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Show imon atesman@cfc.us AboutUs OurView Editor in Chief Arie Kirk areturir to the Constitution News Editor Debra Hawkins Assistant News Editor Rachel Christensen N ot since OJ. Simpson set land speed records dodging the police has the law been this interesting. V.. V ; ; : - •It's a rare occurrence for USU to receive visits from high-level national officials, so the recent speech by Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was a real treat for the university and the students who took the time to listen to his words. Whether or not you agree with Scalia's posi; tion on various court decisions, the opportunity to listen to a well-respected national figure provided insight for students that can't be found in the classroom. It's one thing to talk about the justice system and it's quite another to listen to a man actively engaged in the system at the highest level speak of the challenges facing this country. - " • . • - - • : j .•••\lf there was one message that rang through like a clarion bell, it was Scalia's call to a return to the Constitution. In today's highly polarized partisan world, politics have become mired in a destructive trend of maneuvering and manipulating to use the Constitution as a battle ax or shield, depending on the situation. Few politicians and even fewer Americans seem to realize the vast importance of that document. . While written more than 200 years ago, the Constitution is a document that is relevant and important to our day. It was the result of the ' readings and theorizings of some of the greatest Apolitical minds that ever walked the Earth. The framers of the Constitution were well versed in writers like John Locke and Montesquieu and had firsthand experience with the destructive effects of tyrannical rule. They set about to draft a document that would clearly outline the way the government was to operate that would provide for the most security of the nation's citizenry. The result was the revolutionary Constitution. Theframers were wise to establish the Constitution as the central tenent of how the government operates. Is it any wonder why when presidents are sworn into office they give an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. Whether or not presidents have actually done that is an entirely different ques- Features Editor Courtnie Packer Assistant Features Editor Amanda Mears Sports Editor Sammy Hislop Assistant Sports Editor Tim Olsen Copy Editor Lisa Christensen Forum L e t t G FS Get video game lingo right To the editor: American college students. Japan did have a major role in the history of video games. Nintendo saved the industryafterthe video game collapse of the early '80s with the hugely successful NES. For a good, long time video game development was ruled by Japanese companies. However, that hasn't been the case for almost a decade. Looking at a list of the major games and game franchises of today snows that Japan has faded quite a bit from the scene. Rock Band, Guitar Hero, Halo, Gears of War, Burnout, God of War, Portal, Bioshock, Call of Duty, Resistance, Fable, Mass Effect, Knights of the Old Republic HalfLife, Spore, The Sims, Grand Theft Auto, Team Fortress 2, Prince of Persia, Civilization, and LittleBig Planet are all Western (North America and Europe) designed games/franchises. Other than Nintendo, JRPGs, and the very occasional quirky title, Japanese game development is in a huge rut. Last Friday the Statesman had a feature called "Video Games 101." While it was fairly well written, as a gamer I feel compelled to correct some false information contained in the article. While talking about video game lingo, Tim Russell said that the strange terms in games or used by gamers is mainly due to Japanese. He goes on to say that "popular gaming originated from Japan" and "the majority of games played are produced by Japanese developers." All three of these claims are false. Video games are an American invention.. Computer Space, from U of U graduate Nolan Bushnell, made its arcade debut in 1971. Bushnell would go on to found Atari, which in 1972 released Pong, the first truly Finally, I can't think of successful video game. One any specific gamer lingo of the first video games ever that is Japanese in origin. A made was Spacewar!, which was made in 1962 by three lot of the gamer terms I can think of are acronyms: FPS, Letters to the editor • A public forum RTS, RPG, MMO, FC, DOT, DPS, etc. Others, like nerf, frag, boss, camper, newbie, are English in origin. I appreciate the gaming evangelism, but in the future try to get your information right. Adam Vanderwerf Bring back rivaling T-shirt Photo Editor Cameron Peterson Assistant Photo Editor Tyler Larson Web Editor Seth R. Hawkins Editorial Board Arie Kirk Debra Hawkins Courtnie Packer Sammy Hislop Lisa Christensen Seth R. Hawkins About letters • Letters should be limited to 350 words. • All letters may be shortTo the editor: ened, edited or rejected for reasons of good Do any of you rememtaste, redundancy or volber the "Y would U go anyume of similar letters. where else?" T-shirts that • Letters must be topic oriwere popular many years ented. They may not be ago? Well, I think it's time directed toward individuwe bring them back. als. Any letter directed to I live in Utah County, a specific individual may and it's pretty darn tough to be edited or not printed. tolerate the constant talk of BYU. Nothing would make • No anonymous letme more proud than to ters will be published. have such a T-shirt and be Writers must sign all able to let others know of letters and include a my Aggie allegiance. phone number or eI call on students everymail address as well as where to solicit ASUSU, the a student identification marketing team; and the number (none of which bookstore to bring back is published). Letters will these fantastic T-shirts. not be printed without this verification. Dan Chase • Letters representing Scalia stressed the importance of government groups — or more than -being guided by the Constitution and warned one individual — must against the danger of allowing the courts to reinhave a singular represendesignated public forum is a place that with video cameras. The basis of that bias is terpret a document that begins with the importative clearly stated, with the government opens to the public for not altogether clear - but he writes into his all necessary identificatant phrase "We the people." • ; ;, , some particular purpose - a meeting speaking contracts that all video cameras tion information. The Constitution belongs to the people of the perhaps, or some gathering. Usually when a (except those he specifically approves) will be • Writers must wait 21 United States, but how many of us have actually controversy erupts over the use of a forum, barred from his venues. days before submitting it's related to the speakers at the forum -I teach broadcast journalism. When 1 told read the Constitution? No, it was not sent to King successive letters — no someone is demanding access to the podium my students, who produce a Webcast and George in 1776. Times have changed, true, but exceptions. or the microphone. Hardly ever is someone cablecast news progam at Utah State, that the principles endorsed in the Constitution have demanding simple access to the room. And they would be barred from covering one of • Letters can be hand : led the United States to become the most powerhardly ever is the one demanding access a the biggest news stories they would see in delivered or mailed to member of the press. ful and industrious country in the world. years, they were outraged. Words like "press The Statesman in the Yet - that is exactly what happened rights" and "First Amendment" leaped to their TSC, Room 105, or can With an important presidential election on Monday at a most unlikely place - a publicly lips - but mostly they just asked "WHY?" be e-mailed to the near horizon, it's important that we the funded university at a conference titled, of ail It's a question 1 can't answer. But I have a statesman@cc.usu.edu people elect officials that will best uphold the things, "Freedom and the Rule of Law." The question of my own. It's one for my university. or click on www.utah circumstances were at the very least annoying It's the same one. WHY? Why did you allow Constitution. If you don't know what that entails, statesman.com for - and at the worst quite troubling. this to happen? How could you let anyone take some initiative and actually read it. We more letter guidelines Associate Justice of the Supreme Court close the door of a public forum to anyone promise you won't be disappointed. and a box to sumbit let Antonin Scalia was scheduled to give the key- much less members of the press? A university? ters. note address at the political science depart- A place that should be standing for the greatment's much publicized conference. The pre- est possible degree of freedom of expression? sentation was also widely advertised as "free The greatest level of access to ideas? Online poll and open to the public." "All are invited to I am ashamed for us. For all of us at Utah What do you think of the attend." With one exception. The broadcast State University. new Statesman Web site? press would be excluded. Only the broadcast press. Members of all other media would be Penny Byrne is an associate professor of Love it! welcome. They could take notes; they could journalism and communication at Utah State make audio recordings. You see, Justice Scalia • olitical excitement is in the air. University. She teaches media law, which is a It's OK All across America, people are registering to vote, has a longstanding personal dislike of people Hate it required class for all jCOM majors. volunteering for their candidates and participating in the You got a new site...? political process in unprecedented fashion. Of course, most of the talk surrounds the presidential race, Info <£ Visit us on the Web at as well it should. We are electing a commander in chief to Guidelines guide the affairs of our nation for the next four years, and that's www.utahstatesman.com The Utah Statesman is the official campus newsedited and condensed for grammar, clarity, good taste no small occurrence. I'm proud that on Nov. 4, I'll be able to to cast your vote. paper of Utah State University, published three or length. Preference will be given to shorter letters. cast my vote, small though it might be, and then one day tell times each week of the academic school year. The Letters must be topic oriented, on a subject of general my grandchildren all about it while forcing peanut brittle on Statesman is produced entirely by students. The paper interest. Letters directed toward individuals or to hurt them. is distributed to on-campus locations and selected an individual or organization may be edited or not Check out these links on locations in Logan every Monday, Wednesday and printed. The cool thing about this year's race is that no matter who www.utahstatesman.com: Friday. No anonymous letters will be published. Writers wins, it will be historic. If the McCain-Palin ticket is victoriTrie offices of the Utah Statesman are located in must sign all letters and include a phone number or • Archives ous, Sen. John McCain becomes the oldest president ever theTaggart Student Center, Room 105. e-mail address for verification. Letters representing to be elected to a first term (Ronald Reagan was re-elected • Forums Mailing address: The Utah Statesman, P.O. Box groups — or more than one individual — must have a 1249-USU, Logan UT 84322-0165. Our phone numsingular representative clearly stated as author of the at age 73), and Gov. Sarah Palin will become the first female • Joke's on You! ber is 435-797-NEWS. Fax: 435-797-1760. Our e-mail fetter. Writers must wait 21 days before submitting vice president ever elected. If the Obama-Biden ticket comes • Puzzle answers . address is: statesman@cc.usu.edu and the online successive letters— no exceptions. out on top, Sen. Barack Obama becomes our first African• Activities and events newspaper can be accessed at www.utahstatesman. Letters can be hand-delivered or mailed to The American president, and Sen. Joe Biden would become our com. • Classifieds Statesman or can be e-mailed. Click on www.urahPlease follow the following suggestions regarding statesman.com for more letter guidelines, examples of • Wedding/Engagements letters and commentaries submitted: letters and a submission box. • Slide shows & Video Letters should be limited to 350 words and may be OlSee VOTE, page 12 USU criticized for closing doors A Join all the political excitement and vote P / Statesma |