The News Argus March 1997 Page 2
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Danielle Prophete - Editor-in-Chief
Cheryl Cash - News Editor
SHARONDA WiLCOX - ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
MONICA Alexander - Sports Editor
Douglas Clark, Jr. - Chief Photographer
Dr.Valerie S. Saddler — Adviser
Cloning: What Next?
ISSUES G flnSWERS
ARGUS MAILBAG
Sometimes There Is Something To Do!
by Danielle A. Prophete and Sharonda Wilcox
The Roslin Insiiiulc of Biotechnology Research in
Edinburgh, Scotland made a major breakthrough in
technology by cloning a sheep named “Dolly” with an
adult cell approximately seven months ago.
In the cloning process of “Dolly," no male
reproduction cells were involved. The scientist took
unfertilized cells from sheep and removed all of the eggs’
DNA. Then they took a mature cell from the udder of an
adult, pregnant ewe, fu.sed that cell into the cell that was
su-ipped of iLs DNA, stimulated it with electricity until the
cell fused and began to grow into an embryo. The embryos
are kept in a culture dish for about six days, then
transplanted into the womb of the surrogate mother. The
resulting offspring is genetically identical to the animal
that donated the cell.
If this can be done with sheep, monkeys, and rats in
laboratories, is human cloning next? I feel cloning humans
will result in genocide of the races. What does this say
about religious, ethical, and moral perspectives in our
society?
According to Gino Concetti, a moral theologian,
“Creation of human life outside marriage goes against
God’s plan. Utilizing Dolly as part of God’s creation is
acceptable and Uue conccpt but how far do we go before it
is forbidden.”
I agree with Concetti. The beauty of creation (as we
currently know it) involves two people coming together
with love, intertwining in each other’s essence and
something remarkable happens. A life is created. If
human cloning begins, I fear that good ethics will not be a
priority. What happens if something goes wrong in the
laboratory?
Do we kill the creation? Do we dispose of it as a bad .
sample? What happens when someone is selfish and wants
to bring a loved-one back to life or save a relative’s life at
any cost? Do we create a human and take the body part we
need, then dispose if it as we do waste? Who will keep the
science community in check?
Morally, I feel cloning humans will upset the checks
and balances of life. Moral standards for the entire world
will have to be reset and synchronized across every
culture. Morals are culturally defined in each society. But
will we find, what is bad for one culture, may not be so
bad for another?
I hope that our world is not willing to sacrifice the
three important elements of culture, religion, morals or
mores and economic sanity. Without religious
intervention into the debate of cloning, all hope may be
lost. For me, religion gives hope to people who believe
that ultimately they will meet their maker and live in peace
forever.
- CfveryD CasFv
WSSU students complain that
there aren’t enough planned
activities on campus. Students often
say, “There’s nothing to do!”
Last month the Campus
Activities Board (CAB) tried to
eliminate this problem by
presenting the Obakunlc Akinlana,
African Folktales and Drums as part
of the university’s Black History
Month celebration.
To our surprise only two
reporters and one photographer from
The News Argus and ONE other
person comprised the entire
audience. No CAB members
attended the event. The multi
purpose room in the Thompson
Center, was set up to seat
approximately 80 people and only
four people showed up for the
performance.
A very important question
crossed our minds, maybe the
student body was not informed
about the evenf?
“I make an effort to contact
students on the day of a program to
remind them,” said Vanessa Hood,
CAB adviser. She added that flyers
were passed out to students in the
cafeteria during lunch lime to also
remind them about the event.
If the students received the
flyers, why didn’t some more warm
bodies attend the event? “1 not only
want members of CAB to come out.
I’m interested in the student body
becoming interested about their
history and culture. I’m not trying
to reach one group; but a mass of
people,” stated Hood.
As members of the student
media and the student body, we are
disappointed at the lack of interest
that the student body shows for
some cultural programs that are held
on campus and even in the
surrounding community. Students
are eager to go to a “gym jam” or
some other type of party; but are
slow to attend educational and
cultural events. It seems as though
students must be coerced or
promised prizes to attend these
functions.
“Students want to receive
something at programs like a prize
or something and we don’t have the
money to do that all the time,”
explained Hood.
As Rams we must realize that
what we can receive from programs
such as the one presented on Feb.
10, is much more valuable than any
materialistic prize we could win.
Knowledge and wisdom about our
African culture were presented on
Feb. 10. The knowledge that we
receive during our college years is
the knowledge that will truly bring
us wisdom during our professional
years.
Rams, will educational and
cultural programs presented on
campus continue to be viewed by
only a handful of students? Or will
students start to broaden their
horizons and knowledge by
attending these types of functions?
What are we going to do?
The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County Needs you...
A few dollars goes a long way...In The Arts!
A $30 contribution will pay for: Children's Theatre tickets for 5 children; 30 pounds of clay
and firing for a class at the Sawtooth Center; or an art making eperience for children at SECCA.
Make a contribution today to The Arts Council. No amount is too small!
STAFF WRITERS
MONICA ALEXANDER
KESHA BOWDEN
CHERYL CASH
DOUGLAS CLARK JR.
DAVID FULTON
DANIELLE PROPHETE
JERMEL WIGGINS
SHARONDA WILCOX
VINCENT WOODY
PRESLYN YOUNG
LAYOUT STAFF
DOUGLAS CLARK, JR.
DANIELLE PROPHETE
SHARONDA WILCOX
VINCENT WOODY
COPY EDITORS
MCM 3312
NEWS EDITING CLASS
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