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Show UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OPINION PAGE 12 FOOTBALL GAFFE IS INEXCUSABLE here is a lot which SUU, anq its facets, should be proud ot progression, achievement, expansion. It's a ·shame that its reputation could be marred by a football scheduling debacle. An SUU football game was scheduled despite an NCAA rule which applies sanctions on the date of the season's opener. The error caused an uproar and resulted in the cancelation of the game. The opposing team for the supposed contest, Western Montana, is a part of the NAIA, and thus was not within the boundaries of the NCAA rule. Everyone makes mistakes, but a mistake of this magnitude should never be committed in an NCAA forum. Apparently, SUU is the only NCAA football team in the history of the organization to make such a blunder. What does that say about us? The Journal understands the challenges of running a good football program, especially as an independent football program relatively new to the NCAA. To other schools, SUU's NCAA program is still in its early stages. Yet. we have asserted that we are mature enough as an institution to maintain an NCAA football program. We demanded the challenge of NCAA status and must understand the responsibilities of NCAA status . Yet, once we are given a trust and a confirmation that. yes, we are seasoned, that we can step out of our NAIA apprenticeship and become NCAA members, we fail to follow through. So, what's the problem? We're playing with the big boys n·ow. Let's act our age. The Journal maintains that incompetence is not the light in which the university, or its athletic program, should be seen. In order for our vision of honorable excellence in all areas of education and athletics to be realized, the practices of the university and its various areas must be seen as respectable. Jack Bishop, SUU athletic director, said, "I take full responsibility," for the scheduling gaffe. Although Bishop played a key role in directing the 'Birds through the transition from NAIA to NCAA Division I competition, he "did not make himself aware· of this particular NCAA rule regarding scheduling. As a key player and the final SUU authority in the authoring of schedules, it is only common sense that Bishop be familiar with scheduling rules. With an athletic director approving schedules in ignorance, it is no wonder this mistake was made. Bishop has said, and we are aware of the remorse he must feel, "It's awful to make a decision that affects so many people.· Well, he did just that; he had the trust of the entire football organization and its fans in his hands, but he let them down. In retrospect, the manner in which this "difficult situation· was handled was mature and some dignity was salvaged; it is truly difficult to judge such issues. But, a scheduling mistake of this immensity never should have happened in the first place. Money will now be lost; it is contingent only upon bringing another team to our field that we can regain those funds. But, as Bishop said, "The revenue is survivable. The worst is the embarrassm~nt." And Bishop should be the most embarrassed. SUU will continue to work toward betterment However, the matter of its maturation and education must be handled with great commitment and care. In essence, the university is a living entity with a pulse (which is the students) and that life must be valued, tucked in, fed, and not abused. If there is anything keeping this university froni reaching its full potential, that must be remedied. T SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY· CEDAR CITY UTAH DIRECTING STAFF AND DESK PHONE NUMBERS: Editor Kam1lynn Egan 586-7750 Associate Editor Anna Turpin 586-7759 Opinion Director Cami Per1uns 586-7759 Photo Editor Jeny Curtis 586-7750 Copy Editor Deborah Peny 586-1992 Focus Editor Lisa Dawn Perry 586-1992 Arts Editor Kevin Haring 865-8443 Sports Editor Jasen Asay 865-8443 Almanac Editor Lizzy Rugg 86S-8226 Ad Manager Miranda Mabbutt 586-7758 Ad Designer Jansen Gunderson 586-7758 Faculty Advise!'$ Larry Baker 586-7751 Morris Brown 865-8556 SENIOR STAFF WRITERS AND REPORTERS' oES'K sa&-n57, 586-5488 The Vn/WfSlty Joumal is pYl>lished every Mondlly end lhur$Clay ol ll>e academoc yeat by and fo, lhe stuci.nt body ol Southtm Utah Untvwsi,Y It C1ICAIIV8S odv,sement from 1118 um,e,lily's comnulCaticn clepattment and from the univ1Rlly admnshtlOn The views and opnons e><P<9ssed In the Jouma/ aro O>ose ol ondivldual and clO not - . . , i y relled the v,ews a( the lnslltulioo. laaAty, sUlff 0t sluderl body "' ~ The uns,gned o..cty . - . i$ the op,noon ol the VnivetsJty .1oum111 as a Sll,gle entity Lett•• to the ec1ot0t must be lyped and onclucle the and phone l'ltJfflber Only lhe name will be pnnled NamH will not be witMeld any c:lrc:umstonces end the edilDl resarves od.-ng ~ s Letters must be submitted by 5 p.m Tlvsdays lot induslon "' Monday edilloi)s, end by 5 p m Mondays for Tlulday editions Grievances: A"f """'1CUII with o gr,e-,ance aga,ns1 the Jouma/ sholAd dinlct such p<oblem fnl ID 1118 edilot If unte$Olved, lhat gnovonco sho\Jkl then be direded to lhe faculty the Journal Stfffing Committee. which Is chwed by Or Fra"' G Pr.non. 58&-7971 Vnlwnlty Joumitl: Offices in suu Tochnology Building 0 11 M•I at suu. Ced.- c,,y. Utllh 84720. """'* '""* FAX (435) 58&-5487 E·fflO(I addr'ess joumOl@sw eck1 ~ r lNTED ON RECYCLED PAPER PlEASI; RECYCLE "!MIS COPY MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 1999 )Re 'fOU jURe )'oU ~ ijfoKQ ~\& ~~, ~?t ~{{0~~1? ft' ~ 10 ~ You 1M~ 1a \~~ ~ VA'< C.Ui,,,, I, RYAN JOLLEY COMMENTARY Frustration with phone rings loud·:-.· It's been two weeks and my phone is still not on. It was ironic that some girls I talked to said they Does this seem absolutely outrageous to anyone called up and within a day their phone was on. else but me? Was I the target of discrimination because I was a I moved into my apartment on Sunday, Aug. 15. male illegal alien? No. Other girls I talked to were I had the state of mind that all I needed to do was having the same problem. switch the billing for my gas, phone and electricity. So I just kept on going over to friends down the I found out it was more difficult if I needed to street to use their phone. I just keep friends to use reconnect anything. Namely, my phone. them. O.K., I don't really. However, it gives me an Naturally no one was at the phone company on. excuse to see them. Sunday to come on out and turn on my phone. So I called US West again and the company said it I called Monday. I gave the ~ - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - . would be another four days. us West guy some info: my Now, being the first part There wasn't a technician to name, address and social tum on our phone. security number. But, since of new semester. .. Now because it's the first part of a new semester in a I didn't have established WOUid assume Utility credit, the company needed town where there are 6,000 me to fax my social security CO(T1panieS WOUid keep students , I would assume number. I did. I waited for utility companies would keep three days to have my extra people on call to extra people on call to do all phone connected. do all of the necessary of the necessary connections My dad called and told for the hundreds of apartUS West if there was any connections for the ments and dorms. problem with the hook up, I could be wrong. At least I have my gas · US West could bill him. The hundreds Of apartments company said that would and dorms. working . Some people in work if my phone wasn' t Willowbrook Appartments hooked up in a few days. were not aware they needed One of my roommates, concerned about our lack to reconnect their gas. Students arriving on of phone service, decided to call and again inquire Saturday would not be able to call the utility on the status of our phone. US West told him my companies ur\til Monday. This meant being without social security number was invalid, so he faxed his phone, gas, stove, washer, dishwasher and hot number and was told it would be another week. water for at least three days. No thank you. First of all, why my social security number didn't I guess we, as students, need to be more aware clear, I do not know. Last time I checked, I was an on what actually needs to be done in order to get United States citizen . US West could have all of our ducks in a row when it comes to utilities. contacted my parents to advise them of the mistake. Instead we just kept waiting for our Ryan Jolley is a freshman communication major from Alpine, Utah. phone. a I |