OCR Text |
Show JA EDijoiiAL Thriller: Could JaLclcsori Michael Cli ones Tatlce Over? Wednesday The Forum in Tiffany Barber Forum staff writer I dont know about you, but I have realized that Westminster College is the only college that has spring break in February. Why is that? Because am an I student, go home for spring break and everyone I talk to asks, Why are you out of school so early?" I would like to know the answer to that question myself. I usually answer that we get out so early because the semester ends the end of April. The more I thought about it over break, the more I realized that almost every college, except for the University of Utah, finishes up about the second week of May, so that argument doesnt work, for me. Spring break is supposed to be a time when students can go home and spend time with other college friends who are out of school. It is also a time when students can go to I out-of-sta- te Fort Lauderdale or Cancun and party with MTV or VH1. Instead, we are out of school when the weather is still cold, there is usually snow on the ground and to top it all off, no one else is around because they are still in school studying. home to find out that none of my friends can even meet me for lunch because they are too busy studying and school. I thought that be able to spend some time" with my brother, but then I realized that he wasnt out of school either. This year, I ended up staying home almost every day and sat in front of the television for hours on end. That is not my idea of I go Oh Rick Branham Forum staff writer On Sunday, Feb. 23, British scientists revealed the existence of the worlds first clone of an adult mammal. old The clone, a seven-mont- h creatwas called Dolly, sheep ed at Edinburghs Roslin Institute from a single cell taken from the udder of an adult sheep, turned into an embryo and then implanted in a surrogate mother. Ian Wilmut, leader of the Roslin team, explained that the technology used to create a sheep, whose genetic makefun. having up is actually more complex I know that we have than that of a human, could be midterms and all, but from used to create human clones. what I have heard around It would be desperately sad if out one burnt no was campus, people started using this sort of technology with people, Wilmut added. Not long after I learned of Dolly, I was watching (with 7 the same dichotomy of revulsion and attraction experienced by Stephen King fans) the Elizabeth Taylor birthday special. Topping off the ensemble of the See Spring Break page Snow in Utah? continued from page 2 freeway). They began changing lanes like raving lunatics and cutting people off left and right. And worst of were going 25 m.p.h., or less, while driving in the d lane (which we all know is the fast or passing lane). If everyone in ail three lanes is driving at the same, excruciatingly slow pace, how can any of us get anywhere? It was suddenly revealed to me why I had been driving 5 m.p.h. all the way to Salt Lake City. I simply cannot understand why Utah doesnt have the same mentality that a lot of other states have about snow. If it snows, they dont go anywhere. Most schools all,-peop- le left-han- and companies close down, and they all sit home and drink hot chocolate. Since was the King of Freaks, Michael Jackson. As I we obviously dont have any watched this white, female special talent when it comes mannequin jerk and yelp like to driving in a snowstorm, I a chihuahua choking on a think we should follow their chicken bone, I knew with a example. However, because certainty that the King of Pop this isnt likely to happen, I would be the first in line at do have one final request. the South Pakistan Clone Until this state changes Clinic to donate a cell if an their mentality and starts original one can be found. As frightening as it regarding safety to be more than important earning big sounds, an army of Michael bucks, will those of you who Jackson clones probably isnt are too scared to drive like normal human beings please stay off the freeway when its snowing? You may use the back roads and it will be J much safer for all those the worst scenario that will be possible with the new technology. Certainly the industrialized nations of the world will enact legislation to pre- March 12 1997 embryos to be used for bone marrow transplants? Despite the frightening implications of human cloning, we should not prevent and provide punishment vent this technology from for ethical violations of moving forward ana develcloning. But what about the oping into . useful medical nations that will not enact and technology. I believe the enforce such laws? And what benefits far outweigh the The possibilities are vast, ranging from saving to endangered species, that can cows yield cloning huge amounts of milk, to developing a crop of identical mice that can speed up the search for cancer treatments. Animal cloning can be used to produce more health care products and it will enable us to study genetic diseases for which there are presently no cures. As an analogy, what if primitive man refused to reveal the discovery of fire because of the potential for arson? What if Benjamin Franklin and his colleagues decided to keep the discovery of electricity a secret because of the potential for electrocution and misuse by immoral people? My point is this: we must not allow human progress to become crippled because of the evil element in our society. To do so would signify that we an have that Again, assuming given up and have individual is wealthy enough allowed the dark side of to buy off a scientist who human nature to triumph will clone humans, isnt it over the good. This may conceivable that some will at seem a bit melodramatic, but least consider harvesting think about it. We have to human clones for spare body draw the line somewhere. Earts? For instance, what if a Besides, Michael Jackson is developed bone moving to France, cancer. Would he clone about the scientists who will violate these laws despite the threat of punishment? Michael Jackson will not be the only egomaniac with the financial means to bless the human race with duplicates of himself. With eccentricity a common characteristic of the rich and famous, is it to imagine so cloning for vanitys sake? By definition, sociopaths do not possess the same ethical and moral standards considered basic to normal individuals. Aside from misuse of cloning among the morally challenged, consider situations in which normal, rational individuals may be tempted to clone humans. What about those who lose loved ones from sickness, accidents or any untimely means? Surely a significant number of rational, ethical individuals with enough money would at least consider cloning copies of their deceased loved ones. risks. far-fetch- ed 1 Westminster Wisdom continued (mm page S involved. Thanks, fc This is a new edition to The Forum which provides the Westminster community with a place to be heard and seen. Students, faculty and staff can submit poetry, sketches, artwork, photos, or anything you feel like. DEADLINES: Work should bo submitted to The Forum office in Converse 201 or The Forum mailbox in the A.S.W.C. office in Shaw the Wednesday prior to publication. Please submit all written work on disk as well as a hard copy. RULES: Poetry: up to 20 lines Commentary Prose: up to one page double-space- d SketchesFhotosConucs, etc.: up to 8.5x11 inches All artwork must be scannable material. Copies preferred, but originals acceptable. friend, or with you. If she lives in another state, it may be best for them to see other people anyway, if that is what they both want. It is not fair for her to be left out of the decision-makin- g process in her own relationship. Not to mention the fact that what he is doing is just wrong. Especially if he knows how you feel about him. He is not showing either of you any respect or consideration. It appears as if he cares about himself. He needs to start taking other peoples feelings into consideration.only He is not the only one involved. If you havent told him how you feel, he may think that you are OK with how things are. Since you knew he had a girlfriend, it is just as much your fault as his. You have some responsibility here too. We can assume from your letter that youre not OK with this situation and you need to tell him. We think you should give him an ultimatum. Either her, or you. Period! Not both. If ho does want to continue seeing his girlfriend, than you need to distance yourself from him. You deserve better than this and so does she. There are of other men out there who plenty are single. You dont have to sit back and share him with another girl. Best of luck, Mandie and Daisy fc J |