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Show n H I J f- s H L ii. 12UJLL iLCUi Guest editorial Gang participation can be prevented by home, school Dr. Daniel T. Gallego Sociology Deptartment. Regardless of the reasons that youth gang members may give us for joining gangs, social behavior-ists have theorized that one of the reasons is that there are "holes" in their emotional life. "Holes" that have been made as a result of not having been fed a sufficient amount of "emotional food." These holes exist because: 1. Of a lack of affection. 2. Of the youth not having a sure knowledge of belonging to legitimate groups. 3. Of the need of not having the nourishment of pleasure that comes through the senses. 4. Of the lack of opportunity for the child to feel that heshe is capable of achievement. 5. Of the lack of opportunity the child has to be able to share-thoughts and feelings with other people whom hesheconsiders significant. The feeling of being accepted and understood. Important in our discussion on how we as community members can make a difference in curbing the tide of gangs in our community is the conceptual scheme that youth learn to be gang members. Edwin Sutterland's theory of Differential Association is extremely useful in understanding the process that youth go through in becoming gang members. Let us review a few of the propositions put forth by this theory. 1. We learn to be deviant in small groups through the processof communication. 2. We not only learn the techniques, but we also learn themoti-vations, the rationalizations, and the drives for beingdeviant from those small groups. 3. The duration, intensity, and frequency of time that wespend with that small group that is teaching us how to be deviant has a great effect on whether that person becomes deviant. With this abridged knowledge that young people become gang members because they have learned that type of behavior we The Signpost Staff Editor-in-chief Necia Palmar Managing editor Paul t. Johnson News Bdrior Lorin J. May Senior reporter Joyce Zabriikie Sports editor Scott D. Summer! Ant. Sporh) editor Alan Hinckley Art editor C. Mark Howard Am). Art editor Jennifer Harding Signature editor Sarah Hanien Ant. Signature editor Barry Devlne Special Editions editor Christine RatmuMen Copy editor Shawn Peterson Asst. Copy editor Bemlce Bridenbecker Photo editor Jim Sawdey Asst. Photo editor Danielle Mabey Production manager Jay Stoeckl Ant. Production manager Alisa Johnson Ads Design manoger Jana Jacobs Ads manager Brandt Johnson Asst. Ads manager Matthew Meikle Secretary Linda Harrington Advisor P. Larry Stahle Asst. Advisor - Editorial Dale S. Oberer Publisher Dr. Randolph J. Scott Jhe Signpost s published Monday, Wednesday and Friday during fall, winter and spring quarter. Subscriptions are 59 per quarter. Ad deadline Is two days before publication. Editor-in-chief 626-7121 News Arts. 626-7105 Sports 626-7983 Classifieds 626-6358 Advertising 626-6359 Fax 626-7401 Production 626-6358 then can say that there are at least three points in the learning process that intervention may occur. The first point is before the child begins to associate and be taught in that small group. The second point is before the child learns the motivations, drives, and rationalizations for becoming a gang member. This process is an on-going process that may take months and years to crystalize. Finally, the third point of intervention occurs in reducing the duration, intensity, and frequency of time that the child spends with the gang. Parents and the home, of course, are the primary front line that are designed to provide the necessary emotional foods for the youth and prevent them from joining gangs. Interestingly enough, the majority of youth gang members come from single parent homes where the father is absent physically or as a co-decision maker in the home. Homes where both parents are present and who agree on how a child should be disciplined and are consistent in their discipline havegreater sucesses in preventing their children from getting involved with gang activities. The second line of defense is the school system. If the school is providing the emotional food necessary to make the student feel whole anything else, including hanging, banging, and slanging, is a poor substitute because it is not legitimate and does not allow the student to be part of the accepted ideal structure. If the school structure does not make the student feel like he belongs, that heshe is capable of achievement and a feeling of being accepted and understood the child will seek those cheap substitutes. It is not suprising that the most successful minority group members attribute their success to a teacher, a principle, or a counselor who took a genuine interest on their behalf. The Japanese school system requires that their youth belong to at least two clubs after school hours. Those clubs are small and persona with a wide variety of interests, from Botany to swim ming to band to debate to whatever turns the child on. Think about it! Is a gang not a club? In reality it is, and it provides all of the emotional food that a legitimate club like the Boy Scouts or a fraternity would provide. One answer for the elimination of gangs is for the school system to provide such legitimate clubs for their students.The first objective of any intervention system is to prevent the child from learning the techniques, motivations, rationalizations, and drives for becoming a gang member. The second objective should be to reduce the amount of time and frequenct that the child is with the gang. By reducing the amount of time that the child spends with the gang we are also preventing the child from learning from the deviant group. The question that students might ask is..."How can Iwe help?" Your greatest impact can be made as a group...whether that be a fraternity social club, or a sorority. Visit with the principles and teachers of the schools who have gangs and volunteer to hold a variety of special club meetings after school. Make these clubs small primary groups that have a purpose. Have the teachers, who are significant other persons for the child, personally recommend Child X who belongs to Gang X be part of that club. Elements of the club must include loyality, leadership development, opportunity for the child to express himherself, opportunity for the child to achieve and express himherself freely. The club must not only provide all of the emotional food needed by the child but more importantly reduce the amount of time that the child is spending with the gang. The club must be a long lasting commitment on the part of the group otherwise the program will fail and the youth will return back to the gang. Yes, you can make a d if ference at every level of intervention. It only takes a commitment on your part. Letter to editor policy The Signpost welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be typed and should not exceed 300 words. For lengthier exposition, arrangements may be made with the editior-ln-chlef. Letters must Include name, address, phone number, relationship to WSU (I.e. student, staff. Ogden 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. Bring letters to the editorial office In UB 267 or send them to: The Signpost Weber State University Ogden, UT, 84408-2110 An: Editor-ln-chlef Pro & Concensus by Lori Lorsen "How far should the U.S. go in protecting human rights in other countries?" i . -,.,,.,-. 2 ! "I think that the U.S. should get involved as long as it doesn't create a potential conflict, or drain the U.S. economy. Our values of human rights are completely different than the way other countries view them." Daren McEwen Public Relations-Senior " I beleive that there is a fine line between being a participant and being unmindful or uncaring of the impact on other members of the world community."Patsy J. Stevens Business-Junior " I think that human rights should be protected for everyone and if we (the U.S.) need to get involved in human rights for another country, I think we have a responsibility to get involved." Cathy Esplin Heath Services Adrnirustration-Senior "Many times the U.S. gives its citizens the illusion that is is protecting the rights of humans in the world." Fred Larsen Psychology-Freshman "I think it should be all the way. If we are going to be police, then it needs to be of all nations, and not just those where power for the U.S. can be gained." William Park General-Sophomore "Americans took a giant step m other countries' human rights when the Peace Corps was established in the 60's. to assist and educate people of other countries to become self-sufficient and knowledgeable when using land resources." Linda Gleason Communication-Junior |