1983_10 Insight October 1983

              "2-
"Editorials
October 12,1983      Insight
James Watt R.I.P.
Interior Secretary James Watt
has resigned from the Reagan administration. We at Insight will miss
him — and believe others will mourn
his departure, as well.
Ronald Reagan will miss James
Watt. For several months the
secretary has been able to keep 11
million unemployed, four dead
Marine "peace keepers," stalled
nuclear arms talks and a host of other
national issues off of the front pages of
American newspapers.
Dan Rather will miss James
Watt. The paragon of broadcast "journalists"   will   no  longer  have  his
favorite target to smirk at, nor shake
his beautiful salt and pepper head at,
for that matter.
The Sierra Club will miss James
Watt. They have lost the biggest
target their invective rhetoric ever
had.
The Democratic Party will miss
James Watt. The number one noose
around President Reaean's neck is
gone. New speeches will have to be
written and new strategies for the 1984
campaign devised.
Yes, many Americans will miss
James Watt.
But nat much.
Where's the justice in
our justice system?
The Stanton Police Department
recently showed why it is becoming
more difficult for the American
public to place a great deal of trust
in the law enforcement system.
After one of the department's officers, Anthony Sperl, 24, shot and
killed 5-year-old Patrick Mason on
March 5th, the Stanton PD exemplified blatant insensitivity
toward one of the elements it was
designed to protect.
After an undeniable act of irresponsibility on the behalf of Sperl,
the Stanton PD didn't so much as
give him a wrist slapping—publicly
anyway. Worse yet, it is trying to defend Sperl's carelessness by saying
that the child's mother, Patricia
Ridge, 27, is the sole guilty person
because, after all, she did leave the
child alone while she went to Work.
Ridge, who had just begun a new job,
probably realizes now that she never
should have left the 5-year-old
alone. But how in the hell can anyone
relieve the officer of any wrongdoing
in this situation? Assuming this incident was entirely an accident,
Sperl's incompetency cannot be
overlooked.
Of course, he probably still sees
visions of the child sitting on the
floor playing with a toy gun while he
kicks in the door of Mason's
bedroom and blasts the innocent
youth in the neck and kills him, but
the $35,000 that was awarded to him
by the Worker's Compensation Appeal Board should prove to be more
than an adequate sedative for
Sperl's jittering nerves and occasional nightmares (even if only on a
temporary basis).
The  board  awarded  him  the
prize on July 29th after Sperl filed
for worker's compensation after he'
claimed to be under considerable
psychological stress because of the
shooting.
The dishonesty of the police
department is amplified by the fact
that instead of making a profound
social statement condeming Sperl's
reckless regard for human life, the
department chose to place more emphasis in covering up one of its own.
The message should have been
clear: A mistake was made by one of >
Letters to the editor
our officers, and we plan to handle
this matter accordingly—he should
not have'been allowed to resign — he
should have been ousted, immediately.
How can a system which deems
itself just seek legal action against
the mother whose child that very
system has destroyed?
Does the Stanton Police Department actually want the public to
believe that Mason's death was a
more traumatic experience. for
Sperl, who is sufferirrgifrorh an acute
case of guilt, than it is for Ridge, who
is in bereavement over the loss of
her only child?
Dear Editor:
On Wednesday, Oct. 5. the Daily Collegian
printed a rather sentimental semi-
autobiographical review of the 1962-83 A.S.
Presidential form of Paul Canales. It contained
the usual self-indulgent nostalgia tegtaing,
with a march to the presidency from humble
origins. Normally this sort, of stroll down
- memory lane merits no further mention beyond
the initial impression it creates. However,
several comments made by the former A.s!
President implied a comparison between his administration antfilJe. present A.S. administration. Now his comments do not call for a storm
of rebuttle, but the impressions generated by in-
uendo do require further clarification if the student citizenry is to honestly evaluate the
methodology and goals of both administra-
The latter half of Mr. Canales' article
made three statements suggestive of comparison. These concerned the highlights of his
term fn office, the proper conduct of office, and
the most memorable lesson learned from his
administration. So let us more closely
scrutinize each of these areas and attempt to
provide a broader contrasting point of view.
The bright moments of Mr. Canales' term
seem to have been his participation in the selection committee for a new athletic director, his
inter-workings with the Bulldog Pwirrdafion,
and his dialogue with the CSUFmbninistration
and a certain faction of the'California Stole
Legislature. The present A.S. presidential ad-'
ministration has not followed suit by compiling
a  similar  list of highlights without intent.
Granted we recognize that cooperation with the
CSUF administration and state government is
pursuant to effectively broad-minded student
government, yet we also believe that any concerned A.S. president should serve primarily as
the watchdog of student affairs rather than the
lapdog of personal ambition and the afore mentioned college administrative and state governmental bodies. /^^
Specially, we referto'uie need Mr. Canales
stressed to maintain the support of Republican -
State Sen. Ken Maddy. Exactly what is the true
value of this kind of support, which rests upon
no student opposition to the honorable senator's
pet projects? • /
True support includes defending/ and if
necessary, sustaining the right and existence of
dissent. Could it not be that Mr.'Cnnaies placed
far too much importance upon Sen. Maddy's
good will at the cost of neglecting the indepen .
dent will of student government.
Mr. Canales also singled out leadership as
the lasting lesson he acquired from his term in
office. When contrasted to the facts, his choice
represents a rather amusing if not comedic
paradox. For a brief review of last spring's
issues of both the Daily Collegian and Insight
reveal vituperative criticism concerning the
lack'of leadership apparent in the Canales ad
ministration. One has to marvel at Mr. Canales
for receiving the Leon S. Peters Leadership
Award via selection by one CSUF administration. Leadership in whose eyes? The student
body or bodies to which Mr. Canales owed
substantially less ^•eountabilily?
In conclusion, the primary purpose of this
address is not to necessarily rebuke Mr.
Canales. Ori the contrary, we welcome his constructive criticism. Moreover, when warranted,
we will gladly reply to any suggested or direct
questions concerning our procedures and efficacy. Our true intent is to clarify our position
and to differentiate ourselves from last year's
A.S. presidential administration. In doing so we
hope to project our desire to increase genuine
student leverage in the governing process of our
campus and its sister campuses rather than
soliciting favors and good will by submission of
both our dignity and sovereignity.
Andrea K Hedgley
A.S. President
Vowt ti Fine Job
4fe4 a StupiJ
He/iark should«l
h«\/e merit your
yes , you Voj FaceJ.
Terk} err.*. uk.e. Ronl.
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Editor in-chi«/ Steve D.Smith
Managing Editor Cyndl Guerre
Photo Editor Tom SpUl
SherriSolgat
Elaine CU
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Helen Marie Janoutek
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