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Show MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2005 Building a parochial paradise at UVSC Vegor Pedersen Editor-in-Chief A few weeks ago The College Times published an article about the Utah State Legislature's failure to approve UVSC's proposal for a new library. This new library, a $37 million project called the Digital Learning Center (DLC), is the centerpiece of President Sederburg's vision for the college. As you will see in State Sen. John Valentine's letter on A5, many of our legislators have said the reason UVSC did not receive funding is because there were more pressing needs in the state. They claim that recent controversies over events like the Michael Moore visit, The Vagina Monologues, mock gambling, and the Queer Theory class were not to blame for the school's loss. I don't think that is the case. President Sederburg doesn't think that is true either-at least the President Sederburg of a few weeks ago. The current Sederburg seems to be playing a new card-that of the grateful beggar. "Oh you finally gave us some of the money you have owed us for years...Thank you sir, can I have another?" But at the time of our story Sederburg sounded more like this "... I can't underestimate the challenges we face in the loss of support [referring to a series of articles that ran in the Daily Herald about topics like mock gambling and the Queer Theory class], just in that series of a week or something, especially with our legislators...because we're on the defensive now with the Digital Learning Center and a variety of things." Marlon Snow, Utah Valley's lone member of the all-powerful Board of Regents, also admitted that legislators were upset about the moral direction of the school. "The library... you had to put it on hold this year," Snow said. When our reporter asked him specifically if he thought that was a result of the legislature's disapproval of UVSC activities Snow said," I do, yes I do." But it doesn't end there. Just last Thursday night, UVSC's administration hosted a dinner for the Utah County delegation. All of the big boys (and girls) were there. State Rep. Steve Clark of Provo said, "UVSC is a great opportunity for kids to have the BYU experience. We're walking on eggshells when we say this, but we know that people want that experience." And that is really what it comes down to. The people of this community want UVSC to be BYU-Orem, and the legislature is doing all they can to make this a reality. But of course you can't just say that (unless you are Rep. Clark I guess) because the ACLU will be all over you. So you have to mesh the church and the state in a very quiet, sneaky way. You have to put pressure on the college to tow the line. "Do what we say, or you won't see a brick of that new library." This policy of fear is spreading. Even our pal Sederburg (who I think is a genuinely nice guy) is a little jumpy. Recently he asked Dennis Potter to change the titles of two ••V.U^GFV•••>•'-. Churchill, left, is under fire from Colorado Governor of the sessions Hd Owens, miiJ'-Hr. ' ;• campus visit by at the Mormon Moore, rifiht. ii[»xt UUili stalesenatan. Studies Conference. If Sedercollege to go too far and lose touch with the is explicitly recognized and protected community' But we hove an obligation to burg were back Legislators wield one potent weapon: protect academic freedom." money. In January, Utah state senators quiin Michigan he Lawmakers loft Kid right say freedom etly red-lined funding for a $37 million wouldn't think is exactly what they want to safeguard. "We digital-learning center at Utah Valley State are having witch hunts,* says Hagedorn. A twice about College. The senators were worried about Metro State colleagun; ethnic-studies pro"the drift of the campus," says uvsc prescensoring topfessor Oneida Merant^ came under attack ishfi ident Bill Sederburg, who fielded comics like gay and bod grade . plaints from them about an OcL 20 campus last winter after clasfa^Egwith Republicans 2 passed a lesbian issues. last year, speech by Michael Moore, a student profn her class. (She w^^ftter reprimanded notforher political viajwpjnit for breach of But with a right- hdrawn af- duction of The Vagina Monologues and a privacy when she saidflbftone of the comwing legislature ors signed OOUrse on queer theory in literature. "The plainants was ^ ^ 8tofliinkher class.) legttiitots.are saying 'We don't want the breathing down •al diversiRxto Hl his neck, that is exactly what he In a March 14 article entitled "Fighting Words 1 0 1 / ' Time Magazine's Jeff Chu mentions the did. legislature's punishment of UVSC for Michael Moore, The Vagina Monologues, etc. Like I said, the policy of fear is spreading. When funny. For instance, next year the ademic freedom to use it?" I won't people like Dennis Potter are ac- requisite Ethics and Values class mention the professor's name...I quiescing to censorship you know will be renamed Ethics and Life. want him to keep his job as well. Still think people like Caldiero are things are bad. Potter is normally the Why? Professor Alex Caldiero type of guy who would say, "F@#! thinks that values is a word the right crazy? Time Magazine doesn't think you, I won't do what you tell me" in wants to own exclusively. A bunch so. Check out this week's issue for his best Zack de la Rocha voice. But of liberal professors can't be trusted an article that mentions UVSC's current plight. Besides The College he also has a wife, a family, and a ,with a word like "values." mortgage...and I am sure he wouldCaldiero is crazy, right? Maybe. Times, this is the only other place like to keep his job. But maybe we all need to think you will find this story. I guess the Think it ends there? I hope that about something I heard a professor first amendment isn't a safe enough it does, but every now and then I'll say recently, "What's the point of a topic for the local media. hear a little something that sounds new library if you don't have the ac1 • 1 » Rome and Afghanistan not built in a day democratic government for the first time in their history - implying that it is somehow our fault that things are not better over there. Opinion Writer In an effort to silence the rabid dogs who are anxious to blame the United States for everything wrong In a recent New York Times ar- in the world, let us examine a few ticle headlined "Afghanistan Still facts about the reality of the situaSuffers," the newspaper points to tion. the 2004 United Nations Human First, it is important to realize that Development Index that shows Af- Afghanistan has been the unfortughanistan ranked at 173 of 178 na- nate victim of constant war and untions. This index, which places the rest for decades. They fought off the countries of the world according to communists for over 10 years after economic factors and living condi- the Soviets invaded in 1979, only to tions, shows us that which is not thereafter fall into civil war as varisurprising - Afghanistan is a country ous warlords fought for control. in extreme distress. Eventually, the Taliban came to Unfortunately, the article leads power, of whom you need not be with the fact that this comes three reminded how their fascist ideolyears after the United States drove ogy subjected women and children the evil Taliban and their terrorist to harsh physical abuse for doing chums from power and secured a things as simple as learning to read Ron Cardon or showing their eyes in public. It wasn't until the United States liberated Afghanistan from totalitarianism that they were, for the first time, able to draft a constitution and hold national elections, of which both have been quite successful. Of can agree that our nation, the greatest experiment in democracy, is not yet perfect as we continue to refine and adjust the scales. It has taken us over 200 years to get where we are today! It is also important to understand how fragile and weak Afghanistan's economy is. Accordthe United States ing to the CIA World crop is opium. This has become their national treasure, simply because it fed and armed their people during their time of war. Naturally, everyone wants them to discontinue the production of opium because of its impact on the rest of the world, but shutting down the main export on which an entire nation depends is no easy task. Imagine what would happen if Saudi Arabia were to sudIt wasn't until denly stop producing and selling actbook liberated Afghanistan from totalitar- *; > oil? l& T i s tan is a land-locked No doubt, Afghanis have a rough ianism that they were, for the first nation with an arid life, and it is reasonable to doubt that .. L i . i J . f i . J.-^.*J climate and mostly they will ever be high on the U.N. time able to draft a constitution and m?gtd m o u n t a i n tJ_ Index, all things considered. We can rain hold national elections... T ^ 1 natural do much to assist them in any way resources are scarce, possible, as we have been; however, course, as with any budding democ- and produce as as they much have natural nogas oil it is completely ignorant not to recracy, there have been some rough as they consume, making it a com- ognize how far they have come in hills to overcome and edges to be modity that cannot be sold abroad. these past few years since we have smoothed long after the ink on the 80 percent of their labor force is in intervened. People are finally free to parchment has dried. I think anyone agriculture, of which their prime learn, vote, and live they way they Broad stripes and bright stars: the implications of flag burning with their innermost sentiments of patriotism, the most obvious way to infuriate them is to make the symIkwo Ibiam bol appear common or worthless. Opinion Writer Many American citizens have voiced protest toward the government by burning the national flag, which sparks a very heated debate For the majority of U.S. citizens, (no pun intended). Should a constithe universal symbol of freedom, tutional amendment be added to ban liberty, and sacrifice is the national desecration of the red, white and flag. Commonly known as "Old blue? The truth is that flag burning Glory," this banner is regarded by accomplishes nothing more than to many as the physical representa- convey disrespect to those who hontion of our Constitution. As such, or it. It is done to say, "Hey, look at the flag evokes the deepest feelings what were doing to something you of national pride, respect, and grati- respect!" However, making a contude from those who live within the stitutional amendment to ban flag boundaries of this country. In Cali- desecration is totally unnecessary. fornia, an environmentalist trying to The first amendment states, "Consave an ancient tree from developers gress shall make no law abridging named it "Old Glory" in an attempt freedom of speech . . ." Speech can to keep it from being cut down. be vocalized or symbolic, as demThe architects of this nation kept onstrated in sign language. Even God in mind when framing the though flag burning is considered Constitution, and as a result, many a form of political speech, the act Americans honor their country in is not an effective way to make a the same degree that they rever- point. There is no need to amend ence deity. When millions regard a the Constitution because the acts of symbol to be inseparably conjoined the few demonstrators that use this strategy speak for themselves. They may lose sympathy for their cause from others who are offended by their tactics. Burning any object to make a statement carries a negative connotation. The act of burning a flag is the last desperate resort for those who cannot properly articulate their cause. Reason should be the governing catalyst for the defense or attack of any issue. Visual Bush, his policies, or anyone else in his administration. Its scope and meaning is much broader than that. Instead of destroying a flag, a more accurate display of disapproval may come from tearing a picture of the president, a representative of the state, or a mayor. It isn't that I endorse such behavior; the point is that this alternative would specifically direct anger at those individu- did. One of the most famous wartime photographs taken by Joe Rosenthal captured Marines raising the American flag at I wo Jima. This scene came to represent the strength and determination of the entire nation. I doubt that any soldier willing to give their life for this country ' would burn the symbol of freedom for which they fight. Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf said: "We have heard from opponents of the flag that our troops fight for the rights of flag burners. Who among them would The act of burning a flag is the last desperate resort stand before these men and women tell them they are fighting in for those who cannot properly articulate their cause. and the sand storms of Iraq so that their Reason should be the governing catalyst for the de- flag can be burned on the streets of America?*' fense or attack of any issue. Visual imagery that Our national banner speaks volextracts raw emotion is an inadequate substitute. umes of American history without printed words or paper. Although we have the right tofreespeech, we imagery that extracts raw emotion is als that support a different position need not abuse that right by being an inadequate substitute. senselessly destructive or vulgar in than the demonstrator. An important fact that proponents respect to our flag. In historic battles, soldiers were of flag burning fail to realize is charged with the responsibility of that the flag does not represent the leading their units into battle by carelected officials in our government. rying the flag. It was regarded an It does not symbolize George W. honor worth dying for-and many |