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Show PACE 4 THE THUNDERBIRD MONDAY NOVEMBER 23, 1987 THE CENTRUM ROAR COULD BE DEAFENING The roar of the crowd is barely a whisper in the SUSC Centrum. With SUSC's crown jewel facility ready to seat a crowd of nearly 5,300 people, SUSC's athletic officials are saddened to admit that crowds at the Thunderbirds' home games are sparse. Even the turnout at SUSC's weekend Tip-oTournament was woeful. Most of the audience consisted of townspeople. Although, student attendance at the Tournament was better than usually expected at home games, the student side of the Centrum saw many bare seats. Last year during all home games, SUSC basketball officials also noted the small crowds in the big stands. This year, the attendance numbers are also sparse. For example, the men's basketball team played host to an team from West Berlin and saw a turnout that was bad to say the least. Only a couple of hundred people bothered to show for the game. The absence of a crowd and team spirit is especially noticeable this year and the West Berlin game is just one example of the continuing apathy regarding home basketball games. It's an old, but true story: If a team doesn't have home support, it just won't do well. Look at the difference home support made to the Minnesota Twins at World Series time. However, for the the lack of a pep band may also have something to do with the weakened spirits. The music department is currently working on that problem. A pep band will be organized winter quarter and students can receive credit for play ing at the home games. SUSC athletic officials are currently working hard to promote the men's team. Last year, the Thunderbirds were strong contenders for the NCAA division II playoffs. The men's record and the skill of their opponents determine who makes it to the choice teams that continue on to playoffs the just missed it. Cary Callup, the new athletic director, is also working on a deal to televise some games on cable channel ESPN which would heighten SUSC's prestige. The SUSC womei's team also ranks highly this year and deserves support. Last year the women posted a very impressive season record of 9 and went on to the district championships. Despite low fan attendance, the women finished with a 0 record at home. It doesn't take much to support the home team. The baseball team, though small in number, has a tradition of lending its considerable voices to cheer the team. If students aren't into cheering, they can lend their bodies and moral support. Unlike many other colleges and universities who charge students to attend the home games, SUSC allows students in free with their I.D. card. Mow TaKC Oov4N tVC UC9TS Or We od rtQM jNTic tfette TVUmtO G,i Virjc, ACTCR. gets' iT ff all-st- ar AXLC1K& U.S. cars can boost economy Buying 'Access' column is a recurring through which members of the campus community may address themselves to topics of concern andor interest. This week's column is by GERALD E. COREY, a al student at 1 6-- 9-- 1",rT' THE v nrntii 1 STUDENT NEWS AND VIEWS OF SOU CHERNI UTAH VOLUME 82, NUMBER Editor Danny Stewart Associate Editor Ltsa Jane Laird Copy Editor Mitch Connell Photo Editor Richard Engleman Sports Editor Tiftame Florence r imi COl LEGE STATE CEDAR CIT L TAH 9 Entertainment Editor Dawn DeBusk Senior Staff Writer Annette Grooms Production Manager Gavin McNeil Advertising Manager Lynn S. Dennett Faculty Adviser Larry Baker The Thunderbird is published each Monday of the academic vear by and for the student body ol Southern Utah State College and is not affiliated with the College's department of communication The views and opinions expressed in The Thunderbird are the opinions of tne publication's individual writers and do not necessarily rellect the views of the inst.tution, faculty, staff or student body in general. The unsigned editorial directly above is the opinion ot The Thunderbird as a single entity Letters to the editor must be typed and include the name and phone number. Only the name will be printed Names will not be withheld under any circumstances and the editor reserves editing privileges. Letters must be submitted by noon Friday tor inclusion in the following weeks edition. The Thunderbird editorial and advertising offices in SUSC Libra'y 103 Mail at SUSC Box 9384, Cedar City, UT 84720. Phone (801) 7758. A SUSC. proposal for all U.S. college students: Use your enormous lobby potential to show all Americans how to lower the national deficit and to simultaneously improve America's balance of payments standing with other trading nations. In the years ahead, each of us will buy at least several new cars. If all of us enrolled in American colleges and universities were to make the following pledge: The next automobile buy will either be 1 . An American car, or 2. A foreign made used car, there would be a truly stunning result. All of the money spent on automobiles, bought under this pledge, would remain in the U.S.! Perhaps, by seeing this beneficial result, hundreds of thousands of othr Americans would follow student examples and compound the considerable economic benefits to the U.S. will send this letter to campus newspapers all over the U.S., but am pleased to begin with The Thunderbird here at SUSC, where am ctudying this year as a nontraditional student. Let's lour at the practicality of this plan. I am not a big fan of current American cars. Many of them are sf:!l demonstrably behind the best world standards. But, by researching the market using the road test reviews in auto common method-analyzir- g magazines, reading auto ratings in Consumer's Reports and similar magazines and by talking to owners of current U.S. cars which interest me, can assess improvements, performance, frequency-of-servic- e records, safety, environmental and economic factors to rea.ch an informed opinion about any I I automobile studied. won't complicate matters by recommending any one car or group of U.S. made I cars. However, am pleased that, at this time, can count at least four current U.S. models which would buy with confidence. Their prices (new) range from $12,000 to $20,000. Even if you number yourself among those who "would never buy an American car again, until they can equal the quality, fine design and personal satisfaction of owning a foreign car." You could use the second part of my pledge (If a foreign-mad- e car, it will be a used car.) By doing this, you could still buy a fine foreign car, but all of your purchase dollars would still remain in the U.S. I In the ads of every day's papers, at reputable dealers in every state or at good used car lots, there are thousands of fine, used, foreign cars, some less than one year old, available for inspection, mechanical fitness testing and purchase for great satisfaction. A few years ago, puchased a one year-ol- d Honda Accord sports sedan from a Honda dealer. The car had been driven for only a few months, when the owner decided to buy a new model and "traded up." got this car for over $1,000 under the new car price and drove it with total satisfaction for several years. All my purchase dollars for the foreign car stayed in the U.S. Every dollar paid for any of these available, fine used foriegn cars will stay in this country, stimuia: rg our economy and not travelling abroad to exacerbate the currently I poor U.S. balance-of-paymen- t! you decide to follow this proposal and pledge to buy either an American or a used car next time around, please notify us with a post card or a short letter, to help us "keep a count," to G. Corey, 995 Three Fountains, Cedar City, Utah, 84720. If |