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4 • The Red and b.ac* • Tueeday. February 17. 1996
OPINIONS
The Red & Black
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Erik Tryggettad/Edftor in Chief
Chandler Bfomm/Managing Editor
Tom Lasseter/Opinions Editor
■ EDITORIAL
“Millennium bug” could
prove instructive here
(Im* your even Let your mind drift for a moment
and conaider the *tale of higher education
It'a January 1. 2000 The University was not able
to safeguard ita computers from crashing when their
dorks registered three zeros The fabled “millennium
bug" has bitten and bitten hard
All records have been lost in a collapsed nebula of
prraessor chips and mother boards Students who
have graduated since University transcripts here
were first stored on computers are without proof of
their academic cai.er Diplomas cannot be verified.
Undocumented grade point averages represent noth
ing Swirling around out there in the ruins of syn
thetic memory are the letters and numbers once
assigixd to millions of hours spent scribbling notes
and bubbling in test sheets
What are students left with'.’ Their education. 'They
have lost all returns on the University experience
except for knowledge accumulated in classes. The
sum total of four years amounts not to a resume com
ponent, but an intellectual commodity.
Is this a satisfactory state for the majority of
University graduates? Are they content to stand not
on a signed and stamped parchment but on a founda
tion of logic and facts?
Alright, open your eyes now. There will not, in all
probability, he any serious glitches when the new
century clicks into the mainframes of the University’s
registrar’s office. The files downloaded there will be
safe and sound.
Hut is our education? Beyond the arithmetic of
hours earned and GPA, what are students taking
with them?
Then 1 was a time when those who completed a
four-year program of intensive study were interested
not so much in if their numbers stacked up, but in
how qualified they were to grapple with questions of
ethics, procedure and growth.
When students here don black regalia and stand in
the graduation procession, are they marching into
the future with an education or just a haze of last
minute cramming and generic essays?
Maybe a wiping clean of arrogant transcripts
would serve to remind many what the ideals behind
a university are.
Job placement is definitely an important aspect of
anyone’s life and it is natural that students keep it in
mind when going through their college experience.
But there should be more to it than tabulating class
ranking and career positioning.
If the “millennium bug” did wreak havoc on the
University’s records for just a few weeks, students
might, somewhere in the anxiety, stumble on the idea
that they should concentrate on attending classes.
There still would be lectures to be delivered, books
for reading and ideas to be investigated.
Education is not just a process to bear. As shocking
as it may sound, great ideas can be more of an
adventure than even Nintendos and TVs.
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Black History Month is important step
I heard a comment while I was
walking to daws the other day that
really bothered me
Actually, it waa more of a state
ment in the form of a question
“Why do we have Black History
Month, when there is no White
History Month'*
By asking thin question, the
individual waa demonstrating hia
total lack of understanding why
we. aa Amencana. nerd a special
month each year to honor the his-
tory and accomplishment* of black
citizens
Just in case the reason lor this
la not clear, allow me to explain
Have you ever heard of a man
by the name of Elgah McCoy'*
I hadn't either until recently
when I was helping my cousin with
a social studies project for Black
History Month
Elijah McCoy was an engineer
and inventor In fact we enjoy
many of his inventions today
He was the son of slaves who
were smart and lucky enough to
flee to Canada from Kentucky on
the Underground Railroad His
parents saved their money and
sent him to Edinburgh. Scotland,
where he studied mechanical engi
neering
He came back to this country
after the Civil War, probably
believing that as a result of the war
he would be free to pursy? his
dreams. He wanted to do what he
was trained for He wanted to be an
engineer.
However, he soon found out that
a black man had no hope of being a
professional engineer
McCoy found a job as a fireman
with the Michigan Central
Railroad. One of his many jobs was
to keep the trains there lubricated
by oiling their moving parts.
Before McCoy, this task had
always been done while the trains
were not moving Being a mechan
ical engineer, he invented an oiling
device for steam engines that revo
lutionized the industrial machine
industry
McCoy’s device made it possible
for trains to be oiled while they
were moving This time saving
measure saved the railroad mil
lions of dollars
McCoy did not stop there Other
things he invented and patented
include the ironing board and the
lawn sprinkler He received a total
of 57 patents during his lifetime
It is speculated the term “Real
McCoy" refers to his first invention
because people inspecting new
equipment would ask. “Is this the
Real McCoy 7 "
Still after all his achievements,
can you believe that McCoy is not
even mentioned in the
Encyclopedia Britannica? I have a
very hard time understanding why.
Well, actually there is a very sim
ple, if somewhat, scary answer.
Have you ever heard of institu
tionalized racism? Well, McCoy’s
story is a good example. It is likely
that he is not in the Britannica
because he was black.
He is one of countless black indi
viduals whose accomplishments
and credits are not included in
“institutional history books."
In fact, numerous black people
have not gotten the recognition
they deserve. The fabric of our
“white history books” have failed to
include them.
I would ask everyone who poses
the question, “Why do we need
Black History Month ..." take a
moment and think about how you
would feel if the contributions of
your ancestors were not recorded
in history hooks'*
If you think about it. we must
rewrite history to include everyone
Correcting history is not easy
Until black inventors, histonans.
doctors, lawyers and scientists are
given credit for their accomplish
ments we must continue to make
their achievements known
It is unthinkable not to have a
Black History Month
America stands for what is just
and right It is right to honor these
forgotten black Americans for their
accomplishments We must make
it a priority to learn and teach all
students about these great individ
uals
Black History Month allows
black students a special opportuni
ty to take pride in all the wonderful
contributions of their ancestors
White students have done this
seven days a week. 24 hours a day,
365 days a year for a lifetime
'Maybe we should call this White
History for a Lifetime).
Black History Month also allows
students of other races to learn
about and appreciate black lead
ers.
I envision a time when we do
not need Black History' Month.
Instead, all the black inventors,
historians, doctors and other con
tributors will be included in the
Encyclopedia Brittanica and all
other books of history.
Until then we should make it a
priority to learn about these great
individuals throughout the year.
Until we get to the point in our
society — and consequently, our
selves — where black people are
treated with dignity and with
equal respect for what they have
contributed to our country, there
will always be a need for Black
History Month.
There. I hope I have answered
the question.
- Vwian Ball is a freshman in
political science.
■ LETTERS
Public transportation
system very limited
While I agree with Aaron
Wegelin’s Feb. 12 letter which said
students should try to use public
transportation to avoid the campus
planning problems that arise from
too many cars, 1 think he should
realize that public transportation
has significant limitations.
For example, the first Athens
bus comes near my apartment at
7:15 in the morning, and being on a
meal plan, this is not soon enough
for me to eat breakfast before my
7:50 class.
At the end of the day. the last
bus that I can catch to go back
home comes through campus at
about 5:30, which means that I
would have to eat dinner too early
every day.
Additionally, I am looking for a
job, but I could only accept one for
evenings and weekends because I
study and go to class during week
day daytime hours, and Athens
Transit does not run busses in the
evening or on Sundays.
Using public transportation is
only convenient during business
hours because I would not be able
to find a parking place otherwise.
Even if the entire campus is
eventually paved over for parking
lots, buildings will eventually be
built on top of them anyway.
Adrian Pritchett
freshman
arts and sciences
Dealers of Rohypnol
are dangerous people
I feel compelled to comment on
the Shawn David Swantner case
being followed by The Red and
Black. This former student, whose
attorney Curtis G. Brown claims
“(is) no major threat" is being
charged with drug possession and
trafficking of three controlled sub
stances including the “date rape
drug” rohypnol.
I want to know why he isn’t
being charged as an accessory to
an unknown number of rapes.
I am thankful that Swantner
was denied bond, but why was it
simply over the fear of his fleeing
trial?
The severity of his possession of
Rohypnol should have been enough
to warrant his being a menace to
society. He is not only a supplier of
to drug users feeding their cocaine
and marijuana habits, but is know
ingly selling the drug of choice to
rape perpetrators.
Rohypnol is a tasteless, odorless
substance developed and used as
an anesthesia in medical facilities.
Outside of hospital usage it is
almost exclusively used to commit
the crime of rape.
Swantner is supplying felons
with weapons. Is this not a serious
crime in our society?
Why is rape down played in our
justice system? Our courts too
often give men the impression that
it is OK to force sex on an unwill
ing woman.
I implore Superior Court Judge
Joseph Gaines to prosecute
Swantner to the full extent of his
powers.
Unfortunately our society
allows some men to believe they
can be predators.
Meg Gaffney
senior
horticulture
What’s your opinion? We want to know what YOU think.
Erik Tryggestad, Editor in Chief: editor@randb.com
»■'' Chandler Brown, Managing Editor: me@randb.com
Debbie Rhyne, News Editor: news@randb.com
Ty Brown, Associate News Editor ane@randb.com
Tom Lasseter, Opinions Editor: opinions@randb.com
Cal Powell, Sports Editor: sports@randb.com
Daniel Pulliam, Entertainment Editor
entertainment@randb.com
Cable TV would
not go over well
with Aristotle
I believe it was Anstolle who
originall> proposed the idea of
“the golden mean " Arutolie
•ought to teat h the world that the
golden mean moderation, would
provide an individual with the
greatest poaaible happiness He
felt that any gratifying experience
which is consumed in excess can
not be truly appreciated, and any
individual who overindulges in
such matters will find himself ulti
mately unfulfilled
Aristotle knew that the trueat
way to enjoy life and ail that it haa
to offer is to cautinualv sample the
fruit* of the earth and to never
subject oneself to excess stimula
tion
For this reason, 1 do not ftelieve
that the good folks at Intermedia
cable are big fans of Aristotle
1 don’t even know where to
begin For example. I like HBO
Really. 1 do I also like my mom.
But 1 don’t wish that there were
three of her Intermedia disagreaa
with this logic, and gives us more
HBOs than we can possibly digest
Hey, MIT is a network of non
stop crap, right 7 Why not give
them a whole other channel so
that they may broadcast double
the crap 7 Good call. Intermedia
I’m as big a fan of TVd Turner as
the next guy. But how many cable
venues for wrestling do we really
need'*
1 love wrestling, but 111 gladly
confess that more wrestling rarely
means better wrestling
Nevertheless, the folks at
Intermedia prefer to cram it up
our rear by the fistful.
There is perhaps no bigger mis
creant in the bunch than ESPN-2.
Are we to believe that ESPN had
quality programming in such a
tremendous excess that it needed
a container for spill over?
Let’s look at a few examples: 1.
Sportscenter. I love it too, but it
comes on eight or nine times every
24 hours. And six of those times
are all in a row. 2. If any one per
son can come up to me and make
me believe that they honestly
enjoy watching billiards on TV, III
give them twenty dollars. 3. I don’t
know what Motocross is, but I
know for a fact that I do not need
whatever it is that Motocross
Weekly has to offer. 4. I like foot
ball. I do not, however, care to see
a documentary on why Lee “Huggy
Bear" Williams was the greatest
AFC linebacker of the 1977-‘78
NFL season.
There are plenty of other
offenders. Channels 30 through
41? I have no idea what that’s all
about. Weather, bad movies, gar
dening ... there’s actually such a
thing as the Gardening Channel.
Did you know that? I can’t even
think of anything to say about
that. I suppose someone could say,
“But I like gardening, and I want
to learn more about it." Well, I like
roller derby. Where’s my channel?
Probably on the way ...
1 also forgot to mention that it
is Tbd Turner’s fault that 1 have
seen every episode of Saved By the
Bell at least three* times. And the
one where Zack tricks Slater into
wrecking the driver’s ed car?
Eleven times. Not kidding.
Twenty-four hours of cartoons?
Sure. The Sci-Fi/Buck Rogers
channel? Why not. C-Span 2? Yes,
for the love of God, we do need
more red hot Senate-hearings.
Round-the-clock-porn? Keep it
coming, baby.
Intermedia overwhelms you
with funky channels on a daily
basis the same way your friends
overwhelm you with funky drinks
on your birthday. Both have the
capacity to make you sick.
Admittedly, my assessment ol
Intermedia’s assault on our atten
tion spans is a bit biased. Ol
course, not every channel is going
to please everyone.
Believe it or not, every freaky,
ultra-specific channel, though it
might seem extraneous, has it*
place on the cable line-up.
There are people who want non
stop wrestling — believe me, 1
know so me. There are also people
who want non-stop pom. Hell, I’m
one of them
My point is this — well, after
watching all of that television 1
don’t have one anymore But I sun
do like me some porno.
- Blake McCormick is a junior
in telecommunications,