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Show MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2002 UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OPINION > THE JOURNAL’S PAGE 7 OPINION JOURNAL MOVE HAS PROS AND CONS uring the 2002-03 academic year, the supervision of the University Djournfll will change from that of SUU publications to the communication department. This decision, and the process by which it was reached, caused some controversy among SUUans and Journal staff members in particular (see article on page one). We at the Journal are not opposed to the change. Although we are still not certain whether the change is necessary, the switch does have its advantages. We are, however, deeply disappointed in the process by which the decision 'was made. Under the direction of university publications, the Journal's first objective is to serve student readers and in so doing, train student journalists and to provide them with valuable experience. Communication department members maintain that this practice will continue but that the training will be more pointed. The move is certainly positive for students studying journalism. The Journal will be used to cater more extensively to the education and experience of those students, to improve the journalism program at SUU. While any student will still be invited to join the Journal staff, the newspaper will be more closely tied to the communication department and the possibility exists that students from other majors may not feel as welcome to work on the staff. the table'is'dishotiest. It is imperative that the fees, in addition to advertising revenue, be avallable for the Journal's use in order for it to continue to improve. The communication depattment certainly could not provide the full support for the newspaper: It already supports SUTV and Power 91 without the aid of student fees or the kind of ad revenue the Journal generates. A newspaper is a significant expense for a communication department that, because of budget cuts, already has a hard time meeting the needs of SUTV and Power 91. In addition to finances, we at the Journal want to address concerns about the paper’s content. Some SUUans have expressed the fear that the Journal will become a “public relations tool” for the university administration, and that even the editorial content of the paper will become, by extension, the opinion of the campus or the university. Because of this misconception, some feel that the Journal could be more easily censored or controlled by the department or administration. We at the Journal are confident in the journalistic integrity of Paul Husselbee, assistant professor of communication and the proposed new adviser of the newspaper. He has assured students that censorship of any kind will not occur. We feel that he will continue to keep his word upholding the important mission of the press. We are, that a faculty member on track for tenure may be administrative handling, but we have the utmost faith in with high regard for of course, concerned more vulnerable to Husselbee and want to trust the administration. Although the transition to the communication department is not offensive to us, the process by which the decision was reached, is. Administrators never asked for the opinion of students in general or at the newspaper during the decision-making process. No committee of students was assembled to discuss the change. Students are an essential part of this university, yet they were not involved in a decision that would affect the student newspaper, a newspaper to which they give student fees and depend upon for news, entertainment and opinion, a forum for student voices, CHRIS BODILY/JOURNAL We hope, however, that students who are not communication majors will still want to be involved with the paper. We believe it important that they know that they are welcome to join and bring other views and experience to the newsroom, despite the departmental influence. In addition, we hope that all students, faculty and staff members will continue to support the Journal. Campus media are important on a university campus as educational and intellectual tools. Benefits such as improvement, increased quality and positive growth have always been intents of the Journal; that will not change. The department intends to promote growth in staff size, issue size and frequency of publication. Under the direction of the communication department, the structure of the newspaper will be more like that of Power 91 and SUTV, organizations within and funded by the communication department. When the move takes place, all campus media will supposedly be equal, but, in fact, the Journal is clearly more utilized on campus because of its tactile nature, availability, portability and appeal to all students. While the paper’s commitment to quality and the ability to serve readers will remain the same, some have expressed concern regarding the ethical considerations of moving the operation. As a separate entity, the Journal currently receives a portion of student fees and raises the rest of the money required to run the paper through advertising revenue. We have been told that the Journal will continue to receive money from student fees. At first glance, it doesn’t seem right that the Journal-which, under the communication department, is supposed to be equal with other campus media— will continue to receive a consistent flow of student fees when Power 91 and SUTV will not. We also understand that the Journal will have partial funding through the department, but that it will be nominal. The Journal, again, raises funds through adyertising revenue-a convenience in which SUTV and Power 91 cannot engage. SUTV and Power 91 are noncommercial stations and do not receive the same advertising benefits as the Journal because of their nonprofit status and because of FCC regulations. However, the Journal's operating costs are greater and without the use of student fees, in addition to advertising revenue, the Journal cannot operate on the level it has achieved. If the Journal cannot operate on its current level without the use of student fees, the possibility of the allocation of those fees for other expenses in the communication department concerns us. The Journal's student fees are set aside for the sole purpose of running the newspaper, not as supplementary funds for the communication department, SUTV or Power 91. We want to remind authotities in the communication department that using student fees under the premise of the Journal and allocating them for other expenses under THOMAS COMMENTARY Six months later our nation is apathetic Six months ago today our world changed. One chilly September morning 180 days ago we sat horrified in front of televisions showing one of the leading symbols of capitalism, and our nation, crumble to the ground. We watched as our country— land of the free and home of the brave— became another front in the global war wrought by hell-bent tEl‘l‘Ol‘lSt groups. That day we learned that we are not exempt from the terrorist attacks that have plagued other countries for decades. We learned that billions of dollars spent in defense of the nation could be undermined by men with box cutters. We learned that we would forever live with a little fear in our lives. What else has changed since Sept. 11?7 We pay a little more attention to the nightly news. ‘“Afghanistan,” “al Qaida” and “Usama blh Laden” are household names. : We are more cautious when in pubhc placcs A misplaced briefcase or knapsack is always a potential bomb, and we constantly live under a “high alert” status. The anthrax scares that followed the attacks terrified us even more, giving us caution to opening our mail. We began to expect intensified security at airports, and we’re wary of anything abnormal. Immigration laws UTAH UNIVERSITY : CEDAR That's what your modern Surgeon General does: out under his desk at 2:30 in the afternoon, DIRECTING STAFF AND DESK PHONE NUMBERS: Editor Kamilynn Savage 586-7750 Associate Editor Stacee Young 586-7750 Photo Editor Erin Madson 586-7750 Copy Editor Lisa Young 586-1992 Arts Editor Alice Young 865-8443 Sports Editor Mark Jones 865-8443 Almanac Editor Lillian Kump Front Page Designers Russell Williams, Lillian Kump Ad Manager Chance Allred 586-7758 Adviser Larry Baker 586-7751 865-8226 Writing Coach SENIOR STAFF WRITERS AND REPORTERS' DESK Paul Husselbee 865-8556 586-7757, 586-5488 The Unfversity Journal is published every Monday and ‘Thursday of the academic 'vear by and for the student body of Southern Utah University. It receives advisement from the university administration and from the university's communication department, ‘The views and opinions expressed in the Journal are those of individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the institution, faculty, staff or student body in general. An unsigned editorial directly above is the opinion of the Undversity Journal as a single entity. Letters to the editor must be typed and include the name and phone number, Emailed letters must include the same information as those otherwise submitted. 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 5 p.m. Tuesdays for inclusion in Thursday editions. Grievancesi Any individual with a grievance against the Journal should direct such problem first to the editor. If unresolved, §h“‘ grievance should then be directed to the adviser, ‘The Journalis distributed free of charge to individuals for the first copy, Additional coples may be purchased for 25 cents each. University Journal: Offices in SUU Technology Building 011. Mail at SUU, Cedar City, Utah 84720. FAX (435)5865487. Email address: journal@suu.edu e, PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER. PLEASE RECYCLE THIS COPY. comprehend, That is a problem I had hopcd would be on the forefront since Sept. 11. Instead, we have taken the attacks at face value—simply just that they ‘were an attack on us. Some of us believe that by striking Afghanistan and destroying al Qaida we will once again be safe from attack. That assumption is wrong. You can't destroy the terrorists and solve the problem. Terrorism is a concept, not a person or group, What we can do is educate ourselves about the problems outside the United States and the causes from which they emanate. We can take it upon ourselves to find the reasons behind the terror and work to solve those. There has been a lot that has changed since September, but I wonder if the changes have helped. Are we any more safe now? Who knows? Six months ago the world may have changed, but unfortunately some things have remained the same. It is my hope that the thousands who died on Sept. 11 will not have died in vain; that their deaths will be the catalyst for Americans to realize that not everyone likes us. In another six months, I hope we will have taken a step toward curbing the anti-U.S. sentiment— or at least that we will try to understand it. Thomas Burr is a senior major from Salina, Utah. communication General warns Americans are fat Issue warnings. He sees danger lurking everywhere. Years ago, the Surgeon General was more laid-back; his staff often found him passed CITY, UTAH terrorism.” An SUU student, when reminded of the proper way to say Iran and Iraq, responded with a curt, “Who cares?” Who cares? Well, obviously he didn’t, but he should. He wanted to bomb the two nations, but he couldn’t even say their names correctly. The men who initiated the Sept. 11 attacks did not just wake up one day and decide to assault our way of life. There was a reason behind the attacks, and that reason is an anti-U.S. sentiment that has been brewing in the Middle East and elsewhere for a long time. It is that sentiment that most of us do not understand or care to. Those countries have remained 'r’palt of the world we don’t care to, COMMENTARY The Surgeon General has released yet another report warning Americans that we're fat. OURNAL SOUTHERN sadly, This apathetic attitude showed itself a few weeks ago when I attended a discussion sponsored by the College Democrats and College Republicans about the so-called “war on DAVE BARRY Surgeon ST and, international relations and an increased showing of patriotism. We plastered the flag everywhere— on our cars, homes and clothes— and we took a little more pride in the Pledge of Allegiance. We also gave our support for our nation to delve into a new battle zone, a self-described “war on terrorism.” We returned Afghanistan to a pre-Taliban state, and routed terrorist supporters into hiding. Now we are looking to spread our “war” to other countries reportedly hiding terrorists. ‘While mourning the loss of so many lives on Sept. 11, I can’t help but think about the one thing that has yet to change since that dreadful day. We have not armed ourselves with the knowledge of why the attacks occurred. improved and changed if trust is to build at SUU. Despite objections to the process, we support the Journal's move to the communication department if the newspaper continues to be of high quality, coti 'Es to improve, feels “at home,” and does not allow censorship to occur. R tightened attacks, though, seem to be a higher interest in cited as a problem in the 2000-2001 faculty satisfaction survey and must be v were profiling and discrimination against those of Mideastern descent has increased. The best things prompted by the senseless We are disappointed that those who logically would have been involved the most, the current staff of the Journal, never had a say in such an important transition. To those who dictated the decision-making process in this case: A top-down style of authority is a cold, infertile way of leading and does not encoutage penetration of trust throughout the university. Instead, it divides and alienates people and is, consequently, ineffective. This leadership style was VNG BURR reeking of cigars and bourbon. He would go for years at a stretch without issuing a warning. Back then Americans felt free to smoke, eat fatty foods, drink liquor and drive cars without seat belts, often all at the same time. Granted, most of them died by age 32. But they were carefree. Today, of course, we have vigilant health authorities notifying us houtly that pretty much I do NOT agree with the Surgeon General is on his dietary recommendations. He's upset that Americans do not follow the Department of Agriculture's Food Guide Pyramid. Let me respond, on behalf of all Americans, by suggesting, in the politest way possible, that the Surgeon General should go sit on the Food Guide Pyramid. Because out here in the real world, we do not carry cups around with us, nor do we encounter “whole grains,” whatever THEY are. Yes, real Americans need a more-effective dietary aid than the Food Guide Pyramid. Here's my idea: We should use farmers. Here's my proposal: Any farmer who (a) receives taxpayer money, and (b) is worth more everything we do is fatal. And so we have the than $1 million, should be required to spend 10 Surgeon General coming out with yet another official report— entitled “Americans: What a Bunch of Whales” -which contains these shocking statistics: hours per week actively preventing from eating so much. W 61 percent of all adult Americans are overweight. | M One of these Americans always sits next to me on the airplane. B This person uses 140 percent of the armrest. M Americans don't really understand percentages, cither. taxpayers That's how I'd handle this national wexght problem. I have plenty of other ideas for improving our health, so if the Surgeon General is reading this: Sir, please feel free to get in touch. You can reach me under my desk. Dave Barry is a hwmor columnist for the Miami Herald, Write to him c¢/o The Miami Herald, One Herald Plaza, Miami, FL 33132. |