Newspaper Page Text
4 | Friday, March 7, 2003 | The Red & Black
Dena Levitz | Editor in Chief
editor@randb.com
Lona Panter | Managing Editor
me@mndb.com
Leah Newman | Opinions Editor
opinions@ranclb.com
d mic n
A wrap-up of the week's ups and clowns
You can’t handle the truth, Jr.
Assistant basketball coach Jim Harrick Jr.’s
contract was not renewed on Wednesday, in
what could be only the first in a series of blows
dealt to the University’s Athletic
Association.
While the Athletic Association is
doing its best to run an effective public
relations campaign and keep the
University’s name out of the mud, there’s one
thing which is clearly missing: the truth.
We’ve seen the receipt, Harrick Jr. Just tell
us what you know, and let’s get this whole thing
off ESPN a little faster.
Everyone wins for once.
In the wake of Tony Cole’s allegations of
wrong-doing by University basketball
coaches, Georgia fans immediately
thought one of two things — either
“Tony Cole’s a moron” or “I knew hir
ing Harrick was a bad idea.” No mat
ter how contradictory these ideas may seem,
both parties are entirely correct.
Oodles and oodles of poodles.
Thanks to Red & Black cartoonist Mack
Williams, we learned this week there are dis
tinct pro-poodle and anti-poodle groups on
campus.
While there are numerous other
issues going on it the world, it’s a
breath of fresh air to know that stu
dents are concerned about life-and-
death situations.
And breeds of dogs.
But the real question is “what is the average
windspeed velocity of an African poodle and a
European poodle?”
Buck off?
State Legislators have banded together to
lend their support to the Block and Bridle
Club’s annual rodeo, threatening to
hit University administration where it
will hurt the most — in its wallet.
While it is doubtful, it could come
down to an old fashioned standoff,
with University President Michael Adams on
one side and Governor Sonny Perdue on the
other.
Whoever can take eight seconds of bucking
will come out on top.
‘Cheers’ to ya, boys.
In a week when poodles and basketball scan
dals ruled, it was a breath of fresh air to learn
there is a student-organized fund
raiser to benefit the Wildlife
Treatment Crew, a group which helps
injured animals.
Unfortunately, however, the fund
raiser lost several participants after
they were unable to grow a Burt Reynolds-style
moustache, the main money-making draw of
the event.
Scandal recalls Kemp controversy
I n light of recent contro
versy over Georgia bas
ketball, the Jan Kemp story
suddenly seems relevant.
As a professor of remedial
English in the now defunct
developmental studies
program, Kemp taught
many University athletes.
In the 1980s, the athletic
department pressured her
to pass football players, who
could barely read or write.
When Kemp spoke out
against the preferential
treatment of athletes she
was fired.
Feeling her free speech
rights had been violated for
protesting University policy,
she filed suit against the
athletic department in 1986.
During the trial, the
University’s academic
integrity was questioned.
Kemp went on to win the
suit. She was rewarded $1.08
million in damages and was
re-instated as a professor.
The defendants, Vice
President of Academic
Affairs Virginia Trotter and
Leroy Ervin, director of the
developmental studies pro
gram, were both removed
from their positions.
Former University
President Fred Davison also
failed to escape the contro
versy. Just a month after the
trial, Davison resigned.
The Kemp suit led to
changes in University aca
demic standards. The
admissions policy for ath
letes became stricter and an
academic policies commit
tee was created.
In the years that fol
lowed, Georgia cleaned up
its athletic programs, but at
Steve LaBate
▲
a distinct cost. It put the
University at a recruiting
disadvantage because other
SEC schools didn’t have to
follow the same standards.
Since the trial, Kemp has
been pressured into keeping
a low-profile by Georgia fans
who blame her for a decline
in University athletics.
But I applaud Kemp’s
courage, conviction and
commitment to academic
integrity. Unfortunately, I
can’t say the same about
our current whistle-blower,
former Georgia point-gaurd
Tony Cole.
Though his laundry list of
criminal charges damages
his credibility, he has
already succeded in bringing
down assistant coach Jim
Harrick Jr.
After the Kemp trial, a
few University professors
told The Washington Post,
“We were asleep, and we
apologize. We won’t go to
sleep again.” Whether ath
letes’ teachers have remain
ed vigilant is debatable.
But has the current
administration been watch
ing closely enough? If Cole’s
allegations of academic tam
pering are found to be true,
then the answer is no. And
Dooley’s decision to not
renew Harrick Jr.’s contract
doesn’t do much for the
Harricks’ case.
Was it really Athletic
Director Vince Dooley who
insisted on hiring Harrick or
was it President Michael
Adams? Adams was vice
president of development at
Pepperdine University when
Harrick was a coach there.
The two are close friends.
When the University
hired Harrick, Adams said in
a press conference if Harrick
made the same mistakes he
made while coaching at
UCLA, namely recruitment
violations and lying to inves
tigators, he would be fired.
“I take compliance very
seriously,” Adams said. “If a
coach ever misled me, I
wouldn’t have that coach
working for me.”
The magic of a last sec
ond Jarvis Hayes jumpshot
in Georgia’s win over SEC
rival Florida, at least
momentarily, transcended
the trappings of recent off-
the-court scandal.
That said — what do
thousands of rabid Georgia
fans look like to the rest of
the world as they rush the
court, nearly trampling their
classmates, to congratulate
a coach, who, quite possibly,
could be dismissed for vio
lating NCAA rules?
Harrick might be the best
coach the program has ever
seen, but he may go down in
history as the man who
spent four years building up
the temple of Georgia bas
ketball only to destroy it in
the process.
— Steve LaBate is a
senior in magazines.
ai Ibox
E-mail, letters and faxes from our readers
University/FVSU comparison unfair
Quote of the week:
“I’m known for my cheese dip.”
— University student Alison Mattson, on her
favorite tastebud-pleasing party food.
Correction
Due to a reporting error, an article about a Circle K “Shake it
for the Kids” in Wednesday’s edition of The Red & Black incor
rectly listed the time of the event. “Shake it for the Kids” will
began at 9 p.m. Saturday and go through midnight in the
Memorial Hall Ballroom.
Our Staff
NEWS: 433-3002
News Editor: Matthew Hunt
Associate News Editor: Kimberly Bowers
Sports Editor: Dan Tomayko
Variety Editor: Tyler Duckworth
Photography Editor: Colin Owens
Chief Photographer: Dan McLaughlin
Online Editor: John Nelson
Director of Online Operations: Jesse Newland
Editorial Adviser: Chris Starrs
Editorial Cartoonist: Mack Williams
Graphic Artist: Nash Hogan
New Writer’s Editor: Renee Brock
Chief Copy Editor: Deepika Rao
Copy Editors: Melanie Horton, Katie Davis, Nicole Ciomek,
Diane Latham, Erin Hughes
News Writers: Amy Leigh Womack, Jessica Lee Reece,
Katie Reetz, Brad Harrison, Abigail Smith, Laura Newsome,
Megan Davis
Sports Writers: Bradley Handwerger, Steve Sanders, Ari Weitz
Variety Writers: Kelley Hirt, Darrell Kinsey, Ryan Sieveking
Photographers: Elissa Eubanks, Megan Nadolski
Stringers: Hilary Hilliard, Matt Barnwell, Valerie Elston,
Chris Bignon, Jacenta Cobb, Ben Egger, Glenn Orman,
Russell McLendon, Anne Milligan, Cassandra Belter, Andrew
Moore, Erin Merrion, Edwin Childs, Shauna Intelisano, Scott
Trubey, Matt Fricker, Sheeka Strickland, Emily Kirby, Lucas Klauss
ADVERTISING: 433-3001
Advertising Director: Michael Spohn
Student Advertising Manager: Chris Stone
Account Executives: Hillary Bowlick, Tanya Kadel,
Stephanie Kahn, Kelly Olson, Joey Powell, Anna Samples
Adam Sauer, Mary Jane Snow, Kelsie Van Deman
Associate Account Executives: Eric Heuett, Jon Wegman
Advertising Assistants: Adam Ellis, Darcey Topham
Student Classified Manager: Dan Earle
Classified Sales Representative: John Gray
Production Manager: Sam Pittard
Assistant Production Manager: Alex Teh
Production Staff: Andrea Allen, Benjamin Corriere,
Jennifer Hagler
Publisher: Harry Montevideo
Office Manager: Mary Straub
Assistant Office Manger: Erin Beasley
Receptionist: Andrea Dent
The Red & Black is published Monday through Friday fall
and spring semesters and each Thursday summer semester, except
holidays and exam periods, by The Red & Black Publishing Company
Inc., a non-profit campus newspaper not affiliated with the University
of Georgia. Postal address: 540 Baxter St. Athens GA, 30605. Fax
433-3033. Subscription rate: $175 per year.
As one of several graduate
students who are alumni of
Fort Valley State University, I
cannot help but to be
appalled by any statement
which insinuates the educa
tion received from FVSU is
anything less than
exceptional.
Coming from an official in
the University’s administra
tion, the comments regard
ing FVSU in “Tuition may
increase $1,000” (March 4)
were particularly disturbing.
A comparison of a four-
year research institution (the
University) to a four-year
historically black college and
university (FVSU) and and a
two-year college (Gainesville
College) is misleading. Lets
compare apples to apples.
Tuition reflects a small
portion of the cost of
educating a student at a
particular institution, not
“the quality of the
experience.”
As for experience, FVSU
was founded over 100 years
ago, which may seem
diminutive in comparison to
the University’s existence,
but FVSU’s progression
represents a deeply rooted
tradition of perseverance.
While many colleges have
fallen short keeping up with
the advancements in higher
education and have failed to
overcome the impediments
of being a HBCU, FVSU has
continuously expanded its
programs, upgraded technol
ogy and sought new
horizons.
E. SHAVONNE COE
Grad. Student, Augusta
Public Administration
E-MAILING US
Questions, comments,
complaints? Here’s where
to point and click:
Letters I opinions@randb.com
News Tips I news@randb.com
R&B Online I jnewland@randb.com
Cole not only one
skipping classes
I think it would be safe to
say that a lot of students at
the University get good
grades and don’t attend
every class.
Following Athletics
Director Vince Dooley’s lead,
will University President
Michael Adams think about
firing all the professors, as
well?
I think Tony Cole was just
looking for attention.
MATT KELLER
Junior, Peachtree City
Business Management
Not littering helps
the environment
I read The Red & Black
almost every day.
And almost everyday
someone says something
stupid in the Mailbox. It
seems there is someone to
criticize everything.
Usually, I just wait until
the next day’s paper in
hopes that someone else will
reply to those who have
made the remarks because I
seldom have enough energy
or time to explain to people
like Kara Barrentine
(“Recycling shows respect
for the environment,” March
5) why they are imbeciles.
But today I have nothing
else to do.
I was quite pleased with
Brian Lee’s column
(“Campus trash litters our
daily lives,” March 4).
I too am upset there is
trash everywhere on campus,
not only outside, but in the
classrooms as well.
One would think with so
many people pretending to
be outdoorsmen with their
North Face jackets and mall
walking boots that the cam
pus would be more caring for
the environment.
I fully agree with every
thing Lee said and am glad
there are other people who
care about littering.
But this was still not good
enough for Barrentine, who
said the only person writing
in The Red & Black about
littering on campus recently
does not “have much respect
for the environment”
because he didn’t mention
recycling.
I am dumbfounded. Kara,
do you not understand you
and Lee are both on the
same side of the issue?
If you cared so much
about recycling, why didn’t
you write a column about
the environment?
We all would have loved to
hear more on the environ
ment from an expert such as
yourself.
JAKE NAWROCKI
Junior, Jasper
Business
Opinions expressed in The Red & Black other than unsigned editorials are the opinions of the writers of signed columns and not nec
essarily those of The Red and Black Publishing Company Inc. All rights reserved. Reprints by permission of the editors.
Editorial board members include Dena Levitz, Lona Panter, Leah Newman and Mack Williams.
Phone (706) 433-3002 | Fax (706) 433-3033
opinions@raiidb.com | www.redandblack.com
540 Baxter St., Athens, Ga., 30605
Letters should include name, year in school, hometown, phone
number, major or job title or other appropriate identification.
Letters should be no more than 150 words. All letters are
subject to editing for length, style and libelous material.
Will Mosher
▲
Fat Tuesday
brought out
the masses
T uesday night proved
that Athens isn’t real
ly ready for a huge party.
The ingredients were
all there: the Hoop Dawgs
sent the Gators and their
Eddie Munster-looking
coach home with a loss —
nothing like beating a
hated rival who also hap
pens to be ranked in the
top 5 — and it was Fat
Tuesday.
OK, so it was raining a
little bit, but it wasn’t
that cold out and if it had
been clear out I never
would have been able to
use the rain as a conversa
tion starter.
But the bars — and
some students — clearly
weren’t ready.
Now, for all of you who
couldn’t make it down
town on Tuesday night
and are reading this hop
ing for some scandalous,
scintillating details on
what you missed, it isn’t
happening folks.
But there are certain
things that cannot be
printed in the newspaper.
Not to mention, I’ve
given up talking about Fat
Tuesday exploits for Lent.
So the stage was set —
we had beads, drink spe
cials and an exuberant
and happy crowd — and it
just felt lacking somehow.
For starters, when cer
tain packed bars can’t
even find room to let in
members of the basket
ball team that just
whipped Florida, some
thing’s wrong.
When the bouncers say,
“We can’t let anyone in”
while throngs —
“throngs,” not thongs, get
your mind out of the gut
ter, people — of party-
goers come pouring out of
the bar, you wonder.
Saying something sim
ple like, “We can’t let any
one in till the guy inside
says it’s OK,” would have
made things a lot easier.
And if people are going
to have to wait outside,
couldn’t you just check all
our IDs and then have an
auxiliary bartender come
out and bring us some
beers?
We would have
promised to stay close
enough to the entrance so
as not to break the open-
container law.
When they do let you in
and it takes you hours to
get to the bathroom or
the bar, you wonder what
their definition of “too
crowded” really is.
It seemed that “too
crowded” and “room for
people to come in” looked
about the same.
But getting back to the
bathrooms, that’s another
problem.
I’m speaking mainly to
the guys here: why is
there ever a line for the
men’s room? It shouldn’t
take you that long in
there.
Finally, a word about
drinking. Some of you
younger folks haven’t fig
ured it out.
When you’ve had so
many you can’t walk, it
doesn’t make you cooler
than those of us who can
hold our liquor.
And while you’re
passed out in the corner,
we’re still coherent: talk
ing, flirting and still hav
ing fun.
Ladies, we Athens gen
tlemen will hold your hair
back for you on occasion,
but we’d prefer you stay
upright; at least long
enough for a kiss.
I hate to agree with
Athens-Clarke County’s
decision several years ago
to cut last call to an earli
er time (it was an hour
later and bars could stay
open until 4 a.m.), but I
don’t think some of the
kids here now could man
age in that situation.
Cinco De Mayo is com
ing up in a few months, so
maybe you still can
redeem yourselves.
— Will Mosher is a
senior in English.