UTAH UNIVERSITYDTUESDAY FEBRUARY THE THUNOERBIRDCSOUTHERN homas Jefferson, Horace Mann, and John Dewey each emphasized the value of good citizenship and ii. the concept that a nations vitality, indeed, its very existence is based on the moral integrity that each citizen promotes. For the most part, citizens of southern Utah are socially responsible, law abiding and considerate of others. Unfortunately, there are a few people who seem oblivious to social and moral standards, preferring to live their lives as they see fit and if they step on others toes, well, its no skin off their noses. Apparently, some of these inconsiderate few are college and high school students that have a penchant for boisterousness, alcohol and occasionally drugs. Recent complaints implicating SUU students in disruptive behavior at local recreation sites, namely Red Cliffs, compels us to address what we believe to be a serious problem. We do not advocate legislating morality nor are we critical of these students pastimes; there are laws tailored behavior. But we can to deal with this type of be a to we what believe address major contributing factor in such behavior: We understand that there has been a shift in American values over the last 50 years. Unfortunately, this shift has situation with respect to placed many citizens in a The everyday pressures of survival in a world that defines success in terms of gaining material wealth has left many Americans morally impoverished. As a result, some people are left with feelings of emptiness and worthlessness. Alcohol and drug abuse serves to temporarily fill the void made by a lack of personal and social responsiblity. freedom Compounding this situation is the that many students have once they leave home. The freedom of the university ensures that many approaches to lifestyle can be tested. Sadly, some students equate this freedom with drinking or dabbling in drugs decisions often and finding acceptability. made to bolster low The fact is, alcohol and drugs never made a person more sociable, witty or sexy. Substance abuse kills. There are a number of organizations and activities on campus that foster good citizenship, promote and provide socialization. Athletic programs, student government and forensics, to name a few. Take advantage of these opportunities. By doing so youll be doing a favor for the most important person you know yourself. 19, 1991 PAGE 4 I anti-soci- al self-estee- no-wi- n self-estee- new-foun- d self-estee- m self-estee- m TO THE EDITOR: hear much from modern and our criminal about system justice rehabilitation, about learning to control our emotions without so psychology I am responding Lauritzens viewpoint to Major in thejan. 31, issue of The Thunderbird. It gave me new food for thought. I was struck by the majors view of war as . . .an extension of diplomacy. ..a diplomatic tool. He says, War is justified by moral nations solely in the most extreme cases where diplomacy has failed. Oh my! Does the civilized world have so little faith in itself that contests of opinion must resort to that admittedly age-ol- d , tradition, war? I guess Im na$e. I read or resorting to violence. The correctness (rightness or wrongness) of our position in the gulf becomes a moot point in the face of a more frightening question at least, frightening in its global implications must civilization, as we know it, devolve into juvenile josding for king of the hill status? The fact that war is a human tradition or that one side is more moral or right than the other is not the point that Im concerned with at this moment. I believe that humankind will not realize all that it can be, or aspire to, until it rises above such pettiness. Perhaps wars are important historically, as schoolyard scuffles may be important to individual growth. But, just as children need to learn to control their emotions (socialization, I believe its called), so the human race needs to move on to a higher plateau of life, to reach a maturity that does not require nor resort to violence to resolve conflict. Julia Shochat Hinton sets the record straight r'TTJT SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY Editor Kathleen Midgley Associate Editor Natalie Coombs Opinion Director James Spamhower Photo Editor JefT Dower Copy Editor Lisa Jane Laird Sports Editor Brent Richey Mankind needs to rise above war CEDAR CITY, UTAH Arts Editor Chens Tucker Production Manager Rachelle Sherratt Advertising Manager Brent Richey Ad Production Manager Cynthia Jenkins Staff Production Head Lvnn Dennett Faculty Adviser Larry Baker Th e Thunderbird is published each Monday and Thursday of the academic year bv and for the student body of Southern Utah University and is not affiliated in any way with the Lniversitys The Mews and opinions expressed in The Thunderbird are the department of communication opinions of the publications indisidual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the institution, faculty, staff or student body in general The unsigned editorial directly above is the opinion of The Thunderbird as a single entity Letters to the editor must be typed and include the name and phone number Onlv the name will be printed Names will not be withheld under anv circumstances and the editor reserves editing pn ileges Letters must be submitted bv noon Fridays for Monday editions, 5 pm Tuesdays for Thursday editions The Thunderbird offices in UU Industrial Education Building 003 Mail at SUU Box 9J84, Cedar Citv, LT 84720 Phone (801) 58b 7758, FAX 586 c487 TO THE EDITOR: The Feb. 14, edition of The Thunderbird, quoted me as saying: The administration knows the j that could be part of the reason salaries remain lower here than at peer institutions. Theyve gotten away with paying lower salaries in the past, the1 know many of us are willing to stay. Maybe they ae not motivated to make significant increases. The quotes are so erroneous as to require correction. faculty are content, ar What I said was that the central administration was aware of the gap between salaries at SUU and peer institutions and has worked to close that gap. I expressed pessimism that much would be accomplished in the present Legislature or in the near future due to the current economic recession, the general political climate and because state legislators generally know that the faculty are content. Theyve gotten away with paying lower salaries in the past; they know many of us are willing to stay. Maybe they are not motivated to make significant increases. May I point out that there is a vast difference between the SUU administration and the state legislature. Perhaps the most significant is that it is ultimately the Legislature that decides how much raise faculty receive. Central administration is charged with presenting the case for salary improvement and administering the money that is allocated. Wayne Hinton