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Show Opinion SOUTHERN UTAH STATE COLLEGE, CEDAR CITY THE THUNDERBIRD MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1990 PAGE 4 NEEDS CEDAR CITYS HELP DIAL-A-RID- E In a recent White House briefing for the nations health and safety officials, President George Bush uttered a stark appraisal: Its as crippling as crack, as random as gang violence, and its killing more kids than both combined. What is this malaise that kills more young people many of them college students between 16 and 24 years of age? Alcohol-relate- d driving fatalities. Fully aware tjtat alcohol use and abuse is more prevalent in southern Utah than other drugs because of social acceptability, cost and availability, we are fully supportive of all efforts made toward curtailing drinking and driving. One such effort showing promise in bringing about a decrease accidents was formulated by in Cedar Citys alcohol-relateASSUSC President Julie Stuart. In fulfilling one of her Availability Party platform ideas of generating a greater awareness on campus toward drug and e service alcohol abuse, Stuart recognizes the need for a which assists SUSC students too intoxicated to drive. We see this service as beneficial to both SUSC and the community for obvious reasons. Staffed around the clock by the student government, the fraternityTrothers of Delta Sigma Chi and the sorority sisters of Phi Alpha Beta, this service would be free to inebriated students, and, its hoped, cut down on incidents such as the one last year on State Highway 14 that claimed the life of an SUSC student. Similar programs adapted on campuses throughout the nation have realized a reduction of college-agfatalities by as much as after implementation of the ride service. Unfortunately, SUSCs sober shuttle service has consistently collided with one problem after another. First, there is no place to put the phone. telephone calls through Valley View Medical Center would create problems with tort liability should an emergency call be missed because the line was busy. The local police have shown disinterest in the project claiming they havent the time or the personnel. We feel the community should meet us halfway. Monetary support is not needed What is needed, however, is a location to place a phone that would be manned by individuals rotating over successive periods. To be lulled by the false belief that alcohol abuse is a big city problem or solely characteristic of moral decadence and could never find its way into Cedar City is akin to burying ones head in the sand. We applaud Stuart, members of the ASSUSC government and concerned individuals representing Greek society for having the e vision to recognize the very real need and proposing a solution. We urge community members to employ the same zeal in showing that they will not turn a blind eye to the number one killer of our nations youth. d dial-a-rid- e two-thir- 24-hc- tried-and-tru- The Thunderbird VOLUME 85, NUMBER Editor Kathleen Midgley Associate Editor Natalie Coombs Opinion Director James Spainhower Photo Editor Jeff Dower Copy Editor Lisa Jane Laird Sports & Outdoors Editor Brent Richey 3 Arts and Leisure Editor Tracy McNeil Production Manager Rachelle Sherratt Advertising Manager Brent Richey Ad Production Manager Kim Kelsey Staff Production Head Lynn Dennett 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 Colleges department of communication. The views and opinions expressed m 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 m general. The unsigned editorial directly above is the opinion of The Thunderbird as a single ennty 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; 5pm Tuesdays for Thursday editions. The Thunderbtrd offices in SUSC Industrial Education Building 003 Mail at SUSC Box 9384 Cedar City, LT 84720 Phone (801) FAX Access Journalist defends journalisms ethics Access is a recurring column through which members of the campus community may address themselves to topics of concern andor interest. Todays column is by David Cooper, a freshman majoring in communication and a staff writer for 'The Thunderbird. Loyalty just doesnt go very far. Ive always held this as a rule unless it pertained to a sentimental virtue of life, which seems to be the philosophy of Larry Speakes when it comes to his years of working for President Ronald Reagan. Now first of all, this article is not to denegrate Larry Speakes. Thursdays Convocation speech included many fine points on the responsibility of students as voters. A good topic to touch on especially with an election this November. But Im sure a majority of the crowd came to hear some truth about the Great Communicator and the era that we simply call the 80s. As far as Im concerned the best truth about Reagan was told in the first 10 minutes of Speakes lecture. That is, President Reagan told pretty good jokes. Lets face it, if it werent for the cool, composed Speakes and some other capable staff members of the White House, the Reagan years wouldve been an absolute flop. Even if you are a disciple of the Reagan era, you have to admit questions arose over just what went on in the Oval Office besides Grecian Formula sessions. I it comes to the nations woes during Reagans two terms. Citing that the responsibilities of the press were not being met, Speakes went on to comment that issues such as confirmations of appointees like Robert Bork, Douglas Ginsberg, Sen. John Tower and David Souter by the Reagan-Bus- h administrations were tainted by methods of a press intent on exposing the dirty laundry of the subjects involved. Then Speakes attempted a colorful comparison by stating that much of todays press was equivalent to the National Enquirer by covering the personal life of Sen. Gary Hart. Now are we supposed to believe that the reporter who blew open the Hart affair was more As far as Im concerned the best truth about Reagan was revealed in the first 10 minutes of Speakes lecture, that is, President Reagan told good jokes. deficient of ethics and judgment than Hart? think I dont so. Its hard to watch Speakes strive to pass off the countrys faults on the press from a man who led America to believe the absolute myths of the Iran-Cont- ra dealings. I guess being a conservative has its dont think Speakes has any more obligations to moments of striving for total secrecy from the press stick up for this man. So when we have the opportunity to ask an individual who dealt with Reagan on a firsthand basis certain questions, we take advantage of it. And we expect honest answers. It seems odd that this man who has a press resume from newspapers in Oxford, Cleveland and Leland, Miss., would turn the tables on his profession when Im sure Speakes is After all, aware of this conservative wishful-thinkinthis man did work on the Watergate legal defense team. I respect a man like Speakes, who puts up with a knavish boss and then makes the country disregard his weaknesses. But when the job is over, maybe a little truthful justice can ease his conscience. for Reagan and others like him. |