• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1986-03-27_Vol50_No08_03

7.1986 WESTERN CAROLINIAN Pqf Billy Graham n^^ The persistant reader of this page, unfortunate dupe though he be — (is? am? were?) — unfortunate dupe though he am, has undoubtedly reached a decision about our Perspectives page by now. Probably he has decided to drain the oil out of his Datsun onto it, or to teach hisCockapootouseit rather than the new oriental rug or the cat. This is not all baa, however, as he has at least made a firm decision about what he should do with the page. That is more than the actual writers for Perspectives can claim, as the typical columnist is either grumpily non-collegiate or breathlessly school spirited and therefore spends a tedious amount of time trying to decide who he is or who he thinks he can get with Friday night. Respectively, of course. Never mind Confusion, he's only looking on, and he shan't stay long. He's leaving for a lunch date with Repetitiveness and Flatulence shortly. Possible fresh perspectives bounced through the office earlier this week: The new Uston B. Ramsey Regional Activities Center, is it named properly? Perhaps "The Clogging Center" might be more appropriate. How can one justify opening a sixteen million dollar arena for the students with a concert which roughly 23 of them will attend? On the other hand, perchance Stevecat recruits a big man or two to compliment his inside game, we might call the place Superiority Complex. And whatshall we make of all the muscle flexing Death, Canned Ham, and Louise Mandrell in the Middle-East ana soutn America? Shouia the U.S. perform maneuvers on a madman's doorstep? And we have helicopters busily avoiding conflict in Honduras now, will there be some thirty-odd thousand advisors doing the same in a month? America is buying her underwear two sizes too small in the name of vanity, if I might analogize, and will have to contend with some mean chafing later. But what is it that the students want to read? Political argumentation? Nope, there's Peter Jennings, George Will and the guy in front of them in the lunch line to supply that. The new gym? No, that's a little mushy. Downright sinking if the truth be known; that's why the windows keep exploding. How about spring break? Ah, now there's an idea. No literary value whatsoever, it'll be loved. Spring break in Lauderdale was even more interesting this than last, simply because Horidians have decided that they've tired of it. They put up walls and fences and threatened to shoot anyone who tried to break for spring anywhere close by. This was only a minor annoyance for Schrof and I, though, as Schrof had to contend with a life-size vision of the Underwood Devil for the entire week. I, conversely, was forced to deal with him screaming at this apparition and trying to fend it off with insect repellant. A fun person to have along on any outing, he is, and a sound puppy target his prose doth always make. | Campus Beefs By Tracey Gasperini There's nothing to do around here. Cullowhee has to be the dullest place on Earth! How many times have we all heard this? Most students have muttered this themselves while th'ey reach for another beer or pack their suitcase in preparation for another weekend trip home. What narrow-mindness! The mountains of North Carolina offer more excitement and new learning experiences than these people will ever obtain in a life's supply of Budweiser of in their endless, ritualistic , weekend trips home. Insecurity and narrow-mindness prevents many students from closeting their Miami-Vice apparel, pulling out their dungarees and hiking boots, and ultimately enjoying the natural beauty and excitement available. After all, it's not cool to look like a country person or -God help you- a granola. Instead of hiking, rafting, canoeing, camping, rock climbing, etc., these people involve themselves in the same activities they participated in as a high school student. How Boring! Instead of broadening their horizons, they insist on becoming cliquish, partying and socializing solely with a "select" group of individuals. It's been claimed that this socializing broadens an individual's horizons. The only broadening readily apparent occurs around the midsection and the ego. But that's the action- packed, fast-lane of life. What about camping on a mountain top, and waking up to a sea of white, billowy clouds below you and a beautiful, golden sunrise, where it seemed like you could walk from mountain top to mountain top on that layer of white? How many of these people have experienced the pleasure of nature's silence-hiking far enough to escape the sounds of automobiles and pitching a tent near a clear, bubling stream? If that's not exciting enough, then try doing an Australian Rappel down one of the many local mountains, or learn to Kayak, and attack the white water rivers. These people could also try taking to the air and experiencing the sensations of parachuting, hang gliding, or flying airplanes. Through these activities, a person learns to appreciate and respect nature, and he/she develops a new and increased level of self confidence. All this is accomplished while having fun in the local area. These assorted activities area sponsored on campus by LMP and the Outing Club. The advantages of participating in their activities include student prices and group transportation. Additionally, as a member of the Outing Club, a student can make suggestions and help organize these outings, enabling him/her to learn even more. Life in Cullowhee is not boring. To narrow- minded, uneventful people, it~lust seems that way. Robb Schrof Mental As Anything "...When a week is just three days It must be the young who pay- Privilege, you have the right- If you're on The Frequency.., Privilege- The Witch was right, She had the Frequency..." -The FIXX- It is not often that I am caught at a loss for words. However.every once in a while, some thought or idea will come along and simply refuse my every effort to capture it and print it on a page. This is one of those occasions...Because the idea that I'm struggling with at the present time is what one might call a "Gray Area" or "Rare Area" (if yo u are familiar with the aspects of para-normal psychology) and the english language does notcontain the suitable wordsto describe my exact feelings... You see, these are not really "Feelings" as feelings go, but more on the scale ofanaccute awareness that something terribly strange is afoot. Most of this started over spring break, when I began having dreams...Not your average run-of-the-mill dreams that you would expect someone like myself to have, but dreams that lean more to the side of flirting with something that I know full and well that I should not be fucking with. My subconscious mind has obviously decided that it is time to make me aware of the fact that reality as we see it may only be one version of reality as a whole... ...Which would be well and fine if I were in any way capable of dealing with it. I, however, am not. I still have problems dealing with the fact that several weeks ago, while blind on gin that was provided to me by an un-nameable officer in Westerns R.O.T.C. program, I managed to tear the passenger side door off my T-Bird while trying to back through a tall hedge of juniper bushes...No, strike that...I wasnot trying to back through a tall hedge of bushes at all. Rather, I was blatently attacked by an angry mob of obsessed shrubbery while trying to safely navigate my way through the parking lot of Hardee's...Much better, now that the truth be known... ...So anyway, where the hell were we? Dreams? Yea right, dreams it be indeed... As I was saying, there are many aspects of our existance that we cannot understand or explain. Things like E.S.P., premonitions, ghosts and the like. Most people choose ither not to believe these things exist, or will rationalize ways of explanation. Some of us however, are of the firm belief that these phenomenon not only are real.but that we as human beings are capable of understanding them. Kind of an in-built sixth sense that we, in our rational little society, have learned not to heed. A type of un-learning, if you will... Man has learned not to trust his instincts or intuitions, and this might just be the death of him...What happens if suddenly there comes a time when our "Logic" no longer holds water? How this applies to these dreams I've been having lately is not really sure in my mind...They might be signaling an extream change in my life, or in the lives of the people around me. I just don't know. But my qut tells me that weird times are justaroundthecorner.andl'moneof those psychotic odd-balls who trusts "Feelings" more than logic... Dear Editor: Thank you for the very positive article in your February 21, 1986, issue of the Western Carolinian about the men's tennis team. As the article notes, only a few of the players receive financial support; and since tennis is a "minor" sport, they all, likewise, receive little recognition. The article which Gordon Grant wrote, while perhaps important in generating fan support, is most valuable for its effect on the players. All the players had been working very hard with little positive reinforcement prior to Mr. Grant's article. This article has done wonders in terms of making them feel that the effort they are expending is justified and appreciatea. You have aone something very positive and helpful for a group of fine young men who are frying their best to represent the University well. We all appreciate it, and you, very much. Thank you. William D. Hyatt, Men's Tennis Coach Thank you, Billy Graham Gordon Grant-Ed. and Dear Editor: On any night on WCU's campus a person can find at least one, if not several, young ladies walking around by themselves. They may be going to or from the library or it could be from a dorm, but they are still risking something very precious, their own safety. After casually talking to several girls, it has come to my attention that most people do not realize how unsafe it can be to walk around this campus at night by yourself. This is because most incidences are kept quiet. united campus ministry By Sherry Mattson NEW© WEEKLY COLUMN OF UNITED CAMPUS MINISTRIES In the February 20th edition of the Western Carolinian, Phil Woody's "Good News" article presented his point of view on abortion. I feel strongly that more needs to be said about this very sensitive and controversial issue. Surely all of us agree that life is sacred, but in any discussion of abortion, the sanctity of life is a complex matter. There is more than one life involved, and the mother's life must be weightier on the scale of sanctity because this life has realized its potential to a far greater extent than any fetus. Yet the fetus is also human and carries every potential for becoming a unique individual. This life, too, is sacred. Because there are two lives directly involved (with numerous others affected to a greater or lesser extent), decisions concerning abortion are complex and very difficult to make. Most often a person faced with this kind of decision cannot chooce what is "right" because there is no "right" choice in the situation. (It is not right to terminate a pregnancy, but it is also not right for a woman to carry a child that is the result of rape.) It then becomes a matter of trying to determine which choice is less wrong than the other. Such decisions are usually made more easily with the help of a trained, non-involved counselor. A counselor can see the issues more objectively and may be able to help a person better understand their own feelings that are crucial to making a decision. I stress decision-making because in my experience, many women (and men, too) suffer pain and guilt following an abortion. The extent of these feelings differs from individual to individual, but a main factor in determining the, severity of this reaction seems to be the decision-making process that proceeded the abortion itself. Women (and their partners) who have taken the time to examine their feelings about all aspects of the decision, particularly if they had the help of a counselor, usually find living with their decision much easier. The worst pain seems to come when a panic reaction to an unwanted pregnancy results in a humed abortion. Afterwards the individual must live with the action taken without the benefit of having made a careful decision about something so important. If you are faced with an unwanted pregnancy, please, DON'T PANIC. A few more days will not make any difference. Take the time to make a decision. Seek out someone objective, someone you trust, and talk about your circumstances. Give yourself enough time to imagine what living with your decision will mean. And remember that you are a child of a compassionate God who loves you even as you are faced with choosing one wrong or another. If you have had an abortion already, you may be experiencing some feelings you did not anticipate, feelings that are burdensome. You will not forget the experience. But remember that "abortion" is not the most important thing about you. You are still a loved child of God. You still have the potential to become more fully human, to be the whole person God desires you to be. In any case, whether you are considering an abortion, have already had one, or just want to talk about it, I am concerned and I care. I'm willing to talk with any of you. And my prayer is that I may speak with a voice of compassion. j Western Carolinian (704) 227-7267 Western Carolina University PC) Box 66 Cullowhee, North Carolina 28723 The WESTERN CAROLINIAN is published weekly by the Publication Board of Western Carolina University. It is an independent student publication that receives Itsf unding throug h student activities fees and advertising. Subscriptions are available at $16.00 per year ($20.00 Canada). The WESTERN CAROLINIAN is printed at the Waynesville Mountaineer in Waynesville, N.C. RANDY ROSENTHAL Editor in Chief CHERYL DAVIS Business Manager Andy Atkin Ad Design/Layout Jeffrey Rchards -Design Assistant Paula Koon Ad Sales Jerry Bumgarner Ad Sales Move to\ajws> 6ot/r? £>£,_ mit^- Last year a student security officer was attackea by Moore building. Also on more than one occasion a young lady was attacked at the stairs around Stillwell. Recently, a young man •i»as attacked and beaten when his attacker jumped out from between two cars by the bank and the Townhouse. I am not saying this to scare anybody. I am trying to make people aware of things. Being, attacked, molested, or raped is serious and it is something that can stay with a person long after the physical signs have disappeared. I know because it has happened to me. On campus isan organization whose purpose is to keep young ladies from walking around campus alone. Stray Cat Security members volunteer their time to fescort students around campus at night. They have all pasted a sec u rity c hec k ma de by Traffic a nd Security. At no time during an escort should a young lady have to worry about "being hit on" or asked for a date. Stray Cat Security runs from Sunday through Thursday, 8:00pm- 12:00am. They are based out of the Area Coordinator's office in Helder dorm. Escorts can stop by the office or call 6248. All escorts are recorded so someone will ask for your name, phone number, a description, and your location and where you want to go. It only takes a few minutes and it is time well spent. Anybody who has questions can go by the office during working hours and a member would be happy to answer them. New members are always welcome and can stop by the office at night for details. I must say that I not only use the service but I am also a member of Stray Cat. I have been for the last two years. I believe in what it stands for, safety in numbers. So even if you do not call Stray Cat, walk with a friend, but please, DON'T WALK ALONE! Kathy Logan Dear Editor: We take offense at Tracy Gasperini's March 6 column "If It's Not One Thing..." Surely Mr. Gasperini has better things to do than pick on the cafeteria girls, the SGA presidential candidate or the SGA vice presidential candidate. We are particularly upset with Mr. Gasperini's remarks concerning Chris Geis, the vice presidential candidate. Mr. Gasperini writes that because Mr. Geis's announcement of this candidacy and an article by Mr. Geis on the SGA appeared in the same issue, "this suaden SGA activism is out of the norm for a sports writer, but it's good politics, right?" » Mr. Gasperini should, first off, be aware that Mr. Geis is not just a sports writer. Long before his decision to run for vice president he was delegated the job of SGA correspondent after agreement between SGA president Todd Davis and Western Carolinian editor Randy Rosenthal. In addition, Mr. Geis, who happens to write about sports for the Western Carolinian, has worked for a number of years as a writer in various subjects for newspapers such as The Charlotte Observer. Secondly, who is Mr. Gasperini to call Mr. Geis just a sports writer? Does it have something to do with the fact that Mr. Gasperini, who like Mr. Geis is a student senator, lost the election of senate pro-tempre - - and election that is voted upon by the senator's own peers? One final thing: Is it really necessary for Mr. Gasperini to question Mr. Geis's academic stanaing? Mr. Geis, it is said in the article, had a 3.37 QPR in his freshman year, "but no mention was made of his current QPR. Maybe that shouia tell us something." Mr. Geis, Mr. Gasperini should know, has a 3.0. We feel Mr. Gasperini should find subjects to write about that he knows more about, and that he shouldn't just lash out at people when he has no defense for his statements. Thank you, Timothy Bolick, 324 Albright Carrie Wellbaum, 706 Scott Patrick Williamson, 324 Albright Dear Editor: I am an inmate at the Indiana State Prison. I don't have anyone writing or visiting me. It seems as though the friends I once had only lasted as long as I could pay the tab for their friendship. I've been incarcerated since September of '83. In the last 30 months I've written to aifferent people, anyone who I felt might remember some bond of friendship, but night after night passes without any response. I've been forgotten and it hurtst I'm a white male and 25 years old. I'm single. I'm 5' 11" and weigh 190 lbs. I have light brown hair and blue eyes. I enjoy all types of music, and I'm active in sports and I take every opportunity to better myself. Quite frankly this place is terrible, and seeing other men around my getting mail day after day depresses me more and really sends me to some low points at times. I'm lonely and I need someone to correspond with, just to' have a friend would mean so much to me. I hope you can find it in your heart to publish this in your paper, perhaps sparking an interest in someone out there. I regret I don't have any money to pay for this Ad because I only make 50 cents a day while working here. Thank you for listening and for any consideration that you're able to give me. If you can publish this in your paper I promise to answer everyone that responds to my plea. Please have a nice day. Respectfully Yours, Millard Paul Hurd Box 41 number 32376 Michigan City, Indiana 46360

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: 1986-03-27
  • Date digitized: 2019-03-21
• Extent
  • Dimension: 22.75" x 15"
  • 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_1986-03-27_Vol50_No08
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library