• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1997-09-17_Vol63_No06_13

western ■• » arolmian Letters to the Editor... When men pledge... Pledging a fraternity is not only a four- or five-year commitment, but in the Sigma Chi fraternity it is a lifetime commitment. Sigma Chi fraternity has chapters all over the country, but all of the members are linked by a common bond. Sigma Chi is based upon friendship, justice and learning, and follows the path of the "White Cross" of Jesus Christ. When men pledge Sigma Chi they get the fulfillment of being associated with an international fraternity, and a fraternity that ranks near the top when it comes to other fraternities. Pledging Sigma Chi teaches you to work as a team with your pledge brothers, as well as how to carry yourself as a high-minded gentleman when in the presence of others. Sure pledging a fraternity takes a lot of time and dedication, but at the Kappa Gamma chapter of Sigma Chi at Western Carolina University, they require their pledges to attend study hours for two hours every Monday through Thursday. This is when the pledges are supposed to concentrate on nothing but their homework, and make up for the time that you will be spending doing various pledge activities. Sigma Chi has a lot of important alumni just like almost every other fraternity, but it seems as though the Sigma Chi celebrities stand out above the rest. Some of the alumni include late-night talk show host David Letterman and movie stars Brad Pitt, Tom Selleck, Woody Harrelson and "The Duke," John Wayne. Sigma Chi also has alumni that have various ties with the professional sports world. They include the owner of the NFL franchise Tennessee Oilers, Bud Adams, former Baltimore Orioles pitcher Jim Palmer, and head coach of the NFL franchise New Orleans Saints, Mike Ditka. No two members of any Sigma Chi chapter are exactly alike. That one characteristic is what sets Sigma Chi apart from other fraternities. Every chapter at every college consists of members that have different temperaments, talents and convictions. Pledges of Sigma Chi are taught in the very beginning of the pledgeship by the brothers and by the magister, the pledge trainer, to accept every pledge brother and fraternity brother for who they are and what mey believe in. 1 Pledged Sigma Chi fraternity in the spring of 1996. During my pledgeship at the Kappa Gamma chapter of Western Carolina mversity I learned how to handle pressure situations, and was taught how to get out of adverse situations thanks to the help of my pledge brothers. Looking back on my P'edge experience I think back on how that was by far the most fun semester that I've nad since I have been at Western. I met and 'earned to love 11 of the greatest guys that ever lived, and every day seemed to be ac- "on-packed with situations that would lead "S t0 ^coming great brothers of the Kappa ^amma chapter. Jason Alexander, president of the Kappa Gamma chapter, said, "The one thing that attracted me to Sigma Chi was the fact that when I came through rush I felt as though the brothers treated me as their equal. I felt as though I was someone who could contribute something to this chapter, and in the brother's eyes I felt that I wasn't just another freshman that could increase their numbers." If you see another brother anywhere you may go, you know that they are someone that you can confide in, and you can be proud to call them your brother. Greg Watts Sigma Chi Fraternity Wildlife vs. malls In today's world of ever expanding cities and diminishing countryside, it seems to be a race to see who can build the most parking lots or strip-shops. Bulldozers and chain saws relentlessly and effortlessly level anything green in the name of development. Lost among the severed trees and uprooted bushes are the homes of nature's wildlife and precious land that can never be replaced. So why should anyone care? After all we rejoice to learn that yet another Wal-Mart is being built or a bigger, better grocery store is going to occupy the forested field down the road. People fail to realize that once that land is cleared, once the foundation is laid, the landscape and natural habitat of many animal species is destroyed forever. Again you may say, so what? The animals can just relocate. Unfortunately with great emphasis being placed on big business and the search for the all-mighty dollar, companies are snatching up land everywhere to make room for their super-stores. Once-scenic towns are transformed into booming metropolises where the only sights left to see are dozens of fast-food restaurants where wildflowers and bermuda grass used to grow. This also means that America's wildlife species, from the mountain lion to the antelope, are forced to compete with cars and people. Imagine seeing a cougar sprint through your yard or a deer grazing on your luscious grass. This might be a common sight if their land and homes continue to get destroyed. The horrible truth may be that most species of wildlife will end up on the endangered list before the century is over—the victims of urbanization. So what exactly is the proposition? That there should be no more Wal-Marts or malls built? Not exactly. What must be practiced is developmental moderation and a universal understanding of just how important conservation is to our future. If we don't practice preservation the nation will erode into one great big New York City or Los Angeles, void of open, untouched land filled with nature's creatures, overflowing instead with interstates, high-rises and motor vehicles. Imagine not being able to take your family on a nature hike because there are no wilderness trails left. Imagine not being able to go camping because there are no woods left. Imagine having to read stories about the gray wolf or the bobcat in textbooks because there are none left in the wild to observe. This will be the sad reality if man continues to clear the land to build a bigger and better opinion&editorial Western Carolina University's Independent Student Voice 13 supercenter than his neighbor. So, now can conservation and preservation benefit us? After all, this seems to be the driving force. Well for one, conservation of the environment will preserve America's beauty—the rolling hills, scenic mountains and peaceful sand beaches. Conservation will keep our places of solace and tranquillity from being overcome with pollution and noise. Conservation will also give our future generations a chance to learn about wildlife and appreciate the outdoors without having to read about how it used to be. Once the land and animals are destroyed, they are gone forever, and with them disappears America's best asset. Molly Spindle Cash on hand To eat or not to eat, that is the question. Actually the question is, can I afford to eat? Many students complain of high prices and small selection at our fine eating establishments on campus. Along with high prices of school supplies at the university bookstore, many students (especially freshmen) are crying of a unfair monopoly WCU has placed on their wallet. The number one place students have a problem with is Chick-fil-A. Through a price comparison with a few other Chick-fil-A restaurants in North Carolina, a slight increase of prices is noticed in a lot of the store's products. The Taco Bell establishment at WCU also has jacked up prices in comparison with other N.C. locations, with an outstanding average of a $0.80 increase for a Beef Burrito. Pizza Inn also has higher prices at WCU than other locations. We as college students cannot afford to pay through the nose to eat. Each student living on campus is required to pay for a meal plan. You have two basic choices: the Flex plan with some declining balance or declining balance. Numerous students I talked to on the Flex plan have used their declining balance already; one used it up in only five days. This means students have to worry if they will be able to eat near the end of the semester, next month, or next week. The prices are the major reason for worry. Sure, we have the problem of students not budgeting their money. Well, it would be easier to do that if there was not such a big monopoly on the WCU campus. One student said, "This is one of the only campuses that I know of that can actually make a fortune on the prices of their foods." This can take place because there is a very large problem with eating off campus. The students have no choice but to pay the outstanding prices. This is wrong. The prices should be the same as, if not lower than, those of off-campus dining. There are discounts offered to college students on a lot of things from phone cards to airline tickets; why not give us a break from paying so much for food? That's all that the students ask for. These high prices of food and school supplies, along with talks of freshmen being required to bring computers, makes some think that WCU is becoming a school for the rich elite. Is it? Matthew Ellersick /Give it away You ever had one of those days when the whole big old world felt like it was falling down all around you and you couldn't find a place to hide. Oh you have, aye? Does walking from Mckee to Killian feel like a marathon? Are you now in a place where you feel there is no where to run and that night just will not come soon enough? Was it because you got behind in your studies? Got left out in the cold thanks to some sick relationship? Or was it because you can't handle this little vacation called "the college years." How have you chosen to resolve this little nagging issue of self pity: stay drunk for a day or two, call some porn lines, drop a few classes? Hey, I've got the answer bud. This little piece of advice will, in essence, cure all of your ills and possibly in time cause you to quit staring at the ground in search of solace. You ready? Here goes— don't take yourself and your station in life so seriously. In the big picture you ain't that important. You hang on to all that self- centered fear and your going to find yourself under the stairwell. Here's the sure-fire way to lighten your load, carry some one else's. Simply, be a friend, man! Believe me, the earth could stand all the kindness you can share. V The editor dude j Terry K. Roberts, Editor Earle Wheeler, Production; Tracy Hart, Copy; Stacey Ruiz, Assoc. Copy, Seth R. Sams, Photography; Chad Leake, Advertising; Lee Ann Gibson, Office James Buclcy Carter, News; Phoebe Esmon, Features; Brian Postelle, Assoc. Features; Donald Costello, Sports; Daniel Hooker, Assoc. Sports John Moore, Advisor Contributing Writers: Ricky Lee, Jerylia Kodia, Alex "Movie Guy" Esmon, Briggs Gilliam, Michael Peoples, Trainwreck jdErrt union. Phone, 227-7267; Fax, 227-7043; e-mail, carolinian@wcu.edu Open 8 a.m.-2 p.m. M&F; 2 p.m.-5 p.m. T&R: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday. Staff meetings are held at 9 p.m. Wednesday evenings. The Carolinian welcomes letters from its readers. Letters printed contain the expressions and values of their authors. The Watern Carolinian reserves the right to refuse publication of letters containing defamatory statements or obscenities. All entries must be signed and no longer than 250 words. Mail letters to PO Box 66, Cullowhee, NC, 28723, or e-mail your comments to carolinian(?wcu.edu. All e- mail and letters should read ATTENTION: LETTER TO THE EDITOR.

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: 1997-09-17
  • Date digitized: 2020-01-13
• Extent
  • Dimension: 14" x 11.25"
  • Pages: 16 pages
• Subject - Topic
  • College student newspapers and periodicals
  • Cullowhee (N.C.) -- Newspapers
  • Universities and colleges -- North Carolina -- Cullowhee -- Newspapers
  • Western Carolina University -- Periodicals
• Location
  • Jackson County (N.C.)
  • Cullowhee (N.C.)
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Source Collection
  • WCU Students Newspapers Collection
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1997-09-17_Vol63_No06
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library