OCR Text |
Show 4 Signpost-Friday, October 5, 1984 EdhoRiAl Fritz Is Far Behind by Kevin Carrillo Business Manager At the risk of offending the token democrat on campus, I am afraid that this year's presidential election is all but over. A recent poll showed that Reagan holds a solid lead in 45 states. Five states are up for grabs, and Mondale holds a commanding lead in one electorial contest: the District of Columbia. The facts tell us that come Nov. 6, Mondale may find himself a member of the unemployed. Sure, there is the possibility of a sudden shift in the political winds that would sweep Mondale into office. However, with the Chicago Cubs in the playoffs, we have seen our quota of miracles for this year, politics or not. What went wrong? Mondale had everything going for him. He was the only liberal standard bearer left in the Democratic party. Most other party members have become so conservative that they are out GOP'ing the Republicans. Mondale also had time on his side. Hardly had the ballot boxes had a chance to cool from the stinging defeat of Jimmy Carter, than Mondale was declaring his intentions to run for president. How then does Mondale find himself in the embarrassing situation of having only three definite electorial votes? Many might blame the popularity of Ronald Reagan, but the real root of the problem must be placed at the feet of Mondale himself. Mondale tried to capitalize on the issue of the gender gap. For the past several months, women's groups have complained that President Reagan does not care about concerns of women. Mondale has tried to show his deep interest for the women of this country. However, women have not responded to his overture. The choice is between gender gap and boring gap. Mondale has tried to portray the President as an old man who is out of touch with the people. It is plain to see that it is Mondale who needs to listen to the voters. The nation has taken a swing to the conservative side. We have once again become. a nation in which religion plays a major role. The economy is in a healthy, growing stage. Despite world confrontations, we are still at peace and Ronald Reagan hasn't blown up the world. The only positive thing that has happened for Mondale is the arrival of Geraldine Ferraro. Mondale may or may not have picked Ferraro as a running mate with the idea of picking up a large voting block. The point is that Ferraro has proven to be a tough political candidate. Usually vice president candidates are assigned to the backdrop of campaigning at small fund raisers and supermarket openings. This year the real contest fell upon Bush and Ferraro. Both have had to campaign for themselves and not serve as the yes-man for the presidential candidates. Mondale may take heart in the fact that it took Reagan several tries before he was finally elected to the highest office. Perhaps Mondale should adopt the Chicago Cubs motto of There's always next year." It has taken them a long time to reach the top, too. WEMARN6P HIM HOTTd CROSSW PICKET LIM Who is 'Miss America?' Williams, Wells-Illusions Of Atlantic City by Stephanie Chamberlain Signature Editor The furor of July has all but passed. As Vanessa Williams was inducted into infamy, Sharlene Wells stepped into glitterdom. Pageant officials appeared to sigh a sigh of relief as the lily-white Utahn descended to cleanse the tarnished pedestal of Miss America. All is right in Fantasia; or is it? Pageant officials claim to have found in Sharlene the perfect American woman; clean, virtuous, one who lives her values each day, one who has no "skeletons in her closet." Does such a vision sound almost too good to be true? Does such a creature really exist? I wonder instead why not view us as we are -unique, yet imperfect individuals. Does not the institution of Miss America then become a tired threadbare illusion, worthy of retirement? How many of us believe that any Miss America can be the most beautiful, handpicked, if you will, from all the faces in the crowd. Come on. Be honest with yourself. There was always one contestant you thought should have won, but didn't. Then you began to pick the winner apart: her nose is too big, her eyes too close together and with hair like hers, you'd wear a wig. We, the discriminating audience, can't even decide on perfection. Long ago, many began to question the superficiality of such pageants. They've been termed cattle show, where semi-nude beauties (how ironic for Vanessa) are led onto stage for judging, the participants systematically exploited by those who profess to revere womanhood. While claiming to seek the well-rounded woman, they have merely focused on the physical. I must admit that in the past I ignored beauty pageants (especially the Miss America pageant) until Vanessa's fall from fame. It was easy. One simply changed the channel. The Vanessa Williams incident changed that. No longer were they playing a silly little illusive game. To err was no longer acceptable. They forced illusion into reality. What America did to Vanessa after Sharlene was even worse; to compare the two. Vanessa's character was judged further based on Sharlene's social-religious background. Yes, I saw the photos. I agree Vanessa made a mistake. Yet last July she actually grew a little in my eyes. She suddenly became more than a pretty face, a marketed, merchandised public relations object. She became human, real in all her imperfections. Is Sharlene Wells an unblemished goddess, one who breakfasts on Ambrosia before Ascending Mt. Olympus each morning? Only time (or an unforseen photographer) will tell. Editor-in-Chief Colleen Mewing Publisher Harold Y. Hunker General Manager Larry Stahle Signpost Advisor Diane Wangsgard Managing Editor Rae Dawn Olbert News Editor David C. Wright Sports Editor Dan Dickson Asst. Sports Editor Steve Spafford Entertainment Editor Chris Larsen Photo Editor Bob George Chief Photographer Matthew Brown Photographers Jeff Bybee John Allen Signature Editor Stephanie Chamberlain Copy Editor Pam Stoker Senior Reporters Steve Fifield Stephanie DeGraw Reporters Cherilyn Kawa Scot Parry Dennis Miller Loretta Park David B. Oswald Charlotte Starks Alex Hogensen Mark Spencer John F. Yeardley Charles Harrington Ad Sales Manager Kevin Carrillo Ad Salespersons Don Williams Production Manager Ken Hill Production Jeff Allen Tami Duke Tammy Jones Mike Nordstrom Cartoonist Steve Thorpe The Weber Stale Signpost is published twice weekly during the school year and once a week during the summer. The Signpost is published by the WSC Department of Communications. Editorial comment appearing in this publication is that of the Signpost and not necessarily that of WSC. The Signpost is located in the Union Building, room 267. Mail correspondence to WSC Signpost 2110, WSC. Ogden. Utah 84404. The Signpost is distributed to students on Tuesday and Friday free of charge and is available by subscription for $9 a quarter. Letter Policy The Signpost welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be typed. The Signpost reserves the right to edit for reasons of space and libel and refuses the right to print any letter deemed inappropriate. Letters must include name, address and signature. |