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4 • The Red and Black • Wednesday. May 2. 1990
OPINIONS
The Red & Black
Established 1893—Incorporated 1980
An independent student newspaper not affiliated with the University of Georgia
Charlene Smith/Editor-in-Chief
Amy Bellew/Managing Editor
Hogai Nassery/Opinions Editor
■ EDITORIALS
Shelter SEA
If any student group deserves office space on
campus, it’s Students for Environmental Awareness.
The importance of the environment as a global
issue, as well as a campus issue, behooves the
University to find room for SEA, which is one of the
most active groups on campus. It sponsors speakers,
holds weekly meetings and publishes a well-written
and educational newsletter among other things.
On a campus where a democratically elected
Student Government Association, which can barely
complete its agenda, is awarded two offices plus an
answering machine, it is despicable that SEA — a
group that actually accomplishes things — is denied
office space.
While SEA’s agreement with Student Activities
Director Bill Porter was that they would move out of
their current office after Earth Day, there are other
places in the Tate Student Center to let the group use.
First of all, the Barker’s office is being used for
storage, and the All-Campus Homecoming Committee
office is vacant this time of year. If the new SGA
executive officers want to improve relations with other
organizations like they say they do, then they should
give SEA one of its offices. SGA folks are hardly ever
there anyway. SEA could be moved to any one of these
offices until the office space is reallocated for next year.
Then, SEA should be given a permanent office.
The environmental movement is not a passing
fancy. As Student Activities director, Porter should be
encouraging and facilitating the SEA agenda. It is
ironic that when so many critics bemoan the “apathy”
of our generation, University administration is
reluctant to show its support for student actions to
protect the environment.
Take responsibility
The primary season has officially begun after last
Friday’s deadline for candidates to qualify in the 1990
Georgia elections.
A lot of attention is focused on the presence of
national media consultants in all of the major
gubernatorial campaigns this year, continuing the
widespread criticism of packaged candidates and
negative campaigning that seemed to be the central
issue of the 1988 election.
None of the critics are paying attention to the
response of the consultants and their candidates when
they are confronted directly about these tactics.
Their response inevitably is that distortion and
negativity works, while addressing the issues doesn’t.
Voters must remember that campaigns are organized
for the sole purpose of electing candidates. It is nice to
be able to talk about the issues involved with the job,
but the public wants to be entertained. They want to
feel good.
Making a personal decision on an issue is a lot
harder than deciding between a loving grandfather
who defended his country and an “unpatriotic tax
raiser.”
Voters should contact each campaign and find out
candidates’ positions on issues that matter to them.
Don’t trust one well-financed candidate to give an
accurate view of the opponent’s records.
Students should support civic and student
organizations like the Chamber of Commerce, the
College Republicans and the Young Democrats in their
efforts to bring candidates to Athens. Low attendance
often means that they won’t get the speaker to come to
campus again and these forums are excellent
opportunities to question candidates on the issues.
It is the voter’s responsibility to cast educated
votes. It is ridiculous to expect campaign organizations
to do anything other than what it takes to get their
candidates elected.
QUOTABLE
• If a president knows he's responsible, he may have to play po
-TcSnt CM Conleyon the posslblity of fratemhtypresl-
y . .■ ^ k-.-j fnr hazing among members
Georgia film industry needs nurturing
During this election year, Georgians are
going to hear a multitude of ideas from an array
of candidates running for office. This galaxy of
distinguished politicians is going to address is
sues which might add revenue to our tight state
budget. They will be hitting on issues such as a
state lottery, taxes and the development of
rural areas. However, there is one industry in
the state which is not receiving its share of at
tention. This neglected industry produced $141
million in 1989 alone. It is legal, morally accep
table, and spotlights Georgia to the rest of the
world. What is this magical money making
business? Movies'.
No, I’m not talking about the comprehensive
construction of Blockbuster video rental stores
across the state. I’m talking about the fact that
the Big Peach is fast becoming the new Holly
wood. The Georgia film industry has been in
existence only 16 years and has produced over
267 motion pictures. The 15 movies produced
here last year employed over 600 Georgia
craftsmen, 400 actors, and 77,000 extras.
Actually, it’s amazing that Georgia enjoys a
successful movie industry at all. In the past, we
have greeted this profitable industry like a
leper from Alabama. The industry has received
minimum consideration and attention despite
the fact that it has brought over $1 billion into
our economy. Movies like The Big Chill,
Smokey and the Bandit, Driving Miss Daisy,
and Glory have all been shot on location. It’s a
good thing, because Georgia has no studios.
In the past, Atlanta has been under consider
ation for studios which were eventually built in
Florida. Our neighbor to the south promised as
sistance and showed concrete interest in the de
velopment of its movie industry.
Lt. Governor Zell Miller has been cam
paigning that the sunshine state has a lottery.
Big deal! Goofy, Donald and Mickey made out
like bandits when they obtained the very stu
dios we needed.
Our state has a history of lights, camera, and
inaction. Back in 1989, The General Assembly
created the Movie Industry Study Committee.
This committee held a series of hearings
throughout the state to determine the most ef
fective method of cultivating production of
movies in our state.
During the 1990 Assembly, the Committee
recommended: fund an effort to attract produc
tions, create jobs for coordinating projects, and
begin development of studios. Unfortunately,
the committee had the luck of the Atlanta Fal
cons in their old stadium.
Fate would have the requests appear before a
tight budget during an election year. The ga-
lant Committee’s recomendations were put on
the back burner. The only positive note was
that the Committee will exist at least one more
year.
However, tomorrow may be another day.
There are some effective efforts under way
which are bringing productions to our state.
The Georgia Department of Industry, Trade
and Tourism oversees a department designed
to attract productions to this State. This de
partment was recently successful in luring
Clint Eastwood’s current project away from
West Virginia.
This summer, construction on Riverwood
Studios in Coweta County will be completed.
This is a commercial facility which will provide
two sound studios and a shop. This center is a
must to keep up wth Florida s facilities.
Georgia’s leaders should wake up and realize
that our motion picture industry is an unwa
tered peachtree. Despite its neglect this tree
has produced over one billion peaches in the
past sixteen years.
David Herndon is the moderator of Rapid Fire.
Howard progressive and experienced
In a crowded field of candidates for Lieu
tenant Governor, state Senator Pierre (pro
nounced Peer) Howard (D-Decatur) stands head
and shoulders above the rest as an innovative
and visionary leader. During his distinguished
seventeen year career in the Georgia senate, he
has sponsored and passed progressive legis
lation aimed at alleviating some of our state’s
most pressing problems.
Howard’s position as Chairman of the
Human Resources committee has given him in
sight that has inspired much of his notable leg
islation. An example of his legislative efforts is
the Workfare or PEACH program. It requires
able-bodied Welfare recipients to work for the
benefits they receive. This program serves a
dual purpose. Participants in the PEACH pro
gram receive vocational-technical training en
abling them to enter the competitive job
market. Both the participants and their chil
dren benefit from the feeling of pride and self-
reliance that is gained through earned income.
These gradually changing attitudes are
breaking the welfare cycle.
Another piece of Howard legislation is the
Community Care Act. This enables elderly per
sons on Medicaid to remain in their homes with
round the clock care rather than suffer the
trauma of relocation to a nursing home. This
has not only been gratefully received in the el
derly community, but also among the general
tax-paying citizenry, because it is actually less
expensive for the state to provide a live-in
Shannon
Mayfield
nurse than to support a patient in a nursing
home. Such reforms have built Senator How
ard’s reputation as one of our most promising
leaders.
From Helen to Hahira and Cherry Log to
Cairo, Howard’s campaign is gaining the mo
mentum that will carry him into office in No
vember. Modern day political analysts and
pundits claim that in this era of media-domi
nated elections, campaigning throughout the
state is a waste of time and resources. Howard
is proving them wrong as his take-it-to-the-
people strategy is winning friends and sup
porters all over Georgia.
Senator Howard enjoys a tremendous base of
support in Athens. He spent a successful seven
years at the University as an outstanding
scholar and tennis team captain, then law stu
dent. He has maintained close ties to the Uni
versity community through his activities as an
alumnus. He is also the only candidate who can
claim significant student support. Education
occupies a prominent position in Senator How
ard’s platform, and he contends that we must
excel in education to continue to succeed in to
day’s international competition.
Some people have been unkind enough to
suggest that a fellow with a name like Pierre
cannot be elected in Georgia. Senator Howard’s
response to this has won him national attention
from The Wall Street Journal, Time magazine,
and Paul Harvey. As he travels to rural loca
tions across the state, he explains in the per
sonable manner that has become his
trademark, that his name does not present a
g roblem because Pierre is simply French for
ubba. And it is working.
This spring as candidates for Lt. Gov. begin
feverishly campaigning, before they tell you
what they want to do, make them show you
what they have done. As we enter a new de
cade, and our state is increasingly in the na
tional spotlight, it is critical that we elect
leaders that reflect the greatness of our people.
The future prosperity of Georgia demands a
change in both the image and substance of our
government, and Howard will be the catalyst
for the change our state needs. So this July 17,
in the Democratic primary, succumb to Pierre-
pressure and vote Howard for Lieutenant Gov
ernor.
Shannon Mayfield is president of the UGA Stu
dents for Howard
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There I was, eating my lunch,
and reminiscing about the best
three years of my life, happily
spent with the best professors at
the best law school in the south,
learning how to be a lawyer. I was
thinking that the best day of my
life was only three weeks away.
Once that diploma was in my hand,
I would be ready for the best the
world has to offer - the best salary,
the best house, the best clothes (for
my wife too, who happens to be the
best law school spouse), the best
car...
But then it happened. Just as I
was about to raise my little can of
Dole Orange-Pineapple-Banana
juice and say, “It doesn’t get any
better than this,” someone handed
me a copy of The Red and Black.
There on the very first page was an
article about the Gridiron Society,
the best organization on campus.
How could I have missed out on
something so important? “It’s not
your fault,” my friends assured me.
After all, it’s a secret society.
Who tire these mystery macho
men who ride the sidewalks of Mil-
ledge Avenue under cover of dark
ness? Why can’t I be one of them? I
can put tinfoil in a microwave. I
own a tux. I can ignore a rea
sonable request from a lady. I can
break and enter. I can whistle the
theme from that Clint Eastwood
movie, “A fist full of Panties.” “It’s
not that simple”, my friends ex
plained, “you see no one knows
what the membership require
ments are." After all, it’s a secret
society.
Well, perhaps if I understood
why membership in this boy’s club
was one of the highest honors a
male student could achieve, then I
could deal with my shame at
having been passed over when the
sacred invitations for membership
were dispensed. "Sorry”, my
friends said, “the activities and
purpose of the society are known
only to members.” After a few sec
onds of thoughtful silence, one
friend decided to give me a little
more help. “Basically, it’s a mutual
admiration society. Sort of like,
well, social masturbation.”
Slowly the pieces were coming
together. "I think I’ve got it”, I said.
“It sounds like a bunch of junior
high school boys, well heeled in an
ancient social and sexual elitism,
joined together by an incestual ad
miration for each other’s pedigree.”
My friends nodded in agreement.
I had one more question.
What", I asked, “ever gave these
U»ys the idea that their Society
was the best?" “Who knows”, my
friends replied. After all, it’s a se
cret society.
KrUtofor Schleicher
third year, law student