2 — HILLTOP, Friday, October 16, 1987 Editorial ivc Just the Facts Craig Cox Columnist Scraps One of the banes of any writer is “writer’s block.” This condition not only afflicts seasoned writers, but comes home to us amateurs as well. This amateur has been hit particular ly hard recently, especially consider ing the generous amount of space which I am asked to fill. The block comes not from having any topics about which to write, but rather from not having enough to say about a given topic. This column, then, is dedicated to miscellaneous observa tions and comments which may or may not have a particular theme. (I really won’t know until I finish, because I’m making it up as I go along.) I have received many compliments about this colunrn, and I would like to publicly offer my thanks. The names are too numerous to mention, but be sure that I am indebted to both of you. On the other hand, I have also had reason to believe that some of my writing is not appreciated, and I would like to address that point be fore I make any serious enemies. This column is not to be taken seri ously. It is intended to be a humorous commentary on campus life, campus issues, or whatever else that I can think of when I have writer’s block. I did not bribe anyone into letting me have space in the paper for fraterni ty-bashing, and if I offended anyone by having a laugh at the expense of the Greek associations here on cam pus, then I can only try to console that person by pointing out that I prefaced that by poking fun at myself as well. I do not wish to alienate any group on campus, but no group is likely to be exempt from having jokes made at its expense (bribes, however, will be considered). I hope that the different groups and organizations on campus have a sense of humor, especially Epicure, because their turn is coming rapidly. (Has anyone who got a kick out of Definitions looked up “epicure” in the dictionary?. . .) As long as I have already started to drag Epicure through the mud, I might as well get it out of my system so I only have to publish one apology. It may be noted that in the first article, I left out a good definition for “food fight.” In high school, this involved two or more students throwing food at each other. I have seen no less than eight food fights since I arrived here, and only one of those involved a stu dent. In the other seven, four were won by the entree (3, 4, and 2 rounds respectively) two by the veggies and one by a dessert! I lost a lot on that last, having bet heavily on the casse role. The most remarkable battle I didn’t actually get to witaess, but saw the aftermath of a plate of spaghetti actually physically attacking a stu dent. The person’s name I don’t know (and wouldn’t reveal anyhow) but whoever it was wasn’t very happy about the incident. The meal, as I recall, was charged with assault and pepper [stop the puns or I cut the col umn — ed.j Ok, I’ll be good, I swear. When I first came, I was amazed at the number of devout students who prayed before each meal. To thank God for a meal was a common thing at home, to be sure, but nobody in a\ school that I had attended ever thanked anyone for the meals there. I wondered about the devout attitudes around me until I got close enough to one of these people to hear them mut ter, “Please God don’t let this kill me.” Now that I understand, I can be seen in the cafeteria occasionally praying over my food, too. If you happen to be lucky (?) enough to get it all eaten before it wakes up, the responsibility of the defense of the body passes from the hands and sil verware to the digestive system itself. Foram Letter to the Editor; Bryan Garmroth, Assistant Basketball Coach — In ref erence to Glenn Smith's article: “A Weighty Matter” This often results in embarrasingly loud noses being made for no appar ent reason. James Herriot, British vet erinarian and author described the soimd best in his book All Things Bright and Beautiful when he wrote, “the only other time I have heard such sounds was in a cow with an ad vanced case of displacement of the abomasum.” Mr. Herriot had just fin ished a large roast beef sandwich, several beers, some large pickled on ions, and a glass of some kind of liquor. Having bitten the hand that feeds me, I must turn now to utter a short word in its defense, which is simply this: it could be worse. My roommate (who you may hear a lot about; he provides so much material for this column that I may ask him to write it a time or two) spent time at another school (which again will go nameless to avoid lawsuit); it was in the cafete ria at this college, he tells me, that the food service director was heard to say in a loud voice, “I don’t care what color it is, I don’t care what it smells like, and I don’t care what’s pupating in it! Just cover it with pasta and feed it to them!” As an afterthought, I might add that in case the cafeteria workers de- 'cide to take this column seriously (in spite of the above disclaimer), that the picture that appears at the top looks absolutely nothing like me. Honestly. So much for food. A subject about which I have been hearing a lot lately is C.L.P. I have asked aroimd, and cannot reliably report whether this stands for “Community Life Program” or “Chapel Liability Problem;” it aU depends on who you talk to. Possibly the whole problem is that not every one has the same beef, if indeed everyone has a beef with CLP. I had the privilege of attending an enter taining meeting with Dean Schmelte- kopf in the lobby of Myers Hall some time ago, and there was a disparity in the nature of complaints. The most famous, that of the student handbook passage, is being dealt with else where, but some of the lesser com plaints deserve attention as well. “Put sporting events on the list!/ How can we assure attendance?” Simple: people attending home games, who want CLP credit, have a ball and chain placed on their ankles as they go in; when it comes off, the CLP point is earned. “Put dances and other social events on the list!/You don’t get a good mix of students and faculty, as faculty don’t generally attend student socials.” Well, you didn’t get a good student mix at chapel before it be came CLP, either. Simply place a re quirement on the faculty to show up at a certain number of events that they wouldn’t ordinarily attend. “Chapel is boring/so don’t go, there are other options.” Has anyone thought of inviting Richard Pryor or George Bush or some other celebrity to conduct chapel? Of course, it will take time to get the new program into shape; but with helpful suggestions like these and students who are eager to work with the administration, we will soon have a committee-produced program which will be the wonder of college campuses for miles aroimd. A final word about writer’s block: students who are concerned about writer’s block, please send “Just the Facts” column ideas and large cash donations to: The Writers Block Foun dation, Box 265C, Mars HiU College, NC 28754. The Foundation is a 100% profit, non-tax-deductible organiza tion, and if you have bought any of this, please see me about a sweet real estate deal. No one is more aware of the incon venience caused by the delayed gym repair than those of us directly asso ciated with Chambers Gymnasium. I would certainly like to apologize for this inconvenience. Your frustrations are definitely understandable. In defense of the “powers that be,” I would like to explain why certain decisions such as closing the student weight room and small gym were made. Your article indicated some animosity in the fact that the ten feet between the door and the student weight room was roped off, and that the small gym was closed. It is true there were only about five days that the particular areas in question would have been impassable. How ever, during this work period the large gym floor was often covered in wet floor seal and wet paint. Ideally, we would like to have closed only the main floor. However, if you were to spend thirty minutes around the gym at any given time, you would discover the lack of respect for the building regulations and gym floor. The open entrance next to the student weight room and into the large gym is pre sently roped off. This has proven to be very ineffective. The majority of people crawl through the ropes and stroll directly across the gym floor in a wide variety of shoes and boots. It was our assumption from past experi ence that if the student weight room and small gym were open during this period it would be impossible to pre vent people, regardless of ropes and signs, from walking across the large gym floor. Closing the building to all recrea tion was not a favorable choice. Al though after watching people crawl through the ropes that are up now, I am convinced that it was the only way to protect the floor while it was being repaired. The building is now open for recre ation, and we encourage students. Golden “M” Club members, faculty, staff and dependents of faculty and staff to make use of its many benefits. We do ask that the new instructions, which are posted, be adhered to. There are routes to every area of the building without walking across the gym floor. Users are also reminded to bring an ID for admittance. The new guidelines, as were the repairs, are not intended to create inconveniences but to provide and maintain the best facilities possible at Mars Hill Col lege. To the Editor of the Hilltop, A response to the The Hilltop’s own "political” cartoonist. The fusing of President Ronald Reagan and David Lee Roth, without any political motive or suggestion, is an insult to journalism and Mars HUI College. If Mr. Gossett wishes to satir ize Mr. Reagan on a particular political issue, more power to him. I do not object to this practice for it has been a vital part of the media for hun dreds of years. However, the drawing that appeared in the October 2 issue of the Hilltop made no statement other than the fact that Mr. Gossett is adept at caricatures and is particu larly equipped when it comes to ex pressing chest hair. This is an institu tion of higher learning. As students of this institution, we deserve more thought-provoking commentary and analysis. Joseph W. Scott The following is a list of the Hill top’s copy and distribution dates for upcoming editions. We welcome con tributions, story ideas, and editorials. Copy Dates Distribution Dates Oct. 16 Oct. 30 Oct. 27 Nov. 6 Nov. 10 Nov. 20 Dec. 1 Dec. 11 NFL Strike: 2Cl I Give Me A Glenn Smith Sports Editor Offensive? Or Humorous? Well, they have done it National Football League I ^ strike. Now check me if I’mi doesn’t it seem a httle ridip^in someone who is getting paT** 3 of dollars to play a game qo of line going on strike? ^^gj.y than have never played the ganfe^j jg me 11 million and I will gag gf “Qg, without a helmet or for ttjgjg jg pj*j shoulder pads. If the PLAft ^sh trying to find a cure for | ghowijig teaching our youth, I coul^g ggtton. they could warrant a strike,fjtm is i they are in the field of entst probabh it is hard to feel sorry for ^gt wbo is i so many other people havsg qj. ^vEo ( for ten times less than jj'0gg^g of mediocre players get. I willgg pj'obab they do work for years oi ggy talent to enable them to pijg slight sional sports, but they shioyggided t( that it is a gift and they i honored to be chosen to dj j arrivec talents. 'The main stalaaigg thgt ha( strike negotiations seeinsg gg them issue of free agency and fg rowdy, of years a player must be (crowd hi before he can declare fn pother ri The players want it to beUggggjj gj,, while management wants! jg ggj^ g Doesn t it seem that a coi( group oi seven years could be read ^j^gg while, however, people listians ar MHC quarterback Joe Pi^hat I rea ting another chance at NJj gf ^gj^g in what are so eloquentlybgp.jgrking “scab” games. I salute thigwhat di ers for replacing the teg jg ^g Free Loaders (get it NFL) gjj gchool giving it their best shot fo five thousand dollars a Paige Lancaster Guest Writer Persoi^ ‘”rhey’re profane!” “They’re not helping the problem. They’re making fim of it.” “How could anyone wear them?” “I don’t like gays. So I like the shirt.” “I think the shirts are a good idea, and people get the message.” Reaction to the message on T-shirts designed by a friend of John Weeks, a Mars Hill College senior, is definitely split. After selling the shirts at his home in Virginia Beach, Va., Weeks decid ed to sell them at Mars Hill to make extra spending money. In three weeks he sold out his stock of 100 and has ordered more. But many people are offended be cause of the message. The back says “Stop AIDS.” On the front pocket are stick drawings of two figures in an “embrace.” The words underneath are: “No N Da Butt.” “I’m sure people feel the shirts are profane, but they need to realize that [the shirts] are not aimed to cut any one down; they primarily represent how the AIDS virus is spread,” Weeks said. “Homosexuality should be banned, and if gay people see these shirts they may think twice,” a female senior said. Another student stated, “If wearing these shirts opens the eyes of the public, I hope everyone wears one.” Others disagree. “The T-shirts aren’t helping the problem of AIDS. They are making fun of it,” said one coed. ‘”rhey’re also making money from someone else’s misery,” added Dr. J. P. Schubert, professor of English. “I consider it to be gross and unap propriate behavior on this college,” stated Dr. Don Anderson, chairman of the Division of Social and Behavior al Sciences. Dr. Ken Sanchagrin feels even more strongly: “If a student came to my class wearing one, one of us would have to leave.” Some have other views. “I think they’re humorous,” one student said. “And it doesn’t hurt to laugh at s' problem every once in awhile.” Others believe that AIDS is in no way humorous. “Worldwide, AIDS is r. A Time To Keith Kramer Guest Writer his livir jvery omi pu can a( loing prel [even moi decides a young we see tl STOP A'®® Back of the T-shirt. primarily a heterosexual disease. Only in America is it labeled as homo sexual. And that perception is rapidly changing,” stated another professor. “When I first saw them, I felt the individuals were within their first amendment rights of freedom of speech,” said Tim Story, a senior. However, I would think that mature individuals would have a moral obli gation, especially toward this cam pus, not to display something that would... offend a number of stu dents. The message further promotes the hysteria based on false informa tion surrounding the tragic disease, AIDS. It’s a time for understanding and research. A lot of innocent people and children are contracting AIDS.” How AIDS came to the U.S. is in dispute. A letter in the Asheville Citizen-Times said that The British Medical Journal, April 1985, reported “the purchase of huge quantities of plasma from Haiti and Zaire in the 1970s by major American pharma ceutical companies. The plasma was pooled with hundreds of donations at a time, allowing one infected donation to contaminate hundreds.” “I think the AIDS T-shirts are a cruel joke or a serious problem. AIDS is killing us and only 10% [of the cases] are caused by homosexual ac tivity. If they want to help the prob lem, the money should be sent to the ADDS foundation. It’s like wearing a T-shirt with a stick figure and a line through it saying, ‘No Starvation,”’ said Leah Pardue, a sophomore. Weeks defends his use of the stick figures by saying, “I don’t think the T-shirts would sell if they had two people ‘shooting up.’” “I’m not trying to make any par ticular statement. I feel there is a humorous side to most everything. I realize the seriousness of AIDS and that one can get it many different ways. The initial spread of AIDS was mainly restricted to homosexuals,” Weeks added. Dr. Tom Plaut, professor of sociolo gy, sees the T-shirts as vulgar not only because they portray anal sex but also because they scapegoat a par ticular element of the population. “If you’re going to have a T-shirt about AIDS, have one about the vic tim. T-shirts focus on homosexuality to the point where you wonder ‘Is the shirt against AIDS or homosexuali ty?”’ Plaut said. “What kind of response do you want people to have? Anger or compassion?” Plaut compared the shirts to Hitler’s blaming all Germany’s economic problems after WWI on the Jews. Thus, many people feel the shirts show discrimination and capitalize on prejudice. If so, “Are the shirts spreading homophobia when Chris tian compassion is needed?” one pro fessor asked. Whatever the answer, because of the controversy, more shirts probably will be sold. Last night with me. It was a difficu! vith his i through, but I felt comp; that he this experience of dying i s father j was a young woman of 3'dam (he year-old daughter. Leuk^amed Ti cause of death. hngelist : We had talked during tpughout didn’t realize at the time she was. She took a big 5:00 p.m. and her hi dropped to nearly not help of some fluids, she (credits fii up into the 90’s (systolicln was no with nc firm stoi luring ti itinues t sure). But in a short time.iteresting fall again for the last tini story me Earlier in our talks tljts aboi had been a bit confusetyialogue, some of the things shefians in tl made too much sense |[s all. The asked me if I thought wlives and get out of here. I told herr not belli but that we could try inot try t give up hope. And afterVhich goe her, I wasn’t sure that Ilj). They d the right advice. p from c It had been a painful l(iy of us s her family battling thisiy. they loss of hair and discoloty did no products of the last yeajssed Hir She started to go, andjt is wh knew this was it. It was if e) a sue struggle, but it wasn’t i way is right? She lay hope and nothing for met do but watch her die. It was quiet among otl held her hand and strokej an attempt to somehow ( in life. We repeatedly ' was not alone; we were i would not leave her. 1' there was comfort in sions for her. Her heart J and she took her last _ secretary hugged her mi ran down their cheeks. l)"29. 8 p when we called upon Gi’ 2:30 p ~ fg ti Radio 1 Hilltop Staff Editor-in-Chief Disa Starnes Assistant Editor Scott Frady Lay-out Editor I™ Parks Photographic Editor John Edwards Sports Editor Gleim Smith Business Manager Laurie Israel Staff Writers Michelle Barber, Laurie Israel, Jay Jackson, Allen Kromer, Heather Osen, Lea Pardue, Becky Horner, Laura Smithwick, Duane Partin, Lisa Ramsey, Craig Cox Cartoonists Wade Astin, Mike Houston, Scott Gossett AdvisorJohn CampbeU Typesetting and Printing by Clark’s Printing ’The Hilltop is the official student newspaper of Mars Hill College. The opin ions expressed in the paper do not necessarily reflect those of the admims- tration, faculty, or staff of the college. Nor do the opinions necessarily reflect those of the Hilltop staff. Hilltop, P.O. Box 1148-C inter other for.strength stand. Holding her harf^^® prayer for her as she d had ended, and I felt s mine go with her. Friday lldren” Chap'I'er JF[ A'f^'he.r a rr.yS'f'iial appears &erarcl^hcJroo>n ^ke /OasSeS firdina kimStIfirs ahofkerp/ant of iXisranct ! (f^oHoiu rr\t GerarJ af RtAldy fnder ln^ an am old, ye'k 1 iij «an a^e. yt /d tS eS'Corfcal •i’o ^ L Xd . . . a/' Fir you iottn /as-k A«f,e for exirfanci. irtinJ IS aC’J'f'tl'f paraktl our ... a skrautted f^xtre wearing a aoUcn nnask . kfi{ vticc e.C,koeS ’^■^krou^kaut efernH-yr,ye-k it Saa-kkinaly pa-f'ern a I . CjJf G^rarJ Le^p fk.€ ^ masked fryirt? ^ . /.jkafe x+ar-r 'n "tke navT PtAfzi

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