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Show a Also in this section: oca! Obituaries B2 Sports B3-B- 6 Opinions B8 Friday ,Uj. K). 1990 mi Drivers yorged to conserve gas Personal guilt needs to be AAA re-establis- hed gives fuel-savin- g An acquaintance ; of mine reletter contain- cently received a ing a $20 bill. An anonymous note enclosed in the letter explained that the money was sent "In order to ease a troubled conscience." My friend quickly reviewed his mental list of people who owed him money. He concluded that the money had been sent by a person to whom he recent- ly had given a $20 bill. However, $20 would be, at best, a token sum: the person in ques- tion owed my friend a great deal more, including an apolo-- . gy. We were left to speculate about the inner life of somebody whose conscience could be bought off for $20. Seventeenth century pundit La Rochefoucauld observed, "We : ; confess to small faults to create the impression that we have no great ones." La Rochefou-- ; cauld's critique of France under Louis XIV is timely today, as our society succumbs to the freedom. fallacy of lt In any free society there is a strong tendency to believe the freedom to choose includes a grant of sovereignty over the consequences of one's decisions. The indulgence of a society in claiming its freedom of choice often grows in direct proportion to its selectivity in accepting no-fau- responsibility for the choices made. In such a society, the confession of "bad judgment" becomes an accepted defense. Nowhere is this tendency more pronounced than in the realm of sexual morality. William Bennett has pointed out that most courses place an emphasis on "exploring options," "evaluating choices," and so forth. The dominant concern is to make students aware of "options" and to make them "comfortable" with their decisions, whatever those decisions may be. Observes Bennett: "You sometimes get the impression that being 'comfortable' with one's decision is the sum and substance of responsible life. Decisions aren't right or wrong, they simply make you 'comfortable' or not. It is as though 'comfort' alone had now become our moral compass." Indeed. "Freedom to choose" is a nice, comfortable concept; accepting responsibility for the choices made including unanconseunwanted ticipated, is not nearly as quences appealing. Accordingly, the temptation exists to regarding responsibility for instance, to accept $20 worth of responsibility for a debt of several thousand: a of one's conleveraged buy-oscience. In a society in which freedom is sundered from responsibility, "plea-bargai- ut UVCC tips for motorists Will Grigg FOR THE SAKE OF - ARGUMENT the concept of "rights" is meaningless. No better illustration of this exists than a "right" recently discovered by professor Lawerence Tribe of Harvard Law School. In his new book, "Abortion: The Clash of Absolutes," Tribe the chief dissimulator for the movement that the Constitution protects a "fundamental right to engage in sexual intercourse without becoming pregnant." Intriguing: the Constitution supposedly protects not only the freedom to perform "The Act," but freedom from that act's predictable consequences. If this is true, what desire cannot be consecrated as a "right"? Is there a right to overeat without gaining weight? ("It's not fair; I didn't intend to I shouldn't put on 20 pounds have to. After all, biology isn't destiny, you know.") Our society's se moral custodians tl By JULIE JOLIN Herald Washington Bureau WASHINGTON Exploding tension in the Middle East has renewed concern over world oil, supplies, weakened global stability and sent U.S. motorists into a rage over rising gasoline prices. The status of foreign oil imports, which meet nearly half of America's overall petroleum needs, is uncertain right now, but everyone from President Bush to the American Automobile Association warns energy conservation measures are more important now than ever before. In a speech to the nation Wednesday, Bush said "Americans everywhere must do their part" to conserve energy. He also pledged to ask oil companies "to do their fair share ... and not abuse today's uncertainty to tirelessly preach the gospel of collective memories of past oil shortages have prompted the AAA to remind motorists how to save gas and money. "Because of relatively stable gas prices, people may have neglected this advice," said Geoff Sundstrum, a AAA spokesman. "Basically these are the same conservation methods advised in nt the 1970s." To conserve on gas and oil, AAA recommends: Driving at a steady speed of 55 miles an hour, it Avoiding sudden, tyranny. Eric Hoffer wanrs that mass political movements such as nazism and communism recruit converts by offering an exemption from personal responsibility. One young Nazi explained that the movement promised that it would allow him "to be free from freedom" that is, free from the responsibilities of his choices. We must beware of political Accelerate and stop gradually, Avoid using air conditioning, And do not stand idle with an engine running more than one minute. In addition, the AAA suggests keeping vehicles properly tuned. "An car uses 3 to 8 fuel more than one that is percent in shape," Sundstrum explained. Carpools, public transportation and errands in consolidated trips all obviously reduce fuel usage, he said, noting motorists should use guilt. Such movements surround us: Gay Rights agitators insist that AIDS is "everyone's disease"; political racketeers in Washington insist that "everyone is to blame" for the S&L meltdown. Somehow everyone is "guilty" but nobody is responsible. The sudden ubiquity of such movements is a warning sign, a symptom of an impending loss of our capacity for We desperately need to refurbish the concept of personal guilt: the idea that there is a compelling duty to discharge in full one's moral obligations. Vs raise prices." guilt, indicting America for grand, abstract sins: racism, sexism, imperialism, "homophobia." The same clerisy preaches that personal guilt is an illusion. This is a recipe for movements that democratize II out-of-tu- Herald PhotoTamara Sneddon As gasoline prices rise, so may the motivation for consumers to takes steps to conserve fuel. for the next few weeks until events in the Middle East can be assessed further. Sundstrum warns consumers to shop around for the lowest gas prices. "In the past week, we've seen as difference bemuch as a tween gas stations in the same "common sense" suggestions. But no matter how carefully motorists conserve gas, they may still pay higher prices for petroleum, he added. The price of gas in the United States has increased overall since Iraq invaded Kuwait, al- though petroleum suppliers agreed Thursday they would hold prices 25-ce- nt traditionally don't start fall term until three and a half weeks later Herald Senior Reporter than the Aug. 29 semester start. Students finding general educaOfficials have also discovered tion classes they want to take at Utah Valley Community College are that students are taking fewer full should not despair, yet. classes, which may also be attributPresident Kerry Romesburg told ed to the change to semesters and students not being familiar with members of the Institutional Council Thursday night that sections are how much they can handle. Still, officials are working with being opened in such areas as creative classes of the most where ways to meet the general English have filled up while another 3,000 education requirements and must find qualified teachers to handle the students are still expected to regisclasses. All general education ter. "We have really been juggling classes are being offered at the classroom space around to get Provo campus so students don't these classes," he said during a have to shuttle between the two discussion of problems surrounding campuses. Romesburg said he is also raising the school's growth. class sizes, something he said the have raised .College officials He warning flags for a few weeks teachers are not happy with. in a fluctuation said is The there enrollment. alwpys about the sluggish change to a semester system from the class numbers as students add, a quarter system may be causing drop and change schedules. He said some confusion for students who most classes actually end up with a region." Both AAA and the American Petroleum Institute suggest buying the lowest octane fuel safe for your vehicle. "Despite marketing and advertise ing by gas companies, fuel is fine for a car," Sundstrum said. mid-grad- Wales facing critical water shortage, official says By IDA O. DONALDSON Herald Correspondent The water shortage in WALES the small town of Wales is critical, according to Wales Town Board member Lee Lamb, who is in charge of the water system. The town gets its water from a spring in the mountain west of town, Lamb said. "It is only producing 60,000 gallons each day, which is about of normal." The water supply is down from an average of 170,000 gallons per two-thir- day last year to only 102,000 per day this year. Lamb said the city has a tank which will store 150,000 gallons and explained that the city must maintain a four-hosupply for fire protection. Lamb said residents have been asked to curtail water usage and half the town is watering on odd days and the other half on even days. Lamb said the irrigation users are limited to two hours every 13 days. ur "There is no watering allowed on Sundays to let the supply build up," he said. Lamb said part of the problem is that some citizens have moved into town and purchased property without any water rights and are not few less than the maximum when it's all set. By allowing more to register for a class, he said the maximum will actually be realized. If classes don't drop in size to the maximum "then I really will take my lumps with the faculty for breaching my promise not to raise class size," Romesburg "We're in a position talke some risks." said. we need to By JOSEPHINE ZIMMERMAN Herald Staff Writer SPRINGVILLE Springville's current culinary water problems result from a reduction in water production from the city's springs, combined with a heavy demand because of the hot weather, according to Bert Oakey, water superinwith the telephone registration sys- tendent. He indicated the spring flows are tem early. A number of students feet of water at Brigham Young University take down close to general education classes at UVCC at present. With the hot weather, and know how essential early regis- wind, and high demand, the city is tration is, Romesburg said. UVCC having a difficult time keeping its tanks filled to the safety level. students must do the same. Making better use of the facilities is essential, he said. That means encouraging more afternoon and evening class attendance where there is plenty of room for student!. Most students prefer morning schedules. He suggested the school consider a lower tuition for afternoon and evening students. Such a move would have to be approved bythe Institutional Council and the Board of Regents. Students also need to be more aware of the best way to register Romesburg also discussed the idea of the school becoming a four-yeinstitution, an idea he first talked about publically a few weeks ago. "The state has had a bargain for many years because of the institution up the street (BYU)," he said. But the bargain is gone. Students find it more and more difficult to transfer to BYU. He said a "real need for upper division classes exists. ... Utah higher education as a system is under seige. I literally mean that." Projections show the system growing for several more years before leveling off and then growing again. ar entitled to the use of any of the irrigation water. Some people are using culinary water to water their lawns and gardens, which is putting pressure on the culinary system. Springville water flow down - growth forces 'juggling' to meet demand By KAYLENE NELSEN ft? " 1 jack-rabb- starts, He emphasized that a certain level of water must be maintained in the tanks in the event of fires and emergencies. For those reasons, new mandatory outdoor watering schedules have been imposed, effective until further notice. For house numbers ending from 0 schedule is 33, the watering Monday and Thursday; 34 to 66, Tuesday and Friday; and 67 to 99, Wednesday and Saturday. No watering will be permitted on Sunday. to Quadruplets born at UVRMC By KAREN JENSEN Herald Intern Orem's population grew by four as the first quadruplets born at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center since Jan. 5, 1982, were delivered just after midnight Aug. 1. John and Laurie Hansen are the John parents of the four boys Christopher, born weighing 1 pound and one half ounce; Jason Kent, ounces; weighing 1 pound and 14 David Alden, weighing 1 pound and one-haounce; and Nathan Seth, lf weighing 1 pound and 3 ounces. The babies, who were due on Nov. 6, have all undergone surgery because of complications from the early birth. They are in the hospital's intensive care nursery and listed in critical but stable condition. Clark Caras, hospital spokesman, said the infants typically are kept in ICU until their due date and that it is likely some of the quadruplets will be in the hospital until Novem ber. Former training school worker bound over on abuse charges By KAYLENE NELSEN Herald Senior Reporter A former AMERICAN FORK employee of the Utah State Training School has been bound over to 4th District Court on six charges of abuse of a disabled adult and one drug dealing charge. David Taylor, 21, Holladay was in American Fork's 4th Circuit Court Thursday for a preliminary hearing on the seven charges. Judge John - Backlund determined there was probable cause Taylor committed the offenses and ordered him to appear Aug. 21 in 4th District Court for arraignment on the charges. Taylor was arrested in April folundercover drug lowing a operation at the school. The officer testified Thursday that the six incidents of abuse he witnessed April 3 six-mon- Halick said Taylor told him sev led police to terminate the opera tion because of concern for the safety of the disabled residents at the school. Several other employees of the school were arrested on various eral times that day that he hated that particular resident and wanted to kill him. He said Taylor also used foul language in referring to drug charges. Officer James Halick, currently working with Salt Lake Police, said he went undercover for American Fork Police as a developmentalist at the training school in November to investigate possible drug traffick- idents. ing. He told of six incidents on April 3 where he witnessed Taylor abusing residents. In the first incident, he said Taylor was trying to get a resident to do something and used his fist to hit the man on the back several times until the resident started to cry. the residents. Halick said in training as a developmentalist, all employees are instructed on ways to subdue res- "You're specifically instructed not to strike a client or even swear at them." In the second incident about 50 minutes later, Halick said Taylor choked a resident who refused to sit down in the workshop. Halick said the choking lasted until the resident passed out. He said Taylor allowed the man to then fall to the floor and then stomped on his abdomen with his heel. He quoted Taylor as saying, Wasn't that cool?" In another incident that day, Halick said Taylor fired four staples into the arm of a resident and then pulled them out. He said Taylor also stapled his own arm and indicated that if he could stand it, so could the residents. The fourth incident occurred shortly afterwards when Halick said he observed Taylor removing a staple from the shoulder of still another resident. He said he did not see Taylor put the staple into the shoulder. At 11:55 a.m. that morning, Halick said he watched Taylor sfap a resident several times to get him to cry. He said Taylor then ordered the man to laugh and slapped him until he complied. Halick said at 12:35 p.m., Taylor ordered a resident to eat with his fork instead of his spoon and to cut up his meat. He said Taylor then hit the man several times in the head with the handle of a butter knife and then pushed him off his chair. He said Taylor told him, "If you're a cop I'd rather be in jail than working with these guys." Halick said he never reported any of the incidents to the nurses or doctors and although he was concerned for the residents, didn't see any abuse and chose to report it to police that night. The undercover operation was terminated shortly after than. He also described an incident March 5 when he asked Taylor to provide him with drugs, specifically "mushrooms." Taylor agreed to sell them for $10 a gram and would provide three grams. He said he paid Taylor $30 then. Halick said the next day another employee, Roger Mcrriam, gave him the drugs. Later, Halick said he talked to Taylor who asked if Merriam had talked to him. "I said, 'yea, everyting's cool as long as it weighs out.' " He said Taylor nodded and he took that to mean Taylor understood the transaction was complete. Merriam has pleaded not guilty to two drug charges and is scheduled to appear for trials Oct. 17 and 18. attorney, Dale Dorius, there was not enough connection between Taylor and the officer to support probable cause but Backlund said there wps. Taylor's told Backlund i |