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Show !PAGE 8 UNIVERSJTY JOURNAL OPINION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 , 1999 MYSTERIOUS 'IT' PLAGUES SUU aham Lincoln said,"You can't escape the responsibility of omorrow by evading it today." These are profound words uttered by a man facing pressing social issues of slavery and anarchy. They are words full of meaning at the time they were spoken and words equally relevant to society today. Unfortunately, the prevalltng attitude among students and faculty at SUU seems to be "it can't happen here; it can't happen to me; and I don't care when it happens to somebody else · It is a sad reflection on ourselves and a potentially damning attitude for society as a whole. What is the mysterious "it" that can never happen here? "It • is anything scary or distasteful that society doesn't want to.address. "It" comes in the form of vandalism , drugs, abortion and overall societal decay. "tr is bred from indifference and callousness to the human condition and the societal pressures created from within. ·tr came as a massacre to the students in Littleton, Colorado, as semi-automatic-weapon-wielding students walked in and opened fire. When students were preparing for classes that fateful morning certainly the thought "I bet disturbed students with guns are going to walk through the halls and classrooms today and kill many of my classmates and possibly me," never crossed their mind . "It" has come in the form of vandalism to SUU's campus this year. Though the motives behind the vandalism are unclear at this point, the cry for help resounds loudly. There is a problem in the life, or lives, of those who committed the damaging acts; a serious problem that needs lo be addressed. Recently, after the incident, a student stated in a class discussion, "I never thought that something like that could happen here at little SUU ." Granted, SUU is small compared to some state schools. However, size does not equal immunity to social problems nor does it justify a lackadaisical attitude regarding such problems. Perhaps a more frightening aspect of the oppressive "it-can-neverhappen-here· is the almost invisible way it enters society. Members of society are impervious to the subtle assaults, the silent messages screaming to them that violence and anger are appropriate and natural responses to pain. "It" is a very subtle creature, bred in isolation and nurtured through the narrow-mindedness of a generation that seemingly doesn't care. We posit that the underlying source of "it" in society is not society itself, but the failure of people to recognize the intrinsic worth of the individual and the desperate human need to be loved. Because society is a synergistic whole, the actions of the individual weigh heavily upon other members of the group. Conversely, the inaction of an individual within such a group can result in an equally detrimental effect. Each person, whether in the microcosm of the university or in the entirety of the world, can affect, positively or negatively, the lives of those around them. "It" in its varying forms and faces can happen here and "it" will happen here. The answer to avoiding costly damages to society like the Littleton, Colorado, incident, is to realize the power of one, the power of the individual to make a positive impact on the lives of those surrounding him or her. As philosopher H amilton Wright M_abee said , "The question for each man to settle is not what he would do if he had the means, time, influence and educational advantage, but what he will do with the things he has.· Editor Kamilynn Egan 586-nSO Associate Editor Anna Turpin 586-7759 Opinion Director Cami Pmms 586-7759 Photo Editor Jerry Curtis 586-7750 Copy Editor DebOrah Perry 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 865-8226 Ad Manager Miranda Mabbutt 586-7758 Ad Designer Jansen Gunderson 586-7758 Fac:ulty Advisers La'1'}' Baker 58S.ns1 Moms Brown 865-8556 SENIOR STAFF WRITERS AND REPORTERS' DESK The UIIIW(Slly.,_.,,., 1$ ~7757. 586s5'l88 published every Monday a n d ~ . , 11e academic ynr by anc1 ,or 11,. .IUdent bodyo1Soulhemutahu ......1y 11,-vosa<1visementtrom11>eunivemty'scornmuno:at1onc1ep,1ronen1an11 from the unovers,ty -•1raoon The v,ews and op,nions expressed In the Journal a,e those of ,ndivldual enc1 c1o no1 necessanty reftea the voews o1 t11e ,nstrtutJon. tacuty, su,ff or stuc1ent body"' _ . i n.e - ~~ : : - . , : ~ ~ · , : : . : : - ~~ ~ ~ _ : ~ ~ = ~ ~ t o, : , : : : Wllllhlldunc1e<anyarcunsianees and111eedltDtrese,vosedlbngprMleges. 1.ettersmus1beS<bmlttedt,ysp.m. Thut$days for indusoon in Mcnclay edilions. and by 5 p.m. Mondays for Thursday edrtlons Gnev•nc:a:Anyondlvoc1ua1-.agnevance-1t11e.lo<Mna'lhoulddnclsuc11pro1,1emfirs1to11>eedi!Or II unresolved. tl'lal g,Mvance should then be directed to tl'le faculty the Journal Steering Comm,u... which 1s chwedby0t Fn11nG Pe-.n.586-1911. un1-.ny .1oum.i: Offlces in suu Technology 8ulding 011. Mlit • suu. Cec1w c.1y. Utah 84720· FAX (<135) 586-,5,487. E-m.i address: ,oumal@SW.eQJ ~ rNlEDONRECYClEOPAPER.PlEASERECYclETHISCOPY. '----- --------- ----------.-_-_.___ .. .. RYAN JOLLEY COMMENTARY Ready to start ,ny Ch~pter SUU I arrived at SUU three weeks ago. My family and read a lot that night from an author named loaded up the mini-van and hauled me and all my King Benjamin. junk down to college. After my family helped me I think my anxiety for school to start overset up my apartment they headed home. I had whelm.ed my fear of the unknown. I worked as a mixed emotions about college. laborer this summer on an excavating crew. I was First , I was so glad to move out of the house. It's now waiting for those long, hard, mundane hours not that I don't love my family, l;>ut there is time to pay off. I am already reaping the rewards! when everyone needs to be on their own. I couldn't The first week of school was filled with many wait for the college life : no rules , my own activities which let me break out of my comfort apartment, and especially no curfew. zone and meet new people . The barbecues , How many of you had a curfew when you were movies , and dances were all a blast. My in high school? I did, and I hated it. I had to be roommates and I decided to go all out and not be home by midnight Not at home by timid or quiet. Do you remember 12:01 a .m . or 12: 1s a.m . the kid at the dance on Midnight .and that was written in Wednesday with the huge black wig? That was my roommate (he stone. Now I could stay out a5"late as I wanted to because I was my thinks he is Tito from the Jackson -own keeper. Five.) By being outgoing, he broke My father asked if I would abide out of his comfort zone to make a curfew if he set it. Thinking , new friends. thinking , thinking, no! I told him the ~ Because of the clocks being off, great thing about college is the O I was late to all of my classes (not exactly the first impression I freedom of choice. Granted their is a consequence to every action, but wanted to make.) I was surprised if I wanted to stay out all night and L . _ - - - - -- -- - - - - - ' at how quiet everyone was in my be tired all day, that was my choice. I hope he classes. I think they were feeling the same fear was joking about the whole curfew thing. my adrenalin overpowered. As the week went on, I was ready to party and make tons of new people became more talkative and outgoing. • friends. The volleyball tournament was a blast. even On the other hand, being the first roommate to though my tearp , made up of four 18-year-old arrive at our apartment , I felt a sense of freshman, were crushed by 6'4" 23-year-old guys. aloneness. For the first time in my life I had to I think that the new freshman have adjusted truly depend on myself. I was self-reliable during quite well to college life. We either love being h1·gh school, but I always knew my parents would here, or we want to go home. Of course there is be there . Now was the time to take the good that want for home, but I think we are ready to • h t · l'f Ch SUUI advice they gave me and put it to use. start this new c aper in our I e: apter . I took the opportunity to reflect on my life to that point. Why was I really here at SUU and where Ryan Jolley is a freshman communication major .th rt ? Ji r1 t ri Al • U'"" 1 . -~~~~~ -~~~ ~~~ 1 ~~~e~,°u '. ~~ _a.n~~:r~ ~~ ~Qm rv!JtO~.. ~:... • , I think my· anxiety for SChOOI tO Start OVerwhelmed f th my ,ear e Unknown. 9~!~~- ... ~- ; . |