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■THE WEST GEORGIAN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3,1984 2 -Opinion THE WEST GEORGIAN West Georgia College, Carrollton, Georgia Editor Managing Editor Don Stil well Angela Webster Advisor Joe Cumming' News Editor Advertising Manager Ris Cowan Andy Crawford To a better future Congratulations to Robbie Green and Lee Jones, co editors of the 1984 Eclectic. After months of “It’s on its way,” and “It should be here any day now,” the annually-published student literary magazine finally arrived last Wednesday. Green and Jones did a good job of including different varieties of work. It appears that submissions were judged fairly. However, only about one out of every 12 students received a copy of the magazine, since just 500 copies were printed. It is a shame that for a college of this size, so few copies of the once-a-year publication were printed. Perhaps the administration should consider allocating more funds in the future. There was, however, one area in which this year’s Eclectic was lacking: art. Although there was no art editor for this year’s magazine, it seems that surely some students could have been found who would liked to have submitted art work to the Eclectic. Perhaps next year’s editors, Brian Baker and Dan Williams, should begin looking for an art editor now so as to make next year’s Eclectic even better. Good Luck. Moue.s of Letters to the editor— Dear Editor: The Campus Chronicle (September 28) published an item concerning G. Gordon Liddy’s ap pearance here October 4th. This ap pearance is sponsored by the College Program Board and is costing over $4,000. The Campus Chronicle item details Liddy’s positions leading to that of General Counsel to the Com mittee to Reelect the President (CREEP) then says “the rest is history.” It is the absence of any in dication what that history involves, that concerns us. Liddy is a convicted felon who planned and participated in the Watergate burglary and the break-in of the office of Daniel Ellsberg’s psychiatrist. He is the only partici pant of the Watergate burglary and cover-up who has not admitted wrong-doing. He is a lawyer who, while working for the president of the United States, repeatedly ad vocated breaking the law and did so in a number of different ways. His crimes were described by the judge at his sentencing as “sordid, 'lispicable. and thoroughly reprehen sible.” Liddy’s autobiography details his suggestion that columnist Jack Anderson be assassinated (Itecause of something he wrote) and Liddy’s willingness to personally do the job. The Campus Chronicle item said “Liddy is widely acknowledged as a man of integrity, strength and will” who “inspires the courage and drive to go beyond self-imposed limita tions.” What was not said is that this information comes directly from. Liddy’s own publicity agency. We feel it is irresponsible of the Campus Chronicle to print such information The Staff Sports Editor Jimmy Espy Fsaturss Editor Brian Bake Photo Editor Warren Hogg Business Manager Marty Sanborn Office Manager Nikki Ovies without indicating the source and feel the truth about Liddy also needs to be printed. We are concerned with the kind of example such an “inspiring” speaker sets for students. The money spent bringing in a convicted felon, an unrepentant criminal, a disbarred lawyer might better have lieen spent els where. Carole Seyfrit Pick Conner , Rodney Coates Marc LaFountain Department of Sociology Readers respond to Cumming's column Dear Editor: In regard to your guest editorial last week in the West Georgian, I feel that I must reply for myself as well as my fellow Greeks. I disagree with the generalization that Greeks represent a kind of intellectual dead weight in the classroom. Greeks do not come to college to participate in sororities and fraternities first. Greeks come to college to recieve an education and while doing so enjoy social comradeship as you so described. I resent the fact that you have made such an accusation. Greeks do a lot more than study, this it true; for example, raising money for various alturistic projects, pro moting the name of West Georgia College nationally as well as offering a type of extracurricular entertain ment to students that will keep the spirit of college alive. I do not think the student body realizes that WGC calls on sororities and fraternities’ first to promote various events held at the college such as, “A” day at WGC, participating in Blood Drives to raising money for WGC. Who f s to blame for registration hassles? Arena registration and fee pay ment will never be a simple pro cedure. It would be nice if we could just waltz right in, pick up our checks, plop down the money we owe and glide smoothly out the door. But this will never happen. With over 6000 students enrolled, and many of them going through arena registration and fee payment, the two-day period will never be without its flaws. But it could be held without quite as much hassle as in the past. As one of Dr. Gordon Finnie’s red vested helpers (“A through G can go now”), I have closely observed the registration and payment processes for about two years now. After much careful observation, personal ex perience and discussion with others, I can’t help believing that the pro blem lies with the business-oriented staff of the college. I cannot recall a fee payment day where at least one line wasn’t back ed up halfway aross the education center. Usually, there is one worker who just hasn’t quite caught the hang of her job, and hundreds of students must bear the con sequences. This year, as I took a break from my job to go pay my fees, I found myself in the fourth line of the day. “Sorry, your scholarship check just isn’t here. Go check with X.” Guest Editorial West Georgia College is presently buzzing with the catchword “reten tion.” According to Vice President Lewis only 22 percent of those who enroll at West Georgia graduate from here. Some obviously drop out, but many transfer to other schools. The faculty and administration are therefore concerned about retaining more of those who fail to graduate. One explanation for this low reten tion rate often given by faculty and students is that West Georgia is an “intellectual wasteland.” The im plication is that because our campus fails to create an atmosphere con ducive to intellectual pursuits, many students are forced to seek motiva tion at other schools which they perceive to offer more academic op portunities. And one glaring symbol of this complaint is that we have no bookstore. We have a textbook and souvenior shop complete with T shirts, blue jeans, and pompons, but because it has only a handful of books that aren’t textbooks, it is far from a regulation college bookstore. No matter how good his English 299 teacher makes it sound, a student cannot walk across canrous and buy I would also like to make it clear that sororities and fraternities stress especially the importance of learn ing. They do this by offering study sessions, tutors, old tests and en couraging good grades. We also compete among ourselves for top ranking grades at WGC. Contrary to belief, we do realize that grades come first at college due to the fact, if one doesn’t make good grades (or doesn’t learn well) one drops out of school and one cannot participate in one’s sorority or fraternity. I feel that you underestimated the Greeks in this respect. Generalization is the tool of the ignorant, and Mr. Cumm ing you certainly provided this state ment with fact. s Lisa Larimer President of Alpha Gamma Delta Dear Editor: In response to Mr. Cumming’s editorial of September 26,1 must say that the generalizations made were an inexcusable sign of narrow mindedness. West Georgian Policies Letters Letters are welcome from readers concerning topics of general and campus interest. In order for a letter to be published, however, it MUST be signed by the writer. Under certain cir cumstances, names will be withheld by request, but the letters still must be signed. letters should be typed, double-spaced if possible, and must include a valid mailing address or phone number for verification purposes. Letters are not to exceed 300 words and are subject to editing for length, libel, clarity and/or style. After 45 minutes of waiting at least I made anew friend while in line; we’ve promised to write.! 1 found myself face-to-face with X. “Yes?”, she eyed me suspiciously. “The lady down there said to ask you where I can find out about my scholarship check. It’s not there for some reason.” X sent me on to Y, who sent me on toZ. Z was my angel of mercy, and she even smiled while explaining to me that none of this was my fault. The checks were never written, she said, so I was getting a deferrment. “Whew,” I thought. I’m one of those people for whom Murphy’s Law was invented, so I am always relieved when something turns out in my favor. So back I went to X’s line to pay my fees and get out of all that madness. I had been in line for over an hour and a half. X, meanwhile, was about to have a fist-fight with one of her co-workers, or so it appeared. The lady had asked X for some help, and X had glared at her and said “Can’t you see that I’m busy? If you want it done you’ll have to do it yourself.” Well obviously the woman knew that X was busy. None of the ladies I saw were sipping mint juleps or painting their nails. But the worker apparently needed some help from Where's the books? a copy of Moby-Dick unless, of course, it happens to be a textbook. He can check it out at the library, but borrowing a book is not the same as owning one. I presume the reason our textbook and souvenir shop has no other books is that it would lose money. The old Braves Bookstore, which is now Starship Records, apparently didn’t sell enough books to stay in business. But that was before the faculty knew about retention. Now we would pro bably work harder to motivate our students to buy books instead of Prince albums or Domino’s pizzas. And besides, except for the first week or two of each quarter, the bookstore almost always has more employees than customers. So I doubt that it’s presently turning a huge profit. Another objection might be that there’s not enough space in the pre sent facility to stock books, that we don’t have room in our “bookstore” for books. Now obviously the tex tbooks have to stay (though Alan’s textbook supply outlet could help if given the chance.). And I would be the first to argue that a half a dozen boxes of red and blue pompons are Asa Greek at West Georgia, I re sent being referred to as “intellec tual deadweight in the classroom.” For if I were not here for academic purposes, I could not enjoy activities associated with college, fraternal or otherwise. The incidents you have experienc ed with Greeks are unfortunate, however, I find it hard to believe that no other organized group has totally abandoned it’s interest every time a member walks into a classroom. It is the goal of Greek students to develop a compromise between academic and social activities, while trying to better themselves in all possible areas. Greek students, contrary to the beliefs of some, are not self-placed upon a pedestal, therefore, we realize that we are not perfect and we do not claim to be. It does seem odd, however, that when the administration recognizes a need for money, participation, and assistance in programs and fun draisers, that die people that they approach for this help are the ‘Rnqel on apin' X, who was older and, I assumed, more experienced. But as far as I know the woman never got any help. Last Friday, I went to pick up my check for working at registration and fee payment. After being sent to the fourth place, I should have recognized an omen. My check was being held. And by whom? Yep X. Apparently, the Business Office keeps close tabs on those of us whose scholarship checks still aren’t in, to make sure we don’t skip town or something. I think this is ridiculous. Regardless of whether or not my scholarhsip check was in and I had already checked on it twice, as I had signed on my deferrment that I would the college still owed me for two days of work. X eyed me suspiciously again and asked to see my ID. Of course I didn’t have it, since in over two years of working on campus I have never needed my ID to pick up a check. X asked if anyone in the Business Office could identify me. My room mate was there and vouched r or me, but I knew that her testimony didn’t mean doodleysquat to X. I was right. Finally, when another worker iden tified me and I recited my Social Security number, X let me have my check. I understand that precautions are necessary since the college is handl- also necessary for us to get our hands up for the kick off on Saturday nights at Grisham Stadium. And T shirts of every shape and color im aginable with West Georgia in signias are also an inexpensive form of publicity for the school. But if I were a student pondering whether to re-enroll at West Georgia for my junior year, the fact that our bookstore has more Tri-Delts visors than books would help me to make my decision. The administration seems to be appropriately aware of the necessity of symbolic effects. For example, our recruiters boast that we now have computer terminals in every building on campus. There are two terminals in the Humanities Building, but the seven hundred students in English 101 (not to men tion students in other classes) are obviously not going to have access to these terminals on a consistent basis until we have more terminals and more organized programs. Does this kind of symbol make up for the blatantly negative symbol as having no bookstore on campus? Despite having a few copies this summer of the new Great Speckled Greeks. However, some members of this same administration are the ex act ones who fire complaints against the entire Greek system. Asa Greek myself, Mr. Cumming, I would think that you would understand or at least try to ap preciate our interests and efforts. It seems obvious that perhaps you have been removed from the student perspective a bit too long, and your editorial is evidence enough of this. s Robyn Hollingsworth Dear Editor: Most Greeks on campus probably could not tell the difference between a tau and a tappa; a kappa and a kegga; and a delta and a day. Repeatedly, I have inquired of the Greeks letters of their respective fraternities or sororities. Invariably, I was told that “alpha” (the letter) stands for alpha; “beta”, for beta; “gamma”, for gamma; and so on. Such confusion prompts me to sug gest that all Greeks would do well to sign up for Dr. Rene Immele’s “In troductory Greek” course, especial- Letters should be addressed to the following- The West w,s ' G ~ rßia <*>"•#•, c.toih“! Advertising The West Georgian is a full-size newspaper published every Wednesday during fall quarter. Ad rates are *2.50 per column inch for local advertisers. The West Georgian reserves the right to refuse any paid space due to.content or. in the school’s best interest. Deadline for ad space is Friday, 5:00 p.m., before the next publication date. ing large sums of money right now, but I don’t understand being treated like a criminal for trying to claim what is already niine. I’ve tried to reason that X pro bably has a lot on her mind these days. “Each of these kids think their problem is the most important one on the whole campus,” I can hear her saying. Well X, at that moment when you’re supposed to be helping us, our problem is the most impor tant one. The young man in your of fice is showing you his fee payment receipt and you are still doubting him. The poor guy who is next in line doesn’t even have a receipt, and you’re having a field day with him. I just want to pick up my check, and you’re about to ask to see my birth certificate. Give us a break! Fortunately, staff members like X are few. And I don’t want to insult all the others those who are polite, understanding, and above all pa tient by saying that all of the col lege’s Financial Aid/Business Office staff are like that; the majority are not. But those who are like X give their colleagues a bad name and students a bad time. We could all be a little more understanding. This is nothing that, with a little compromising on both sides, can’t be worked out. Mike Tierce Bird, the textbook and souvenir shop also does not sell magazines. It doesn’t even offer TV Guide or The National Enquirer at the check-out lanes. Because it has a magazine rack, the Sing gas station offers more current reading matter than the bookstore. In fact, it also has more books (excluding textbooks, of course). The symbolic effect is once more devastating. I simply don’t see how this problem can be ignored, ex pecially by those concerned with re taining students. Now I know that putting books in the bookstore will not immediately solve our problems with retention, but it can’t hurt. Long before the ob noxious little woman asked “where’s the beef?” I repeatedly asked “where’s the books?” And I’m still asking. How can a college of six thousand not have a true/bookstore. Our desire to be the finest four year college in the southeast is cer tainly admirable, but if we consider the bookstore to be an indicator of our potential success, we seem to be far from our goal. After all, our “bookstore” can’t even compete with the local Sing station. ly if they insist on maintaining their renowned Greek initials. Several years ago, in one of our well-attended faculty exhibits, I displayed a small bronze figure of a bosomy, broad-beamed, grinning coed. I thought the bronze would stir up the bull pen, because it was entitl ed “Sweetheart of Tappa Kegga Day”, but there was not even a whimper. Surely Professor Joe Cum ming’s guest editorial will finally and deservedly rattle the cages. I will award a copy of the “Sweetheart of TKA” to the fraternity or sorority that can prove Professor Joe is mistaken. Sincerely, Henry Setter Art Department West Georgia College , A Gift to the I AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY .[MEMORIAL T PROGRAM will help in the war aqainst cancer.