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Show Wednesday, September 26,2007 r THE SIGNPOST EDITORIAL Signpost Viewpoint , Tolerance, temperance defeat violence We can't assume that we have complete control over all of our emotions nor that we would want to. But our physical reaction to our angst or frustration should be bottled by tolerance, deliberation and understanding, and only released through moderation and temperance. Intolerance is the harbinger of violence, and violence is not something that should be carried out with heavy emotion. Jesus Aparicio may still be alive, if not for intolerance. His surviving family claims he didn't have ties to gangs, but that he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. He and friends had arrived at the Kicks 66 station on 30th and Washington Blvd. That much has been confirmed by responding officers. Their report also states that he and his friends were involved in an argument with a group of teenagers as they passed by. As the argument escalated, egos most probably clashing, Aparicio stepped from the car with a bat in hand. A 15-year-old from the other side of the argument revealed his handgun, and everyone fled to the safety of the gas station, only Aparicio not making it there in safety. What went through his mind when he grabbed his bat? What was the argument about? What was the 15-year-old^ history? So many similar questions cross people's minds when facing tragedy like this and the incident at Trolley Square. The point made on a larger scale may be that of a stalemate of intolerance and arriving at the recourse of violence too soon is what will destroy our world. Not destroy the Earth, but our world. The families of the people slain at Trolley Square and the Aparicio family have seen their world shatter. Suicide bombers bring their victims' world to ruin. This violence certainly begets more violence through retaliation. Vengeance may be utilized to fuel a personal cause and right a wrong, but it isn't the only way. Preaching tolerance to the world, bringing education to all cultures - that may be the only way to keep war out of our future. A certain black man chose to look deeply into a society that detested him. He took photos of them, learned their ways and interviewed them as often as he could. His trophy was a closet full of Klansmen's robes, given to him when the individuals chose to part ways with the Klan. He didn't do this only to dissuade people from joining, or to turn members from it, but to understand. He was never attacked when he attended rallies. They allowed him to come and go, unscathed and without reviling. The KKK is horribly prejudiced and viewed as strongly closed-minded, but even they have sense to allow one they view as an enemy to come and go. The Klan shouldn't be applauded, but this example should be followed. Can we tolerate a positive example from a people we hate? Yes, Stanford critics, Rumsfeld deserves to be heard stitution since 1989 and will be joining a new group there that will study "ideStanford University's motto is: "The ology and terror" in the post-Sept. 11 wind of freedom blows." era. His background as defense secreBut some members of the Stanford tary, White House chief of staff, ambascommunity are doing a disservice to sador to NATO and a U.S. congressman the credo by protesting the naming will deepen the discourse. of former Defense Secretary Donald Plus, Hoover has a long tradition of Rumsfeld as a visiting fellow at the tapping former top Republican policyHoover Institution, the conservative makers, including George Shultz, Newt think tank at Stanford. More than 2,200 Gingrich and Ed Meese. Condoleezza faculty, staff, students and alumni have Rice is on leave from Hoover to serve signed an online petition objecting to as secretary of state. the Hoover role for one of the chief arThe Rumsfeld flap comes at a time chitects of the Iraq war. when intolerance also has reared its Yet a university is supposed to be a head at UC, which recently experibastion of free thought and open de- enced two controversies that never bate. So it smacks of hypocrisy and should have happened. intolerance when members of an acaUC-Irvine's chancellor revoked the demic community collectively attack appointment of liberal law professor someone's mere presence because Erwin Chemerinsky as dean of the uniof his politics or ideology, especially versity's new law school after protests when he is within mainstream thought. from conservatives. He then reinstated The same issue also has surfaced at the the appointment after professors and University of California. students demanded a reversal. The Hoover Institution is right to And the UC Board of Regents restick by its Rumsfeld appointment, scinded an invitation for former Hareven if he's anathema to many on the vard University President Lawrence campus. Controversial figures like Summers to speak at a private dinner Rumsfeld, who has served under three after faculty members protested. Sumpresidents, are precisely the kind of mers had offended female academics people who can add to the intellectual with his 2005 comments on the dearth mix that is so important to learning. of women in math and science cay There are plenty of reasons to critireers. cize Rumsfeld's politics, ideology and Universities should be paragons track record on the war. People are for the open exchange of ideas, even free to think of him as a warmonger, if they're controversial or unpopular. war criminal or torturer. Yet he has not And all connected with private and been convicted of a crime. public university communities should But he has had ties to the Hoover In- protect that ideal. McClatchy Tribune .._. . THATUtTlN&\ &WS V/ATCH T o o IWVCH * W ) IT t; iS _==» / FS55T... H^V, \ CAD--MOM'S (. V TALKING TO Q 1 c< 11 r? / / ^ A bit of common sense How to eat out and save a little money Gina Barker Signpost columnist Sometimes finding a good deal while you are out on the town seems impossible. Most restaurants charge \ roughly $10 a plate, but everyone knows that $10 is just the tip of the iceberg. One of the main reasons food is so expensive is because the restaurant business seems intent on forcing three servings down your throat when you just came in for one. Who needs to eat a meal off a plate that measures a foot across? We overpay restaurants inall kinds of ways: We pay for more food than we eat, we pay for the tremendous soda markups, we pay for atmosphere when all that translates to is a few pictures of Marilyn Monroe and James Dean hanging on the wall. With all this, the idea of a good, cheap meal doesn't feel plausible and I have to ask, "Are any good deals left out there?" Luckily, here are a few quick tips to cut that bill down at the end of your meal. 1. Don't buy soda. This is the fastest and easiest tip to follow. You don't need to spend the extra two to three bucks, and you don't need the calories. 2. Dollar Menu. Enough said. 3. Always pick up coupons and at least take a look. If the coupon isn't a good deal, then no harm, no foul. Just toss it. Always check the local newspaper because that is where the businesses around you will advertise. 4. Be aware that Denny's marks up its prices from 10 p.m. - 7 a.m. 5.1fyoucangooutforlunch, then do so. A lot of places have lunch specials and even lunch-sized portions. TGIF knocks off a couple of bucks on their lunch portions. And the Olive Garden also has a great lunch special that includes bottomless salad, soup, and of course breadsticks for $6 plus maybe $1 for a tip. 6. Chinese food portions are insanely huge. Onedinner order equals two actual dinners, and if you don't like leftovers, split it, 7. Some fast food restaurants offer daily specials. Subway and Taco Del Mar both do this. Find out what day your favorite sandwich is being made and get it for $3 instead of $5. 8. Don't be afraid to shop around for pizza. 9. It never hurts to ask your server if you can order off the kid's or senior discount menu. The portions are smaller, and therefore cheaper. Just say you want a meal but can't eat the larger portion. 10. If you have the time, an early bird dinner can be a great deal. Village Inn offers an early bird special from 3-6 p.m., serving a three course dinner ranging from 6-8 bucks depending on the entree. Here's where to use your Student ID: Quizno's The Pie Jake's Over the Top The Pita Pit Javier's Subway Taco Del Mar Frosted Rock All these places offer 10 percent off to any Weber State student with a valid ID. Now this is really simple - carry your student ID with you. I'm hoping students will agree with me that there are not enough places in Ogden offering student discounts, considering Ogden is a college town. It's time to change, which leads me into next week's column, "How to Start a Petition." Got any questions you want to know about, but are too lazy to do the grunt work? Email me your "how-to" at the_know-how@hotmail.com. Comment on this story a\ wsusignpost. con. Letter to the editor Ott Planetarium is about more than money I was dismayed at reading the article about the Ott Planetarium in Monday's issue of The Signpost. It is unfortunate that the author chose tofixateon the financial aspects of our public night program rather than report on any of the positiye,points of our interview. Alot of truly great things are happening at the planetarium. Chief among these is our success in science education and public ch. The planetarium serves 12,000 K12 students per year. There are precious few outreach programs on campus that operate at this magnitude. Touching the hearts and minds of these students is more important than money. Yes, we rely on donations and grants, but it is money well spent if, through our outreach programs, we can inspire young people to study and appreciate science. An educated populace rewards society with much more than money. The Ott Planetarium has been very successful in outreach and many other fronts. We invite WSU students and members of the community to visit us. Those that do will be rewarded with a unique and valuable experience. - Ron Proctor COLUMNlft . • ' > • _ • - >'-'' ': 'r' •} *•;• % ; - , . , The Signpost is published every Monday, The Signpost welcomes letters to the editor. Letters Wednesday, and Friday during Fall and Spring semester and must include name, address, telephone number and the Tuesdays during the Summer Semester. writer's slgnature.Anbnymous letters will not be printed To subscribe contact Georgia Edwards at 626-7974 or The Signpost reserves the right to edit letters for reasons gedward5@weber.edu,The first copy of The Signpost is free, of space and libel and also reserves the right to refuse to each additional copy is $50, print any letter. Letters should not exceed 350 words. %^ V Bring letters to the editorial office in The Stewart Library room 65, mail to: The Signpost?Weber State University, Ogden, Utah, 84408-2110. Attn: Editor in Chief email: thesignpost@weber.edu |