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Show The Daily Utah Chronicle OPINION Thursday, February 25, 1999 Shawn Parker Bailey, Opinion Editor: editorchronicle.utah.edu Chronicle Editorial 4- - X- ASUU Officers Should Represent More Than Just Greeks IVS16K - click " yf Homosexuals Don't Belong in Married Housing of Editor: As a married student and expecting father, I found the Chronicle's editorial asking for acceptance of gay students into married housing utterly asinine. First of all, the University of Utah's equal opportunity statement in no way supports the claims made in the article. In what possible way docs refusing married housing to homosexuals ruin their campus experience? They are free to live in basically all the same places as singles, heterosexual is important to begin by acknowledging all the good things the fraternity and sorority system do for the campus of the University of Utah and for higher education in gen- It eral. The greeks have done a remarkable amount of service for the community surrounding the U, and, for all the negative attention they have received in the recent past, are generally committed to the high ideals they espouse. They are also one of the few student groups at the U who are very involved in campus events and politics. ' Herein lies the problem. Because other students on the U campus are so extremely apathetic, the greeks have a dispro- unmarried partners, and every other Y3K Bug Is a Big Deal But Not That Big portionate amount of control over the government of the Associated Students of the University of Utah. The greek voice is not inherently bad; it is simply troubling that they have such control because other important groups on campus may not have their needs. accompanying These are not, obviously, the concerns of the greeks. Is it any wonder then that ASUU, which is largely controlled by greeks, does not adequately respond to the needs of re students? these ASUU gets $1 million of your money every year. Much of that money is spent on things that generally appeal to the desires of the traditional students generally, and greeks specifically. A perfect example of this is the upcoming Dave Matthews Band concert. The ASUU Presenter's Office, which received approximately $400,000 of your money this year, spent a considerable amount of money bringing this act to campus. Was that the best way to spend your money? Perhaps. However, if you are a old single mother attending the U and then running to work right after school, you probably don't have time to attend the concert. It would probably be better for you if that money were spent here at to subsidize child-car- e the U, something that probably strains your monthly budget. That is not going to happen, though, so long as greeks are the only ones in student office. And they are going to be the so only ones in student office cares one enough to long as no and vote Internet the log onto for a candidate who embraces their concerns and interests. Checkout ASUU'sweb site at www.asuu.utah.edu and find a 26-ye- ar candidate who addresses your concerns. Then vote for them! have made to become Y2k compliant. You should also keep a hard copy of your bank activity, just in case. Two-weeworth of cash in hand is also advisable for any unforseen problems. Then double check your credit card. Many people have reported instances of their cards getting rejected by small gas stations or other small businesses with old equipment. If you are involved in any kind of business that relies on interaction with other businesses, you should not only prepare your own technology for the new year, but prompt others to do so. There are many companies dedicated to helping others on a consulting basis. They can identify potential prob- ks needs addressed. The average age of a student on the U campus is 27. Many students have children with their day-ca- - 5 Letters to the Editor click IN SomAuA-- CW1LVAJAR The Daily Utah Chronicle Matt Nagel Chronicle Opinion Columnist you're not paranoid yet, you need be. If you're already paranoid, need to calm down. The Y2k snafu requires everyone's attention, but not too much. It is a very real problem, but hard to tell how big it If I've already seen is. People need to become aware and prepare. But there's no need to go apocalyptic. There will definitely be glitches resulting from computers programmed to process two-dig- it years, especially those subtracting 20th century dates from 21st century dates, resulting in negative integers that are supposed to represent a period of time. But the world is probably not going to be hurled into a new Dark Age at least not like after that huge Yik problem. An economist from the University of Utah predicts minimal disturbance. He claims that competition between companies will force everyone to get ready. I've already seen two billboards advertising Y2k compliance. One was for a bank, the other was for a shoe company. These represent the two kinds of preparation we all need to make, preparation to continue business as usual, and preparation for the worst, however unlikely the worst may be. I suggest starting with your money. Call your bank or credit union and ask them to explain the precautions they two billboards advertising Y2K compliance. One was for a bank, the other was for shoe company. lems in a company, and decide if they can be solved before the 2000 deadline, or if they need to be avoided some other way. The outlook of these companies is generally positive. They arc discovering that a lot of the potential problems of the Y2k bug arc really not problems at all. Elevators, fire sprinklers, pacemakers, the internet and automobiles will function as usual. And we stand a very good chance of not being billed for 100 calls. years of On the other hand, the government is 50 percent not ready for the new year with just over 300 days left, according to congressman Steve Horn's subcommittee report. long-distan- And our nation is one of roughly five that have even considered the problem. Furthermore, there are more speculations and predictions with enough credibility to warrant more than raised eyebrows. Economic turmoil, as if we didn't already have enough in the world, is practically a given. Some have suggested a 750 percent chance of global recession like the OPEC crisis of the seventies. Hospitals, insurance companies, national defense, factories and airlines have so many computers that it is hard to predict what may or may not occur for each. A spokesperson for Boeing was quoted in the New York Times as having affirmed the failure of some Boeing cockpit equipment because of the bug. To worsen the scenario, a shortage of qualified persons to remedy the glitches will extend the recovery period. Then again, maybe nothing will happen. We have to be ready for either situation. I advocate what I call the "Southerner's hurricane policy." If the weatherman says a hurricane is coming, you go directly to the store and buy lots of tuna fish and toilet paper. Then you get in the car and drive line. toward the Mason-Dixo- n in the grocery makes This mayhem stores and on the interstates, and most of the time the hurricane dumps on someone else anyway. But suppose it didn't? Y2k preparation will be of a similar order. The forecast has been made, and it requires the same kind of reflex to prepare for the worst. And now is the time to stock up on tuna and t.p. even if it's too early to know if you'll need it. You don't want to be running around an empty grocery store on New Year's Eve, if that scenario should in fact happen. So get ready for y2k, and then relax. Unsigned editorials reflect the majority opinion of the Daily Utah Chronicle Editorial Board. Editorial columns and letters to the editor are strictly the opinions of the author. "Letters to the Editor" is an open forum for the community of the University of Utah. Letters of an indecent or libelous nature, or those which demean or threaten any individual or group because of race, sexual orientation or religion will not be considered. Letters must be brief. Letters will be edited for style letters and space. Author's name and phone number must be submitted with every letter for verification purposes. off Union or at them to editorchronicle.utah.edu 240. drop combination or deviation thereof. Married student housing is a special case of financial aid, if you will, for those who have entered into a partnership to raise a family and perpetuate our species. It is a very demanding and financially tasking effort. Although I do not live in married housing, I cringe to think that anyone would be so unwise to suggest that homosexuals fall into the "married" category and thus deserve married housing. The article states that "marriage is an inherently discriminatory institution." Well, the very unpolitical correct answer is "so is life in general." By life, I mean science, nature, and the laws old that govern them. Every six-yeknows it is physiologically impossible for two homosexual partners to con- ar see housing page 6 ASUU Election Grievances Were Completely Trite Editor: Well here we are again, the most dreaded time of the year for a large majority of the student body, Election time. Prepare yourselves to watch the wealthy (or the sons and daughters of wealthy) to try to buy their way into a student body office. Look for their big signs and "cute" pictures to try to gain your vote. In past years, the administration has been baffled by the low amount of students that take the seconds it takes to vote for a candidate. How can they wonder? Look in yesterday's paper and it's easy to sec why so many people think this election thing is a joke! Two of the parties are filing grievances against each other. One felt their sign was being blocked by the other party's sign. When the Convergence party presidential candidate was asked to move it, he refused. Refused to try to understand where the other party was coming from and be fair. But hey, I don't blame him, It's probably a lot of work to move a sign. Or maybe, it's just that moving all that pride and ego is a lot of work. So since the United party couldn't communicate with the convergence party, they went and filed a grievance. When asked about filing grievances the pres- idential candidate for Convergence, Soclbcrg said "We arc only going to file grievances on important issues." Like the grievance he filed two sec election page 6 |
