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8 U. THE NATIONAL COLLEGE NEWSPAPER
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Opinions OCTOBER 1988
OCTOBER 1988 Student Body
U. THE NATIONAL COLLEGE NEWSPA
U
THE NATIONAL COLLEGE NEWSPAPER
By presenting a wide range of opinions and ideas reprinted from hundreds of campus newspapers, we hope to
enhance the quality of campus life as we inform, entertain and engage the national student body. We acknow-
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professors, to report the activities, issues and concerns of their fellow students.
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" Brent Anderson, Daily Nexus,
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James Madison U., VA
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Kansas State U.
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DR. J. DAVID REED, Immediate Past President,
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WesternWAssociation of University Publications
Managers, Oklahoma Daily, U. of Oklahoma
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News, Ball State U., IN
U. is published six times a year by The American
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Monica, CA 90405. Tel: 213 450-2921 Copyright
1988. All rights reserved.
DR. FRANK RAGULSKY, Manager of Student
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lications, University Daily, Texas Tech U.
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lege Newspaper Business & Advertising Managers,
The Daily Pen nsylvanian,U. of Pennsylvania
BPA Consumer Audit membership applied for
August 1987.
Just the beginning
Even national champions
aren't immune to NCAA
violations.
Page 23
New happy hours
Students are taking time
out for a fitness hour to
stay healthy.
Page 25
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Chewing the fat
Some fast fat facts you
should know to eat right.
Page 26
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Wet workout
Marilee Niehoff ha
making waves with]1
workout.
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By Stephen
The Battalion
Texas A&M U.
Masters
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American adults fail geography test
By Laura Crawley
The Daily Texan
U. of Texas, Austin
For years we've heard that Johnny
can't read. According to a recent inter-
national survey by the National Geog-
raphic Society, it seems that Johnny
also has no idea where he is.
The society tested the geographical
knowledge of 10,820 people, including
1,116 Americans. Adults in the United
States tied for sixth place with Great
Britain; only Italy and Mexico scored
lower. Americans between the ages of
18-24 were more geographically ignor-
ant than any other group in the survey.
Geography may seem to be trivial
knowledge, but Gilbert Grosvenor,
president of the National Geographic
Society, has a valid point: "Our adult
population, especially our young adults,
do not understand the world at a time in
our history when we face a critical eco-
nomic need to understand foreign con-
sumers, markets, customs, opportuni-
ties and responsibilities. If we don't
understand place and location, then the
consequences of events lose meaning."
Even though we are involved militari-
ly in the Persian Gulf, 75 percent of
adult Americans can't point to it on a
map. More than 50,000 Americans died
in Vietnam, but two-thirds of Amer-
icans don't know where that country is.
South Africa is in the news almost
daily, yet 50 percent of Americans can't
find it on a map, and 45 percent don't
know that apartheid is government
policy there. Despite ongoing trade
problems with Japan, less than half
could identify that country on a map.
Even though tension between the Un-
ited States and the Soviet Union
"If we don't understand
place and location, then the
consequences of events lose
meaning."
- GILBERT GROSVENOR
stretches back for decades, one in four
Americans can't identify Russia, the
largest country in the world, on a world
map.
But America's geographical ignor-
ance is not limited to foreign countries.
About one-half of respondents couldn't
place New York or Illinois correctly on a
map of the United States. One out of
seven Americans, when looking at a
world map, don't even know where the
United States is.
In a democracy, the people make im-
portant decisions that will shape the
present and future of the country. The
United States is one of the few nations
in the world that at least pays lip service
to the idea that a country must have a
reponsible, educated voting citizenry in
order to succeed. Obviously, without
more geographical knowledge, the vast
majority of Americans are ill-prepared
to vote responsibly. In the hands of the
ignorant, a vote is either a useless or
dangerous tool.
Sweden, which ranked highest in the
comparison, requires its students to
study geography at the secondary level,
where it is taught with broad concep-
tual themes, including models explain-
ing global imbalances between coun-
tries.
By contrast, the United States has
eliminated the study of geography in all
but two states; in most schools it has
been incorporated and subsequently
lost in a new invention known as "social
studies." Only 10 percent of American
teachers instructing geography ma-
jored in it in college.
"Gone are the days when American
dollars could override international
ignorance," Grosvenor said.
"If we are to be influential in resolv-
ing ... a whole host of ... issues, we
must be geographically literate," he
said.
By Kate Jeffrey
The Daily Texan
U. of Texas, Austin
As we reach the end of the
Reagan revolution, many draw pa-
rallels between the '80s and the
'50s. But there is one subtle differ-
ence.
In 1988, you go into a conveni-
ence store and say loudly, "I'll have
a pack of condoms," - but then
whisper, "and a pack of cigarettes."
Smokers are the lepers of the
'80s, banished to the rear of air-
planes (if smoking is allowed at all)
and destined to sit at restaurant
tables which always seem to be in
the back by the kitchen.
To make ourselves feel better af-
ter several of the'80s crusades flop-
ped, we're treating smokers like
second-class citizens. Never mind
that one-fourth of all American
citizens smoke. Never mind that
the U.S. government receives a
much-needed $10 billion per year
from excise taxes on tobacco pro-
ducts. Never mind that there are
serious global and domestic prob-
lems like the arms race, the deficit,
poverty and crime. Just don't let us
breathe their second-hand smoke.
Cigarette smoking is an unheal-
thy habit. It is, however, a legal
habit and should be treated as
such. The 1986 Surgeon General's
report on "The Health Consequ-
ences of Involuntary Smoking" was
in no way conclusive, yet this study
fueled the massive second-hand
smoke hysteria we have today.
A continuation ofthehcurrent,
and sometimes violent, hostilities
can only lead to more heated con-
frontations. Perhaps Uncle Sam
should spend a portion of the tobac-
co "sin" tax on providing adequate
ventilation in public buildings.
Separate smoking and non-
smoking sections will help the pri-
vate sector take care of itself, but
for now, there needs to be more
friendly and tactful communica-
tions between opposing forces.
Many smokers do not - and
should not - mind putting out
their cigarettes or directing their
smoke to an alternate direction
when politely asked. Likewise,
non-smokers should be more toler-
ant and diplomatic, and realize
second-hand smoke will not cause
the ruin of society as we know it.
Texas A&M U. President
William Mobley and Athle-
tic Director Jackie Sherrill
said they were relieved but
disappointed after the re-
lease of the NCAA Commit-
tee on Infractions report
that found A&M guilty of 25
rules infractions.
"We've been through a lot
of stress over the last five or
six years, especially the last
three or four," Sherrill said.
"I'm very, very happy to-F
day is here. I'm glad it's over
with. We'll take the hand
that's been dealt to us and
give it our best shot.
Although I don't necessarily
agree with the assessment
of these findings, we'll have
to deal with them."
Among the infractions
were nine "significant viola-
tions," including:
Two unnamed assistant football
coaches who "provided false and mis-
leading information" to NCAA inves-
tigators.
g A student-athlete who was paid
more than $4,000 for cleaning a print-
ing press at a wage of $15 per hour.
An incident in which a repre-
sentative offered a prospective stu-
dent-athlete a car at a discount.
The report said Sherrill became
aware of the incidents and reported
the facts to an A&M official, but did
not inform the official of A&M's re-
sponsibility to report the incident to
the NCAA. Sherill also failed to re-
port the incidents to the NCAA en-
forcement staff.
The committee's penalties against
the university include a two-year
probation, no bowl game after the
1988-89 season and the loss of five
scholarships and 15 campus visits for
the 1989-90 season.
Live and let fly
in dream world
of Rodney Mullen
By Lawrence Hollyfield
The Alligator
U. of Florida
Picture this. You have attained finan-
cial independence while in college to go
along with a near-perfect grade point
average, world-renowned status and a
relationship with a wonderful person.
It is not only on a trip to The Twilight
Zone that things like this are found. It is
real life for some people. People like
Rodney Mullen.
Mullen, a U. of Florida junior major-
ing in biomedical engineering, has
reigned as king of the skateboarding
world for the last 10 years. ie has won
the world free-style skateboarding
championship for nine of those 10 years,
See MULLEN, Page 25
Texas A&M was the
latest school to be
found guilty of NCAA
violations, but they
certainly are not
alone.
Inside: A Texas A&M reaction,
how the NCAA gets its man and a
look at who might be next.
In a prepared statement, Mobley
said A&M would not make excuses for
mistakes made 'in the athletic
program.
"We will not accept arguments such
as 'others are violating the rules' or
that 'we don't like the rules,' "he said.
"Where we differ with the rules,
we will seek constr
change through app
ate channels. We
however, abide by the
as they exist at any p
time."
The 12-page repot
the penalties could
been worse.
"The committee be
that President Moble
tions provide a bas
mitigating the penal
this case. Absent Pre
Mobley's actions, the
ties imposed on th
versity's football pr
would have been mo
vere," the report stat
Mobley testified
the committee Aug.
Syracuse, N.Y.
In his testimor
set out several poir
signed to "clean
A&M's athletic pro
including the esta
ment of an interc
ate athletic comp
director, communication with
students on the school's intent
sociate them from the athletii
ram following NCAA recruiting
tions and disciplinary actions a
athletic department staff invo
the violations.
The two unnamed assii
coaches found in violation ofI
rules will have their contrac
viewed at the end of the sease
Sherrill has been placed on "ad
trative probation."
Mobley said that in effect, he
on administrative probatio
would not say that either he or
rill would leave automaticallyf
violation.
Sherrill was more . definitiv
Mobley on the possibility of disi
"If Jackie Sherrill does som
to warrant it, Jackie Sherri
leave this institution," he sai
Mobley won't have to fire Jacki
rill."