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Show 1 Monday. January 27, 1991 The Daily Utah Chronicle - Page Five Opinions RQE Editorial v. WADE ' LANDMARK DECISION Access Public buildings need to accommodate disabled laws are aimed at creating a society Civil rights rampant and parasitic discrimination doesn't prevent entire groups from participating in society. But until recently, they have completely ignored the plight of people with disabilities. Fortunately, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, civil-righlegislation has finally been expanded to include requirements that will allow people with disabilities, not just women and minorities, a foothold in society. Under the act, all organizations with 25 or more employees should have taken gteps by Jan. 26 to ensure that people with disabilities have access to their facilities. By July 26, those organizations will be required to provide disabled people with the same job and promotion opportunities as everyone else. In a country where everyone is supposed to have an equal chance at the "American Dream," it seems odd LANDMARKS ts that while women and minorities received (pre-Rehnqui- st Court, that is) their protection civil under rights laws, lawmakers were loathe to recognize and address the fact that individuals with disabilities are often prevented from equal access to jobs, not to mention restaurants and stores. much-neede- d Indeed, lawmakers limited themselves to passing general laws that required wheelchair ramps and curb cuts. They never took into consideration the possibilities that people with disabilities may be prevented from pursuing a career in a building without disabled entrances or from enjoying Utah's canyons because the Wasatch Front's outdoor toilets don't have wheelchair ramps and hand railings. As one public official succinctly concluded: "Normally, you wouldn't expect to find people with disabilities in the wilds." Administrators and lawmakers in Utah and around the country are realizing however, that assuming people with disabilities won't want to enjoy the pristine beauty of the mountains or the silent space of the desert is no longer an acceptable inference. Thus, they are discussing ways to improve trails and parking lots so that people with disabilities will have the opportunity to choose whether or not they would like to enjoy the great outdoors. Until now, such decisions have been paternalistically and perhaps erroneously made for them. The tragedy with the new law is that lawmakers and society see themselves as allowing people with disabilities the opportunity to make their own decisions and to pursue their own goals. Like most of us, they possessed these capabilities independent of any piece of benevolent legislation. Perhaps even more tragic is that it takes laws with threatening repercussions if they aren't obeyed before businesses, social institutions and schools make adjustments in their policies and practices so that regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender or everyone physical ability has an equal opportunity to benefit. Ideally, changes in public awareness toward women, minorities and people with disabilities would occur spontaneously. But realistically, a shift in consciousness will stem from educating the public about the changing needs of people with disabilities. Hopefully, in its efforts to force a change in public policy toward people with disabilities, the ADA act will also provide the educational opportunity for a shift in public consciousness about people with disabilities as precisely that people with disabilities. Utah public is victim of journalists' crusade to capture human interest race to find the It's a desperate and scintillating for her own good, often manipulating words to put off her household chores. She of film. It's an exhilarating business with reporters running helter-skelt- who didn't mix much with her controversial, and yet factual and objective bit of newsprint or scrap er offices filled with cacophonous keyboard clanking, through good-natured- ly was quiet and introspective, a poet peers. And, most poignantly. Debbie ran away from a group home in Ohio to join her mother in Salt Lake City. Then, one morning two weeks ago, her asphixiated body was Rebecca Chronicle y . Editor in Chief printer squealing and telephone ringing. A story's subject is often lost in the melee. Perhaps it's the convoluted process or the contrived objectivity the reporter is drilled to turn toward his or her subjects which allows them to objectify and disembody their sources in the name of the news. Debbie Grabher is one notable victim of the human interest story. news-gatheri- In a series of news articles, video clippings and radio sound bites, Utah's public learned of the tragedy which cut Debbie's life short. Debbie, like many teenage girls, to for model "Cosmopolitan." She was too witty wanted found in a west-sid- e vacant lot. This information was compiled in a follow-u- p story printed after an initial article outlined a more sparse picture of Debbie Grabher. Both stories included a pivotal addendum this sweet blond could be Salt Lake City's first homicide, if an autopsy revealed foul play and city police officers could pin down a single homeless suspect. Aha! the crux of the front-pag- e articles and video blips sporting pictures of a shyly smiling teen was revealed with thaf single clause. Debbie was an homicide she was the girl next door. She was everyone's kid sister. if only the were and then we autopsy complete This was real news could know for sure that Debbie really was the first homicide. Oh well, as long as the word "alleged" appears in the article, it's journalistically sound. Perhaps Debbie isn't the ultimate victim of the media fiasco following her death. She's received more publicity and character tributes than other teenagers just killed by moving vehicles and drug overdoses. It's the Utah public who's been bamboozled here. T.V. and print journalists have effectively tugged at our heartstrings, and hopefully our pocketbooks, in their effort to out-sho- and p al journalist tired of covering the routine car burglary or State Legislature stories. It's very easy for me to turn a jaundiced, idealistic and slightly hypocritical eye toward the "real, professional" journalists out to make a buck from the comfort of my isolated office in the Union. But my criticism is more likely an injunction for myself and my colleagues planning to enter the journalism field with delusions of grandeur and sparkling eyes. When the phones stop ringing, legislators vvon't return messages and an overbearing editor is expounding about the differences between "hard" news and "soft" news, don't consider speculation, inference and a lot of comprehensive humaTi interest blips to count for journalistic integrity, responsibility and, humanitarian ironically, subjectivity. Letters Mormon influence positive Editor: would just like to thank Gilbert Scharffs for his letter "The gambling industry is a parasite on society, shouldn't be legalized." I totally agree with the many valid points brought up in his article. I I W. slamming the Mormon church. Wake up, staff writers! The majority of the residents in the state of Utah are Mormon, therefore the Mormon church is going to have a strong influence on the politics in this state. Would one go to Rome and am also shocked that this not expect the influence of the newspaper printed anything that Catholic church? Or would one tried to defend the Mormon church. . expect to live without the influence I am quite confident that I speak of the Baptists or other such for the silent majority attending religions in our own Bible Belt? I for one am thankful that the school at the University of Utah when I state that I am so sick and Mormon church has an influence tired of the Mormon bashing that is here in this state and find this very so evident in the Chrony. I find this positive. I am thankful that Utah's very slanted and biased form of crime rate is low thanks largely in journalism very unprofessional and part to Utah's high Mormon extremely offensive. Is it too much population. Maybe the Chrony to expect a student newspaper to at writers will find something truly least try and represent all students newsworthy to write about instead I of find equally? Instead, constantly turning to the subject myself ready to stop reading my own college matter. Liz Smith newspaper because half of the Senior English articles seem to be constantly ck their media Debbie's competitors. touching biography is a tangible example of the partly-factuwork produced by the out-scoo- Letter Policy Utah Thsfiaily Chronicle Business hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 581-704- 1 The Chronicle welcomes reader response. Please bring letters, typed, double-space- d not exceeding two pages, to 240 Union Building. Each letter should include your name, major, year in school and telephone number (for verification purposes only). Unsigned letters will not be considered for publication. The Chronicle reserves the right to edit letters for spelling, space. grammar and |
