Page 12
The Blue Banner
November 4,2004
ACLU
continuedfrom page 1
shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks to promote national secu
rity by enhancing communication
between law enforcement agencies
and increasing the amount of in
formation available.
On Oct. 12, 2001, Wisconsin
Republican Congressman James
Sensenbrenner, Jr. began discussion
of the bill under its full title, “Pro
vide Appropriate Tools Required to
Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism,”
or “PATRIOT.”
Congress enacted the Patriot Act
by overwhelming bipartisan mar
gins, arming law enforcement with
new tools to detect and prevent ter
rorism, according to a statement on
the U.S. Department of Justice
Web site.
The Senate and House of Rep
resentatives passed the legislation
98 to 1 and 357 to 66, with sup
port from members of the entire
political spectrum, according to the
Web site.
“From a legal perspective, I think
that many parts of the Patriot Act
are unconstitutional,” said Mark
Gibney, political science professor.
“The Fourth Amendment talks
about what the government can,
but cannot, do. The Patriot Act al
lows the government to do things
that the Constitution does not.”
Supporters of the bill only
achieved success by making “many
critical provisions” temporary. The
provisional period, and much of the
Patriot Act’s effect, will end in 2005
unless Congress and the Bush ad
ministration successfully complete
plans to lift the time limit, accord
ing to the New York Times.
President Bush said repeatedly
that the Patriot Act grants law en
forcement tools necessary for de
fense against further terrorist at
tacks. He plans to make parts of the
act permanent law during his sec
ond term.
In the controversial documen
tary “Fahrenheit 911,” filmmaker
Michael Moore accused members
of Congress of passing the act clan
destinely after hours and accused
many more congressional members
of never having read its many con
voluted pages.
“Limiting governmental, police
and employer intrusion into, and
abuse of, individual rights is inher
ently anti-establishment, and that
position tends to piss people off,
particularly those comfortable with,
and/or benefiting from, that very
establishment,” said Rowland.
“The definition of abuse is some
what murky, however, and I cer
tainly do not agree with all the
causes which the ACLU champion.
“Even though I may not agree
with some of their stances, I cer
tainly see a need for their exist-
Yt
cnce.
The forum’s second speaker,
Frank Goldsmith, detailed Ameri
can violations of the Geneva Con
vention, an international treaty de
fining and banning war crimes.
He contrasted relatively humane
treatment of prisoners of war by
Germany in World War II, a coun
try that signed the Geneva Con
vention, to the relatively brutal
treatment of prisoners of war by Ja
pan in World War II, a country that
didn’t.
Treatment of U.S.-held prison
ers of the war on terror includes the
capture, detainment and torture of
prisoners that does not follow the
specific regulations of the interna
tional treaty, according to Gold
smith, a veteran of the U.S. Armed
Forces.
The United States violated
many other rules of the Geneva
Convention in the ways it declared
war and fought in Iraq and in the
ways it handled the reconstruction
of Iraq.
“We consider these educational
forums,” said Martha Shepard,
Western North Carolina ACLU
treasurer. “These are educational
vehicles for national law and war
News
Report analyzes effects of college experience
by Angele Mainhart
Staff Reporter
Those who attend college
have a lower rate of smoking
and are more likely to take an
interest in volunteering, giving
blood and voing, according to
a report the College Board re
leased in Oc
ean drink and smoke and not
have their parents see them.
“I think people are going to
do that regardless that it’s a
pretty stupid thing to do. We
all know that it’s bad for you,
but at the same time there’s a
lot of peer pressure.”
As far as voting and volun
teering, some people said they
do not exactly agree with the re
port.
volunteering. I’m a coach for
little kids, and it is my job to
volunteer my time and inspire
those kids.
“If I were really something
other than a half-wit, I would
still volunteer so it would look
good on my resume to help get
me into grad
who’s been affected by it. So I m
imagining there’s a lot of people,
even if they don’t have a college
education, who would have
some kind of stance. There’s
more issues that would affect
them.”
The concept of civic duty
arises in the is-
t many
to dis
agree.
“I think
that’s
malarkey for
lack of a pro
fane word,”
said Joshua
Hughes, a
two-year stu
dent from
Asheville
“I think that a lot of
people who come to this
environment are excited
that they can drink and
smoke and not have their
parents see them.”
Benjamin Betsalel
UNCA alumnus
Buncombe-Technical Commu
nity College. “Every college
campus I’ve been on has been
loaded with smokers. I see no
correlation between college stu
dents and smokers.”
Despite the statistics, stu
dents do not believe that a lower
smoking rate exists among col
lege students.
They judge by the number
of fellow students who smoke.
“Not as far as I can tell, if
the ashtrays on campus are any
indication,” said Jeremy
Duncan, a two-year student
from Central Piedmont Com
munity College.
They also feel that stress and
lack of parental supervision
adds to the number of student
smokers.
Freedom and peer pressure
can outweigh the negatives of
smoking.
“College students are just as
stressed out, or whatever, as
people in the working world
that are their own age,” said
Benjamin Betsalel, a recent
UNCA graduate. “I would like
to think that education leads to
people not smoking cigarettes,
drinking and all those kinds of
things, but I think that a lot of
people who come to this envi
ronment are excited that they
Different
experiences
that do not
come from a
college expe
rience led to
their ideas of
volunteering.
“I grew up
poor, from a
poor neigh
borhood, and
the reason I’m
probably
where I am is because people
volunteered to help me out, es
pecially the Catholic nuns
where I grew up,” said John
Gant, associate professor of
Spanish at UNCA. “I saw how
it helped, and this is a way of
me giving back. Also, it’s a way
of helping out
school.”
Volunteer
ing may not
feel rewarding
immediately
to some, but
for others,
giving back to
the commu
nity can pay
off down the
road.
“The more
you plan
ahead, the
more you’re
going to look
“Volunteering isn’t over
whelmingly the greatest
feeling you’ve ever had,
but it’s what you feel like
afterwards where you
know the importance of
it. It’s kind of like post-
poningjoy.”
sues of voting
and volunteer-
Jeremy Duncan
Central Piedmont Community
College student
at the benefits of doing those
things that don’t really reward
you in the short term,” said
Duncan. “Volunteering isn’t
overwhelmingly the greatest
feeling you’ve ever had, but it’s
what you feel like afterwards
where you know the importance
of it.
mg.
Many feel
that people
should con
tribute to the
community,
and they can
learn more
about this
through col
lege.
“What’s
happening
now will alfect
all of our
“Even if you’re
my fellow
man. It’s a
duty. I enjoy
it. I learn as
much from
them as prob
ably they get
out of me.”
One person
took a differ
ent outlook on
what actually
constitutes
volunteer
work. The idea
of not receiv-
“I think that an educated
person knows the impor
tance and power of one
vote, and I think you go to
college, get an education
and learn about the
issues that are in the
media.”
Benjamin Betsalel
UNCA alumnus
“It’s kind
of like post
poning joy.
It’s something
that builds
character and
makes you a
better per-
son.
Many
people said
they did agree
that a college
background
increases the
likelihood of
ing monetary rewards for the
work comes second to the no
tion of giving back to the com
munity.
“I think it’s more of giving
back to the community,” said
Duncan. “Some people give
back to the community, and
that’s their job. Some people
make money and that’s their
job, and so then they have to
give back to the community by
people voting due to a better
education on issues involved in
the elections, but they also think
that many people without
higher educations still vote.
“I think a lot more people,
even those who normally
wouldn’t vote, will vote because
the political situation has be
come so important, especially
with the war,” said Duncan.
“Everyone knows somebody
lives,” said Gant. ‘
young and don’t think it will ef
fect your life, it probably will in
the future, if not immediately. I
think it’s our civic duty to vote
and to volunteer.
“It makes us less selfish and
expands our understanding of
the communities and people
around us. I think that people
who don’t vote are really not
contributing to society as they
should. They’re being compla
cent and, quite frankly, in my
opinion, selfish.”
Through a higher education,
people come to understand the
political and social issues sur
rounding them.
Their minds open up to new
concepts that lead to a stronger
opinions and desires to express
those opinions.
“I think that an educated per
son knows the importance and
power of one vote, and I think
you go to college, get an educa
tion and learn about the issues
that are in the media,” said
Betsalel. “You kind of realize
that there is such a big picture,
and you start to worry, or at least
think about, what’s outside of
what’s on TV tonight. You start
to read, and you start to build
up an intellectual mind that
thinks and wonders.”
Election
continued from page 1
not what America is supposed
to be about,” said Watson.
“You constantly hear ‘It’s a free
country,’ but when an entire
group of people is excluded
from rights, such as marriage
rights, you
can’t really say
that.”
This elec
tion may serve
as the jolt that
Democrats re
quire to so
lidify as a
party, find an
identity and
compete with
Republicans in
the 2008 elec-
stand Kerry. I’m a Republican,
and I don’t like the Liberals.”
Presidential runner-up John
Kerry has a flawed idea of which
morals should be embraced by
a national leader, and should
not support
example of the system working
perfectly,” said
“You constantly hear‘It’s
a free country,’ but when
an entire group of people
is excluded from rights,
such as marriage rights,
you can’t really say that.”
Jennifer Watson
senior psychology major
tion, according to Watson.
“I think this should be a
wake-up call for (Democrats),”
said Watson. “Maybe they
need this pressure to get fired
up, and maybe next time in
stead of just being anti-Bush or
anti-whomever, maybe they
could be pro-issues of impor
tance.”
Another student who voted
for Bush, Nicole Caldwell, un
declared freshman, said she be
lieves the moral platforms of
the Bush administration are the
bqst thing for America.
“I’m a church kind of per
son, and I just have to go by
what the Bible says,” said
Caldwell. “So, that’s why I had
to vote for who I did. I can’t
certain con
troversial is
sues, accord
ing to
Caldwell.
“A lot of
things that
(Kerry) be
lieves in, I
don’t believe
in, like abor
tion and gay
marriage
Nadolna. “Be
cause he lost,
and the ma
jority of stu
dents here are
for Kerry, they
think that the
system was
rigged, and I
don’t that’s
right.”
Even in
light of the
large voter
turnout, an
numbers between an older Re
publican base
“I think that people
shouldn’t be complaining
about the system not
working, or that the
voting was rigged, be
cause if Kerry won,
everyone would think it
was an example of the
system working per
fectly.”
important
factor in de
termining the
Jane Nadolna
sophomore multimedia major
and the 18 to
25-year-old
Democrat
supporters,
according to
Nadolna.
“I think
Bush won be
cause we’re
not a domi
nant age
group,” said
Nadolna. “As
much as ev
eryone has an
opinion, a
small percent
age of those
rights,” said Caldwell.
When asked what she be
lieves the next four years will be
like, Caldwell said we would
witness “a safer America.”
Students who voted for
Kerry should be careful when
complaining about the election
results, according to Jane
Nadolna, sophomore multime
dia major. Students who believe
the election was somehow un
fair should take care not to
sound hypocritical, according
to Nadolna.
“I think that people
shouldn’t be complaining about
the system not working, or that
the voting was rigged, because
if Kerry would have won, ev
eryone would think it was an
outcome of the election was the people actually go out and
discrepancy in likely voter vote.”
Election Facts:
1.) Voter turnout was the highest Ws
been since 1968, with an estimated 120 million
people casting their votes.
2.) Compared to Bush’s predecessor. Bill
Clinton’s ‘96 election campaign drew only 96.3
million voters.
3.) At least six states, including Florida,
Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee
and Virginia, and Washington D.C set record
voter turnouts this election.
SOURCE: CNN.COM
WAC
continuedfrom pag^
are in constant contact with WAC chaptej
across the country to find out which
topiql
the members are interested in and which pro.
grams they’d like to do.
“Once they gather all of that information,
they choose eight topics and send those on
to the WAC offices. They (national offices)
even help organize the programs.”
The Great Decision series is set up to have
the speaker for each topic speak at several com.
munities within Western North Carolina in.
eluding Asheville, Black Mountain, BrevaiJ,
Tryon and Hendersonville, according to tin
WAC Web site;
The WAC promotes global awareness anil
global understanding among the people ol
Western North Carolina, according to dit
WAC Web site.
The council is committed to providing)
fall and spring lecture series in the commu-
nity.
“All meetings are open to the public, bai
there is an admission charge for anyone whoi
not a member of the WAC because it taka
some resources to be able to bring in thest
great speakers,” said Cornett. “We have to ix
able to help with their airfare, house them,
and feed them while they’re here. Students
are always free. We want to promote WAC
events on campus because they are able to
bring in speakers that we frankly can’t afford
to.
i
“Sometimes speakers are academic and
sometimes they are people who have diplo
matic experience. For example, when we an
talking about issues associated with global
ization, we may have someone from the World
Bank or the International Monetary Fund
speak.”
The WAC Board of Directors is comprised
of professionals interested in foteign affairs,
retired diplomats, people who’ve worked in
foreign service, academics, ex-military offic
ers, and even one student from UNCA, ac
cording to Cornett.
“The board would very much like a
younger population of council members to
help us stay in touch with what people ate
concerned about and would like to heat
about,” said Campbell. “The WAC has a his
tory with UNCA, but it’s not officially a cam
pus organization. It’s a community organiza-
tion.
The WAC covered many topics in its re
cent history, including Republican and
Democratic positions on foreign policy, his
tory of independence in the Congo, why the
Western world ascended to power, Taiwanese
and Chinese relations and economic unifica
tion in Europe, according to Campbell.
“Recently we tried something new by hav
ing a luncheon following the discussion on
Israeli and Palestinian relations at The Jerusa
lem Garden Cafe,” said Cornett. “We were
able to talk intimately with a small group ol
people. We also hosted a beer tasting of in
ternational beers. It was something informal
to provide a social setting for people who are
interested in international affairs.”
A new campus club emerged as a result of
this organization and it’s attempt to draw m
more students, according to Cornett.
The club formed after noticing several stu
dents always showed up to the WAC events-
“My main reason for starting the World
Affairs Club at UNCA was that I noticed the
things that tend to get reported in the new
are a select few stories on very big issues,
said Sara Mine, founder and president of the
UNC World Affairs Club. “What I wanted
to do was to provide motivation for people
in the club to look further into international
issues, because there are plenty of stories out
there that do not get the coverage they de
serve.
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“I think the WAC discussions are really
fun to go to. They’re really informative, es
pecially because they tend to have a quesdon
and answer session at the end. It’s a really
|or
Jk
toa
way to get the community in-volved in inteh
national affairs. I think more students should
go to them.” i
Th^ World Affairs Club currently h*s
feu
around seven members, according to Mioe-
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The club meets every other Tuesday ‘
p.m. in the Blue Ridge Board Room in ^
Highsmith University Union.
They will hold their next meeting Now "
During National Education Week in
vember, the World Affairs Council and d'*”
will host an international potluck,
Cornett. “This is a way for everyone to brinj
together their favorite international foods an
people with a common interest in a sod
setting.”
The organizations will host a potluck ^
the Glasshouse attached to Ramsey Libran'
at 6-8 p.m. Nov. 17.
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