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Show THE DAILY "f ijf j- ,.. -J CHRONICLE UTAH THE CHRONICLE'S VIEW f A j- ' - yjr Y Tyd Smoking Tax Increase Will Help Fight Addiction connection between from tobacco and certain medical and educational programs is a The divinely reasonable one. The Legislature connected the dots on Wednesday when they passed a bill to funnel increased tax revenue from tobacco products toward a variety of programs, some of which reside at the U. The legislation, which raises the price of a pack of cigarettes by about 30 cents, will fund work at the Huntsman Cancer Institute and the School of Medicine. There, the money is earmarked for cancer research and medical education programs. For every cigarette sold, a quarter of a cent will go to each institution. Other revenue will go to the state Department of Health for tobacco-us- e prevention and other programs. Fraction by fraction, the money adds up, just ask someone with a lifetime addiction. This legislation should not be seen as some sort of twisted, involuntary health insurance plan for Utah smokers, but a way to strengthen programs to edu cate the public and strengthen programs to fight addiction. While lung and other tobacco-relate- d cancers are undeniably devastating diseases and worthy of funding, the long-tersolution is not to fight the disease," but prevent it. Though it may take a generation to see the impact, common sense says the incidence of these cancers will drop dramatically as public awareness campaigns fight the glamorization of cigarettes and make young people s. aware of tobacco's harmful 5f 3vJ ST THINK UHAT m about wAiuthv A '' side-effect- These preventative pro- grams have payoffs with much greater potential than curative ones. Cigarette smoke does not limit its harm to the lungs of smokers, it victimizes all who are nearby. And until the risk of second-han- d smoke is one all are free from, research to treat diseases suffered by the involuntary smokers and willing participants requires research. There is, of course, also the hope that increasing the price of a pack will provide a deterrent to would-b- e smokers. non-smoke- p rs r 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. The forum created on the Opinion Page is one based on vigorous debate, while at the same time demanding tolerance and respect. Material defamatory to an individual or group because of race, ethnic background, gender, appearance or sexual entation will be edited or will not be published. ori- LETTER TO THE EDITOR A Cause Worth Fighting For Editor: Instead of analyzing the main facets of the hate crimes bill or its important implications, John Morloy went straight for Sen. Alicia Suazo's jugular. In his March 5 article, "Real Debate Over Hate Crime Bill Is Impossible," Morloy accuses Sen. Alicia Suazo of furthering her "personal agenda." Ridiculous. Sen. Suazo's personal agenda is to represent and defend the views of her constituents constituents who overwhelmingly demand a comprehensive hate crimes bill. Morley then calls Sen. Suazo an "attention-hungry- " politician. In order to raise awareness about hate crimes, Sen. Suazo has tried to draw attention, not to herself, but to the needs and issues of Utah's minority populations. or Can't Morley see that Sen. Suazo is not advois left but some honestly wing conspiracy, advancing cating for oppressed and disenfranchised minorities? self-promoti- The fact remains that bigots specifically target and com- mit crimes against minorities. Currently, Utah has no specific laws dealing with specific crimes of hate. (liven our nation's (and state's) prejudicial legal heritage, it is important to create laws that will safeguard the rights of minorities, deter bigots and thoroughly punish perpetrators of hate crimes. Despite what Morley claims, it doesn't matter if hate crimes affect a few people or many people, they do happen. Just ask the U student mugged because of his ethnic background. Indeed, Suazo's battle may Ik uphill and certainly almost impossible. Yet, it is a battle she, compelled by moral principle, the spirit of her late husband and the cries of hate crimes victims, needs to fight. JAVIER CHAVEZ Senior, History Trying to Understand the 'Rulers of the CRIS BROCKWAY Chronicle Opinion Columnist V chemical engineer. I've grown to the conversational fallout that follow from one simple, seemingly innocent question: "So what's your major?" An honest response brings the inevitable gapes, smirks and quizzical queries. My personal favorite: "Wow, are you some kind of genius?" No, not some son of genius (although Mensa may say otherwise). I'm just a regular guy who goofed off in high school and picked a major to stay out of "undeclared limbo." Then I worked, worked, slacked off and worked; many of you can identify, only with more or less slacking. To me, artists are geniuses; a peek at my artistic endeavors will reveal the source of my envy. Artistic skills aside, scientists rule the earth these days not in the dinosaur sense, we just make the world work. Consider your morning routine. Your alarm clock sounds, corralling you out of bed and into a hot shower. Electricity you take lor granted allows this, perhaps from a distant nuclear plant or from new wind power As a technology. You freshen up with toothpaste, soap and shampoo all lovingly prepared by research scientists and diligently produced by engineers. Also, in the city, your water has been treated before it arrives, and will be treated upon its departure. You pick up a handy magazine and are hypnotized by the diets, workouts and news backed up by the latest scientific studies, then bite into a piece of fruit that is most likely genetically modified. All before leaving your house. Science has become a silent, ambient ruler in our culture: Everybody seemingly needs it but few question its unseen clergy of scientists and engineers. The famously controversial Milgram obedience studies epitomize the scientist's influence. In short, a "teacher" (a legitimate, clueless volunteer) is instructed to give shocks to a "learner" (an actor) whenever the learner responds incorrectly. A researcher observes from the teacher's side, his goal to prolong the experiment with simple commands for as long as the nascent teacher will allow. Even after the actor feigns heart pains, protests, and begins screaming at the shocks, an astonishing 60 percent of volunteers persist to deliver the maximum shock: 450 volts. All with the help of the insistent researcher. A quote from one of the participants reveals the power of the man in a white lab coat: "There was I. I'm a nice person, I think, hurting somebody, and caught up in what seemed a mad situation . . . and in the interest of science, one goes through with it." If you can concede at this point the great influence of scientists, then you must admit that we have a huge responsibility to society not to abuse our power but are scientists up to the task? CHR0N1CLE OPINION EDITOR I recently revealed my identity to a man at the multimedia center. "Chemical engineering?" he said. "Why don't you go into Styrofoam manufacturing? There's a lot of money to be made in Styrofoam..." A lot of money to manufacture a material that produces a incinerated? No thanks. toxin when potent I would remember my class in engineering ethics as an undcrgrad back East but there was no class in ethics. Ethics was given as much d chair at the D.I. and attention as a consisted of one lonely chapter taught as a seeming afterthought I remember talking to a friend of mine at a large multinational monster of a company. "I in weeks," he haven't talked to a three-legge- non-cngine- cr confessed. Scientific objectivity skewed by the promise of money? Engineers without ethics? And how can scientists serve society when separated from the mainstream? All these could leave you concerned, or feeling downright shaky. Are classes and formal indoctrination needed to create responsible, moral scientists? I say no, and add that society shouldn't expect a class or an authoritative chapter in a book to engender moral responsibility here there is too much gray area. As usual, authority won't be as effective as an effort on your part. Let me give an example. Through the smirks, I know my friends appreciate my infantile attempts at drawing. They know that my effort, however naive, is an attempt to understand their work. Once understood, they can appreciate my input. Scientists work the same way, it's just that few people LAURA B. WEISS LWEISSCHRONICLE.UTAH.EDU seem to take an everyday interest in what we do. This gives birth to our most prominent affliction: many of us aren't adept at explaining what we do, because we rarely get to share it with anybody but scientists. Just be patient with us. I promise that we're better conversationalists than Milton from "Office Space." How to find us scientists? Unfortunately we don't all wear tics that curl up like Dilbcrt the comic engineer. This is probably a good thing, for we'd never get dates, and consequently, never reproduce. Then one day, POOF! No more scientists. So how do you find us? We're actually your friends, your classmates, your crazy uncle with the unruly hair at the family cookout. We're outside on sunny days trying to draw to the best of our abilities. You'd be surprised. You'd also be surprised how far earnest interest can get you. Once you've earned our respect, you can start asking the tough questions: What would you do if your professor needs you to do some research that you're morally opposed to? Or your future employer asks you to illegally dispose of toxic waste or risk losing your job? Or you were offered money to lie about scientific findings? We ask questions all the time- - now it's your turn. Sec your local scientist. Find an engineer near you. Ask us the tough questions, the ones we can't back up with data. It may just be the best thing you've done for yourself and the world. Cris welcomes at: feedback send letters to or cbrockway(achroniclc.utart.cdu the editor to: lctterschronicle.utah.edu. 501-704- 1 |