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4 • The Red and Black • Tuesday, June 5, 1990
OPINIONS
The Red & Black
Established 1893—Incorporated 1980
An independent ttudent newspaper not affiliated with the University of Georgia
Charlene Smith/Editor-in-Chief
Amy Bellew/Managing Editor
Hogai Nassery/Opinions Editor
■ EDITORIALS
Judicially retarded
Thanks to five U.S. Supreme Court justices, the
mentally incompetent can now be sentenced to death.
Thomas Baal, a 26-year-old convicted killer, was
executed Sunday by lethal injection, even though he
had suffered long-term mental problems and brain
damage.
Dalton Prejean, a 32-year-old who was convicted of
a crime he had committed as a minor, was executed on
May 17, even though he was mentally and physically
abused as a child and mentally retarded.
What is happening to our nation? The typical death
row inmate is black, poor and has a below normal I.Q.
It appears that our judicial system is unwittingly
ridding our society of elements that most Americans
refuse to care about.
Baal’s execution came only hours after the Supreme
Court ruled invalid a federal appeals court decision to
block the execution. Three of the justices who voted to
execute Baal were appointed by Ronald Reagan, yet
another shining example of the “quick-fix-it” mentality
of his administration in dealing with the problems this
nation faces.
Executing the mentally retarded will not decrease
our crime rate or clear up our clogged judicial system.
It should not even be an option.
It’s unfortunate that organizations like Amnesty
International have to exist, organizations that struggle
to counter the increasing body count that is generated
by brutality. It takes a sick mind to condone such
inhuman and unusually cruel punishment for the
mentally retarded, who deserve treatment and help,
not the death penalty.
One should be grateful that the same carnival-type
atmosphere that accompanied the execution of Ted
Bundy in Florida was absent this time.
But absent also was the media coverage of these
two events that illustrated the vicious nature of the
current attitudes and standards of decency.
Diamond diligence
Who says this is football country? It seems that
Goff’s Dogs should take lessons from Steve Webber’s
Diamond Dogs. Georgia is 2-0 in the College World
Series after beating Mississippi State 3-0 and
shellacking Stanford, the No. 1 team in the nation by
the shocking score of 16-2.
When was the last time a Georgia football team was
in a position to win the national title? Can’t remember?
It was 1982. The baseball team is now only one win
away from being slung into the team’s first national
championship game in Omaha, Neb. And that with a
lot less funding and a lot less fan support.
The main reason behind it all — Webber. Though
soft-spoken and not as charismatic as his football
counterpart, Webber has his troops hungry and better
yet, well-disciplined.
Just look at the Stanford game.
After striking out six times straight to start the
game, the Dogs were not dismayed. Much like their
coach, they showed little reaction to the early
domination and just got the job done, reserving the
emotion for the appropriate time —after the game.
The Diamond Dogs have more than proven that
they deserve the new stadium being built at Foley Field
by going 51-18 and beating a slate of top 25 teams in
the Northeast Regional and thus far in the CWS.
Congratulations guys. Bring home Georgia’s first
national baseball championship to put alongside your
football cohorts 1980 crown.
STAFF
NEWS: 543-1809
Nm Utter, jqnmf* Rampay
Sport* Uttar Trwor Padgett
Entertatament Editor Margaret Weston
Aeeowiate Mews Edit on Chris Qflmas, Jennifer
fro* Raffs CeWt E*ter Dew) Johnston
MeMe Copy Editor* Walter Colt. Joel Groover, Mery
Sorder Advert)elr« Representatives: Sean Fagan.
Krichette Haiualera, Rick Huggins, Julie Reynolds
Advert)sing RepreeentaDvee: Shannon Greene,
Karen Haynes. Waiter Henderson. Alan Holcomb,
Chris Munguia, Toby Myers. Lee Netties, Leigh RifTe,
Lon Thurman
Assistant Editorial Prod Manager: Cristina Feindt
Assistant Advertising feed. Manager Mariana
Martin
Product)on Staff: Andy An). Laura Fnednch, Andrea
Man sour. Lorln Marsh. Laura Miller, Stacy Sterberg.
Michelle wegert
lay/WIre Editor Robert Alula
•: Davis O’Keeffe
: Peter Frey
: Maria Clay
If Wfttets: Owl nr Bruns. Maria Edwards, Anna
la Fanguy. Lance Holms. Dara McLeod. Mike
McLeod. Stephanie Smith. Sandra Stephens, J. 0.
SffuMante. Robert Todd
• Writer: Chns Lenostta
S EdRor: Cara May
ADVERTISING: 543-1791
Jennifer Oevte. Scott OoneWeon
Q an oral Manager Harry Montevideo
Advert)elng Director: Robin Stoner
Office Manager Mary Straub
Production Manager: Judy Jordan
Claaeifled•/Reception!at Beverly Vaughn
Credit Manager Susan Davis
Clerical: Joanna Horton
The Ned and Hack is published Tuesday through
Friday during the regular school year and sach
Tnuradsy during summsr quarter, with the exceptions
of holidays and turn panoda, by Tha Red and Black
Publishing Company Inc. a non-profit campus
newspaper not affiliated with the University of
Georgia. 123 N. Jackson Sc. Athens. Ga. 30001
Third class postage pan) at Athens. Ga. Subscnption
rata: $24 par year.
0pin!one expressed In Tha Rad and Meek other than
untuned editorials are tha opinions of tha writers of
signed columns and not naoassaniy those of The Nad
and Black Publishing Company Inc All rights
reserved. Reprints by permission of the editors
■ QUOTABLE
"That was the biggest at bat In my life. I don't think anyone here
has Imagined this In their wildest dreams.
— Ray Suplee, on his hit that enabled Georgia to take the lead
against No. 1 Stanford In the College World Series.
TO BRING SACK THE IRON HORSE:
\0) \F DISMANTLED, (T WOULD BE. A BOON ID INE.
UNIV. RECYCLING PROGRAM,
9) THE STUDENTS DONTHAVE ENOUGH TO VANDALIZE,
ft") SOME THINGS IMPROVE WITH AGE. (ESPECIALLY AS THEY
J RUST AND CRUMBLE TO PIECES.)
7) THE PSYCHOLOGY DEPT GOULD USE IT AS A
"BIOTTESTT'Cif iruxxsLKE aiaorse,you're loopy.)
6)"OBSC£NE" Hte PREVIOUSLY ken applied onlyto
m OF SEYUAL NATURE,
5) THE "STATUE" OF LIMITATIONS FOR TACKY
V\ASNT EXPIRED, 1
4) OUR BULLDOG, MASCOT SHOULDNT HAVE A MONOPOLY
J ON THE TERM ''BLTTT UGLy,"
2.YART DOESNT BELONG IN A CORNFIELD WHERE NO ONE W|U
MTftCJWE IT, IT BELONGS ON CAMPUS V\IHERE NO ONE WILL
VpPKtCJkTElT,
2) ms. KNAPP COULD CREATE A" HORS RETRIEVAL TASK FORCE, 1 '
|) IT WOULD LOOKSWFLLONOUR 9CEN 1C SOUTH CAMPUS
Cultural diversity good for University
We have recently experienced several inci
dents on the University campus which appear
to be racially motivated. Indeed, the news of
late has been all too full of such examples of dis
respect for cultural differences on campuses
across the nation. While it’s easy enough to dis
miss such acts as the functional equivalent of
writing on a bathroom wall, the specter of ra
cial intolerance in any form is of profound con
cern and will not be condoned at the University.
As our campus police investigate these partic
ular incidents, we should perhaps be asking
ourselves whether there are deeper lessons to
be learned.
As reprehensible as these incidents are on
their face, they have the additional effect of
trivializng a major goal of the University which
I believe is widely shared by the University
community; that is to foster a climate on our
campus which celebrates cultural diversity,
which emphasizes achievement and which pro
hibits discrimination in any form. With specific
regard to the racial atmosphere, I’m proud of
the significant progress we’ve made such as the
recruitment of new black faculty members, in-
Charles
Knapp
creased enrollment of black students, the addi
tional emphasis on the week-long celebration of
the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,
and the creation of the Department of Minority
Student Services. I also want to commend the
example set bv the residents of Myers Hall in
the creation of a Racial Awareness Task Force
to combat the recent incidents through educa
tion and understanding.
A university exists to encourage the explora
tion of new ideas and to encourage the unfet
tered exhange of information and opinion. At
times, such freedom of expression may lead to
divergence of strongly held views, but dis
agreement should be the springboard for dia
logue and enlightenment. A healthy j
atmosphere of cultural diversity encourages
the forthright exchange of viewpoints. But the
malice inherent in any expression of racial big
otry is an anathema to the underlying founda
tions of a university. There is no place at the
University for such acts.
Creating and sustaining the climate of accep
tance, understanding and cooperation that
must exist on this campus is the responsibility
of us all - each student, each faculty and staff
member. Each member of the University com
munity enjoys the same basic rights and priv
ileges and anv infringement on human dignity
violates our fundamental purpose. I call upon
all members of the University community to
join me in condemning prejudice in all its forms
and to work for a university which honors the
worth and integrity of every individual.
Charles B. Knapp is the president of the Univer
sity of Georgia.
NORML tactics are less than normal
There is a new student group in town that is
changing the way people think about dining
hall eating. The organization’s name is BBTC -
Bring Back The Cone. As chairman of this
fellowship, I have the burden of explaining why
we (the self-proclaimed Cone Heads) have
chosen to pursue the path presented us. This I
intend to do now.
Inspired by the popular group National Or
ganization for the Reform of Maryuana Laws
(NORML), BBTC’s aim is to reinstate the ice
cream cones to the three main Univeristy eate
ries. It’s the NORML format for promoting and
advertising, propagandizing and bandwago-
nizing its subject that BBTC intends to follow
to achieve its goal. You see, NORML has re
minded the America of the real secret for polit
ical change: simply get tons of people to sign
one’s petition, and the case is nearly won.
My personal story is brief but full of sound
and fury, of heartbreak and renewed hope.
During my freshman year I was allowed to
finish my dining hall experience with a dish ex
traordinaire, ice cream a la cone. I considered
such a menu item a delicacy, so imagine my
shock when the cones were heartlessly removed
the following fall. No degree of begging, crying
or cajoling could cause the narrow-minded ad
ministrators to deviate from their appointed
course. In fact, they even went so far as to con
trive some story of melted ice cream messes
being found the length and breadth of campus
to try and justify their blatant and callous dis
regard for one of my personal liberties.
But no, the end had not yet come! Hope - re
kindled by NORML’s example - has become a
roaring furnace within me. How does NORML
pull it off? Their primary technique is really
basic Marketing 101 type stuff: simply mini
mize the undesirable aspects of the product.
For example, the case or tne high percentage
(somewhere above 99%) of heavy narcotics
users who began their drugging excursions
with the potent alcohol/marijuana combination
is countered with the proverbial claim (the ig
norant call it a cop-out) that addicts have
trouble anyway, and that the joint is not the
real problem. “Pot never killed anyone” is a fact
often quoted as a defense for this position.
When the statistics of violence surrounding
drug trafficking are pointed out, the NORML
gang is quick to respond that the harsh legal
codes are what make the innocent dealers so
cruel and heartless, implying that as soon as
certain laws are repealed, all the aggressive
and dangerous people will instantly turn in
their arms and become pacifists. The medicinal
values are also a reason to make the wonder
weed street-legal, as is the use of hemp in the
production of clothing and rope.
Please keep in mind that even though drug
legalization hasn’t worked when it has been
tried in certain European countries, NORML
feels that the adage more (in this case More
Rights) means better must be true. I must
humbly admit, however, that I’m not suffi
ciently enlightened to grasp this last point. In
any event, with these examples one can easily
see how NORML has created an insurmoun
table beachhead for defending its platform.
Now, how can NORML’s program work for
BBTC? Well, let’s play with tne facts. First off:
cones are, after all biodegradable - unlike the
little plastic bowls the dining halls have used
until recently. This point will (hopefully) be suf
ficient for enlisting countless numbers of envi
ronmentally aware indviduals. New jobs will
have to be created in order to supply the in
creased demand for ice cream cones. In addi
tion, underground brethren are secretly
fashioning clothing from cone material. Though
there is not yet a market for them, we hope to
convince people that they need to purchase the
edible earm ufTs that will soon flooa the market
No doubt certain groups who fear change and
individuality will complain about cone pol
lution on campus. But let’s face it: cones don’t
pollute, people do. And a cone never killed
anyone...
Sean Roe me r is a senior English major.
Kohn’s fantasies repugnant
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 matenalAetters shoUd be typed, doublespaced and must include the name,
address and daytime telephone number of the writer. Please include student dassifi
cation, major, and 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 Black s offices at 123 N. Jackon St., Athens, Ga.
Mr, Kohn, when you are old,
frail, and alone, I hope you will re
call with regret your snide refer
ences to the elderly as “these old
bags”, “decrepit”, and “like a sack
of prunes”. Your fantasy of ig
noring, even refusing the fallen vic
tim’s call for help is repugnant.
And your throwaway disclaimer
does title to temper your disrespect
and immaturity. Best of luck in
your career in journalism.
Christopher DeForest
employee, School of Forest Re
sources
The R & B goofed
The fire in the oven at the Insti
tute of Ecology did destroy samples
of wheat stems and leaves that
were collected from ongoing field
experiments. However the article
by McLeod incorrectly stated that
the burned plant material was la
beled with a radioactive isotope.
Rather, the wheat contained a
stable isotope of nitrogen (1SN)
that does not exhibit radioactive
decay and, thus, does not release
radiation or present a health risk.
These differences between radioac
tive and stable isotopes are impor
tant in determining the potential
health risks of just such a fire. We
hope that in the future The Red
and Black will be more careful in
reporting such accidents.
Michael Beam
post doctoral research associate
C. Ronald Carroll
associate director
Horse happy at home
After reading Sandra Stephens’
article about the Iron Horse, I was
appalled that some faculty and
staff members want to bring the
Horse back to campus. The Horse
has become legend around these
parts, with a spirit and dignity all
it’s own, a sacred icon of sorts,
standing proud in the Curtis’ corn
field. These people who are oh-so-
into-art appreciation would do well
to leave the Horse where it’s at, to
move it would surely be a dese
cration...one might as well melt it
down and sell it for scrap.
Larry Hopewell
photo technician, vleual art*
Kelly hermaphroditic?
Scott Kelly's article on feminism
was well written, well organized
and basically lacking in any depth
whatsoever. If he would open his
eyes to the broader spectrum of col
orful ideas outside of the patri
archal structure, he might find
some room for self-improvement. I
beg Mr. Kelly not to rest on his lau
rels. He may wish to explore at
least a few different angles of the
concept of social conditioning be
fore he tables it as "comical.” Fur
thermore, Scott, are you quite sure
that “many feminists would em
brace” this "extremist” stance? Do
you speak from experience, or are
you one of those rare hermaphro
dites who had the pleasure of a
dual-childhood?
My point deals not with a per
sonal attack on Kelly, or an attack
of his logic. My purpose is simply to
ask him to open his eyes to some
new concepts. I would gladly invite
him to sit in on our English 489
class, taught by Dr. Williams. But 1
would also hope that he could
listen and absorb with an open
mind, open eyes and ears, instead
of humming the “same old tune” in
an effort to drown out any other
“comical” viewpoints.
Tom Cohen
Junior, engllsh major