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Show Editorial Monday. February 5, 1990 Halting- sanctions against S On Friday, South African president F.W. de Klerk startled many Western leaders when he announced that the ban on the African National Congress will be lifted and, for the The Daily Utah Chronicle - Page Five Africa- ever. There is no indication President de Klerk is a bad move As for Bush, Jackson, et al.v they must remember that now is the time for caution, not doing anything to chip away at this noxious system. On the contrary, the standard of living for black South Africans has not changed one iota umpteenth time, that jailed activist Nelson since de Klerk's ascent to power. Whites continue Mandela will soon be released from prison. to enjoy a high standard of living, while blacks The speech took the Bush administration by continue to live in impoverished townships. optimism. It's hypocritical to push for rapid 30-ye- ar democratization in East Europe yet remain content for Pretoria to crawl along at a snail's pace. Most important, they should recall a message last October from Rev. Allan Boesak, surprise. On Saturday, the president said he would review current U.S. sanctions against South Africa. Even Jesse Jackson, hitherto a staunch supporter of sanctions against South Africa, was noncommittal about whether the Moreover, thanks to the notorious South African secret goon squads, human rights violations continue to run rampant. Opposition newspapers like the Weekly Mail remain shut down by orders of the government. Eight United States should continue them. political prisoners were released last year, yet However, before Bush, Jackson and company thousands are still behind bars. celebrate a victory for democracy in South If de Klerk is serious about democratizing Africa, there are a few important points they South Africa, he should urge his colleagues in should take into consideration. Pretoria to give everyone the vote. Such a move First, and most important, the institution of would be tantamount to handing Pretoria over to apartheid systematic segregation of human the black majority. But that's the price of beings according to their color is stronger than - Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Rev. Frank Chikahe of the South African Council of Churches and other prominent foes of apartheid. These leaders called for the intensification of sanctions because of their conviction "that the apartheid regime will never enter into genuine negotiations with legitimate leaders until pressured to do so. Negotiations in South Africa will be the outcome of heightened pressures and not a substitute for them. To relieve pressure at this point would be a historic and strategic mistake, a tragedy for our country." democracy. Letters Student fees not waste, actually provide benefits Editor: In response to the letter from the student complaining that students don't receive anything from the portion of tuition designated for activities (approximately $9 per quarter), I urge him to consider a couple of things. 1) The interests and concerns of students are quite diverse and the ASUU Assembly has a tough task to allocate funds to benefit the student body. They have been reasonably fair it seems in the past. 2) Check calendars of programs made available by ASUU throughout the year and you will find many programs which are free to students, including lectures, seminars and music and dance programs, and some offered at reduced or affordable rates for students. It is my belief that we receive our $9 worth each quarter, and it is well worth investigating to see just what activities are out. there. The budget sessions are long and tedious, and it is not always an easy decision to allocate funds. I give ASUU Assembly members a vote of confidence and appreciation and encourage students to take advantage of the activities made available through our own tuition dollars. U. Katherine St. John Graduate student middle east studies Eastern Arts Student Organization Lori Hunt Scabs, regents, elections spice up Land of Zion On the whole, living in Salt Lake City isn't too exciting. Given this fact, it's often difficult to about justify writing columns local events when there are much more significant and crucial things occurring on the national and international scene. However, this week there are three local events I feel are worthy of mention. To begin with, it was recently announced that some Salt Lake school districts are offering substitute teachers $100 per day if they will take over classes in the event that Utah educators go on strike. Not only is this Outrageous sum 50 percent to 65 percent more money than regular substitute teachers make, it's also much more than most teachers make after years of service. But what's even more disgusting is the fact that the $100 daily salary is a much higher wage than the proposed salary increases that are at the crux of the threatened teacher strike. It makes absolutely no sense that while our state is in the midst of such a severe education crisis, districts are willing to offer $100 to scabs who are not as qualified as current public school teachers. It's equally troubling that school administrators could approve of the outrageous sum at the same rime teachers are battling with legislators for a minimal salary increase. As for the teachers, I sympathize with their plight and wholeheartedly support their efforts for pay raises. However, I can't say I agree with their present strategy. I think in many ways threatening to strike while the Legislature is in session, waiting to see what compromises are reached, and then deciding whether to strike is a poor maneuver. , It seems to make much more sense for the teachers to actually go on strike while the Legislature is in session. This way, the legislators will see the impact such a strike has on education in this state and would probably be more inclined to give in to teachers' demands. While I'm on the subject of education, the Utah Board of Regents recently announced it has adopted a policy which allows faculty and staff participation, but not membership, in the institutional councils of Utah's colleges and universities. In other words, faculty and staff members would not be allowed to vote on important decisions pertaining to, you guessed it, faculty and staff. At the University of Utah, the regents' proposal would mean a committee representing staff, faculty and students would be formed to communicate with members of the Institutional that Council on matters applicable to them. Although the regents' decision is a step in the right direction, it is one very small step and an almost meaningless one at that. Currently, the council is made up of members from the business and working community. The only two members representing the U. are the ASUU president and the president of the Alumni Association, both of whom are members. But communication is one thing and action is another. Committee ex-offic- io members won't be actual members of the council, or even ex-offic- io members without voting powers. They will simply try and facilitate staff and council communication. Contrary to what the regents might believe, the creation of such a committee is not a tremendous step toward equal representation. The committee will be almost entirely powerless. The council that makes decisions that directly affect the U. should have members from the university with voting powers. It's ridiculous that business and community leaders have final say on issues that affect the entire university. Speaking of things that directly affect the U., for those who don' know, ASUU primary elections were held last Wednesday and Thursday. Although there were numerous booths voting on strategically placed campus, and polls were kept open until 9 p.m., a mere 1,042 students voted in the election. First, it's nauseating that only 4 percent of the student body is deciding which leaders will control more than $500,000 of student fees. when It's also is the turnout that consider you 694 votes less than last year gut-wrenchi- ng (ASUU president Molonai Hola's party garnered 1,054 votes in the primary election last year) and 1,122 votes less than 1988. Perhaps the most disheartening aspect is the low turnout reflects a trend of student apathy that only seems to worsen each year. Every year candidates spend weeks preparing for the election. They make posters, devise campaign platforms and recruit Assembly candidates. Yet, with the trifling number of students who bother to exercise their right to vote, the efforts of these candidates almost seem to be in vain. Every year, people use the same old, tired excuses for why voter turnout is minimal. The Chronicle's excuse was none of the candidates offered viable, new ideas for changing ASUU. Some students claim ASUU does nothing for them. Others said the candidates didn't do enough to eliminate student apathy (which is an impossible task to begin" with).. Everyone has his or her own theory. I believe the elections, like the turnout at rock-botto- m important guest lectures, are indicative of widespread indifference on college campuses across the country. It's the old, self-center- ed attitude. I just have one thing to say to this campus: If you get fed up with $2,000 Hawaiian dances where nobody shows up, you know exactly who to blame. Lori Hunt; a senior majoring in communication, is the editor in chief of the Chronicle. |
