Newspaper Page Text
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WTDNLSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2007
Vending machine deaths: Can it happen to you?
Wending fromjjagc_l__
CPSC, or Consumer Product
Safety Commission.
Vending machines were
first introduced to the United
States by the Thomas Adiuns
Gum Company in 1888,
according to About.com.
They were installed in
New York subways mid
dispensed Tutti-Fruiti gum.
From there, interest in the
machines grew. In 1902,
the first coin-operated
restaurant was introduced
in Philadelphia. It seems
only natural that
in the 40’s and 50's, Coca
Cola mid Pepsi products
were being widely
distributed in vending
machines everywhere.
What seems quite
unnatural, however, is
dial a machine pmviding
a refreshing, ice-cold cola
is also a notorious killer. In
1998, a young man named
Kevin Mackle was found
dead at Bishop’s University
in Quebec, when a Coca-
Cola vending machine fell
on top of him, according to
cokemachineaccidents.com.
Members of his family started
a website to commemorate
their son, and to spread
awareness
oc from page 1
patio. The old “V.1.P.” section
is now an official V.I.P. section
marked oft with velvet ropes and
filled with couches and tables and
can be rented out nightly.
I interviewed general
manager Jacob Boyd and assistant
general manager Ben Lemer who
are both students at West Georgia,
and they had nothing but positive
things to say about this “new” bar
in Carrollton. The atmosphere is
Lost Boys from page 1
Muslims, and the less educated
southern region, dominated
by black Christians. The
North Sudanese raid southern
villages, taking many as
slaves and murdering most.
“Since 19X3, more than
two million people have been
killed in Sudan," Bixler said.
"More than 5 million people
had been forced from their
homes—that’s more than in
any other nation on earth.”
Southern Sudanese boys
are away from home during
the raids—herding cows,
going to school in Ethiopia, or
being part of the rebel army in
Ethiopia. Since all these tasks
are not traditional female
roles, many young girls were
murdered at home with their
parents. This is why most of
the refugees are boys, though
some girls managed to escape
their villages.
In 1987, children
around ages 6 to 8 years
old walked from southern
Sudan to Ethiopia in order
to escape the chaos of a civil
war. Thousands died along
the way due to starvation,
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about the dangers of
rocking a vending machine.
“Our Goal [is] to make it
a legal requirement that
pop machines located in
educational institutions,
workplaces and public places
_LH
Photo h\ Josh Gruhb
should be secured so as to
prevent any further accidents
or deaths.” There is no current
law that requires companies to
secure machines down, w hich
would significantly reduce the
chance of an accident. With
their bulky frames and heavy
content, they pack quite the
punch w hen toppled over.
While the CPSC’s 1995
report stated they were aware
of 37 deaths mid 113 injuries.
completely different, it is try ing
to “bring a Buckhead feel to
Carrollton” according to Boyd.
“We bring the most popular music
to Carrollton" said Boyd when I
asked w hat the best appeal of their
place is. “We have live music on
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.”
I decided that I needed to
experience their night life, so 1
went to the O.C. last Thursday
night to see country group Brently
dehydration or attacks from
wild animals. These young
children would eat mud and
drink their own urine in order
to survive. As Bixler told us
everything he knew about
the conditions in Sudan he
expressed himself with such a
feeling of empathy.
These young boys
entered Ethiopia as skin and
bones. “When asked the
question why, each child gave
almost a prepackaged answer.' ’
Bixler explains, “They said
they were away from home
tending to cattle while militia
came to their homes and killed
or kidnapped their parents.”
Eighty one percent of these
children saw someone die of
starvation, and 97 percent had
witnessed murder.
The children spent four
years in Ethiopia, followed by
nine years at a refugee camp
in Kenya, enduring hardships
along the entire way. A few
solutions were thought up as to
what to do with these refugees.
Either locally integrate or
settle them in a country near
their own, or resetde them into
the United States. Finally, the
United States took in a small
number of them in 2000-
actions to impmve the safety
of vending machine usage
have not been advanced. That
same year, an industry wide
warning label campaign was
put into effect, requiring all
vending machines have a label
with the words, “Warning!
Never rock or tilt. Machine
can fall
over and cause serious
injury or death. Vending
machine will not dispense
free product.” There is no
evidence to support that
the campaign worked;
there are no recent reports
by the CPSC or any other
committee regarding deaths
by vending machine.
So the next time the
vending machine steals
change, don’t wrestle it to
the ground. While it seems
humorous to push or tilt a
machine, in reality, it is very
dangerous. Many people have
suffered from a serious injury
while trying to gain a free
soda, or perhaps entertain their
friends. Know ing the dangers
surrounding vending machine
deaths can only ensure safe
usage by students and faculty.
Also, remember to do unto
others as you would have
them do to you: how would
you like to have your buttons
pushed all day long?
Gilbert. After paying five dollars
(their standard cover) I ordered
beer from the beer tub girl at
three bucks a pop. The newly
erected stage is the one thing
Lemer is most proud of. "This
place is designed for live music”
he explains.
Boyd and Lemer both
suggested that 1 try the food. We
wanted to try the 35 cent w ings,
but we were unfortunately too
2001. By this time,
they were teenagers and
young adults. The US
accepts more refugees
than any every other
country combined. In
2001, 3,800 Lost Boys
were allowed to enter
and resetde in the US.
They setded in large
cities such as Boston,
Atlanta, Chicago, San
Diego, Kansas City and
Seatde. While in Kenya,
these boys learned how
to speak formal British
English and were all
assigned the Christian
names which Bixler
knows them as today.
Bixler traveled
to Clarkston, GA,
about 11 miles from
downtown Atianta.
He met four young
men who were all
refugees from Sudan.
He interviewed these young
men and wrote an article that
ran on the front page of the
AJC. More than 100 people
decided they wanted to help
out these boys. “I think every
story I write should elicit that
kind of response.” Bixler
said. Alter the overwhelming
Students to take vow of silence for equality
By Alainc Murphy
Staff Writer
imurphy4@my. westga.edu
Martin Luther King,
Jr. once said, “Injustice
anywhere is a threat to
justice everywhere.” We
are indirectly responsible
unless we take a stand and
speak out against it, right?
“Of course”, you say. Or,
perhaps, in the case of the
annual Day of Silence, we
can take a stand and refuse
to speak.
Wednesday, April
18, 2007, is the eleventh
annual Day of Silence.
For one day students take
a vow of silence that
Parking from page 1
students a chance to voice
their opinions about how
the parking situation on
campus is a little over
crowded. I know a lot of
people including myself
who have to work their
schedule around parking
just so they can be on time
and even if you get to
campus early, there is still a
chance of being late,” says
UWG senior Chris Guttery
Dunn.
49 -9 '&S6
Photo by Josh Grubb
AJC journalist Mark Bixler speaks to a
group of students and faculty of the hard
ships in Sudan and its many refugees.
response to his article, Bixler
decided to follow a group of
Lost Boys for four months
and write a book about it. “I
went with these young men
when they applied for their
social security cards," Bixler
said. “1 went with them to job
interviews—l even taught a
represents the silencing
of lesbian, gay, bisexual,
and transgender (LGBT)
students and their rights.
It is a movement for a
safer academic experience
for everyone, regardless
of sexual orientation,
gender identity, or gender
expression. “Be heard
without being heard”,
the slogan reads. Raise
awareness and make a
difference without so
much as saying a word.
Protest the maltreatment
and harassment suffered
by lesbian, gay, bisexual,
and transgender students,
as well as their straight
compatriots. As this year’s
There will also be a
meeting on Monday Feb.
12 at 7 p.m. at City Hall for
the Carrollton community
to give its’ input.
“It is important for
the committee to make
recommendations after
taking intoconsideration the
concerns and suggestions
of students, faculty, staff
and community members.
There is never just one
solution to any issue and
open communication is
the best avenue to discuss
options and opportunities,”
late because they sold them all
before we got there.
Monday night. Their menu
contained more appetizers than
any thing else, w hich is typical for
a bar. Our server was friendly and
prompt and told us up front about
the dollar draft beer special. The
food isn’t bad but it’s obvious that
people go there to drink instead
of eat.
The O.C. is open Monday,
few of them to drive...l
was with them as they
watched Divorce Court
on a donated black and
w hite TV,” he said w ith
a warm smile. “1 ux>k
some of these guys to an
Atlanta Braves baseball
game at Turner Field.”
Before they entered
the United States, these
boys had never used
electricity, flushed a
toilet, seen a skyscraper,
felt ice, or even seen or
walked on stairs. The
US Government only
provided four months
of assistance for these
refugees and alter that,
they were on their own
to find a job and support
themselves.
One boy found a job
in a meat packing plant,
one as an overnight
stocker at Target, one
would cook at the Dekalb
County Jail, and one even
became a truck driver.
Bixler was amazed at the
ability for these young men
to cope with the tragedy
of their lives. “According
to anthropologists,” Bixler
begins to explain, “these men
THF. WI ST GEORGIAN
UWG organizer, Stephanie
Mason, expressed,
“| You do) not have to
be a supporter of the gay
lifestyle, but...only an
understanding individual,
who views any harassment
as wrong”.
Throughout the day,
there will be various
“silent” activities, acting
as a support basis for
participants. Following
the Day of Silence, there
will be a “Breaking the
Silence” event for activists
to reflect on their day. So
remember April 18th. It
is YOUR day to protest.
For more information visit
www. day ofsilence.org.
says Lisa Ledbetter,
Parking committee member
and UWG Director of
Communications and
Marketing.
Parking and
transportation problems
cannot be fixed overnight,
however many students
feel the survey and
meetings are a big step
in the right direction. For
more information, contact
Mike Renfrow, assistant
vice president for campus
planning and facilities at
678- 839-6385.
and Thursday through Saturday
from five p.m. until two a.m.
Monday still has the always
entertaining karaoke. It’s 18 and
up at all times, so it remains one
of the few places in Carrollton
that allow smoking indoors.
Tuesday and Wednesday nights
can be used for private parties or
socials.
had a very strong Christian
faith and they strongly
believed in the power of
education.”
Southern Sudanese
people were not allowed to
receive a formal education.
These young men wanted
nothing more than to receive
a high school diploma. Most
were too old to attend high
school and had to take the
GED in ordertoattend college.
One young man attempted to
take the GED five times until
he finally passed all parts and
later received his associates at
Georgia Perimeter College.
Bixler maintains hope
for these young men. He felt it
necessary for someone to tell
their story. They all wanted
to receive an education and
coming to America made that
possible for them. His book
The Lost Boys of Sudan is a
story about survival and grief,
and is also a compelling and
inspiring story. "Despite our
differencesofrace.nationality,
or age...” Bixler pondered,
“all people, I think, are more
alike than they are different,
and reporting and writing the
book has reminded me of that
lesson.”