Meredith Herald
November 10,1999
Campus Opinion
Antitrust ruling big deal
Hcx>rdy—a victory for the ‘little guy,’ the underdog. On Friday,
Nov, 5, Judge Thomas Jackson ruled thal Microsoft has a monop
oly-like power in personal computer operating systems thal ii used
to eliminate competitors.
The last thing we need is a return to the
“Robber Barons," the “Captains of Indus-
tr>”
Even though Bill Cates docs not have
the same powerful presence as Rockefeller
or Morgan, he has what it takes to control an industry: money. His
innocent, nerdy looks hide his manipulative side—and for a man
worth billions of dollars, lhat’s hard lo do.
It has been about two years since the United Slates’ Department
of Justice brought an antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft, saying
thal Microsoft is a monopoly using intentional actions to get rid of
possible competitors.
Though many consumers like Microsoft’s high-quality, fairly
low-cost compuler.s, they are not benefltling by Microsoft’s
monopoly. Without this caution against monopolies, Microsoft
limited consumers’ options by buying out other computer manu-
faciurers-
Like Judge Jackson, consumers must realize that monopolies
only hurt the economy. Without competition, how would we even
have a viable and long-lasting economy? Therefore, consumers
should not support monopolies like Microsoft by buying products.
Of course, Microsoft does not want consumers lo know any
other way but the “Microsoft way." In fact, company CEO Bill
Gates took out a full page ad in Sunday’s Washington Post. In the
ad, he said, “Microsoft is committed to resolving this matter in a
fair and responsible maaner, while ens)iring that the fundamental
principles of consumer benefit and innovation are protected.”
Later in the letter, he reiterated the idea of benefltting the con
sumer.
Consumers, the very people this letter is addressed to, should
not be fooled by Gales’ seeming concern for them. His real con
cern is increasing the size of his huge pocketbook. Fight the
monopoly. Consumers will ultimately win.
Meredith Herald
Ediiw in Chief.. Leslie Maxwell
News Editor.— Christina Holder
Copy Editor. .......„.„....Sara Parsons
Arts & Bntertainitient EdilOT.............. ,...I,isa GHliam
Business Manager.. Michelle Drake
Phologr^Jhw. „.^„...Jenny AJtier
Reporters .„...jMex«a Andrews, Leesha Austin,
Melissa Caston,. Amanda Fletcher,
Christina Holder, Michelle Hulse,
Rebecca JohnsHi. Stephanie Jonian,
Nikki Norris, Ayana Rhodes. Kristin
Schneider, Joni Smith, Abby Spencer.
Tracy Sumner, Lara Tillman,
TaneshaWilliams
Distribution MelissaCaston & Lora TtUrmm
Subscriptions Nikki Norris & Kristin Schneider
Faculty Adviser. ;..-.Dr. Rebecca Duncatj
Editorial PoUcy;
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Letter to the editor: College support amazing
To the Editor:
Since I have been at Mered
ith, I thought I understood the
unique relationship between
faculty and students. However,
on Friday night during Corn-
huskin’, I truly realized how
blessed our student body is to
have such committed faculty
and staff. I am convinced the
support we receive so abun
dantly would be impossible to
find at any other institution.
I was amazed to see how
many of the faculty and staff
gave so willingly of their time
by being island judges, time
keepers and overall judges, by
attending Cornhu.skin' and
especially by serving breakfast
and cleaning up into the early
morning hours.
While some may not regard
Comhuskin’ as a very signifi
cant event, it is one of the old
est traditions thal still exists
here at Meredith, and more stu
dents participate in Corn*
huskin’than in any other event.
By supporting the students
of Meredith College during the
week-long feslivities and espe
cially on the night of Corn-
huskin', faculty and staff
showed us in yet another way
that we are valued by them.
There is defmitely a special
bond between the faculty, staff
and students here at Meredith. I
would not trade this atmos
phere of family for anything.
Very sincerely,
Erin Grant,
Senior Class President
Opinion: Anyone have change?
Michelle Hulse
Sraff Writer
Saturdays are supposed to be
a time to catch up on work and
have fun, right? If you are like
me, you like to get your laun
dry done on Saturdays.
Between classes, homework
and activities, you probably
haven't had time during the
week lo do your laundry. So
you find yourself sorting your
clothes on Saturday. But wait!
When you swipe your Cam-
Card the screen says “No
Available Host.” The CamCard
machines are not working
again!
Does this sound like some
thing thal has happened lo you?
This can be quite annoying and
frustrating- This seems like a
problem for me almost every
Saturday. So, 1 decided that this
problem must be solved for the
sake of my not wearing paja
mas all day.
Placing a change machine in
every residence hall seems to
be the most logical way to
solve this problem. At one
lime, there was a change
machine in the Cate Center’s
game room but due to the lack
of profits, Raleigh Amusement
took it out!*
Cheryl Jenkins, director of
the office of student activities
and leadership development,
explained that student activi
ties and Raleigh Amusement
had a contract in which both
would make a profit from the
machine, but in early August
Raleigh Amusement felt that
the profit was not being met
and took out the change
machine.
I visited the Beehive on a
Saturday morning and an
employee stated that every Sat
urday many students a.sk for
change that she is unable to
give them.
“I’ve started doing my laun
dry during the week,” said
freshman Katie Haas, "because
I usually don't have the change
to do it on the weekends.” Get
ting change to do laundry or
get a soda can be a hassle!
So, the big question is who
would be willing and able lo
put change machines on cam
pus? After much searching, I
found that this is not an easy
question to answer.
I called technology services
to find out the problem with the
CamCard machines in the laun
dry rooms, and found that the
reason it is not usually working
on Saturday is because the pro
gram is not starting up again.
Angela Gouge assured me
thal the problem had been fixed
but that there were “no guaran
tees” that it would work every
day. On the days the CamCard
machines are not working, we
are being forced to use quar
ters. How many people have
enough quarters lying around?
All other Laundromats have
change machines; why doesn’t
Meredith?
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