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The Star Wars Dive
by Charles Kline
Mr. Reagan has proposed a
Strategic Defense Initiative,
commonly referred to as Star
Wars, which would in theory pro
vide an umbrella of protection
over the whole of the United
States. He is unconvinced that
this is not practical in the
foreseeable future and has a pro
hibitive price tag. Mr. Reagan
seems willing to accelerate the
arms race into this new and ex
pensive stage.
Why spend the estimated 100
billion to 1 trillion it would cost
for a fully deployed system to
militarize space instead of ban
ning all weapons from space
now? In fact an agreement was
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demanded by Soviet leaders to
avoid the arming of outer space;
the recent arms talks in Geneva
were the end result.
To say that an umbrella could
be created to shield the entire US
from nuclear attack, as Mr.
Reagan proposes, is a fiction ac
cording to just about every ex
pert in the field. This being the
case, why sink money into
research when we could
eliminate the problem of
weapons in space and the need
for extravagant research?
Now would be the time to put
forth a greater negotiating effort.
The Soviets have historically
feared a technological advantage
on our part; but while they have
made clear their desire to banish
forever all weapons from space it
should be kept in mind that what
they propose has to be capable of
full verification by both sides.
Mr. Reagan and many of his
associates have regularly derid
ed arms agreements as
unverifiable. In the Star Wars
case, however, it would be simple
enough, because any attempt at
deployment would be painifully
obvious. Rockets blasting into
space are indeed hard to hide, as
NASA found in its most recent
shuttle launch.
To go into arms talks under the
delusion that such a project is
feasible and should be pursued
only lengthens the time it will
take to disarm the great nuclear
danger that faces us.
Cheap
Dear People of Guitford:
We, the Craxt Center, have at
tempted, and partially succeed
ed, to run for YOUR benefit an
area for you to learn and practice
a variety of crafts and activities.
We have had some difficulties in
attaining this end, yet we have
succeeded in attaining most of
our goals: 1) space for the center,
2) equipment (some of which is
very expensive), and 3)
volunteered (100%) human time
and effort to make your oppor
tunities here at Guilford more
broad. We know we are an active
and appreciated part of Guilford
life by the response we have
received for workshops, shows,
demonstrations, and use by
Guilfordians of our space for
creating and learning.
WE ARE GUILFORD
STUDENTS! We have found our
efforts repaid by vandalism, theft
and gross, obscene and incon
siderate gestures. Since the sum
mer of 1984, we have lost, through
theft, at least $l5O worth of equip
ment. Our keys have miraculous
ly disappeared from the Informa
tion Desk at Founders, and no one
seems to know who has them. In
the two weeks since they have
disappeared, we have lost more
Velvin's View
Signing Out
by Iris B. Velvin
Signs are so much a part of our
environment that they can
become virtually invisible. After
an initial recognition, we often
tune out billboards, posters,
nameplates, and even traffic
signs. If you were asked after a
drive around town to describe the
signs you had passed, you would
probably recall few if any.
On campus, too, signs fade into
anonymity. Posters advertising
events are briefly noted and then
ignored. Classroom
numberplates are actively seen
only the first few days of each
semester. Even "No Parking"
signs seem invisible after a week
or two, until you get a very visible
parking ticket. (Frequent tickets
can also become commonplace
and unseen, unless accompanied
by a tow truck. But even then,
most people wouldn't remember
the name on the tow truck's
sign.)
Having tuned out hundred oi
campus signs over the past four
years, I might not have noticed
the new nameplates in Founders
Hall in late January if I hadn't
been thirsty after climbing the
stairs to the second floor. I walk
ed to the water fountain, squirted
myself in the eye (I have a drink
ing problem) and looked up.
There on the wall above was a
black sign reading "Water Foun
tain" in white leters. I thought, I
knew that, and turned right to go
through the door. On the door was
a sign like the first saying
, March 15, 1985
Guilfordian
page 7
equipment and supplies, have
been subjected to vandalism and
have found that some highly
inconsiderate people have used
this valuable workspace for
depositing their excrement.
These occurances do not do
much to prove that Guilford
students are truly the mature and
considerate members of the col
lege community they belong to,
as they are thought to be.
These problems don't do much
for the morale of the hard
working volunteers of the Craft
Center. These problems need to
be carefully examined and solv
ed, as soon as possible.
Tamara K. Manker, President
Jennifer Roberts, Secretary
The Craft Center
Appreciation
Dear Editor:
To the faculty, staff, the dorms,
and the Guilford College Com
munity—words cannot express
my appreciation for all the kind
ness shown to me and my family
in the after math after the tragic
loss of our home. I am very
grateful. Thank you.
Frank, Sallie, Donnie, and
Timothy Moore
"Door." Whan I returned to go
back down the stairs, I noticed a
sign with an arrow pointing up
reading "Ceiling."
What is this? I thought. Maybe
it's to help the Interlink students
learn English. Or it could be a
philosphy class project on
Aristotelian concepts and
realities. Or maybe literacy rates
in American high schools have
sunk so law that incoming
freshmen need all the help they
can get.
Then, downstairs I saw another
nameplate, similar to the others
but smaller and laminated in
plastic, reading "Stair." It seem
ed as ridiculous as the others, but
I knew I had seen this sign before.
Then I recalled seeing new signs
last semester pointing the way
and identifying the lounges, of
fices and lavatories in Founders
hall. I hadn't noticed the signs
after the first glance, but so
meone apparently had and felt in
spired to add their own satire of
stating the obvious. It was a joke
-- at least, I think it was -- but it
made me more aware. I walked
across campus seeing signs I
might have otherwise ignored
Unfortunately, my new
awareness didn't last long
enough, deserting me on my
drive home. As I told the ar
resting officer, I thought the
speed limit on that stretch of road
was still 45.1 just didn't notice the
sign saying "Reduce Speed
Ahead."