Weber State University Student Newspapers | 2005-09-19 | Page 4

Monday, September 19, 2005 Editorial Maturity taken to the trash Editor in Chief: Maria Villasenor There's a certain amount of maturity that's expected at Weber State University. As children, we are taught to show courtesy and respect for other people's opinions, thoughts and hard work. Children who take, destroy and sulk are put in the corner. Someone at WSU needs to be put in a corner. On Sept. 16, no copies of Friday's issue of The Signpost were found on several stands in the Shepherd Union Building and Student Services Center. Instead, they were in the trash. This form of censorship benefits no one. Apart from making it harder for students to inform themselves of the various issues or events on campus, like the Ed Pass, Mount Ogden hike, Shepherd Union Building renovation, Greek festival or the problems students have had receiving their student loans, those who took issue with the content have not resolved their problem. It is impossible to block all of the coverage in The Signpost. There are stands in nearly every building and an online version at wsusignpost.com. While The Signpost stands by all content in the Friday issue, those who disagreed with an article would have found a more effective forum in the editorial section. By voicing their opinions in a letter to the editor, those who disagree could make students aware of the viewpoints they have. Instead, by throwing away copies of The Signpost, they show disrespect for the students who work long hours to produce the newspaper, as well as the students, faculty and staff who take the time to be sources and contribute their opinions and expertise for the articles. Not only is it disrespectful, it's also illegal. Publication theft is a disease that hits many college campuses annually. Those who think they are being portrayed in a negative light, rather than speak out to defend themselves, close the lines of communication by trashing and stifling others' rights to freedom of speech. This action was an infringement on the First Amendment rights of everyone who contributed or wrote in that issue of The Signpost People disagree; it is a fact of life. Silencing or destroying the viewpoints of others won't make them go away. Instead, it only increases the divide between people of varying perspectives. This petty action that someone on campus has taken is not just rude. It is a crime that shows no maturity in the part of the perpetrator who threw into the garbage the free speech of others. And they didn't even recycle. - The Signpost Editorial Board r ^- e ^m^- A Weber vveDer State otaie University university ™ Signpost Editor in Chief Managing Editor News Editor Sports Editor Copy Editor Features Editor Entertainment Editor Business Editor Photo Editor Graphics Editor Online Editor Advertising Manager Office Manager Advisor Distribution Publisher Signpost Fax Maria Villasenor Jason Staley Blair Dee Hodges Jeremy Tyler Kristen Hebestreet Jesica Medellin David Fairchild Lisa Mann Mo Williams ! Brady Leaver Nick Litster Brandy Lee Georgia Edwards Allison Hess 0 Austin Adams Dr. Randy Scott 626-7121 626-7614 626-7655 626-7983 626-7659 626-7621 626-7105 626-7624 626-6358 626-7661 626-6358 626-6359 626-7974 626-7499 626-7974 626-6464 626-7401 The Signpost is published every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the semester. Subscription is $9 a semester. The first copy of The Signpost is free, each additional copy is $.50. • The Signpost is a student publication, written, edited and drafted by Weber State University students. Student fees partially fund the printing of this publication. Opinions or positions voiced are not necessarily endorsed by the university. • The Signpost welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must include name, address, telephone number and the writer's signature. Anonymous letters will not be printed. • The Signpost reserves the right to edit letters for reasons of space and libel and also reserves the right to refuse to print any letter. Letters should not exceed 350 words. Bring letters to the editorial office In SUB 267, mail to: The Signpost. Weber State University, Ogden, Utah, 84408-2110. Attn: Editor in Chief, email [e-mail] Phone: [phone] Judicial filibuster bad for America, democracy guaranteed right President From the Right of an up or down Bush has been vote for their the executive for By Jared Hardy position. The five years and has columnist | The Signpost claim is that these - as all Presidents nominations are before him - had unacceptable and opportunity to appoint many federal justices to the irresponsible. The big question is, "Axe bench. they unacceptable and irresponsible Now, he also has the duty to fill to the minority or majority of elected the seats of Supreme Court Justices officials?" The way things are going, William Rehnquist and Sandra Day an informed person can only guess, as O'Connor. The troubling and dangerous the up or down vote has yet to occur. circumstance that has arisen is that The strong convictions these nominees congressional Democrats are trying to are bad medicine also seems to change use the same power used to filibuster with the political wind, as some up or proposals (such as spending bills, taxes, down votes for these seats have been legal reforms or acts) with the supposed negotiated and have occurred on the right to obstruct the processes of the Senate floor. Ironically, each has been successfully seated. This seems very Constitution. Clearly, there is no mention of unusual, considering the abhorrent Senate rules or the filibuster in the consequences the nation was going to Constitution. The only power vested in face previously for having them even our Senate with regards to nominations nominated. of the Executive is to give advice and As President Bush moves forward consent. In the tradition of executive with two nominations to the Supreme nominations it is the duty of the Senate Court, the Senate needs to accept to review potential nominees and then its responsibility and provide each vote for or against the nominee. Upon nomination as well as all previous extensive consideration of this process, nominations with hearings and an Alexander Hamilton, among others, up or down vote. On these types of were confident that the nomination issues the power does not and never power would be sufficiently checked has been with a select group within by-Congress' power to approve or reject the Senate. Rather, it has been an the nominee. obligation and privilege rendered to This method has been a source of each and every senator by virtue of legitimacy for the executive and. judicial the Constitution. branches of our government by virtue of Ultimately, if the people are not the legislature for over 200 years. Today a satisfied with the way the government minority in the Senate has compromised has performed its duty in this regard, it. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid it will be reconciled at the voting of Nevada claims that the Democrat booth. The ability of the masses to take minority is opposing bad nominations absolute control of the system from and merely "blocking" unacceptable time to tune is what makes democracy ones. and America great. When the system is What this has translated into in the given a chance to work, it is surprising real world is an internal obstruction of the Senate's power to exercise its own what can be accomplished. constitutional rights. We now have several nominations on the docket that after as many as four years have not received their constitutionally The Signpost is looking for columnists to write "From the Left" to go along with "From the Right." If interested visit The Signpost or call 626-7614. [e-mail]