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Show 1 PAGE 4 THE THUNDERBIRD MONDAY APRIL 25, 1988 HOSPITALITY COULD INVITE SOVIET RETURN 1987 Soviet and American gymnasts visited Cedar City to entertain, promote goodwill, and conquer some awesome political boundaries. The community showed its acceptance of the idea with a welcoming extravaganza that rivaled none and cultivated what's becoming a long-terrelationship in the process. News of the Soviets' return was announced in Senate Monday, making it clear that international relations start with western hospitality. The Soviet gymnasts have scheduled a tour next October of the U.S. to follow their Olympic competition. The gymnasts, we've heard, cared little about their other destinations, but specifically requested a return to Cedar City. The welcoming efforts of the community and SUSC were not forgotten, and the global spotlight will once again shine on southern Utah later this year. College and city administrators will make sure the Soviets once again receive our undivided attention for their return visit in the fall. If you can't understand why these world travelers would request a trip to Cedar City, you must not have been here the first time. This town of 15,000 joined forces with the rest of southern Utah to present an unforgettable welcoming celebration, complete with parade, rodeo, and country concert. Event planners kept the entourage entertained from the moment their 737 touched the ground. And the reception, said the gymnasts, was far warmer than the greetings extended by other, larger cities they had visited. The results othe first Soviet visit were far greater than just the emotion-lade- n exhibition performance. Our visitors provided Cedar City with an economic shot in the arm, something the natives have been trying to do for years. Spectators flocked to Cedar City from throughout the West. Not far behind were the media, with TV cameras from the Wasatch Front as well as ESPN focusing on SUSC. The sense of unity and excitement the Goodwill Tour infused into the community was repayment enough, but further dividends emerged in the d form of exposure for Cedar City and SUSC. And the upcoming visit could have even greater implications. While coverage of last year's goodwill exhibition was primarily limited to ESPN and tha Salt Lake City media, sources coordinating the Soviets' return engagement consider network coverage a definite possibility. The coverage Cedar City and SUSC received the first time out could pale in comparison. The Festival City seems to be earning its title. Continued excellence will insure the growth of the area and our campus. And those who thought the first Soviet visit to Cedar City was just a fluke should guess again, because they are coming back. In April m much-neede- IEn ir u n THE STUDENT r L NEWS AND VIEWS OF SOUTHERN VOLUME Editor Nicole Bonham Associate Editor Lisa Jane Laird Copy Editor Mitch Connell Photo Editor Richard Engleman Sports Editor Tiffanie Florence UTAH STATE COLLEGE CEDAR CITY, UTAH 82, NUMBER 27 Entertainment Editor Danny Stewart Senior Staff Writer Betsy Thomas Production Manager Gavin McNeil Advertising Manager Chris Udy Faculty Adviser Larry Baker The Thunderbird is published each Monday of the academic year by and for the student body of Southern Utah State College and is not affiliated in any way with the College's department of communication. The views and opinions expressed ir. fhe Thunderbird are the opinions of the publication's individual 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. Only the name will be printed. Names will not be withheld under any circumstances and the editor reserves editing privileges. Letters must be submitted by noon Friday for inclusion in the following edition. The Thunderbird: editorial and advertising offices in SUSC Library 103. Mail at SUSC Box 7758. 9384, Cedar City, UT 84720. Phone (801) Fm .- -i. Participation in caucus imperative 'Access is a recurring column through which members of the campus community may address themselves to topics of concern andor interest. This week's column is by NICOLE A. BONHAM, editor for 'The Thunderbird,' and a sophomore majoring in communication. With increasing tuition costs, we must find it imperative to register our opinion in today's party caucuses. Whether you are Democrat, Republican, or even Libertarian, the party caucuses provide a forum for setting a party platform at the local, grassroots level. The meetings are scheduled for 7 p.m. Students can call the ASSUSC offices at 586-776- 6 to find correct district meeting locations. Students don't need to be registered or be an official member of a party to attend today's caucuses. Already we are seeing the growth of partisan clubs on campus, such as the Young Republicans and Young Democrats a phenomenon that occurs on campuses across the nation during presidential election years. These student political groups offer a convenient avenue for us to increase issue awareness and at the same time show Utah legislators that we can comprise a massive voting block. We could play a role in state and local election issues simply, because of our numbers. Legislators cannot ignore the influence of the 86,000 students in Utah's higher education programs. With the impending tax initiative appearing on our ballots in November, our vote w:il play a vital role in higher education's future particularly SUSC's future. The continuation of southern Utah's higher education programs will depend on student votes. To limit future tuition increases and program cuts, students can surely voice their thoughts at today's party caucuses. Although we will not see immediate results today, our voice will affect later decisions. SUSC students will see a 25 percent tuition increase if Utah's voters pass the tax rollback, said ASSUSC President Darin Bird. Already Bird has committed $1,000 to fight the tax rollback. In Friday's meeting, the State Board of Regents predicted dire consequences if the rollback is passed and stressed the importance of student input. The effects of a rollback on southern Utah's higher education program will be devastating. Staff and Utah's can't legislators . . r ri Ot tIG intlUenCe i IgHOTe 86,000 voting college students. faculty have also been urged to attend their district mass meeting to ensure fair representation concerning higher education decisions. "The job you save may be your own," said SUSC President Gerald R. Sherratt in an April 13 Staff Association Board memo sent to all staff members. ASSUSC leaders have planned a fall quarter candidate awareness week. Registration and voting information will be available, as will both national and state candidate information. Each day will be devoted to a particular political position up for Student involvement today and next quarter will be imperative. The school we save could be our own. |