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■ QUOTABLE
6 • The Red and Black • Fnday, February 9, 1990
OPINIONS
"East Germans lived In a big prison. Really, I thought the Wall
was a pain." —
Olaf Honerkamp, a German exchange student at the University
who witnessed the fall of the Wall during Christmas.
The Red & Black
KatabUahed 1893—Incorporate 1980
An independent student newspaper not of]United with the University of Georgia
Charlene Smith/Editor-in-Chief
Amy Bellew/Managing Editor
Robert Todd/Opinions Editor
■ EDITORIALS
The wrong way
There are some fundamental problems with this
| binge the SA senate is on to amend its constitution.
The most significant, is the method of amendment.
The SA constitution sets forth an amendment
procedure, and this procedure requires that “a majority
of students then voting must approve the
j amendment.”
However, the senate has no plans for a single
amendment vote. Instead, the senate thinks it can
lump all amendments together and then subject the
"proposed" amended constitution to a yeah or nay vote.
By throwing all the amendments together, the SA
; will force voters to either accept the bad ones to get the
good ones, or reject the good because of the bad. In
either case, the purpose of amending the constitution
; —to improve it — is defeated.
Organizing votes for single amendments isn’t easy.
However, the reason constitutions are so hard to
amend is to prevent people from monkeying with them.
Anyway, all SA really needs do is have one vote, but
have each amendment approved or disaproved
j separately.
Another problem with this binge is the
amendments themselves. The only good amendment,
the one to shift representation to schools and colleges,
was voted down, and the bad amendments get
; approved. The latest proposed amendment is the best
J example of this.
The senate voted Tuesday to change its name to the
j Student Government Association But before the SA
senate gets too excited, it should remember something.
The SA senate doesn’t govern anybody. Article II of
the SA constitution expressly states, ‘The purpose of
the Student Association of Georgia shall be to act as an
organized voice for the students of the University of
Georgia.”
Yes, Student Government Association is only a
_ name, but it’s a really bad name that implies more than
it should. If the senate is so fired up to get a new name,
why not Student Association Senate, SAS. That one
won’t even take a constitutional amendment.
iThink safety
Violent crime is a fact of life. Sad, but true. One of
the most effective ways to prevent crime is to promote
j awareness. If people realize the dangers of leaving
doors unlocked or walking alone at night, they will lock
their doors or call the escort van.
Sometimes it takes a stabbing or a dormitory
murder to make people ,hmk about safety and realize
that it can happen to them
Two years ago, University student Liza Getzinger
was stabbed in her Athens apartment. Four years ago,
Jeannie Clery was murdered in her dorm room at
Lehigh University. The parents of these women are
now lobbying legislatures nationally to pass a bill that
would require schools to collect accurate crime
statistics and release them upon request.
: The University Police Department already does
this. Nonetheless, it should be required for the benefit
of other campuses in the state. The Getzingers are
trying to find a sponsor for the bill in Georgia.
The Getzingers also are pushing for a national
program to rate the safety of housing in college towns.
They propose rating off-campus housing according to
the crime statistics of the community and safety
features such as on-site security.
Although, crime statistics of a college town aren’t
usually one of the first things students think about
when choosing a school, the housing program would
promote awareness. If safety is made into an issue,
people will think about it more, and that’s the key to
preventing crime.
STAFF
NEWS: 543-1809
Haws Editor Susan Hill
Sports Editar Gono Williams
Ent arts Inm wit Editor: Gloria Rowbotham
Aasoctato Maws Editors: Rand Paaraon, Jannff*-
Rwrpey
Front Pago Copy Editor. Clark Hubbard
Insido Copy Editors: Oov'd Johnston, Margaret
Woaton, Jennifer Wilhin, Robert Aiuia
UOA Today /Wire Editor: Trevor Padgett
Orapbica Editor: Osvit O’Keeffe
Photo Editor: Peter Frey
Chief Photocopier. Wayne Jechaon
Staff Witters: Gayl Barrett, Welter Cot, Elizabeth Oil.
Mena Edward*. Anna-Maria fengi*. Chn* Qnmas,
Joel Groover, Dora McLeod. Michael McLeod Laura
Roe
Sparta Writer: Chrta Lane otto
Special Secfloaa/Trenda EdRar: Bem Graddy
A sale tent Special Secttane/Trenda Editor.
Andy Rogora
Editorial Aaatatant: MoWe Sana
ADVERTISING: 543-1791
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Martin
Production Staff: Andy Ard. Laura Fnednch. Andrea
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Advertising Director: Robin Stoner
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The Red and Blech is published Tuesday through
Fnday during the regular school year and each
Thursday during eummar quarter, with the eaoepOone
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i
mj&i
AIDS-research funding isn’t the cure
Acquired Immuno-Deficiercy Syndrome was
only recognized within the last ten years, but it
has already proven to be one of the most dra
matic issues of our time. Media attention has
focused on the HIV virus, the cause of AIDS,
which may affect as many as 10 million people.
While this seems threatening, increased
spending on AIDS research isn’t the solution.
Those same funds can be better spent erad
icating many curable diseases that still wreak
havoc in developing nations. The most effective
means by which we can halt the AIDS epidemic
lies with each individual. Until we learn to act
responsibly, AIDS will continue to spread and
kill.
In 1989, the U.S. government allotted $1.3
billion for HIV research. Since finding a cure
for AIDS isn’t feasible within the near future,
the only seemingly plausible use for such study
concerns prolonging the victims’ lives or re
ducing their pain. But this is foolish. Why in
crease their suffering when even the newest
treatments are only moderately successful?
I don’t advocate dropping all AIDS research,
but these ever-increasing efforts aren’t stop
ping its spread. There are better ways to spend
our research dollars.
The World Health Organization reports one-
fifth of the world’s population suffers from poor
health, malnutrition or one of many life-threat
ening or crippling diseases such as malaria or
tuberculosis. Most of the problems occur in de
veloping regions, particularly in Southern and
Eastern Asia as well as sub-Saharan Africa
where the worst conditions exist with 40 and 30
percent of the populations affected, respec
tively.
Specifically, WHO estimates show that Diar
rheal diseases Eiffect 750 million people an
nually, of whom, 4 million die. Tuberculosis, a
disease which many Americans no longer con
sider a threat, affects 1.6 billion, with 10 mil
lion new cases and 3 million deaths each year.
Likewise, Malaria attacks another 100 million
while killing over 2 million annually. Acute res
piratory infections kill another 4 million yearly.
When the totals are in from these four each
year, 13 million have died. What’s worse, these
deaths can be prevented, and it wouldn’t cost
billions of dollars to achieve success. For in
stance, an investment of $50 million could save
2 million lives lost to diarrheal diseases alone.
That’s just a fraction of the federal funds spent
to research AIDS.
The best weapon against AIDS isn’t dollars,
it’s sense; the war won’t be won by scientists,
but by actions of people worldwide. Given the
facts concerning the transmission of AIDS, only
sensible, responsible behavior by everyone will
effectively stop this killer. Although AIDS is no
longer a “gay” disease, homosexual and bi
sexual males are at a higher risk than others. If
they truly wish to defeat the virus, unhealthy
sexual behavior (especially with multiple part
ners) must stop. Intravenous drug use must
end, or at least the users need to avoid sharing
needles. Heterosexuals are no longer exempt
from responsibility. Anyone who engages in
promiscuous sexual activity is increasingly at
risk. Ignoring the facts won’t stop AIDS, but
strict adherence to simple guidelines such as
those listed above is a step in the right direc
tion.
Every time we spend more federal funds on
AIDS research, other preventable diseases go
unchecked. Since a cure for AIDS isn’t on the
horizon, the responsibility to stop this killer
rests not with government dollars, but with
each individual. An estimated 1.5 million
Americans may already be infected unkno
wingly with the HIV virus, and they will die as
a result. In the past, ignorance might have been
an excuse, but no longer. Those who choose to
act irresponsibly are gambling. They’re risking
their own lives as well as those of others. Gam
blers usually lose. This time, the stakes are too
high to let that happen.
Scott Kelly is a "Rapid Fire" panelist and guest
columnist for The Red and Black.
An ode to a world-class UGA
The University’s short on dough,
“Thanks to Propst,” say those in
the know.
With a little help from his friends,
of course,
He beheaded UGA’s “uppity” force.
Now the lock of cash makes the fac
ulty sweat.
They ask their deans, “What can
we get?
We desperately need space, TA’s
and supplies."
The deans can’t ignore them; they
hear their cries.
But they can get nothing when
nothing is there,
So the faculty’s left crying, “It just
isn’t fair!”
But even though things are looking
lean,
Something is happening behind
the scene.
Albersheim goes from pillar to
post.
Working overtime to moke his
boast
To bring in more money to UGA
Than any other scientist in the
USA.
Prokosy says that if we use more
computers,
We’ll save space and TA’s while we
gain private tutors.
Edes, meanwhile, hopes a sue
cessftil campaign
Will give him an excuse, at Bis
sett’s, for champagne.
But if our supporters turn their
backs on the man,
Creative accounting will make it
looked planned.
Schaeffer is above the concerns of
this place;
But is Gandhi in Heaven or gone
with no trace?
Knapp knows all the answers, and
looks to be praised
Not for his teaching, but for funds
that he’ll raise.
Just don’t look at France or Africa
too hard.
That use of tight funds might upset
the Old Guard.
Most of our faculty couldn’t care
less
About administrative attempts to
get out of the mess.
As real salaries fall, cowed by infla
tion,
Our best get offers from around the
nation.
In spite of the intricate schemes
that are hatched,
These outside offers must be left
unmatched.
The Old Guard, of course, has seen
trouble before.
They’re just disappointed it’s hap
pening once more.
Collegiality, with a capital “C”
Is turned into Task Force, with a
capital‘T.’
“Circle the Wagons,” is the Old
Guard’s advice.
“Til politics change, we’ll pay the
pnee.”
Pet Morten son
program coordinator, COSMIC
Not "convenient"
I am writing in response to two
of the letters to the eoitor on Jan
uary 31, 1990. The content and
tone of all the letters does more
than merely offend or irritate me,
it sickens me as a human being to
see such callous and narrow
minded attitudes being expressed
by any person, regardless of ide
ology-
Firstly, the author of the letter
on abortion states that 97 percent
of all abortions are done for conve
nience. Just where did this statis
tical figure come from and how
does he define convenience?
Since most women who receive
abortions upon demand are un
likely to specify their reasons for
abortions, and the reasons would
remain confidential in any case, no
one knows for sure why any
woman geta an aborion besides her
and those close t® her. Therefore, I
conclude that the author assumes
that all abortions not performed for
the specific purpose of saving or
prolonging the mother’s life are
abortions of convenience.
Is it “convenient” to be a poor
woman without access to a clinic
like Planned Parenthood or the
Feminist Women’s Health Center
and to lack the several hundred
dollars a year it would cost to re
ceive birth control pills, a rather ef
fective means of birth control? Is it
"convenient” when your birth con
trol methods fail and you already
have several children you can
barely provide for?
April Gutierrez
graduate student,
public administration
Understand China
I am under the presupposition
that the American public is prema
turely denouncing Bush's refusal
to extend expired Chinese stu
dents’ visas.
Elizabeth Graddy voiced her
opinionated disapproval of the “un-
American” policy (Feb. 2) aimed at
the pro-democracy Chinese stu
dents residing in the United
States.
I am deeply concerned for the
plight of Chinese students in
America, but it is naive to believe
that Chinese students returning
home will face death or wanton tor
ture.
It is ludicrous to believe that we
can teach the Chinese leaders a
lesson by defaulting on an estab
lished agreement on American-
Chinese student exchange policies.
Preaching American idealistic
politics to the Chinese leadership
will serve no purpose other than to
offend and alienate China. Alien
ating China will be to America’s
disadvantage because one-fifth of
the world's population lives in
China and their discipline and
ability inevitably will make the
Chinese into an economic and mili
tary giant.
Before lashing out at our govern
ment and Chinese leaders, Ameri
cans should try to begin
understanding the complex history
of China, philosophical differences
between American and Chinese
people and the recent advances
China has made in the 20th cen
tury.
Rob W. Rankin
sophomore, forestry major
■ FORUM
□ The Red and Black welcomes letters
to the editor and prints them in the
Forum column as space permits. All let
ters are subject to editing for length,
style and libelous material. Letters
should be typed, doublespaced and
must include the name, address and
daytime telephone number of the
writer. Please include student classifi
cation and major other appropriate
identification. Names can be omitted
with a valid reason upon request. Let
ters can be sent by U.S. mail or brought
In person to The Red and Black's of
fices at 123 N. Jackon St.. Athens. Ga.
Where’s the support
C’mon, folks. Georgia has a BAS
KETBALL TEAM. You wouldn’t
know it from the turnout at the
Coliseum, but they’re there, and
they’re good.
You wouldn’t know it from
reading The Red and Black, but
they are bidding for a share of first
place in the conference and are de
serving of a top 25 ranking.
The game Tuesday against
Florida was a blast, even though
the Dawgs had a tough time. But
most of you wouldn’t know because
you weren’t there.
Men’s Head Basketball Coach
Hugh Durham wrote a letter of
thanks to the student body, but we
should be the ones thanking him
for forming and leading a great
team. We should thank him for
giving us something to cheer about
following a football season that
was, at best, mediocre.
The season is almost over, but
we still have three home games
left: Alabama on Saturday at 4:00,
Ole Miss on the 21st and LSU on
the 25th. Alabama and LSU are
both on TV, but don’t let that be a
reason to stay at home.
Show the rest of the nation that
we are more than a football school
and that we support our great
teams. Get out and support the
Georgia Bulldogs ‘tween the hard
woods this Saturday afternoon.
Maybe I’ll have a hard time getting
a seat.
Chris Vaughn
senior, finance