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Show ypM M lypK FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 1 . 1 99 1 Signpost VOLUME 51. ISSUE 50 1HE WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY News 2 Co-op helps students get better jobs Entertainment c "Henry V an Inspiring portrayal of medieval king Sports a Wildcats womp Montana State Thursday night f t 5 J--t, "r. 1 --r .v. 4. . . r Columbus didn't discover America, WSU professor says By Lisa Ivey Staff writer of The Signpost Despite what textbooks tell us, Columbus did not discover America, said J. Henry Ibarguen at Thursday's Issues Forum. Ibarguen, WSU professor of Latin American history, explained that many non-Europeans, particularly Native Indian-Americans and African Americans, believe that Columbus' discovery was "a disaster." He also believes as America celebrates the 500th anniversary of Columbus' "discovery" next year, there may be demonstrations and protests. There were millions of people on the continent when Columbus arrived nearly 500 years ago, Ibarguen said. Moreover, he believes that Columbus did not invent the idea of a spherical world. 'There is no question that the coming of Europeans in 1492 brought civilization," Ibarguen said. This was not a discovery, but an invasion, according to past historians. The Indians and Mexicans were viewed as bad, while everything European or North American was imitated, he said. The migration of Europeans to the American continent brought disease. During the 16th Century, three to five million Indians died of diseases such as influenza, to which the Europeans were resistant. Ibarguen said that an Indianist movement was born during the Mexican Revolution, which "forced the pendulum to swing (See COLUMBUS page 3) Reynolds hopes for a 'smoke-free America' Tobacco king's grandson says industry lies to public By Lorin May News editor of The Signpost Patrick Reynolds believes the tobacco industry is "perhaps the greatest abuse of freedom of speech and the Bill or Rights in history." He hopes to ban tobacco advertising, and eventually take part in creating a "Smoke-free America." Reynolds, grandson of the founder of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, told a Convocations audience his anti-smoking crusade began after personal experiences convinced him that smoking is not only unhealthy, but that advertising and promoting it is immoral. "(Tobacco companies) make a lot of noise about the Bill of Rights, but they are using it as a smoke screen to distract your attention from how heavily they are abusing the Bill of Rights, especially the freedom of speech," Reynolds said. 'To associate (smoking) with sports and beauty and health ... is perhaps the biggest lie that is being perpetrated on the American public." Reynolds wants the United States to follow France and Canada in banning all advertising of tobacco products. He said when medical research began to link smoking to ill health the tobacco industry changed its strategy by introducing this American habit to poorer countries in which the populations were not informed about the hazards of smoking. "There will be tens of millions of people who will die as a result of the consequences of what the tobacco industry executives have been allowed to do," he said. MARK RANDALL THE SIGNPOST PATRICK REYNOLDS, grandson of the founder of R J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, tells a WSU audience of his strong anti-smoking position. Stats of the 'smoke-screen' According to Reynolds: O 60 percent of smokers started before the age of 16. D 90 percent of all smokers start by the age of 1 9. more than 460,000 Americans will die as a resu it of cigarettes produced by six U.S. companies.cigarette smoke contains 43 chemicals know to cause cancer end cigarettes are as addicting as heroine. smoking costs Americans $2.35 In medical expenses for every pack of cigarettes sold. fj world cigarette consumption is up 73 percent since 1968. 50 million Americans smoke Particularly offensive to Reynolds are advertisements featuring cartoon characters. He said they are intentionally designed to appeal to teenagers and children. Despite seeing his father die slowly from emphysema when he was 15, Reynolds started smoking only three years later" which really impresses on me how strong the lure of cigarettes is for teenagers," he said. Reynolds said the reason he started smoking was to establish his own identity. "From the ages of 1 6 to 22 people are starting to separate themselves from their parents," he said "It's almost as if when (you parents) say "black' you sav 'white.'" In 1979 Reynolds divested himself of all his stock in R.J. Reynolds. At the time, his motive was that he didn't feel good making money on something which was bad for people. In 1985 hequit smoking for good. Since 1986 Reynolds has actively campaigned against smoking and the techniques tobacco (See SMOKE page 2) y Is - - ; "H v... - ...... ... V i Sleeping Beauty JM SAWDEY THE SIGNPOST A TIRED YOUNG beauty catches a few "z's" between classes on a bench by the ballroom In the Union Building. Perhaps she dreams of the day she can visit the ballroom accompanied by the Prince Charming of her destiny. |