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Show PACE 4 THE THUNDERBIRD MONDAY NOVEMBER 30, 1987 ETHNIC CULTURE WEEKS BENEFIT ALL STUDENTS ASSUSC is currently investigating the Multicultural Center to pinpoint where it spends the funds its clubs receive from the Senate. With a Jan. 15 deadline, the Senate committee charged with the investigation will report back with recommendations on how ASSUSC should deal with the center and its use of funds. The Thunderbird believes that the senate should be commended for its zeal, but that the committee will find no evidence of misappropriation. During its Nov. 1 1 meeting, the senate looked into the Black Student Union's bill for $1,627 and said the budget was too high. BSU specifically asked for help with Black Awareness Week. The senate scaled back funding to only cover speaker fees for the week and $200 for the club's expenses. After the bill was amended and passed the senate said that in the future it should have an established policy when dealing with Multicultural Center and its clubs. The senate's general opinion was that the center used its clubs, (BSU, International Students, and Club) to help get extra funding specifically for the center and its cultural awareness weeks. In the past the senate has been quite willing to assist with funding and support for awaieness weeks, which are the only source we have to gain an ethnic education. College curriculum seldom touches upon these issues, cultures, and beliefs. Lynne Finton, director of the center, said the small but generous amount that ASSUSC funds goes to pay for a few of the speaker's honoraria. The funding for the rest of the week comes from the center's budget or from grants it obtains from other sources like the Utah Endowment for the Humanities. Finton said the budget for the awareness weeks reaches into the thousands. However, the publicity and understanding these awareness weeks promote more than balance the costs involved. The Centrum was filled when author Alex Hailey spoke at last year's Black Awareness Week. International Week also saw good crowds at several of its events recently. Finton said che is more than willing to share her total budget information v ith the senate. When tne BSU or any other group on campus Ujes the money senate allocates to them, the group must fill out a requisition to obtain the money. The requisition form is a built in safeguard for ASSUSC to make sure the money goes toward its specific purposes. Clubs can contribute much of their own funds and efforts to pay for club activities and operating expenses. However, in the case of cultural weeks or other club activities which benefit the school at large, the senate should remember its history of financial and moral support. These activities are not "a club thing, or an ethnic thing. They help to increase SUSC's understanding of other cultures. Inter-trib- Til al fl msm THE STUDENT NEWS 'Access' is a recurring through members of the campus community may address themselves to topics of concern andor interest. This week's column is by LISA JANE LAIRD, associate editor of 'The Thunderbird.' She is majoring in communication and political science. During a recent conversation with a friend, was once again reminded of the force that shapes much of southern Utah's thinking the one dominant religion Mormonism. In a playful manner, she had crossed herself and laughed. told her that wasn't the way she should cross herself and quickly explained how it was done and the points of the cross to her. Crowing up in a Catholic neighborhood, was one of the few who didn't have to catch the earlier school bus or wear a grey plaid uniform. learned the points of the cross and the sacred meaning of the rosary from my friends. My friend took the lesson in Catholicism well, but not nan others do. Too many times, have heard people repeat something they just knew was a "fact" about some other religious group. These people may have learned about it in a comparative religion class at the LDS Institute or, perhaps, they had heard it from a friend who had a friend who was Protestant. People don't like to have their opinions changed to once thy have found a convenient pigeon-hol- e place "other people's religions." I', s unfortunate that the people in southern Utah don't have a curiosity to rind out the truths of other religions or have the tolerance to understand other viewpoints. Fine, had LDS primary and seminary, too, and my teachers taught me that Mormonism was the one true religion. However, my teachers also stressed tolerance and a need to understand other religions without belittling their beliefs. Later, at the LDS Institute at Mankato State University, j Minn., we actively sought out guest speakers from I I I AND VIFWS OF SOUTHERN UTAH STATE COLLEGE CEDaRCITYL VOLUME 82, NUMBER 10 Editor Danny Stewart Associate Editor Lisa Jane Laird Copy Editor Mitch Connell Photo Editor Richard Engleman Sports Editor Titfame Florence Utah needs more religious understanding their own doctrine. We to which other column Entertainment Editor Dawn DeBuk 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 year b and tor the student with the College's department body of Southern Utah State College and is not affiliated of communication. The views and opinions expressed in The Thunderbird are the opinions of the publication's individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial dirdctly abo a institution, facultv staff or student body in general The unsigned ent-tyLetters to the editor must be tvped is the opinion of The Thunderbird as a single will and include the name and phone number Only the name will be printed Names not be withheld under any circumstances and the editor reserves editing privilege. Letters s ed'tion week must be submitted by noon Friday for inclusion in the following SUSC Bow The Thunderbird editorial and advertising offices in SU5C Library 103 Mail at 7758 9384, Cedar City, UT 84720. Phone (801) IAF I religions explain also participated in many group activities with oiher religious groups like the Newman Club and others. We shared a common belief in Christianity and goal to understand one another. dislike hearing southern Utahns repeat their ignorance or opinions about other religions. Until came to SUSC, had never heard another Mo; men say a derogatory statement about another religion. At SUSC, also heard teachers state their religious opinions and preferences in the classroom. Perhaps, there is just too much comfort within their own southern Utah society. Here, many of the people are LDS and they have inherited their religion. Perhaps, I I Mormonism would look pretty stupid on an Sid" by 11 " sheet of paper. they don't feel it is necessary to investigate beyond their own Sunday school history iessons. Many southern Utahns have never left the state, let alone the county of their birth until the big senior trip to Disneyland or their LDS mission. They forget that beyond the Zion Curtain lies a larger society with greater religious diversity. These Utahns don't choose to have any other religious comparisons to draw from. The Institute teaches a comparative Christian religions course which outlines the various religions on a handy 8 Vi" by 1 1 " piece of paper. This might be a good reference for students, but one piece of paper can't teach the student all of one religious group's history, dogma or doctrine. Mormons, can you image how stupid your religion might look on one piece of paper? |
