SGA serves all students well
"What does SGA ever do for UNCA?" This is a question
students around campus frequently ask. These people seem
to be wondering why the Student Government Association
exists, since they have never heard of anything their
representatives have done.
These people are among many UNCA students who
suffer from a common afffiction; apathy. The students
who are ignorant of the programs instituted by SGA are
the same ones who blow off voting for candi^tes in SGA
elections each year. Not only do they fail to take the
time to cast their ballot, they then justify their
indifference by suggesting SGA does nothing for "them."
Of course, commuter students generally do not have the
time to devote to events on campus. But SGA serves all
students, both commuter and resident. The actions of SGA
officers affect the entire university. It takes no longer
than five minutes to vote. It’s about time these apathetic
students realize this. Only through their participation will
they be able to appreciate SGA.
Very few students participate. When about 300 of more
than 3,000 students turn out for SGA elections as did last
year, participation is definitely a problem. Not only has
voter turnout been abnost non-existent before, but also
the number of students running for office has been a
joke. In the past, the incoming officers have had to
recruit senators for vacant seats while other candidates
ran unopposed.
This year is an exception. Although several candidates
are unopposed, there are enough to fill every seat. What
will these students do once they are elected? If the past
two years are any indication, they vdll accomplish a great
deal. During the 1985-86 school year, SGA, under the
leadership of Neal Rhoades and Pat Cabe, inaugurated over
50 programs and resolutions. Their efforts continued with
the Hardy administration, which has been involved in a
variety of projects, including such activities as addressing
the financial aid and parking problems here at UNCA,
providing voter registration for students and aiding in
cleaning up Reed Creek, which flows to the Botanical
Gardens.
With this kind of exceptional initiative from student
government, each student should feel an obligation to vote
in the upcoming SGA elections. Voting is not only a right,
it’s a responsibility.
Opinion
Are candy machines for gambling?
By Bill Vickery
Staff Writer
Blue Banner
Scott Luckadoo
Managing Editor Casey Baluss
Business Manager Tony McKinney
News Editor Julie Ball
Assistant News Editor Michael Pauciello
Sports Editor Chris Allison
Assistant Sports Editor Geoff Cabe
Entertainnnent Editor Michele Samuel
Assistant Entertainment Editor Dom Kramers
Advertising Manager Chuck Spanbauer
Co-photography Editor Tracy Fagan
Co-photography Editor Tracy Moore
Advisor Greg Lisby
STAFF
WRITERS: Cynthia Bennett, Cheryl Prause, Leta Parks. Ken Hardy, Joan Schnyder, Julia
Coward, Bill Vickery.
PHOTOGRAPHERS: Phil Alexander, Adam Brooks. Melanie Floyd, Sarah Gottfried.
AD REPRESENTATIVES: John Brackett. Jr., Mike Morris, Scott Wilhelmi, Denise Patton.
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What do Las Vegas and Atlantic City have in
common with UNCA? All three run legal
gambling machines. While the machines in Las
Vegas and Atlantic City are easily recognized as
slot machines, those at UNCA are disguised as
Coke or candy machines.
At least once a day I attempt to play the
machines. Like all big time gamblers, I have a
ritual to go through before I play. "Excuse me,
do you have change for a dollar ?", I ask.
Everyday I get the answer. "No, but I think the
candy machine gives change for a dollar." Now
I have an excuse to play both machines.
Without looking to see what is available in
the candy machine, I begin my play. I slide in
my crisp new dollar bill. The machine teases me
for a moment. Then it spits out an old wrinkled
bill. After repeating this phase at least six
times, success is achieved. I’m in. The game is
on.
I must now pick a number. To the novice, the
number is not important. The snack is
important. But not to the experienced gambler.
Lets see, 13 is unlucky. How about 56? I was
born in ’56. It must be an omen. Hurriedly I
push 56. Bingo! Change drops down with a
delicious Mounds bar. I’m on a roll. Like all
big-time gamblers, once is not enough. The
second game must be played.
The excitement of the first victory is still on
my mind as I cram two quarters into the Coke
machine. Again I do not check to see what
selections are available. It is the thrill of
chance that drives me now. I must now choose
a slot to push. It is the position of the slot
that matters to me. Different gamblers use
varying methods to decide. I play hunches. Do I
push the top slot? Or maybe the exact middle?
A yellow slot? Most people believe that yellow
is unlucky. I’m playing a hunch, though. Yellow
it is. Jackpot!
What a great day? A good gambler knows
when to quit. Most days are not quite this
good. Usually once or twice a week I lose. I
think that I handle it well. Others I’ve seen
lose are not as gracious. Many blame the
machines and become violent. The machine
never loses a fight, though. Others discuss the
family heritage of the machine.
I have sought help for my problem.
Unfortunately, it has not helped me. The only
success I’ve had came by chance. How
appropriate. I had just lost a game with the
Coke machine. A man came up with a load of
drinks for the machine. "Lose your money?," he
asked. "Yes," I said. He then reimbursed my
money.
If you lose your money in a vending machine,
relax. Take several deep breaths. Try and forget
about it. If you want a refund, your best bet is
to catch the vendor as hie fills the machine.
Tell prospects about our comps
By Casey Baluss
Managing Editor
My roommate understood because she faces
the same agony later this month. But the rest
of the world, at least that part of it that
touched me, didn’t understand.
For three weeks sleep has evaded my nights,
and panic invaded my days. The knowledge that
one day soon the burden oppressing my life
would be lifted (hopefully permanendy), did
little to help me see beyond the gray heaviness
that increased in geometric progression as
March 2-4 drew nearer.
The language may be a bit flowery and
exaggerated, but the emotion it is meant to
convey is not exaggerated. Yesterday, I
completed the last of the comprehensive exams
necessary to exit UNCA with a BA degree in
communications. Successful completion, even
very successful completion, of the 120-plus
hours required to earn a degree is meaningless
unless comps too are successfully completed.
Among the many institutional responses I
received to the question (asked in earnest — I
have no objection to agony that induces
intellectual growth, or I wouldn’t be pursuing a
degree at all) "Why are comps required?", one
professor’s answer didn’t sound like institutional
hype. This professor in essence answered that
the former chair of the department felt his
comprehensive exams were the high point of his
education.
I am left wondering if part of this wonderful
experience was the ciunulation of stress while
he watched (joyfully?) as his current classwork
grew hopelessly behind while he studied for
comps. I wonder, too, if anyone could take
seriously a statement from any person who
enjoyed comprehensive exams.
I understand that not all majors on this
campus are required to ’enjoy’ comprehensive
exams. Why? Do the faculty of those
departments do a superior job of imparting
knowledge? I doubt it. I xan’t imagine a faculty
on campus more dedicated to teaching than the
individuals comprising the communications/lit
department, though my perspective is admittedly
limited.
Is there a solution? Can students initiate
change?
Having just experienced the joy of
comprehensive exams, and haying discovered no
purpose for this requirement, I bequeath a
suggestion to those of you who face this
wonderful experience (that cheats us out of full
attention to current studies). If you want to see
the policy changed (if not for yourself, for
future torturees), take action. Tell every
prospective student you meet about comps (a
requirement prospects tend to overlook in
admission material, although it is there), and
point out the fact that prospects can attend
ahnost every other university in the state
system without facing this useless requirement.
When prospects choose other schools, perhaps
then the policy will be reconsidered.