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THE BELLES
NOVEMBER 5, 1984
MORALS OR MANKIND?
by Sidney McCain
and Maria Ma
In the novel A Clockwork Orange by
Anthony Burgess, an important moral
question is raised: If an operation could
be performed on a criminal which would
make him or her incapable of committing
acts considered “morally wrong” (i.e.
violence), should it be done? In other
words, is it worth sacrificing ethics for
the betterment of society? We decided to
ask some people at St. Mary’s their opin
ions on this question.
“I would definitely be for it. I don’t
see how anybody can be against it. It
would cure all the injustices in the world.
It would be wonderful. The world would
be perfect; it would be great!” stated
Carter Fauber, a Junior. Fr^hman Kerry
Hall agreed, as it wouid be “a lot better
than being locked up in jail, and they (the
criminals) would not be a threat to so
ciety.” Angela Johnson had another way
of looking at it: “It would lessen our
taxes since we wouid not have to pay the
money to keep them in prison.” However,
she went on to state that “Although I
would like the operation to occur, it
should not be forced on the criminals.
They should have a choice.”
This opinion was shared by many
others. Sophomore Cathy Crew felt that
“...even though he’s a criminal, he’s still
a person. If it was all right with him and if
he would be useful to society, I don’t see
why not.” Lee Moore felt that “The only
way I would even think about it is if the
criminal consented to it.”
“They shouldn’t be changed unless
they’re willing to change, in the heart and
the head, and not just the head,” de
clared Elizabeth Grine.
The question of laws also came up.
Senior Karen Mull lean thought that it
was “cruel and unusual punishment, and
that is against the Constitution.” “We
have a choice of free will in the United
States, and something like that would go
against that,” said Sophonrore Martha
Fairer.
Religion was another issue. Anne
Goode, a Senior, stated that “...it would
be like playing God.” Pam Aikins felt that
“It would be wrong because God created
us with a free will, and it should be our
choice to do good or to do bad.”
Many of the peole surveyed were
against it. “That’s like cutting out half
their brains,” siad Elsie Faison and Erin
Clemens. “I would be against it because
part of being human is making choices
and making decisions. If you take that
away, people might as well be ma
chines,” according to Anita Mehta, a
Sophomore. “I can’t see how someone
could live with a feeling like that,” said
'Freshman Mary Alice Header. Many also
felt that there were other ways to deal
with such a problem, such as psychiatric
treatment.
Certain students thought that medi
cal technology should not be used in that
way. Some likened it to getting a lobo-
tomy. Senior Elizabeth Clay said,
“Doctors shouldn’t be able to mess with
people like that, regardless of what the
criminal has done.” Freshman Hope
Dooner felt that, “Doctors should not be
playing with a person’s mind in order to
control them.”
Others felt that it was right in some
cases and wrong in others. “Only if they
were mentally disturbed and couldn’t be
helped in any other way,” was Sopho
more Julie Goodnight’s thought. “I’d be
definitely for it if it were a hardened cri
minal who lv=«d repeated the same crime,
and a really bad crime like murder,” said
Housemother Frarx»s Bell.
A few of the responses given did not
really fit into any of the categories. “I
think that if someone did something bad,
they ought to be punished and be used
for experiments,”,was Freshman Mary
Miller’s totally unique answer. Sarah
McGuire said that, “There has to be some
bad. Who wants everybody to be good
anyway?” And Lee Moore felt that, “It
could get out of hand because it could be
used on people who don’t really have any
problems, and it could take away com
plete individual personalities.”
Obviously there is no easy answers.
There are many Pro’s. As Senior Harriet
Little put it, “Who would want a criminal
to commit a crime if he could perform an
operation so that he wouldn’t do it? That
would be great; everybody would be
good.” Elizabeth Byrd felt that such an
operation would be beneficial, since
“...all they do is set them free after a
couple of years anyway, and they go
back on the streets and commit the same
crimes.” Possibly the Con’s far outweigh
the Pro’s. Who is to say what is wrong
and what is right? Because society de
cides that it may be right, does that mean
it is? What is more important-society or
the individual? Should some peole have
to sacrifice their morals to benefit so
ciety? Or will society really improve?
Does everyone have to have the same
values for complete happiness? Do
people even care?
ST. MARY’S CONDUCTS
ANNUAL PHONEATHON
Students as well as faculty members work hard at the phoneethon.
by Clayton Henkle
Once again it is time for the annual
St. Mary’s Phoneathon. The Alumnae
Office and many students are busy
calling old St. Mary’s girls for donations
that keep the school running. And some
of the responses are amazing -
everything from graduates who re-live
their youth on a trip down rnemory lane
while on the phone, to people who are
willing to pay the school to NEVER call
them again. Every now and then there is
a grandmother whose grandchild was a
mi sfort unate victim of J-Board!
Nevertheless, most of the volunteers
agree that they enjoy talking to the
alumnae - or at least enjoy talking on the
phone!
Last year approximately $160,000
was raised. So far this year, $120,000 has
been raised with a projective goal of
$200,000.
Students have worked hard to make
this yearly event a success.
President John Rice
enthusiastically raises the money mark
for the annual phoneathon.
Terri Shubert works hard trying to raise
money for St. Mary’s.