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4 • The Red d.-td Black • Tuesday, February 20. 1990
OPINIONS
■ QUOTABLE
“I can't tell you now many times we nad to tiptoe around to
avoid hurting anybody's feelings and I surely don't want to hurt
any criminal's feelings." — University Police Chief Chuck
Horton
The Red & Black
Established 1893—Incorporated 1980
An independent student newspaper not affiliated u* th the University of Georgia
Charlene Smith/Editor-in-Chief
Amy Bellew/Managing Editor
Robert Todd/Opinions Editor
■ EDITORIALS
Stretch it out
Imagine a time and place where registration and
drop-add occurred only twice an academic year.
Imagine getting up to the Vietnam War in your modem
history class. Imagine being able to transfer from out of
| state and still be able to graduate on time.
Those are just a few advantages of being on the
semester system. The University System of Georgia is
one of the few systems still on the quarter system.
Other students all over the Southeast get out of school
for the summer around the first of May and take all the
j jobs and internships before University students even
come close to finishing final exams.
The semester system would make it easier for
students to work and pay for school because they would
have more time. They could keep up better in their
classes because they wouldn’t be so rushed to learn the
entire history of Europe in 10 weeks. Under the quarter
j system, students cannot concentrate on all their
classes because something is always due or a test is
always just around the corner. With so much to do in so
little time, students can only focus on whichever has to
be done next.
Professors would have more time to teach and
j entire grades wouldn’t have to depend on just a couple
I of tests.
Of course, the semester system isn’t without its
drawbacks. The University would have to offer more
classes, professors would have more work to do for the
same amount of pay and students who land in a boring
class could be stuck there for what seems an eternity.
Shifting to semesters would require the University
to revamp its curriculum, but that’s desperately needed
whether we switch to semesters or not.
The Demosthenian Society is sponsoring an
unofficial election today to gauge student opinion on
whether the University should switch to semesters.
Now is the time to let the decision-makers know how
the students feel about it.
The polls are open today from 10 a m. to 2 p.m. at
Oglethorpe House, the graduate studies building, the
main library and the Tate Student Center plaza.
Finish the job
Student Association Junior Sen. John Piedrahita
announced he will accept an internship in Washington,
D.C. for spring quarter at the last SA meeting.
However, Piedrahita hasn’t resigned and plans to
continue his duties through the quarter. Vice President
Mary Beth Hartlage announced fall quarter that she
would accept a similar internship in Atlanta during
spring quarter. She has yet to resign her position.
Though Piedrahita had legitimate, personal
reasons for delaying his decision, Hartlage made her
mind up long ago and should have stepped down then.
No, she hasn’t defaulted on her commitment thus far,
but Hartlage has every intention of doing so.
Hartlage's attitude about the last weeks of her term
seems to be contributing to a growing lame-duck
attitude within the SA. Attendance at the last three SA
meetings has been low — 23, 22 and 23 of the 34
members present — and the SA failed to have enough
members present for a quarum for the first time this
year.
Part of the attendance problem was due to mid
term exams, but the problem wasn’t so bad in previous
quarters.
Not all senators are guilty of this growing
complacency. But enough of them are, and a problem
exists. The bottom line is that the SA senators knew
about mid terms, time requirements and the length of
their terms when they asked the student body to elect
them. They made commitments last spring and should
be expected to fulfill them.
STAFF
NEWS: 543-1809
Nwi Editor Susan Hill
Sport a Editor. Gene William*
Entartilnment Editor: Gloria Rowfeotham
Aaaodate Heme Editor*: Rond Pearson. Jennifer
Rampoy
Front Pegs Copy Editor Clork Hubbard
Mdi Copy Editor*: Robert Alula. Oovtd Jobnaton,
Margortt Wooton, Jennifer Wilkin,
UQA Today/Wtro Mtor Trover Padgett
Qropfcko Editor: Oovto O'Kooflo
Pfcoto Editor Peter Frey
Chief Pfcotoeapher. Wayno Jackson
Staff Wrttoro: Gayi Barrett. Walter Colt. Mode
Edward*. Ann#Mona Fongvy, Chris Gnmeo, Joel
Groover. Dare McLeod. Michael McLeod. Sandra
Stephen*. Jennifer Squiliar**
Sport* Writer: Chn* Lencetta
Special Sectfone/Trenae Editor: Beth Qroddy
Aoaietant Special Section*/Trondo Editor
Andy Roger*
Editorial Aaaiataat: Moilte Ban*
ADVERTISING: 543-1791
Student Advertising Manager*:
K/iati Burnham. Beverly Taylor
Advertising Aeolotents:
Soon DonakJeon, ton Thurman
Senior Advert!Png Repreaantattvaa: Seen Fagan.
Knchatla HMualar*. Julia Reynold*
AdvwtiMag Representative*. Craig Dakthemek*.
Joy Denton, K/l»tin Giude, Karen Moyne*. Laura
Hudgene. Rick Hi^gme. Gieg Kelli*. Leigh Riffe. Sally
Young
Aaetetant Editorial Prod. Manager: Cristina Feindt
Aaeletant Advertising Prod Manager Mariana
Martin
Production Stair Andy Ard. Laura Fnadnch. Andrea
Manoour, Lonn Marsh. Elizabeth Mauu. Laura Millar.
Stacy Stanbarg, M-cn#q* Wegert
general Manager Harry Montevideo
Advertising Director: Robin Stonor
ORIce Manager Mary Straub
Production Mai agar Judy Jordon
Cl eaelRed*/Reception!at Beverly Vaughn
Credit Manager Chuck Lyon*
Clerical: Joann* Horton. Lesley Wechtel
The Red and Mack * published Tuesday through
Friday during the tegular school year and each
Tnurodey during eummar quarter, with the esceptions
of holiday* and sum period*, by The Red and Black
Publishing Company Ire. • nonprofit campus
newspaper not affiliated with the university of
Georgia, 123 N. Jackson Sl. Athens. Go 30601
Third das* postage paid at Athena. Ga. Subacnpoon
rata: $24 par year
Opinion* exp reseed le The Red and Macdi other than
unsigned edrtorials are the opirvon* of the writers of
sorted column* and not nacassaniy those of The Rad
and 8iack Publishing Company Inc. All rights
reserved. Reprints by permission of the adKors
Twisted experiments delude the naive
As a psychology' 101 student, I am required
to participate in a number of research experi
ments administered by other, more advanced
psychology students. These experiments, I as
sume, serve two purposes: to furnish a well-
rounded psychology education, and to provide a
huge cage of rats for brain-picking, neophyte
psychologists.
Like many times before, I entered the closet
sized room, where yellow lists of names line the
walls, which are headlined with ordinary ex
periment titles. This day, however, I saw one
entitled “Electricity and Sex," which caught my
attention. I signed up for it, and at the correct
day and time, showed up to be experimented
with.
The administrator of the experiment began
the session by telling me in strained and re
hearsed prose what the experiment was about.
“We want you to be struck by lightning seven
times to judge the effect of electricity on your
sexual attitude. We fully believe that we can
help sexually-disturbed patients with small
doses of electricity, but first we must see the ef
fects on the attitudes of a large sample of col
lege women. We assure you, it is perfectly safe,
and you will be completely unharmed. How
ever, if you do not wish to go further in this ex
periment, we perfectly understand; you can
leave now and still receive full credit for it."
Only the gullible and the naive would have
continued on, so I did. Willing to donate my
humble body to help out sexually abnormal
human beings, I eagerly awaited the next
stage.
The upright and shifty-eyed experimenter
told me to follow him to the roof of the psy
chology building, where he placed me in a large
padded chair with a skull cap.
fV
Mollie M Jk
Batts A ^
“Really, there’s nothing to be afraid of,” he
giggled, and attached some jumper cables to my
ears.
The other end of the jumper cables he
clamped onto a tall, steel flagpole, and methodi
cally strode to a waist-level control panel, and
as he pulled levers and pressed buttons, mam
moth grey cumulonimbus clouds came rolling
in.
The thunder crashed, the lightning flashed,
and one by one, seven bolts of electricity struck
the flagpole. Thousands of volts of electricity
were sent searing through my self-sacrificing
body, while exulted thoughts of piety rang
through my head.
“I’m doing this for humanity! One day,
someone will be better ofT because of me!”
As magically as they appeared, the storm
clouds vacated the sky above, revealing the
shining sun, singing birds, fragrant flowers,
and one grinning experimenter.
“OK. That’s all. We can go back downstairs
now.”
I was anticipating the obligatory inch-thick
stack of questionnaires to fill out when Mike
Psych inquired, “So what did you think the ex
periment was all about?”
What did he mean what did I think the ex
periment was all about? He told me it was
about the effects of electricity on sexuality.
Why is he asking me this?
“I guess it’s about the effects of electricity on
sexuality," I said.
“(Hee hee hee,) yeah that’s what we thought
you’d think. (Hee, hee.) Were you suspicious
about anything?”
I hadn’t realized I should have been a du
bious cynic before entering the psychology
building.
“No.”
“(Hee, hee) Well, (hee) see we actually
wanted to see just how many stupid, vulnerable
sych 101 students there are out there (har
ar.) We couldn’t imagine that anyone (haw
haw haw) could be so brainless as to agree to let
a perfect stranger (HAW 7 HAW HAAAAAW)
send seven bolts of lightning through their body
AHHHHHH HAA HAA HAA HAA!!!!" And with
that, he fell on the floor in a fit of unrestrained
laughter, while 1 sat in the chair feeling like an
imbecile.
“It wasn’t lightning at all! It was a multichro-
matic hologram fabricated by my little brother
in his science lab'. AHH HA HA HA HA HA HA!
“Don’t you think we would have had to give
you insurance forms and tons of more consent
forms and witnesses out the wazoo before we
could have electrified you?” His laughter was
subsiding, and he was wiping the tears away
from his eyes.
“Well, anyway, thanks for participating in
our experiment, and oh — by the way — there’s
no reason to feel stupid.”
Mollie Batts is a columnist for The Red and
Black.
Mandela release stirs hope
■ FORUM
□ The Red and Black welcomes letters to the editor and prints them in the Forum
column as space permits. All letters are subject to editing for length, style and li
belous 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. Letters can be sent by U.S. mail or brought in person to The Red
and Blacks offices at 123 N. Jackon St.. Athens. Ga.
The sun also rises, wrote Ernest
Hemingway. It has once more risen
for the people of South Africa and
to all Africans with the liberation
of ANC leader Nelson Mandela
from his 27 long years in prison.
This release came to us, African
Students at the University of
Georgia, as the morning sun
bringing light to the world.
Mandela’s release brings to all
Africans hope in our despair,
courage in our heart, smiles on our
faces and tears in our eyes. But
these tears are no longer the tears
of frustration and bitterness. They
are tears of joy and happiness to
see the smiling face of Mandela out
on the street, raising his fist to stir
the hope of his people.
Just as nobody can stop the sun
from shining on the world, no so
cial government con confine the
will of a person. In prison, Mandela
was spiritually with his people.
Out of prison, Mandela is like the
sun, bringing not only his great
moral and enlightened ideas, but
also his fatherly look, his inspiring
voice and his stainless will as an
example of a leader. Many times,
people are weak in mind, but Man
dela stood firmly by his principles
despite all the odds.
We can now look at the future of
our brothers and sisters in South
Africa with some hope, and shout
with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr:
Let Freedom ring! Let Freedom
ring! Free at last!
Bellangue Georges Nsame
president, African Students Union
Bush knows China
Elizabeth Graddy, in her column
entitled “Bush is kowtowing to
Chinese tyranny,” has failed to re
alize that U.S. relations with the
Peoples Republic of China were ini
tiated not Decause of our common
ideals but more for our common in
terests.
It is for this reason that the
worst mistake we could make in
our China policy is to indulge the
uniquely American practice of pi
ously instructing other countries
about how to conduct their political
business. The Chinese are a fier
cely independent people who have
always chafed at attempts by
others to influence or dominate
their afTairs. Statements about ap
parent anti-reform or anti-demo-
cratic trends in China will serve no
purpose other than to offend and
alienate the Chinese leadership
and possibly produce an effect that
is exactly opposite to what naive
critics intend.
Former Chinese ambassador,
President George Bush, under
stands this rationale all too well.
His refusal to protect pro-democ
racy Chinese students wasn’t an
act of “kowtowing” to the Chinese
government. Rather, it was an act
that will help ensure that our
relationship survives and grows.
Lloyd Carver
senior, economics/pre law
Chauvinists like Jim
Like many students on the Tate
Center Plaza Tuesday, I found the
fundamentalist preaching of
Brother Jim an object for ridicule.
But I was appalled when I ob
served the seeming agreement of
the males in the audience to some
of his sexist remarks. When
Brother Jim opined that ERA
stands for “Eve Ruined Adam,” and
that men’s task on earth is to “keep
women in their place,” there was
jeering applause from most of the
men in attendance.
Such statements are not funny.
The attitude and philosophy
Brother Jim embraces lead to such
evils as wife-battering, sexual dis
crimination and the suppression of
a woman’s control over her own
body. When I hear University stu
dents applauding the idea that
men were born to dominate
women, I no longer wonder at the
prevalence of date rape on this
campus.
Andew Dice Clay says the same
things about women in the form of
jokes, and I don’t applaud him ei
ther. I hope the males who found
female submission so funny today
will think a little about their atti
tudes toward women. All just a
joke, guys? Think about it at the
next frat party.
Donna Bowman,
secretary, psychology department
Hunting not harmful
The February 5 edition of
U.S.News and World Report ran a
cover story all but calling for an
end to hunting. The article was ex
tremely biased and inaccurate.
Hunters have first-hand experi
ence in environmental issues and
spend $517 million to restore the
environment. The shrinking pop
ulation in animals is due to habitat
destruction by developers and pol
lution, not to “shoot-anything
Rambos.” Furthermore, game
limits are set up to keep animal
populations at their healthiest
level.
Write U.S. News criticizing this
article, defend an American Heri
tage, and protect the future of wild
life in this country.
Hans Eckman
freshman, biology
Control those guns
Recently there have been two in
cidents reported in The Red and
Black involving the use of firearms
against students. As a citizen of a
country, Britain, which doesn’t
permit widespread unlicensed
ownership of handguns or rifles, I
am appalled at these events.
If Rep. Frank Redding is really
concerned with the preservation of
minors, perhaps he would do better
to direct his efforts toward those
who believe it to be their right to
shoot people in the streets, rather
than those interested in socializing
in local bars.
Alistair Leigh
postdoctoral associate, chemistry
Do the right thing
We have a challenge before us.
In order for the University’s new
recycling program to be successful,
every one of us will have to coop
erate. We need to become more
aware of what we throw away and
have a desire to do something posi
tive for the environment. It’s
simple, instead of all trash going in
one bin, make sure glass, alu
minum and paper go in their
proper places in the newly pro
vided recycling containers around
campus.
The administration needs to see
that there’s support for a Univer
sity-wide recycling program. Be
sides, as the Quaker Oats man say,
“It’s the right thing to do.”
Mark Spiro
graduate student, biochemistry