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■ QUOTABLE
4 • The Red and Black • Tuesday, October 16, 1990
OPINIONS
"We don't want to create a police state at the games, but we
aren't going to tolerate this type of behavior."
— University President Charles Knapp on Saturday s Sanford
The Red & Black
Eetabliehed 1893—Incorporated 1980
An independent student newspaper not affiliated with the University of Georgia
Robert Todd/Editor-in-Chief
Jennifer Rampey/Managing Editor
David Johnston/Opinions Editor
■ EDITORIALS
End of the block
When the Bulldogs are playing, emotions tend to
run high in Sanford Stadium. There’s usually a lot of
drinking, its often hot, and sometimes fights break out.
While it’s understandable that Georgia football
fans want to enjoy the games with their friends, the
circumstances surrounding the Sanford Stadium fight
on Saturday indicate that the time has come to
eliminate block seating.
The fight took place in an area where Alpha Tau
Omega and Lambda Chi Alpha fraternities’ blocks
meet and members of both organizations were involved
in the skirmish.
There’s no good reason why people who want to sit
together can’t go to the game together, and there’s no
reason why student section seating shouldn’t be first
come first serve.
One can be a member of a group — and enjoy being
a part of the group — and not necessarily spend a lot of
time with every other group member. In fact, one
almost certainly likes some group members better than
others.
Most people get together with their close friends
early on a football Saturday. A large number of student
fans spend the day drinking. It’s much more enjoyable,
especially when you’re a little or a lot intoxicated, to be
with people you like, sitting where you want to sit.
The idea that a certain group “owns” a “block” of
seats encourages hostility and division in what is
usually a quite inebriated crowd.
The point of attending a football game should be to
support our team. One only needs to be identified as a
Bulldog fan.
Athletic Director Vince Dooley cites student
involvement at the games as a “tremendous motivating
factor for our football team,” and the team certainly
provides its fans with a lot of enjoyable Saturday
afternoons. But he went on to say that safety must
come first.
Individual campus organizations have every
opportunity in the world to socialize among
themselves.
Football games are not the appropriate place to do
this.These should be events at which everyone is proud
of being a member of the University community.
The University and the Georgia Athletic
Association should elominate block seating. This would
make games safer and more enjoyable for all Georgia
football fans.
Let’s cheer the Dogs on together.
Sacrifice
Students can send care-package items to U.S.
soldiers stationed in Saudi Arabia just in time for the
holiday season.
Send them something you would want for yourself
if you were stranded out in the desert away from home
and loved ones.
College Republicans are accepting books, tapes,
hard candy and batteries at a table at the Tate Student
Center Plaza from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. this week until
Friday.
The Student Government Association and Young
Democrats are gathering reading materials, film,
toothpaste and useful items that don’t spoil, at the SGA
office on the first floor of the Tate center or at S.G.A.
and Y.D. meetings. This effort will continue until the
troops return home.
This is our opportunity to show these men and
women how much we appreciate the sacrifices they are
making for the vital interests of our country, and that
we remember them during the holidays.
They are constanly in danger in defense of all of us.
I-et’s sacrifice a little for them.
STAFF
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University social groups: A primer in fun
The University of Georgia, nestled in this
cozy little southern town of Athens, proves to be
at the heart of a rather unique and diverse so
cial system. For it is this university that has
brought together quite an interesting micro
cosm of life, with the polarizing elements of lib
eralism and conservatism, excellence and
mediocrity, all provided to be observed by the
sociologists at heart, like you and me. The won
derful cultural malaise that exists, at times,
both fascinates and revolts me. I can think of no
other town on the face of this big blue marble
that could possibly offer me more in the ever-
imrxjrtant endeavor of human experience.
It is quite easy for the observer, like you and
me, to generalize and stereotype. But we must
remember that without generalizations there
would be no science of sociology, which I am
sure we all adore for its dedication to addres
sing pertinent social issues. And besides, some
times you’ve got to call ’em like you see ’em.
So why do people join groups? What are the
forces behind group dynamics? On the surface,
it may seem like the redeeming social values of
tradition attract the individual. But in a histor
ical and anthropological context, these "tradi
tional” values are very much relative and
change constantly with the steadfastness of
time itself. So it may be presumed that the indi
vidual i> made contingent to the already subjec
tive nature of the group that he/she is most
readily accepted into.
Many have theorized that the reason for this
attachment and bonding to group values is a
fear of being alone. This, in turn, centers
around the fear of death and the uncertainty of
life. People, in a dire need for a consistent way
to evaluate reality and, in essence, "belong," in
vent certain components of their identity in re
turn for a belief system, a way to think
(attitude), and a way to behave. It is like the
true photograph of reality is transposed with
another photograph of the particular group’s
obsession(B). For example, a boxer who hangs
out with a bunch of his boxer buddies would
have the overlay of a pair of boxing gloves,
which is the symbol of a certain social obses
sion.
Therefore, if one conforms to a certain social
neurosis, he in fact becomes accepted. However,
if one does not conform, he or she is oflen cast
out like a bad fish. Theoretically, Georgia foot
ball fan(atic)s are obsessed with the Dogs.
From a distance or an existential point of view,
this may certainly look silly and absurd. Chris
tians are obsessed with the image of Jesus,
bathe? Tie-dyes, jewelry, and facial hair (on
both the men and women) are all commonplace.
But I still don’t understand the deal about fol
lowing a band. It’s kind of like looking at the
musical spectrum with blinders on. To quote a
Grateful Dead anthology book, “Along with
peace and love, 'do your own thing* became the
quintessential hippy philosophy. It set the exis
tential tone for all the psychedelic groups that
emerged from the San Francisco scene of the
late sixties — none more so than the Greatful
Dead.” What a crock of hogwash! Oftentimes
when I can’t sleep at night, I count bands that
are better than the Dead (instead of sheep).
Works like a charm — the Stones, the Beatles,
CCR, New Kids on the Block, Neil Sedaka, and
the list goes on.
As regards to the Townies of this town, there
are only three words to say — BLACK IS IN!!!
This may or may not reflect (get it?) on their
personalities. Yes, they are the poets — the
sternfaced cynics, the musicians, the artisans
— yes, the cool ones. The guys wear their hats
backwards (in reaction to the front-billed frat-
boys) and the gals wear nose-rings. (I have
never understood how they digitally explicate
booger refuse from their olfactory cavern.)
But the coolest Townies are the Atlanta
chicks that are up on all the hot bands and
aren’t afraid to tell you so, in their own snob
bish way. Isn’t this just conformity to non-con
formity? Oh well, I’ll see you at the 40 Watt!
Athens indeed is a town of diverse interests
and, henceforth, social groups. It is a campus
full of...
Whites, Orientals, Asian-Indians, American
Indians, light-skinned blacks, dark-skinned
blacks, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus,
Buddhists, metal-heads, skin heads, potheods,
acid heads, beerheads, dorm nereis, spivs,
fakes, skatepunks, frisbee freaks, ninjas, intel
lectual master debaters, homosexuals, bisex
uals, unisexuals, trisexuals, golfers,
Republicans, surfers, Democrats, lumberjacks,
butchers, bakers, and candlestick makers.
Yes, this truly is a town for learning, not just
academically, but culturally as well, no matter
how strange the custom. It is unnecessary to
say that every human that has even passed the
field of my vision, every friend, enemy, and ac
quaintance, has been a part and parcel of my
learning process and an integral factor in my
human experience. And all this is made pos
sible by the biggest group of all — civilization.
Euan Steuer is a junior philosophy major.
Evan
Steuer
Buddhists with Buddha, businessmen with the
concept of money, etc. That’s the thing with
groups, they collectively become obsessed with
something and then it becomes “O.K.”
To use myself for an example, I am obsessed
with: U.N.C. Tarheel basketball, XTC (the
band). The Kinks (the best band), the Cincin
nati Reds, ffood humor, and sometimes even
philosophy. Why, just yesterday, I was walking
to class, drinking out of my Cincinnati Reds cup
when another young man wearing a Reds cap
passes me. We exchange our delight in our
team making the World Series and it giveB me a
cheerful smile.
What happened there was a social bond cen
tered arouna a common neurosis. That is the
kind of phenomenon that exists across the
board in society. Which group you bond with de
pends on the obsessions you sacrifice to
abandon yourself to.
I guess you could say that frat-bovs are ob
sessed with Duckheads, running shoes, and
baseball caps, all supplied via the Greek
svstem. Isn’t it funny how they seem to have a
T-shirt to commemorate every time three or
more of them use the bathroom together? La
tely, I’ve noticed that the sorority girls are
sporting the latest trend on the cutting edge of
the fashion industry, the flowery-sleeveless-
clownsuit. Anyways, many have told me that
these people are all the same and liken them to
cattle. You can drive past them congregating on
the lawn of whichever "house," yell something
loud and indiscriminate at them, and they will
turn their heads slowly to stare. Then — it’s
back to drinkin’, as a cow would graze. I will
leave the concept of paying for friends to speak
for itself. Suffice it to say, I never understood
their way of thinking — it’s all Greek to me
(HA, HA!).
And the whole realm of the Grataful Dead
head fascinates me to stupefication. Are thev
nothing more than a fraternity that doesn’t
Bias interferes with intellect
FORUM
□ The Red and Black welcomes letters to the editor and prints them in the Forum
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belous material. Letters should be typed, doublespaced and must Include the name,
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and Black's offices at 123 N, Jackon St.. Athens Ga
Praise God
After reading John Hunter’s and
Rand Csehy’s letters in Friday’s
edition of The Red and Black, I am
also compelled to speak my piece.
Their comments came one day
after the official national "Coming
Out Day” for lesbians and gay men
(Oct. 11). I chose again this year
not to publicly declare my homo
sexuality and demand the reBpect I
deserve as a truly decent human
being. But, hopefully, even though
I’ve asked that my name be
omitted from this letter, I have fi
nally taken a public stand (albeit
anonymous), and have made my
first step toward dignity and lib
erty from self-persecution.
To begin my rebuttal: It
shouldn't be necessary for gay
rights activists and we others of
their "ilk” to go so far as to “gain
martyrdom" for our cause. We
shouldn’t be in the position where
we have to be willing to die in the
fight for the very basic human and
civil rights heterosexuals in this
country hold and take for granted.
This it America, isn’t it?
Secondly, being especially sensi
tive to bigotry as applied to homo
sexuals, I would venture to say
that the criticism of Justice David
Souter's bachelorhood is less an
issue of his "solitary lifestyle" as it
is the manifestation of the homo-
phobic fear that he just might be
gay. Silly of me to be suspect of his
critics’ motives? I bet not.
Thirdly, an "objective* study of
the word “minority” reveals the
first of 3 definitions in Webster’s to
be: “The smaller number; less than
half of a total.” I would interpret
that to mean that by being 10 per
cent of the population, we homo
sexuals are indeed a minority
group, aren’t we?
And lastly, it never ceases to
amaze me that usually intelligent
people will often commit intellec
tual suicide when it comes to reli
gion. Any argument they make in
regard to homosexuality, as taken
out of context (both literally and
culturally) from the Bible, can be
so easily refuted.
Jesus never once referred to ho
mosexuality as a sin, a “disease,"
or “abhorrent.” These people say
they believe the Bible to be literally
true when they don’t take Jesus'
word seriously enough to follow his
clear teachings — especially chap
ters 5,6 and 7 of St. Matthew.
Now my intention is neither to
chastise nor embarats anyone, but
rather to challenge them to be truly
objective, to take the time to study
the facts without letting thsir bi
ases override their intellect, and, if
they are Christians, attempt to be
more Christ-like. In other words,
don't stand in judgement over les
bians and gay men or deny us our
human and civil rights — ws’rs
God's children, too.
Name withheld by request
Praise the Lord for giving the
world John Hunter and Rand
Csehy.
People of their vast intellect
have a moral duty to enlighten the
masses who wrongly believe that
the U.S. Constitution applies to all
Americans regardless of gender,
national origin or Bexual prefer
ence.
These righteous individuals
should consider careers as sexual
evangelists. They could preach the
gospel of rights according to sexual
activity. Married white males who
have intercourse in the missionary
position purely for procreation-
would have full rights under the
law. Bisexuals would have half
rights. Homosexuals would be
denied all rights.
As Hunter so eloquently in
formed us, “the sacred roll call of
equality” cannot include homosex
uals. Indeed he says it's “silly” to
think all people are endowed by
their creator with certain inalie
nable rights. Jefferson's ideals
would have been much enhanced if
only he could have consulted
Jefferson’s ideals
would've been
enhanced if he could
have consulted Hunter.
Hunter.
Rand Csehy is nothing short of a
prophet. He speaks with unques
tionable authority over what God
“abhors." Csehy truly inspires me.
He’s the only freshman God ever
appointed his personal press secre
tary. Biology rather than political
science should be his major; after
all, he singlehandedly discovered
homosexuality is a "disease." Rand
has a fine future with the Centers
for Disease Control.
This whole world needs these
two sexual champions to teach us
the proper use of genitals. Do it
piys. It’s a hard job, but with a
little work on your oratory, to
gether you can rise to the chal
lenge.
Steven Sacco
senior, criminal Justice