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Show Th- - Daily Friday, June 7. Utah Chronide Page Eight 1991 Editorial Freedom doesn't shrink with the passing years If you bothered to read the masthead on the front page of the paper today, you might have noticed it read vol. 100, No. 156. To the casual observer that mieht not seem very significant, but it marks the final edition of the 100th volume of the Chronicle. While at different times during the past 100 years it has been known by slightly different names (the Chronicle, the Utah Chronicle, the Summer Chronicle, the Daily Utah Chronicle, and others), the basic purpose of the University of Utah's student newspaper has remained the same. Chronicle staff is rjroud to have The 1990-9- 1 been able to help carry on the traaition of a free press on the U. campus. It has been an exciting year, with a good mixture of differing views being brought out on a virtual cornucopia of topics. Hopefully everyone has been able to find something they liked in the pages of the newspapers printed each day reached an all time Chronicle, and hopefully everyone has found something to be ticked off about That's how you can tell if a paper is really being open and fait Because the Chronicle is not controlled by the U. administration or any U. department, it has grown into the most open and free newspaper to be found in Utah. Having the content of the paper completely controlled by students has ensured that virtually no subject is off limits to analysis and open debate. Whether it is attempting to bring the questionable actions of a campus group or department to light or scrutinizing some state or national issue, the Chronicle nas given all members of the U. community the chance to express their views on the editorial page. Some significant milestones were reached during this past year. The regular number of high of 18,000 with special issues, sometimes sites going to 27,000. The number of to that distribute the paper also grew new heights. After 100 continuous volumes of publication the Chronicle is still growing and trying to keep up with its ever changing and expanding readership. off-camp-us Next year will bring several changes to the face of the U. A new president will bring a new personality to the Park building, and several new and deans will begin to make their mark on this institution. The Chronicle is sure to be a little different too. New editors and writers are already making plans for carrying the paper into its second century. You can rest assured, however, that the independence and freedom of the Chronicle will continue on in volume 101 and beyond. vice-presiden- ts Chronicle editor bids paper a fond farewell This is it. Four years and at least two inches of hairline after it began, my Chronicle career officially comes to an end with this column. Hooray! Strike up the band, I'm outta here. No more late nights in the Union Building. No more Union food. No more irate phone calls. No more babysitting. No more deadlines. The list could go on and on. However, in all fairness, I'll admit to loving almost every minute of my tenure at the Because of my Chrony. association with the paper I've been able to meet people and do things I otherwise wouldn't have been able to. In other words, the Chrony 's been very, very good to me. It all began on Aug. 19, 1987 when my first article, a story about the Utah Jazz summer league, appeared on page 10 of Letters Health article reveals negligent journalism Editor: As the husband of Dr. Vicky Prager, the medical director of the Student Health Service, I must express my outrage at the irresponsible journalism of Allan Rubenstein, who wrote the biased and inaccurate story on the Student Health Service ("Students voice unhappiness with insurance, health services clinic," June 6). This story, written at the very end of the quarter so as to guarantee little opportunity for response, is not only grossly unjust to the Health Service but also is a disservice to the student body. Mr. Rubenstein 's intent was not to write a fair or balanced story. Any student health service is an easy target for a journalist they all struggle with the problem of maximizing services for minimal costs, and all will have some patients who are unsatisfied wTith their medical care. Mr. Rubenstein chose the easy way, the way of tabloid journalism It is simply unacceptable for a reporter to accuse an organization of negligence without having the facts to back it up, or worse, without even making and honest attempt to determine if his accusations are indeed correct Mr. Rubenstein presumed to meet his journalistic obligation by calling Dr. Prager at our home in the middle of the evening, just minute? before his article was to go to press. When Dr. Prager complained mat most of his statements regarding Health Services performance were either incorrect or distorted, he responded by telling her that his article was already written, and that he had little time or room for her responses. When Dr. Prager requested that he delay publication by one day so that she could effectively respond, he refused. Those comments of hers that he did selectively print do not include those that countered the most damaging allegations in his article. In the medical profession, if a doctor is guilty of malpractice, his or her license is subject to revocation. It is a shame that similar sanctions do not apply to journalists. If the student body accepts the malignments of Mr. Rubenstein's article without critical judgement then they will have been poorly served indeed. Michael Salamon Associate Professor physics China can't separate from world economy Editor: After reading Alec Niu's comments ("Bush's decision meets best interests of China's people," May 30), I realized that some people can only see two sides of a coin (definitely better than one side only), but forget that there exists a thin edge. No matter how thin it is, it plays an important role (at least it is a tool when we do not have a screwdriver). Back to the China's Most Favored Nation status issue that Mr. Niu had his topic on. It is not a matter of renewing or suspending China's MFN status at all. They want to push the human rights issue in China by using the thin and sharp edge of uie MFN status, not either of the sides. They are considering to conditionally renew or to conditionally suspend the status of what conditions should be attached Chinese communist history. Trying to make the Chinese government lose face will not keep the boat floating. Somehow ffrnna was hooked on the Chronicle. This choppy piece ushered in three years on the sports staff. Following rookie my campaign as a stringer, I settled into a state of journalistic heaven. Press boxes became commonplace as I rubbed shoulders with the established press corps and in the process fulfilled many a sports fan's dream free food, free games, free everything. Indeed, the Chrony's been very, very good to me. For years, the University of Utah's favorite newspaper has added fuel to its reputation as liberal rag," being "a and this past year has served as no exception. A minor uproar over syndicated columnist Joe Bob Briggs led to some free publicity for the paper as did a left-win- g, few cartoons and editorials which also raised some eyebrows. However, despite the controversy, the Chronicle just kept rolling along, same as it always has. As the paper's 100th volume of publication comes to a close, the University of Utah can be proud of its the world's economic gears. The newspaper. The Chrony is truly government to renew the status conditionally successfully forced the Chinese government to release over 200 political prisoners and to n allow the dissident, Professor Fang Lizhi, who took Without economic support from foreign countries, this government will simply collapse. Believe me, this government needs more than the MFN status and they know it themselves. If you give them the right push or hit, they publication. Contributors from all walks of life, majors and knows it was tremendous in Ming He Mathematics to reach the most efficiency. Last year, the decision of the U. S. well-know- refuge in the U.S. Embassy after the June 4, 1989 Beijing massacre, to leave the country. Every Chinese Chinese has no way to get off now. have to move accordingly. an independent student hygiene habits help create a unique atmosphere in which to work. If you think the folks on the Union lawn are interesting, try spending an afternoon at the Chronicle. Fd be remiss if I didn't thank everyone who contributed to Dirk Facer Chronicle Editor in Chief the success of the paper this year. While I probably wouldn't want to go bowling with many of you, I'd welcome the opportunity to work along side each of you once again. It's been fun, thank you. I also owe a debt of gratitude to several Chronicle alums for lessons taught, opportunities given and encouragement lent. Life at the Chronicle is likewise enhanced by the support of administrators, alumni, faculty, staff and members of the student body. While space does not permit the lengthy mentioning of names, I thank you just the same. Your kind words, comments and understanding were valuable to what I've sought to accomplish during my one-yereign as editor in chief. However, it's my family, in particular my mother, Barbara, to which I am most indebted. ar Thanks to her efforts this opportunity became possible. I thank her for the sacrifices made to enable me to return to school and get what I hope will be a quality education. And wvhile it's been eight years since my father, Jack, passed away, I've likewise been inspired by the example he set. I nave an enormous standard to live up to, but with a lot of hard work and a little luck, I might just make it some day. But, now as I prepare to put my pen in check and retire from the Chronicle, I do so with, mixed feelings. My upcoming marriage will ease the transition. And truth be told, I'm marrying the best. In many ways its hard to believe just how fast time has passed. It seems like only yesterday when I began my employment with the Chrony. Unfortunately my grades and aged appearance tell a different story. I ve had my turn and now it is time to move on. To steal a quote from Brent Musburaw, which I used in my final column as sports editor, "Folks, I've had the best in the house. Thanks for sharing it. I'll see you down the road." |