• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1985-11-07_Vol50_No12_05

WESTERN CAROLINIAN NOVEMBER 7, 1985 PAGE 5 'Dear Mr. President: Now that you've spent so much on defense to protect our way of life, maybe you could do something to make our way of life worth protecting. . .' MORE FU N THAN 11VING NEAR A NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP** JO.NTHE Wfestern Carolinian K. ■ v. k\r 'V^=- 17041 227-7267 Western Carolina University PO. Box66Cullowhee, North Carolina 28723 We need creative people to write stories and contribute creative works that can be printed. We are dedicated to give this university the very best we can deliver. So join us and be a part of the fun. Come to the Western Carolinian staff meetings on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Old Student Union Building. Oh,...lt'ssoooo much fun! ■ A Liva Auditnct IT IS YOUR LIFE THAT'S ON THE LINE by Lou Ann Merkle If you put your hand in a fire once and you get burned...you don't do it again. That kind of learning worked for individuals because hands and brains are connected to the same body. In society, though it's different. One group (the brain) decides to send anothergroup (the hand) into the fire-into war. But the brain never feels what the hand feels. Because the brain and the hand are different, the brain will send another hand--a new generation of people--into the fire. And because that new hand has not been burned it will go. Right now, the U.S. is preparing to fight wars in a number of places. And it is not some ambiguous "U.S." who might go into the fire. It is you-if you need money for college enlist in R.O.T.C. or reserves, or need a job, training or experience or have registered for the draft or are desperate for adventure, discipline or financial security. The moment you sign up, whether to register for the draft or to enlist, you are putting your life on the line. Fifteen years ago, Peggy Tuxen, a U.S. Army nurse went to war. Here is what she has to say: Dear America, Remember me? I was the girl next door. Remember when I was 13, America, and rod eon top of the fire engine in the Memorial Day parade? I'd won an essay contest on what it meant to be a proud American. And it was me, America, the Cheerleader, the girl scout, who marched in front of the high school band...carrying our flag...the tallest...the proudest... And America, you gave me the daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award for patriotism, and I was only 16. And then you sent me to war, America, along with thousands of other men and women who ioved you. It's Veterans Day America. Do you hear the flags snapping in the wind? There's a big sale at Macy's, and there's a big parade in Washington for the veterans. But it's nottheAmericanflagorthe sound of drums that I hear-l hear a helicopter coming in--1 smell the burning od human flesh. It's Thomas, America, the young kid from Atlanta, my patient, incinerated by a gas tank blown up in a useless, immoral war. I remember how his courage kept him alive that day, America, and I clung to his only finger and whispered over and over again how proud you were of him. America-And he died. And Pham. He was only eight,America, and you sprayed him with napalm and his skin fell off in my hand and he screamed as I tried to comfort him. And America, what did you do with Robbie, the young kid I sat next to on the plane to Vietnam? Hisfriend told me a piece of shrapnel ripped through his young heart-he was only seventeen--it was hisfirst time away from home. What did you tell his mother and father, America? Hold us America- Hold all your children America. Allen will never hold anyone again. He left his arms and legs back there. He left them for you America. America, you never told me that I'd have to put so many of your sons, the boys next door, in body bags. You never told me- That was Vietnam 15 years ago. Today the United States is spending more than a million dollars a day to wage a waragainst the Salvadoran people. Since January of 1984, over 3,000 tons of bombs-more than ever before in the Western Hemisphere-have been dropped. U.S. soldiers fly reconnaissance missions for the Salvadoran military. Those U.S. soldiers were in high school classrooms only a year or two ago. I'm not saying that people in the military are bad. Some of the finest people-like Peggy-are in the military. What I'm saying is, don't fool yourself. If you're faced with registration, according to the Supreme Court, is: "To develop a pool of potential combat troops." You will pay the price. You-not your parents, not your teachers, not the government leaders-will be under fire. It is your choice to make. But it is up to you.ou to find out. If you're thinking about enlisting, be careful. The military is not a vocational training school or university. Its business is to wage war. And it needs hands to operate the instruments of death and destruction. Whether you are on the front line driving a blade into someone's heart or sitting in front of a computer, you are helping to hurt people. Bombs, bullets and missiles causes suffering and death. If you haven't really given that much thoughtorhaven'treally th oug ht a bout wh o yo u a re goi ng to kill and why...then take some time to find out. 57,000 Vietnam veterans died in Vietnam. 13,000 were left 100% disabled, and over 60,000 committed suicide since they returned. Why did so many vets take theirown lives? That could be the most important thing for you to find out before you find yourself a member of the armed forces. So talk to Vietnam veterans. Go find Salvadoran refugees. Ask them what it feels like to live in a country at war. There may be other ways for the "brain" to solve problems besides sending young hands into the fire. You can become a part of the brain and not just a hand only by finding out for yourself what the problem is and what solutions seems best to you. That's what democracy is all about-citizen participation. It just so happens that your life depends on this one. 2:00-3:00 *• WEDNESDAY 'The Peace Movement and The Media: WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE?" John Fobes, Randy Rosenthal (editor. WESTERN CAROLINIAN), Bob Scott (THE ASHEVILLE CITIZEN), and William Wlthdrow. Catamount Room, Hinds UC. ##** TRIPLE LAUGHS Dear Editor: Since when has your paper become the scratch pad for repressed comedians! I'm referring to the hilarious, babyish diatribes from Jackson Jones, the Class Clown '86 and, of course, our much respected and admired, the locally famous "Concerned Citizen." If your paper keeps on, pretty soon the reading matieral on the "Letters" page will need to be rated "triple laughs." If your paper must contain such letters, why not use some discretion and EDITthecontentsof such letters! Orbetteryet.savethe gems like the aforementioned letters for your April Fool's Edition or whatever... Anyway, I would like to praise the Carolinian's writers for jobs (and products) well done. Gordon Grant's article, on crosscountry runners was an excellent, eloquently written, interesting piece. First rate! Billy Graham and Robb Schrof continue to tickle different areas of my funny bone. Lastly, we come to Carl Brickman. His latest work is a brilliant piece of satire. Keep up the good work, Carl and you'll be the comedian- satirist of the conservative movement as Woody Allen is for those of liberal mind. I can see it now.. Brickman Films present "Lynchburg" (see Woody Allen's "Manhattan") or "Grab the Bible and Preach" ("Take the Money and Run") or Everything You Wanted to Know about Jerry Falwell (But Were Afraid To Ask). Ken Lauber RUNNING ON EMPTY Dear Editor: I deeply regret to inform you that you either should get new reporters or ones that really care about what they are feeding the public. In Gordon Grants most resent article on this years cross country team, I can not figure out if Grant was actually on the job or if the paper just didn't need some more bull-print to fill the pages since the Mocs beatthe Cats. Itisa shame to see the public so misinformed on such matters that some people really care about. Though the article covered the coach of this years team well, Grant should have known (if he had done his homework) that Finn is the first "real" coach of this sport that Western has ever had. Finn is not only a fine runner in his own right, but a coach not below many others. Yet, the runners Gra nt seem to have praised so much in hisarticle are no more than mere recreational runners and should receive no more than intramural news. I personally have nothing against the likes of Opitz and Ritter, but if this paper wishes to talk about "real" runners then only Phil Roberts name should have been mentioned in Grants article. Sure Opitz may play a hell of a game of table tennis, but it has nothing to do with training. (I must wonder if the Grant fellow isn't a TEKE.) If Grant considers anyone who can do easy five milers one day and a few all our (BULL!) half mile repeats the next a serious runner, then New York City had about ten thousand lined up just last Sunday. I, as well as Grant should know that Phil Roberts is by far the only collegiate level runner on this years team, and if he thinks the only problem with the other runners is their age then he surely is blind. I personally know Phil Roberts and if anything his days are not spent out on lovely runs around the mountain sides. If anything, Phil spends most days running harder and more miles than the rest of the lot Gra nt called his teammates. So what if the funds are low, a man of Phil's dedication doesn't need them; however, they would be nice. Who needs rewards when runners have someone like Grant to put star by theirname. The real runners don't need it because they live off personal rewards. Think about it, for all the work Phil does he gets put behind a few recreational runners and the words star put by his name. I'd rather take the personal rewards. At least people like pHil know what they're getting them for. Sydney Aouita FAHN KOOKIN AH'M STANDIN IN LINE AT DOfSONS TOTHER DAY A LISTNIN TO YA ALL ACOMPLANIN BOUT THE DEELISHUS FOOD BEING SARVED YA ALL, AND BEIN PAYED FO BY YO HARD WORKIN FOLKS WHO'S A BEIN HAPPY THINKIN YO ALL LIKE THE FAHN KOOKIN HYAR. I DOAN KNO BOUT ALL YOU HIGH FALUTIN RICH KIDS BUT AS A YOUNG UN RAZED ON POSSUM STEW, ROAST GROUND HOG, SQUIRELL GRAVY, SWAMP CABBIDGE BOTH BILED & SALID. I CIN TELL YOU ALL DOAN PRECIATE FAHN KOOKIN, JEST SET BACK & THINK BOUT THE HARD WORK THEM FAHN FOLKS HAVE TO GO THRU TO GET THE FAHN KOOKIN TO YOU A GETTIN UP EARLY, TO START UP BREAKFAST SO AS YOALL HAVE A FULL BELLY AFORE CLASS. ALSO DINNER & SUPPER IS ALWAYS REDDXFOR YO'ALLWEN YOU IS REDDY TO EAT, I KNO WEN MAN BELLY GROWLS AH CIN ALWAYS FILL UP WITHOUT WORRYING BOUT MORTEZUMA'S REVENGE. WHEN I WUS YUNG A CIN REKOLECT SUNDAY DINNER MA WOOD KOOK UP A MESS O' BEENS WITH POSSUM GRAVY & ME'UNS WOULD GET RABBIT STUFFED WITH WILD UNYUNS MA WOULD FIX CRAKLIN CORN BRED TO SOAK UP THE DRIPPINS IN THE PLATE. FOR DEZERT WE UNS WOULD HAVE APPLE SAUCE FRICAZZEE WITH GROUND TURKEY GIZZARDS. IF'N YO THINK THATS FAHN KWIZINE THEN YO MUS BE BACKWARD THEN ME. WEN AH EET THE FAHN KOOKIN AT DOBSONS AH FEELS LAHKE AH DIDE N WENT TO HEVAN. SO NOW ALL YO FAHN HAGH SOCITY STUDINTS WER YOU EET IN THE CAFYTERYA ENJOY THE FAHN KOOKIN ANQUTCHER- BITCHIN. MAS LAIS IS PEACE IMPOSSIBLE? Dear Editor: Is peace an impossible dream? Is the production of defense weaponry good for our economy? Do we really get a balanced in-depth picture of the arms race in the daily news media? Why do the Russians take the stance they do in international dealings? Can we trust them? How do we reconcile personal ethics with planning weapons of mass indiscriminant destruction? Is Star Wars the hope of the future or a dangerous delusion? Whether you have definitive answers to these questions or whether you're in some doubt, the two-day conference on the nuclear arms race, "From Trinity to Star Wars" which will be held on the WCU campus November 12 and 13 should provide you with food for thought. A schedule of all conference events including panel presentations, films and evening programs (including a live video telecast), is available at the Department of Sociology, Stillwell Bldg. Panels will present a variety of views, and audience members will have an opportunity to raise questions and discuss the issues. The conference is open to the general public as well as students and faculty. It is co—sponsored by the Department of Political Science, Public Affairs and Sociology and student groups which include College Democrats and the Sociology Club. Community groups such as the WCU Campus Ministers Association and the Jackson County Citizens for a Nuclear Arms Freeze will be presenting programs. I hope that Western Carolinian readers will take advantage of this unique community opportunity to explore together these vital questions. Sincerely, Patricia Montee Outreach Chairman, Jackson County Citizens for a Nuclear Arms Freeze CAMPUS BEEFS I'd like to discuss a couple subjects that deal with our health. The first of these is a smoke problem. It seems rather ironic that a smoke problem would exist in a university. Look around campus; there are healthy bodies staying fit and playing sports everywhere. Now, walk inside one of the buildings and try to breath. Gasp! You'd think that someone ws trying to kill you — death by smoke inhalation. It's everywhere, especially in faculty and administrative offices. But it doesn't stop there. The inconsiderate smoker has invaded the elevators, hallways, and yes, even the restrooms. You may not see this person, but the evidence remains long after he/she leaves. It's bad enough that they have to smoke in the first place, especially since they know, as well as you and I, that the ventilation systems on campus are inadequate. It is not possible for an individual to smoke without offending the nonsmokers. Check it out sometime. Try walking down the hallway on the third floor of Forsyth around midday; it's terrible. Check out the fans in the elevators in Scott; who knows when they worked last. The restrooms around campus seem ill equipped to properly ventilate and remain smoky long after the smoker leaves. And finally, these people have ever so rudely invaded the cubicles in the library and are leaving them unusable to the nonsmoker. They don't seem to be happy with the pre-designated smoking rooms, and again, we all know that the fans in those rooms do little in the way of ventialtion. So, what's the solution to this problem? It could be ignored and possibly disappear, or a course of action could be pursued. These public areas could be designated as nonsmoking areas, but this approach abide by a rule of this nature? The library is a prime example of this. The other alternative is to install ventilation systems effecient enough to accomodate both the smoker and the nonsmoker. In this case, the effecient ventilation systems approach appears to be in the appropriate answer. However, if things operate as normal, the ignore and hope approach will probably be selected. We would not have this problem if smokers used some consideration. But, since this is not the case, it would be a benefit to everyone if the smoke problem was investigated and resolved. Another health related problem has appeared in the weight room. This one concerns dirty equipment, and by dirty equipment, I am refering to sweaty benches and sticky machines. Both of these are minor problems, and they should not occur. The university has programs in health and spa management, and our weight room suffers from the deficiencies that these courses teach students to prevent. On the weight machines, the movement of the weights is hindered because the slides are sticky. This could be alleviated simply by regular cleaning and lubricating. The problem of sweaty benches could also be easily resolved. Any professionally run gym or spa cleans their equipment daily, and there is no reason for a lack of this practice here at Western. Not only should the benches and machines becleaned on a regular basis, but the users should also help by wearing shirts or using towels while working out. No one likes to use dirty equipment, and for health reasons, a person should not have to. It will take the combined efforts of the administration and the P.E. department to insure that the weight room is properly cleaned, and the users of this equipment should be courteous enough to the next person to help minimize the problem. RANDY ROSENTHAL EDITOR IN CHIEF CHERYL DAVIS BUSINESS MANAGER ©RAY ERLACHER FEATURES EDITOR SHERRA ROBINSON NEWS EDITOR TONYA LAMM PHOTO EDITOR DESIGN EDITORS: JEFF RICHARDS * ANDY ATKIN BILLY GRAHAM SPORTS EDITOR CIRCULATION/PRODUCTION DANELL ARNOLD DESIGN STAFF: BUM ANNE CAMPBELL

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: 1985-11-07
  • Date digitized: 2019-02-28
• 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_1985-11-07_Vol50_No12
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library