Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

4 Wednesday, December 8, aoio | Thb Red a Black Car*y O’Neil | Managing Editor me@randb.com CoMrtntjr Holbrook | Opinions Editor opinlons@randb.com Opinion Meter A wrap-up of the semester’s ups and downs Rodney Bennett ‘Open Records' Rodney Bennett, vice president of student affairs, told faculty to stop making documents. This was a dis- 4 gusting example of a closed-door pPjiljl system run amok. The editorial board believes this qualifies as one of the y worst “good ole’ boy” policies of the semester if not the year. Calling for no written documents represses transparency and diminishes the value of the University. Engineering School University President Michael Adams finally did it. He got new engineering programs approved by the Board of Regents, and the University should start seeing them next year. These A new programs should meet student demand while fulfilling a need in (t .LEW the state. Adams said the programs would take very little money to get started, and though he’s already wavered a bit on that statement, stu dents can be happy as long as they aren’t slammed with any new fees. Smoking Ban We didn’t get much from SGA this semester, but we definitely got a holi er-than-thou attitude. SGA senators proposed a smoking ban on campus never mind that it was unenforce- rp- -H able, ignored non-students and tres- passed on basic rights. This campus y is too large and too diverse for this to be an issue. A note for next semester: stop trying to save our lungs, and start fixing real problems on campus. No. 1 Party School Halfway through our year as the champs, the University community has proven it knows how to party. In fact, with an athletic director, editor in chief and several downtown drink- \ ® ers in hot water for alcohol-related \ j problems, the University may be par tying a bit too hard. Let’s do our best to keep up our image in the new year, but this time without the arrests. Dean of Students Search The University has done its fair share of waffling during the Dean of Students search. A committee nar rowed the pool of applicants in the first round, introduced two entirely different candidates this semester r 3 and finally chose Bill McDonald "5 who seemed to come out of nowhere. McDonald takes his post in January, v and questions about his ability to lead at such a large school still lin ger. With the University not seem ing to care about student opinion during the search, we wonder how McDonald will be able to act as our advocate. Rhodes Scholar Tracy Yang the University’s new est Rhodes Scholar has proven our campus can produce more than a drunken examples of the No.l party /L school title. The Red & Black con- QgSfii gratulates Yang for this enormous achievement. We are amazed by her academic abilities. And Yang, we hope you have an excellent time at Oxford. Don’t get burnt out on all of the fish and chips! Football Season The Georgia Bulldogs notched exact ly as many wins as it did losses this year in the regular season, the very definition of mediocrity. One of the losses came against Colorado, which is not bowl-eligible this year, and one of the wins came against Idaho State, which can never be bowl-eligible, so y we didn’t exactly put out a strong effort. The editorial board implores A. J. Green to return for his senior season, where behind anew strength and conditioning coach he will surely lead Georgia to a national champion ship. Mimi Ensley, Courtney Holbrook, Carey O’Neil and Robbie Ottley for the editorial board Opinions opreaaad In Th* Rad k Black are t opinions allw warn and not naoasMrtylioaaarrhtßHlmd Stock fV - fc- - XV .mi *■ ■ | n r Ad DamM* !■< ———i. _. - - ruoairang Lompany re a ngra rtwfvM Hapnrws uy parmuion of vw Mwri NEWS: 706-433-3002 Non Editor Mmi Enalay *nr<t Ntwt Rtchoi Bunn Sports EMtor Zach DW*d vantvy tonof job wwwfT>< rnow tonof r nunan Design EdNora: Lauren Balamy, HtolayTampte Copy Editor* Elam* Kalch. Bath Polak, Jaaaica Roberts (Min* Editor VM Brown Onln* Copy Edßor* Huron Cronon, Taytor Mo** EdßorW CirtoonM* Jul* Bdoy. PMkp Honry, S*nh CUm. Bl RUMi Finals Edition Adt*r Ed MotaMa Editorial A**Mont Sarah J**n Dov* Rocrußmont Edßor SoraCatowal Santor Reporter Dates Duncan Staff Wrttar* Saraan At. AJ Arch*. Jaaon Axelrod, John tvarren nysn mac*, wner woman, nacnp u. tJowsfi, Rimy Byrd. Ann* Conruoton. Adam Cartoon, Juka Carpant*. Maltaaa Cohan, Undaay Cook. Kaly Cotbalt. Daniel Curran. CMatophar DAmalo Jacob Dammtti, Chrla DaSantla. Sarah Jaon Oov* FTyt* Elrod, Mtohoal Ftepatock. Brtana Oardaman. Sarah Oiarralana. Endy Graft Aniah* Hedge, --i i ii _ rv ■- ▼ w-a-j-i ii—— ram.. hj Manana nerwaa. uraw nooxi. i rawc* noopar. way nunay, Kathryn mgall. Jan Ingles, Shawn Jarrard. Edward IQm. Haato* Kamay, Alia Laughin. Darcy Lara. Polna Marino*. Opinions ....... ...|i | Don’t be afraid to say ‘Christmas’ Seriously, what Is a “noel tree”? A friend showed me a pic ture of a “noel tree” lot near Seattle that sells Christmas trees. Someone should tell the folks who manage that lot that “noel” is the French word for “Christmas” and in the United States, we speak English. That same friend predicts that in 15 years, TV shows and govern ment officials won’t be calling Dec. 25 “Christmas.” Too divisive, the government will say. Not tolerant of the other religions in America, talk ing heads will argue. Doesn’t it matter that polls show about 82 percent of Americans identify as Christians and that even non-religious Americans celebrate Christmas? It’s absurd how some people avoid saying “Christmas.” For instance, “noel tree.” I had never heard of the phrase before seeing the picture. Chances are, if you’re buying a tree, you’re celebrating Christmas, not Hanukkah or the Islamic New Year. And if you’re cel ebrating Christmas, you’re likely calling it a Christmas tree. Some folks in Philadelphia com plained the city’s outdoor market that features a Christmas tree and Santa’s house shouldn’t be named “Christmas Village” because that excluded people of other beliefs. (The mayor upheld the name “Christmas Village,” by the way.) And I’ve heard whispers of a possible opposition to Tate 2’s Christmas tree. But let’s not create a church and-state problem here. How many dinners have presidents hosted in the White House for Muslim, Hindu and Jewish holidays? Did that Football tickets need priority point system Attention all football fanatics! I know we’re still licking our wounds, but the time to address issues from this past sea son starts now. While some of you are chomping at the bit to see chEmges within the athletic department, I’m more concerned about happenings off the field. For starters, where were till the students this year? As someone who arrives right when they open the gates, I’m used to watching the fans flood into the stadium. But this year, we strug gled to fill the student section. Even though students filed in at some games, they always seemed to vanish at the half. Something needs to be done about this. I think it is time we address how we distrib ute student tickets. Now, we allot tickets based on a seniority sys tem. Those who have the most University hours get the first pick. And as a senior, I appreciated get- Our Staff Jama McDonough MeradNi McKay. Kathryn Marc*. David Milch**, Deanna Mitchcfl, Stephanie Moodie, Cody Nicholson, Tundo Ogunaaton, Nick Parker, Michael Prochaska, Aspen Smith, Adina Solomon, Nathan Sorensen, Tiffany Stevens. Zack Taylor. Amber Thomas. Katie Valentine, Paige Varner, r, — a< 1i... iai-m- r- -i iai-1-i- —:— itr.i— eva vasquez. Mary ww, ermn wbkjo, fsainenne neree Ai.l_a aww. - . a 111 m i a.:— miei morograpnar vm Dwwensnip Photographan Chartee Ryan Barber. Miriam Camp, Laxi Deegen, EmNy Karol, Meagan Kaday. Nehemie Lucian, ranasna real, aj neynows, JUNanne upenuren, Jenna Walk*. Dina Zoian Pag* Designers Rachal G Doran, Amanda Jonaa, Ana Kabakova. ChrWcpb* MM*. Robbie Ottay, Char)** Ruaaai, Adam Wym Pirn. Varner mean they instituted Hinduism as the national religion? No. They hosted those celebrations to spread goodwill to Americans of these faiths. American businesses tiptoe around the word “Christmas” because it might offend non-Chris tians? Really? Our own govern ment recognizes Christmas as a national holiday which no other faith receives. Though fundamentally a Christian holiday, Christmas is not an exclusively pious tradition any more. Black Friday brings to Christmas a manic rush to find the best prices so people can place nice gifts under the tree. The tree itself isn’t even a Christian symbol. Calling it a “holi day tree,” counterintuitive as that is, doesn’t take away from Christ, who never made decorating a tree a sacrament. Santa Claus isn’t in the Bible. “It’s a Wonderful Life” is about human relationships, not a rela tionship with God. And singing “Silver Bells” won’t convert your little sister to Christianity. I imagine people who celebrate Christmas spend more time think ing about the perfect gift than about Jesus. Rill disclosure l’m a Christian, thankful for Christ’s arrival in the world. The holiday reminds me to be more gracious and to wish oth ers well. M Jeremy gf Dailey ting all the games I requested this year. However, this is not the most efficient method to ensure our team gets the packed house they deserve. While I cringe at the thought of endorsing another school’s meth ods, Louisiana State University has the best plan for allocating stu dent tickets. Rather than considering seniority, LSU awards tickets based on a priority point sys tem. Essentially, students receive points for each event they attend. And those with the most points at the beginning of the football season get first pick. Implementing a similar system at the University would be extremely bene ficial. First, it would ensure the most hard-core ftuis ADVERTISING: 706-433-3001 Advertising Director: Natan* McClure Studant Ad Managar: Lauren Jonaa Tarrtlrily Managar* Sarah Carlton, Anna Lewenthai Inalria *--- ll-1 U/inHiar ■mw nhv wrapii. nwy ttiwiwi Account Encuthre* Carolyn Evar*. Andrew Leva, Sarah Ovaraba*. Kaly Plaice, Rabacca Tonne Sele* AaaocMaa: Nick Harm*, Austin Lander*. Zach Smith Advartlalng haalatanta Laurel Holland, Emly John ClassHlada Representative Jenna Vlnaa Circulation Managar Bioko Mokoa Creative Assistant OVvia Scarborough Phone (706) 433-8002 | Flax (706) 433-3033 oplnlonß@randb.com | www.redandblack.com 540 Baxter Street, Athens, Oa. 30605 But I also particularly enjoy white Christmas lights on apart ment balconies, Christmas carol marathons on the radio, warm blankets on chilly nights and how crisp air naturally blushes cheeks. Why must we target a holiday of both religious and secular goodwill as being offensive? If businesses in Dearborn, Mich. —a third of whose population is Arab-American painted their windows with “Eid Mubarak” or if bank tellers in Brooklyn which is home to a large Hasidic Jew popu lation told patrons “Happy Hanukkah," I’d be more than fine with that. I greet my Muslim and Jewish friends that way. If people are buying menorahs, tell them “Happy Hanukkah.” If people are buying trees, tell them “Merry Christmas.” If you’re not sure what people celebrate, “happy holidays” is fine —but people shouldn’t be offended if you assume they celebrate Christmas. So this year, don’t repress your Christmas spirit. It’s OK to have a Christmas tree in your mall. Most people are there anyway to see Santa and buy Xbox Kinect. Saying “season’s greetings” or complimenting people on their “noel tree” decorations is ludicrous and a little cowardly. Let’s not be spineless. Let’s call it what it is: Christmas. Here’s hoping for a little sanity and genuine respect for each other this time of year. Paige Varner is a senior from Albany majoring in magazines and is a news writer for The Red & Black among us Eire able to get into the stadium. I’m tired of sitting with the pansies who don’t care about the gEune, while those who bleed red Eind black are stuck outside. We’re here to cheer on our team. And those who go for the right reasons deserve to get in, no mat ter their yesu-. Second, it would reduce scalping of away game tickets. The ID sys tem estabUshed in 2009 was tremendously helpful in curbing the number of students selling their tickets for high amounts. But it didn’t affect the lofty costs of purchasing tickets for away games. Many of us are still stuck buying tickets for exorbitant prices from hussies on Facebook who have never been to a foot ball gEune. The travel expenses involved in going to other campuses are steep. We shouldn’t be forced to pay more to someone who cheats the system. With a priority point method, these nerds wouldn’t be granted smy EdtorM board member* Indude Robert Camat. Courtfwy Hotixock. Carty ON**, Meghan Pitman, aa TV. i.,,an uul Lu lima MoQftn InOrnwfl ■no JO6 WißtamS tickets and those of us actually willing to follow our team to the great beyond will go for face value. Finally, this plan would increase attendance at other sporting events. As much as I love a free T-shirt, this would pro vide a less costly incen tive to lure students to a vsiriety of other games. All of our teams would benefit from rising atten dance rather thsui just Mark Richt’s boys at Sanford Stadium. Next year when we go undefeated and A.J. Oreen wins the Heisman, we must make sure our football team has as much true support as possible. Be proactive and con tact Athletic Director Greg McGarity at ad@ sports.uga.edu. Tell him you want a priority point system implemented at the University. Jeremy Dailey is a senior from Conyers majoring in political science Asswiant Production Manager Joshua Tray Bamott rfOOllCuOn AMltuNnt NKXMwne OfWOS, JoOfw L/TnU, PrtacMa Kathe, Elaine Kalch rfOOUCuOfi Managar J>am riuaru Publlah* Harry Monlavidao Offlc* Managar Erin Beasley Assistant Otlto* Managar Megan Yu* Cleaning Parson Mary Jonas The Rad A Black la published Monday trough Friday M and spring samaators and each Thursday summer aamaalK, a topi holidays and sum pahods, by Th* Rad i Black PuUahkig Company Inc. a nonprofit campus nawapap* not affiliated wto >tolMv*altyofGxgto. Subacripionrala slKp*y*