by Martin Luther King, Jr.
to coincide with the
University's celebration of
Black History Month
The station is owned by
Community Capitol, a group
made up primarily of local
and Atlanta area minority
business investors Larry
Blount, an assocoate
professor of law at the
University and. former
chairman of Community
Capitol, originally organized
the station, which began
operation in September 1982
Chow Down
^ At
Chow Goldsteins
ALL YOU CAN EAT
ORIENTAL BUFFET
“OPEN FOR LUNCH ^. 9 9 STORE HOURS
MON. - SIT.” 5:00.9:00
Clayton Straat • Downtown - 363-0000
system severv
CREATIVE HAIRSTYLING
FABULOUS PERM SPECIAL
Reg. $36.00 NOW $26.00
(Long hair slightly higher)
. _ , Offer Expires 2-25-84
Mam Entrance
Ga. Square Mall
Phone 546-7376
CHILDREN UNDER 6 FREE—6 10 HALF PRICE
• CHARLIE WILLIi
(• PINECREST ~
£. LODCE „
SI” off Regular Price
with UGA I.O.
Boiled Shrimp
Fried Quail
Fried Shrimp
Fried Catfish
Fried Perch
Barbequed Pork
Catfish Filets
Hushpuppies
Hash
Slaw
French Fries
Ice Cream Bar
Your Price $5 95
w banquet facilities available
ATHENS— COMPLETE CATERING SERVICE
OFF WHITEHALL RD 353-2606
H8$:T«**. Tbwrs.lpm • Ipm.Fn.l Set.lam - 10f m, See.6pm I pm
FLOK/sts
m
(*l SIND HQWFWS WORLDWIDE)
1072 Baxter St.(across trom Eckerds)
549-9940
ROSES dozen $24 95
limited supply
ORDER NOW
Cash & Carry
wide variety of blooming
plants t fresh flowers -5” and up
543-0244
543-8946
Bakery
137 -149 N. Lumpkin St.
Downtown
For a Valentine Treat
V
Give Something
Sweet
THIS IS IT:
Your Last Chance To See
HYPNOTIST -
MIKE HARVEYl
SHOWS
TUESDAY
THROUGH
SATURDAY
9:30-11:00
353-2428
★ SPECIALS THIS WEEK*
TUESDAY-Magic Night
All Generic drinks • $1.00
WEDNESDAY • Ladies Night
Ladies Admission -$1.00 WINE. '/, Price
THURSDAY-Happy Hour Beer Spm-Close
FAMILY INN
230 N. Finley St.
SOMEPLACE ELSE LOUNGE. ★
TOAST the LUNCH SET
and have a drink on us
Come hear U(iA President Fred Davidson speak
Thursday, Feb. !Hh 12:00 at the
TATE STUDENT CENTER RECEPTION ROOM
(free a ikes io ih< is e who attend)