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Show Opinion SOUTHERN UTAH STATE COLLEGE, CEDAR CITY THE THUNDERBIRD MONDAY, APRIL 24, 1989 PAGE 4 COLLEGE NEEDS TO CONTINUE TREND People have a tendency to use whatever tool is handy. When we need a screwdriver, a butterknife will sometimes do. The wrench is in the basement, so we round off a nut trying to loosen d it with a pair of pliers. It is a attempt we usually come half-hearte- to regret. With pressure mounting from vocational education programs, r colleges, tight funding, and increasing costs, many liberal-art- s colleges are forsaking their traditional emphasis regional on a broad-baseeducation, and in its place, redoubling efforts on degree programs. The Thunderbird commends SUSC for resisting this trend through the recent addition of a French major and Latin language courses beginning in fall 1989. We feel that SUSC should maintain this spirit, adding additional courses when financially feasible. SUSC has long maintained a tradition as a liberal-art- s college, providing students with the ability to be capable thinkers, problem solvers, and adept communicators. SUSC could maximize the learning experience for students by offering a wider array of foreign languages and increasing the number of philosophy courses which are currently limited in number and taught infrequently. With the practical value of the liberal arts at issue, we believe that SUSC is taking steps in the right direction by offering Latin and a major in French. We also believe, however, that greater strides could be taken toward instilling students with heightened thinking skills and the ability to communicate these concepts in the shrinking global community. U.S. Department of Education sources indicate that while the three leading languages, French, German, and Spanish, have leveled off as majors through the 1980s, other languages, such as Russian, Italian, and Japanese have gained new popularity at the undergraduate level. Given trends in international affairs, both the interest in, and value of foreign languages cannot be underestimated. To study philosophy is to ask the right questions and to learn that not all questions have answers. Such an educational perspective provides the mind with the momentum needed to ponder about and improve upon the world. Answering the call for a philosophy department at SUSC time, considering budget constraints. However, one step in the right direction would be to offer a wider range of philosophy courses on a regular basis. We are not suggesting a purist approach to a liberal education at any cost, rather, we feel that by implementing these modest proposals, adult competence can be furthered by requiring students to operate on information, rather than simply retaining it allowing students a greater opportunity toward using the right tools. for lifes challenges. two-yea- d career-oriente- d may-tak- e MV mV . . VOLUME 83, NUMBER 40 Editor Rachel Talbot Associate Editor Kathleen Midgley Opinion Editor James Spainhower Photo Editor Cary Leavitt Copy Editor Carol Miller Arts &. Leisure Editor Ahx Larsen Sports &. Outdoors Editor Brent Richey On Campus Editor Megan Marshall Senior Staff Writers Heather Cox Jodi Reinard Production Manager Lynn Dennett Ad Manager Brenda Madsen Ad Representative Michelle Jensen Faculty Adviser Larry Baker The Thunderbird is published each Monday and Thursday of the academic year by and for the student body of Southern Utah State College and is not affiliated in any way with the College s department of communication. The views and opinions expressed in The Thunderbird are the opinions of the publications individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the institution, faculty, staff or student body in general. The unsigned editorial directly above is the opinion of 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 Fridays for Monday editions, 5 pm. Tuesdays for Thursday editions. The Thunderbird editorial and advertising offices in SUSC Library 103 Mail at SUSC Box 9384, Cedar City, UT 84720. Phone (801) 8 or AWf AHfioa $ . - - Reader miffed over Richeys Rites TO THE EDITOR: Some of SUSCs intellectual students do read the sports columns. The SUSC Thunderbirds did lose and sustain injuries at the double headers baseball game, Thursday, April 11, but one must realize that the BYU Cougars are ranked 18. Even at this, the SUSC Thunderbirds led 2 in the first game and at the final outcome, the Thunderbirds lost only by three points; the score being BYU 8-- The Thunderbird . 11 and the SUSC Cougars Thunderbirds 8. The SUSC Thunderbirds are a good baseball club that have shown they can compete with the best. Even though injuries were sustained at Tuesdays game, the Thunderbirds still have the potential to come back and win home and away games. As far as the column Richey Rites, by Brent Richey is concerned, a lot can be said. First of all, the title of his column in The Thunderbird , dated April 13, This Time Im Serious is a little vague; for that matter the whole column is vague. It looks as though a shotgun was fired at a target and hit everywhere but the bulls-eySecond, why does Brent Richey bring up the thought of wrestling in the United States and U.S.S.R if he doesnt like to ponder the groping and grasping of foreign men. Wrestling takes skill, technique, and endurance. It is not a sport of groping and grasping at your opponent. e. Furthermore, I dont think on SUSCs campus G. knows who God Steinbrenner Dallas is, or everyone Green-e- r pastures. Maybe you could explain yourself. By the way, what does rapping have to do with Brian Bosworth being traded to the Chicago Bears? Can Jim McMahon and Mike Tomczak rap? I seriously doubt it. I will concede with Richeys opinion that the basketball are on the wing, But what have all the negatives got to do with it? Most of us already know that Isiah Thomas has a broken hand, Larry Birds lower torso has been operated on, and so, hell be out for the season. playoffs Additionally, we know that this will be Kareems last season, thank heaven, but the National Basketball Association prevail. will still Each professional year, basketball teams know the possibilities of injuries, operations, and retirements. But what about the Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets, Some of SUSCs intellectual students do read the sports columns. and even the Los Angeles Lakers? all still playing outstanding basketball. One more thing that I failed to Theyre mention, what do dollar signs have to do with say no to rifle. I do think your writing has digressed somewhat. Boyd Prisbrey |