1997_03 The Daily Collegian March 1997

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2 • Uhuru Na Umoja • Wednesday, March 19, 1997
The 'Culture of Poverty' revisited
By Matthew A. Jendian
Lecturer, Sociology Department
We've all heard references to the "cul¬
ture of poverty," but the phrase is often
misunderstood and misused. This phrase
was actually coined in 1959 by Oscar
Lewis, an anthropologist studying poor
families in rural Mexico. The "culture of
poverty" refers to a set of attitudes and
behaviors characteristic of those who are
living in poverty and have failed to
achieve upward mobility. These traits in-
dude a present time orientation, low as¬
pirations, feelings of powerlessness, feel¬
ings of inferiority, mother-centered
households, and passivity.
So far, few problems exist. However,
some individuals argue that certain eth¬
nic or racial groups possess this "culture"
naturally. These groups' "pathological"
culture is said to account for their over
representation among the nation's poor
and criminal population. The belief that
poverty and crime are tied to racial/ethnic
characteristics and that we can reduce
crime by restricting immigration of par¬
ticular groups has long been a factor in
our country's policy-making decisions.
This explanation "blames the victim" and
obscures the social causes of these issues.
It also absolves us of our social responsi¬
bility of attempting to help alleviate the
problems (after all, "those people" are just
sick). x
As a result of this faulty application,
other, good-intentiohed people fail to ac¬
knowledge the existence of a "culture of
poverty" altogether. However, one must
realize that to say a culture of poverty ex¬
ists does not imply that that "culture" is a
"natural" part of any ethnic/racial group.
The traits mentioned above can better be
viewed as reactions and adaptations that
most people would exhibit if living in
impoverished conditions. Who would not
Please sec POVERTY page 8.
Fresno State's point-shaving allegations
By Gunnar Valgiersson
Lecturer. Sociology Department
In recent days, the fans of Bulldog
basketball in Fresno have been presented
with the ugly side of big-time college
sports with allegations of point shaving
by one of their heroes. While it is indeed
important to stress at this time that these
arc only allegations, and no conclusive
evidence has been presented to the pub¬
lic yet, I have found people's reaction to
the news in this city informative.
On one hand it seems that "fans" are
blind to any possible wrongdoings by
their heroes, while others cannot but revel
in the possibility of a scandal by a pro¬
gram that they see draining money from
academics.
What I feel these reactions tend to ig¬
nore are some of the wider ramifications
of the issue, namely the unreasonable regu¬
lations that govern revenue producing
Division 1 college sports. Players of many
big-time programs are often celebrities in
cities where college sports are "the only
game in town," as is the case here in
Fresno. They arc pampered and given spe¬
cial treatment everywhere they go — giv¬
ing them an identity of importance —
while they are at the same time forbidden
by NCAA rules to receive any benefits that
the rest of the student population cannot
also receive.
One has to keep in mind that while
these players generate all the profits that
surround the games and the programs,
they are the only ones who cannot finan¬
cially benefit from the labor of their work.
Everyone else does: the coaching staff, the
administrators, the athletic department
staff, the ushers, the groundskeepers and
arena workers, security, the parking atten¬
dants, the media with announcers and
technical staff, restaurants, bars, promot¬
ers, and businesses in general. All these
groups directly financially benefit, but
only because of the labor of the players.
How much money do you really think that
3 game between the parking attendants
and the bartenders will generate? The
whole operation rests on the players, but
Please see POINT page 6.
'Rhyme and
Reason brings
hip hop life to
Big Screen
Starring: Ice-T, Heavy D, others.
Directed by: Peter Spirer
Now playing at Northgate Cinemas.
By Jeffrey McGee
Contributing Writer
"Rhyme and Reason" documents
hip-hop culture in its full eminence.
The movie takes an intense journey
into the everyday lives of hip hop per¬
formers, businessmen and the fans that
have supported this billion dollar in¬
dustry. This film touches on controver¬
sial issues such as the demise of the late
Tupac Shakur and the media-stemmed
"East Coast vs. West Coast Battle."
Not to be confused with its precur¬
sor, "The Show" which documented
the most popular rappers at that time,
"Rhyme and Reason" beings a much
needed structure to a film which would
otherwise seem chaotic and thrown to¬
gether. With an all-star cast of rappers
like Ice-T, Redman, The Notorious
B.I.G., and Mack 10, "Rhyme and
Reason" gives a good reason for rhyme
and an even better reason to sec it this
The Bee s yellow journalism' tactics in Young case unfair
By Ann Dudley
Contributing Writer
I'm speaking from the standpoint of a
professional journalist, freelance writer
and entrepreneur who graduated from
Fresno State several years ago.
I'm disappointed in the "yellow jour-
Photo by: Affordable Photography
nalism" and editorializing tactics that my
fellow journalists fromrheFresno Bee have
used, without following the correct can¬
ons of journalism.
Let's review what every journalists has
learned arjout ethics and the standards in
journalistic writing:
An editorial is the written form of one's
opinion; therefore, it is not noted as a
newsworthy event that the public must be
informed of immediately. So why was
there an editorial on the front page of the
Friday, March 7 issue of the Fresno Bee
written by Adrian Wojnarowski stating his
opinions about the alleged rumors and
conducts of coach Jerry Tarkanian and ath¬
lete Dominick Young, as well as other
crude, improper comments? Why did an
editor let this pass as a "news" story, de¬
serving to go on the front page? Then
shouldn't this opinion that I have about
the whole ordeal also go on the front page,
since I feci that my opinion is just as im¬
portant as Mr. Wojnarowski's?
As journalists, were we not taught to
be non-biased in "news" stories, meaning
not spewing out our own comments about
an article unless it was on the editorial
page, just like this article I'm writing.
Who's in charge of protocol here?
To The Fresno Bee: Do you know that
this also puts you and your paper in a bad
light? How do you expect the Fresno pub¬
lic to trust you with news like this again?
Next re¬
view   les-     -—™^^——
son, for our
Fresno Bee
journalists:
Do you
remember
learning
the three
most im¬
portant
rules of
journal¬
ism? Let's
review: number one, "accuracy"; number
two, accuracy"; and number three "accu¬
racy."
Hear me out: As a journalist, 1 feel that
it is my duty to inform you when you're
wrong, just like the rest of your fellow
journalist should do. We need to check
each other when something like this hap-
The original purpose of the
newspaper was to protect the
"people" from the dealings of our
own government, we were to be the
"watch dog" for the public. So which
part of the government are you
watching?
pens. You must remember, Stevan, Andy
and Tom, that you have a duty to the com¬
munity to not only report to the commu¬
nity of what is considered newsworthy and
in the best interest of the public, but it is
important that all information that you
print is ac-
"■""—■™""—■—■"■ curate and
backed up
by true facts
and
sources.
and more
facts and
more
sources and
still more
facts   and
sources.
Fresno, being'big on college sports as
news, I feel that you took advantage of
your first amendment rights by printing
rumors and allegations, effecting an
individual's overall career in sports, possi¬
bly ruining any chances for Young to ever
Please see YOUNG page 6.
Uhuru Na Umoja
Fresno City College
Liason:
. Jama! Morris
Community Relations
Manager.
Jessica Randolph
Advisors:
Lorn a Lewis
James E. TOdtoo, Ph.D
Editor in Chief:
Sherry L Harris
Assistant Editor:
Clora Ash
Graphics & Layout Editor:
Monica Stanford
Advertising Rep:
Monica Strange
Contributing Writers:
Paul DeRuosi, MA
Matthew A. Jendian
Bruce McAlister. LCSW
Gunnar Valgeirsson
Jeffrey McGee
StaffWriters:
Yaisa Guillory
Melissa Valgeirsson
Oscar Robinson, Jr.
Editor's Note:
The opinions on this page arc not necessarily those of the Uhuru Na
Umoja or its staff. Unsigned editorials, unless noted, are written by the Edi¬
tor in Chief. The Uhuru Na Umoja welcomes all letters to the editor. All
letters must be typed, signed and may be edited for length and grammar. All
letters may be dropped offin the Keats Building in the red box labeled "Uhuru
Na Umoja""or E-mailed to the address below.
UHURU NA UMOJA
c/o Ethnic Studies Department
Mail Stop 100
California State University, Fresno
Fresno, CA 93740-0100
E-mail: uhuru96@listserv.csufresno.edu
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