1997_05 The Daily Collegian May 1997

              r:
THE DAILY
COLLEGIAN
Thursday, May 1,1997
Opinion
Telephone: (209) 278-5732
'Student lobby' ^
just a left-wing plot
to spend money
By Joel Eanes
The Daily Collegian
For many years SEA. one of the
major ASI parties, has been in¬
volved with the California Stale
Student Association (CSSA). a po¬
litical lobbying group.
The group registered with the
state legislature as a lobb — it regu¬
larly sendslobbyists to legislators"
officers,' it sponsors a semi-annual
"Lobby Day." But it can't admit to
being a political lobby, because the
Supreme Court has .ruled in the
1993 case Smith vs. the University
of California that student fees can¬
not be used for political lobbying,
and because student governments'
federal and state tax exemptions are
contingent upon engaging only in
educational, not political, activity.
But CSSA's own publicity ma¬
terial states -The CSSA Board of
Directors lakes a variety of posi¬
tions on legislation depending upon
staff and student resources and the
amount of lobbying necessary to
move any particular bill through the
process." It certainly sounds like a
lobbying group, doesn't it?
CSSA's positions are without
exception leftist.
lis position on Governor Wilson:
"I don't think there's any question
in any student that has been affected
by fee increases that Pete Wilson is
the person behind the destruction-of
higher education."
Its position on the CSU Board
of Trustees: "The trustees are not
diverse, they do not reflect the
people of California, and they make
decisions on behalf of the governor"
that appointed them."
Its position on taxpayers: "Gov¬
ernor Wilson wants to balance the
budget on the backs of the students.
What they are saying is that they
arc willing to protect the wealthi¬
est people in the state and take it
out of the pockets of the poorest."
In sharp contrast is its position
on taxes: "Students have paid their
fair share of taxes through student
fees. It's lime other residents in this
slale shared the burden."
So, CSSA is actively fighting
fees..right? So, how many of your
fees have you seen go down in re¬
cent years? At Fresno State there is
one and only one. the ASI fee re¬
duction of a year ago, but CSSA
actively supports higher student
government fees, saying "They're
worth it." Care to guess from which
source CSSA derives its income?
Even further to the left is CSSA's
parent organization, the United
States Student Organization
(USSA). USSA openly supported
the 1992 Los Angeles rioters — ri¬
oters who caused 55 deaths and
well over 2.000 injuries — calling
for "total amnesty for all persons
arrested/convicted in the United
States for any/all 'crime' in connec¬
tion with the rebellion."
It has sponsored a march of ho¬
mosexual and "transgendercd" (you
don't want to know) students for
"the right to Love."
It endorsed Iraq in the Gulf War.
and has supported Fidel Castro in
Cuba, holding its 1993 meeting in
Havana and sponsoring events of
the Young Communist League in
the United States.
USSA's extremism has disaf¬
fected even some in the left. Diana
Jablonski. legislative director of the
College Democrats of America, has
said that USSA is "dominated by
IcJ't-leaning activists, many of
whom are self-proclaimed commu¬
nists."
The Supreme Court's Smith de¬
cision was motivated by such hor¬
ror stories. CSSA's reaction: "Most
students don't realize that fees go
to support political activities'that
make the university environment an
Please see PLOT page 5.
/#G{ER CP0 VklWflEEKS f*A BPKRAMWCAjf*
Victims of crime have rights too
By Manuel M. Annear
The Daily Collegian
I ask the reader's indulgence as
I expand on a column I wrote a
couple weeks ago about crime and
non-punishment in the United
States. In it. I examined some fa¬
mous cases and brought you up-to-
date on where the perpetrators arc
today, but I did not detail the story
of how they got there.
That story is the true shame of
our society. Our deplorable "jus¬
tice" system gives minimum sen¬
tences to so-called "white-collar"
criminals, who ruin the financial
lives of their victims. It also allows
violent animals to live well (if, in
captivity) while their victims con¬
tinue to suffer or, worse yet, lie six
feet under. Many rightfully call it
the "criminal injustice system."
Examine the commission of any
crime and compare the respective
roles of the criminal and the vic¬
tim. First the criminal has a choice;
he-may choose to commit the of¬
fense or not. Let's say that the
criminal's muddled little brain can
figure out that he has only a 20 per¬
cent chance of being arrested and
an even smaller chance of being
convicted, so he does it
The victim, on the other hand,
has no choice; he is an involuntary
participant in the violation of his
right to live a secure life and pur¬
sue his dreams.
Advantage: criminal.
If the criminal is unlucky enough
to be arrsstcd. he is informed of his
rights and given free hospitalization
if he was injured while committing
the crime or being arrested.
He could be released if he comes
up with bail, if not. he kicks back
with three squares a day. recreation,
and cable TV, while awaiting trial.
If he can't afford an attorney, one
is appointed to defend him at the
expense of the taxpayers.
Meanwhile, the victim must pay
for his own medical expenses, prop¬
erty loss, funeral expenses (if a dear
one was killed) and may lose time
from work, which will cost him
even more time and money. Advan¬
tage: criminal.
If the criminal doesn't cop to a
lesser charge to get a light sentence
and save everyone's time and
money, he goes to trial. He is deeply
involved in his own defense, using
overs lie and legal technically to
prolong the trial, get viial evidence
disallowed by the judge, or other¬
wise regain his freedom
If convicted (not ofteni. he
might get sent to Club Fed. when*
he is cared for, educated b> ><>ur
tax dollars and can earn an earl)
release, or he might just get proba¬
tion. He may appeal nume'rou*
times; again, you pay the bill Con¬
versely, the victim has no sa\ in
how the case is prosecuted ufjhc
sentence is decided.
He continues to lose vuirk and
may be subject to character ass.is
sination on the witness stand Ik
cannot appeal a verdict or sentence
he feels to be unjust If the case gels
thrown out. the victim may even
face reprisal from the offender
Worst of all, the victim's taxes arc
supporting the defense of the man
who wronged him.
Huge advantage: criminal.
Given all this and the incredibly
moronic verdicts rendered in some
high-profile cases of the last lew
years, it's no wonder that Ameri¬
cans don't trust their justice system.
Please see CRIME page 5.
Daily Collegian
California State University, Fresno
Business Manager
Kari L. Swanson
Copy Editors
Elaina Conroy
Jevon C. Swanson
Production Manager
Monica Stanford
Editor in Chief
James M. Ward
News Editor
Derek Walter
Features Editor
David Childers
Ad Manager
Jevon C. Swanson
Sports Editor
Luis Hernandez
Photographers
Ryan Weber
Web Production
Jason Maggini
Staff Writers:
Greg Bradford.
Derek Walter
Jennifer Hall-Witham.
Rosanna Tolosa,
Rulhic Longley Alekseycv.
Sports Writers:
Erik Pfeiflc.
Kelly Hansen
Columnists:
Bridget Johnson,
Manuel Annear,
Joel Eanes,
Alice Egoian.
Bethany Thompson
Ad Reps:
Judy Yhnell
Circulation:
Sam Robles
The Daily Collegian is published fiw
timet a week for and by the students of
California Slate University. Fresno
Opinions expressed in the Collegian
are not necessarily those of the entire
Daily Collegian staff The editors rescru
the nghl to edit letters for length and
clanty. To be considered for publication,
letters must be typed and should not
exceed 250 words    ,
Telephone Directory:
Editor: (209)278-5732
News: (209)278-2486
Sporu: (209)278-57.V1
Advertising (209)278-5731
.     FAX: (209)278-2679