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Show THUNDfflBIRD N THE THUNOEABIADO SOUTHEAN UTAH UNIVEASITYO THUASOAY MARCH 5, 19920 PAGE 4 ELECTION RULES VIOLATE RIGHTS lection rules, which play a central role in every student election , have existed for almost as long as students have held this school's elections. Candidates in the past and present have crossed the threshold outlined by these rules. For example, one candidate might decide it a good idea to contact every possible student leader on campus well before the elections. This early contact could help form a party's platform based on feedback from each club's concerns and interests. Another candidate who has decided the previous academ ic year to run for office could well take advantage of this foresight by speaking to people, and posting sign s and advertisements to bis or her own benefit. In fact, these examples are prohibited by current election rules. Aspirants may not execute either of these or other similar examples of early campaigning. Admittedly, many cases of election regulatio n are justified. One could well wonder how fair an election would be that allowed every party high-pressure campaigning in front of the voting booths. Classroom disruptions, likewise, are well prohibited, and it's certain that few students wan1 to hear campaign rhetoric constantly, year-round. Rules regarding when campaigning may begin have e njoyed a place on this campus for almost 25 years. Until now, no one has challenged the constitutionality of these regulations-not according to the SUUSA C onstitution, but the U.S. Constitution. However , The Thunderbird believes these rules, though well intended, violate First Amendment rights to free speech and expression enjoyed by all American s. If questioned in a court oflaw, it seems clear that these campus rules would inevitably be struck down as unconstitutional. It is unfortunate candidates have faced fines and embarrassment at having broken rules which are unwise and unlawful. Realistically, a student should have the right to begin soliciting everyone's vote at any time before the regulated campaign period and, if challenged, should appeal to a district court for protection of his or her inalienable right to free speech. We appeal to a forthcoming elections committee to carefully review the prudence of election regulations in order to bring them in harmony with the Bill of Rights . Students shouldn 't have to leave their constitutional rights behind b y attending SUU. WEARE NOT AMUS~D! f;END ·IN THE. E nm THUNDfflBIRD I SOUTHERN UTAH UNlVERSITY O CEDAR CITY, UTAH Editor Kathleen C lov,, Aru Editor C heri, Tucker Production Manag,,r RacheUc Mullennax Copy Editor J ennifor M o rley Advtttiaing Rep Ben Bladtbum P hoto Editor Eric Roderick Staff Production Head Lynn Dennett Sport~ Editor Jay H in ton Faculty Advucr Larry Baker Managing Editor Natalie Coombs Opinion Dinctor David J ohn,on TJ,, Tlrundn6rrd is published each M onday and Thur,day of the academic year by and lor the studen1 body of Southern Utah Un,....,rsity and is not aJTiliated with the Uni....,rsity·s dcpartmcn1 of commun,eation. The vtCWs and opinions exprea,cd in 77tt TNntJm,,,d are thosc of individual wn1en and do not necessarily refl«t the views of the institu tion, faculty, staff or srudcn1 body in g,,ncral. The unsigned editorial directly aboYe is the opinion of 77tt Tllmtl,rhird as a single entity. Letters to tlic editor must be typed and include the name and phone num ber. Only the name will be printed Names will oot be withheld under any circumstances and the editor raenu editing privileges. Letters must be subm itted by noon Fridays for Monday edition_s; 5 p.m. Tuesdays for Thunday edi1ions. Grirvanca: Any individual with a gri""'1la against 77tt 17-dnlxrd should direa such problem first to the editor. If unre,,ol""'1, that grievance: should then be directed to the advixr. If still unraolvcd, the grievance: should be din:cted to the SUU Publications Council, 586-7710. 77,, Thmt;lnl,ud.· offices in SUU Technology Builcling 003. Mail at SUU Box 9384, Cedar City. UT 84720. Phone (801) 586-7757. 586-77S8, 586-7750, 586-!>488. FAX 586-5487. FC,C2l-~ AND JUGG1-ER5~ LETTERS Paper shouldn't judge TO THE EDITOR: I am amazed and appalled at The Thunderbird's editorial of February 24th titled, "Senate is Poor Cash Manager. '' Maybe it was the unabashed superiority complex of the article which stopped me dead in my traclcs. No that wasn't it . Or maybe it was the article's illinformed nature which I found amazing. No, that wasn ' t it either. What floored me was the audacity The Thunderbird has to tell anyone else how to do a job correctly. Let's just say charity begins at home. If the staff of The Thundrrbird would take a look at their own work once in a while , maybe the bird-cage liner they call a paper would be worth something. As an example, let's analyze February 18th' s '' cover story .'' On the cover was a full-page picture of two girls painting campaign banners. Briefly it was mentioned that SU USA nominations were held. Any basic news writing course (which apparently no one ''writing'' for The Thunderbird has ever taken) would teach that there are six basic questions to news writing: who, what, when, where, why, and how. The "cover story" managed to answer all but six of these questions. Who was nominated? We don't know. What for? We don't know. When? Where? Why? And bow? We don' t know and apparently the Blunderbird doesn't know that either! It makes you wonder if a " reporter" even covered the nominations. My own opinion on the ''wall bill" is irrelevant. The issue is, where does the Blunderbird get ofl?! Just a hint, my newspapergoing friends, the senate has the control to cut your line item . They have before, they can again. And we' re only about three weeks away from a second senate which could give its final constitutional approval to the measure . Shape up your act, and let:s hear some decent coverage coming out of your office. Or you might hear, "Do I hear four dollars? Do I bear three dollars? Do I hear 20 cents for The Thunderbird line item? Going, going, gone!! !" Class talk is rude 1D THE EDI1DR: I wish to address the rudeness of some students who do not think anything of talking during class, especially when the instructor is talking. I am paying for my education. I want to bear the instructor, when he/she lectures. Even with sitting on the front row I find it very difficult to hear what the teacher says when other students are talking. I have found that even when I ask, they do not quiet down . Most instructors make it clear that talking is not permitted. Some professors feel that college students are old enough to know better. I feel that way too! This is not high school. All I ask is that you stop and think before you talk and make sure there is a good reason to do so. Please think about the rest of the class. We may be there to learn something. Debra Cripps Paul Speirs ,. |