Opinions

A Fitting Flair-Well
By Paul Meloun

On most college campuses across the country, it isn’t hard to find a sports fan. Whether the school is known for its own athletcs or its student body loves to support teams from another school or professional circuit, there always seems to be a healthy spirit of competition that conflicts with study schedules and drives alcohol sales.
With no athletic teams at Macon State College to support, many students have turned to another form of sporting entertainment in professional wrestling.

In many ways, professional wrestling can be the perfect sport to follow. With bigger-than-life characters that don’t take an annoying backseat to team spirit, it’s easier to become a lifelong fan of someone and follow their career, wherever it may take them.

The match outcomes are predetermined, so fans aren’t necessarily stuck pulling for a perennial loser. Best of all, if a bout is boring the fans to tears, the person in charge pulls the plug on it and starts the next fight.

A few guys have been so good at pro-wrestling that their fame has transcended the sport and spilled over into popular culture. Hulk Hogan, the Rock and “Macho Man” Randy Savage come to mind as prime examples. The most impressive example would probably go to the “Nature Boy” Ric Flair. He may not be the most famous of the group, but all his fame can be attributed to his work in the wrestling industry.

Hogan had movies and TV series to help him, the Rock is now a full-time movie star and Savage was a long-time spokesman for Slim Jim. Flair was “just a pro-wrestler,” though.

Whether hardcore fans of the sport, or casual viewers who think of it merely as a male soap opera, almost everyone is sure to have heard of the “wheelin’, dealin’, kiss-stealin’, limousine-ridin’, jet-flyin’ son of a gun.” The last Sunday in March, at the 24th edition of Wrestlemania, the curtain fell on his nearly 40-year career at the ripe old age of 59.

Wrestlemania is the Super Bowl-caliber event of the wrestling world. Filled with celebrity guests, a hall-of-fame ceremony, epic matches and fanfare that would make Barnum and Bailey envious, the Wrestlemania weekend is, without parallel, the biggest event of the wrestling world. Fittingly, one of its biggest and most respected stars wrestled his last match at that show.
He wrestled for the better part of half a century, and he is pushing senior citizenship. But he could still entertain, often better than the up-and-comers that are more than half his age.Many fans would be hard-pressed to say they won’t miss him, although Flair is well past his athletic prime.
Flair’s cool, rich-and-famous persona made him the envy of all who watched him, including his peers.
His catchphrases, especially the hallmark “to be the man, you have to beat the man,” are repeated in and out of the wrestling world. Even his battle cry of “woo” can be heard at sporting events across the country.
Appropriately, all that and so much more earned “Naitch” the unique distinction of being the first-ever active wrestler inducted into the hall-of-fame.

He also got the extremely rare honor of being given a formal sendoff on national television; something Hogan, the Rock, and Savage can’t even claim.
If professional wrestling had its own Seven Wonders, Ric Flair. would certainly be one.
Perhaps he is anyway.

MSC needs
designated smoking areas

By Sheldon Brown
MSC Student

I read your article from the October 29 issue of the Matrix, “Fetuses have rights too.” I would not say that smokers should not be allowed to smoke while at MSC, but I think they should be a designated smoking zone for smokers. I am a non-smoker myself and I do not like the smell of the smoke more than any other non-smoker. It is aggravating to go into any of the buildings to and have to walk through a cloud of smoke before entering the building. I have lived with a smoker for twenty-nine years and I will be glad when I do not have to any more.

As far as the pregnant female that had the complaint about the smoking outside of the Humanities building, I would like to say I am truly sorry you have to walk through a cloud of smoke just to go to your class. That goes to all the pregnant females.

What can I do to help MSC get a designated smoking zone? I am willing to help any way I can.

I do have one more comment to make about this matter. This comment goes to Kenny Logan. He wrote, “Until you take responsibility for what you buy and put into your own body, don’t go after people who smoke just because the smoke might get in your face by accident.” There is only one problem I see with that comment and it is this: If we want to harm my body, then let us do it. We do not need anyone else to do it for us. The smokers are harming their body and the people that has to inhale the smoke and even an unborn child. If we buy a drink, how are we harming anyone else? We don’t; however, a smoker does.

Sheldon Brown

Volunteer at the Macon Rescue Mission

By Bri Shubert
Managing Editor

Macon State’s Women Students Association volunteers with the Macon Rescue Mission and urges other MSC students to get involved.
The Macon Rescue Mission has been serving Middle Georgia for over 50 years.Orginally, the Mission was a place to house and help homeless men but it now includes a women’s program as well and the new director of the women’s program says 2008 will be the best time to help out.
The Mission is a Christian organization that also helps out the elderly and handicapped in the community. They provide counseling and AA meetings.
Residents also work at the organization’s thrift shop to learn job skills for when they leave. Since there is a thrift store, the Mission raises their own money for programs, but 50 percent comes from donations.
The women’s program, which helps women and their children who are victims of domestic violence, is being revamped this January. Because of this, there are many ways you can help out.
If you are interested in donating your time in any capacity, please contact WSA’s president Kristen Thompson at kurtc360@aol.com. Donations are also sorely needed, especially diapers, bottles and socks.

Reasonable accomodations:

Help or hindrance?

My disease is not a handicap

By Walter Perry

Webmaster

I look just like everyone else. But looks can be deceiving. I have a disease you cannot see when you look at me. I have a hidden disease. I have diabetes. When other people look at me, they can not see how diabetes controls my judgments, my moods, my actions and my grades. Recently after I dropped a college class, a friend advised me to “go and see a school counselor to get reasonable accommodations for my disability.” I was troubled by what my friend said to me.

I questioned whether I consider diabetes a disease or a disability. My DNA has stopped my pancreas from producing the insulin. That makes diabetes a disease.

I am troubled when I consider diabetes as a disability.

If I admit that diabetes is disabling me, doesn’t that imply that I have a handicap? I feel that diabetes does not handicap or disable me in any way. I am capable of doing anything anyone else can do. I am convinced that I have a disease, not a disability.

I did not ask to have this disease, but, I will not let it stop me from reaching my goals. Everyone has obstacles to overcome. Reasonable accommodation is a service for someone who cannot accomplish their goals without a little bit of help.

I have been told that without proper diabetic control, diabetes will eventually cause body complications. As of this moment I am walking and breathing on my own. In fact, my disease provides the quick motivation and unending drive toward my goals. I could not have accomplished as much as I have accomplished without diabetes.

Diabetes has become my crutch in life; I don’t know if I could reach my goals if I did not have my crutch. I don’t know if I could live without diabetes. So, I choose not to ask for reasonable accommodation.

Disability or disease?

That is the question–or is it?

By Jenny Murr

Editor-in-Chief

At 21 years old, my life took an unexpected turn. I had the world by the tail: a new husband, a promotion and lots of potential.

But all that changed when I woke up one morning unable to walk. After many tests and doctor visits, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. I tried to continue my life without making any changes, but eventually the disease won out and I had to step out of the life I had known.

For years, I battled the pain and joint deterioration which so often accompanies RA. Finally, unable to manage the activity required to do my job, I had to quit work.

When my daughter grew up, I found myself depressed and bored. I needed something to strive for–a reason to get up in the morning.

I have always valued education, so I decided to return to college. This thought was daunting, to say the least. I was so concerned about how I would be able to write papers during class time or sit for two hours. The hurdles seemed high and if it weren’t for reasonable accommodation, I probably woudn’t have even tried to jump them.

However, after meeting with Ann Loyd I felt that any obstacle I might come up against could be worked out. Instead of feeling disabled, I felt enabled.

I am now a senior at MSC. I am thankful for the accommodations program available at MSC. I don’t consider it to be a crutch by providing special consideration for my challenges. Instead, I believe the program to be a buffer to catch me if I fall.

Just because I avail myself of the accomodations doesn’t mean I take advantage of them. At first, I needed the exra help that this program allowed. However, as time passed I have found that my need for special consideration has dwindled.

I do not know whether my condition is a disease or a disability and, frankly, I really don’t care what label you put on it. All I know is that the challenges I have faced because of my illness have made me a strong, resilient person. And I wouldn’t be enjoying the academic success that I have if it weren’t for reasonable accommodations.

First Amendment Takes The Fifth

By John Musick

MSC Student

Spring break is famous for trips to the beach, constant partying, and, most of all, censorship? My spring break consisted of a trip to Daphne, Ala., to visit friends and family. After a day of outdoor gaming, the night was to be full of drinking and celebration, so I decided to stop by a local liquor store.

Wearing my “F the President” t-shirt, I walked in and attempted to buy some whiskey and soda. A customer complimented the shirt, but the clerk had a slightly different view on the apparel. He refused to serve me “wearing that shirt.” After an entire day of scattered compliments on the political statement on my chest, I thought he was joking. Quickly, I realized his sincerity as his cross-eyed stare and sour countenance never wavered. I finally asked him if he was serious. He replied with a preachy, “Nobody disrespects the president no matter who he is.” I left in shock of the absurdity of the incident.

My friends and I decided to ride to another store to give someone else our business. After all, the proprietor was a small business owner. He had the legal right to refuse my business, so what better revenge than to shop elsewhere? However, once we started discussing the situation, I began to feel disturbed. Though the shirt is suggestive, it isn’t obscene. Besides, that didn’t seem to be the issue. The issue seemed to be the derogatory message against President George W. Bush and, subsequently, the idea of criticizing the “big man” in the White House.

I am familiar with the First Amendment and all the controversy that has surrounded it since its inception. I thought we had resolved the issue of criticizing the president and the government when the Alien and Sedition Acts were repealed. However, this guy must have been absent on that day in American history class.

If he is a supporter of Bush, then it is likely he supports the troops and the war as well. I always thought the reason we got involved in any war, even though weapons of mass destruction may have been the supposedly more pressing issue in Iraq this time, was to defend our Constitution and way of life. The freedom of speech is part of our Constitution the last time I checked. Are we only supposed to defend the parts we agree with, or are we supposed to defend it all?

Ultimately, after we found the nearest package store to be closed and held another round of discussion, we decided to return to the original store. This time, we sent in a different person to purchase the alcohol. He wore camouflage pants and a t-shirt with an enormous skull printed on the front. Speaking with a thick Southern accent, he found no resistance from the employee. I stuck my head in the door after my friend left and thanked the worker for the purchase and once again insulted Mr. Bush for good measure. In the end, the almighty unbiased dollar won the day, we had our fun and the clerk lost a moral battle.

If the man wants to support Bush, that’s his right. If he holds the Office of the President to be infallible, that’s his right. I think someone should tell him, though, that if he isn’t pulling down a six-or-seven-figure income, “W” doesn’t really care what he thinks. I think he should know that his president is manipulating his point of view that his office should garner blind obedience as the head of the country so that his acts of nepotism will go unchecked.

He should be aware that the Commander-in-Chief does not plan to bring the troops home while he’s in office, and even if his hand is forced by Congress, he’ll more than likely just turn around and send them back to Iran. Maybe he should even consider that leader of the free world is systematically restricting and repealing our individual freedoms thanks to the paranoia caused by his hopeless cause of declaring “war on terror”. But that’s just my opinion, and I should be allowed to express it.

Boosting Club ParticipationBy Alicia WestberryMSC StudentWhen I first decided to do this article I planned on making it about the fact that both College Republicans and Young Democrats, Macon State College’s political party student clubs have seemingly disappeared. When I began my research for the article, however, I quickly learned that many of MSC’s student organizations are qualified as ‘inactive’ or they have seen a decline in student membership.It should be noted that, while many student clubs are either inactive or seem to be losing members, in no way means that some clubs aren’t going strong or have increasing memberships. This, however, is more of an exception rather than the rule. Baptist Collegiate Ministries and Wesley Foundation are just two of approximately one-third of organizations that are going strong or have seen an upswing in student participation.A few of the student organizations are tied to a specific major or class. In corresponding with advisors and student presidents, it was suggested to me by two different club presidents that participation tends to increase when a professor, or perhaps a whole academic department, gives students incentives to participate. This makes sense, because if a grade or extra credit is given for participation in a student organization, students will definitely join and participate more.The most reason given most often for more students don’t participate in student organizations is that they are simply too busy. However, one student president suggested that apathy on the part of the students plays a role in preventing more students from getting involved. Another suggestion I was given by a few people, advisors and club presidents alike, is that participation increases in the fall, when new students are entering college and it decreases in spring as students are getting ready to graduate.One club president suggested that perhaps there are ways to increase student participation. She suggests that a website could be created to post announcements and keep them up so that members can check back to make sure that they remember when events are coming up so that they will be more likely to participate. After speaking with this woman I realized that she either didn’t realize that a listserv could be used for just what she has suggested.The only issues that would have to be taken into account are that only a faculty or staff member can request a listserv and that once an announcement is sent through e-mail, there is no place to check the information if the e-mail is deleted. Because only someone that works at MSC can request a listserv, the club advisor will have to send out any information that the club members might need or want in order to make the club or organization a success. In the interest of fairness, I should point out that workshops have recently been set up to train advisors and officers. Advisors and student presidents are also being taught leadership skills to help student clubs and organizations begin to increase membership and keep the momentum going once it is built.

Students Take Stand Against Imposed Scantron Purchasing PolicyBy Kenny Logan, Senior Staff WriterandJ.E. Fraley, Junior Staff WriterShortly after the beginning of this semester, a short-lived experiment in cost-cutting was apparently undertaken by the Social Sciences Division. The policy, requiring students taking machine scored tests to purchase their own test forms (known as Scantrons), was unpopular. Within days of its existence coming to the attention of the studentry, many voices were heard condemning it.One student, Chelsea Merrill, even undertook a petition drive in protest. A freshman, Merrill explained her objections to the charge in emphatic terms. “I don’t feel we should have to buy Scantrons. I feel our technology fee should cover it. I work. I have bills. I have a car payment. I help with the house payment. There are people at this school from high society, and there are the lowest of the low. Some people who walk to school can’t afford these things.”Her sentiment is shared by others on campus. “If we’re paying a technology fee, we shouldn’t have to pay for those things” said Jimmy Dumas, an art student. “We pay enough for our books and for supplies on our own.” A student on his phone was overheard talking about the new policy after signing the petition. “Crazy” said Cody Blenman, a freshman nursing major. “I don’t understand changing in the middle of the term.” He was referring to the fact that the policy apparently did not take effect until the semester was well under way.It does seem as if implementation was undertaken without informing the student body. No email was sent and most of the students approached by Miller to sign her petition had no idea that Scantrons were being sold instead of supplied in Social Sciences classes. “Over half didn’t know” Miller said. We decided to investigate this policy.The director of student life was questioned and an interview was scheduled with the bookstore manager. A talk with Dean of Students Lynn McCraney shifted our focus to Dr. Slann, Professor of Political Science and Chair of Social Sciences. Our hope was to bring the causes and effects of the policy to the attention of the school as a whole.Within hours of our first inquiries, the policy had been rescinded. A phone call to the Warner Robins campus revealed that the bookstore there had, that day, been instructed to give each student requesting a Scantron one free form. The main campus now also provides the forms to students as needed.

We continued to look into the matter and discovered that the heads of both the Learning support and Business divisions were unaware of the policy. Questions emailed to Dr. Slann were answered in a terse manner. The explanation for initial policy was given as an economic decision.

When pressed as to why the policy had been dropped, we were informed that money had been “located” to provide the forms to students. This leads us to consider other questions: Where were these funds at the beginning of the semester? Are there other areas of the social sciences budget that are being underfunded to pay for these testing materials? Should students be prepared for additional unexpected expenses in the future? Is there more money waiting to be located as needs arise?

With tuition rising at a rate greater than inflation, and record numbers of students receiving financial aid, the various academic divisions must take care not to think that any pressures placed on their budgets by historically high enrollments can cavalierly be passed on to the student.

Not Spring and Summer Again!By Kenny LoganSenior Staff WriterFor most people, spring and summer are times to go outside and have fun in the sun. For others, however, it’s probably the worst time of all because of allergies. An allergy sufferer is affected in different ways each season. And now there is one more thing sufferers have to endure at the drugstore.Last year the government made it a mandate that people who wanted to get effective medication like Sudafed would have to fill out a form and show I.D. amongst other things to get the relief they need. This is so that pharmacies and the government can make sure an active ingredient found in legal remedies, pseudoephedrine, doesn’t wind up in the hands of manufacturers of the street drug crystal meth. If they don’t want to fill out forms and show I.D., then people with allergies will have to make due with making Kleenex a fortune. The closest help they could find, which isn’t behind the counter, isn’t much help.While phenylephrine and pseudoephedrine both work by constricting the nose’s blood vessels, according to a doctor of the University of Florida, the former doesn’t get into the body’s bloodstream as effectively because most of it is quickly metabolized by the body’s digestive system. Along with that, though it does work best when sprayed directly in the nose (as in the case of Neosynephrine) it can’t be used for more than three days. After that point something called “rebound congestion”, where the nose and sinuses end up MORE congested. One other alternative called oxymetazonline (used in Afrin) could be used, but it also presents the same issue.So what are those with allergies to do until fall comes around or better medication becomes available? As a person with severe allergies, I would say stay inside the house, especially around these times when the pollen is at a spike. Sure the Cherry Blossom Festival is one of the many events that is missed, as well any other outside activity. But it beats the only other option: eyes that swell shut or dry out in minutes, runny or stuffy nose, constant sneezing and eventually major fatigue from the previous symptoms overwhelming me.I have a major issue with the pharmaceutical industry. I don’t really fault them because they didn’t have the foresight to know people would use it to make methamphetamine. But why not make another type of medication that will give us help and won’t be able to be used to make meth? Some people may not mind the process it takes to obtain allergy medicines. However the more wary of us don’t want to have to do such things to get the relief we require.Realistically it isn’t asking much to expect pharmaceutical companies to create remedies that won’t take so much effort to obtain. If they can flood our televisions with so many advertisements that we feel like we’re sick if we DON’T have something wrong with us, why can’t they actually put something on the market we can use? They will make that profit that they wet themselves over right? We’ll keep coming back, correct? So why not do it? So I challenge the industry to do some actual work and make some allergy medication so that people who have moderate to severe allergies, like me, can go outside without two pockets full of tissue or a worry about people getting my name and address. Until then I guess I’ll just go outside occasionally for the next six to seven months and then die inside the house afterwards.
Experience the Cherry Blossom Festival…I Dare You!By Jenny MurrManaging EditorAsk Macon State College students if they plan to attend any Cherry Blossom festivities and you will get myriad reactions, most of them not very positive. It seems to be the cool thing to view the event as lame. This opinion has usually been formed from a place of ignorance rather than experience.As students, we owe it to ourselves to be in a perpetual state of learning. As such, we should be open to new experiences, for it is just these experiences that help shape us into well-rounded citizens. They will be what we draw upon when making future decisions.The Cherry Blossom Festival is an event from which students can learn about different cultures and even have fun. The best part is that many of these events are free! So I challenge MSC students to break the apathetic mold of their peers and get downtown posthaste!The 25th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival is happening even as you read this column. People are lined up for pink ice cream, watching stage shows and enjoying the spring weather while you are sitting in a stuffy classroom, cafeteria or lobby on campus. It’s time to break free of your confines and enjoy the festivities.This year, there are a plethora of activities from which to choose and many of them are actually quite impressive. Go to Central City Park to see the Bengal Tigers. Take a lantern light tour at the Ocmulgee Mounds. Eat Pink Pancakes. Catch the air show and balloon glow at Herbert Smart Field. Show your stuff at the dance contest. Learn about the Historic Riverside Cemetery during a walking tour. Laugh at the participants of the hilarious bed race. Catch a show at the Douglass Theatre when the Spelman College Jazz Ensemble performs. Be amazed by the athletic dogs of the Greater Atlanta Dog & Disc Club. Learn about different cultures at the Kaleidoscope of Cultures honoring Greece, Japan, Republic of China (Taiwan) and the United Kingdom.Cox Media will present “Lunch With the Authors” featuring Carlton Varney, Jaclyn Weldon White, and Rick Hutto, the fee for this event is $25. Learn about the Hay House in the “Behind the Scenes” tour. Experience a Latino band at Central City Park. Attend college night featuring Radio Cult. Go to the Ford and Mustang Show. Or catch one of the many musical groups including Superchick, Little Big Town and Lakeside.Have I piqued your interest yet? If I haven’t, then you need these events more than anyone, since you are surely stuck in a rut! So get out and experience the culture of the Cherry Blossom Festival this week. It ends on Sunday, March 25, so don’t delay.

Don’t forget the good ol’ standbys like the Mulberry Street Craft Show, the Cherry Blossom Parade and the fireworks over Macon…and don’t forget your camera!

For more information on all the festivities and for a schedule of times and places, go to http://www.cherryblossom.com/download.php?id=2042334,311,2.

The Stink Crusade: MSC Student Leads Fight Against StenchBy Billy DunhamContributing WriterYou know the feeling.A bottled water in class. The professor droning on and on about an inane topic. The clock fighting each tick from second to second. Then the urge comes. All that fluid has to find its way out of the body, and there’s going to be difficulty stopping it.Finally, the lecture is finished and you rush to the facilities, only to walk into a wall of the odor of stale remains from a former occupant. All because that person refused to do something simple: flush the toilet.A recent study by Kimberly-Clark Professional, published on NewsRx.com and NewsRx.net, showed that 61 percent of respondents employed a variety of avoidance strategies to avoid touching faucets, dispensers or other restroom surfaces—including using paper towels to touch faucets and door handles, dispensing towels with elbows or wrists, and flushing with their feet. More than one-third said they made sure to wash their hands well before leaving the restroom.During a chat with a friend, I mentioned this phenomenon and she said she was a “foot-flusher.” I argued that if she were going to wash her hands anyway, what difference would touching the handle make? She had no answer.In a highly germaphobic society, getting rid of waste should be a top priority for all of us. But there sits the remains of someone else’s visit for you to deal with.Was it the fear of infection or sheer laziness that led the previous person to postpone the pushing of the plunger? Or was he or she trying to conserve the city’s water by not flushing? I lean towards the laziness factor.At an institute of higher learning, surely students are armed with the knowledge that it’s unhealthy to leave a vat of waste sitting in a toilet for long periods of time. In addition, most of the toilets I’ve seen around campus employ the button flush, not a handle. So pushing it shouldn’t be so hard.So I begin the crusade. I will promise to flush after every use. I ask my fellow students to follow my example. At least it will be the start of getting the waste out of Macon State College.

Laptops in Classrooms Result in Lower GPAsBy Alicia WestberryContributing WriterIn a recent article, I defended personal laptops being brought into the classroom. As it turns out, a study done by Cornell University has uncovered a very good reason for not allowing laptops into the classroom: lower grade point averages.The study makes the point that just having a laptop in class can make browsing the Internet too tempting to resist.More surfing the Internet means less attention is being paid to the lecture and fewer, if any, notes are being taken. The result is lower GPAs.While I can’t really dispute the findings of the Cornell study, I happen to think that, while I don’t bring a laptop to class, the benefits are worth allowing them into the classroom.As for students who would use them for reasons other than supplementing the class, I believe that individual students will have to deal with the consequences. Most college students pay for their own schooling. If they want to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars just to get in class and then not work hard, so be it. Colleges will continue to take money as long as people are willing to pay it.
Who’s Really to Blame?By Jenny MurrManaging EditorMother’s around the nation have told their children “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Another important piece of advice is “don’t embarrass the family.” Sage advice that many celebrities would do well to remember.This year, we have been plagued with lewd antics and offensive expressions of many in the limelight. And the nefarious escapades of these shameless personalities seem to increase in instance and enormity.Actor Mel Gibson began the year’s faux pas with his anti-Semitic remarks.Former Gov. Andrew Young followed with his racist remarks against Arabs. Then came comedian Michael Richards who spewed racial slurs at African-American hecklers in his audience. Now it seems that gay people have become the target of such egregious comments.Isaiah Washington of Grey’s Anatomy, allegedly made derogatory remarks toward co-worker T. R. Knight on the set. Later, at Golden Globes he made the public exclamation “No, I did not call T.R. a faggot.” Most recently, a member of the NBA has also taken to gay bashing.During a radio interview, Tim Hardaway stated “I don’t like gay people, and I don’t like to be around gay people. I’m homophobic. I don’t like it. It shouldn’t be in the world or in the United States.” Later, he apologized for making the comment…but the damage was done. The words catapulted throughout the nation causing injury everywhere.I have told my daughter over the years, “You don’t have to voice every opinion you have. Sometimes, silence is golden.” Where were these guys mothers when they were growing up?Men, with their comments, aren’t the only ones who are guilty of being offensive. Young actresses and singers have become the subject of many lurid headlines. The “Brit pack” seems to continually titillate the media with their raunchy displays of body parts best kept covered. And do I even need to mention the scandals that surround Anna Nicole Smith’s life? They are “embarrassing” their personal families, their family of females and their national family.Now, lest you be fooled, this is not a problem that belongs to a few unwise famous people. This is a problem being perpetuated by our entire culture. After all, in the infamous words of model Janice Dickinson “sex sells.” And scandal sells. With each reprehensible occurrence, the press sells papers and the ratings of tabloid (and even reputable news) shows rise. And talk around the water-coolers revolves around the latest sensationalism.

We complain about the exploits, but do we actually DO anything about it? Not really. We continue to watch the shows and buy the products they peddle. So I ask…. Who’s really to blame?

Interracial Relationships: How Do We Feel About It? By Wesley SandersYou’re in the mall, just wandering around, window-shopping. As you walk, you notice a black man and a white woman, holding hands, telling each other sweet nothings and giving each other light kisses. How would that make you feel?Imagine this one. You’re in a restaurant enjoying your meal. You love the atmosphere, the food and the wonderful hospitality the hosts and waiters/waitresses are providing. As you look toward the front entrance, you notice a friendly host leading a white man and a black woman to their table. As they are headed toward their table (which, as you can see where the host stops, is across the table from yours), the lovey-dovey couple looks at each other with a dreamy look, that automatically tells all spectators that they are “crazy in love.” How would that make you feel?According to a poll on Mister Poll.com, 61 percent of white men think that white girls who date black guys are lowering their standards. What white men seemingly hate more than anything is when black men are able to snatch up a professional-looking white woman. Most white men feel as if blacks do not have as much to offer, as far as financial security, as white men do.According to a black man who called into The Michael Baisden Show, most black men date white women because most black woman are not as supportive as white women. Black women of today’s era are very career driven and everything that they earn they want to keep for themselves. This caller felt that being with a white woman, on the other hand, was more relaxing, because, while they are career driven as well, they know how and when to be a “woman” and be there for and support their man.Furthermore, the more education a black man obtains, the more likely he is to marry a white woman or an ethnicity outside of his race; mainly because other ethnicities, namely a white woman, can escort him through “Corporate America” easier than a black woman can.According to a black woman who called the same show, black women date white men because, in her opinion, white men treat women better than black men do. White men still believe in chivalry and most black men don’t. White men also are more business-minded, therefore having better job security. Whites are also more cultured than blacks, this caller says. Whenever most black women want to go to a play or to an art museum, most black men shy away from places like that, not deeming them as very “exciting.”Asking whether interracial dating will be accepted is based on geographic location, as well as age. In the northern region of this country, as well as the Midwest, most people would probably be more subjective to interracial dating. Meanwhile, in the rural south, people may give interracial couples a few dirty looks. Also, while a person of younger age may be more receptive to interracial dating, an older person, who may have lived through the segregation age, may not be.
Technology in the ClassroomsBy Alicia WestberryContributing WriterAs college students, we all know students whose cell phones are constantly ringing during class. This forces diligent students to try to ignore the obnoxious ringtones that drone on. The inconsiderate student, who should have turned the phone of before class started, either turns the phone off or noisily gets up from their seat to answer the phone out in the hallway.The cell phone is just one form of technology that is invading the classroom. Laptops are also increasingly common in today’s modern classroom. Laptops, however, are more welcome in most college classes than other technology.Ask most professors, especially those who teach courses that may reference a topic or concept that is may not be readily understood by the students.Having a laptop handy can make looking up the sought-after information quick and easy.Despite the potential benefits of technology in the classroom, there are downsides to consider. Aside from the obvious distraction of cell phone ringing, cell phones also have features that allow clever students to cheat during exams, without ever alerting the professor. Laptops, could also potentially make it easier to cheat. Wireless Internet on the laptops allows students to find the any information to answer test questions.While I admit that I have been known to bring my cell phone to campus with me, and have even been known to use it occasionally between classes, I really think that the only way to prevent cell phone distractions and using cell phones to cheat is to simply ban them from classroom. If an emergency ever arises, I am sure there are ways for anyone who really needs any student to find them.As for laptops, I don’t see any problem with students bringing them to class. They make it easy to find supplemental information on any topic that is being lectured on to help students understand the subject better.As for the risk of cheating, I don’t really think it is anything to worry about. Even if students find all of the answers to the questions, or all of the information necessary to write an essay, there is very little chance that a student would be able to look up everything they need on a laptop, and write the answers down without getting caught by the professor.
Are Student Evaluations of Professors Making the Grade?By Alicia WestberryContributing WriterA controversy brewing in higher education for many years now is the effectiveness of student evaluations of professors. Opponents of such evaluations say that they turn the process of higher education into nothing more than a trip to Burger King. Professors feel that, in order to keep their jobs, they must cater to what students want rather than making them productive citizens capable of joining the workforce.According to the Chronicle for Higher Education, Stanley Fish, dean emeritus of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago is staunchly opposed to the use of student evaluations. He argues that they invite disgruntled students to grind axes against professors that they simply didn’t like, and that they don’t give an accurate picture of how well a professor teaches.Another major complaint of opponents of student evaluations is that some, such as the ever-popular Rate My Professors.com, invite professors to be rated on trivial things that have nothing to do with teaching ability, such as looks.Opponents argue that the people who are in charge of hiring and firing take this, and sites like it, seriously.Proponents of student evaluations argue that student evaluations are a wonderful tool. They argue that there should actually be more, not fewer, avenues for student evaluations. They say that college students have had enough experience in the classroom be efficiently equipped to evaluate their college professors.As a college student myself, I think that I have earned the right to evaluate my professors at the end of the semester.I do agree with others that in order to get intelligent answers, you have to ask intelligent questions. I also think that sites such as Rate My Professors.com should be seen for what they are-nothing more than venting and entertainment. No one looking for a basis for hiring or firing a professor should even look at this website or others like it. I also believe it is very important to professionally evaluate professors through many different avenues. Relying on one avenue increases the odds of bias coming into play.
Why Care About…By Kenny LoganSenior Staff WriterAnna Nichole Smith. By now that name is probably making you sick. Before this tirade begins let me make it clear that it is bad about her death. With that said there is something I must ask the news media as a whole: Why should we care?Why should we care about someone who didn’t make a difference at all in the world? She’s not Steve Irwin, who brought the importance of conservation of the wildlife all over the world in various ways. Nor was she an entertainer of any kind.There was nothing about her which made her special. She, simply enough, was a slut. All she did was become a stripper who happened to attract an old rich man in the hopes of striking it rich after his death. Luckily for the world she didn’t but as a consequence she made a mockery of our judicial system by bringing the issue to as far as the United States Supreme Court. Yes, I know she was a Playboy model or whatever, but when Savannah died back in the 90’s you didn’t see such publicity. Why should we care?Why did we care about her while she was alive? It wasn’t like she was someone for people all over the world to idolize or see as a positive role model for kids.Every day you can go outside or turn on the television and see little girls dressing like skanks. We publicly condemn them for such actions and go after the parents, which are the ones we should truly be laying the blame on, yet at the same time we allow our airwaves to be tainted by someone who made it as a whore. Put the little girls to bed mommy and tell them to study hard and they’ll be somebody while daddy ogles the lady on television. We looked up to her, watched her eye-bleedingly horrible “reality” show, and then act like she was a national treasure when her inevitable death occurs. Why do we care?To make it all worse there are comparisons people make about her and Marilyn Monroe. Now personally I was never a fan of hers but at least she could act and sing. Could Anna Smith do such a thing? The simple answer is no. There is nothing she could do short of walk around with huge fake breasts like a real-life Barbie doll. At least Marilyn didn’t need to inject plastic into herself and can say she had talent.So why should we care about someone who just strutted around for a living? Why do we care about the current trends of “party girls” who just prance around like Paris Hilton and Nichole Hilton? They aren’t worth anything and are part of the reason why girls and women of all ages are dealing with weight and body issues like body dysmorphic disorder. Personally I’m so tired of the whole thing and by the time you’ve read this, you’re likely to be sick of it as well.
The Great Escape: Hollywood and RehabBy Emily JonesContributing WriterIf you haven’t heard by now, there’s a new trend going around Hollywood. I’m not talking about a fashion trend, but a different kind of trend. One that has nothing to do with clothes or really anything that has to do with Hollywood except for the people involved.So what’s the trend? Rehab.It’s a place that more celebrities are calling home. Is it just a publicity stunt? Is it a cop-out? Or do they really need help?Isaiah Washington, of Grey’s Anatomy, has decided to go to rehab for psychological evaluation for making anti-gay remarks towards his co-star T.R. Knight. Is he doing this for publicity? Let’s see…Washington denied reports of ever using anti-gay slurs. “No, I did not call him a f—t.” After public outcry, an apology and a meeting with a gay-rights group, Washington announced that he would enter rehab for anger management, stating, “I have begun counseling. I regard this as a necessary step toward understanding why I did what I did and making sure it never happens again.”Lindsay Lohan went to rehab to “take care of her personal health.” Lohan checked in at the Wonderland Center in Los Angeles at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 17, 2007. In December 2006, Lohan revealed that she had been attending AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings for a year.When Lohan talked to People (magazine) she told them, “I haven’t had a drink in seven days. Or anything. I’m not even legal to, so why would I? I don’t drink when I go to clubs. I drink with my friends at home, but there’s no need to. I feel better not drinking. It’s more fun. I have Red Bull”Mel Gibson went to rehab after he blamed an anti-Semitic remark on his alcohol abuse.Donald Trump was accused of staging a publicity stunt when he allowed Miss USA 2006, Tara Conner to retain her crown if she agreed to go to rehab for her wild behavior.William Moyers, an addiction treatment expert states, “Going to treatment is a good option for people who need help, but going to treatment for people who are looking just to shift the blame and otherwise avoid the consequences is not a good thing. Addiction is an explanation; it’s not an excuse. Treatment is a way to find help. It should not be a way to avoid consequences.”

Should rehab be allowed as an excuse to get out of trouble and save a career?

My opinion is, if you say or do stupid things that get you in trouble, no. Rehab is not an excuse for that. If you have a drinking or drug problem, feel free to check into rehab and try to save yourself. Helpline Georgia provides information for facilities located in Georgia, contact them at 1-800-338-6745. The United Way also provides help; they can be reached by dialing 211 from a land phone or 1-866-680-8924 from a cell phone.

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