CAPITAL TIMES, October 4, 1989
From the editor's desk...
Who's minding the store?
Recently, I had the displeasure of going before the SGA Finance
Committee to discuss the budget process and the cut in funding that the
Capital Times and other clubs are suffering this year. I say displeasure
because the discussion was not much of a discussion at all. Instead of
finding open minded people who understand the needs of students, for
the most part, I found deaf ears.
The appeal process of the SGA Finance Committee is anything but
that. Before I got my chance to to "appeal" to the committee on behalf of
the students' newspaper, I had the opportunity to watch the Committee's
arrogance work on the station manager of WPSH.
I found it disgusting the way some of the members of that committee
talked down to a fellow student. I cannot ever remember talking to my
children in such a manner.
Just as I had suspected I got no where in trying to explain to the
members of the committee that I was not asking them to hand out money
that does not exist; I merely want them to do the same thing that they
expect the clubs to do - produce a budget based on anticipated revenues.
But regardless of how many times I explained myself, some members
insisted that I wanted them to hand out non-existent money.
The deaf ears of the committee managed to carry the charade over to
the SGA forum, which I understood to be a chance to discuss problems
with the entire student government. Not only did some members of that
committee continue to misinterpret my words, despite numerous pleas to
the contrary, they displayed the same arrogance they had displayed in the
earlier meeting.
The sad part is that the rest of the student government members there
allowed them to continue their games. One SGA member even admitted
that she knew little of the details of individual clubs' budgets. Are we to
assume that SGA votes on the Finance Committee's recommendations
purely on blind faith? Or are we to assume that the Finance Committee's
recommendations are rubber stamped?
Serving on SGA is not a right, but a privilege extended to members by
the student body that elected them to office: 'This' same student body has
the right to know how SGA intends to spend money that it expects to
receive. Some members of the Finance Committe act like they don't
understand this basic principal of representative government. Either that
or they choose to ignore it.
Such arrogance and pomposity should not be tolerated. The members
of the Finance Committee are students just like the rest of us. Sure, they
have a responsibility that many students would not want, but they chose
it. And if any one of them feels that he or she can not come down to
Earth with the rest of us, then maybe the time has come for replacements.
A newspaper for the student body
( Capita Times -)
Editor in chief ... Nathan Lee Gadsden
News Editor ... John Garvey
Photography/Graphics Editor ... Denina C. Benson
Sports Editor ... Hank Rappold
Production Manager ... John Yagecic
Business/Advertising Mariager . Sondra Kinsey
Adviser ... Dr. Peter Parisi
Staff--Amy Blinn, David Blymire, Jenny Cahill, Richard Chiavetta, Scott Demko,
Jon Fleck, Penny McDonald, Karen Peiffer, Derrick Stokes, Mary Lee Schnable,
Melissa Stuff, Mary Jane Thompson
-
The Capital Times is pusblished by the students of Penn State Harrisburg. Concerns regarding the
content of any issue should be directed to the editor In room W-337 of the Olmsted building or by
calling 944-4970. Opinions expressed are those of the author and are not representative of the
college administration, faculty or student body. The Capital Times welcomes signed letters from readers
Unsigned letters cannot be printed; however, a writer's name may be withheld upon request.
The Capital Times does not endorse its advertisers.
OPINIONS
Nathan Lee Gadsden
Editor in Chief
Letters to the editor...
Flapping in the wind?
Dear Editor
Editor Nathan Lee Gadsden recently
expressed his regrets about the American
people's apparent outrage regarding flag
desecration and apparent lack of concern
regarding what he termed "human
desecration." I agree. Although it is not
only our citizens who appear apathetic
about the ills of America while readily
running under cover of the flag to
demonstrate their allegiance and
conscientiousness. Americans have
acquired this strategy under the skillful
guidance and expertise of many of our
political and religious leaders.
During the republican presidential
campaign, Lee Atwater used the flag as a
way to direct focus away from issues of
heightening racism, union busting,
homelessness, CIA drug smuggling and
the Iran-Contra cover up. Instead of
widespread media condemnation for
President Bush's fascist apologists, anti-
Semites and Nazi campaign connections,
what seemed more newsworthy - were
rumors that his opponent's wife had
burned the flag and the Pledge of
Allegiance.
President Bush tried to amend the
constitution to overturn the recent
Supreme Court ruling regarding flag
burning. He and most of society find flag
burning offensive, agreeing with the Texas
law that the flag is a "venerated object in
need of protection."
Yet what one chooses to venerate is a
private affair, according to our U.S.
Constitution. To some, idolizing any
symbol is offensive. In our democracy,
we citizens have the right to think or
express ideas that may be offensive to
others. It is ironic that the president
places a higher value on the symbol than
on the less tangible freedom of expression
that the flag represents.
The hypocrisy further lies in what is
considered offense and abuse of the
American symbol. During the McCarthy
era, placing a flag decal on your car could
be used as a way to "prove" you were not
a communist. Jerry Falwell used flag
decals and lapel pins to raise money for
his- ultra-conservative organization and to
try to "prove" his moral and religious
superiority. Oliver North has used the
flag to raise funds to support his
reactionary causes, to gain him sympathy
and as "evidence" of his loyalty. George
Bush has used the flag as a political tool
for the past two years, this time diverting
attention from civil rights abuses, the
Savings and Loan debacle, ecological
indifference, rising poverty and illiteracy,
the ever-unfolding HUD scandal and
increasing racial violence. What better
way to prove his presidential effectiveness
than to cloak himself in the banner which
too many have used to confirm their false
sense of patriotism? No wonder
Americans can easily misplace their sense
of loyalty and concern.
Be cautious, America. The Reverend
Jesse Jackson once said,"They want you to
keep looking up at flag poles while they
cut your legs out from under you."
They like
Dear Editor:
I want to help you stop running those
"stupid question marks in the next issue"
of the Capital Times by writing this letter
(in 200 words or less) to congratulate you
and the staff for the quality of this year's
student newspaper.
A college newspaper is the voice of the
campus community. When the paper is
good, it brings news and informatiod,
helps students and faculty face important
issues, adds humor to the sometimes
humdrum routine of academic life,
Mote LETTERS .on next page
7)moiii4C4m .
Carolyn Arcuri
it!!!