• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1986-09-18_Vol52_No07_04

Perspectives The Western Carolinian 4 Thursday, September 18, 1986 Editor's Notebook Andrew Dawkins Editor-in-Chief Learning to be Tolerant Toward the end of last semester (Spring '86) I happened to be asked by someone who I had shared a number of psychology classes and study sessions with, to help with a psych, experiment she was conducting. I did not hesitate to respond positively since this person was someone I felt very warm towards, and admired. During the course of our post- experiment chitchat, I discovered, to my surprise, that my associate was the founder of the very controversial Lavender Bridges. Before her revelation this group meant nothing more to me than a name, and a source of controversy for others. I had no interest in the group, nor its purpose and so did not occupy myself with thoughts of it. What fascinated me, however, was the courage of the woman who sat across from me in the library that afternoon last semester sharing that part of herself with me. I wondered what gave her the guts to dare to stand up and say: "This is what I am. I am different from you in this respect, perhaps. But, I am human despite of, and because of it, and I want you to know, and understand and try to accept that part of me!" Like the black, Jew, and the American Indian (among others) the homosexual has been tormented and murdered because of his "difference." Sometimes what we do not, or choose not to understand can be so frightening, or, conversely, can be so easily and cruelly dealt with. It is so easy to dismiss others who are different from ourselves, to dehumanize them and, in so doing, desensitize ourselves to the pain we inflict on them. I remember watching an NBC movie special a month or two ago titled (The Elephant Man). It was the story (real or fictitious I do not know at this point in time) of a man so disfigured that it was a chore and a half to look at him. He was very intelligent, but, because of his hideous appearance, he was treated like an animal. He was displayed in carnivals as a freak. I can remember his pained cry to a group of people who stood gawking at him in a railroad station, oblivious to his human need for privacy, for respect, to be treated with dignity, for just treatment despite his physical difference. His Kilned cry of "I am not an animal. I am a man being!" resounded around the railroad station and made me feel genuine pain. How cruelly we sometimes treat those who are different from ourselves. I remember not wanting to look at certain photos in one of my sociology textbooks. One photo that still lingers after two years or so in my memory is that of a man, who shared my skin color (this made him different), hanging by a rope from a tree. The faces of those others around his limp body showed no remorse, no identification with his humanity, no feeling for him. What I couldn't help focusing on was how this human being must have suffered before he died, how frightened and alone he must have felt, how very, very frightened he must have been as cold, uncaring hands slipped a rope around his neck. How cruelly we sometimes treat those who are different from ourselves. Understanding and tolerance is key in preventing such cruelty from occuring again. I'm not advocating embracing the beliefs and/or practices of others, in particular Lavender Bridges. What I'm advocating is an attempt to see others as human beings like you and me. See them despite their differences, as human beings with needs, desires, fears, and hopes like you and me. It is in the interest of promoting such an understanding, and seeing the humanity in those who embrace the philosophy of Lavender Bridges that I decided to put myself out on a limb and interview the founder of Lavender Bridges on this week's people page. Someone once said something to the effect that if we can't accept each other's difference, than we should at least strive to make the world a safer place for diversity. Ihe WESTERN CAROLINIAN is published weekly by the Publication Board of Western Carolina University. It is an independent student publication that recieves its funding through 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. You Tell Him Jimmy! It has been a long time since anyone has had anything nice to say about former President Jimmy Carter, but as of Thursday he definately regained some favor in my eyes and deserves a rousing hand of applause. For those of you who missed it, Jimmy Carter directed an eloquent statement to the Reverend Falwell saying "In a very christian way, as far as I am concerned, he can go to hell," and was referring to the Rev. Falwell's incessenf desire to combine religion and politics. Not only was this statement.and other comments made by Mr. Carter concerning this matter, a refreshing break from normal political rhetoric, it echoed a growing sentiment of many Americans. It is about time someone stood up and stopped tap dancing around religious leaders who have decided to inflict their right wing, moralistic ideals on the American public by playing politics Hopefully Mr. Carter's comments will strengthen the American outcry to government to stop assuming the role of a "social conscience" and get on with the pragmatic business of running a country. Contrary to the beliefs of Rev. Falwell, the majority of Americans do have respectable values and morals ana are intelligent enough to realize the potential danger of having "fire and brimstone" running from the Doors of our legislative houses Separation of Church and State, Religious Freedom, and Individual Choice are precious, and the time has come to stop a minority of overzealous fundamentalist,and other self- absorbed special interest groups, from compromising these American principles. Erin Millner is the News, Arts and Entertainment Editor for The Western Carolinian. If They Gave a Concert (and Nobody came) Barbara Rosenthal It seemed logical enough...LMP decided to sponsor a major concert at our beautiful and purple activities center. After years of not having the proper facilities to host a big time band, there was now ample room to put on a show, not only for Western but for the region. Being in the South it seemed sensible to choose a Southern rock band, and one that was Top-40 enough to appeal to the masses. Logically, one would assume that the tickets would have sold out in one day. So now what is the problem? At press time LMP was still stuck with 4,000 unsold tickets, lonely little tickets just yearning for homes in the hands of devoted rock-n-rollers. But where have all the rockers gone? Neither students nor locals seem to be greeting this planned pageant with anything vaguely resembling enthusiasm. Rumor has it that if LMP takes a beating on this venture this might be the end of concerts at Western fo a long, long time. Many have attributed the less-than-exuberant ticket sales to the choice of bands. When a campus onlv has one concert a year, and there is certainly no local "rock scene," there is much emphasis placed upon what magical act will be chosen to come and enlighten our isolated, mundane lives. Much in the same way that the campus radio station has been muzakly programmed to please all of the people some of the time, 38 Special must have seemed a most sensible choice. The band represents a nice middle-ground— occasionally having a hit, making a couple videos and dressing in Miami Vice blazers. But does all this a college concert group make? Perhaps a group not so pop oriented, such as The Talking Heads or REM, might have appealed more to the diverse elements represented in our community. Maybe it is just totally unrealistic to try to find one band that almost everyone here would fork out thirteen bucks to see. Many universities have turned to a series of smaller concerts to remedy this situation. Perhaps the late 1980's is simply not the time for big concerts. While Reagan attempts to eliminate such vital elements of rock-n roll as free speech and drugs, America's youth may indeed be moving farther away from the reliance upon festival-style guitar orgies as a means of entertainment. The youth of today might really prefer to stay home and watch the 700 Club or get blitzed, or both, depending on one's orientation. If this is the case, the record industry shares the blame with the afore mentioned repressive regime. For whatever reason, a bad situation may be made even worse at WCU if the upcoming concert is not successful. Even ifyou are not a tremendous 38 Special fan, it may be worth buying a ticket to insure the future of similiar events at Western, for your sake and your children's sake. Barbara Rosenthal is the International Affairs Editor for The Western Carolinian. In order to better serve you we find it necessary to repeat that our deadline for articles and features is Friday at 5 p.m. for the next Thursday's issue of the newspaper. Thank you for your cooperation. Don't you Hate it when... Don't you hate it when you're in line at the bank, or Post Office and it seems as if everyone in front of you is taking 10minutes a-piece? Afterall.you'reonly getting a 22« stamp, right? Or how about when you're in line at a department store and are paying by check: the girl at the register looks down her nose at you as if you were scum, and she switches on the store P.A. system "Mister Mangle to register 6 - we have a person writing a check I" As the whole store stops in mid- beat and glares right at you (E.F. Hutton style), a battery of personal questions are fired at you. "We'll need to see five ID', including drivers license*, your bank account number, your home phone, your address, your age, height, weight, sexual preference mother's middle name, next of kin, credit history, and criminal record!" Man, they ask more questions than the SAT! Then she asks if you've ever vulcanized a check (you know, like bounce it)! You straighten up, and in your most authoritative voice exclaim: "I must have money in my account-1 still have blank checks left!" So, then you go to a fast food place for a rich, thick, chocolate milkshake. Have you ever noticed just how thick they are? I've seen people turn blue in the face trying to get that stuff up through the straw. Put the shake in the sun for a few hours. Maybe then you'll be able to drink it. You say to yourself "God, I've really got to go bad!"- the nearest public restroom is just a few feet away. Don't you hate those dispensers that give you one sheet at a time? (Heyfolks, I like plenty of paper, if you know what I mean!) Another thing that really is annoying is the pen that suddenly runs out of ink right in the middle of a 10-page essay test. Yeah I hate when that happens, Frankie. Naturally, the night before this 8:00am exam, your generous neighbor had a loud party 'til 4:30am. Nice of 'em huh? A really annoying occurance is running out of beer at ll:50 Saturday night. As you open your refrigerator to retrieve another brew, your face turns snow-white as you realize that all you've got left is the plastic thing which holds the cans together. But it doesn't stop there. Now you face the dilemma of staying home without beer until Monday, or getting killed while driving I05 mnh to the A&P before "Sunday Morning". Then, you drunkenly deduce that risking life and limb is worth throwing up the next day. So you get a $50.00 speeding ticket from your friendly neighborhood State Trooper, plus you fail the breath test (I told you not to eat those Jalapeno peppers)! Man I hate when that happens! Something that I REALLY hate is turning off the alarm clock and forgetting to wake up for classes. You end up having to place the clock in a remote place-like across the room with an obstacle course in between it and your bed to make sure you do wake up before you can turn if off. And remember, it only rains when your umbrella is back in the room. Mike Doerner is a staff writer and Photographer for The Western Carolinian. The WESTERN CAROLINIAN is looking for a few opinionated students to be regular contributors to its Perspectives page. Ifyou feel you have something to say on any issue that would be of interest to the student body and can do so in a regular and responsible manner, The WESTERN CAROLINIAN would welcome your contribution. You will be exposed to a readership of approximately 10,000 per week. Your photograph, name, and status will accompany your weekly column of approximately 500 words. Send resume plus sample editorial, and small black and white photo (if available) to: Perspectives/ The WESTERN CAROLINIAN/ P.O.Box 66/ Cullowhee, N. C. 28723 Or drop it off at the newspaper offices in the Old Student Union Building. The Student Voice... Do You Think the Western Carolina Should Care On Campus Crime? Mike Doerner photos Billy Adams Asheville, N.C. Physical Ed. "Yes! Because the students have a right to know what is happening on campus. It is our paper!" Kim Combs Waynesville, N.C. arly Childhood Ed. "Yes, because students need to know what is going on." Barry J. Ledford Kings Mtn., N.C. Graphic Design "People should know what's going on around W.C.U. so it's a good thing crime is covered." Neal Ann Reeves Leicester, N.C. Chemistry Graduate Student "Yes, with the proper knowledge of crime that is taking place, one will be able to take precautions that could prevent further crime." Amy Jackson CIS Burlington, N.C. "Yes, because the students should be aware of what's happening on campus." J

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: 1986-09-18
  • Date digitized: 2019-03-29
• Extent
  • Dimension: 22.75" x 15"
  • Pages: 16 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_1986-09-18_Vol52_No07
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library