Newspapers / Meredith College Student Newspaper / Sept. 24, 2003, edition 1 / Page 7
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7 CAMPUS PERSPECTIVE WUSA closure shuts out more than Just soccer JANE LANGFORD Staff Writer Whitney Houston once said, ”I believe that chil dren are our future; teach them well and let them lead the way." If this is the case, why are we running our children out of a future so fast? On September 15, our children lost a great oppor tunity. That was the day the Women's United Soccer Association folded opera tions. The league, created after the hugely popular and financially viable 1999 Women's World Cup, would be heading into its fourth season next spring. But now, the league is hop ing against hope that this year's Women's World Cup will bring the $16 million that the league needs to run next year. Why'tfle ted^e folded is arguable. Whether it was poor management or poor TV ratings that brought the league down, all that mat ters is that it's not here at the moment. And it's being here was the most impor tant thing in the first place. Whether it is music, athlet ics, business, or any other endeavor, the opportunity for success should be avail able for all children, male or female, white or black. Without the WUSA, the dream of millions of little girls has been erased in tiie blink of an eye. Many of you might be asking yourselves, "So what? What's that got to do with me?" Well, at Meredith we are in the unique position of giving women the best they can have. We are committed to being a school for women, designed to give women a better education, to advance women's rights and our.place in the world. Sure, we want all avenues to be available in education and business, but where are we when it comes to other ventures, like athletics? As much as I hate to admit it, we do have a responsibility in this matter. Not to the league itself, but to our daughters and sons, oiu* nieces and nephews, our granddaughters and grand sons. Do you not want them to be able to do any thing they desire? They need this league, and it is not just the girls that need it, boys need it as well. Anyone and everyone should be able to enjoy women playing a sport they love at the highest level possible. In the end it's not even about the soccer or the people playing it. It's about what this league symbolizes. I have never played soc cer, but I love watching and participating in soccer in other ways. I love all other sports as well. This is not a question of men's sports versus women's sports, or, for that matter, anyone vur* susanything. I lost a league that I followed with great Pirates is a hilarious CRYSTAL DAVIS Staff Writer If you like ftm, mysteri ous fantasies, you should see Pirates of the Caribbean. But if you are into deep, complicated plots and unexpected twists, wait until this movie comes out to rent it because you will be deeply disap pointed. In the opening scene of the fihn, we see a boat owned by Governor Weatherby (played by Jonathan Pryce), governor of Port Royal, and his young daughter, Elizabeth with their crew. In the fog, Elizabeth spots a young boy lying on a raft just after the crew has noticed a mystery burning boat. The crew res cues the boy and takes him in. Elizabeth finds a gold pendant aroimd his neck with the emblem eveiyone knows is a pirate's. She takes the pendant off the unconscious Will Turner in fear that her father will abandon the boy. After catching a glimpse of the Black Pearl, the infamous, mystical ship, Elizabeth closes her eyes, hoping it is a dream. The audience is led to believe in the first few scenes that the film is to be serious and mysterious. Captain Jack Sparrow (played by Johnny Depp), a hilarious pirate, appears in Port Royal staggering as if he is drunk. At this point. the audience realizes that this is a fun film added to the mystery it initially por trays. Sparrow brings with him a curse that can only be broken by the beautiful pendant Elizabeth has kept in her possession all these years. Complete with wigs, the actors are dressed for the era. Elizabeth is seen a few times in her floor length, crinoline lined dress. The mystery of the Black Pearl is depicted in its holy sails and a pirate head, complete with skeletal bones on the head of the ship that is all black and gray. Pirates of the Caribbean is currently playing at local theaters. excitement. 1 lost a home town team, the Carolina Courage, that I greatly enjoyed going to watch play in person. I'm not ask ing you to feel sad for me. I am not asking you to feel sad for the current players like Mia Hamm as she will be just fme. I am not even asking you to feel bad for the worst players in the league. I am asking you to feel for the curly haired, dimpled little girl I saw Sunday on the Washington, D.C. metrorail while com ing back from the Women's World Cup opener in RFK stadium. She was about 5 years old, with an oyer sized Mia Hamm shirt on, tied behind her back so she would not trip over it. She was taken to the game by her father and I am doubt ing she knew much about Mia Hamm, that the US had won the game 3-1 over Sweden, or much less the intricacies of a 2-5-3 dia mond mid-field alignment. That's not why her dad brought her though. He brought her for the opportunity to see some thing great at its highest level. To give his daughter the knowledge that she can do great things in any arena she wants. That is what was lost when the WUSA closed-that little girl's opportunity, whether it will end up being her dream or not. I don't always go to the art museum, or museums in general, but I like to know Aat it's there for me and others to go to whenever we please. The WUSA is the same situation. Unfortunately, a for- profit league is not a muse um, and you actually do have to go to it or watch it on TV every now and then for it to be there. So let me ask you one fmal question, "Would you pay $10 now so that your daughter might live out her dream later?" Meredith Herald Editor in Chief.......Tiffany Adams herald@meredith.edu Managing Editor. Margarett Ann Cooney News Editor. Christy Kimball Features Editor, Krista Kearney Copy Editor. Amanda Ottaway Business Manager. Laura Bates Advertising Managers Jenna Hottle and Laurie Locklin Faculty Adviser. Dr. Rebecca Duncan Staff Reporters Nina Borum Crystal Davis Jane Langford Autumn Metzger Amy Kay Nickerson Audrey Tamer The Meredith Herald is published by tiie College throughout the academic year. The paper is funded by the College and through independent advertising. The opinions expressed in the editorial columns do not nec essarily reflect those of the college administration, faculty, or student body. Published by Hinton Press
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Sept. 24, 2003, edition 1
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