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Show The Signpost - Friday, May 12, 1989 5 People overpay for bathroom art By Paul Johnson Contributing Writer Forty-eight million dollars. That's the price someone paid this week for get this a painting: a swatch of canvas smeared with colored goo. S48 million. That's enough to pay for a few thousand average homes, a few thousand Porsches, and a semester or two of tuition at the average university. Buying paintings is certainly an expensive hobby for a dedicated art lover. I had to wonder what it is about art that creates such incredible interest, financial or otherwise. What is the drawing power of a drawn portrait? As I stood in the restroom the other day, gazing in the mirror and reflecting on art, I noticed some scribbled drawings and words on the wall. Here in this humble gallery was a myriad of shape and form capturing the vivid expressions of a closet (or rather stall) artist. Was not this visual interpretation of life the essence of art? And there were not only drawings. The walls had also become the forum for aspiring poets, remarkable in their uncanny while on the can ability to portray thought in mirthful rhyme and clever rhythm. Of course I'm sure most serious art critics have overlooked the works on display at the "Down the Hall and to Your Left Gallery," but the benefits of such creations should not go unnoticed. Besides the cultural enrichment art so often brings, consider the educational aid of bathroom art. Imagine the shy and worrisome father who dreads explaining the behavior or those ever-active birds and bees to his son. He breathes a sigh of relief to hear the boy say, "oh, that's okay, Dad, I already know all that stuff. I read it in the bathroom." Certainly those vivid anatomical diagrams and configurations are more interesting than a dry and bland textbook. We probably inherited our tendency to express ourselves on the walls from our ancient ancestors. Many archaeologists wonder at the secret -meaning of the strange symbols scrawled on cave walls. Caves were probably the cavemen's first bathrooms, and I'm sure if the art could be accurately interpreted, we'd read such gifted observations as, "For a good time call Ooga." Of course some feel that the only thing the artists are accomplishing as they sit there and draw is to put out a bunch of well, you know. But perhaps we should think twice before raising a sponge. Would not such an act, in effect destroying art, be akin to dousing the Mona Lisa in lighter fluid? So next time you find yourself in the local public stall, gaze at the walls and consider how fortunate you are to be able to enjoy true art. And you didn't even have to pay a dime. Letter to the editor Asphalt doesn't grow 4-10-89 Dear water and grounds: We the students at WSC appreciate your trying to increase parking by watering the streets and lot. Our hopes are with you. There is nothing like installing pontoons on your motorcycle to make it to class. We think that we should gel P. E. credits in sailing and scuba for our efforts. Michael Thompson WSC student Write a letter to the editor TODAY! ATTENTION WSC STUDENTS FACULTYSTAFF PS2 Model 30-286 Memory 1 MB 80286 processor Diskette Drive 1.44 MB. Hardfile 20 MB IBM Mouse 8513 Color Display DOS 4.0 Microsoft (TM) Word Ver. 4.0 Microsoft Windows 286 hDC Windows Express Sale Price $2,399 List Price $4,437 Savings $2,038 Call your Education Specialist Bill Tribe 627-2300 Products Dealer Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 4071 Riverdale Rd. (Next to Fred Meyer) Court (cont'd from front page) constitution's definition of a referendum this is essentially any action of the student government." Section 3 of the same article defines an initiative as "a petition requesting a specific action or policy be carried out, signed by 5 percent of the membership of the ASWSC ... must be submitted to a vote of the general membership of the ASWSC. ... A majority vote of the general membership of ASWSC shall be required to approve said request. This action or policy will not then be subjec t to legislative repeal unless otherwise provided for in said initiative petition." In response to these two definitions Alsup said, "Personally, I don't see any difference between 'a majority vote of the general membership of ASWSC and 'a majority vote of the general membershipof ASWSC.'"' Alsup spoke of precedents. "In the past, particularly 1981, some amendments were passed and everything in student government or anything that has ever passed has passed by a simple majority of those voting." He continued, suggesting that the Court has been inconsistent in their interpretation of the majority vote. "Because of past precedents, ... the majority vote here in the ratification process is simply being disregarded. But it's not being disregarded anywhere else. And so, as an initiative, they're still saying that it would require a majority vote of the general membership although the amendments which have the same stipulation, the court passed." Alsup said he would like to see a reevaluation of the Constitution and its definitions of initiative, amendments and referendums. Alsup said he is not suggesting that an initiative should be easy to pass. It should be difficult to pass, he said, because there is no legislative appeal for an initiative. "But it's unrealistic to expect a majority vote of the student body here at Weber State College." The Signpost welcomes letters to thecditor.Thcy must : be typed and should not exceed 300 words in length. For subjects requiring greater exposition, arrangements may be made with the Letter Policy editor-in-chief. Letters MUST include name, address, phone number, relationship to WSC (student, family, staff, Ogdcn resident, etc.) and the signature of the writer. Letters without this information will ; not be printed. The Signpost reserves the right to edit for reasons of space and libel and reserves the right to refuse to print any letter deemed inappropriate. "Ph.T'Degree (Putting husband Through) "Pw.T" Degree (Putting wife Through) Ceremony -- Friday, June 9 Person to receive award: Recipient's Full Name: Husband Wife Local Address: Telephone: Will heshe be present to receive the Degree? Yes Name of student submitting appplication: No If you would like a tribute to your spouse included with the diploma, please write the tribute below: Thank you for your support in the PhtPwt Degree Awaru Program. We are that sure your spouse is deserving of this award. Applications available in Rm. 353 of the U.B. For more information, call 626-6090 |