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TWO CITIES
Even though I may be writing a bit late, as a
native of Wisconsin and a graduate of the
University of Wisconsin-Madison, I could not
resist the urge to coned some misinformation
expressed recently both in a letter to the editor
and in the 'Reality Check" column, and to add my
own two cents also.
First of alt it is obvious that "Name Withheld"
("Right of Way," Letters, May 18] has never driven
in Madison, WI. The UW kids cross the street just
as recklessly as the UGA kids. In fact there are
certain intersections downtown where the frat
boys and sorority gals so flood the streets at bar
time that cars literally cannot cross without run
ning someone over. I am sure that Marquette and
UW-Milwaukee students at times are guilty of the
same in Milwaukee.
This brings me to a point that about which
both Reality Check letter writers are ignorant (May
18 and May 25]. UW-Madison is never abbreviated
as UWM. UWM refers to UW-Milwaukee. The
University of Wisconsin-Madison is simply abbrevi
ated as UW.
The reply to JoeB's Reality Check is quite accu
rate regarding football; Sorry JoeB, but the last
two times the football Badgers have faced the
Dawgs, they’ve lost, both of those at the Outback
Bowl, incidentally.
Other than that, I also disagree with JoeB's
assertions. As Jyl correctly surmised, JoeB must
have been writing in response to a Flagpole article
from about four years ago in which the writer
compared Athens to Madison. I think that the
towns do have a lot in common, besides the
obvious differences. I think playing host to the
flagship university of their respective states has a
lot to do with that, and I'm sure if we compared
similar college towns across the nation, we could
find lots of other similarities.
For what it's worth, despite what they might
say when questioned about it Madison indie-
rockers are definitely respectful of the Athens
music scene, and no doubt in some cases jealous.
In general the louder, noisier stuff (e.g. Jucifer)
tends to be more popular up there, but the likes
of Elf Power, et al have their share of fens also.
While Tm on the subject it's worth noting
that Madison suffered the loss of three key rock
clubs during a period of about six years, from
:vhich they have only recently begun to recover.
Club De Wash burned down in the winter of 1995,
and later that year the Chamber closed. On New
Year's Day of 2001, O'Cayz Corral burned down,
which was at the time the last real rock dub.
Other venues filled in the void in the meantime,
but none of them were really equipped to be the
same kind of full-time real rock 'n' roll club that
O'Cayz and the others were. Finally, O'Cayz
reopened as The High Noon Saloon, in a new loca
tion, about a year ago.
In the May 18 issue, there were City Pages
blurbs about bicycling and traffic on campus.
Herein lie essential differences between the two
dties. In general people are bike-friendly in
Madison. (I realize that most if not all Flagpole
readers are indeed bike-friendly.) On campus, in
tire downtown area, and on many major roads
beyond campus and downtown there are clearly
marked bike lanes. And, someone please correct
me if I am wrong, but I never once read a letter
in the Madison local papers or in the alternative
weekly from someone who was opposed to biking
and bicyclists.
Regarding car usage on campus, we have
another major cultural difference- At the UW, if
you are an undergraduate in university housing, it
is virtually impossible to have a car on campus.
Unless you are an RA or need to have a car for
academic reasons, it just doesn't happen. And
even then, it's not easy to accomplish.
There is absolutely no justification for
freshman or other undergrads to be allowed to
have a car parked on campus here. This is espe
cially so since UGA has such an excellent bus
system. (Much better, by the way, than what UW
has, or at least had as of a few years ago.)
Patrick Moore
. Athens
WRONG WAY
I think the letter entitled "Right Of Way" (May
18] is totally out of line. I have seen several
serious bike accidents and pedestrian accidents in
Athens since I moved here five years ago, and I do
not appreciate the sarcastic tone in which this
letter was written. I believe every pedestrian in
Athens can relate to almost being run down by a
car or two. Sure pedestrians walk out in front of
the cars, it is the only way to get across the street
at times. In my opinion, pedestrians always have
the "right of way," and when you are roaring down
the streets of Athens in your juggernauts it would
be good to remember the people who are walking,
trying to get where they are going, in just as much
of a hurry as yourself. However, these vulnerable
individuals are not surrounded by tons of steeL
Deborah Shields
Athens
IRONIC
Do you find it at all ironic that Bush (in regard
to funding stem cell research) said something to
the effect that he would not support the sacrifice
of lives to save others? (Has anyone shown him
the latest body counts from Iraq?)
To quote this week's (May 25] This Modem
World, "(they] must laugh (them]selves silly
coming up with this stuff."
Also, as a lifetime resident of this fine city, I
too am going to hate to see the NSCS go. I can't
imagine that Rhode Island (with some of the
highest per capita wealth in the USA) needs any
thing else at alL I can only hope that the land
goes to good use (education, etc.).
Rob Veal
Athens ""
SOME JESUS
I just want to say "right on' to Julie
Whitmire's letter (May 18]. I am sick of people
acting like it's not cool to be Christian. Just
because we Athens Christians don't do all the
things that a lot of people around here think are
"cool" doesn't mean that we are stiffs with no life.
We still listen to cool music and have good times.
We just believe that it's also cool to believe in
God. Jesus was the coolest guy ever, in feet and
we should all try to be like him. Jeremy Jacobs is
a dick if he thinks that "Christians are hyp
ocrites." We're just some believers doi.rg the best
we can in a crazy world.
.Adam Davison
Athens
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Okay, don’t panic.
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cut down on your air
Leach.
Play alo«g fora minute.Show
the joke doesn't bother you.
Ware you Saving your
money so you could get
that great haircut, Maltby?
Worst thing you can do is
Show they're getting to you
then they'll never stop/
Coma on/ They’re Converse/
1 got them at Foot Locker/
what’s yovr problem?/
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Whoa, take
it easy,
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Key, Orug
Mart! Pass
the ball!
bob SALON
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JUNE 8, 2005 • FLAGPOLE.COM 5
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