THE Seahawk/Dctober 3, 2.U\3U
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Thomas M. Ruyle
View from the Dodd’s nest
5 p.m.: The hour the music died
Editorial Viewpoint
is discrimination
Much has been said about the new
clocktower that now graces our cam
pus, courtesy of the Class of 2000.
Many people questioned the practi
cal uses of the 50-foot-high time
piece, the four clock faces now par
tially hidden by trees. Why not use
the $150,000 we spent on the clock
for additional materials in the li
brary? Why not put the money into
starting a new academic program at
UNCW? Most importantly; What
are the odds that a Category Three
hurricane will reduce the clock to a
twisted hunk of metal?
Alas, it is too late. Like it or hate
it, the clock is here to stay. Until the
next hurricane, at least.
Now the questions are, “Will it
ever tell the correct time? Will the
chimes ever be in sync with the dis
played time on the clock? And what
the hell are the ‘bells’ playing ev
ery afternoon at 5:00 p.m.?”
After exhaustive research into
that last question, which involved
standing directly under the clock as
it went through its clangy late-after-
noon repertoire, I came to two
thoughtful, scientific conclusions:
A) I’m very deaf now; and B) I have
no clue as to what it’s trying to play.
All I can tell is it’s certainly not
sure, attempts to recreate beautiful
music, 1 believe I speak for a very
large number of people on this cam
pus when 1 say I'd almost rather be
listening to Britney Spears emanat
ing from the clocktower. Anything
but those bells!
In addition to the poor-music-
choice factor, there is the question
of noise level and location that
needs to be addressed. Playing these
bells at their current volume is cer
tainly a distraction to the classes at
Morton Hall; for all we know, the
clock tower might be affected by the
new noise ordinance currently in
discussion by the City Council.
Placing the tower so close to
Morton Hall with ‘bells’ that loud
was not exactly the smartest deci
sion. There isn’t much we can do
about that now, unless the Class of
2001 wants to raise funds to move
the clocktower to Pender County -
that is, if Pender County residents
agree to it. Tough sell.
Take heart, though, fellow
Seahawks. Even if you can’t get to
class on time (if you go by the
clocktower’s information), you can
still sleep in class comfortably, se
cure in the knowledge that we at
least have a freshly repainted water
tower. At least something looks bet
ter around here.
Drugs are bad...so
A I7-year-old takes a toke off a joint
for the first time at a concert. The youth
sticks the remainder of the gift joint into
his pocket, and decides to walk out of
the auditorium onto the public sidewalk,
where a police officer just happens to be
standing. The officer says hello, and
politely, the juvenile returns the greet
ing. Only the officer notices the pun
gent smell of marijuana emanating from
the youngster’s breath and clothing. He
arrests him on the grounds of use and
possession of marijuana.
A year after conviction, the youth
applies for federal financial aid in order
to be able to afford to attend college. He
is denied on the basis that he violated
the anti-drug law under the Higher Edu
cation Act. Therefore, he does not go to
college and ends up struggling for in
come for the rest of his life. Perhaps
even to the point where he commits
crimes to feed his family.
This could happen based on the new
anti-drug, anti-education law.
Hypocritical people who are out of
touch are once again shaping the future
of America. Congress recently enacted
a new anti-drug law, which denies fed
eral aid to college students if convicted
of an illegal drug offense.
This provision to the Higher Educa
tion Act has more flaws than there are
senators. College students all across
America have expressed their discontent
with the aid-buster’s blatant shortcom
ing. The law protects few while inad
vertently destroying others.
Discrimination rings loudly through
out the college aid killer. Students who
are intelligent enough to attend an insti
tution of higher education, yet may not
have the monetary resources to afford to
go on their own, suffer gravely. Low-
income pupils rely on financial aid as a
tacks the underprivileged directly, due
to the fact that middle to upper-class
Americans rarely depend on federal aid.
If that is not enough, the privilege-
destructor targets a crime that primarily
remains a non-victim offense. What
about violent or property crimes? Oh
no, they’re okay. Burglarize a home,
assault a police officer, steal a car.. .just
don't use drugs. The bill does not en
force denial of aid to any of these crimes,
but if you are busted trying an illicit drug,
you risk losing an education.
The fourth amendment to the United
States constitution protects Americans
from search and seizure. This includes
a right to privacy. The American gov
ernment enacted this clause to keep our
personal matters to ourselves. Disclos
ing private information infringes on
these rights because one’s past does not
necessarily reflect how one will perform
in college. How would the government
be wasting money in this situation?
Should we not invest in our future?
The personal information is also pro
tected undei* the fifth amendment of the
constitution. A clause in the amendment
clearly states that any information, which
can be self-incriminating, can be left
undisclosed. This situation is a prime
example of when a student with a record
should partake in the liberties of the fifth.
Most importantly, why do we as
Americans want to penalize a potential
educated leader for any crime where the
punishment has already been carried
out? Double jeopardy comes to mind.
Men and women, elected to office to
protect the rights of Americans, appar
ently forgot to read the Bill of Rights,
Remember Congressmen, the constitu
tion blankets all Americans.
The bottom line is simple. Reform
the bill. Find the real criminals of soci
ety, Kill crime, not education.
playing “N Sync.”
While the faux-chimes are. I’m
letters TO THE £»nt)RPKJCY
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means of tuition payment. This bill at-
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