Newspaper Page Text
I
■ QUOTABLE
4 » The Red and Black » Tuesday, May 1, 1990
OPINIONS
The Red & Black
EttabLihed 1893—Incorporated 1980
An independent itudent nempaper not affiliated with the Univemty of Georgia
Charlene Smith/Editor-in-Chief
Amy Bellew/Managing Editor
Hogal Nassery/Opinions Editor
■ EDITORIALS
Busted
To the 89 people who got cited for violating the
city’s asinine open container ordinance this weekend:
Don’t pay the fine early, fight it in court.
Never mind the fact that the Pepsi Twilight
Criterium and Athens Jazz Festival bring thousands of
dollars and hundreds of people to the Classic City. Just
ignore the contradictions of a city council that wants to
build a civic center to bring people downtown, but
chases them away with this unnecessary law that puts
a big damper on downtown festivities.
Never mind the fact that Michelob beer is a sponsor
of the event, but is not allowed to set up stands outside.
And just look over the fact that police officers lingered
outside the Georgia Theatre, the Odyssey and every
other bar on the race course, waiting for unsuspecting
drinkers to come out with an open cup full of beer.
Never mind that most of the people cited for
violating the open container ordinance were not acting
disorderly, nor were they the only violaters by far. At
large events like the Criterium, it is impossible to cite
everyone. It’s the lucky 89 who got the privilege of a
citation. The council should suspend the law for special
events.
It will be interesting to see how many people get
cited during home football games this fall when
violaters are on every corner. It would be silly to
enforce the law then, and it was silly to do so last
weekend.
The city made its point. It made everyone walking
around downtown paranoid to hold a cup in their hand,
even if it didn’t contain alcohol. It made some Atlanta
folks who didn’t know about the law swear to stay at
home next time.
Way to go City Council. If sponsors of such events
choose to take their fun elsewhere, everybody in the
Classic City loses.
Watch out
This year’s Sigma Chi debacle focuses attention on
a couple of issues that have plagued Greek
organizations for years.
Kegs... parties... liability suits... hazing.
The University Student Judiciary stood strong in
its position on fraternity adherence to campus
regulations, and the impact of their action will be felt in
the years to come.
We are starting to see one ripple of effect in the
University Subcommittee on Student Activities and
Student Judiciary’s recommendations last week. They
want to see a set of standards developed that are
geared specifically to modify the behavior of Greek
organizations. If these guidelines are not maintained,
the fraternity or sorority concerned would lose its
recognized student organization status. This is a
necessary step in the right direction.
Neither the Interfraternity, nor the Panhellenic
councils have the authority necessary to police
Milledge Avenue. Fraternities and sororities should be
monitored throughout the year, and asked to justify
their actions before attitudes and situations develop
that lead to expulsion or other disciplinary action.
Some maintain that the University should rely on
the national chapter of an organization to be the
watchdog of its affiliate on campus. As the Sigma Chi
case illustrated so well, it often takes drastic action to
draw a response from national officials.
The University should be commended for taking an
active role in addressing this issue. With Greek
organizations becoming more sensitized to the liability
they face in cases of hazing, irresponsible alcohol
consumption and open parties, this kind of action could
be, and should be, the wave of the future.
STAFF
NEWS: 543-1809
H**TO UtV Jennifer Rirr»y
•port* tour Trevo< Pad<cn
Entertainment Editor Morgarot Waaton
Aaaodat* Hew Editor*: Ctvlt Gnmee, Jennifer
Wilkin
Front Pag* Copy Editor: Ovik] Johnaton
ktM< Copy Sdttora: Jooi Groover. Kaity Keaunf,
Mary Aatciiffe. Johanna van d*r Wai
UOA Taday/Wtre Mtar Robert Azuu
Graphic* Editor Devi* O’Keeffe
Chief Photographer Peter Fray
Photo Editor. Marta Clay
Staff Writer*: Waiter Colt. Maria Edwarde. Anna-
Mart* Fang ay. lance Haim*. Chnatopher Mightovror.
Oar* Mcieod. Mika Mcieod. Staphanw Snath.
Sandra Stephana, J. 0 Squwanta. Robert Tooa
Sparta Writer: Chna Lancer.a
Special Secbona/Trenda EdKer: Cara May
Aaeietjnt Special Seettoaa/Trend* Editor
Glona Rowbotham
Editorial Aeeietant Pamela Warren
Cartoonist Mik# Moreu
ADVERTISING: 543-1791
Student AdverSafag Manager*
K/ittl Bonham. Baverty Taylor
Advert]alng Aaaiatanta:
Jennifer Davit. Scott Oonaideon. Katnenn* Ferndet
Sonior Advwtlelng Rapraaantatlvaa. Seen Fagan,
Krtchelle Halualanl. Julie ReynoMa
Adverting Wapmaantaflvaa: Augusta Duffey,
Shannon Greene. Karen Haynee. Rick Huggm*. Mark
lecomnl, Chile Munguia, Toby Myera laeNettlea
Leigh Rifle, Lori Thurman
Aaalatant Editorial feed. Manager: Cnatma Feindt
Aeeietant AdvartMng Prod. Manager: Manana
Martin
Production Stag; Andy Aid. Laura Friedrich, Andrea
Man tour, Lortn Mar ah, Elizabeth Mautz. Laura Millar.
Stacy Stenberg. Michaiie Wegert
Q an oral Mw agar Harry Montevideo
AdvartMng Director: Robin Stonor
OfSe* Manager Mary Straub
Production Manager Judy Jordan
ClaaeMade/Reception!at: Baverty Vaughn
CiedM Manager Suean Oevta
Clad cat: Joanna Horton
Tho Rod and Stock la pubiiahed Tueaday through
Friday dunng the regular achool year and each
Thuraday dunng eummer quarter, with the exception*
or holiday* and exam penod*. by The Rad and Black
PuWithmg Company inc. a nonprofit cempua
newepaper not affiliated with the Ufeveroity of
Georgia. 133 N Jeckton SL. Athena. Ga. 30601
Third data pottage paid at Athene. Ga Subecnptron
'ate S24 par year.
0 pi "tone expreeeed la The Rad and Back other than
untgned edKoneie are the opintona of the wrttara of
egned ooiumne and not neoeeeoniy thoee of The Rad
and Stock Pubiitfang Company inc Ail right*
raaarved Repnnta by pemvaaion of the editor*
"Black and white standards of beauty are different. There Is an
’Afrocentrlc’ and ’Eurocentric' view of women.”
— Cerllle Nassau, senior political science major, on the Miss
Black UGA Pageant.
i U.'TMfc4ari*i*k
New age generation emerging today
People who ponder the idea of personal insig
nificance when compared to the vastness of
time try to identify their lives with a generation
— a generation that has or will leave its indel
ible mark on history; I do. I want my generation
to leave its mark so that future generations will
know that we tried to make the world a better
place. 1 feel sorry for the lata 70s’ and early 80s’
generations. They had nothing but themselves
to work for. Often dubbed the ‘me’ generations,
these folks became too wrapped up in their per
sonal satisfaction to be concerned with political
or even environmental issues. And worst of all,
they elected an ex-actor — a poor one at that —
for a president.
Probably the most glorified generation was
the 60s’ generation — a generation typified by
its vehement political voices and social change.
They stood for the same values that America
was founded on. And what’s more, the spirits of
the 60s’ leaders such as Martin Luther King
Jr., Malcolm X and Abbie Hoffman are still
with us today. The good news is that 1990 is
ushering in a new generation that has the
ability to be just as significant, if not more sig
nificant, than the generation of the 1960s. For
lack of better terminology, I like to call this gen
eration the New Age generation.
The New Age movement surfaced as a major
movement in the late 1980s. This period, which
I call the ‘yuppie enlightenment’, brought envi
ronmentalism to bear as a dominant issue. En
vironmentalism had its roots in the late 60s’
and early 70s’, but it wasn’t until this past de
cade that it entered mainstream political
thought and now is at the very crust of the New
Age generation. Young adults who were grad
uating from college at this time had to make a
choice: Were they going to follow the footsteps
of the yuppie generation or search for a higher
meaning in life? Lucky for us they chose the
latter. Now, it’s chic to be an environmentalist;
now, there is at least a glimmer hope.
Also to come from this period, is the belief in
the healing power of the crystal; a looser
fashion attitude; the marketablity of the peace
symbol; the rise of Mikhail Gorbachev as a pop
ular world figure; and the melting of cold war
attitudes. In short the New Age generation is
typified by open-mindedness. The New Ager is
a staunch political and human rights activist a
little left of center. He is a realist in that he is
willing to operate in the system that he wishes
to change. The New Ager is most likely against
the drug war, and is pro-choice and characteris
tically a member of one or many activist groups.
The New Ager is also an idealist in that he be
lieves the changes he makes will have an posi
tive impact on the world.
New Agers are moralists. They aren’t tradi
tional moralists; they have formed values based
on modern attitudes. War is still wrong. But
human rights is most important even in an
issue such as abortion. The New Ager may not
agree with the act of abortion, but they are pro
women’s rights at any cost.
New Agers are also religious, but not nec
essarily traditionally religious. Rather than be
lieving in God, they may believe that living in
harmony with their environment is knowing
God. Meditation is making a come back, and
the New Ager emphasizes a personal focus and
inner-balance. Also, the New Ager is highly
health conscience. In order to have a clean
earth the New Ager believes in having a clean
body and spirit.
The New Age movement has the ability to
cross all socioeconomic barriers as the environ
mental issue becomes even more prevalent. By
the end of the decade it even will be the domi
nant thought in rural America. Already, I can
drive through rural Georgia and see recycling
efforts underway.
A New Ager can be a corporate manager. If
you order a tuna sandwich from Blimpie’s, you
may notice that Blimpie’s is a member of the
Save the Dolphins campaign. Management for
other businesses, such as the Kroger food
chain, has decided that it is better business to
be pro-environment.
More importantly the New Age movement
will cross racial and cultural barriers and will
unite us all behind a common cause.
The New Age movement is happening now.
You can either choose to participate or be left
out of the generation that has the ability to stop
or reverse man’s pathway to destruction. Call
me a romantic; call me an idealist; but most of
all, call me a New Ager.
Rand Pearson is a senior journalism major.
Pageant cultural not separatist event
Friday, I was walking past Memorial Hall
when I noticed a sign on the University Union’s
board with a Confederate flag and several
statements concerning how the writer was
“proud to be white.”
The sign also made the statement that al
though “they weren’t anti-black,” what would
happen if UGA sponsored a “Miss White UGA
pageant?”
I am guessing that the writers) of this piece
of pseudo-journalism was making reference to
tonight’s 17th annual Miss Black UGA pageant
sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta Sororitv.
As sure as spring signals the filing of taxes
and the start of baseball season, it also marks
the annual assault on this wonderful event
sponsored by the Deltas by those less-enlight
ened members of our University.
First of all, anyone and everyone is welcome
to enter the pageant. The Deltas have adver
tised the pageant all over campus for the better
part of April, and it will be held for all to see in
the Tate Center. A person does not have to be
black in order to enter and for that matter, if
you’re a white male, you could enter this pag
eant or the Miss UGA pageant held earlier in
the year.
Second, folks have a lot of problems with the
phrase “Miss Black UGA” and comment that
whites should have a “Miss White UGA“ pag
eant because it is just as discriminatory.
The Miss Black UGA pageant is a celebration
of African culture with an emphasis on the
black female. The pageant is no more of a sepa
ratist function than Irish-Americans proudly
strutting and parading down the street in green
on St. Patrick's Day each year. Both are extol
ling the virtues of a part of their culture that is
special and worth exposing to the world.
The concept of minority programs is difficult
for non-minority folks to understand. Minori
ties are in the uncomfortable position of having
to greatly adjust their ways and assimilate to
the thinking of the meyority. However, that
does not mean that minorities don’t have the
right to celebrate and hold onto certain parts of
their culture.
The use of the word “black” is used simply to
identify the culture the event is promoting —
not to advocate superiority over another race.
Anyone can enter and help celebrate the cul
ture, just as non-Irish folks drink green beer on
March 17.
Is there a “white culture?” Do whites in
America have the same common thread of sim
ilar experiences a9 blacks? Were all whites sub
jected to racial prejudice and suffering? Were
whites prevented from entering the school or
job they were qualified for? Many sects were pe
nalized for different reasons at different times,
but not in the same fashion or manner as
blacks. Often times immigrants from France,
Italy, or Germany could slide by because physi
cally they looked the same as other “white
Americans.” Blacks don’t have that luxury.
If a “Miss White UGA” pageant was held, it
would undoubtedly be a reaction with preju
diced overtones instead of a celebration of a cul
ture.
Think about the whole idea of pageants. Is
the Miss America pageant discriminatory to
ward non-Americans because only American
women can enter? Doesn’t this pageant simply
seek to celebrate the American culture and ex
pose other cultures around the world to a few of
the beautiful and talented women who live in
America?
I find it very interesting that whenever a pro
gram or event has the five-letter word “black”
attached to it, it is automatically assumed that
the event i9 9epartist and should be abolished.
Why? Blacks were forced to come to America
and were forced to abandon their culture and
customs, unlike any other culture outside
of Native Americans. All other people who im
migrated to America adopted American culture
and also kept traditions of their own.
Instead of always bashing such events, why
not attend an India Night sponsored by the In
dian Student Association, Israel Week spon
sored by Hillel, or learn some Arabic courtesy of
the Muslim Student Association? And then at
tend the Miss Black UGA pageant? Then
maybe some folks will learn and experience dif
ferent cultures instead of being blinded by the
misconceptions of discrimination.
Gene Williams is a junior marketing major.
Hitler was a vegetarian?
Congratulations to Sacco and
Kelly for their well-written exposi
tions on animal rights. Kelly’s com
ments are right on the money, but,
in a fashion typical of the animal
rights movement, Sacco is playing
fast and loose with the facts.
Activists are very fond of in
voking memories of the Holocaust
to exemplify alleged animal abuse,
so it is ironic to realize how the
ethos of the animal rights
movement coincides with that of
the Nazis. Adolf Hitler was a vege
tarian, and thought people who
consumed red meat were cruel and
inhumane. As such, Nazi Germany
is the only state in history to
outlaw animal research. The ideals
of Ryder and Singer are not pro
gressive and contemporary, but are
just a rehash of Adolf Hitler’s atti
tude toward animals.
Animal testing of pharmaceuti
cals is not “unnecessary or superf
luous”. My research encompasses
both mathematical modeling and
cell culture, so I know they are
rarely appropriate substitutes.
A centralized data bank for re
search is a great idea, but it is ab
solutely necessary to replicate
findings in different laboratories so
spurious results coming out of one
laboratory will not be generally re
garded as fact.
Activists content to base their
arguments on unverified anti-vivi
section pamphlets do not appre
ciate the importance of validating
scientific information. They don’t
realize how ludicrous they are,
squawking about “animal exploita
tion” and "unnecessary animal re
search” while owning pets and
having them vaccinated.
Martin Q. Hulsey
graduate student, home economice
■ 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 classifl
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 SL. Athens, Ga.