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EDITORIAL CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO September 28,1994 INSIGHT Dear Editor, A big huge thank you for the two articles supporting lesbians, bi- sexuals transgendered people and gays in tit*Insight on September 21. 1994! The first article, a story on lesbians, bisexuals and gays in and out of the closet overwhelmed me with its depth; quoting lesbian, bisexual and gay people on their observations of why people who are "Queer" remain in the closet and what they fear and actually experience in coming out. The observations on the typical three reactions to "Queer" people by straight people were right on the mark. The second article was about Pete Wilson's recent veto of a state bill to legalize domestic partnership, a legal union of two unmarried people. Such a law would have given lesbian and gay couples a chance to gain some of the many benefits of marriage, benefits that are only available to heterosexuals as they are the only people who are al lowed to marry. Financial disincentives are many and numerous against being in a lesbian or gay union, and I agree they are patently unjust. Kudos to the outspoken editorial by Marlene Bryant and for the incredibly in-depth article by Terese Farmen. If you haven't guessed by now, I'm openly "Queer." I'm also a representative in student government as Senator of the School of Agricultural Sciences and Technology. One of my jobs as a student senator is making sure all the clubs in my joint council and part of my school are well represented in the student government, as well as being a connection to the students of my school to the campus bureaucracies. One reason for me not to come out is many people in my school may feel uncomfortable or fearful of "Queers." In fact, the last two representatives of my school tried to cut off the educational efforts of the student club LGBSA, the Lesbian, Transgendered, Bisexual, and Gay people's union on campus, by using their unique powers over students as student senators. I personally will never forget these efforts and what they mean: they mean we can't afford to sit back in fear and inaction. We have to rise up and claim our right to belong. Wilh the changes made to ASI by the students in the last year's student body election, LGBSA never has had an easier year to exist on the campus in its eight year history, and in part that's the power of coming out! Fellow lesbians, bisexuals and gays with an inkling toward service and activism should come up to USU 316 and get involved in student government! The door is open for us now more than ever to make a difference on our campus. Committees are being formed now to deal with everything from AIDS awareness to campus safety, and the ASI is leading efforts to lower the outrageously high fees wc pay to attend this school. I believe wc could make a differ- David Prasad Senator for School of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Dear Editor, Last summer the Norwegian government, after years of scientific research, lifted its ban on commercial exploitation of the mink whale. They claimed to have scientific evidence that the current population could sustain limited hunting without being significantly reduced. Soon after, Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd arrived in the North Atlantic trying to stop the whaling with force and politicial pressure. By the end of the season, numerous Greenpeace vessels were taken and arrested by the Norwegian Coast Guard, and the Sea Shepherd boat, "Whales Forever" was in dry dock for repairs after having rammed a Norwegian Coast Guard vessel with its bow. Greenpeace and other environmental organizations are spending millions of dollars to achieve a ban on whaling. The environmentalists claim that the whales are on the verge of extinction and that only a total ban can save this sea mammal. They claim that the hunting of whales is unethical as they consider the whale a highly intelligent species. I will look at the motives environmentalists could have for taking this position and try to prove that they are not fighting to achieve a ban on whaling as a result of environmental concerns. ' A whale is per definition a mammal carrying out its entire lifespan in the sea. The whale's unusual sensory abilities have given rise to speculation as to their intelligence (recent research seems to provide evidence that their intelligence is equal to that of several domestic animals), and their ability to communicate by language is still unproven. Contradictory to the impression environmentalists present to us in their numerous campaigns, there is not only one kind of whale, but 86 different species. Several of the larger whales, bowhead, blue and right, have populations under 10,000, but the mink whale, which is currently hunted on a limited commercial basis, has. according to the whaling commission, a population of 950,000 — a number considered by scientists to be high enough for commercial exploitation. There are still numerous environmental issues to address throughout the world. The fire in one of the nuclear reactors in Chernobyl had a large impact on the day. the Scandinavian perience an increased amount of radioactivity that will take years to break down. The two other reactors in Chernobyl are still running without any update on the equipment. Around the industrial areas of the Kola Peninsula, hundreds of thousands of square kilometers are lifeless. Not one green spot can be found. In the southern part of Norway and Sweden, fish no longer exist in the lakes. Air pollution from highly industrialized areas in Germany and England has made the lakes too acidic for fish to survive. The North Atlantic is threatened by environmental disaster. Pollution from Central Europe, United States and the nuclear junkyards in Russia can, in a not-loo -distant future, kill all form of life in ihe ocean, including the whales. Several of these issues arc now being addressed by the environmental organizations. The question I am raising is why, with these more important environmental issues at hand, are the environmental organizations giving Vhaling such a high priority on their agenda? Over the last few years, Greenpeace and other environmental organizations have run several large-scale campaigns on whaling throughout the western world. Their purpose is to put pressure on the governments responsible for whaling and to finance iheir operations through fund raisers. As an experiment: If Greenpeace, as a result of their campaign, gains support from two percent of the population in the United States at an average dona- lion of S20 per person, they will have a revenue of S92 million — tax free! International environmental organizations are $ 100 million businesses. As whaling is not an environmental issue of great importance, as there are more important issues at hand, and as the environmental organizations make high revenues on the cause. I claim the reason why whaling is being fought is not a result of environmental concerns, but a successful attempt by the organizations to raise large sums of money for purposes unknown to the public. Do these purposes justify the means? Emerald Isle blocking justice Marlene Bryant OPINION The Fresno Bee published an article Sept 12, 1994. about an Irish nationalist who escaped extradition because his religious beliefs were jeopardized. Now, because of this never-before-used loophole, this man is free and a national hero. Never before have personal freedoms been degraded to such a low level. Where is the justice in that? At the present time, there are three other Irish nationalists in custody who are attempting to use the same loophole. The loophole is found in the 1986 treaty which was intended to make it harder for terrorists to fight extradition. Included is an amendment allowing courts the privilege to refuse to extradite a fugitive if the defendent would be "punished, detained or restricted in his personal liberties by reason of his race, religion, nationality or political opinions." James Joseph Smyth was convicted of trying to kill an off-duty prison guard in Belfast in 1978. Smyth came to the United States-after escaping from Maze prison in 1983. A judge ruled that if Smyth returned to Northern Ireland he would probably be persecuted for being a Roman Catholic and a member of the political party Sinn Fein. No one should be convicted because of their religious convictions because diversity of ideas, nationalities and cultures is a sacred institution. However, if a man commits an offense lhat injures or poses injury to anyone, then he should be tried. Still, that man is protected by basic human rights, even when he has committed a serious offense. He is still entitled to a quick and speedy trial by his peers. All people deserve to have their basic human rights safeguarded, but people must be held accountable for their actions. All of this is summarized in the U.S. Constitution. Whether a man is a U.S. citizen or not, he deserves basic human rights and respect. The country he belongs to is responsible for providing him with these rights. He, in turn, must value those rights and give something back to his nation. He has the rcsponsibilty to protect human life and the rights of others just as they should for him in return. Smyth should be punished for his crime. Murder is an immoral offense to all of humanity. In a perfect world, Smyth would have his personal freedoms and would have found an alternative solution instead of trying to kill the guard. But Smyth isn't complaining. His life is perfect because he is free and he has his persona] convictions. But, does he have a conscience? Will he try to kill again since he came through the first incident so easily in a smoke-screened loophole? How many times can he use this loophole to escape justice? Shoulda had a V-8 Celeste Cox OPINION The Juice is loose, and it's spilled all over the front page of every newspaper on the market. Everywhere I look, it's OJ. this and OJ. that. Every magazine, newspaper, television news program and tabloid boasts the inside scoop on OJ.'s secret life, the truth about Nicole's friend or the alibi that will spring the old sports legend free. Last week, one of the tabloid TV programs went as far as using a white Bronco to illustrate the 13 blood stains found in the infamous white Bronco. There were 13 x-shaped pieces of red tape inside the vehicle that the reporter pointed out from the outside. The reporter then got inside the Bronco and explained how each blood stain could have appeared. For example, there was an x- shapc on the side of the driver's seat, and the reporter explained how the driver was probably repositioning himself with his right hand on the seat. She then demonstrated by placing her hand on the x-shape and doing the driver's squiggle. Enough is enough. News shows spend more time on the life and times of OJ. Simpson than all other news combined. How's that for serving the public interest? The only way to avoid the latest breaking news is to move under a rock and have no access to the outside world at all. That's very tempting sometimes, considering the biggest breaking news thus far was an envelope with a pair of prescription eyeglasses that belonged to Nicole Brown-Simpson's mother in it. Oh, the excitement of it all. All the media coverage has come without concern for the families of the victims, Nicole Brown-Simpson and Ron Goldman. Yes, Brown-Simpson's "friend" did have a name. I know this, because I saw his family on "20/20" last week. OJ.'s family is appearing on some news show this week The fact that the families are now being interviewed is a sign that the press has hit an all-lime low. How the families "feel" about the case, the media coverage and that they miss the victims is not news. It's human nature.The families, like the courtroom, should be left alone. Thejury selection started last Mon day in L.A., of all places. There is no chance of finding anyone in that overpolluted Hell-pit that doesn't have an opinion on the case, thanks to the pathetic media blitz. Courtroom leaks, mysterious envelopes and a jealous ex-lover may sell papers and increase ratings, but in the long run may cost a one-time loved public figure his freedom. The courts have not yet decided OJ.'s guilt or innocence. However, it seems like the media has. This isn't the first time the media has decided the guilt of an individual. As was the situation with the Mcnendcz brothers, Joe Hunt (A.K.A the ringleader of the Billionare Boys Club) and Pete Rose, the media has once again gotten out of hand. For once, it would be refreshing for the media to gracefully step out of the courtroom and stop reporting the "shocking new evidence aboul OJ." on a daily ba- Maybc then, his guilt or innocence could be decided by the judicial system and not "American Journal." Or maybe I'm just an idealist. ~ TOP TEN MEDIA ALTERNATIVES TO 10.) The little league world series, now that the real gi 9.) Those cool documentaries on PBS about dolphins and pi; 8.) "Bamcy and Friends." 7.) The reruns of "The Brady Bunch," when the whole 6.) Bill Clinton's doily jogging. 5.) Dan Quayle and his daily Quaylisms. 4.) Ricki Lake and her words of wisdom at the end of every show. 3.) The new fall TVline 2.) Little Caesars' pizza commercials. I.) "Real Sex 7" on HBO. Children's center not a zoo Lisa Wackowski OPINION Vegetable and flower gardens, fruit and nut trees, a few rabbits and an aviary are part of what students are working with at the Early Education Center. The students, however are not ordinary university students — they arc children ranging in age from six months to six years and older. The center that houses the new daycare facilities provides many opportunities for the children as well as CSUF students. The finishing touches of the 12,000- squarc-foot Environments Playground will allow the children early introduction to science, math and agriculture. A pond, which will allow the children to view microorganisms in the science lab, is in the making. It is equipped with microscopes to help introduce science into the curriculum. Also outside is a playground consisting of four redwood structures, which look like little open-air houses. The structures house a sand kitchen and a water and liquid site which allows the children to move water from a basin on the ground to sinks inside. This apparatus helps the children learn the difference in weight of wet and dry sand and how to pump water uphill. To help pay for the equipment at the center, student government gave a grant of $150,000. Of course, this money came out of the fees every student paid. Children of students have first priority for admittance into the program, which has the capacity to care for 120 full-time children. This is one of the benefits to students which the center provides. Another benefit is for educate students who will be using the center for hands-on training and learning ways to incorporate more science into their classroom techniques. Despite these benefits, some people on campus aren't reacting favorably to the center. The center has run into some name-calling and even had a vandalism problem. The name-calling started last semester. Some members of the Reality Party began referring to the daycare center as the "dog care center." In protest, children walked around campus with signs saying. "We are not dogs." The Edge newspaper referred to the center as the "Petting Zoo," apparently in reference to a few rabbit cages and an aviary. True, an occasional pig or sheep will be brought over for the day, but hardly what Webster's defines as a zoo: "a place where a collection of wild animals arc kept for public showing." Now would you like to go pet a wild animal? Doesn't the "Petting Zoo" just sound like a contradictory term? The largest setback to the ccnicr came this summer when an arsonist doused the animal cages with gasoline and burnt them lo the ground. The cages arc in the process of being rebuilt now. A university is supposed to be a place to study, learn and develop new ways of thinking and doing. It seems like the university has lost some of lhat if model centers are harassed sim ply for existing. Perhaps if ihe university had more such education centers, the high school dropout rates would be lower. Studies have shown a connection between early education and staying in high school. It's not hard to imagine a more direct link between violence and name-calling and early education. Perhaps with an earlier education, name-callers would have learned the art of constructive criticism and arsonists would have more security, self-esteem and a belter education to plan lawful activities in their lives. Students who pay fees to support the early education center may not like where their fees go. They may not even like the idea of having a child-care center on campus. But childish name-calling is not the way to alter the facts. Neither is arson. It's lime people in both of those camps grew up. il:si tf^MT «aH CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO Department of Mass Communication and Journalism CSUF, 2225 E. San Ramon Ave.. Fresno. CA 93740-0010 News: 278-2892 Advertising: 278-3934 Lisa L. Alvey Editor-in-Chief Belinda Lee Managing Editor David Mlrhadl News Editor Christine Malamanig Copy Editor NikArif R. Sidek Graphic Design Editor Shelly Silva Arts & Entertainment Editor Celeste Cox Editorial Page Editor Maria Machuca Production Manager Jason Gibbs Sports Editor Matt Soby Photo Editor Lupe Fuentes Advertising Account Manager Mark Lawrence Advertising Production Mgr. Yl Plng Ho Circulation Manager PRODUCTIOri ASSISTANTS Shahada Abdul -Karim Kori Rianda Marlene Bryant Joe Rosato Jr. Terese Farmen John Shaw Laura Michelle Henry Deborah Smith Jabari Lawrence Mariko Sugano Start WHMm Studaota of MCJ 102W 4 103 Advl.or: AdvBrtl.lng Staff: Student* of MCJ 1 43 Dr. Oaorg* A, Flynn 1 1
Object Description
Title | 1994_09 Insight September 1994 |
Alternative Title | Insight (California State University, Fresno) |
Publisher | Dept. of Journalism, California State University, Fresno. |
Publication Date | 1994 |
Description | Weekly during the school year. Vol. 1, no. 1 (Oct. 8 1969-v. 29, no. 23 (May 13, 1998, issue. Title from masthead. Merged with Daily collegian. |
Subject | California State University, Fresno -- Periodials |
Contributors | California State University, Fresno Dept. of Journalism |
Coverage | October 8, 1969 - May 13, 1998 |
Format | Microfilm reels, 35mm |
Technical Information | Scanned at 600 dpi, TIFF; Microfilm ScanPro 2000 "E-image data" |
Language | eng |
Description
Title | 018_Insight Sep 28 1994 p 2 |
Alternative Title | Insight (California State University, Fresno) |
Publication Date | 1994 |
Full-Text-Search | EDITORIAL CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO September 28,1994 INSIGHT Dear Editor, A big huge thank you for the two articles supporting lesbians, bi- sexuals transgendered people and gays in tit*Insight on September 21. 1994! The first article, a story on lesbians, bisexuals and gays in and out of the closet overwhelmed me with its depth; quoting lesbian, bisexual and gay people on their observations of why people who are "Queer" remain in the closet and what they fear and actually experience in coming out. The observations on the typical three reactions to "Queer" people by straight people were right on the mark. The second article was about Pete Wilson's recent veto of a state bill to legalize domestic partnership, a legal union of two unmarried people. Such a law would have given lesbian and gay couples a chance to gain some of the many benefits of marriage, benefits that are only available to heterosexuals as they are the only people who are al lowed to marry. Financial disincentives are many and numerous against being in a lesbian or gay union, and I agree they are patently unjust. Kudos to the outspoken editorial by Marlene Bryant and for the incredibly in-depth article by Terese Farmen. If you haven't guessed by now, I'm openly "Queer." I'm also a representative in student government as Senator of the School of Agricultural Sciences and Technology. One of my jobs as a student senator is making sure all the clubs in my joint council and part of my school are well represented in the student government, as well as being a connection to the students of my school to the campus bureaucracies. One reason for me not to come out is many people in my school may feel uncomfortable or fearful of "Queers." In fact, the last two representatives of my school tried to cut off the educational efforts of the student club LGBSA, the Lesbian, Transgendered, Bisexual, and Gay people's union on campus, by using their unique powers over students as student senators. I personally will never forget these efforts and what they mean: they mean we can't afford to sit back in fear and inaction. We have to rise up and claim our right to belong. Wilh the changes made to ASI by the students in the last year's student body election, LGBSA never has had an easier year to exist on the campus in its eight year history, and in part that's the power of coming out! Fellow lesbians, bisexuals and gays with an inkling toward service and activism should come up to USU 316 and get involved in student government! The door is open for us now more than ever to make a difference on our campus. Committees are being formed now to deal with everything from AIDS awareness to campus safety, and the ASI is leading efforts to lower the outrageously high fees wc pay to attend this school. I believe wc could make a differ- David Prasad Senator for School of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Dear Editor, Last summer the Norwegian government, after years of scientific research, lifted its ban on commercial exploitation of the mink whale. They claimed to have scientific evidence that the current population could sustain limited hunting without being significantly reduced. Soon after, Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd arrived in the North Atlantic trying to stop the whaling with force and politicial pressure. By the end of the season, numerous Greenpeace vessels were taken and arrested by the Norwegian Coast Guard, and the Sea Shepherd boat, "Whales Forever" was in dry dock for repairs after having rammed a Norwegian Coast Guard vessel with its bow. Greenpeace and other environmental organizations are spending millions of dollars to achieve a ban on whaling. The environmentalists claim that the whales are on the verge of extinction and that only a total ban can save this sea mammal. They claim that the hunting of whales is unethical as they consider the whale a highly intelligent species. I will look at the motives environmentalists could have for taking this position and try to prove that they are not fighting to achieve a ban on whaling as a result of environmental concerns. ' A whale is per definition a mammal carrying out its entire lifespan in the sea. The whale's unusual sensory abilities have given rise to speculation as to their intelligence (recent research seems to provide evidence that their intelligence is equal to that of several domestic animals), and their ability to communicate by language is still unproven. Contradictory to the impression environmentalists present to us in their numerous campaigns, there is not only one kind of whale, but 86 different species. Several of the larger whales, bowhead, blue and right, have populations under 10,000, but the mink whale, which is currently hunted on a limited commercial basis, has. according to the whaling commission, a population of 950,000 — a number considered by scientists to be high enough for commercial exploitation. There are still numerous environmental issues to address throughout the world. The fire in one of the nuclear reactors in Chernobyl had a large impact on the day. the Scandinavian perience an increased amount of radioactivity that will take years to break down. The two other reactors in Chernobyl are still running without any update on the equipment. Around the industrial areas of the Kola Peninsula, hundreds of thousands of square kilometers are lifeless. Not one green spot can be found. In the southern part of Norway and Sweden, fish no longer exist in the lakes. Air pollution from highly industrialized areas in Germany and England has made the lakes too acidic for fish to survive. The North Atlantic is threatened by environmental disaster. Pollution from Central Europe, United States and the nuclear junkyards in Russia can, in a not-loo -distant future, kill all form of life in ihe ocean, including the whales. Several of these issues arc now being addressed by the environmental organizations. The question I am raising is why, with these more important environmental issues at hand, are the environmental organizations giving Vhaling such a high priority on their agenda? Over the last few years, Greenpeace and other environmental organizations have run several large-scale campaigns on whaling throughout the western world. Their purpose is to put pressure on the governments responsible for whaling and to finance iheir operations through fund raisers. As an experiment: If Greenpeace, as a result of their campaign, gains support from two percent of the population in the United States at an average dona- lion of S20 per person, they will have a revenue of S92 million — tax free! International environmental organizations are $ 100 million businesses. As whaling is not an environmental issue of great importance, as there are more important issues at hand, and as the environmental organizations make high revenues on the cause. I claim the reason why whaling is being fought is not a result of environmental concerns, but a successful attempt by the organizations to raise large sums of money for purposes unknown to the public. Do these purposes justify the means? Emerald Isle blocking justice Marlene Bryant OPINION The Fresno Bee published an article Sept 12, 1994. about an Irish nationalist who escaped extradition because his religious beliefs were jeopardized. Now, because of this never-before-used loophole, this man is free and a national hero. Never before have personal freedoms been degraded to such a low level. Where is the justice in that? At the present time, there are three other Irish nationalists in custody who are attempting to use the same loophole. The loophole is found in the 1986 treaty which was intended to make it harder for terrorists to fight extradition. Included is an amendment allowing courts the privilege to refuse to extradite a fugitive if the defendent would be "punished, detained or restricted in his personal liberties by reason of his race, religion, nationality or political opinions." James Joseph Smyth was convicted of trying to kill an off-duty prison guard in Belfast in 1978. Smyth came to the United States-after escaping from Maze prison in 1983. A judge ruled that if Smyth returned to Northern Ireland he would probably be persecuted for being a Roman Catholic and a member of the political party Sinn Fein. No one should be convicted because of their religious convictions because diversity of ideas, nationalities and cultures is a sacred institution. However, if a man commits an offense lhat injures or poses injury to anyone, then he should be tried. Still, that man is protected by basic human rights, even when he has committed a serious offense. He is still entitled to a quick and speedy trial by his peers. All people deserve to have their basic human rights safeguarded, but people must be held accountable for their actions. All of this is summarized in the U.S. Constitution. Whether a man is a U.S. citizen or not, he deserves basic human rights and respect. The country he belongs to is responsible for providing him with these rights. He, in turn, must value those rights and give something back to his nation. He has the rcsponsibilty to protect human life and the rights of others just as they should for him in return. Smyth should be punished for his crime. Murder is an immoral offense to all of humanity. In a perfect world, Smyth would have his personal freedoms and would have found an alternative solution instead of trying to kill the guard. But Smyth isn't complaining. His life is perfect because he is free and he has his persona] convictions. But, does he have a conscience? Will he try to kill again since he came through the first incident so easily in a smoke-screened loophole? How many times can he use this loophole to escape justice? Shoulda had a V-8 Celeste Cox OPINION The Juice is loose, and it's spilled all over the front page of every newspaper on the market. Everywhere I look, it's OJ. this and OJ. that. Every magazine, newspaper, television news program and tabloid boasts the inside scoop on OJ.'s secret life, the truth about Nicole's friend or the alibi that will spring the old sports legend free. Last week, one of the tabloid TV programs went as far as using a white Bronco to illustrate the 13 blood stains found in the infamous white Bronco. There were 13 x-shaped pieces of red tape inside the vehicle that the reporter pointed out from the outside. The reporter then got inside the Bronco and explained how each blood stain could have appeared. For example, there was an x- shapc on the side of the driver's seat, and the reporter explained how the driver was probably repositioning himself with his right hand on the seat. She then demonstrated by placing her hand on the x-shape and doing the driver's squiggle. Enough is enough. News shows spend more time on the life and times of OJ. Simpson than all other news combined. How's that for serving the public interest? The only way to avoid the latest breaking news is to move under a rock and have no access to the outside world at all. That's very tempting sometimes, considering the biggest breaking news thus far was an envelope with a pair of prescription eyeglasses that belonged to Nicole Brown-Simpson's mother in it. Oh, the excitement of it all. All the media coverage has come without concern for the families of the victims, Nicole Brown-Simpson and Ron Goldman. Yes, Brown-Simpson's "friend" did have a name. I know this, because I saw his family on "20/20" last week. OJ.'s family is appearing on some news show this week The fact that the families are now being interviewed is a sign that the press has hit an all-lime low. How the families "feel" about the case, the media coverage and that they miss the victims is not news. It's human nature.The families, like the courtroom, should be left alone. Thejury selection started last Mon day in L.A., of all places. There is no chance of finding anyone in that overpolluted Hell-pit that doesn't have an opinion on the case, thanks to the pathetic media blitz. Courtroom leaks, mysterious envelopes and a jealous ex-lover may sell papers and increase ratings, but in the long run may cost a one-time loved public figure his freedom. The courts have not yet decided OJ.'s guilt or innocence. However, it seems like the media has. This isn't the first time the media has decided the guilt of an individual. As was the situation with the Mcnendcz brothers, Joe Hunt (A.K.A the ringleader of the Billionare Boys Club) and Pete Rose, the media has once again gotten out of hand. For once, it would be refreshing for the media to gracefully step out of the courtroom and stop reporting the "shocking new evidence aboul OJ." on a daily ba- Maybc then, his guilt or innocence could be decided by the judicial system and not "American Journal." Or maybe I'm just an idealist. ~ TOP TEN MEDIA ALTERNATIVES TO 10.) The little league world series, now that the real gi 9.) Those cool documentaries on PBS about dolphins and pi; 8.) "Bamcy and Friends." 7.) The reruns of "The Brady Bunch," when the whole 6.) Bill Clinton's doily jogging. 5.) Dan Quayle and his daily Quaylisms. 4.) Ricki Lake and her words of wisdom at the end of every show. 3.) The new fall TVline 2.) Little Caesars' pizza commercials. I.) "Real Sex 7" on HBO. Children's center not a zoo Lisa Wackowski OPINION Vegetable and flower gardens, fruit and nut trees, a few rabbits and an aviary are part of what students are working with at the Early Education Center. The students, however are not ordinary university students — they arc children ranging in age from six months to six years and older. The center that houses the new daycare facilities provides many opportunities for the children as well as CSUF students. The finishing touches of the 12,000- squarc-foot Environments Playground will allow the children early introduction to science, math and agriculture. A pond, which will allow the children to view microorganisms in the science lab, is in the making. It is equipped with microscopes to help introduce science into the curriculum. Also outside is a playground consisting of four redwood structures, which look like little open-air houses. The structures house a sand kitchen and a water and liquid site which allows the children to move water from a basin on the ground to sinks inside. This apparatus helps the children learn the difference in weight of wet and dry sand and how to pump water uphill. To help pay for the equipment at the center, student government gave a grant of $150,000. Of course, this money came out of the fees every student paid. Children of students have first priority for admittance into the program, which has the capacity to care for 120 full-time children. This is one of the benefits to students which the center provides. Another benefit is for educate students who will be using the center for hands-on training and learning ways to incorporate more science into their classroom techniques. Despite these benefits, some people on campus aren't reacting favorably to the center. The center has run into some name-calling and even had a vandalism problem. The name-calling started last semester. Some members of the Reality Party began referring to the daycare center as the "dog care center." In protest, children walked around campus with signs saying. "We are not dogs." The Edge newspaper referred to the center as the "Petting Zoo," apparently in reference to a few rabbit cages and an aviary. True, an occasional pig or sheep will be brought over for the day, but hardly what Webster's defines as a zoo: "a place where a collection of wild animals arc kept for public showing." Now would you like to go pet a wild animal? Doesn't the "Petting Zoo" just sound like a contradictory term? The largest setback to the ccnicr came this summer when an arsonist doused the animal cages with gasoline and burnt them lo the ground. The cages arc in the process of being rebuilt now. A university is supposed to be a place to study, learn and develop new ways of thinking and doing. It seems like the university has lost some of lhat if model centers are harassed sim ply for existing. Perhaps if ihe university had more such education centers, the high school dropout rates would be lower. Studies have shown a connection between early education and staying in high school. It's not hard to imagine a more direct link between violence and name-calling and early education. Perhaps with an earlier education, name-callers would have learned the art of constructive criticism and arsonists would have more security, self-esteem and a belter education to plan lawful activities in their lives. Students who pay fees to support the early education center may not like where their fees go. They may not even like the idea of having a child-care center on campus. But childish name-calling is not the way to alter the facts. Neither is arson. It's lime people in both of those camps grew up. il:si tf^MT «aH CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO Department of Mass Communication and Journalism CSUF, 2225 E. San Ramon Ave.. Fresno. CA 93740-0010 News: 278-2892 Advertising: 278-3934 Lisa L. Alvey Editor-in-Chief Belinda Lee Managing Editor David Mlrhadl News Editor Christine Malamanig Copy Editor NikArif R. Sidek Graphic Design Editor Shelly Silva Arts & Entertainment Editor Celeste Cox Editorial Page Editor Maria Machuca Production Manager Jason Gibbs Sports Editor Matt Soby Photo Editor Lupe Fuentes Advertising Account Manager Mark Lawrence Advertising Production Mgr. Yl Plng Ho Circulation Manager PRODUCTIOri ASSISTANTS Shahada Abdul -Karim Kori Rianda Marlene Bryant Joe Rosato Jr. Terese Farmen John Shaw Laura Michelle Henry Deborah Smith Jabari Lawrence Mariko Sugano Start WHMm Studaota of MCJ 102W 4 103 Advl.or: AdvBrtl.lng Staff: Student* of MCJ 1 43 Dr. Oaorg* A, Flynn 1 1 |