• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_2000-10-11_Vol65_No08_06

WESTERN CAROLINIAN LETTERS TO THE EDITOR October 11, 2000 f Floridian or Floridiot, that is the Question Dear Editor, I have recently spoken with a good number of people from Florida. It seems that they are very concerned about what they are called, Floridiots. I hope that this letter will shed a new light on an old problem. I was born in this state but spent most of my teenage and adult life in Florida. When I moved back here I heard all the talk about Floridians but I didn't pay much attention, until the last few years. Being from here originally I guess I felt they weren't addressing me. I started listening and decided there wasn't any foundation for the nickname given to them. Most of the people gripped about the way they drive, very slow. I myself became un-nerved being behind slow drivers. Also people complain that they pull out in front of you, I have witnessed this, and it can get on your nerves. Now let's examine these two complaints. I spend a lot time in Florida now and I can give you first hand knowledge for their driving slow. It is a fact that it isn't uncommon for them to get a ticket for doing 5 miles an hour over the speed limit. Friends of mine showed me theirs. It is also a fact that they get tickets for speeds they didn't do. If this happened to me in a place where I called home, I would certainly be even more careful in a place where I didn't know people. As far as the pulling out in front of me, I have had this happen by as many native North Carolinians as out of staters. And just as many drive slow. I believe this cancels a reason there to call them Floridiots. When I drive in Florida I never have anyone cussing me or trying to run over me just because I am from out of state. Another reason they are called that horrible name is they are acused of being cheats in their business dealings. Always trying to dicker prices way down. Here is my experiences. Both local and Floridian. I truly have to say that every one that I dealt with from Florida was fair with me. Never was I beaten out of a dime from them. The locals are another story. Everytime that I give an estimate to one of them, they ask me to drop my prices. Some even cheated me out of time, what makes them any different that the ones they say do the same thing? One local contracter beat me out of 800 dollars, but yet he was one of the worst to condemn Floridians. What this letter is meant to do is show everyone, that the ones that condemn someone the most, is most likely just as guilty as the one they judge. Floridians pay our bills by building homes, buying our wares and taxes on their homes. Without them their wouldn't be enough building to keep this county going. When I work in Florida I am treated with respect and I never hear anything about people from other states. We get along fine. People keep their business to themselves, which I find refreshing. I don't have to worry about what someone thinks of me. People are just acting on years of programming from their older generations. I myself apologize for the attitude and the fact that Floridians are called Floridiots. As far as I'm concerned, your bringing work here is appreciated by me. I'm certain in time people will start seeing what they do to one another. It seems that all the world wants to do is profit from some elses labor and tell tales on someone. We really need to see the need of our fellow man if this planet is to exist further. I put off writing this letter, until I ran into a girl at WCU crying because she was called a Floridiot, by people that didn't even no her. Conrad Anthony Student Speaks His Mind About Review Committee Scared to Death of the Sox Dear Editor, Two lessons learned in the Costello household were "Don't talk to strangers," and "Don't never, ever go to Comiskey Park," the home of the Chicago White Sox. We are Cubbie born, Cubbie bred, and when we die, we'll be Cubbie dead. No exceptions. In the Costello lexicon, Comiskey Park is synonymous with communist China and the neighborhood surrounding this toilet bowl of a stadium eerily resembles Beirut without the civility. Venturing to this part of the city, for me, is risking my stake in family inheritance and my life. Well, the Teflon Don need not worry about this. After all, I'm teflon—or so I thought. And my love for the Cubs is as strong as my distaste for all things Bardo and Appalachian State. Nevertheless. I found myself at Game One of the American League Division Series between the Sox—suck—and the Mariners. It was indeed heresy and treason. My punishment was coming. Upon leaving this sterilized baseball environment after Seattle drubbed the Sox, my comrade—the Sox fan—and I had to venture back to his car. Enter Beirut. Four police officers rested under the viaduct over 35th Street in front of Comiskey Park. On the other side of the viaduct stands the Stateway Gardens housing project—one of the most notorious public housing developments in the nation. "You can't go this way," said one officer. "They are SHOOTING!" Shooting? Comrade's car is over there.Put on your gear men. We're going in.Comrade and I proceeded on the other side of the street in the general direction of his car. It was safe, or so we thought. The first two blocks had myriad policemen directing ballgame traffic. Two blocks later...Five minutes after leaving the pink ballmall that is Comiskey, someone who lives in the 'hood adjacent to Comiskey expressed his desire for me to stay away from this forsaken part of the city forever. Something on my forehead must have read "Cubs fan." Then I realized he was talking to comrade as well. Affiliations in terms of baseball are moot in these parts. "Don't come around here no more," the voice yelled from behind us—not in the same manner Tom Petty uttered this familiar phrase, but rather raspy after years of whiskey consumption,and probably some hard time. Our pace quickened as we did our best speed-walking back to his car, trying not to look too pale. Parked on a side street without illumination was comrade's car. Free at last. Free at last. Well, except for those two guys leaning on the car in front of his. Their greeting wasn't one of South Side hospitality. We live to see another day. At Game 2 of the Division Series—I was pressing my luck—comrade asked if I thanked the man upstairs for getting us out alive the night before. "Why thank him?," I responded. "He forsake us yesterday. It was luck that guided us to one more day of life." My punishment had been issued in a not- so-subtle way. My mind was treating me like a four-year old, "Don't talk to strangers. Don't go to Comiskey Park." Don Costello Dear Editor, Our University is in a sad state of affairs. We as present and future students are being robbed of important educational choices. The Program Review Committee has decided that certain major programs have "no locational or comparative advantage", and should be removed. While my ire is provoked by this plan to cancel these programs (math, physics, economics, geography, foreign language, and philosophy), my specific complaint involves philosophy. The Review Committee argues that philosophy has had sparse enrollment in the past few years and that there is a low demand for philosophy graduates. This is what is meant by "no locational or comparative advantage". I would wager that the people who made that statement have no idea what philosophy is about or what its advantages are. In fact last week one of my other teachers posed this question to the class: "What good is philosophy?" It is just this sort of ignorance that is problematic. Philosophy teaches in-depth, critical thinking, reasoning and problem solving. What could be better for a college student or graduate than to learn how to think more precisely? Isn't that what we students constantly hear? Think critically, reason outside "the box". This is the mission of philosophy. But let's not forget that (according to the committee) there is no comparative advantage here. Instead of asking the right questions and looking for the true dilemma (another philosophical teaching), I fear that the Program Review Committee is erroneously looking at one particular aspect regarding these major programs: how are they economically beneficial? Since when did we cease to be Western Carolina University and begin reduction to the level of a third rate tech school?! When I think of a University, I think of a place where all manners of subjects are taught. If job training is sought, try tech schools or the Job Corps or correspondence courses. Contrary to what some believe, a Liberal Arts education is meant to be broad and encompassing. And further, is this not part of WCU's purpose? To "create a community of scholarship in which the activities of its members are consistent with the highest standards of knowledge."? Removing philosophy is pretty far from attaining the "highest standards of knowledge". It is in fact the direct opposite. Perhaps next the Committee will decide that the University mission should be changed. Here is something else to consider. Even if the majors are deleted, some surviving introductory level classes will be left. The outstanding faculty members who teach these courses aren't going to stay around to merely teach intro courses. They will find more lucrative jobs and part time teachers will be hired. But guess what that does? Saves money! WCU is being governed like an ill-managed business. This committee is only about cutting corners and saving a buck. Although I would like to say more I have but a few closing questions for every student reading this: do you like the fact that people are toying with your education? Depriving you and me of a quality curriculum? Limiting what we can do? My questions may say that I am angry. Well that is wrong. I am outraged. Someone should be...we all should be. Learn more about this problem and talk to others. Talk to your teachers, your advisors, your SGA representatives and your friends. Contact the chancellor and let him know that this is absurd! Rich Brewer Phone: 227- AROLIN1A -267. I 43 • e-mail: caroIinian<;'1wcu.e< P.O. Box 66 • Cullowhee, NC 28723 Seth R. Sams. Editor-in-Chief Alex Esmon. Managing Editor Samantha Helms. Asst. News Editor NicAole Hardy, Web Editor na„i,l Hooker, Sports Editor H 7V,T^'0' Uym,t M,mr ^vid Bartholomew Asst. Sport, Ed.ror Holly Rhodarmer, Features Editor A||ison „inson, Copy Editor Jenm Barrels, Asst. Features Editor Josh Doub, Photographer Uura Hyatt. Advertising Manager Hijalbrth Barnes, Photographer Mat. Short, Asst Advertising Manager Mirand, Hyde, Office Manager Dawn Pasley, News Editor * M"""',<,hnme M"W' E* Newsome, Mike Poston. Carol Rhinehart. M.u Kog.rs, Arune Sec" John Moore, Advisor arolinian.om

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: 2000-10-11
  • Date digitized: 2020-02-27
• Extent
  • Dimension: 14" x 11.25"
  • Pages: 20 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_2000-10-11_Vol65_No08
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library