• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1992-10-01_Vol58_No08_03

Volume 58 Number 8 Voices The Western Carolinian Page 3 Thursday. October 1. 1992 Letters to the Editor Laura L. Adams Editor-in-Chief Dear Unabashed Honors Students: First of all, I would like to thank you for writing your letter and submitting it for publication. Most students who are displeased with their student newspaper don't find the time or energy to express themselves so thoroughly. Also, I can appreciate the fact that you are upset about the accusations made in the editorial we printed last week. However, I feel that your anger is misdirected. It seems that you don't quite understand the purpose of the editorial page. Any student has the right to send in Voices material, so that his/her opinion can be heard. The Western Carolinian reserves the right to screen and/or refuse to print any portion of any letter submitted for publication. We also print a disclaimer on that page because the opinions expressed there are not necessarily those of our staff or Western Carolina University. The Voices page was created to allow students to express their opinions, not facts. The person who wrote the letter about the Honors Program voiced her opinion, and there was no reason to contact the Honors program to question the letter's reliability. It is not the responsibility of the press to judge the reliability of an opinion. You asked why you weren't given the chance to respond in the same issue. No single person or group has that opportunity. It is not an accepted practice in the field of journalism. Besides, calling each person represented in editorials to find out if they want to write a rebuttal would be an administrative nightmare. You have been given the opportunity to respond to last week's letter in the same manner as any other student or group. This cannot be considered a "cheap shot" since this system is the common practice at The Western Carolinian. Favoritism isn't practiced at TWC. Your letter was printed in its entirely, even though it was submitted three days after the copy deadline. I think I have been fair. Drinking milk can reduce heart disease Dear Editor: Food-related health scares and bad advice contained in studies published in various publications have been very harmful to agriculture. It is therefore refreshing to hear about a 10-year study involving middle-aged men which has linked drinking milk with a reduction in heart disease. The results of the study, Honor students voice themselves in anger Dear Editor, We, of the University Honors Council, feel compelled to respond to a letter published in your Voices column on Thursday, Sept. 24, 1992. The unsigned letter was published under the heading "Student disappointed by honors students." Before we begin we would like to say Uiat we identify the person who signed the letter "An Angry Honors Student" as Colleen Kelly, and we can—on demand—exhibit proof in the form of witnesses and departmental records that Colleen is indeed the author of the letter or at least the referent of the signature. We also contend that Colleen's statements printed in The Western Carolinian were largely and almost completely false — if not altogether ludicrous — and we can present — on demand—proof also in the form of witnesses and departmental records. Esteemed Editor, this response to Colleen's letter intends to do three things: (1) to establish to the University at large that Colleen was wrong in her assertions; (2) to extend our apologies to Colleen for her anger with the Program; and (3) to express to Colleen that we hope she will — after reading this letter — drop the whole affair. On to Colleen's letter. Colleen says, "I chose to leave my job after a small misunderstanding..." Yes, well, this misunderstanding was not quite as small as Colleen would have you believe. Here in the Honors Program we worked long and hard to get ourselves a Macintosh to help with our office work. Once upon a time, we had around two hundred Honors students and no computer to help with the office work that a program of that size would generate. A few semesters ago this computer was stolen. We have since recovered the computer, but we have become very cautious about leaving our office unguarded. Now, it was Colleen's job to keep the Honors Office open from five until nine-fifteen and make sure anyone had access — except would-be thieves. We have, however, at least four students who together witnessed Colleen leave her job at seven-thirty to seven-forty five on two separate nights, leaving the Honors Office in the hands of students. Colleen was the one responsible for the Honors Office, and she simply left her job. A student worker—who is earning money from the state trust—is in no way different from any other worker and is responsible for her assigned hours. The Honors Office secretary, after learning that Colleen was not fulfilling her responsibilities, very politely asked Colleen to come and talk with her so Uiat other arrangements could be made. There "Z-91's music: behind times" Dear Editor, Like most people my age, I am a huge music fan. After reading the letter published in viewpoint on Sept. 24,1 felt I needed to voice my opinion also. The issue addressed was the variety of music played on Z-91. This is the only radio station that I can receive well. After many hours of listening, I came to the conclusion that Z-91 is really behind the times when it comes to music. Ninety percent of the music played is yourhigh-school bubble gum pop music, and eighty percent of that is played over and overagain. I agree with last week's letter - that we need more variety. I love all kinds of music, but I would really like to hear more alternative music on the airwaves. Most of the people that I have talked to on campus have liked the alternative music that they have been exposed to, such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers and R.E.M. Just as the blues started in Memphis, jazz in New Orleans and country in Nashville, alternative music has a home - the college campuses all over America. Their bands started playing on college campuses and many campuses have a radio station devoted entirely to alternative music. The classroom is only part of the college experience. College is a place to learn and experience new things in and out of the classroom. It is a place to open and expand the mind. Why should we be constantly subjected to the same type of music that we have listened to all our lives? Z-91 is still a child when it comes to music maturity. I am not trying to rag on Z- 91,1 only want to have a little more variety on the radio station that is partly paid for with my money. I know that I am speaking for many other students as well, and I invite them to voice their opinions also. I would like to challenge Z-91 to expand their selection of music played. I believe one hour a night (even late night would be o.k.) of alternative music would be better than nothing. Come on, wake up Z- 91. Sincerely, Chase Spencer Wavy Dave criticizes Officer Hall Dear Editor: Greetings WCU, I was sorry to see that you ran Wavy Dave's article during the summer when most students were not here. I'd like to let you everyone here hear about our local drug task force, Smokey Mountain United Narcotics Unit. As reported in The Sylva Herald, Thursday July 30, 1992, Smokey Mountain United Narcotics Task Force, has been court-ordered closed pending a full investigation. Officer David Hall, head Nazi for smuntf, failed to maintain any records of investigations, finances, or evidence siezed. Officer Hall kept siezed evidence and property for personal consumption and profit. Officer David Hall has a widespread reputation in Western North Carolina as a dangerous coke fiend. Officer Hall has used his badge and gun to terrorize innocent citizens (including WCU students) in his sadistic attempts to maintain a supply of pot and coke. With complete disregard for law and procedure, there was no limit to David Halls actions. Entrapment, vio lence, warrantless searches, and perjury were some of his techniques. Officer David Hall has illegally sent people to prison, stolen citizen's homes, children, and gardens. This madness must cease to continue. Arresting students for harmless possession of marijuana during warrantless searches (last football game) conducted by WCU police is immoral and unnecessary. We the people need to learn to "Just Say No." Sincerely, Wavy Dave New law is victory for agriculture Dear Editor: Violent and destructive acts committed against animal research and production facilities are federal crimes now that Congress has approved, and the president signed into law, the Farm Animal and Research Facilities Protection Act. The legislation was in response to the growing number of incidents of damage inflicted on U.S. farms, ranches and agricultural and biomedical laboratories by so-called "direct action" and "radical" action groups. "We must provide federal safeguards to the men and women who work in the research field and in this nation's food production sys tem," according to Congressman Charles W. Stenholm of Texas, chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry, who introduced the legislation in the House of Representatives. Senator Howell Hclfin of Alabama, who obtained Senate passage, said research utilizing laboratory animals has led to many of medical history's most significant breakthroughs. "These animals are used only when necessary and should be housed, handled and treated humanely. Unfortunately, there are some people so opposed to the use of animals in essential research or food production that they are setting fire to animal enterprise facilitiesorbreaking into labo ratories to steal animals and destroy equipment, records and research data. The real price of these types of crimes are paid by all those who are waiting for cures and treatment for their afflictions." The act also offers protection to zoos, aquariums and lawful competitive animal events, such as 4-H livestock shows, rodeos, fairs or similar events intended to advance agricultural arts and sciences. The new law is considered an important victory for agriculture and sends a strong message to animal rights extremists that Congress will not put up with terrorist activities. Sincerely, W.B. Jenkins which was conducted in F.ngland, suggests that men who drank one pint of milk per day were 10 times less likely to experience a heart attack than men who drank no milk at all. The study, which began in 1980, asked 4,200 middle-aged men, all more than 50 years old, to keep track of their daily consumption of 20 different foods. The type of milk consumed didn't seem to make any difference. Study participants drank whole milk, 2% fat, 1 % fat and skim. According to this research, the popular myth that their is a correlation between dairy products and heart disease does not exist. In fact, quite the opposite is true. Dr. Peter Elwood, the project leader says, "The evidence points clearly to the beneficial effects of milk in combating heart disease." were no hard feelings. The secretary believed that simply switching Colleen's hours to a more convenient time for Colleen would solve the problem. However, when asked to talk about this "small misunderstanding," Colleen became adversarial and confrontational beyond all acceptable behavior. She actually began raising her voice and yelling at die secretary who was only doing her job and trying to help Colleen adjust to a better time schedule. Colleen obviously felt guilty and caught in the wrong and tried to escape in the only manner she knew of: a temper tantrum. There were no less than seven witnesses to Colleen's outburst, and it was quite sad. NoUiing more will be said of it. Colleen says in her letter that the Honors students in the Honors Office are "human monsters and gossips" who "started mumbling tilings about 'Uiat girl.'" We have a very understanding, helpful, and competent secretary in the Honors Office. Many of us feel very fortunate to have her with us, and again many of us who witnessed Colleen's outrageous outburst felt very enraged at her treatment of our secretary. In short, we did feel very angry at Colleen, and we did talk about it among ourselves — but we were altogether justified and feel no shame. Colleen was an "outsider" to the people in the Honors Office not because she did not fit into the Honors "clique" — as she says — but she was an "outsider" because she made herself an "outsider" with AnoUier remarkable finding in the research revealed that eating butter appeared to protect against heart disease. Men in the study who ate margarine suffered twice as many heart attacks as those who ate butter. The lack of a connection between milk fat and heart disease demonstrates mat milk is not only good for teeth and bones, but it's a heart-healthy food too. her rude and outrageous behavior. Now, we are all very sad about the "small misunderstanding" involving Colleen. Never has a student worker been fired from the program, and we chose to keep it Uiat way. We had hoped by letting her quit on her own accord Uiat she would salvage some dignity and go on to anoUier job. We had every right — as informed by Financial Aid — to discharge Colleen outright, but we let HER make the decision to leave and forget. She let this opportunity slip away, however, by submitting nothing more man outright, slanderous lies to the . Western Carolinian. Colleen , we . are very sorry for you; please, do not make matters worse for yourself; drop Uiis whole episode. And our dear esteemed editor, we have one last thing to add: we all Uiought here in the Program mat it was the responsibility of the press to print signed letters that could be corroborated. Why did you not contact the program and question the reliability of Colleen's letter? Why did you not give us a chance to respond in die same issue? Was it some sort of cheap shot at Honors? This is nothing more than incompetence and deserves legal action. Yours faithfully, The Unabashed Honors Students, Darrin Griggs, Holly M. Paar, Keith Stiles, Melissa Saltz, Roger Hannah, Kevin Holland, Patricia Jaeckel Hours for The Western Carolinian 9 am to 4 pm Monday thru Friday The Western Carolinian student newspaper is located in the Old Student Union Building next to the Moore Building. Office personnel are available from 9 am to 4 pm and can be reached at 227-7267. The Western Carolinian welcomes editorial input from students, faculty, and stuff on matters of public interest. Please address correspondence to: Voices P.O. Box 66 CuUowhee.NC 28723 All submissions will be considered, but The Western Carolinian reserves the right to refuse publication of offensive or otherwise unsuitable material. Tbe Carolinian is not responsible for opinions expressed on the Editorial Page. [T/te 'Western CaroCinian) Western Carolina University The Old Student Union P.O. Box 66 Cullowhee, NC 28723 Laura L. Adams Editor-in-Chief Assistant Editor Danell Moses Associate Editors Melissa Richardson - News Ellen Furey - Copy Derek Smolik - Sports Photographers Robb Hill Mark Mitchell Typesetters Angie Gray Jonathan Patty Jeff Williams Freda Woodard Layout & Design Stephanie Messer Rachel Ramsey Caroline Roper Office Manager Joe Branson Advertising Christa Humphrey Roger McGee V. Advisor John Moore Writers Cheryl Cheney Lori Deal Jeff DeMoe David Driscoll Tom Durham James Gray Grant Hunsucker Jennifer Mann Jon Mayhew Bob McCanless Dave McCaskill Misty Lynne Miller I layley Nicholas Milt O'Dell Amy Sceley Russell Smith Colleen Vasconcellos Daniel Warlick Michelle Watterson Joe Whitehead Administrative Asst. Tammy Casto Distribution Chris Henley. 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: 1992-10-01
  • Date digitized: 2019-10-09
• Extent
  • Dimension: 22.75" x 14.25"
  • 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_1992-10-01_Vol58_No08
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library