• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1982-10-07_Vol47_No07_03

Editorial Western Carolinian/October 7, 1982 3 Two Views On Insanity FRANKLY SPEAKING phil frank by Larry Hardin America once again has her troops on foreign soil, locked and loaded, and now dying too. U.S. Marines are cleaning up after someone else's war; however they are cleaning up U.S. made bombs dropped by U.S. made aircraft. The U.S.. in all likelihood, even trained the gentlemen that dropped cluster bombs and other destructive devices scattered around the airport and throughout the cits of Beirut. I can not help but ask how long are U.S. troops going to be in Lebanon. Mr. Reagan seems very confident that Lebanon is going to have all its internal affairs together, as well as all foreign military forces out ot the country, within sixty to ninety days I his is the state of affairs our Commander-in-Chiel seems to want before American troops will be pulled out. I do not think 1 ebanon's government can pull it off in Mr. Reagan's time frame. 1 also think our troops are committed to Lebanon for a lot longer than most Americans care to believe Now. if that is not enough insanity for you how about the crazmess going on right here in the U.S. What kind of mentality are we producing in this world that innocent people are dead due to poison being placed discriminatively in consumer products' Ihe authorities say we must watch out for this in over-the-counter drugs we now purchase. Yet, if someone will put poison in 1 ylenol. they can put it in literally thousands of other packages, thousands of products we shove into our W»W:DP^lC€JR3rE/C []£1DMfp9M mouths without a second thought as to whether or not we are being poisoned. What we have are the actions of one person (or perhaps even a small group) holding this nation in a grip of fear. What 1 personally fear most is this idea can be used by others who have causes or craziness of their own. A California store has already been blackmailed for millions by individuals threatening to poison products. They wanted money in exchange for not putting poison in the store's products; these were simple, frightening, but also dumb people, they were caught (thank God). What about someone who gives this subject serious consideration'.' What about trying to protect the entire process from field to finished produces'.' There is no way we can give the people ol tins country security from such madness. I hat can be a frightening realization. I guess we nevei we never have had air, protection from this sort of behavior, yet it was not something we were aware of until now. I he dangei was always with us as an idea, but now it is no longer an abstract thought, someone made it real and has killed innocent people. I know there are good people right now attempting to stop this insanity, or at least protect us from it. However, my wile's home canned food now has an added value, I know where it came from and I know what is in it! HEAR?? rvBOS c%t* view Cuts Should Not Include Handicapped by: MJ Schutz Ihe Reagan administration is committed to reducing federal spending. This may or may not be a good thing. Presumably, it does reflect the wishes of most (voting) Americans; the man was elected by a majority of his constituents. It is obvious that the government's resources are finite, and somebody has to take the job of allocating our limited resources among the limitless claimants to their 'fair share'. One special group of claimants is about to get the shaft, however, and their numbers are so small that they may not be able to muster the support they will need to defeat those who are working against them. The group I'm referring to is America's handicapped children. The issue I'm addressing is a proposed deregulation of P.I.. 94-142, the law which guarentees public education to handicapped children. Deregulation is a buzzword which carries a poisitive connotation we're getting rid of red tape, which can't be bad, right? Maybe not right. The regulations being changed are the only assurance handicapped children, and their parents, have against the ever-present fear that they will be institutionalized rather than educated. As it is currently written, P.L. 94-142 guarantees that a child's suspected handicap be evaluated with regard to each discipline that could be affected by the handicap, that a member of the team evaluating the child's problem be present at the meeting at which the child's placement is determined, that the schools these children are sent to include in their curricula social work services needed because of the disability, school health services, and counseling for the children's parents. The law also stipulates that handicapped children be placed in schools near their home-their neighborhood schols if possible-and that the organization of extra-curricular activities include participation with children who are not handicapped. Parents' rights are also covered by the law, which states that a parent's consent must be obtained before a child is evaluated for the possible presence of a learning disability or other handicap, or before a child is placed in , a special-education program because of their handicap. President Reagan's administration would have each ol these guarantees eliminated from the law. No longer would the state be required to strive to keep America's handicapped children in the mainstream of public education. The vital social skills that these children acquire by interacting with all of their peers, not just those who share their misfortune, could be lost to them. The right of every parent to share with the government the responsibility for his/her child's education would be ignored. The quality of these children's education would deteriorate as the tests used to evaluate their specific needs became less accurately targeted. These children are human beings, too. The only exceptions which apply to them are the exceptional difficulties they have receiving their education in public institutions. They are not excepted from the right which every American child has to an education. The system has trouble accommodating differences in needs. But it is the system that must give—America has committed herself to educate her children, and there is no justification for a partial response to a total commitment such as this. It is in our respect for education that this capitalist nation finds her greatest strength. Historically, any time a nation has been wealthy enough for a strong middle class to emerge, this middle class has turned to education as a means for their children to better their lot. Education is the first and most valuable capital investment. It assures responsible leadership for the future. Handicapped children can become part of that leadership as adults, but only if they begin as children to learn what their role in society can be—a lesson they will never learn if they are to be forgotten, if they are to be placed in institutions with little regard for their specific problem areas or their need to live at home and attend schools with their neighbors. This doesn't have to happen. This is still a government of the people by the people. Our government representatives do respond to the voices of their constituents, they depend on us to keep them in office. Don't let it be said that when these children needed help. Write your Congressman, Let him know that this is not what you want, that the government is going to have to find another way to save money. Don't let the rap for excessive government spending go to these kids. HCM $O0K 4F7W Vol) c?AOrilF UP WITH fCVQ. prUfKl^ND PIP W AlOT/CE the f iR£T 5YWPRM? Time On The Parkway The Blue Ridge Parkway was a beautiful sight last weekend. Not just the parkway itself, but the surrounding areas where hiking and wildlife is in abundance. Since the land elevation on the parkway is higher than in Cullowhee, the leaves have already turned into some nice colors there. I was fortunate to have a chance to do some camping in the parkway area. I was also fortunate to go with a friend who had plenty of camping equipment, something I was definitely lacking in. He also had a great place to go; the Shining Rock Wilderness Area. 1 had never heard of the place, but I found out that 1 had been by there quite a few times. We started at the Graveyard Fields parking lot Friday night. Saturday, we woke up looking down on a waterfall into a peak colored mountain valley, with the blue sky in the background. After our morning beer, we took off towards Shining Rock. The only thing there was not a trail that went in that direction. There were just animal trails, but that increased our chance of spotting some deer. We bushwhacked our way to this rock face on the side of a bald, where we spotted an eagle. It was probably one of those that was let loose after being bred by humans in a biological experiment. The cage where the bv Doug Irwin eagles were kept was still on a mountain top. Unfortunately, I could not get to my camera until the eagle had flown further into the valley. No talent. When we reached the bald, it was like being in another country. There was nothing but low lying grass on the top. and a small trail winding its way towards Shining Rock. The Rock was quite a bit further down the trail, though. Near exhaustion and the beer supply getting warm, we discovered Shining Rock. We were not the first ones though, as numbers of hyperactive Boy Scouts were waiting for us at the camping area. Needless to say. we camped up the trail. There is no need to go into more details, but nonetheless after being away from the 'real woods' for over a year, it was a thrill to go back. I am not talking about driving down the parkway and getting off at every other driveoff, but 1 mean living in the woods for a few days. It is like going home for the weekend, but the parkway is much closer than home for most students. Of course, the woods are where we originally came from. We have not been human beings forever, you know. Notes From The I/. P. Charles Bonnell This weeks column should be called notes from all over. I have decided not to dwell on just one topic, instead I'll discuss notes of interest for all students. I'd like to start off by discussing homecoming and what it means to me. My clubs and organizations have events during this week, to make this week enjoyable by all. LMP has the 38 Special concert on Wednesday night, October 20. RHCC once again has the homecoming dance on Saturday night. We also can't forget the parade or the football game against Wofford College. Another aspect of Homecoming is the selection of a homecoming court and queen. Please take into consideration each candidate's qualities, don't make this election a popularity contest. Vote for the person you think would make the best queen. Homecoming weekend is traditionally a party weekend at Western. If you decide to drink, please don't drive. Don't let history repeat itself, nothing saddens a, celebration worse than the loss of a fellow student's life. You can prevent such a loss, please be a responsible drinker. As Homecoming comes and goes, two senate resolutions will be brought before the student body for their approval. Senate Resolution #954 was approved last May to amend the SGA constitution; this resolution would allow for equal commuter and dorm senator seats. The constitution now allows a dorm senator for every 200 students on campus. That comes out to roughly 17 dorm senators. Commuters have about eight senators. The population of dorm to commuter students is about even. I feel equal representation is only fair, but it's not my decision i. You as the student body will have a chance to decide on this issue during the first week in November. Critics of this Bill seem to think more commuter senator seats would take power away from the dorm senators. This may be true if there was a split in the senate, however, the senate is elected to vote on issues concerning every student, not commuter students vs. dorm students Thus far the senate has voted just that way. Once again, i think the idea is a good one, but the decision is yours. Another resolution to amend the constitution will also need student approval. If SR #968 gains senate approval next Monday, it will also be on the November ballot. This resolution requires that the QPR of Vice- Presidential and Presidential candidates be raised from a 2.0 QPR to a 2.3 QPR. This resolution is sponsored by Ron Fines and SGA's executive office. This resolution is intended to better your elected officials. Higher QPRs can mean higher quality elected officials. More on this Bill will be presented next week if the resolution is approved by the senate. Don't forget these dates for Homecoming. The deadline for registration is October 12 at 5:00 p.m. Voting for the homecoming court will be from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on October 14. The selection of the queen will be October 21 on the same times. Until next week. View From Starboard by Lee Cheek "Philosophers have explained the world; it is necessary to change the world." Karl Marx This week finds Western once again observing that occasion that is becoming a regular event at WCU—"No Nuke Week." I should preface my remarks by making the point that I am for peace as much as anyone on this campus; however, there appears to be a certain naivete that has spread throughout our University community concerning this issue. Many have accepted a particular attitude since the Soviet Foreign Minister made his "No First Use" speech and that attitude being that Gromoykof He was of course speaking for Comrade President Brezhnev) was telling the truth. It is true that Gromoyko did make a speech at the United Nations and that speech is now a matter of public record. My point is that even the feeblist of minds (after general minutes of laughter) should see that this whole proclamation is nothing but a propaganda ploy. If someone can truly believe this new policy change, this same individual would have no problem with continuing to believe in the Tooth Fairy or Santa Claus. The Soviet track record speaks for itself. They have no interest in keeping such an agreement. I would like to enlighten some and remind others, to the Soviet violations post-1970: 1974 Test Ban Treaty The Soviets have conducted at least eight major tests of more than 200 kilotons since the Treaty was signed. 1973 Limited Test Ban Treaty The Soviets have had an excess of at least 30 underground tests which was against the Treaty. Other violations are: The almost complete violation of the Antiballistic Missle Treaty and they have been cited for 11 major violations of the recent Salt II Treaty which both sides said they would adhere to. The Soviets have made a great farce of the Helsinki Agreements. In fact, within the last few weeks they have outlawed their own group empowered to make sure the guidelines were kept. During the whole period, the United States has blindly kept to the unratified Salt II agreement. It is time for us to look at this matter from a pragmatic point of view. The Soviets are not the "nice guys" some would have us believe (don't believe me, go and ask any Afgan, Yemenian. Ethiopian...) and it is quite simply time their challenge to world peace was met with an equal threat to make the world peaceful. estern Carolinian Editor in Chief [ arry Hardin Business Manager |,m Stewart Associate Editor (jm Buchanan Associate Editor of Production Doug I rwin News Editor MJ Schu„ Sports Editor Russ Randolph Features Editor Charles Sosnik Entertainment Editor Samuel lain Photo Editor Mark Haskett Ad Manager Charles Sosnik Circulation Manager |im MacRae Design Supervisor Ben Hale Production Supervisor Cathy McDaniel Photographers Tim Schut/ Production Susie Nelson. Diana hint. Vicki White. Julie Carpenter. Kathy Miller. Debbie Sanders. Kim Ramsey. Mary Carville. Roxanne Rankin. J. DeVane Ad ' ■yo«' Daniel Mangold. Scott Sherrill. Greg Smith. Kim Logan Ad Salcs Frank Baldwin. Jim MacRae. Chuck Lee Faculty Adviser Dr Gerald Schwartz Staffwritcrs Brcnda Turpin. Brian Cable, lames 1 ti. Vicki While. Darrcll Beck. G. Erlacher. Skip Conrad, J. DeVane, Greg Ryder. Rose Pritchard. Karen Ash. Steve Crawford, Willie Dawkins, Ka\ Anowwood. Beth Griswold. Glenn I Smith. Jerri Nowtin, Alex Kekesi. Kevin Kaga

The Western Carolinian is Western Carolina University's student-run newspaper. The paper was published as the Cullowhee Yodel from 1924 to 1931 before changing its name to The Western Carolinian in 1933.

• Creator
  • Western Carolina University
• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Date
  • Date original: 1982-10-07
  • Date digitized: 2018-11-19
• Extent
  • Dimension: 15" x 11.5"
  • Pages: 12 pages
• Subject - Topic
  • College student newspapers and periodicals
  • Cullowhee (N.C.) -- Newspapers
  • Universities and colleges -- North Carolina -- Cullowhee -- Newspapers
• Location
  • Jackson County (N.C.)
  • Cullowhee (N.C.)
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Source Collection
  • WCU Students Newspapers Collection
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1982-10-07_Vol47_No07
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library