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PAGE 2-THE CLUSTER, MAY 24, 1990 Editorials Censorship... In Macon When the Constitution of the United States granted us rights and freedoms, both specified and im plied. the purpose the framers of the Constitution had in mind was to protect us from oppressive governments. The freedoms con tained in the Bill of Rights (with the exception of the Second Amend ment) have survived over two hun dred years, and have done their job. As evidenced by judicial rul ings against book banning, efforts by governmental entities at censor ship have been defeated. Unfortunately, many of you will soon have the opportunity to ex perience censorship in your own dorm room. Someone, somewhere has decided that there are certain songs a touch too naughty for your stereo. The idea of record sticker- tng was seen as a first move toward censorship by many. The idea of a record company executive try ing to decide what an artist meant in a song, then passing judgement on the music's social worth is a touch intimidating. If a record is '‘sheltered'*. no ooe under eighteen will be allowed to buy it. You would be carded not only at the li quor store, but at the record store as well. In almost every state where record stickering legislation has been introduced, it has been voted out of existence. This refusal to cave in to special interest groups (primarily religious fundamen talists that can't decipher what Oz- zy is saying, much less what he means) is seen as a sign of courage by our nation’s legislators. Unfortunately, spineless in dividuals do exist. The latest issue of’‘Rolling Stone’’ listed several record stores that had imposed not only stickering. but total banning of certain recordings. If you want the new disc frotr ”2 Live Crew" and go down to the Macon Mall to pick it up, you’re S.O.L. Record Bar. one of the Mali's two record stores, has voluntarily started restricting sales of some recor dings. Came lot. the other Mail record store, has pulled some recordings from its slvUves and Remember Appreciate Or Berate? No. 1 haven’t forgotten about the-pertt Thar TNr Cforrrr ran regar ding student satisfaction with University departments. Several peo ple have asked what the results were, so after much anticipation-herc they are! Admissions ■ • ® Book Star* - ® Bursars' office C + Cafeteria B Check cashing service ... ® Copy center * Cooperative Education C Financial Aid office C Infirmary D+ Intramural office C Learning Skills Center Bi- Library c + Mercer Police B Physical plant B Placement office C Port Office '. D + Regtstrar’s office C Religious Activities B c a,, B Student Activities B Student Development B Although a relatively small number of people responded, I fell that die grades they gave seemed well thought out. The infirmary and the Post office term to leave much to be desued in the eyes of those who responded. One student commented that he.'she found the staff in the P.O. lobe very rude. Other commentsincluded that the book store it too expensive, the check cashing service is not open long enough, the COOP office is too slow, library workers are unfamiliar with the library, and the placement office is so help. The copy center ranked a the top wish an A avenge (only ooe per son had used the center). This poB is not meant to anger anyone. but so serve at a student outlet of constructive criticism. Thanks to everyone who responded to this poll. I hope dm it will help to make everyone a hole happier. decided not to stock others. Macon. Georgia, though accus ed by some of being backward, should at leap learn a lesson from the past. No matter if the situation is Nazis banning books in the for ties or CEOs banning records in the nineties, both arc examples of cen sorship and should therefore be considered dangerous. It should be noted that the decision to restrict your opportunity to purchase any recording you choose is made at a national headquarters. For exam ple: Record Bar is based in North Carolina. This should come as no surprise. N.C. is the state in which a judge* recently sentenced a con victed murderer to five years; a man accused of having oral sex with his girlfriend was convicted on a sodomy charge and given a ten year sentence by the same judge on the same day. But that’s another editorial. The point is that your patronage of businesses in Macon whose executives promote censor ship is your way of telling the business's executives that censor ship doesn't bother you; your first amendment rights don’t mean that much to you. Personally, I’ll go to Turtle's. Greg Alan Clark 23 May 90 Congratulations Dr. Michael Cass 1989-’90 SGA Outstanding Faculty Member Mmtx fifl Cluster Editor-In-Chief Heather Kimble Associate Editor Marcus Durham Activities Page Editor Jennifer Neal Business/Advertising Manager Darcy Johason Features Editor Chris Carroliton Entertainment Editor Rich Beason Sports Editor Anthony Hooker Chief Photographer Michael Lake Photographers Danielle Underferth and Stephanie Nordenhaug Advisor Gary Blackburn Technical Consultant David Tucker Staff Writers Bryant Chitwood, Gwen Pollock, Chuck Junkins, Jodie Evans, Tobie Gass, Travis Graveil, Rbett Thomas, Mark Rosen, Michelle Renn, Jarome Gautreaux. Drew Nord, Trish Warrick, Terry Browning and Aviil Young. Address: BA A, Mercer. Office located on third floor of the Student Center. 752-2871. The Mercer Cluster welcomes letters to the editor. They should be concise and typewritten. Letters must be signed and should be accompanied by a current address and telephone number. Letters should be addressed to the Editor-In-Chief. Opinions expressed in The Mercer Cluster are those or the editor or the writer of the article and are not necessarily those of the university or student body.