• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1976-02-26_Vol41_No39_04

Page 4 THE WESTERN CAROLINIAN THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26,1976 LETTEIS A woman's right to choose Abortion Dear Editor, Dear Editor: I admire someone who will write the school newspaper and complain about something they don't like. I believe everyone has the right to their own opinions. I'm referring to Mary L. Yakush and Cara June Massey. They voiced their complaints and had enough confidence to back their beliefs with their signatures. But in the last issue of The Western Carolinian I read a letter from "Names withheld by Request" complaining about the letter Cara and Mary had written. Well, if you have a complaint, voice it, but if it is not worth backing up with your name, then you must not believe in it. But instead of the Stones, why not bring the WHO? "Names withheld by Request" said few groups care to play Cullowhee, but have they talked to Roger Daltry yet? Liz Taylor Dear Editor, What ever happened to our beloved SGA's column "SGA Reports"? Mr. Sherman's letter of a few weeks ago implied that we would see a weekly column on what the SGA is doing. Have they run out of things to say; do they have writer's cramp; or worse yet, did the last two columns cover the full extent of our SGA? I would like to hear more about what they are doing for me as my representative and with my money. Sincerely, Dan Thomas (Editor's note: A column as such will be discontinued. However, if SGA material is sent to the paper, it will appear in regular news form.) Well, it's election time again. Important issues are being discussed and then discarded because they're too touchy. With all the important national and international issues such as the economic crisis and Angola (which is not Communist thanks to Congress), guess what is one of the most important topics. If you guessed abortion, you're right. Before I go any further, I'll let you know that I am in favor of abortion. Actually, I favor a woman's (not her husband's or her family's) right to choose abortion. Freedom of choice has always been important in American society. In the issue of abortion, however, a small group of people called the "Right to Life Society" (composed mostly of fundamentalists personalities) is trying to get choice as it applies to abortion legislated away from us. I object very strongly to these people. Being an American, I don't object to their right to express their view. What I object to is the way that they are going about it. Dr. John Wilke, president of the Cincinnati, Ohio Right to Life Society, has developed something he calls "abortionology" as a method of presenting his case. Abortionology involved a showing of films about abortion to high school students. Firstly, the students are shown how "cute" the developing fetus is (actually there is nothing uglier than a developing fetus). Then, the students are shown pictures of bloody, aborted fetuses, most of which are 19 to 20 weeks old (most abortions are performed within 12 weeks of pregnancy). This is only part of their campaign to "Save the fetus". They cite eroneous statistics that say that 60% of women who get abortions end up sterile (This is an all out lie!). They put up posters li.ke the one that says, "Abortion: A woman's right to choose" with the "choose" crossed out and "kill" written underneath it. Tactics like these are hysterical reactions to something that, to the Right-to-lifers, is morally wrong. I don't object to that. | object to the fact that these people, if they can, are going to enforce their moral views on the rest of us. So much for American democracy. These people, like most fanatics, are insanely dangerous. They are distracting our attention from the important matters of this election year. Abortion is a matter of personal choice. It is not and should not be a political issue. Only a fool would think otherwise. Let's get abortion out of the political arena and get back to the job of getting this country on an even keel - if we can. Sincerely, Lee Brockmann Educational bond referendum Dear Editor. 9r Dear Editor I would like to address myself to some of the points raised in support of the approaching educational bond referendum. For the most part, proponents of this bond issue seem to be unwilling to accept that the 3.4 million dollar grant for a new administration building here at Western is, in and of itself, undesirable, i.e. that it should not be a part of the bond issue. The newspaper, therefore, might devote some of its time to good purpose in seeking to elicit, from the administration an explanation of what prompts that body of public servants to place such a building at the head of their list of priorities for Western. Does the administration believe that in a period of deep recession, with the state confronting a severe fiscal crisis (it can't balance its budget which it is required to do by law) and this institution's own employees unable to obtain raises, that such a building should be the school's foremost priority? If they do not, why is it? If Western's use of its portion is, as I assume to be the case from your earlier editorials, indefensible and largely undefended, what is to be said for the request that we support the bond issue anyway? One argument is that, with the new administration building built and thus out of the way (would that it were out of the way when built), the public servants who lead us will be able to request more desirable public expenditures. Do any of us have that much faith in our leaders' ability to determine what is desirable? Those who are so gullible should reflect on the present bond issue. The other argument seems to be that the objects of the bond at other schools are more desirable than here. In the case of some, but not all of them, this appears to be true. Therefore, why not reject the bond issue and have it re-submitted to the electorate without our part or with our share redirected. My first concern is Western and what is requested here is not desirable. It is also argued that the bond issue should be passed because the state of North Carolina can afford it. This assumes that the state's future fiscal position will permit comfortable retirement of the indebtedness. Part of the difficulty here lies in the fiscal charlatanism which views bonded indebtedness as a thing unrelated to real money and taxes. The fact is that the state does not have the money for the capital improvement of universities as provided for in the bond issue and is borrowing it. This small amount of money must be paid back within a given time and the state is counting on being in a sound enough fiscal position to do so. This we do not know, but it is the same way they used to think in New York. What we do know is, 1. that the state's present fiscal situation is very bad, and 2. that the present recession may last a long time. We also know that Western's portion alone is almost a 200 dollar indebtedness for every human being in Jackson County, and a 25 dollar indebtedness for every human being from Waynesville to Murphy, our service area. My strongest objection is aimed at the political and academic leadership of this "democracy" which, in the midst of a great recession, with the state's population in general and its own employees in particular suffering a severe decline in living standards because of the state's confessed lack of funds, can have as their number one priority the building of a largely useless building for largely useless peo ple who already have one largely useless building. It seems to me that this tells one something very terrible about his country's and this state's leadership. The janitors who clean our halls, the people who prepare our food, the instructors who provide our education, can all suffer, can all put up with harder times and poorer food, but the bureaucrats, our servants, must have another building. This is government of the people, by the people, for the people. Nancy Hope, Pres., Young Republicans Club David White, Pres., Young Democrats Club WCAT affairs A New York Style Supper Club! Live Entertainment Prices That A Couple Can Afford Menu Prices $095 And Up Brown Bag License Master Charge Salad Bar Hours: 5:00 to 10:00, Tues., Wed., Thurs 5:00 to 12:00 Fri., and Sat. East Sylva Shopping Center Sylva Dear Editor: I have been swamped by numerous students asking me about the validity of some statements in the article and the general situation concerning the WCAT station affairs. Being the former station engineer, having to resign due to class loads and personal affairs, I can only speak from what association I had with the station and it's staff for a period of approximately six months. However, I would like to clear up any doubt or concern on the status of the new FM station. First: The statement concerning 90 days approval of a construction license for an Educational FM Station. This may be true, but as all of us are aware, anytime you deal with the government there is numerous "red tape" to fill out. Then Washington has to be happy with it. I would feel that 90 days is being a little too optimistic. Second: About having 80% of the station equipment. During the period I served as Station Engineer, I must say that Jake Phillips was a dedicated station manager in pursuing possible doners of equipment for a station severely handicapped financially. Admittedly - personalities on the air needed refining. I am glad to read that Manager Phillips and Faculty Advisor Dr. Kathleen Carr are going to place more emphasis on increased academic involvement. Let me give an example of why I am concerned. Can you believe I have actually had students ask me if I was associated with "Turkey Radio"? Some freshmen ask me once if a certain jock was a senior? When I replied "Yes" they said they certainly could tell. "How?" I asked. "Because he stuttered, mispromounced and left out three words in a ten word sentence", they replied. So, Amen to the pre-screening and air check beforehand. Third: Western Carolina University does have the potential for the best student run radio station in the state. I have visited other stations on occasions (UNC-A Wake Forest, Belmont Abbey' tec.) and for the limited resources that Western's station does get the committee and management has certainly made it go a lona way. a Finally, I have been just as impatient as everyone else about having a campus station. The staff at our silent station is doinq a good job considering the circumstances. Let's just be patient and remember that they are verv anxious to get started too In the meantime, let them know by mail or wnat ever what you would like to hear. Hopefully, you will hear it by late Spring Quarter. Afterall - "good things do take a little longer." Sincerely, Gil Huggins Former WCAT Student Engineer In praise of honesty Dear Editor, I would like to publicly announce the trustworthiness and honesty found within one particular WCU student, namely, David Leigh. I lost a wallet on Tuesday night and this man found it and turned it in. Nearly all of my personal registrations and licenses, as well as military papers were in it. There was about $30. some of which wasn't mine, with which I am supposed to go to Florida. I would like to praise David Leigh, and hope that this act will inspire other students at Western to try to help those who have experienced such losses, special thanks to David Leigh. Tim Kincaid.

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: 1976-02-26;
  • Date digitized: 2017-12-15
• Extent
  • Dimension: 15.75" x 11"
  • Pages: 8 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_1976-02-26_Vol41_No39
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library