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Show OPINION. :·;' COKIE & STEVE ROBERTS -. c" 'f. ... ~,. COMMENTARY Sex survey news: Who's surprisedl j,, - .1. ' . .• . ~,i'.\~·1·' ,~,:;: i .,,~ "' . .. If you want to know why Americans are angry, take a look at last week's newspaper stories about the major new sex survey. No, were not trying to make some snide point about sexually repressed voters taking out their frustrations at the polls. T he frustration comes from the reporting of this survey. It underlines that the so-called elites of this country are totally out of touch with most people. University of Chicago researchers conduct an exhaustive study and find that the vast majority of Americans are faithful to their spouses. How is this news greeted by major metropolitan dailies? Here are some sample headlines: from the front page of The Washington Post, "Survey Finds Most Adults Sexually Staid"; from the Boston Herald, "U.S. Is Home of the Prudes"; from the Chicago Tribune, "Sex Study Shatters Kinky Assumptions." Excuse us? "Surprising" to whom, whose "kinky assumptions" and why "staid. " If we are faithful does that make us "prudes"? What these bulletins reveal is a set of attitudes held by the editors and reporters who make judgments about what is news. And it's a set of attitudes that's making voters angry. Anyone who takes on sex on television, or in music lyrics, is portrayed as some sort of right-wing fanatic, or at the very least as amusingly out-of-date. Just ask Tipper Gore. Forget the hot-button questions of language and nudity; that constant sexual message on television is far more pervasive. Obviously parents who disagree with those values can tum off the TV, but why should it even be an issue? Why should th ey sit down to a cozy night with the family in front of the TV and find themselves explaining fak ed orgasms or jokes abo ut sexual performance, standard fare on sitcoms these days. N o wonder conservative religious organizations are gaining power in the political sphere. They are the only ones nodding in understanding as parents voice their fears and frustrations. Ironically, had it been left to the conservative champions in Congress, this study affirming married life would never have happened. A group of private foundations took up the slack and funded a scaled-down version of the proposed government study. In addition to the findings about marriage, only 2.8 percent of m en and 1.4 percent of wome n identified themselves as homosexual. Teen-agers on average lose their virginity about six months you nger than their parents did. Perhaps Sen. Helms, along with the newspapers, finds that surprising. Cokie Roberts is a co mmentator for ABC's "World News Tonight" and "This Week With David Brinkley." Steven V. 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However, this year memb ers includ e Maren students who attended the thanks to interest from Tiffany Ma C lean, Mandy Broo ks, Thursday 11 a.m. l ecture . Evans and your student leaders Keawe Gilman, Daniell e Students laughed and likely Bertice flew from Chicago to Dubrasky, Margaret Dixon and learned a lesson or two about Cedar City (knowing, by the Marla Bingham who serve in ex-off icio cap acity . how to approach dail y way, Skywest was a necessary an dilemmas, s tresses, conflicts leg of the trip) to be a part of Interes ted students David a nd struggles. " Learn to be 1994 Homecomi n g an d a H ea t on, La n ce and Laura funny and live life with a highlight of the fall quarter Loveland, Jamie Kerr, Monica Stratton and others attend and smile," were reminders tha t Convocation Series. It was great to see all 1,000 offer s peaker and - t opic being happy can be a learned beh avior. A few student plus of you to a Convocation. I suggestions. I list these members to let comments, "I enjoyed Bertice invite you to return and hear a because she gave us a chance variety of perspectives about you know who yo u might contact if you have program to look at our own lives and ideas and to let you know who learn to laugh at ourselves. " the players are that brig to "We need to experience new camp us approximately fifty things; we are at a well-known presenters who university .. " "I liked the idea address a myriad of issues and that stupidity is choosing to represent diverse backgrounds remain ignorant." " Anything and life experience. Coming up t hat can go wrong can be next week is a series of fixed. " "I laughed so hard that speakers addressing substance there were tears in my eyes . abuse and violence. The week Thank you. Thank you." "I'm of November 7-10 is going to try the idea of making Week, a journal of situations that contemporary issues. Your International make m e angry. Then make ideas about future speakers "MEXICO: EXPLORING AN t h em funny ." "I like the and s ub jects are welcome as IDENTITY" featuring several concept, 'The more diverse the well and can be shared with speakers as well as film. Check Com mittee with the Multicultural Center environment, the more Convoca tion for details. inte lligent the product.' members. Again, yo u are invited to Th e C o nv ocation Com "Define your life in micro, work to be happy, and b e mittee m eets monthly . experience new ideas, enhance M em bership include s four yo ur collegia te life, realize happy in macro." Bertice Berry's visit t o student senators, eight faculty personal an d profession al campus refl ect s th e a nd fo ur s t aff as well as growth by jo ining us on cooperative attitude that members-at-large serving in an Thursdays at the Convocations makes the SUU Convocation ex-offi cio capa city. Those as w ell as the inform al are: Mich ael luncheon in the student center Series a nationally recognized members program that con tinues t o Donovan, Steve Heath, Max where you som e intense and serve as a mode l for oth e r Ferguson, Dan Pence, Suzanne enlightening dialogu e takes campuses. Your opportunity to Larson, Andy Madsen, Carol place. You can also enroll in hear and meet Bertice began Ann Modesitt and Jean Reeve, the lecture series for arts and two years ago when I met and faculty r eprese nting t h eir l etter credit - an easy yet heard Bertice showcase at respective colleges; Jessica challenging choice. Hope to n ationa l convention. We Black, C harisse Baxter, Boyd see you Thursday. invited Bert ice last year as a Adair and Jarid Gray, student Lana Johnson part of Substance Abuse Week, senators; Lynne Brown, 'You.t ideas about future speakers and subiects are welcome... ' |